The Parsi Dilemma: A New Zealand Perspective

<p>The Parsis of India are a very small but important ethnic group, traditionally living in Gujarat but in modern times mainly located in Bombay, where, under the British Raj, they established themselves as leading merchants, politicians and professional people with an influence far exceeding their numerical strength. Since Indian Independence in 1947, that influence has declined as has the total size of the Parsi community in India. Many members of the community have dispersed overseas and during the last twenty years, New Zealand has emerged as a growing destination of choice. Many reasons have been put forward both by academia and by members of the Parsi community itself for the steeply declining numbers ranging from religious and ethnic exclusivity to loss of fecundity and consequential fall in the birth-rate to below the sustainability level. In my initial research for this thesis, I became aware that one reason for the decline, which did not feature in academic discourses but which seemed to be important, was the significance of Parsi culture, in particular the traditional emphasis on individual achievement, at the expense of communal cohesion. In seeking to corroborate my hypothesis, along with whether or not the current drive to migrate from India to countries such as New Zealand is having a positive or negative influence on the long-term chances for Parsi survival, I have carried out in-depth interviews with a cross-section of Parsis now resident in New Zealand. The outcomes of these interviews, together with a careful study of Parsi history and an analysis of their very distinctive culture, form the basis for my study. These outcomes and analyses have created an overall picture, which has confirmed my belief that the most important contributing factor to demographic decline amongst the Indian Parsi community has been their traditional drive towards individual material success. They have also shown that individual choice has been the principle post-Independence migratory driving force. There are more negative than positive elements associated with this migratory drive with the future of both Parsi identity and Zoroastrianism under serious threat through increasing dispersal and religious, ethnic and cultural dilution. This deteriorating situation is further exacerbated by internal strife fuelled by passionate ethno-religious debate over the best way forward.</p>

The Parsi Dilemma: A New Zealand Perspective

<p>The Parsis of India are a very small but important ethnic group, traditionally living in Gujarat but in modern times mainly located in Bombay, where, under the British Raj, they established themselves as leading merchants, politicians and professional people with an influence far exceeding their numerical strength. Since Indian Independence in 1947, that influence has declined as has the total size of the Parsi community in India. Many members of the community have dispersed overseas and during the last twenty years, New Zealand has emerged as a growing destination of choice. Many reasons have been put forward both by academia and by members of the Parsi community itself for the steeply declining numbers ranging from religious and ethnic exclusivity to loss of fecundity and consequential fall in the birth-rate to below the sustainability level. In my initial research for this thesis, I became aware that one reason for the decline, which did not feature in academic discourses but which seemed to be important, was the significance of Parsi culture, in particular the traditional emphasis on individual achievement, at the expense of communal cohesion. In seeking to corroborate my hypothesis, along with whether or not the current drive to migrate from India to countries such as New Zealand is having a positive or negative influence on the long-term chances for Parsi survival, I have carried out in-depth interviews with a cross-section of Parsis now resident in New Zealand. The outcomes of these interviews, together with a careful study of Parsi history and an analysis of their very distinctive culture, form the basis for my study. These outcomes and analyses have created an overall picture, which has confirmed my belief that the most important contributing factor to demographic decline amongst the Indian Parsi community has been their traditional drive towards individual material success. They have also shown that individual choice has been the principle post-Independence migratory driving force. There are more negative than positive elements associated with this migratory drive with the future of both Parsi identity and Zoroastrianism under serious threat through increasing dispersal and religious, ethnic and cultural dilution. This deteriorating situation is further exacerbated by internal strife fuelled by passionate ethno-religious debate over the best way forward.</p>

Comparison of efficacy and modes of action of two high-potential biocontrol Bacillus strains and commercial biocontrol products against Botrytis cinerea in table grapes

In table grapes (cv. Thomson Seedless), the antifungal activity against Botrytis cinerea was further analysed and compared between two high potential bacterial biological control agent (BCA) strains, Bacillus velezensis BUZ-14 and B. ginsengihumi S38. Two commercial biocontrol products (BPs), served as standards of comparison, Amylo-X® and Serenade Max®, also based on Bacillus BCA strains. The main mode of action quantified for all the strains was antibiosis due to hydrosoluble and volatile metabolites and their combinations. The BUZ-14 strain was the most active BCA strain, demonstrating significant disease reduction exceeding 60 % when used in the culture form grown in 863 medium, including living cells (LCs) and cell-free supernatant (CFS). Both BPs exhibited significantly reduced efficacy of their CFS fraction (< 10 %) compared with that of the two BCA strains, confirming their high antibiosis potential. The novel methodology allowed us to demonstrate the significant effect of the BCA culture medium on volatilome (VOC) antagonist efficacy. The S38 strain achieved the highest disease reduction (90 %) owing to the greatest production of VOCs in the richest MOLP (Medium Optimum Lipopetide Production) culture medium, whereas grape juice was the least favourable medium for VOC efficacy for both bacterial strains (BUZ14 and S38). The overall poor activity of living Bacillus cells in all the BCA and BPs tested is discussed based on the low capacity of the BCA strains to grow in the berry. Then, the presence of living cells is also discussed with the possibility that these cells are not required in field applications of such BCA strains in this genus. Moreover, different environmental suboptimal conditions, including temperature (22 and 27 °C) and relative humidity (RH) (100 and 85–95 %), were tested, and BUZ-14 exhibited the highest Botrytis reduction at both temperatures and RH values. However, no significant differences were observed between temperatures or RH values for the same BCA. Further studies in vineyard conditions and applications, such as biofumigation or active packaging, will be performed to confirm the new findings reported in this investigation.

Subcutaneous Aspergillus nodule with cutaneous Enterococcus infection

ABSTRACT An 87-year-old woman presented with a subcutaneous nodule with overlying black and yellow scales on the surface located on the left forearm. Enterococcus faecalis grew up in bacterial culture using specimen from skin surface scale. And Aspergillus fumigatus was detected in the subcutaneous tissue culture. When suspecting a deep infection, not only the surface part but also the deeper part must be cultured, because we may mislead about the identity of the infectious organism only bacterial culture form skin surface.

Intelligent Environmental Art Design Combining Big Data and Artificial Intelligence

The widespread use of artificial intelligence in the field of design teaching has become a development trend, and for the art design profession, we should conform to and actively adapt to this development trend, change the original teaching mode, innovate their own teaching methods, constantly enrich the teaching methods, so as to improve the quality of teaching, and constantly cultivate high-quality art design talents in the new era. For the subject students, they grow up under the Internet. They are more affectionate to many new technologies, and the traditional teaching methods have some problems to meet their learning needs, so it is very necessary to introduce artificial intelligence in teaching. In this paper, we will discuss the optimization of the curriculum system of art design in higher education institutions in the context of artificial intelligence. The purpose of guiding the innovation of environmental art design thinking is to stimulate students’ learning ability and innovation ability and learn to use design ideas in practice. Integrating design thinking with artificial intelligence gets four innovative ways of culture, form, function, and emotion in terms of innovation at the design thinking level; in terms of thinking innovation guidance, it gets the guidance of role transformation and model practice, integrating artificial intelligence with environmental art design thinking, designing interactive spaces more in line with the times, and promoting the harmonious development of human and nature.

Nurse’s Roles in Patient-Family Decision Making for Palliative Patients in Indonesia and Malaysia

BACKGROUND: The limited palliative care services can affect the late in palliative care management, such as late in decision making. Decision making is one of the crucial processes that every patient with life-threatening health life-limiting illness needs to overcome. Nurses can be the third party between the patients and physicians in helping them with decision making. AIM: The aim of this study was to explore the differences perspectives of palliative care decision making for palliative patients and families in Indonesia and Malaysia. METHODOLOGY: The study design used qualitative method with the phenomenology approach. The sample size of this study was 12 participants from two different study settings. They were three palliative nurses and three physicians from each country, selected by purposive sampling. The study was carried out at PKU Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta Hospital and Tuanku Fauziah Hospital Kangar, Perlis, Malaysia. Data collection used in-depth interview. The interpretative phenomenology analysis was used to analyze the data. RESULTS: There were differences in the perspectives of palliative care services in Indonesia and Malaysia based on the culture form each of the countries. Nurses played a supportive role in ensuring that the care delivered to the patients and families were effective and efficient. Lack of staff was one of the challenges for Indonesia and Malaysia palliative care services need to face. CONCLUSION: Three themes emerged from the collected data; there were views on palliative care, nurses’ supportive roles, and limited resources. To encounter the challenges and difficulties that interrupt the care delivery to the patients, nurses need to improve knowledge about palliative and their skills.

Circassia and the Crimean Khanate: the evolution of relationships (XVI-XVIII centuries)

At present investigation of the regional history, which is an element of all-Russian and world processes, has acquired particular relevance, as it makes it possible to soak up the national culture, form national identity, and preserve socio-cultural values and traditions of the people. Relations between the Circassians and the Crimean Khanate developed during the 15th - 18th centuries and were ambiguous. The research considers the features of the dynamic, contradictory relations of the Circassians (the Adyghs) with the Crimean Khanate. In the research an attempt has been made to characterize the methods of spreading influence in Circassia used by the Ottoman Empire government and the khans of the Girey dynasty. Considerable attention is paid to military aggression, and, to diametrically opposed mechanisms for regulating relations between the Circassians and the Crimean Khanate, such as atalism and dynastic marriages of the Crimean khans and the Circassian girls. The article uses chronological problematic, idiographic and retrospective methods of historical knowledge. The author concludes that Circassia occupied a special place in the foreign policy of the Crimean Khanate. Specific nature of the relationships based on a mutual desire to stabilize them, consisted in the use of various methods of achievement.

Using Project-Based Learning to Develop Social and Political Practices as Life-Long Learning Skills

Recent research shows that teaching learners to maintain positive attitudes and engage in social and political practices is an important educational asset, mainly for schools that adopt project-based learning. To set an efficient background for schools to support students’ understanding of both political and social participation, important preconditions of democratic school culture form effective outcomes to generate ethical behaviors. Today, social and political measures of project-based learning in schools provide important opportunities to engage learners in life-long activities. Thus, the central aim of these measures is to promote the efficiency of decision-making within schools, which shape all classic criteria for both functioning political and social integrity. This paper aims at examining important venues that school leaders wish to implement to foster new ethical participation within and outside school life by adopting project-based learning. It attempts to unravel the timely challenges of such implementation and the different perspectives for the progress of many educational institutions. Hence, the paper adheres to a meta-analysis technique, whereby a special examination of the various already conducted studies came out with conclusions: perspectives and challenges. Owing to its generative, and diagnostic nature, this method allows the researcher to explore some pitfalls which provide potential opportunities for alternative conclusions to be adopted in well-run approaches. The major results and conclusions drawn from this paper are to be deeply and qualitatively discussed and analyzed.