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This study explores the thematic intersections of fate, spiritual decay, and the concept of amor fati in F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby and T. S. Eliot's The Waste Land. Through a comparative analysis guided by the philosophical framework of amor fati, the study delves into how the characters in both works confront their destinies amidst societal disintegration and existential despair. By examining key passages and motifs, it elucidates the characters' quests for meaning and their struggle against the forces of fate. Furthermore, the study underscores the enduring relevance of these themes in contemporary society, highlighting the timeless resonance of literature to provoke introspection about the human condition. Ultimately, this paper contributes to a deeper understanding of existential themes in early 20th-century literature and their philosophical implications for individuals grappling with questions of destiny and existential meaning in the modern era. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With long-term production and widespread application, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have been detected in various media worldwide, including the atmosphere. Since the gradual restriction and phase-out of C8 perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs), environmental contamination by emerging PFAS substitutes such as short-chain PFAA homologues, perfluoroether carboxylic, and sulfonic acids has been reported. Although there has been extensive monitoring of emerging PFAS substitutes in the aquatic environment, few studies have conducted target analysis and nontarget screening (NTS) of emerging unknown PFAS in the atmosphere over the past decade. To fill the gap, this review focused on emerging PFAS in the atmosphere in addition to legacy PFAS. The reported sampling, pretreatment, and instrumental analysis methods for target analysis and NTS of both neutral and ionic PFAS in the atmosphere are summarized, along with the advantages and current limitations of different sampling and NTS methods for PFAS in the atmosphere. The global levels, composition, and spatiotemporal distribution characteristics of legacy and emerging PFAS in the atmosphere are summarized and their transport, transformation, and dry/wet deposition are elucidated. The review highlights the importance of developing and applying the all-in-one strategy integrating target, suspect screening, and NTS to gain insights into emerging PFAS in the atmosphere and provide a reference for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Triclosan (TCS) is an anti-microbial widely used in personal care and medical antibacterial products. Despite the widespread occurrence of TCS in municipal sewage sludge, understanding toward the fate of TCS within sewage treatment and environmental risks in the eventual land application is still limited. This review summarizes the TCS loads and transfer mechanisms in the sewage treatment process, sludge management process, land application, and its potential environmental impacts. TCS transfer from sewage to sludge mainly occurs in the primary sedimentation process, representing 2.50 to 4.58 times more compared to the secondary sedimentation process. This transfer is facilitated through adsorption because of the presence of humic acid-like and protein-like substances in sludge. Both anaerobic digestion and aerobic composting contribute to the degradation of TCS with aerobic composting being more effective, exhibiting TCS degradation rates 1.04–2.87 times higher than those observed in anaerobic digestion. After sludge land application, TCS majorly dissipates in the soil through biodegradation by fungi and bacteria, potentially posing environmental risks, such as inhibiting the seedling growth of plant species. Additionally, the degradation of TCS, coupled with the formation and subsequent degradation of MeTCS, is observed, with MeTCS exhibiting a higher half-life and greater toxicity than its parent compound (TCS). Overall, this research offers vital insights to enhance understanding of TCS's migration and degradation processes in sewage treatment and soil. It also provides guidance in environmental protection and sustainable resource management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper offers an account of luck, fate, and fortune. It begins by showing that extant accounts of luck are deficient because they do not identify the genus of which luck is a species. That genus of properties, the tychic, alert an agent to occasions on which the external world cooperates with or frustrates their goal-achievement. An agent's sphere of competence is the set of goals that it is possible for them to reliably achieve. Luck concerns occasions on which there is a mismatch between attempt and result; in bad luck the external world thwarts goal-achievement within the agent's sphere of competence, in good luck the external world assists goal-achievement beyond the agent's sphere of competence. Fateful events are those where, more passively, the agent finds the external world achieving or frustrating their goals. Fortune concerns the contraction and expansion of the agent's sphere of competence. Eight reasons are given for accepting the account; its theoretical virtues and various things it explains. Lastly, three objections are answered; that the tychic properties relate to well-being rather than agency, that there are alternative theories of fortune available in the contemporary literature, that the account draws arbitrary distinctions between synonyms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dispute over the issue of human choice appeared early in Islamic history between the Qadarites and the Jabrites in the first Hijri century, and the debate over it continued throughout the stages of Islamic history. The theologians of the Ottoman Empire were not isolated from these discussions, but they had a special feature that required us to stop and study it. But they had a peculiarity that calls for stopping at it with research and study, which is that despite their being greatly influenced by the Ash'ari school of thought in theology, and by philosophical Sufism as well, and these are two matters that require a tendency towards the belief in determinism, even at least in one of its levels, they adhered to proving the choice of the human beings and denying determinism from them. This is the saying of the Maturidis and their doctrine of belief to which they classified separate treatises. This study aims to trace the research of the most prominent Ottoman theologians on this issue in the tenth century and analyze their opinions according to their historical and cognitive contexts. It also aims to classify their approaches to dealing with it, as research approaches and perspectives may differ, while the results are consistent, with an analysis of those opinions in the context of the scientific circumstances that preceded and were contemporary to them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human destiny itself is foremost a religious problem because, paradoxically, it stems from a distinctive sense of disbelief, or more precisely, from a radical disagreement with the randomness of life. The latter bears a resemblance to meaninglessness insufferable for human beings. On the other hand, fate presupposes a profound belief that despite the apparent reign of chaos inevitably spiralling towards nothingness, somewhere deep at the very foundations of things lies a secure harmony and a somewhat benevolent order, which ultimately governs the whole and leads all things to a happy end. Therefore, believing in fate is not so much about adopting a theory or practicing faith as embracing a profound existential stance. As a prelude to a synthesis of the history of human fate, a lexical analysis will be made to explain various approximations of the concept of fate. Subsequently, the various historical forms, or rather disguises that fate has assumed in the history of culture will be explored in a philosophical and theological manner.

Philosophical and religious voices in the imperial period and Late Antiquity emphasized individual responsibility and free will, including, from the early Christian side, anti-"Gnostic" (and later anti-Manichean) defenses of free will against determinism. This essay concentrates on the rather neglected author Bardaisan, who rejected the deterministic astrological arguments maintained by Stoics, "Gnostics," and "Chaldeans," and, like Origen, argued that human free will, as a gift of God, is not influenced by stars and zodiacal configurations at one's birth but depends on one's intellect ("ethical intellectualism"). New convergences between their ideas are pointed out, as well as Bardaisan's novel argument against "climatic" astrological determinism and its influence on later Christian authors. The essay investigates the impact that Bardaisan's antideterministic ideas exerted—sometimes without being recognized—in Late Antiquity and the ways in which his novel argument against climatic astrological determinism was received and reused. A network of reception that is ultimately closely linked to Bardaisan thus emerges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Airborne microplastics are a type of suspended particulate matter less than 100 µm in size. They have drawn attention recently due to their potential impact on human health and the environment. However, knowledge on airborne microplastics in forest and their interaction with plant leaves is limited. Here, we analyzed microplastics on konara oak leaves collected at a small forest in Tokyo. Leaves were water-washed to yield a first extract, sonicated in water to yield a second extract and then extracted with 10%w potassium hydroxide to yield a third extract. We employed micro-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy with attenuated total reflection imaging to analyze microplastics, identifying polymer materials and quantifying their concentration. Results show that the average number of microplastics in leaf were 0.01 piece/cm2 in the water extract (7.6%), 0.05 piece/cm2 by sonication (38.4%), and 0.07 piece/cm2 in the potassium hydroxide extract (53.8%). Microscopic data reveal that potassium hydroxide extraction allows to remove epicuticular waxes including adhering substances. These findings highlight the need to use a strong basic reagent, potassium hydroxide, to extract most airborne microplastics in leaf. The findings also suggest that canopy leaves could be a long-term sink for airborne microplastics, rather than merely temporary accumulators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing use of chemicals requires a better understanding of their presence and dynamics in the environment, as well as their impact on ecosystems. The aim of this study was to validate the first steps of an innovative multi-omics approach based on metabolomics and 16S metabarcoding data for analyses of the fate and impact of contaminants in Mediterranean lagoons. Semi-targeted analytical procedures for water and sediment matrices were implemented to assess chemical contamination of the lagoon: forty-six compounds were detected, 28 of which could be quantified in water (between 0.09 and 47.4 ng/L) and sediment (between 0.008 and 26.3 ng/g) samples using the UHPLC-MS/MS instrument. In addition, a non-targeted approach (UHPLC-HRMS) using four different sample preparation protocols based on solid/liquid extractions or an automated pressurized fluid extraction system (EDGE®) was carried out to determine the protocol with the best metabolome coverage, efficiency and reproducibility. Solid/liquid extraction using the solvent mixture acetonitrile/methanol (50/50) was evaluated as the best protocol. Microbial diversity in lagoon sediment was also measured after DNA extraction using five commercial extraction kits. Our study showed that the DNeasy PowerSoil Pro Qiagen kit (Promega, USA) was the most suitable for assessing microbial diversity in fresh sediment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes an interpretation of Aristotle's understanding of tyche (τύχη), a Greek term that can be alternatively translated as luck, fortune, or fate. The paper disentangles various threads of argument in the primary sources to argue for a realist understanding of what we moderns call "luck." In short, it contends that Aristotle's account of these issues is mostly correct and merits close attention when canvassing recent philosophical debates about luckology. Aristotle argues that science pertains to the general rule; it is not about the particular. Particular events have contingent content that exceeds the scope of science. Even if we could predict all future events with ultimate accuracy, we would still be left wondering why good or bad things happen to specific people. Although luck is not a scientific category, it has an existential reality that leaves momentous events open to metaphysical and even religious interpretation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the increasing integration of nanomaterials into daily life, the potential ecotoxicological impacts of nanoparticles (NPs) have attracted increased attention from the scientific community. This study assessed the ecotoxicity of ZnS quantum dots (QDs) doped with varying molar concentrations of Mn2+ on Chlorella vulgaris. The ZnS:Mn QDs were synthesized using the polyol method. The size of the ZnS:Mn QDs ranged from approximately 1.1 nm to 2 nm, while the aggregation size in Seine River water was 341 nm at pH 6 and 8. The presence of ZnS:Mn (10%) NPs exhibited profound toxicity to Chlorella vulgaris, with immediate reductions in viability (survival cells) from 71%, 60% to 51%, 52% in BG11 and Seine River water, respectively, at a concentration of 100 mg L−1 of ZnS:Mn (10%) NPs. Additionally, the ATP content in Chlorella vulgaris significantly decreased in Seine River water (by 20%) after 3 h of exposure to ZnS:Mn (10%) NPs. Concurrently, SOD activity significantly increased in Seine River water, indicating that the ZnS:Mn (10%) NPs induced ROS production and triggered an oxidative stress response in microalgae cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glyphosate (Gly) and its formulations are broad-spectrum herbicides globally used for pre- and post-emergent weed control. Glyphosate has been applied to terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Critics have claimed that Gly-treated plants have altered mineral nutrition and increased susceptibility to plant pathogens because of Gly ability to chelate divalent metal cations. Still, the complete resistance of Gly indicates that chelation of metal cations does not play a role in herbicidal efficacy or have a substantial impact on mineral nutrition. Due to its extensive and inadequate use, this herbicide has been frequently detected in soil (2 mg kg−1, European Union) and in stream water (328 µg L−1, USA), mostly in surface (7.6 µg L−1, USA) and groundwater (2.5 µg L−1, Denmark). International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) already classified Gly as a category 2 A carcinogen in 2016. Therefore, it is necessary to find the best degradation techniques to remediate soil and aquatic environments polluted with Gly. This review elucidates the effects of Gly on humans, soil microbiota, plants, algae, and water. This review develops deeper insight toward the advances in Gly biodegradation using microbial communities. This review provides a thorough understanding of Gly interaction with mineral elements and its limitations by interfering with the plants biochemical and morphological attributes. Glyphosate (Gly) contamination in water, soil, and crops is an eminent threat globally. Various advanced and integrated approaches have been reported to remediate Gly contamination from the water-soil-crop system. This review elucidates the effects of Gly on human health, soil microbial communities, plants, algae, and water. This review develops deeper insight into the advances in Gly biodegradation using microbial communities, particularly soil microbiota. This review provides a brief understanding of Gly interaction with mineral elements and its limitations in interfering with the plants biochemical and morphological attributes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of RumeliDE Journal of Language & Literature Research / RumeliDE Dil ve Edebiyat Araştırmaları Dergisi is the property of RumeliDE Uluslararasi Hakemli Dil & Edebiyat Arastirmalari Dergisi and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The function of architecture is to be a meeting place, signifying a contact in the realm of destinies. Cities, squares, intersections and houses are subjects of social and existential communication. Today, news, events and trade go into the virtual space of planetary or regional life, so cities with their squares, intersections and houses are becoming knots and seams of this fabric. But architecture as a “thing made of stone” has not lost its significance in the formation of cultural meanings and human destinies.

The first known written texts of the Turks were written on monument stones, tombstones, rocks and various objects, and today their number exceeds five hundred. Thousands of studies have been carried out on old Turkic inscriptions since the letters were deciphered by V. Thomsen in 1893. Some of these studies are directly related to grammar. Some of these studies are related to many fields of social sciences. In this article, we focused on the sentences obtained from the Turkic of the inscription period within the framework of destiny writing and the vocabulary that makes up these sentences. After the introductory information, such as what the destiny means to a person, sentences obtained from the inscriptions were included. It was stated that the fact that Turks talked about destiny, especially using figurative words, and expressed their helplessness in the face of destiny, was one of the most important proofs that seventh and eighth century Turkic was a developed literary language. The fact that the data subject to the article was obtained not only from the Khaganate inscriptions but also from the texts written by the begs and the people, it was tried to reach the conclusion that metaphysical issues such as destiny, fate and luck were also known by the people. It was mentioned that another important aspect of the identified sentences is that they can provide important clues about which belief system the Turkish world had in the seventh and eighth centuries.

Adsorption represents a highly promising methodology for wastewater treatment, characterized by its operational simplicity and economic efficiency in extracting environmental pollutants. This study investigates the possible uses and benefits of recycling wasted adsorbents containing metals in various environmental remedy projects to tackle the urgent issue of secondary contamination. Recycling used adsorbents are proposed to reduce secondary pollution and provide numerous economic and ecological advantages in wastewater treatment. This study comprehensively analyzed the existing literature, carefully evaluating the effectiveness of different used adsorbents in eliminating contaminants and their capacity for regeneration and later reuse. Furthermore, the novelty of the review lies in its exploration of recycling spent adsorbents particularly those containing heavy metals (HMs), as a sustainable solution for wastewater treatment. Results indicate that spent adsorbents, particularly those treated with ionic liquids, achieve extraction efficiencies above 80 % for heavy metals and show enhanced stability during several regeneration cycles. Utilizing recycled wasted adsorbents is a viable method for sustainable wastewater treatment, with significant potential to reduce environmental pollution and support a circular economy.

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) used in consumer goods and flame retardants have been replaced by alternatives such as tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA). TBBPA does not readily undergo global distal transport, but local sources still threaten aquatic ecosystems. We studied the photofate of TBBPA with a specific focus on how Arctic-derived dissolved organic matter (DOM) affects its reaction kinetics, degradation pathways and formation of photoproducts in artificial and natural sunlight. Our results corroborate earlier studies that reveal a pH-dependent trend in TBBPA’s direct photolysis with longer degradation times for its acidic form. DOM either plays no role or it slightly reduces TBBPA’s rate of photodegradation via inner-filter effects. Photolysis experiments conducted at our Arctic field site, Toolik Lake Field Station, revealed slower than anticipated degradation, which magnified the half-life significantly during in-lake experiments. Importantly, the composition of DOM was found to influence the type and distribution of TBBPA photoproducts formed, which suggests that different degradation pathways occur in the presence of DOM. These findings provide valuable insights into the intricate interplay of environmental variables that govern the fate of TBBPA in sunlit aquatic ecosystems globally.

Distribution and removal of chemicals in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) have mainly relied on mathematical models. Existing exposure assessment models such as SimpleTreat, STPWIN are based on conventional activated sludge processes. There is an urgent need to develop an A2/O-based WWTPs exposure assessment model. Organophosphates (OPEs) have different physical and chemical properties and potential environmental risks. The fate and biodegradation kinetics of three types of OPEs, including alkyl OPEs, chlorinated OPEs and triphenyl ester OPEs, were studied in a laboratory-scale anaerobic/anoxic/aerobic (A2/O) sewage treatment system and batch reactors. The three types of OPEs had different anaerobic, anoxic, and aerobic removal characteristics. A compensation mechanism was found between anaerobic and anoxic/aerobic removal. When the hydraulic retention time decreased from 82 to 20.5 h, the removal efficiencies in the anaerobic unit decreased, while those in the anoxic unit increased; as a result, the total removal efficiencies remained high (>80 %) for all OPEs except triphenyl phosphate (65.5%–75.1 %). The concept of effective sludge concentration (MLSSeff) was proposed to illustrate the compensation mechanism and calibrate the second-order kinetic equation for predicting pollutant removal in the A2/O system: MLSSeff = ken × MLSS, where ken is a constant related to the influent total organic carbon content (TOC). The influent TOC contents of the anoxic and aerobic units affected the value of MLSSeff and OPEs removal. The results are of great significance for assessing OPEs exposure and predicting exposure to emerging micropollutants in sewage treatment systems.

The widespread adoption of acoustic telemetry has transformed our understanding of marine species' behavior and movement ecology. However, accurately interpreting telemetry data, especially concerning tagging mortality, is essential for drawing valid conclusions. In this study, we scrutinized tagging mortality in 223 individuals across 14 species and evaluated the impact of tagging methodologies, including capture method and size effects. Results reveal high tagging survival rates overall, attributable to the resiliency of the studied species and the rigorous animal welfare protocols followed during tagging procedures. Our results highlight the importance of tailoring array designs to the specific mobility patterns of the studied species for accurate survival assessments. This research contributes to generalizing mortality assessments and clearing the path for more precise and reliable telemetry studies in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The 2019–2020 Australian bushfire season had a devastating impact on native fauna. It was estimated that 3 billion animals were affected by the fires, but there are few accounts of the species or numbers of animals rescued and rehabilitated post-fire. We reviewed rescue, triage, rehabilitation and release reports for marsupials from two regions: the state of New South Wales (NSW) and Kangaroo Island, South Australia. In NSW, only 889 marsupial rescues were reported, despite estimates of 46.8 million marsupials inhabiting the fire zones. Three marsupial groups dominated the rescue statistics: kangaroos and wallabies (n = 458), koalas (n = 204), and possums (n = 162), with smaller numbers of other marsupial species. The probability of survival and release was lowest for kangaroos and wallabies (15% ± 4%) compared with koalas (47% ± 4%) and possums (55% ± 10%). Injury type was a significant predictor of survival for all groups, with malnourished/moribund animals or those with traumatic injuries less likely to survive. In both jurisdictions, koalas were over-represented, and possums under-represented, in rescue statistics relative to baseline population densities and pre-fire wildlife rescue trends. Triage decisions also varied by species, with koalas more likely to enter care, whereas other species were more likely to be euthanised at triage. Koalas were more likely to die during rehabilitation, with 73% dying or being euthanised between day 1 and 30 post-rescue, representing a potential welfare concern. These species differences in presentation post-fire warrant further investigation, as do the differences in triage, survival and release outcomes. These data highlight the need for detailed record keeping and data sharing, and the development of consistent and evidence-based triage, treatment and euthanasia guidelines for all species. The 2019–2020 Australian bushfire season had a devastating impact on native wildlife. It was estimated that 3 billion native animals were impacted by the fires, yet there are few estimates of the number of animals that were rescued and rehabilitated post-fire. Focusing on the state of New South Wales (NSW) and Kangaroo Island, South Australia, we used a case study approach to determine the number of marsupials that were reported rescued due to the 2019–2020 bushfires in these areas and analysed species-specific trends in rescue and release success. In NSW, we found 889 reports of fire-affected marsupials in 2019–2020, mostly comprising kangaroos and wallabies (macropods; n = 458), koalas (n = 204), and possums (n = 162), with a smaller number of wombats (n = 43) and other marsupial species. Most reports of fire-affected marsupials occurred 6–8 weeks after fire ignition, and there was no difference in temporal frequency of rescues between marsupial groups. For the three main groups, the probability of survival and subsequent release differed, with macropods having the lowest probability of release after rescue (0.15 ± 0.04) compared to koalas (0.47 ± 0.04) and possums (0.55 ± 0.10). The type of injury was the main predictor of survival during rehabilitation for all three marsupial groups, with those malnourished/moribund or with traumatic injuries less likely to survive rehabilitation. Death or euthanasia occurred on the day of rescue for 77% of macropods, 48% of possums and 15% of koalas. Koalas most often died during rehabilitation rather than on the day of rescue, with 73% either dying or being euthanised between day 1 and 30 post-rescue, representing a potential welfare concern. On Kangaroo Island, koalas were the most frequently rescued marsupial species; most euthanasia cases and deaths occurred in a hospital, whereas other marsupials were mostly euthanised at triage. In both jurisdictions, koalas were over-represented while possums were under-represented relative to baseline population densities and wildlife rescue trends in the years before the 2019–2020 bushfires. These species differences in presentation post-fire warrant further investigation, as do the differences in triage, survival and release outcomes. It is hypothesised that the high intensity and large scale of the 2019–2020 fires impeded marsupial fire evasion tactics, as evidenced by the small number of animals found for rescue, and the differing rates of presentation relative to underlying population densities for the main marsupial groups. Based on our findings, there is a need for detailed record keeping and data sharing, development of consistent and evidence-based triage, treatment and euthanasia guidelines and deployment of trained wildlife emergency rescue teams with advanced search techniques to minimise animal suffering where safe to do so. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Dyspnea commonly stems from combined myocardial and pulmonary dysfunction, posing challenges for accurate pre-hospital diagnosis. Limited diagnostic capabilities hinder the differentiation of cardiac and pulmonary issues. This study assesses the efficacy of combined cardiac and pulmonary ultrasound using the BLUE, eFAST, and FATE protocols. Methods: Participants were consecutively enrolled from dyspnea-related emergency calls in Warsaw, Poland, from 4 April 2022, to 15 June 2023. Patients with pleural effusion were identified through pre-hospital and in-hospital radiological assessments. Pre-hospital thoracic ultrasonography followed the BLUE, eFAST, and FATE protocols, alongside comprehensive clinical assessments. The pre-hospital diagnoses were juxtaposed with the with hospital discharge diagnoses. Results: Sixteen patients (8 men, 8 women; median age: 76 years) were enrolled. Inter-rater agreement for the BLUE protocol was substantial (κ = 0.78), as was agreement for eFAST (κ = 0.75), with almost perfect agreement for combined protocol assessment (κ = 0.83). Left ventricle hypokinesis, identified via the FATE protocol, significantly correlated with hospital-diagnosed decompensated heart failure as the primary cause of dyspnea. Sensitivity and specificity were 1.0 (95%CI: 0.62–1.0) and 0.6 (95%CI: 0.15–0.95), respectively. Positive predictive value was 0.85 (95%CI: 0.55–0.98), and diagnostic accuracy was 0.86 (95%CI: 0.62–0.98). Conclusions: Integrating the FATE protocol into BLUE and eFAST enhances pre-hospital differential diagnosis accuracy of pleural effusion in adults. This synergistic approach streamlines diagnostic processes and facilitates informed clinical decision-making. Larger-scale validation studies are needed for broader applicability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aging is a set of complex processes that occur temporally and continuously. It is generally a unidirectional progression of cellular and molecular changes occurring during the life stages of cells, tissues and ultimately the whole organism. In vertebrate organisms, this begins at conception from the first steps in blastocyst formation, gastrulation, germ layer differentiation, and organogenesis to a continuum of embryonic, fetal, adolescent, adult, and geriatric stages. Tales of the “fountain of youth” and songs of being “forever young” are dominant ideas informing us that growing old is something science should strive to counteract. Here, we discuss the normal life stages of the blood system, particularly the historical recognition of its importance in the early growth stages of vertebrates, and what this means with respect to progressive gain and loss of hematopoietic function in the adult. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• TCEP and TCPP were dominant in the seawater and atmosphere from the northwest Pacific to the Southern Ocean. • Dry and wet deposition were two main processes influenced the air-seawater transport of OPEs in the Ross Sea. • Ross Sea has played the role of a "sink" of OPEs in summer. Eleven organophosphate esters (OPEs) in the air and seawater were investigated from the northwestern Pacific Ocean to the Southern Ocean during the 2018 Chinese 34th Antarctic Scientific Expedition. The concentration of total OPEs ranged from 164.82 to 3501.79 pg/m3 in air and from 4.54 to 70.09 ng/L in seawater. Two halogenated OPEs, tri(chloropropyl) phosphate (TCPP) and tri (2-chloroethyl) phosphate (TCEP), were generally more abundant than the non-halogenated OPEs. A level III fugacity model was developed to simulate the transfer and fate of seven OPEs in the air and seawater regions of the central Ross Sea. The model results indicate that OPEs are transferred from the air to the seawater in the central Ross Sea in summer, during which the Ross Sea acts as a final OPE sink. Dry and wet deposition dominated the processes involving OPE transfer to seawater. The OPE degradation process was also found to be more pervasive in the atmosphere than in the seawater region. These findings highlights the importance of long-range transport of OPEs and their air–seawater interface behavior in the Antarctic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Turkish Culture & Haci Bektas Veli Research Quarterly is the property of Turkish Cultur & Haci Bektas Veli Research Quarterly and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

In Shakespeare’s tragedies, the protagonist is typically called to a new role in the world of the play, as when Hamlet is called to be a revenger by the appearance of his father’s ghost. Such moments of calling are the legacy of the Judeo-Christian tradition of election as found in the Bible and medieval literature, although it finds secular expression in Shakespearean drama. Election functions in many of the same ways as tragic fate, responding to a disorder in nature and leading to the protagonist’s downfall. Election, however, also includes certain purely human elements that can work against tragic pathos, as we find in Shakespeare’s Coriolanus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review highlights the limitations faced by conventional wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) in effectively removing contaminants of emerging concern (CECs), heavy metals (HMs), and Escherichia coli (E. coli). This emphasises the limitations of current treatment methods and advocates for innovative approaches to enhance the removal efficiency. By following the PRISMA guidelines, the study systematically reviewed relevant literature on detecting and remedying these pollutants in wastewater treatment facilities. Conventional wastewater treatment plants struggle to eliminate CECs, HMs, and E. coli owing to their small size, persistence, and complex nature. The review suggests upgrading WWTPs with advanced tertiary processes to significantly improve contaminant removal. This calls for cost-effective treatment parameters and standardised assessment techniques to enhance the fate of MPs in WWTPs and WRRFs. It recommends integrating insights from mass-balance model studies on MPs in WWTP to overcome modelling challenges and ensure model reliability. In conclusion, this review underscores the urgent need for advancements in wastewater treatment processes to mitigate the environmental impact of trace anthropogenic biomarkers. Future efforts should focus on conducting comprehensive studies, implementing advanced treatment methods, and optimising management practices in WWTPs and WRRFs.

The Microphthalmia-associated Transcription Factor (MITF) governs numerous cellular and developmental processes. In mice, it promotes specification and differentiation of the retinal pigmented epithelium (RPE), and in humans, some mutations in MITF induce congenital eye malformations. Herein, we explore the function and regulation of Mitf in Drosophila eye development and uncover two roles. We find that knockdown of Mitf results in retinal displacement (RDis), a phenotype associated with abnormal eye formation. Mitf functions in the peripodial epithelium (PE), a retinal support tissue akin to the RPE, to suppress RDis, via the Hippo pathway effector Yorkie (Yki). Yki physically interacts with Mitf and can modify its transcriptional activity in vitro. Severe loss of Mitf, instead, results in the de-repression of retinogenesis in the PE, precluding its development. This activity of Mitf requires the protein phosphatase 2 A holoenzyme STRIPAK-PP2A, but not Yki; Mitf transcriptional activity is potentiated by STRIPAK-PP2A in vitro and in vivo. Knockdown of STRIPAK-PP2A results in cytoplasmic retention of Mitf in vivo and in its decreased stability in vitro, highlighting two potential mechanisms for the control of Mitf function by STRIPAK-PP2A. Thus, Mitf functions in a context-dependent manner as a key determinant of form and fate in the Drosophila eye progenitor epithelium.

The article is devoted to the consideration of Franz Kafka’s creativity in the interpretation of the German-American philosopher and political theorist Hannah Arendt. Throughout her life, Arendt frequently referenced the writings of the great modernist, as seen in her books “A Hidden Tradition,” “Between Past and Future,” “Men in Dark Times.” Arendt sees Kafka as an author whose writings are able to bring us closer to understanding the modern era, since they reveal the inner structure of the world hidden from the eyes by artistic means. The construction of Kafka’s works is compared in the article with the plot of an ancient tragedy, in the center of which is the collision of the protagonist with the omnipotence of rock. From this point of view, the conflict between the atomized individual and the social order is considered as the leitmotif of Kafka’s writings and analyzed by the examples of the novel The Trial and the short stories The Judgment and The Metamorphosis. A parallel is drawn between the description of total social machinery in Kafka’s works and Arendt’s concept of the New European “expansion of society,” understood as “no-man rule,” which is asserted under both authoritarian and liberal political regimes. The article demonstrates that Kafka’s artistic texts can be understood as the starting point of Arendt’s theoretical reflections on the genesis and characteristic features of modern mass society.

Microplastics (MPs) are tiny pieces of plastic smaller than 5mm that have raised concerns to aquatic organisms and human health due to their ubiquitous presence. Wastewater Treatment Plants (WWTPs) are a significant point source for aquatic MPs pollution, as millions of MPs with different characteristics reach WWTPs through the Sewage. Even though, WWTPs are not specifically designed to remove MPs, researchers report that more than 90% of MPs can be removed in WWTPs. However, given the huge volumes of effluent discharge into natural aquatic bodies, even small concentrations of MPs in the effluent would be significant. A typical WWTP consists of three key stages: primary, secondary and tertiary. Removal of MPs in these stages is reviewed. In addition, plastics can adsorb toxic chemical and biological pollutants on its surface and can lead to spread of toxic pollutants in the environment. Therefore, in this review we aim to provide comprehensive knowledge about the sources of MPs in wastewater, their fate and removal in WWTPs, their interactions with different chemical and biological pollutants, and their effects on environment. In addition, it also highlights the different methodologies used for sampling, sample preparation and physical and chemical identification of MPs found in the WWTPs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, authors will focus on religious faiths - aqida of Abai. Islamic studies is a consisting of several large areas, and the most important of them is the field kalam. The sphere that defines a person's religiousness and religious faith is aqida. In this article, the object of study will be the religious worldview of Abai. An Islamic, religious, and theolinguistic analysis of Abai's works will be conducted, from his first poems to the period of his younger Ospan's death. The topics concerning the Islamic faith that Abai raised in his poems during a given period will be determined and on the basis of these topics an analysis of the beliefs of the great thinker will be carried out. An attempt will also be made to show the roots of Abai's beliefs coming from the sacred texts of Islam - Koran and Sunnah. Additionally, a comparison will be made with views of other Islamic scholars in the field of aqida. Expecially those in the Hanafi and Matrudi scholars, to identify any deviations in interpretations. Also the sources of his belief system will that served as the basis for Abai's religious beliefs will also be established. The study concentrates on these two aspects of beliefs on which Abay expressed his opinion in poetry, since other issues of faith in Allah and acceptance of Him as the only primary source of good and evil are not explicitly described, but are only mentioned in his poems. The foundations of Abai's religious beliefs have also been established. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanomaterials are integrated within consumer products to enhance specific properties of interest. Their release throughout the lifecycle of nano-enabled products raises concerns; specifically, mechanical strains can lead to the generation of fragmented materials containing nanomaterials. We investigated the potential release of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs—brand TUBALL™) from epoxy composite materials. A pin-on-disk-type tribometer was used for the accelerated mechanical aging of the nanocomposites. A pristine nanocomposite material, abraded material and debris obtained from the abrasion in the tribometer were analyzed by Raman spectroscopy. The airborne-produced particles were captured using particle collectors. Stat Peel's Identifier C2 system was used to monitor the SWCNT content of respirable particles produced during the abrasion test. The SWCNT amounts found were below the LoQ. The Raman spectra conducted on the Stat Peel filters helped identify the presence of free SWCNTs released from the epoxy matrix, although they were notably scarce. Raman spectroscopy has been proved to be a crucial technique for the identification, characterization and assessment of structural changes and degradation in SWCNTs that occurred during the abrasion experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article examines the camp narrative of Vasyl Stus through the philosophy of hope of a classic of French existentialism, Gabriel Marcel. Turning to ego documents, the discourse of the dissident poet’s confrontation shall be analysed, firstly, against the totalitarian regime of the former USSR and, secondly, against the very circumstances of his detention in the camp which befell him. Self-esteem, insubordination, constant introspection, self-sufficiency with optimism in spite of cruel ordeals – this is how V. Stus appears before us. Within the “imprisoned space” with its numerous prohibitions and punishments, the poet not only cherishes his Muse, saving himself by translations, writing a diary, letters and poems, but also develops – despite a deep sense of fate – a philosophy of hope, consonant with the phenomenology and metaphysics of Marcel. The poet was aware that the road was paved for him as “Golgotha sent by God”, along which he had to walk (straightened) “through a hundred despairs”, so he sincerely admitted: “My path hurts”. These concepts – path and pain, as well as the constant appeal to the one hundred number as an attempt to multiply his strength a hundredfold in a difficult struggle, permeate both his poetry and ego-documents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pesticides are commonly applied in agriculture to manage pests, parasites, weeds, and other crop diseases to maximise product output value and minimise or reduce yield losses. Pesticides are widely and indiscriminately used in crop production in most countries. Carbofuran is a highly toxic insecticide commonly used to protect crops in agricultural areas. Exposure to carbofuran can cause harmful effects on both the ecological environment and human health, particularly on non-target species such as birds and aquatic organisms. Carbofuran continues to be used, although it has been banned in some countries. This review paper highlights carbofuran usage, its residue, toxicity, and mechanisms of degradation pathways in water, soil, and food, especially in agriculture. It has been shown that hydrolysis, photolysis, and microbial degradation are the main pathways for carbofuran degradation. Carbofuran phenol is significantly less toxic than all photo-metabolites, while 3-ketocarbofuran and 3-hydroxycarbofuran are practically as harmful as the parent compound. Hence, more study is needed on degradation pathways that may thoroughly minimise the toxicity of this deadly pesticide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cormac McCarthy has stated that tragedy is central to human experience and that "the core of literature is the idea of tragedy." Furthermore, he maintains that the tragic genre probes how humans "deal with" the bad things that happen to them. McCarthy's duology, The Passenger and Stella Maris, locates its main narrative concerning Alicia and Bobby Western's taboo love within the framework of romantic tragedy. Incest has been a much-revisited topic within Western tragedy. Consider the dramas of Sophocles, Euripides, Seneca, John Webster, John Ford, Henrik Ibsen, and Eugene O'Neill. In McCarthy's treatment, incest is an impediment to reciprocal love. This tragic fatedness crosses any expectations Alicia and Bobby court of mutual happiness and fulfillment. The duology explores the siblings' ways of dealing with their tragic condition, the romantic Alicia's all-or-nothing, self-destructive passion and the ascetic Bobby's attitude of self-denial and endurance. Two tragic antecedents further inform McCarthy's examination of forbidden love: William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet (1597) and the Nahua myth of the warrior Popocatépetl and the princess Iztaccíhuatl. The article concludes by proposing that, despite the duology's preoccupation with the tragic human condition, the narrative tentatively gestures to a state of being that might, perhaps, lie beyond tragedy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During sewage projects, management appears Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) emissionrelated odours have been a problem in sewage project networks for decades. One of the gases that directly harms employees and network infrastructure is hydrogen sulfide gas. Using the TOXCHEM software, the network of the Al-Hur project in Karbala, south of the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, was simulated for three main lines of different diameters 630, 315, and 1000 mm, each with a diameter of 1000 meters, they are connected to a main manhole by drop structure, and then to the lift station. Samples for these diameters were collected for two seasons (summer and winter) with all the necessary parameters of this network to be included in the model. The model was validated for the two seasons, and the results were very close to reality after being examined in a statistical way, where the results of R and RMSE were (0.821 and 0.821) and (0.000462 and 0.000184) for Summer and Winter, respectively. Sensitivity analysis studied wastewater characteristics with different levels of H2S loading rate, flow rate, suspended solid concentration, oil/grease concentration, and temperature. The results showed that all emissions in these networks are dangerous, especially in the summer when the emissions concentrations for pipe 315, pipe 630, pipe 1000, drop 315, drop 630 and the lift station were 7.6, 6.2, 2.5, 8.01, 3.78 and 6.06 ppm, respectively. By utilizing a TOXCHEM model, the study helped to understand the fate and emission of hydrogen sulfide gas in all parts of the networks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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To investigate the air‐sea gas exchange and its potential influence on the regional fate of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the East China Marginal Seas (ECMS), which consist of the East China Sea (ECS) and Yellow Sea (YS), we collected air and surface seawater samples of this area in the summer 2018 and winter 2019, respectively. Generally, PAHs underwent a strong volatilization process in the ECMS in both summer and winter. Good correlations between wind speed and the magnitude of air‐sea gas exchange were found for low molecular weight PAHs, suggesting the rate of their air‐sea gas exchange was influenced by the static stability of overlying atmosphere. However, such an influence for high molecular weight PAHs was constrained by their low Henry's law constant. Dissolved concentration of PAHs in surface seawater was another key factor regulating their air‐sea gas exchange, which not only influenced the rate of air‐sea gas exchange but also was involved in the exchange direction. Higher air‐sea gas exchange fluxes of PAHs in winter were attributed to their increasing dissolved concentrations in seawater during this season. A mass conservation analysis revealed a huge volatilization loss of PAHs from seawater to atmosphere, suggesting air‐sea gas exchange might be a key process to modulate the distribution and occurrence of PAHs in the ECS and YS. Such a loss of PAHs in seawater might be compensated by the sediment resuspension, which implied that the sedimentary deposit could serve as a secondary source of PAHs in seawater and overlying atmosphere. Plain Language Summary: Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are ubiquitous semi‐volatile organic compounds that pose a substantial threat to human health and ecological safety due to their carcinogenicity, teratogenicity, and bioaccumulation. Air‐sea gas exchange is a critical mass transfer process influencing the occurrence and distribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in marginal seas. We found that the air‐sea gas exchange of PAHs was mainly controlled by their dissolved concentrations in seawater and the wind speed in the East China Marginal Seas (ECMS). Seasonal variation of air‐sea gas exchange of PAHs was observed, especially in the Yellow Sea (YS). Influenced by a greater PAH input from Northern China and the ECMS cross‐shelf circulation system, the volatilization fluxes of PAHs in the YS were higher in winter, despite of lower temperature. Besides, resuspension of PAHs from sediments contributed to the dissolved PAHs in seawater, which compensated the massive loss of PAHs from seawater triggered by air‐sea gas exchange. Our study highlights the significant influence of air‐sea gas exchange and the role of sediment resuspension on the regional fate of PAHs in this area. Key Points: Air‐sea gas exchange of PAHs is mainly controlled by dissolved concentrations in seawater and wind speedAir‐sea gas exchange triggers a massive loss of PAHs from seawater in the East China Marginal SeasDissolved PAHs from sediment resuspension are a potential source of PAH volatilization at air‐sea interface [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vinegar is used as one of the best seasoning and preservatives in foodstuffs worldwide; however, it might be contaminated with mycotoxins like ochratoxin A (OTA). This study aimed to investigate the fate of OTA during unit operations utilised for vinegar production, including washing, juicing, alcoholic fermentation, acetic fermentation, and pasteurisation. Results showed that all unit operations used in vinegar production led to OTA reduction. The highest (40.43%) and lowest (9.63%) reduction values of OTA were obtained during alcoholic fermentation and washing stages, respectively. Juicing, acetic fermentation, and pasteurisation stages reduced 18.86%, 35.97%, and 11.28% of OTA content, respectively. The average overall reduction of OTA during grape vinegar was 75.19%, which can play an influential role in reducing the risks of this mycotoxin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Participatory budgeting (PB) is a modern trend involving citizens in decisions on distributing public resources. Assuming that the identified drawbacks of PB are described as internal and external factors, simple criteria were developed to predict the fate of PB. These criteria reflect stakeholders' decisions about PB continuation in the future. Using panel data between 2017-2022 from the Czech Republic, it appears that the selected criteria were evaluated as an upgrading process, signalling the continuation of PB. However, this does not mean abandoning the process in the case of downgrading. The results indicate a certain probability for upgrading PB to continue, while the fate of downgrading PB is indeterminate and could depend on other factors. In the case of new governance after an electoral change, using the criteria could help explain the actual situation regarding the interest of stakeholders in PB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Les patients qui posent des demandes d'aide active à mourir sont peu accompagnés par les équipes de soins palliatifs. Ils sont souvent pensés comme des gens forts, hors-norme, au-dessus des considérations palliatives. Une analyse psychanalytique arrimée à la notion de pulsion de mort montre que le raisonnement initial peut s'inverser et que, face à la mort, le plus faible n'est peut-être pas celui qu'on croit ! Ma thèse avance qu'une désintrication pulsionnelle se produit dans la vie psychique. L'équilibre Pulsion de vie/Pulsion de mort vole en éclats au profit du passage au premier plan de la pulsion de mort : la demande d'aide active à mourir est alors la seule voix/voie qui permet à ce sujet de tenir encore dans la vie. Un patient qui demande à mourir est d'abord un sujet qui perd pied avec une dynamique désirante tournée vers le futur. Il n'est plus en mesure de gérer la complexité de l'expérience qu'il vit et se situe donc plus du côté de la faiblesse que de la force. Cette réflexion invite le soin palliatif, non pas à renverser le raisonnement habituel des prises en charge (la vie doit continuer de désirer la vie en première intention), mais à mettre du jeu , notamment au moment du déclin psychique qui annonce la fin. Est-il possible de penser l'effondrement terminal d'un sujet , le repérer, en tenir compte, s'y ajuster ? L'éthique qui accueille et accompagne le travail de la pulsion de mort est une éthique qui permet ce travail de pensée. Parce qu'ils sont paradoxalement plus fragiles, plus faibles, plus seuls face à leur point d'impossible – que ceux qui parviennent à faire face à la mort, que ceux qui parviennent à rester reliés aux autres – les patients qui demandent une aide à mourir devraient être accompagnés en priorité. Patients who request active assistance in dying receive little support from palliative care teams. They are often thought of as strong, exceptional people, above palliative considerations. A psychoanalytical analysis based on the notion of the death drive shows that the initial line of reasoning can be reversed and that, when faced with death, the weakest person may not be the one we believe! My thesis advances the theory that a disintegration of the death drive occurs in psychic life. The balance between the instinct of life and the instinct of death is upended, and the death drive takes precedence: the request for active assistance in dying is thus the only voice/pathway that allows this subject to continue to hold onto life. A patient who requests help in dying is first and foremost a subject who has lost their grip on a desire dynamic that is future-oriented. They are no longer able to manage the complexity of the experience they are going through and are, therefore, more on the side of weakness than strength. This reflection invites us to recommend palliative care, not for the purpose of countering the usual reasoning of care (life must continue to desire life as a first intention), but to allow for some leeway, especially at the time of psychic decline which heralds the end. Is it possible to think about a subject's terminal collapse, identify it, take it into account, adjust to it? The moral considerations that welcome and accompany the workings of the death drive are principles that render this manner of reasoning possible. Because they are paradoxically more fragile, weaker, and more alone in the face of their psychic impasse than those who are able to face death, and than those who manage to remain connected to others, the patients who seek help in dying should be accompanied as a priority. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The occurrence of metal nanoparticles (MNPs) is an established environmental menace. After MNPs are released into the environment, they can interact with surrounding components and further be embedded within environmental substances, forming MNPs-carrier composites. Many studies have documented MNPs as individual particles. Yet, the specific impacts of environmental substances on the transport, fate, and eco-risks of MNPs-carrier composites have not been systematically analyzed. Here, we conducted a comprehensive review to illustrate the environmental carrier role for MNPs by different environmental substances and components, influencing their occurrence, transport route, transformation, and eco-effect, which calls for a reconsideration of the MNPs' eco-/health-connectivity. Studies on MNPs' environmental carrier in primary environmental domains reveal that in the atmosphere, MNPs-carrier composites are from nature-originated particulates followed by anthropogenic sources (e.g., traffic and industry exhausts); in the hydrosphere, various components (e.g., natural organic matter, extracellular polymeric substances, and proteins) can act as major carriers for MNPs; in the biosphere, microorganism and plant tissues can carry MNP-composites, which can be bioaccumulated and biomagnified through trophic transfer. Moreover, MNPs-carrier composites undergo distinct biogeochemical transformations in different environmental components, including aggregation, sedimentation, chemical transformation and dissolution, and the consequential biotransformation. Carriers' impacts on MNPs' environmental behavior manifested in changed bioavailability with widespread ecotoxicity via cellular uptake, oxidative stress and metal ions release, as well as in human health with adverse effects. Overall, this review can facilitate the understanding of MNPs-carrier composites' origin, transformation, fate, and eco-/health risks in the environment, proposing future research needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article analyses little-known short stories of modern Ukrainian writers Valerian Pidmohylny and Mykhailo Yatskiv in the context of the 20th century existentialism. It can be considered as a cultural phenomenon which combines philosophy with literature. Pidmohylny’s short stories were significantly influenced primarily by the ideas of the European philosophers of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Therefore, we can search for similar motives in the works of Pidmohylny and the existentialists, which developed under the influence of the ideas of Schopenhauer, Kierkegaard, and Nietzsche. Also, the authors consider Yatskiv’s short stories through the prism of the core concepts of existentialism, namely, fate and death. Pidmohylny and Yatskiv can be assigned to existential writers on the basis of retrospective analysis of the themes of their short stories and the thematic areas of 20th century existentialism.

The study is devoted to construct a typology of discourses about a miracle. Discourses are interpreted in this case not in a linguistic, but in a philosophical sense, as a certain “way of talking” about a chosen phenomenon. This includes the ontological and ideological position of the speaker (writer), emotional and value pathos, a communicative attitude or lack thereof, a message to the listener (reader) of specific views and beliefs. The author distinguishes three groups of discourses on the ideological basis: 1) a miracle, understood as supernatural, but accessible for communication; 2) a miracle understood as a man-made, purely human phenomenon; 3) a miracle as the result of a “dual determination” coming from both the transcendent and the person himself. The miracle is initially interpreted in the article as a positive phenomenon that can be described and expressed in speech without directly naming the word itself. Within the first group of discourses, the following are considered: religious (Christian), mythological and fairy-tale discourse, and the fate-providentialist discourse is also highlighted. The second approach, connected with the denial of the supernatural, speaks of a miracle in the context of its scientific and technical creation, as well as hopes for a miracle within the framework of progressive and utopian concepts. The third type of discourses, combining the view of a miracle as coming from above and from the person himself, includes mystical-magical, existential and creativistic discourses - interpreting the theme of creativity. The mystical-magical discourse describes a miracle as the result of illumination and as a consequence of persistent spiritual searches. In the existential discourse, represented by fiction, there is also a place for describing a miracle as a magical nature and a magical fate. In creative discourse, the miracle is the very act of the birth of a new one. Summing up what has been said, the author emphasizes that he presents readers with nothing more than a sketch that requires further work and thematic disclosure.

The increasing use of chemicals requires a better understanding of their presence and dynamics in the environment, as well as their impact on ecosystems. The aim of this study was to validate the first steps of an innovative multi-omics approach based on metabolomics and 16S metabarcoding data for analyses of the fate and impact of contaminants in Mediterranean lagoons. Semi-targeted analytical procedures for water and sediment matrices were implemented to assess chemical contamination of the lagoon: forty-six compounds were detected, 28 of which could be quantified in water (between 0.09 and 47.4 ng/L) and sediment (between 0.008 and 26.3 ng/g) samples using the UHPLC-MS/MS instrument. In addition, a non-targeted approach (UHPLC-HRMS) using four different sample preparation protocols based on solid/liquid extractions or an automated pressurized fluid extraction system (EDGE®) was carried out to determine the protocol with the best metabolome coverage, efficiency and reproducibility. Solid/liquid extraction using the solvent mixture acetonitrile/methanol (50/50) was evaluated as the best protocol. Microbial diversity in lagoon sediment was also measured after DNA extraction using five commercial extraction kits. Our study showed that the DNeasy PowerSoil Pro Qiagen kit (Promega, USA) was the most suitable for assessing microbial diversity in fresh sediment.

Zeydiyye mezhebine mensup iken Selef anlayışını seçen, itikadi görüşlerini daha çok İbn Teymiyye’nin fikirleri etrafında şekillendiren İbnü’l-Vezîr, diğer inanç konularının yanı sıra kader meselesi hakkında da düşüncelerini ortaya koymuştur. Bu son konu özelinde kader meselesine dalma yasağına dair de görüşlerini beyan etmiş, birtakım prensipler çerçevesinde fikirlerini izhar etmiştir. Daha çok hadis kaynaklarının şerhlerinde ve Selefiyye mensubu ilim ehlinin itikadi eserlerinde kendisine yer bulan mesele, bu kaynaklarda ağırlıklı olarak ilgili yasağın neleri kuşattığı üzerinden ele alınmaktayken İbnü’l-Vezîr, onu hem bu yönüyle hem de o yasağın neleri kapsamadığı çerçevesinde incelemiştir. Konuyu müstakil bir başlık altında ele alan müellif, önce bu yasağa kaynak olduğunu düşündüğü on hadise yer verip bunların sıhhat derecelerine dair bilgiler paylaşmış, ardından nasıl yorumlanması gerektiği hakkında görüşlerini beyan etmiştir. Bunu yaparken, mukayeseli bir yol izlemiş, ilgili hadislerin ortaya koyduğu yasağın neye yorulup neye yorulamayacağını dile getirmiştir. Yasağın özünü bidꜥata dalma ve kötülüklere neden olma maddesine dayandırmış, ayrıca birtakım kanıtlar üzerinden kader hakkında konuşmanın tümü ile yasak görülmeyeceğini temellendirmiştir.

The themes of past sins have occupied our collective imagination since the dawn of humankind. The ways in which characters are faced with their nemesis have changed throughout history, but the structure of the myth permeates our culture even nowadays. In this essay, Shaky from Simon Spurrier’s Crossed: Wish You Were Here is analysed and compared to Sophocles’ Oedipus Rex to determine if this myth still accurately represents some of our oldest fears, if its structure still serves the purpose of identifying anxieties in our culture, and it the Oedipal process can help explain Shaky’s search for identity.

Antibiotics are widely used in intensive animal husbandry in the Netherlands and are subsequently emitted to soil via manure. To predict degradation and mobility in soil, generic sorption models have been derived. However, most of the coefficients used in generic models are based on a limited range of soils and have not been validated for agricultural soils in the Netherlands. To improve model predictions and assess to what extent differences among soils affect sorption and degradation, an experimental study has been performed. Using a recently developed experimental approach, both the degradation (DT50) and mobility (Kd) of eight selected commonly used antibiotics were determined in 29 typical Dutch agricultural soils. Median DT50 values range from 5.3 days for Sulfadiazine to 120 days for Trimethoprim but are affected by soil type. The ratio of the lowest and highest DT50 for a given antibiotic among soils can be as large as 151, for Tylosin. Measured values of the logKd also range from 0.19 for Sulfadiazine to more than 2 for Doxycycline, Flumequine, Trimethoprim, Tylosin and Enrofloxacine. The impact of soil on Kd is large, especially for more mobile antibiotics such as Sulfadoxine and Sulfadiazine. Both the range in DT50 and Kd can be predicted reasonably well using a Freundlich type regression model that accounts for the variation in soil type and sampling depth. Organic matter, iron oxides, pH and clay content appear to be the main constituents and explain between 29 % (Trimethoprim) and 77 % of the variation in DT50 and between 64 % (Lincomycin) and 87 % (Sulfadoxine and Sulfadiazine) of the variation of Kd. The effect of depth on DT50 and Kd is however limited. The information thus obtained in combination with local data on soil type can be used to more accurately predict the potential risk of relevant antibiotics in soil and transport to ground- and nearby surface waters.

Plastic pollution has emerged as a global challenge affecting ecosystem health and biodiversity conservation. Terrestrial environments exhibit significantly higher plastic concentrations compared to aquatic systems. Micro/nano plastics (MNPs) have the potential to disrupt soil biology, alter soil properties, and influence soil-borne pathogens and roundworms. However, limited research has explored the presence and impact of MNPs on aquaculture systems. MNPs have been found to inhibit plant and seedling growth and affect gene expression, leading to cytogenotoxicity through increased oxygen radical production. The article discusses the potential phytotoxicity process caused by large-scale microplastics, particularly those unable to penetrate cell pores. It also examines the available data, albeit limited, to assess the potential risks to human health through plant uptake.