Search Results (4,684)

The twentieth (20th) century represents a radical transformation in architectural history. Unlike previous centuries, characterized by gradual stylistic continuity, it witnessed a succession of theoretical ruptures, technological innovations, material discoveries, and experimental design paradigms. Each movement emerged by questioning the assumptions of its predecessors, generating an experimentation laboratory that transformed the relationship between buildings, resources, climate, and society. Despite this exceptional intellectual and technological legacy, 20th-century architecture is still predominantly interpreted through its technological shortcomings, while the historical evolution of its contributions to environmental sustainability and energy efficiency is still lacking. This study reconstructs the historical genealogy of environmental sustainability and energy efficiency across the principal architectural movements of the 20th century. Through a comparative analysis of design theories and architectural principles, it identifies environmental and energy paradigms, drawbacks, and design lessons. Environmental sustainability evolved around material durability, adaptability, resource optimization, contextual integration, and life cycle thinking, whereas energy efficiency developed through passive climatic strategies, building morphology, envelope performance, daylight, natural ventilation, and environmental control. The study demonstrates that many of the principles underpinning contemporary sustainable and energy-efficient architecture originated during the 20th century. Approaches such as Parametricism, Computational Design, Biomimetic Architecture, Climate-Responsive Design, Circular Architecture, and Regenerative Design extend these concepts through new scientific understanding, digital technologies, and environmental performance objectives. Full article

The appearance and spread of the image of the bicorporate sphinx in Scythia of 4th century BC can be regarded as an example of selective borrowing from ancient iconography. In the Greek world, this type is encountered rarely, but it gained considerable currency among the Scythians of the Northern Black Sea region. Its spread coincides with the period of expansion of the fantastic bestiary among the Scythians and the increasing complexity of the funerary rite of the Scythian elite. The predominance of finds in female burials indicates that this image was part of the circle of signs associated specifically with women’s high social status. The doubling of the body enhanced the image’s visual expressiveness and protective nature. More complex interpretations of the worldview are not supported by the sources and cannot be considered proven. Full article

Bilsk hillfort (or gorodishche in Ukrainian) is the largest fortified settlement of the Early Iron Age in Eastern Europe. Long-term excavations made it possible to determine that it was a powerful industrial, political, religious, and trade center of the forest-steppe populations. Thanks to trade relations with the ancient cities of the Northern Black Sea region, wine in amphorae, ceremonial tableware, and glassware came to the settlement. The latter were mainly represented by beads of various shapes and ornaments. In this article, for the first time, 61 unique (or 135, taking similar ones into account) glass beads found during the excavations at the Bilsk hillfort are analyzed. To establish their chronology and the assortment of receipts in the different periods of the settlement’s existence, only beads from burials and various economic complexes with reliable dating were considered. It was established that glass beads reached the Bilsk settlement through Greek-mediated exchange networks from the last quarter of the 7th century BC. Their arrival continued continuously until the end of the 4th century BC, that is, during the entire Scythian period of the fortified settlement’s existence. The beads most likely reached Bilsk through exchange networks linking the settlement with the Greek cities of the Northern Black Sea region. Three overland routes may have been involved: the Olbian, Muravsky and Chersonesan routes. Evidence from Greek ceramics and other Mediterranean or Olbian imports suggests that the Olbian route was probably the dominant channel. Full article

Among the pictorial remains unearthed from Buddhist monastery sites in the Khotan region, a distinct category of female deities holds considerable significance. Belonging to the local protective pantheon of Khotan, they fulfilled the dual functions of safeguarding the Buddhist Dharma and protecting the local population. The Earth Goddess (Pṛthivī-Dṛḍhā) discussed in this paper is a particularly representative example of such goddesses. This study will focus on early Chinese translations of Buddhist scriptures, with particular reference to and utilization of the Khotanese and Tibetan Buddhist textual materials unearthed from Dunhuang, as well as relevant scholarly findings. Through these sources, this paper attempts to explore how this relatively inconspicuous minor protective deity in early Gandhāran Buddhist art rose to prominence in Khotan during the 9th to 10th centuries, becoming a greatly venerated local protective goddess who assumed the status of a wet nurse (or nurturing mother) figure for the Khotan region. The iconography of the Earth Goddess, as known from early Mahāyāna scriptures and Gandhāran art, underwent a prolonged process of transformation and reinterpretation in Khotan, evolving from textual sources into visual representations. This transformation highlights the creative agency of the ancient Khotanese in the realms of culture and art. Full article

Glass sponges (Porifera: Hexactinellida) have been the subject of scientific investigation for over two centuries, yet the temporal and thematic structure of this research effort has never been quantitatively evaluated. Here, we assessed taxonomic activity, geographical and bathymetric coverage, and keyword trends extracted from the indexed literature. We found two different periods of intense taxonomic activity occurring in the late 19th century and early 20th century, and then following World War II, with a steady increase in currently indexed publication output following the establishment of the modern peer-review system. However, research has been disproportionately concentrated on mesophotic and bathyal depths, whereas shallow and abyssal glass sponges have received comparatively little attention, while hadal records remained largely confined to the non-indexed literature until very recently. Furthermore, we found a decline in the number of active experienced glass sponge taxonomists, with few new experts being trained. This mismatch occurs as abyssal and hadal environments become increasingly accessible, potentially constraining our ability to adequately study the taxonomy and ecology of ultra-deep glass sponges. Full article

This article examines the ontological implications inherent in the sharp distinction, established within Diṅnāga’s school, between sensory perception and all mental constructions. Focusing on Dharmakīrti’s equation (and that of his commentators) of being with causal efficacy (arthakriyā), both in the Nyāyabindu and Pramāṇavārttika (the 7th c. A.D.), the author reconstructs a more complete hierarchy of being within the Pramāṇa tradition of Buddhist philosophy, also basing himself on the most renowned commentaries, i.e., those of Vinītadeva, Dharmottara and Prajñākāragupta (the 7th–8th c. A.D). At the apex of this hierarchy stands the ultimately real being-as-causal efficacy, i.e., momentary perceptions; in the middle are all universals, including non-being (abhāva); at the bottom is the existence of illusory perceptual objects. While having been articulated by the commentators, this “ladder” already began its elaboration in Dharmakīrti’s writings. The article concludes by opening a new comparative horizon—juxtaposing Buddhist attempts to define being as such with certain Western models of ontological definitions (those of Plato and his followers up to the 21st century) and ontological hierarchies. Full article

This article discusses an unknown Scythian burial discovered by Serhiy Mazaraki near the village of Velyki Budky (Sumy Oblast, Ukraine) at the end of the 19th century and previously unknown to researchers. An assemblage of gold objects from this burial is identified, including a ring and seven plate appliqués depicting a scene in the Scythian “animal style,” dated to the second or third quarter of the 5th century BCE. The objects have numerous parallels, which help illuminate broader aspects of Scythian culture. The ring belongs to a small group of high-conical-shielded rings, likely crafted by Bosporan jewelers catering to a Scythian clientele; it is suggested that they were common in the northern Black Sea region throughout the 5th century BCE. The image of a curled-up predator on the gold appliqués corresponds, in both compositional and stylistic features, to the artistic tradition of the “animal style” of the 5th century BCE. Unique is the depiction of another image—the head of an antelope with a straight horn on the plaques. The assemblage of artifacts enables us to explore various aspects of the artistic traditions of the northern Black Sea region, the Kuban, the Cis-Urals, and even Western Asia. Full article

Agave angustifolia Haw. is one of the primary sources for the production of mezcals such as raicilla and tuxca, in western Mexico. In Jalisco, Agave angustifolia evolved from being a pre-Hispanic ritual and food resource (200–1500 CE) to becoming the primary basis for 16th-century vino mezcal, the precursor to all modern mezcals, including raicilla and tequila. This review synthesizes current genomic, epigenetic, and metabolic evidence to elucidate the species’ evolutionary and adaptive potential. Our analysis suggests that the domestication of A. angustifolia is characterized by a “domestication paradox,” where intensive clonal management ensures short-term productivity but creates genetic bottlenecks that limit long-term adaptive capacity. We synthesize empirical evidence to show that adaptive plasticity is driven by the integration of Crassulacean Acid Metabolism (CAM) flexibility and dynamic global DNA methylation (GDM) profiles, which, while currently correlative, suggest an environmental response mechanism. We conclude that securing the socio-economic viability of Agave spirits requires a transition from intensive monocultures to regenerative agroforestry, incorporating sexual propagation to maintain evolutionary potential. Furthermore, we outline a roadmap for Genomics-Assisted Breeding (GAB 4.0), integrating marker-assisted selection for juvenile traits to accelerate the release of resilient biotypes, and precision diagnostic tools to reduce the ecological footprint of Agave production. This framework secures the genomic integrity of traditional spirits within a circular, climate-resilient bioeconomy. Full article

The handsome cross grasshopper Oedaleusdecorus (Germar), which was a minor pest in the 19th and first half of the 20th century, in the late 20th and early 21st centuries, became one of the emerging regional pests in the Asian part of its range, especially across the intermountain basins of the mountains of South Siberia, Mongolia and North and Northeast China. This is why it is necessary to identify the main trends of possible changes in its distribution. Several sets of data on the species distribution (1895–1960, 1961–2023, and all data) are analysed and several various approaches to modelling (graphic, maximum entropy and multidimensional ellipsoid) are utilised. The models produced for modern conditions describe well the known geographical and ecological distributions of the species in the Asian part of its range. Graphic models characterising the species’ distribution within a system of life zones and major ecosystem types show its general preference for dry steppes and semideserts. The models demonstrate apparent opportunities for this species to pierce northwards (at least up to 58° N in West Siberia, 62–63° N in East Siberia) in the future. This means that in the future, there is a certain probability that some individuals will migrate to these more northern regions. In the context of global warming, further northwards and northeastward shifts in the range boundaries of O. decorus can be predicted. In addition, there have been some changes in its population distribution and abundance, especially in the optimal parts of its population system where O. decorus normally colonises all applicable habitats; its average abundance is relatively high and it is common even during depressions. These shifts may be justified by both climatic changes (especially northwards) and some transformations of human activities (mainly for eastwards relocation). Full article

Implementing Historic Building Information Modelling (HBIM) for heritage structures is challenged by incomplete knowledge of hidden or inaccessible elements, as well as limited information on construction history, original design, and structural details, making geometric definition inherently uncertain. Simultaneously, applications such as structural analysis often require the same missing information. This study proposes an adaptive parametric Scan-to-BIM-to-FEM workflow that explicitly incorporates geometric uncertainty by generating multiple plausible and complete reconstructions from survey data and typological inference, enabling their use in parametric structural analysis. Starting from TLS survey, adaptive families were used to link measured and inferred dimensions through geometric constraints. The methodology is applied to the 19th-century masonry arch bridge of Montoggio (Genoa, Italy), currently characterized by a hybrid structural system resulting from subsequent retrofitting. Eight geometrical configurations were tested by varying uncertain parameters, including vault thickness and backing height, and were analyzed through modal and static finite element simulations. The results show a limited but non-negligible sensitivity of the structural response to these parameters, highlighting the influence of geometric uncertainties on analysis outcomes. In this light, the proposed framework provides a bridge between survey, modelling, and structural analysis, enabling HBIM to support interpretative and predictive structural assessment. Full article

Scholarship since the mid-twentieth century has noted a compelling social and spiritual alignment between John Calvin and Ignatius of Loyola despite their position on opposite sides of the sixteenth-century confessional divide. While traditional Eucharistic debates emphasize irreconcilable structural and dogmatic disagreements, this paper argues that shifting the interpretive focus to the “mystical element” in communion exposes profound commonalities between the two reformers. Utilizing Bernard McGinn’s framework defining Christian mysticism as a transformative awareness of the direct presence of God, I examine the spatial dialectics of spiritual ascent and descent inherent in both thinkers’ writings. For Calvin, spiritual communion is expressed through the sursum corda, a pneumatic mystery wherein the Holy Spirit bridges the vast spatial gulf between heaven and earth to engraft believers into a transformative mystical union with Christ. For Ignatius, as seen in his Spiritual Diary and Spiritual Exercises, Christ is a “midway” space that allows Ignatius to ascend into Trinitarian communion while remaining thoroughly embedded in earthly reality. Ultimately, both figures utilized a shared late-medieval sacramental worldview to address the pressing existential questions of salvation. Full article

Organoselenium chemistry has progressed from the early synthesis of simple selenoorganic molecules in the 20th century to advanced methodologies aligned with the principles of green chemistry. Conventional synthetic approaches, frequently dependent on hazardous reagents and organic solvents, are increasingly being replaced by environmentally benign strategies, including solvent-free reactions, aqueous and bio-based solvent systems, microwave-assisted synthesis, and mechanochemical techniques. These sustainable methodologies offer significant advantages, such as enhanced reaction efficiency, higher or comparable yields, reduced waste generation, improved safety, and lower environmental impact. In parallel, evolving regulatory standards and industrial practices are encouraging the adoption of greener synthetic protocols to minimize hazardous waste and support safer pharmaceutical manufacturing. This review systematically categorizes organoselenium compounds, highlighting their synthetic methodologies, structural characteristics, and biological activities. Overall, recent advances emphasize the therapeutic potential of organoselenium compounds and demonstrate the essential role of sustainable synthetic chemistry in the development of future medicinal agents. Full article

This article examines the art of Paul Hoecker (1854–1910) as a visual negotiation of queer desire, repression, and transgression in late 19th-century Germany. One of the first progressive professors at the Munich Art Academy, Hoecker remains an understudied figure in queer art history. In a private letter to the sexologist Magnus Hirschfeld, he acknowledged his same-sex desire. Focusing on his recurrent depictions of handsome young men—often in the guise of Pierrot—alongside his numerous images of nuns, this article reads Hoecker’s work as a site of tension between desire, Catholic imagery, and social constraint. It further addresses the allegations surrounding the use of a male sex worker as a model for a depiction of the Virgin Mary. Finally, Hoecker’s later, more overtly erotic works, mostly produced for Jacques d’Adelswärd-Fersen, will also be considered, interrogating their problematic aspects, particularly the sexualization of youthful bodies. This research is conducted as part of the Paul Hoecker research group at the Forum Queeres Archiv München. Full article

This article argues that David Foster Wallace’s Infinite Jest can be read as a “Tocquevillian” novel, showing that its depiction of late 20th century American life is a profound exploration of the democratic soul. By analyzing the confusion within ordinary understandings of the meaning of freedom and illustrating how this confusion leads to a paralyzing moral relativism and the unsatisfying pursuit of pleasure, Wallace diagnoses the pathologies of the modern American mind. Wallace suggests that in a hypercommercialized democracy, the pursuit of pleasure inevitably devolves into the “soft despotism” of addiction. But underlying Wallace’s critique of American consumerism and various addictions are dynamics that Tocqueville would have recognized as contained in the logic of the mind formed by the democratic regime. Wallace argues that the democratic soul seeks solace from its restlessness in self-annihilating compulsions. He frames the struggle for sobriety within Alcoholics Anonymous as a struggle for self-knowledge and self-governance, offering a model for countering the American pathologies he diagnoses. Full article