Anton Rubinstein’s music has often been portrayed as a conservative, cosmopolitan foil to the progressive, nationalist compositions of the Balakirev circle. This is also how the Balakirev circle viewed it throughout the 1860s, but their opposition suddenly gave way to public adulation in 1869. Ostensibly, the reason for this about-face was musical, since with Ivan IV (1868) and Don Quixote (1870), Rubinstein finally produced two explicitly programmatic symphonic pictures. Yet the difference between Rubinstein’s symphonic pictures and his earlier works was not as radical as the Balakirev circle made it out to be, and at least part of the circle’s motivation for suddenly praising them seems to have originated in extramusical concerns. In 1869, Balakirev was dismissed as the director of the Russian Musical Society and threw himself into organizing the Free Music School concerts, which he intended as a competitive alternative to those of the RMS. In order to attract audiences, he became determined to secure the Saint Petersburg premiere of Ivan IV as well as Rubinstein’s performances as a soloist, and it was in this context that the Balakirev circle bombarded the press with glowing reviews of Rubinstein’s music. In the short run, this rapprochement even grew beyond a marriage of convenience and developed into regular meetings at which Rubinstein and the Balakirev circle presented their compositions for criticism. These meetings were ephemeral, but in later years most of the Balakirev circle maintained a polite relationship with Rubinstein. The exception was Vladimir Stasov, who erased the rapprochement from his memory and reverted to peddling the image of Rubinstein as the archconservative enemy of Russian music that he had already constructed in the 1860s. Alas, it was Stasov who shaped twentieth-century historiography of Russian music, and this is why the events of 1869–71 have remained obscured in modern scholarship.

In this paper, we detail and critique dominant narratives of war crime apologia. These narratives portray the circumstances of a war crime, the perpetrator’s character and motives, and the broader context in which the crime occurred, in ways that minimise or negate the perpetrator’s moral, and sometimes legal, blameworthiness. In section one, we identify and critique three broad categories: (1) individualising narratives (‘uncommon practice’), (2) excusatory narratives (‘essence of war’), and (3) justificatory narratives (‘tragic necessity’). Drawing on a range of real world examples, we outline the features of these narratives and the underlying theory of moral responsibility and blameworthiness on which they implicitly depend. In section two, we elucidate the role of these narratives in the promotion and perpetuation of socially, politically, and legally harmful attitudes towards war crimes. By advancing self-serving perpetrator-centric views about responsibility and blame, these narratives cultivate a cultural and legal toleration and, in some cases, celebration, of atrocity. They also perpetuate a distorted image of war itself, as a space that cannot accommodate moral and legal restraints. This image of war, we argue, weakens the post-Geneva consensus about the reach and limits of battlefield violence and makes the future commission of war crimes more likely. In conclusion, we consider how these narratives could be challenged within military institutions, and in the political and social realm.

Libya, a country in North Africa with vast arid regions, faces a serious water crisis. With less than 7.5 mm of rainfall each year and evaporation rates over 3,000 mm, water scarcity is a constant challenge. The country relies heavily on fossil groundwater – non-renewable underground reserves – leading to the depletion of aquifers and making water increasingly scarce. As a result, Libya has some of the lowest per-person freshwater availability in the world, with less than 200 cubic metres annually. Population growth, expanding cities and industrial development put further pressure on limited water resources, while overuse, pollution and environmental degradation worsen the situation. Projects like the Man-Made River, which transports water from the south to the north, aim to help but have not fully solved the problem. To secure water for the future, Libya needs a comprehensive, sustainable strategy based on principles of Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM). This approach involves carefully planning and managing water, land and related resources in a way that considers social, economic and environmental factors. Such efforts can improve efficiency, reduce waste and pollution and boost resilience against climate change. Addressing water scarcity also requires adopting sustainable practices such as collecting rainwater, treating and reusing wastewater, desalinating seawater and promoting water- efficient technologies. Combining these strategies with infrastructure improvements can help make the most of Libya’s water resources, protect the environment, improve people’s lives and utilize concepts like virtual water and water footprinting to bridge gaps and foster better water management. A holistic, sustainable approach rooted in IWRM principles is essential for tackling the root causes of Libya’s water crisis and building a secure water future.

Research shows that women’s inclusion in decision-making bodies that produce anti-feminist policies can legitimize policies and institutions. When a woman attorney advocates for an anti-feminist outcome in the judiciary, are the courts perceived as more legitimate than when a man makes the same argument? Using a survey experiment where 1,395 participants read about a sexual harassment case argued by a male or female attorney, we find that female attorneys increase the legitimacy of anti-feminist rulings in only one specific instance: when a female attorney represents an employer and wins, and only for female participants who are much less likely to perceive that process as procedurally legitimate in the first place. Our results demonstrate that while there are some instances where attorney gender can legitimize judicial behavior, the courts are different from legislatures, and deploying women to advocate for anti-women outcomes has little impact on feelings of court legitimacy broadly.

This study presents the design and validation of an organizational attachment scale that integrates Bowlby’s attachment theory into the analysis of workplace behavior. Its goal is to offer organizations a rigorous and reliable tool to assess how attachment styles influence professional dynamics, such as interpersonal relations, stress management, collaboration, job satisfaction, and team performance. The theoretical relevance lies in explaining how individuals form, maintain, or avoid emotional bonds with colleagues, supervisors, and the organization itself, insights that are essential for enhancing both employee well-being and organizational effectiveness.

The research responds to the transition from Taylorist management models to contemporary “quantum” paradigms, where flexibility, complexity, and human factors are central, and organizations operate in BANI (Brittle, Anxious, Nonlinear, Incomprehensible) environments. Using a quantitative, non-experimental design, data were collected through LinkedIn from 204 team leaders and middle managers across various industries. Statistical validation included exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, internal consistency testing, and assessments of convergent and discriminant validity.

Results revealed a solid three-factor structure, secure, anxious, and avoidant attachment, showing high reliability and strong construct validity. These findings confirm the instrument’s effectiveness in distinguishing attachment styles in professional contexts and highlight their influence on emotional regulation, communication, engagement, and performance. The study’s originality lies in creating the first psychometric tool in Spain specifically tailored to organizational settings, addressing workplace hierarchies and norms. It thus advances theoretical understanding and provides a practical framework for cultivating healthier, more resilient, and productive organizational cultures.

This short report provides the first observations of deep-sea corals belonging to the class Octocorallia and order Antipatharia surveyed during the KM24-03 Leg 2 cruise in the waters around Minamidaito and Kitadaito Islands in Okinawa, Japan between approximately 200 and 1,000 m. It also lists and illustrates the specimens that were collected. Based on field observations, deep-sea corals occupied the niches inside and around caves and crevices, as well as non-cave environments such as flat seabeds and slopes. Our morphological and phylogenetic analyses of the collected specimens revealed the presence of Callogorgia cf. korema, Pleurocorallium inutile, and Acanthopathes undulata. We provide the first documentation of deep-sea corals found in this area, as well as extend the known geographic distribution of these species. In particular, the black coral A. undulata, which until now has only been reported from the western and central Pacific Ocean, is reported for the first time in the northwestern Pacific. Our preliminary findings warrant further investigation and more stringent protection of the deep-sea species and habitats found in the waters around these karstic islands from anthropogenic impacts, perhaps with inclusion in regional Marine Protected Areas.

This is a brief introduction to a special issue highlighting the relevance of philosophy of science to many core topics in theology and philosophy of religion. Several points of intersection between knowledge production in the sciences and knowledge production in philosophy and theology are discussed.

By the time the Great War reached an armistice in 1918, travel companies, publishers, and even tire manufacturers had compiled guidebooks for tourists interested in visiting the battlefields of the Western Front. Using the three-volume Michelin Illustrated Guides to the Battlefields (1920) as primary texts, this essay argues that the various maps embedded in these books were instrumental in converting American tourists into what David W. Lloyd would term “pilgrims” – those who would visit these hallowed war-torn sites and emerge from the experience with a greater level of spiritual transcendence. To this end, then, maps were facilitators of the mourning process, even framing or formatting the way in which surviving loved ones could express their grief to themselves and to the outside world. Once pilgrims arrived at the American cemeteries in Europe, they entered a space whose design was so geometrical and exact that it took on a remarkable resemblance to the very guidebook maps that had led them there. In achieving a 1:1 scale with the landscapes they represented, these maps offered a multivalent, transcendent experience whereby mourners could be emotionally and spiritually immersed in that hallowed terrain where their soldiers fell and would remain.

This article explores the representations of imperial and non-imperial women on tokens created in Rome and Ostia, exploring what these objects reveal about imperial ideology, local culture and female euergetism. After a brief introduction to tokens as a source, the analysis begins with a discussion of the representations of imperial female family members on both bronze and lead. The representation of imperial women on tokens, which is largely a phenomenon of the first century AD, forms an important precursor, alongside provincial coinage, to the eventual appearance of women on Roman imperial coinage. Similarities and differences between coin and token representations are explored, as is the question of agency; several of these tokens were issued on behalf of the emperor or a male magistrate. The article then moves on to examine the tokens issued by other women in Rome; an appendix lists the known names of these individuals. The evidence suggests tokens were issued in connection with female-sponsored benefactions by different societal groups, although women might also be shown as participants of events on tokens issued by others. The imagery chosen for female-issued tokens is explored; there does not appear to be any gendering of imagery in this class of object. The article concludes by highlighting the relative frequency of women on Roman lead tokens when compared with provincial coinage or the tokens of other regions.

This study evaluated the effect of sweet whey fermented by Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus NCFB 2772, an exopolysaccharide (EPS)-producing lactic acid bacterium (LAB), on the yield and quality of Requeson, a traditional Mexican fresh cheese, further supplemented with the probiotic strain Lactobacillus casei 431. Fermentation of the whey at 42°C for 48 hours resulted in the production of 1.126 ± 0.12 mgeq dextran/mL of EPS. The incorporation of this EPS-rich whey led to a marked (∼230%) increase in cheese yield and significantly enhanced textural properties, including greater hardness, cohesiveness and elasticity. Furthermore, L. casei 431 maintained viability above 107 cfu/g throughout 21 days of refrigerated storage (4°C), with no detectable microbial contamination. Although formulations containing EPS were slightly preferred in sensory evaluations, they exhibited improved stability and retained overall acceptable sensory quality. These results highlight the potential of EPS-producing LAB and probiotics to improve the technological, nutritional and functional attributes of fresh cheese, while contributing to the valorisation of dairy by-products.

Biological emergencies strain health care facilities that are typically designed to accommodate routine surges. The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic exposed vulnerabilities in hospital oxygen delivery systems worldwide, resulting in ventilator failures and disruptions in patient care. At the American University of Beirut Medical Center (AUBMC), the Emergency Department experienced significant challenges in maintaining the oxygen delivery system due to the unprecedented oxygen demand, over-frosting of pipelines, and system-wide depressurization. In response, the AUBMC established the Emergency Engineering Response Team (EERT) to rapidly develop and implement innovative, engineering-based strategies. This report shares the challenges faced by the AUBMC during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, details the solutions implemented, and provides recommendations to strengthen health care facility preparedness for future biological emergencies.

We prove that a partially hyperbolic attracting set for a $C^2$ vector field, having slow recurrence to equilibria, supports an ergodic physical/SRB measure if, and only if, the trapping region admits non-uniform sectional expansion on a positive Lebesgue measure subset. Moreover, in this case, the attracting set supports at most finitely many ergodic physical/SRB measures, which are also Gibbs states along the central-unstable direction. This extends to continuous time systems a similar well-known result obtained for diffeomorphisms, encompassing the presence of equilibria accumulated by regular orbits within the attracting set. In codimension two the same result holds, assuming only the trajectories on the trapping region admit a sequence of times with asymptotical sectional expansion, on a positive volume subset. We present several examples of application, including the existence of physical measures for asymptotically sectional hyperbolic attracting sets, and obtain physical measures in an alternative unified way for many known examples: Lorenz-like and Rovella attractors, and sectional-hyperbolic attracting sets (including the multidimensional Lorenz attractor).

Research has linked the authoritarian personality with support for political violence, including violence against the government. However, support for political violence is simultaneously a measure of and an outcome of the authoritarian personality, and one key component (submission to authority) is the antithesis of one key measure of political violence (violence against authority). This article makes three contributions. First, we accentuate the importance of using exogenous measures of the authoritarian personality when estimating its effect on support for political violence. Second, leveraging data from an original survey and the American National Election Studies, we find that the relationship between authoritarianism and support for violence is conditional: it can be positive, negative, or null, depending on who is in control of government and the specificity of political-violence measures. Third, we argue that another concept—the securitarian personality—might better predict support for violence. Access to firearms—which we argue is downstream from securitarianism—consistently predicts support for political violence.

The Chalbi Desert, located in eastern Africa, is a significant but overlooked archive of the Pleistocene and Holocene periods that could add insight into investigations on human evolution. We revisited southeastern Chalbi Desert landforms between the towns of Kargi and Maikona to improve the chronostratigraphy and provide paleoenvironmental context. Direct U-series and electron spin resonance dating of various fossil teeth recovered from a deflated dune (Qzs) landform at the Farre locality return a mean age of ∼545 ka, which is compatible with biostratigraphic inferences. While this numerical age result should probably be regarded as mostly indicative given the existing uncertainty on the environmental dose rate evaluation, the data set available nevertheless strongly suggests a Middle Pleistocene age for at least some of the fauna. Sedimentology, luminescence, and 14C dating further suggest that this Qzs landform and its contents were modified by alluvial fan development and weathering during denudation in a proximal fan setting through the late Pleistocene into the Holocene. The Qzs landform currently experiences aeolian additions, erosion, and salt-affected soil development in an arid climate. Pedogenic carbonate isotope geochemistry suggests that deflated sand dunes were covered by woody grasslands during Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 4 and 3 pluvials, consistent with nearby fan progradation constrained at >35 ka. The desert experienced increased hydrologic activity during late Pleistocene and African humid period pluvials, as evidenced by additional optically stimulated luminescence and 14C dating from fan, dune, and playa contexts. The last significant pluvial episode ended after 4.4 ± 0.3 cal ka BP, which coincides with the final regression of nearby Lake Turkana. This study extends the chronology of Quaternary sediments in the Chalbi Desert to the Middle Pleistocene and offers paleoenvironmental insights into the conditions experienced by Middle Stone Age tool users in the region.

When newly independent states in Africa set out to make their own economies in the 1960s, they did so under the label of “planning,” a generic term denoting economic policy-making to create the economic future. This planning was guided by international experts, sent “on missions” to help, or perhaps oversee, local economists in what was seen then as an expert, technocratic process. Nigeria offers an important example of this technocracy at work, under the guidance of its “missionary”: Wolfgang Stolper. His diary, and his writings of the day, reveal how local information and local values travelled around social, political and economic circles, to be then spliced together according to certain economic principles in making a “five-year plan” for the future of Nigeria.