Hesychasm and Art

“Although many of the iconographic traditions in Byzantine art formed in the early centuries of Christianity, they were not petrified within a time warp. Subtle changes and refinements in Byzantine theology did find reflection in changes to the iconographic and stylistic conventions of Byzantine art. This is a brilliant and innovative book in which Dr Anita Strezova argues that a religious movement called Hesychasm, especially as espoused by the great Athonite monk St Gregory Palamas, had a profound impact on the iconography and style of Byzantine art, including that of the Slav diaspora, of the late Byzantine period. While many have been attracted to speculate on such a connection, none until now has embarked on proving such a nexus. The main stumbling blocks have included the need for a comprehensive knowledge of Byzantine theology; a training in art history, especially iconological, semiotic and formalist methodologies; extensive fieldwork in Macedonia, Bulgaria, Serbia, Greece, Turkey and Russia, and a working knowledge of Greek, Old Church Slavonic, Macedonian, Russian, Serbian, Latin as well as several modern European languages, French, German, Russian and Italian. These are some of the skills which Dr Strezova has brought to her topic.” Professor Sasha Grishin AM, FAHA Adjunct Professor of Art History School of Literature, Languages and Linguistics The Australian National Universit

What do Spanish men know about menopause?

Objective: The aim of the study is to evaluate the knowledge that men have about menopause and to analyze whether sociodemographic aspects influence in this knowledge. Methods: 560 consecutive surveys were collected during 2019. The surveys were completed anonymously, voluntarily and without incentives by men. A maximum score of 45 points was considered for the knowledge analysis. Results: The mean age was 49.13 ± 11.1 years. The most frequent source of information to obtain knowledge about menopause were friends (61.4%). The mean of the questionnaire score was 20.69 ± 6.1. The most frequent symptoms associated with menopause were hot flashes and vaginal dryness (93.7%; 48%) and the best-known treatment to improve vaginal health was lubricants at 69.5%. The most common treatment men know for improving menopause symptoms was menopause hormone treatment; however, 27.9% of men think there is no treatment for menopause. Differences between ages in numbers and grades were found (p=0.032). The scores by levels of study showed statistically differences (primary school, high school, professional training and university education (men with a higher level of education had significantly more knowledge) (p=0.013). Differences were showed in men who obtained information from health staff with respect to other sources (p<0.001). Conclusions: The knowledge in men in this sample is limited. Differences between ages, level of education and sources of information were found. No differences were found between public and private hospitals. The teaching of this knowledge should be carried out by trained personnel, preferably health staff.pre-print224 K

Association of Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (MTHFR-677 and MTHFR-1298) Genetic Polymorphisms with Occlusive Artery Disease and Deep Venous Thrombosis in Macedonians

Cilj Ispitati moguću povezanost genetičkog polimorfizma metilen-tetrahidrofolatne reduktaze (MTHFR-677, MTHFR-1298) s okluzivnom arterijskom bolešću i dubokom venskom trombozom u Makedonaca. Postupci Radili smo s 83 zdrave osobe, 76 bolesnika s okluzivnom arterijskom bolešću i 67 bolesnika s dubokom venskom trombozom. Od njih su prikupljeni su uzorci krvi i iz leukocita je izolirana DNA. Mutacije gena za MTHFR identificirane su testom CVD StripAssay (ViennaLab, Labordiagnostika GmbH, Beč, Austrija), a za analizu je uporabljen sustav za genetičku analizu PyPop. Potom su izračunani Pearsonove P vrijednosti, grubi omjer izgleda (odds ratio, OR) i Waldovi 95% intervali pouzdanosti (confidence intervals, CI). Rezultati Frekvencija alela C lokusa za MTHFR-677 bila je 0,575 u bolesnika s dubokom venskom trombozom, 0,612 u onih a okluzivnom arterijskom bolešću i 0,645 u zdravih osoba. Frekvencija alela T lokusa za MTHFR-677 bila je niža u zdravih osoba (0,355) nego u bolesnika s okluzivnom arterijskom bolešću (0,388) i dubokom venskom trombozom (0,425). Frekvencija alela A u lokusu MTHFR-1298 bila je 0,729 u zdravih osoba, 0,770 u bolesnika s okluzivnom arterijskom bolešću i 0,746 u bolesnika s dubokom venskom trombozom. Frekvencija alela C lokusa za MTHFR-1298 bila je 0,271 u zdravih osoba, 0,230 u bolesnika s okluzivnom arterijskom bolešću i 0,425 u bolesnika s dubokom venskom trombozom. Nije opažena povezanost polimorfizma MTHFR-677 i MTHFR-1289 s okluzivnom arterijskom bolešću ili dubokom venskom trombozom, nego se samo pokazao protektivni učinak diplotipa MTHFR/CA:CC za okluzivnu arterijsku bolest. Zaključak Osim protektivnoga učinka diplotipa MTHFR/CA:CC za okluzivnu arterijsku bolest, nismo našli značajnu povezanost polimorfizma lokusa MTHFR-677 i MTHFR-1289 s okluzivnom arterijskom bolešću i dubokom venskom trombozom.Aim To analyze the association of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase polymorphisms (MTHFR-677 and MTHFR-1298) with occlusive artery disease and deep venous thrombosis in Macedonians. Methods We examined 83 healthy respondents, 76 patients with occlusive artery disease, and 67 patients with deep venous thrombosis. Blood samples were collected and DNA was isolated from peripheral blood leukocytes. Identification of MTHFR mutations was done with CVD StripAssay (ViennaLab, Labordiagnostika GmbH, Vienna, Austria) and the population genetics analysis package, PyPop, was used for the analysis. Pearson P values, crude odds ratio, and Wald’s 95% confidence intervals were calculated. Results The frequency of C alleles of MTHFR-677 was 0.575 in patients with deep venous thrombosis, 0.612 in patients with occlusive artery disease, and 0.645 in healthy participants. The frequency of T allele of MTHFR-677 was lower in healthy participants (0.355) than in patients with occlusive artery disease (0.388) and deep venous thrombosis (0.425). The frequency of A allele for MTHFR-1298 was 0.729 in healthy participants, 0.770 in patients with occlusive artery disease, and 0.746 in patients with deep venous thrombosis. The frequency of C allele of MTHFR-1298 was 0.271 in healthy participants, 0.230 in patients with occlusive artery disease, and 0.425 in patients with deep venous thrombosis. No association of MTHFR-677 and MTHFR- 1289 polymorphisms with occlusive artery disease and deep venous thrombosis was found, except for the protective effect of MTHFR/CA: CC diplotype for occlusive artery disease. Conclusion We could not confirm a significant association of MTHFR- 677 and MTHFR-1289 polymorphisms with occlusive artery disease or deep venous thrombosis in Macedonians, except for the protective effect of MTHFR/CA:CC diplotype against occlusive artery disease

Security and defence research in the European Union: a landscape review

This landscape report describes the state of play of the European Union’s policies and activities in security and defence and the EU-funded research aimed at supporting them, with an exclusive focus on intentional harm. It is organised around several thematic building blocks under the umbrella of the three core priorities defined in the European agenda on security. The report reviews the current main risks and threats but also those that may emerge within the next 5 years, the policy and operational means developed to combat them, the main active stakeholders and the EU legislation in force. In this context, a short history of EU research on security and defence is presented, followed by an inventory of relevant research and development projects funded under the Horizon 2020 framework programme during the period 2014-2018. The specific contributions of the Joint Research Centre to security research are also highlighted. Finally, future avenues for security and defence research and development are discussed. Please note that the executive summary of this landscape report has been published simultaneously as a companion document.JRC.E.7-Knowledge for Security and Migratio

The experience of intimate partner violence among older women: A narrative review

Intimate partner violence (IPV) against women is a significant public health issue globally. It has serious physical and psychological health consequences as well huge economic and social costs. With an ageing population globally, it is important to understand how older women experience IPV. We present a narrative review of 48 studies exploring IPV in women aged ≥45 years, focusing on: (1) prevalence of IPV; (2) factors associated with IPV; (3) impact of IPV; (4) responses to IPV; (5) IPV interventions; and (6) key populations. Although we found significant gaps in the literature and an inconsistency in definitions, data suggest that IPV is commonly experienced by older women (lifetime prevalence 16.5%–54.5%), but that their age and life transitions mean that they may experience abuse differently to younger women. They also face unique barriers to accessing help, such as disability and dependence on their partners. We recommend commissioning services that are specifically tailored to meet their needs. Professionals working in frontline services where older women are commonly seen should be trained to identify and respond to IPV appropriately

The impact of Byzantine hesychasm on Christian art in Byzantine and Slavic lands in 14th and 15th centuries

The aim of this research is to explore the possible relationship between the religious movement of hesychasm and the development of new artistic trends in Byzantine and Slavic lands during the Palaeologan period (1261-1453). This research also investigates the background currents, circumstances and persons which impelled the outbreak of the hesychast controversy. It further examines the doctrinal views of both hesychasts and humanists and considers the iconographical and stylistic changes in the Christian art of 14th and 15th centuries. Three compositions depicting three major feasts, the Transfiguration, the Anastasis and the Trinity, are selected as case studies to illustrate the transformations of art that occurred during the Palaeologan period. Combined methods of analysis are used in this thesis, including broader sociological and theological methods, with emphasis on several key issues, such as the cultural context, the thematic content, the aesthetic status and the theological role of images within theological discourse. However, formal and iconographical analyses are the principal means for study of the qualities, nature and history of the selected compositions

Overview on iconophile and iconoclastic attitudes toward images in early christianity and late antiquity

This study offers an overview of the opposing attitudes towards the image worship in the Early Christianity and the Late Antiquity. It shows that a dichotomy between creation and veneration of images on one side and iconoclastic tendencies on the other s

Hesychasm and Art: The Appearance of New Iconographic Trends in Byzantine and Slavic Lands in the 14th and 15th Centuries

Although many of the iconographic traditions in Byzantine art formed in the early centuries of Christianity they were not petrified within a time warp. Subtle changes and refinements in Byzantine theology did find reflection in changes to the iconographic and stylistic conventions of Byzantine art