Following The Milky Way Path of Souls

Cahokia was a major Native American city on the east side of the Mississippi River, across from the modern-day city of St. Louis, Missouri. Cahokia flourished from c.1050 AD to c.1250. In this paper archaeoastronomic and ethnohistoric data along with computer simulations are used to explore the idea that the Cahokia site axis and the Rattlesnake Causeway were intentionally aligned to the Milky Way. It is proposed that this alignment accounts for the peculiar 5° offset of the site from the cardinal directions. Following Sarah Baires, it is suggested that Rattlesnake Causeway was a terrestrial metaphor for the Milky Way Path of Souls used by the deceased to cross to the Land of the Dead. Rattlesnake Mound at the end of the Causeway is suggested as a portal to the Path of Souls. According to ethnohistoric accounts, the Land of the Dead was guarded by a Great Serpent – suggested here as visible in the night sky as either the constellation Serpens or that of Scorpius.

Effects of Gap Size and Cardinal Directions on Natural Regeneration, Growth Dynamics of Trees outside the Gaps and Soil Properties in European Beech Forests of Southern Italy

The present study was focused on how cardinal directions inside gaps of different sizes (small, 200 m2; medium, 400 m2; and large, 600 m2) can affect soil characteristics and tree regeneration. Additionally, the effects of gap size on the growth dynamics of trees outside the gaps were evaluated. The study was carried out in a European beech stand located in Aspromonte National Park (Southern Apennines, Calabria, Italy). Microclimatic variables, physical, chemical, and biochemical soil properties, natural regeneration density, and growth trees outside the gaps density of natural regeneration were assessed. This study provided evidence for an important effect of cardinal points on micro-environmental parameter variability, nutrient cycle, physic-chemical soil properties, water availability, and biological processes such as trees growth and regeneration. The European beech natural regeneration was most abundant in the south part of the gaps. Thus, we can state that cardinal points affect the trees natural regeneration in a species-specific manner. The new microclimatic conditions due to the gap opening had positive effects on the tree growth located along the gap edge, especially in the trees sampled on the edges of the medium gaps. On the contrary, the trees located in the forest recorded a productivity coherent with the period prior the gap opening. In medium-sized gaps, the combination and interaction of microclimatic and soil parameters (humification and mineralization process and microbial activity) created the best conditions for beech natural regeneration and favored an increase in the productivity of the trees at the edge of the gaps.

Differentiation of Dust Holding Capacity of Poplar Crowns

One of the key parameters of comfort and compliance with sanitary standards for cities is dustiness of atmosphere. Plantings of representatives of the poplar genus (Populus L.) become a reliable means of optimizing this parameter. We have studied the effectiveness of using different types of poplars in urban plantings, taking into account the differentiation of crown sections by the ability to deposit dust on the surface of the leaf apparatus. The object of research is 8 species from different sections of the poplar genus, typically found in urban plantings of the Nizhny Novgorod region. We considered the influence of three independently of one another factors on the dispersion of dust holding capacity: species-specificity of poplars (8 gradations); lighting conditions of crown due to its orientation relative to the cardinal directions (4 gradations); height characteristics of the crown tier location (3 gradations). Dust was washed off from 100 leaves of each poplar species with their fixed area. The highest amount of dust in the flushes was observed for silver poplar (257.60±5.05 mg), and the lowest – for black poplar (117.69±3.65 mg) and Pópulus nígra var. itálica (105.69±2.90 mg). Oneway ANOVA confirmed the significance of differences between the species for all parameters of dust holding capacity. Three-way ANOVA showed the influence of leaf surface locations in different parts of the crown on the efficiency of dust deposition by representatives of different species. Species appeared to be the most important in the distribution of dust deposited on the leaf surface of shoots in different parts of the crown; the share of its influence was 37.65±0.51 %. The effect of crown lighting conditions was also well measurable; its share was equal to 20.45±0.28 %. The influence of the crown tier height was noticeably less; its share reached 7.19±0.21 %. The listed factors are little related to each other, and their interaction generated a negligible effect: 6.67±4.54 %, Fh2 = 1.47, significance is reliable at 5 % level (F05 = 1.41) and unreliable at 1 % level (F01 = 1.61). For citation: Besschetnova N.N., Besschetnov P.V. Differentiation of Dust Holding Capacity of Poplar Crowns. Lesnoy Zhurnal [Russian Forestry Journal], 2021, no. 5, pp. 48–64. DOI: 10.37482/0536-1036-2021-5-48-64

THE CONCEPT OF THE SANITARY PROTECTION ZONE: APPROACHES AND DEFINITIONS

The article gives an authorial definition of the sanitary protection zone. Sources of ionizing radiation were not taken into account when the definition was created as they have their own specifics and require individual investigation. The definition of the sanitary protection zone is given through the substance of its features, which are disclosed through analysis and comparison of regulatory acts, draft regulatory acts and literature. The features of the sanitary protection zone are the following: facility in respect of which the sanitary protection zone is established; the purpose of its establishment; zone size and boundaries; zone location and configuration; restriction of rights within the zone boundaries. It is proposed to define the facility in a general term “real estate”. It is defined that the purpose of establishing a sanitary protection zone is to ensure the absence of harmful impact on human health outside its boundaries. The size of a sanitary protection zone is calculated in eight cardinal directions taking into account the chemical, biological and physical impact on atmospheric air. The location of a sanitary protection zone is determined around an industrial facility and resembles a belt in configuration. The boundaries of a sanitary protection zone are determined by the geodetic method. The size and boundaries of a zone are shown in urban development zoning maps and in the public cadastral map. Restrictions within sanitary protection zones are expressed in prohibition on construction and obligations on compliance with the established regime.

The Geometry and Symbolic Architecture of Basque Stone Octagons: The Pastoral Sarobe

<p>In the Basque Country (Euskal Herria) stone octagons, known as <em>sarobe</em> in Basque (Euskara), were built using specified dimensions, based on a “geometric foot” standard (0.278m). This standard was incorporated into a septarian system of measurements, e.g., rods of 7 g.ft. in length, called <em>gizabete</em>, poles of 21 g.ft. and a unit called <em>gorapila</em> of 49 g.ft. The dimensions of the stone octagons suggest that ritual importance was attributed to their geometric design, to the size of their perimeter and their orientation. According to local tradition and Basque legal codes, the eight stones on the perimeter had to be oriented to the cardinal and inter-cardinal directions. Field work indicates that over 500 octagons may have existed inside Euskal Herria at some point in the past. In the study region the stone octagons are linked specifically to localized transhumant practices of Basque-speaking shepherds, well documented socio-cultural practices that appear to date back to the Late Bronze Age if not earlier. Inferential evidence suggests that the cognitive origins of their architectural design might reach back to the Neolithic and be related to similar pastoral traditions as well as septarian units of measure encountered along the Atlantic façade. Thus far, even though several of the sites have been Carbon-14 dated, the absolute <em>terminus ante quem non</em> of the design of the octagons is still uncertain.</p>

Post-harvesting natural regeneration of Theobroma subincanum Mart. (Cupuí) (Malvaceae) inside and around logging gaps

The natural regeneration dynamics of Theobroma subincanum Mart. (Malvaceae) around canopy gaps created by tree felling due to selective logging was assessed. For that, an experiment located in the Experimental Field of Embrapa Eastern Amazon in Moju municipality, PA, Brazil was carried out. Nine logging gaps were selected, and four strips of 10 m x 50 m were installed in each of these gaps following the cardinal directions. These plots were split in five 10 m x 10 m plots numbered from 1 to 5 from the gap’s border toward the forest. In plots 1, 3, and 5 and in the gap’s center 2 m x 2 m plots were installed to monitor individuals ≥ 10 cm in height and < 5 cm in DBH. In most of the variation factors analized, Theobroma subincanum presented higher recruitment rate in period 1 (1998-2000), since the competition for light were less intense. In period 2 (2000-2010), under a possible lower luminosity and higher competition, RR was lower for all factors analyzed. In relation to gap size, T. subincanum presented the best results in RR around medium size gaps. The distance of 20 m in relation to the gap center, with intermediary sunlight condititions, T. subincanum presented higher RR. The population of T. subincanum had better performance under intermediate light conditions.

THE RITUAL OF TWIN BURIALS IN KUDASHEVSKY I BURIAL GROUND OF PERM PRIKAMYE

The article deals with the features of the funeral rite of the ancient population - twin burials on the example of the Kudashevsky I burial ground (3 - 5 centuries AD), located in the Bardymsky district of the Perm Region. In the ground part of the monument in the rows, along with individual pits are allocated a slightly larger size, but having the same orientation to the cardinal directions. All twin burials of the monument have inventory that does not differ from individual burials in the composition and number of items. But some details in the decoration of the burial place twin graves differ from individual graves. The funerary wooden structures in the graves represent separate places for each of the pair and differ in morphological details. Grave items of weapons and household items are found in men's graves, as well as in individual graves. Comparison of the accompanying inventory allows you to determine the gender and status of a person in a pair, to identify important people - men who played a significant role in the military and women who have set neck jewelry - necklaces. Armaments and household items were found in male graves, jewelry and household items in female burials, as well as in individual graves. The study of things in the burials made it possible to date the twin graves to the time of the late 4 - early 5 centuries. The issue of semantics of twin burials is considered. Twin burials are associated with the processes of assimilation of the newcomer population into the local population. Analogs to twin burials from burial sites of the middle of the 1 Millennium AD of the Perm and Udmurt Kama region are given.

PENENTUAN LOKASI USAHA BERDASARKAN ARAH MATA ANGIN (Studi fenomenologi Pada Pemborong Padi Di Kecamatan Kesamben)

This study aims to reveal the strategies of rice wholesalers in determining the right business location according to the cardinal directions to meet consumer needs. Choosing the right location will have an impact on the development of the business. The method uses qualitative method and phenomenological approach, where the researcher explores the high and deep meaning of events or phenomena applied by the contractors in choosing a business location. The result proves the contractors choose the location based on the belief in the wind direction which is adjusted to the Java market day which is difficult to accept logically. Furthermore the choice of business location is based on magical beliefs. The contractor believes that the wind direction that is adjusted to certain days and markets is special and will generate profits used for business activities.

Airborne Dissemination of Bacteria (Enterococci, Staphylococci and Enterobacteriaceae) in a Modern Broiler Farm and Its Environment

The role of the air as a vehicle of bacteria dissemination in the farming environment has been previously reported, but still scarcely studied. This study investigated the bacteria density/diversity of the inside and outside air and of litter samples at a broiler farm. Samples were collected considering two seasons, three outside air distances (50/100/150 m) and the four cardinal directions. Selective media was used for staphylococci, enterococci, and Enterobacteriaceae recovery. A high number of bacteria was detected in the litter (2.9 × 105–5.8 × 107 cfu/g) and in the inside air (>105 cfu/m3), but a low emission of bacteria was evidenced in the outside air (<6 cfu/m3). Moreover, the bacteria detected in the farm’s outside air decreased the further from the farm the sample was taken. A total of 544 isolates were identified by MALDI-TOF (146 from the litter, 142 from inside air and 256 from outside air). From these, 162 staphylococci (14 species; S. saprophyticus 40.7%), 176 Enterobacteriaceae (4 species; E. coli 66%) and 190 enterococci (4 species; E. hirae 83%) were detected. E. hirae was the predominant species, and identical PFGE clones were detected in inside and outside samples. The detection of identical DNA profiles in E. hirae isolates from inside and outside samples suggests the role of the air in bacterial dissemination from the inside of the broiler farm to the immediate environment.