![Bocheński’s Minima Moralia](/api/image/getissuecoverimage?id=picture_2022_72959.png)
Bocheński’s Minima Moralia
Bocheński’s Minima Moralia
Keywords: wisdom; metaethics; naturalism; anthropocentrism; humanism; autonomy; heteronomy; substantive ethics
More...Keywords: wisdom; metaethics; naturalism; anthropocentrism; humanism; autonomy; heteronomy; substantive ethics
More...Keywords: epistemic individualism; evidentialism; rationality of beliefs; Lvov-Warsaw School
More...Keywords: introspection; Kazimierz Twardowski; Lvov-Warsaw School; mental phenomena; psychology
More...Keywords: scaphocephaly; cribra orbitalia; wormian bones; craniosynostosis
Several craniofacial pathologies are present in an early adolescent from a cemetery (n = 22) associated with a Neolithic Funnel Beaker culture in Modřice, Czechia. The objective of the study was to document anomalies on the Modřice 3871 cranium, with an emphasis on investigating whether the mid-sagittal suture exhibited synostosis or bridging to account for the visible scaphocephaly. All available cranial and postcranial elements of the Modřice 3871 early adolescent were examined macroscopically. The cranial vault was subjected to radiography and compared to macroscopic views. Modřice 3871 is estimated to age to 12–14 years. Macroscopic examination and radiography support a diagnosis of mid-sagittal bridging rather than synostosis for this slender and anteroposteriorly elongated cranium. In comparison, the anterior sagittal, coronal and lambdoidal sutures are completely unfused. Craniofacial asymmetry, cribra orbitalia, porotic hyperostosis of the temporal and the presence of multiple wormian bones indicate additional maturational disruptions. The scaphocephaly observed in Modřice 3871 is not severe compared to modern clinical manifestations of craniosynostosis. Radiocarbon dated to 3,700–3,600 years BCE, Modřice 3871 presents one of the oldest recorded cases of scaphocephaly. The elongated vault is probably not the result of head-binding given the dearth of anthropogenic cranial reshaping in the Neolithic of Europe. This study adds to the growing recognition of prehistoric and historic craniofacial anomalies which will likely continue as additional human remains are excavated. In addition, the study increases the understanding of the lived experience of prehistoric individuals experiencing visible craniofacial pathologies such as cranial asymmetry and scaphocephaly.
More...Keywords: osteoporosis; trabecular bone; endocrinology; history of anthropology; biological anthropology; palaeopathology
This brief review article aims to recapitulate the history of osteoporosis from the most ancient observations to the current clinical definition, by offering a perspective on trabecular bone health and degeneration, which has become of paramount important both in clinical, radiological and biological anthropological studies.
More...Keywords: Perthes disease; skeletal material; radiology; osteology; palaeopathology
The aim of this study is to present the pathological lesions observed in a skeleton (male, about 35–38 years old) from Radom (Poland), dated to the 18th–19th century. Bone changes were observed in both femurs and both pelvic bones. The head of the femur is enlarged and deformed, described as “mushroom-shaped”, with areas of smooth cortex and cavities, or possible cystic residues. The neck of femur is short and thick. The bone shaft and distal epiphysis do not show any changes. The changes were also observed in both acetabularies of the hip joint (marginal bone formation, subchondral bone remodelling). Radiographic images show bilateral necrosis of the femoral head. There is a significant sclerotization of the femoral head, with a discrete visible crescent sign. These macroscopic and radiological changes match the symptoms associated with Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease. This is the first case of the disease described in bioarchaeological materials from Poland.
More...Keywords: sex assessment; morphometrics; sexual dimorphism; discriminant function; the Polish population
Sex estimation is one of the most important components in assessing the biological profile of an individual. In an archaeological context, the pelvis, which is the most dimorphic part of the skeleton, is often poorly preserved, which can cause an inability to use morphological sex estimation methods. Therefore, alternative methods are required in such cases. Because the utility of the metric methods based on the femur measurement has been confirmed, and the bone is usually available for examination due to its good preservation, developing methods using the landmarks of the femur could have important implications in sex estimation. This study aimed to derive a discriminant function equation for a Polish archaeological population based on measurements of the proximal end of the femur. The study sample included individuals from a medieval cemetery in Milicz (n = 62) and an early modern necropolis at Czysty Square in Wrocław, Poland (n = 162). The analysis included seven measurements collected from the right and left proximal femora. To estimate the reproducibility of the measurements, intra-and interobserver errors and reliability coefficients were calculated. Subsequently, univariate and stepwise discriminant analyses were performed, and the sex sectioning points and equations were proposed. No differences were observed between measurements of the right and left femora. The results indicated a high utility and reproducibility of the FHD measurement (regardless whether left or right femur was measured). The discriminant equations for sex estimation reached an accuracy of 83.0–92.3%, which implies the utility of the function on Polish historical populations when the other methods for sex estimation cannot be used.
More...Keywords: sarcopenia; muscle disease; muscle failure; protein intake; physical activity; body mass index; body fat
Introduction: Sarcopenia is a major public health concern. It is defined as a progressive and generalized skeletal muscle disorder that is associated with an increased likelihood of falls, fractures, physical disability, and ultimately, premature death. Objective: The aim of the study was to assess the prevalence and determine the role of physical activity, nutrient intake, and selected risk factors for the development of sarcopenia in older women. Methods: The study involved 302 women aged ≥65 years (mean age: 72.1± 5.9 years). Bioelectrical impedance analysis of body composition, static muscle strength measurements, Timed Up and Go test, and the assessment of current physical activity using accelerometers were performed. Diets were assessed using the 24-h recall method from two non-consecutive days. The energy and nutrient content of diets was calculated using the computer program DIETA 6. Results: Sarcopenia was present in 28.8% of the women studied. The most important factor in the decrease in the risk of sarcopenia was protein intake ≥ 0.9 g/kg b.m. (OR=0.08;p<0.001), and physical activity ≥ 4000 steps/day. However, these results were not statistically significant (OR=0.58; p=0.08). Furthermore, the risk of developing sarcopenia increased as BMI (OR=1.36; p<0.001) or percent of body fat (OR=1.29; p<0.001) increased.
More...Keywords: Forensic Anthropology; Palm Print; Triradii; Sex Estimation; Discriminant Function Analysis; Dermatoglyphics
Palm prints are one of the most important forensic tools for human identification in medico-legal investigation. Palm prints are often used for forensic sex estimation to narrow down the pool of suspects through a process of elimination. The aim of this study was to test whether a novel approach of sex estimation from palmar inter-triradial distances previously posited by Badiye and colleagues [Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine, 2019; 65(March):22–26] can be used as a primary tool for forensic sexing. For this study the bilateral palm prints from 200 Bengali Hindu adults (100 male, 100 female) were collected using traditional ink printing method and were analysed. Descriptive statistics were presented in tables and linear discriminant analysis was conducted to estimate the extent of sexual dimorphism in the inter-triradial distances and to find out variables with the strongest sex discriminating potential. Binary logistic regression analysis (BLR) was performed to derive sex estimation equations. Sexual dimorphism has been found to be statistically significant (p< 0.001) using linear discriminant analysis with a sexing accuracy of 79.0 percent for the left and 79.5 percent for the right palm. Distance between a and t triradius has been found to be the most influential on this model followed by the combined abcd-t distance. For the BLR analysis, the correct classification percentage was found to be the highest on the a-t distance of the right palm with a success rate of 80.5 percent which is closely followed by the combined abcd-t distance which has a classification success rate of 80.0 percent for the right palm. The present study has concluded that, inter-triradial distance of the palm is fairly dimorphic sexually but can only be used as a supplementary tool in inference of sex for medico-legal investigation. Due to a higher accuracy, the distance between a and t triradius has been proposed to be used instead of combined abcd-t distance which was suggested in the original study conducted by Badiye and colleagues (2019).
More...Keywords: age; aging; body height; height; lifespan; longevity; stature; survival
Body height is associated with various socioeconomic and health-related outcomes. Despite numerous studies, the relationship between stature and longevity remains uncertain. This study explores the association between self-reported height and lifespan. Data from 848,860 adults who died between 2004 and 2008 in Poland were collected. After excluding a small proportion of records due to missing data or errors, we examined records for 848,387 individuals (483,281 men, age range: 20–110 years; 365,106 women, age range: 20–112 years). Height was expressed as standardized residual variance derived from linear regression in order to eliminate the variance of year of birth on height. After the elimination of the cohort effect, five height classes were designated using centiles: very short, short, medium, tall and very tall. The differences between sexes and among classes were evaluated with two-way ANOVA and post hoc Tukey’s test. The effect size was assessed using partial eta squared (η2). Pearson’s r coefficients of correlation were calculated. The effect of sex on lifespan was nearly 17 times stronger than the effect of height. No correlation between height and lifespan was found. In conclusion, these findings do not support the hypothesis that taller people have a longevity advantage. We offer tentative explanations for the obtained results.
More...Keywords: secular trend; town; village; girls; boys; BMI
Malnutrition and the overnutrition of children and adolescents is a severe problem in most countries. Aim of the study: Determination of fifteen-year changes in body height, and BMI in girls and boys living in towns and villages in eastern Polish voivodeships. In 2006, 2016, and 2021 a study was conducted on children and adolescents living in the Podlaskie, Lubelskie, and Podkarpackie voivodeships (7048 girls and 7686 boys aged 7–9 years). Body mass index (BMI) was calculated based on height and weight measurements. In the calendar age groups, arithmetic means and dissemination measures for body height and BMI were calculated on particular time periods of the study. The statistical significance of the differences between the groups was conducted using the ANOVA analysis of variance and the Newmann-Keuls test. From the research material, study participants exhibiting underweight, overweight and those falling within a normal range of weight-to-height proportions were selected taking into account places of residence (town, village). The statistical significance of the differences between the number of people classified into the above-described groups was determined using the χ² test. In the analysed period in groups of girls, a systematic increase in body height was observed. However, in boys, such tendency was found only in rural residents. In the period of 2006–2016, greater changes in BMI were found in girls from rural areas and boys from cities. The opposite observation was recorded in the 2016–2021 period. In the years between 2006 and 2021, the incidence of both underweight and normal BMI decreased, while the incidence of overweight and obesity increased. Our results indicate the need for conducting systematic research assessing the nutritional status of young people living in the Lubelskie and Podlaskie voivodships, as well as an in-depth analysis of the causes of malnutrition and undertaking educational activities.
More...Keywords: Grand Duchy of Lithuania (GDL); pledge deeds; terms of agreement; pledge redemption;
The article focuses on the practice of grand-ducal demesne pledging in 1502–1522. Close attention is paid to pledge deed types and the rules of the disposition of the pledged property. The research demonstrates that open-ended contracts prevailed during the discussed period. This type of deed allowed the creditors to use the entire income of the pledged property for an indefinite period. Fixed-term agreements limiting the use of the pledged property for several years and more beneficial for the treasury were relatively rare. They primarily occurred when a former contract was being renewed, or a creditor changed, making it possible to modify the earlier provisions.
More...Keywords: Grand Duchy of Lithuania (GDL); grand-ducal demesne; dominions; pledges; territory; geography;
The pledging policy by the grand dukes of Lithuania in the sixteenth century has not been practically under research; historians have not given the geographical and cartographical aspects of this problem any attention. This article aims to research the geography of the pledges of the grand-ducal demesne from the 1500s to mid-1520s. This article discusses the concept of the demesne of Lithuanian sovereigns, its size and limits, and we analyse the geographical and statistical information about its composition. We have created a map of pledged estates and properties using the data collected and characterised the most important pledge deeds and pledgees.
More...Keywords: Silk Roads; low-density urbanism; agro-urban landscape; Xinjiang
This article reinterprets the urban pattern of the oases of southern Tarim Basin, which flourished in the first half of the first millennium C.E. using the dispersed urban complexes framework. Disperse urban centre, also known as a low-density urban complex, is a site that had an urban function, but its morphology was much different from compact cities of, for example, China or mediaeval Europe. Low-density urban complexes, like Tikal in Mesoamerica or Angkor in South-East Asia, despite their distinct urban functions, had the cityscape consisting of intermingled monumental agriculture, water management features and agricultural field. Thus, the oasis-cities of southern Tarim Basin were different from compact urban centres of neighbouring China and western Central Asia and showed some similarities to complexes like Tikal and Angkor. This article evaluates if those sites can be associated with low-density urbanism. Three selected sites, 尼雅 [Niya], 米兰 [Miran] and 樓蘭 [Loulan], have been evaluated for the presence of characteristic associated with low-density urbanism: dispersed monumental architecture, large scale anthropogenic landscapes modifications, and pattern of alternating housing clusters and agricultural fields. This can affect our understating of both the understanding of urbanism in the region and low-density urbanism on the global scale.
More...Keywords: dairy cooperative; conditions of development; economic history; members of the cooperatives; farmer;
The aim of the article was to assess the development process of dairy cooperatives in Poland over the last 150 years, with the economic situation and the impact of legal regulations taken into account, and to assess empirical research findings on how dairy cooperatives operate according to their members (benefits of membership, development opportunities and threats). Despite the long tradition and experience in cooperation between dairies and farmers, the period of the centrally planned economy and economic transformation brought many changes. Poland’s EU accession has improved their development opportunities. The cooperatives have a high share in the milk purchase and dairy product sale. The cooperation with farmers has improved. However, there are still areas that need to be improved in the real spirit of the cooperative idea because they concern the basic economic benefits of membership and the principles of function of coops.
More...Keywords: Ukrainian textbooks of History; іmage; Second Polish Republic; Polish People’s Republic; Third Polish Republic; Polish-Ukrainian relations; Russian-Ukrainian war;
The article analyses which image of Poland is present in modern Ukrainian textbooks of history for pupils of 10th and 11th forms (regarding the period since 1918 till present) that were written after the start of the Russian-Ukrainian war in 2014 and were published during 2018-2019. The study is based on content analysis of 30 textbooks on The History of Ukraine, World History and the integrated course “History: Ukraine and the World” for pupils of 10th and 11th forms. In order to determine how positive or negative is the image of Poland that is formed in the mind of the reader, the 4th year students of the History Department of Mykhaylo Kotsiubynsky Vinnytsia State Pedagogical University were asked to determine the number of mentions of the words Poland, Polish, the Poles etc. with positive, neutral and negative connotation in every textbook. The obtained results were then subject to quality analysis. We may observe the ambiguous reflection of the image of Poland in Ukrainian history schoolbooks, which is a logical reflection of long-lasting and complex historical relations between the Poles and the Ukrainians. In general, the image of Poland in The History of Ukraine textbooks is worse than the one presented in the World History textbooks as the authors were forced to show different sides of Polish-Ukrainian interaction in the 20th century. However, real historical conditions for Polish-Ukrainian friendship and cooperation at the current stage and the results of the work of the Joint International Committee of Experts on Improving the Content of School Textbooks have undoubtedly influenced the situation – in spite of highlighting truly difficult relations between the two peoples, the “enemy image” of Poland is not formed; attention is mostly focused on broad political, social, cultural and other circumstances that have led to ambiguous situations in Polish-Ukrainian relations. At the world history level authors mostly focused on presenting Poland as a victim of totalitarian regimes and a symbol of the fight for freedom.
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