Troubles in Prague Escalate

This chapter addresses how, for all that March of 1620 was a month of celebration for Frederick V and Elizabeth Stuart, moves were afoot that would soon darken their mood. Although the Bohemian princes had rallied behind their new king, those of the Empire as a whole, Protestant and Catholic alike, met at Mühlhausen and agreed that Frederick should abdicate. Frederick remained adamant that it was his duty to protect both his subjects and the Imperial Constitution from further violations of the 'Letter of Majesty'. What Frederick considered a principled stand was seen by the Emperor as recalcitrance, and four armies were raised against him. How influential Elizabeth's sensitivity to Bohemian mores proved is not clear, but it is clear that she and Frederick gained the love of their subjects. The chapter then considers the signing of the Treaty of Ulm on July 3, 1620, under which both the Catholic League and the Protestant Union agreed to abstain from pursuing military action within the electoral lands of the Empire. While various Protestant armies would be raised in support of the King and Queen of Bohemia, the Union was no longer a coherent entity, let alone a threat to the Emperor or the Spanish. The chapter then details the Battle of White Mountain and the conflicting reports regarding the fate of Elizabeth Stuart and her then unborn child, Maurice.

Ethanol: Toxicity and Dangers in Women of Child-Bearing Age

The World Health Organisation estimates that alcohol abuse by adults accounts for about 5% of global disease burden. Additionally, prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) causes ‘fetal alcohol spectrum disorder’ (FASD). Depending on severity, FASD is characterised by low birth weight, small head size at birth and growth retardation. There are also facial features of narrow eyes, flat upper lip and midface and impaired fine motor skills, hearing loss, poor hand-eye coordination and cognitive impairment. World-wide, up to 10% of children may be affected by PAE. It is unclear what dose or pattern of drinking results in these damaging effects, but animal models suggest that high, acute doses of ethanol (‘binge drinking’) in early pregnancy can result in the facial changes of FASD, whilst sustained, lower dose intake in later pregnancy produces anxiety and depression-like symptoms and deficits of learning and memory. The mechanisms underlying the deleterious effects of PAE are also unresolved, but evidence exists of long-lasting damage due to oxidative stress, increases in inflammatory mediators and changes to the brain renin-angiotensin system. There is also evidence of epigenetic changes. There is a need to prevent or limit the potential adverse effects of ethanol on the unborn child. It is highly unlikely, however, that all sexually-active women of child-bearing age not using reliable contraception will abstain from alcohol. There is therefore a need to research methods of reducing ethanol toxicity for the unborn child and / or develop therapeutic strategies to reverse the deleterious effects of ethanol on the unborn child.

The prenatal period and related prohibitions and prescriptions among the Old Believers of the Republic of Moldova

The author presents some results of her research of the indicated period, which was carried out on the basis of a specially compiled questionnaire in places of compact residence of Lipovans in such villages as Kunicha, Egorovka, etc., as well as in the city of Chisinau. There are a number of preventive actions and prohibitions aimed at ensuring the health and strength of the woman in labor and her baby. Often they are based on common sense, on pragmatics, but not always the informants could explain the reasons for certain prohibitions. A pregnant woman was prohibited from doing, for example, the following actions: sewing; stepping over a long (wire, rope) or sharp object; contacting with animal hair (dogs, cats, etc.); touching her own body when frightened (for example, during a fire); looking at the deceased through the window, etc. According to the testimony of informants, much attention was paid to protecting the woman in labor from the „evil eye”. And if this happened, then they were treated with prayers and herbs. There were also signs by which they tried to guess the sex of the unborn child. Before giving birth, a woman usually confesses to her spiritual father.

THE POETICS OF MYTHOLOGISM IN N. IJENDEY's POEM “THE VOICE OF THE UNBORN CHILD”

This article deals with mythological images, motifs, elements used in the works of Chuvash poet Nikolai Ijendey (Petrov). The Chuvash mithology identifies the representatives of good and evil that exist parallel to each other and to the world of people. The main content of the article is to identify characteristics of these images on the example of the poem "The Voice of the Unborn Child". In the course of our work we relied on the scientific works of leading Chuvash mythologists, folklorists and researchers; used a comparative and descriptive methods. In the result of the conducted research the authors come to the conclusion that the poet creates a new version of the myth about the origin of Арçури (Forest Spirit, Leshy), applies in this case people's idea of good and evil principles, the afterlife, spirits of ancestors, a description of the rituals associated with the birth of a child. Mythological images and details allowed the poet to convey the specifics of the vague transitional period in the development of the country's history and people. They deepen the semantic space of a literary text, add tragedy to what is said. The meaning of mythological images used by the poet is typical for other authors of the Chuvash literature.

The role of endocannabinoids in pregnancy

Objective: In this paper, we summarize the role of the endocannabinoid system in relation to pregnancy and childbirth and its potential for dia gnosis of preterm birth. Methods: Review of articles in peer-reviewed journals using the PubMed database. Results: Endocannabinoid system plays a signifi cant role in embryo development, transport and implantation as well as in placentation. It consists of numerous endogenous ligands; however, in relation to pregnancy there are mainly two studied representatives: anandamide and 2-arachidonoylglycerol. There is increasing evidence, in addition to early pregnancy events, that anandamide plays a regulatory role in pregnancy maintenance and the timing of labour. The activity of anandamide depends on its metabolic pathway and the enzymatic activity that ensures its conversion. Ultimately, changes in anandamide concentration lead to increased production of prostaglandins or prostamides, with inverse eff ects on pregnancy. The abuse of exogenous cannabinoids in pregnancy has substantial impact on the unborn child in many ways and may result in detrimental eff ects including preterm birth. Conclusion: Measuring anandamide concentration and the prostaglandin to prostamide ratio could be a useful tool in assessing the risk of preterm birth. Key words: endocannabinoid system – pregnancy – labour

The COVIDPregDK Study: A national survey on pregnancy during the early COVID-19 pandemic in Denmark

Aim: We aimed to describe the aim, data collection and content from a survey completed among pregnant women during the first peak of the COVID-19 pandemic in Denmark. Methods: The declaration of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020 challenged pregnant women’s mental well-being due to a concern for their unborn child and their need for healthcare services through pregnancy and birth. To explore how the COVID-19 pandemic and the intensified measures such as the lockdown of Denmark impacted pregnant women’s well-being and mental health, we conducted a questionnaire survey in the spring of 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic was at its first peak, and the consequences for pregnant women and the unborn child were very uncertain. All women residing in Denmark and registered with an ongoing pregnancy on 24 April 2020 were invited to participate. The questionnaire included background information, variables on COVID-19 symptoms and validated batteries of questions on loneliness, anxiety, stress, quality of life, meditation and prayers. Additional questions were included to examine concerns related to pregnancy and childbirth during the pandemic. Cohort characteristics: Almost 18,000 women answered the questionnaire, which represents 60% of all invited women who experienced a national lockdown for the first time. Their median age was 30 years, and they were more likely to be multiparous. Conclusions: Data from the COVIDPregDK Study will enable us to gain valuable knowledge on how the pandemic, the intensified measures from the health authorities and the national lockdown affected pregnant women’s mental health and their concerns during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Traces of Early Halakhot in the “Hava Amina” of the Sages in Second Temple Literature and the Ethiopian Halakhah

This essay seeks to add a further layer to the discussion of associations between ancient Halakhah and that of Beta Israel by examining correlations between halakhic traditions that were preserved among Ethiopian Jewish communities and the Hava Amina mentioned by the Sages. It demonstrates that opinions espoused by the sages’ opponents can be identified within the Hava Amina of the Talmudic discussion. The discussion presents three examples: The use of fire on Shabbat, Kosher slaughtering by someone other than a priest, and the status of an unborn child. The article concludes that the sages were familiar with ancient halakhic traditions parallel to those of the Ethiopian Halakhah, rejected these traditions from the accepted Halakhah, yet preserved traces of them in the Hava Amina of the Talmudic give and take.