The ways of the scientist, the teacher and the citizen: Grigore Vasilescu, doctor habilitatus in philosophy, university professor, at 70 years anniversary

There is a saying that a talented person is talented in everything. This statement refers entirely to the doctor habilitatus in philosophy, the university professor Grigore Vasilescu, who reached the beautiful jubilee of his life and activity, with significant achievements on multiple levels. The paths of professional development and civic activity of Mr Vasilescu are fully described by his scientific articles, edited monographs and collections, developed conferences and international research projects, implemented social and civic activities, as well as by his PhD students who have defended their doctoral theses and today are his colleagues and by students, who, being guided by the Professor discover the most attractive secrets of the “international relations” profession and study new horizons in the field of political sciences, global processes and issues, European studies and regional processes. In all these fields, during the past decades, is highlighted the Professor with vocation, the Scientist, the Human, the Citizen and the Patriot, the doctor habilitatus in philosophy, the university professor Grigore VASILESCU, who his whole life is being delighted by everything that is beautiful, by poetry, music, painting and love for the people.

In memory of M.I. Avdeev – a scientist, innovator and organizer of forensic medicine

The main milestones of life and scientific work of Professor M.I. Avdeeva (1901–1978) are presented. M.I. Avdeev published over 100 works on forensic medical examination, among which there are textbooks, guidelines and manuals for doctors and lawyers. His textbook for law schools has got five editions and was translated into other languages. He wrote Manual on Forensic Medicine for Military Lawyers and Doctors (1943), Guidelines for Determining the Severity of Bodily Harm. A number of monographs and collections on forensic science were published edited by M.I. Avdeev. On his initiative, the wording of some articles of the RSFSR Criminal Code was clarified. M.I. Avdeev for a long time has served as chairman of the board of Moscow and deputy chairman of the All-Union Scientific Societies of Forensic Physicians, was an honorary member of the Italian Society of Forensic and Insurance Medicine. M.I. Avdeev is a participant in the preparation of national encyclopedias. As time has shown, the basic theoretical and practical statements and discoveries of the scientist still form the basis of our knowledge in fundamental forensic medicine.

Portret „teatrała”. Tadeusz Kudliński – krytyk...

Tadeusz Kudliński remained in the memory of Cracovians, above all, as a theatre critic and the author of books dedicated to this topic, which have been republished many times. Serving the function of an educational mission, they combined a harmonious perspective of a historian, researcher, critic, polemicist and apologist, who was also a great story-teller. The role of a ‘theatre man’, which he assumed, also included contacts with amateur theatre, discussions with audience and cooperation with the Theatre Lovers Club. Views on art which had clashed in the preceding century, were clearly reflected in the monographs and collections of reviews written by the author, for whom the history of the theatre was, in fact, the history of drama. For years, Kudliński consistently carried out his ‘theatre lesson’. It revolved around numerous issues – from the description of various theatrical aesthetics, through the search for ‘a Polish style’ of performance, to the characterisation of experimental groups (e.g. Grotowski’s or student theatre). The critic placed experiment on the side of cultural life, on no account in the popular theatre, therefore, he criticised all Polish directors from the second half of the 20th century who staged ‘experimentally’, especially classics. Being a traditionalist and a supporter of theatrical illusion, he attacked Brecht’s model of epic performance, glorifying ”the process of actor transformation”, although he emphasised that it doesn’t have to ”concern only reality.” He provoked, irritated – and taught, which can be confirmed by the fact that his books about theatre are still widely read nowadays.

Biblioteca di Rassegna iberistica

The series Biblioteca di Rassegna Iberistica publishes monographs and collections of high scientific rigor essays regarding linguistic and cultural areas of Spanish, Spanish-American, Luso-Brazilian and Catalan. It is bound to present publications issued from research activities of Ca’ Foscari University and foreign and italian institutions and researchers’ publications. It aims to be a privileged location to discuss about research, instruments of our subjects according to innovative theorical and historical perspectives. A summary and interdisciplinary project, publishes works about the whole angles of Iberic and Ibero-American culture.

A history of the stereology in China

This review article introduces the formation and development of stereology in China under the background of the development of international stereology. In the early 1970s, some stereological monographs and collections were introduced into China, and Chinese scholars began to understand, study and promote stereology knowledge. Meanwhile, the widespread use of image analysis systems has contributed to the spread of stereology in China. On the other hand, academic exchanges and personnel training have played a catalytic role in the formation of stereology in China. According to China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) statistics, the number and impact of Chinese papers in stereology continues to grow during the past 30 years. After in-depth discussion, Chinese scholars have adopted a broader definition of stereology. With economic development and technological progress, China has great potential to develop, promote and apply the stereological methods and the related technologies.

To the 125th anniversary of Vladimir Vodyanitsky

This year the 125th birthday of the outstanding hydrobiologist, D. Sc. (Biol.), Professor Vladimir Vodyanitsky is celebrated. Under his leadership, the Sevastopol Biological Station became a research institute significant for world science. He headed expeditions to Black, Mediterranean and Red seas. More then 30 PhD theses were defended under the guidance of Vladimir Vodyanitsky. He was the author of more than 160 publications and the editor of more than 60 monographs and collections of scientific papers.

Victorian Art History

There has been an intriguing range of material published concerning Victorian painting since Victorian Literature and Culture last offered an assessment of the field. These books, including exhibition catalogues, monographs, and collections of essays, represent new and important sources for research in Victorian art and its cultural contexts. Most striking of all during this interval has been the range of exhibitions, from focus on the Pre-Raphaelites to major installations of such Victorian High Olympians/High Renaissance painters as Frederic, Lord Leighton and Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema. Included as well have been exhibitions with a particular focus, such as that on the Grosvenor Gallery, and the more broadly inclusive The Victorians held at the National Gallery of Art in Washington D.C., this last being the most appropriate point of departure to assess the impact of Victorian art on the viewing public in the States.

Pease Porridge in a Pot: The Social Basis of Health and Healing in Africa

Pease porridge hot, pease porridge coldPease porridge in the pot nine days oldSome like it hot, some like it coldBut none like it in the pot nine days old.The recent flurry of monographs and collections relating to the social aspects of medicine and disease in Africa and elsewhere ensures that collections of essays on this topic will receive much attention and will be concomitantly influential. Under the circumstances it is particularly regretable that the volume under review has been published so many years after most of the essays in it were written, precluding their referring to the many recent advances in the field. Of the 21 articles and introductory essays in Steven Feierman and John Janzen, eds., The Social Basis of Health and Healing in Africa (Berkeley: University of California Press, 1992), six (amounting to 24% of the text) are reprints, seven (35%) are revisions whose originals date from 1979 and 1981, and eight (41%) are originals. Of these latter, two chapters date from 1983, and two of the reprints have been supplanted by book-length monographs. One must therefore ask of the editors, the press, and the Joint Committee on African Studies of the American Council of Learned Societies and the Social Science Research Council whether such unusually delayed publication is justified.