Dal Chiefdom allo Stato: Evoluzione delle élite militari nel Caucaso meridionale nel II e I millennio a.C.

This paper aims at highlighting the political process which began in the Caucasus toward the end of second millennium, characterized by the emergence of several interrelated cultures and the subsequent rise of numerous local political entities. This process took strength during the first half of the first millennium and reached its apex with the advent of the Urartian Kingdom and its state organization. This process was characterized by a progressive militarization of the local communities. It involves many interrelated aspects that encompass all levels of society, strongly affecting its organization and economy.

On Reflexivity in Ethnographic Practice and Knowledge Production

Deployed as much during fieldwork as in writing, reflexivity is itself positioned, its saliency as an epistemological device having transformed over time and space. Re-tracing its initial absence, subsequent rise in popularity and eventual routinization in academia, we position ourselves against reflexivity’s near-total displacement today by a narrow and increasingly prevalent understanding of positionality. We argue for a return to a broader and more relational understanding of reflexivity, proposing a methodological program to achieve and maintain its critical, ethical and political edge. Our aim is to engage in conversation about the value of reflexivity as an iterative and collaborative ethnographic endeavour with potential to produce more relational and engaged knowledge about increasingly overbearing field-sites in the Arab region and beyond.

A Study On The Influence Of Sodium Salt Solution On The Atterberg Limits And Swelling Of Bentonite Clay

Due to industrialization and subsequent rise in urbanisation, our groundwater system and geoenvironmental reserves are getting degraded due to detrimental effects of industrial wastes discarded off into the geo-environment. Basic components like water, air and soil all get degraded resulting unacceptable loss of their natural virtues like purity, renewability, stability, sustainability and tolerability. Major industrial effluents like salt solutions, chemicals, artificial dyes, heavy metals, pharmaceutical residues and sewages etc., are posing the major problems for the ecosystem and their subparts. Since, bentonite clay has peculiar characteristics of high swelling and high pollutant absorbing capacity along with low hydraulic conductivity, it is used as a geotechnical clay liner. However, the geotechnical parameters of bentonite get affected on interaction with cations present in salt solutions. This investigation was carried out in order to observe the influences of salt solutions on bentonite and the results obtained depicts that the varying salt concentrations have a definite influence on Atterberg limits, swelling of bentonite.

Traumatic brain injury and sight loss in military and veteran populations– a review

War and combat exposure pose great risks to the vision system. More recently, vision related deficiencies and impairments have become common with the increased use of powerful explosive devices and the subsequent rise in incidence of traumatic brain injury (TBI). Studies have looked at the effects of injury severity, aetiology of injury and the stage at which visual problems become apparent. There was little discrepancy found between the frequencies or types of visual dysfunctions across blast and non-blast related groups, however complete sight loss appeared to occur only in those who had a blast-related injury. Generally, the more severe the injury, the greater the likelihood of specific visual disturbances occurring, and a study found total sight loss to only occur in cases with greater severity. Diagnosis of mild TBI (mTBI) is challenging. Being able to identify a potential TBI via visual symptoms may offer a new avenue for diagnosis.

Technology and Education - Prospects of a Future Classroom

In an age where everything has become more Visual and access to technology and its devices has increased significantly, there is a need to bring about a radical change in how education is imparted and delivered. Using modern age technology, we can not only save resources and time but also make learning more interactive and attractive. This research study was undertaken to ascertain which methodology of teaching works best in the modern-day scenario. Two studies were undertaken.In the first study, a test was conducted on a group of 40 students of the school who were experimented with by delivering lessons in both modern and traditional teaching methods. After analyzing the results, it was observed that the modern way of teaching is a better source of imparting knowledge as it engages the students and makes them want to learn more. In the second study, increased use of the internet and a subsequent rise in online education portals is observed, thereby proving that the modern way of teaching holds the key to a better future in the field of education.

Selected approaches for conflict resolution in marriage disputes in Zimbabwe

Realising an increase in marriages, an increase in marriage violence and a subsequent rise in marriage homicide, the study explored the possibility of taking divorce as a preferred option towards ending marriage violence and subsequent homicide. The triangulated study adopted a descriptive survey design which collected data through questionnaires that were distributed to 160 purposively sampled participants. The study followed an anti-positivist approach which relies on depth rather than width of data. Data were analysed and interpreted using NVIVO software and dyadic analysis, which provided for the analysis of descriptive and statistical data. It was the study’s finding that marriage conflicts and homicide are rampant in Zimbabwe and the available resolution systems have lost relevance and effectiveness. The study, noted that while marriages are good for the development of any society, if there are irreparable differences between couples, there is need to separate or divorce under what the study calls ‘just divorce’. The study concludes that ’just divorce’ is basically meant to save lives while allowing divorcees to reconnect after they would have really made up their minds and addressed emotions. It takes national authorities to appreciate the essence of ‘just divorce’ for them to embrace it as a policy. Key words: Marriage violence; Divorce; Marriage homicide; Family conflicts; Conflict resolution; Just Divorce

Selected approaches for conflict resolution in marriage disputes in Zimbabwe

Realising an increase in marriages, an increase in marriage violence and a subsequent rise in marriage homicide, the study explored the possibility of taking divorce as a preferred option towards ending marriage violence and subsequent homicide. The triangulated study adopted a descriptive survey design which collected data through questionnaires that were distributed to 160 purposively sampled participants. The study followed an anti-positivist approach which relies on depth rather than width of data. Data were analysed and interpreted using NVIVO software and dyadic analysis, which provided for the analysis of descriptive and statistical data. It was the study’s finding that marriage conflicts and homicide are rampant in Zimbabwe and the available resolution systems have lost relevance and effectiveness. The study, noted that while marriages are good for the development of any society, if there are irreparable differences between couples, there is need to separate or divorce under what the study calls ‘just divorce’. The study concludes that ’just divorce’ is basically meant to save lives while allowing divorcees to reconnect after they would have really made up their minds and addressed emotions. It takes national authorities to appreciate the essence of ‘just divorce’ for them to embrace it as a policy. Key words: Marriage violence; Divorce; Marriage homicide; Family conflicts; Conflict resolution; Just Divorce

Lag Between COVID-19 Cases And Subsequent Deaths

Background: Observed COVID-19 cases and deaths are frequently used as independent factors to justify the use or de-escalation of non-pharmaceutical interventions. To investigate and describe the temporal relationship between changes in epidemic curves for COVID-19 cases and deaths, a longitudinal analysis of these metrics was performed for 16 states in the United States and three countries.Results: The analysis performed demonstrates a considerable, consistent lag between a surge in COVID-19 cases and the subsequent rise in attributable deaths, with approximately a month-long lag observed.Conclusions: The time lag identified must be incorporated in health emergency decision making in order to avoid the pre-mature de-escalation of disease mitigation measures.