Literatura científica selecionada sobre o tema "Folklore (Swiss)"

In our paper, we discuss how the digital domain extends the sustainability of analogue archives through communication with the public. Our interdisciplinary research project “Participatory Knowledge Practices in Analogue and Digital Image Archives” (PIA) is funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation (2021–2025) and developed in cooperation with the photographic archives of the Swiss Society for Folklore Studies (SSFS). It aims to increase the use of image-based research data by developing participatory tools and deploying shared application programming interfaces (APIs) such as standards that adhere to the Linked Open Usable Data (LOUD) design principles. By involving the public, the project aims to increase the overall use of image-based research data. This makes data more sustainable in interaction with the analogue archive and increases the attractiveness of digital infrastructures.

Background. Withaniasomnifera is an important medicinal plant for the treatment of diarrhea in Ethiopian folklore medicine. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antidiarrheal activity of Withania somnifera leaves in Swiss albino mice. Materials and Methods. Hydromethanolic crude extraction and solvent fractionation were done using cold maceration technique. 80% methanol was used as a solvent in crude extraction, while distilled water, n-butanol, and chloroform were employed during fractionation. Castor oil-induced diarrhea, enteropooling, and gastrointestinal motility models were employed to evaluate antidiarrheal activity. Mice were randomly divided into five groups (six mice per group): negative control, which received 2% Tween 80 in distilled water; positive control, which received 3 mg/kg loperamide; and three test groups (III, IV, and V), which were treated with 100 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg, and 400 mg/kg of crude extract and solvent fractions, respectively. Results. The crude extract, aqueous, and n-butanol fractions significantly delayed the onset of diarrhea at 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg dose. There was a significant reduction in the number and weight of stools at all tested doses of the crude extract and aqueous fraction, and at 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg of n-butanol fraction. Significant reduction in volume and weight of intestinal contents was observed at all tested doses of the crude extract, and at 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg of aqueous and n-butanol fractions. All tested doses of the crude extract and 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg of the aqueous and n-butanol fractions significantly reduced the motility of charcoal meal. Conclusion. This study demonstrated that the crude extract and solvent fractions of the Withania somnifera leaves have antidiarrheal activity and supported the folklore use of the plant.

<p><strong>Abstract.</strong> Motivation</p><p>In 2015/2016 the Zentralbibliothek Zürich (ZB, Zurich Central Library) and the Swiss Society of Cartography (SSC) presented a map blog to mark the 2015/16 International Map Year. In this weekly blog, cartographer and map librarian Markus Oehrli described and commented on 70 known and less-known Swiss map documents. In 2017, the map history journal Cartographica Helvetica published 58 of these 70 map documents in a special issue. In 2019, SSC will translate the blog into English, which will be published in its publication series to mark the 50th anniversary of the society.</p><p>During the 2015/16 International Map Year, which was initiated and proclaimed by the ICA, national cartographic societies were encouraged to organise various kinds of public activities and events as part of this worldwide celebration of maps. The SSC coordinated and organised more than 20 of these events within Switzerland. The “Karte der Woche” (Map of the week) blog, which was offered an in-depth and sometimes surprising look at Swiss cartography, was received with much enthusiasm by the general public and experts alike. During the 70-week map year (between August 2015 and December 2016), the blog provided a comprehensive profile of Swiss map-making on the website http://cartography.ch.</p><p>Map year blog: 70 maps in 70 weeks</p><p>The documents presented in the blog cover both current and historical productions evenly. The oldest map dates from before the year 900 and the most recent from 2016. The exhibits include traditional maps for which Swiss cartography is widely known and world-renowned, i.e. topographical maps, hiking maps, city maps, road maps, bird’s-eye views, statistical maps, and school maps. A relief model, a horizontal panorama, a pictorial map, an infographic and numerous thematic maps relating to folklore, navigation, archaeology, sport, etc. are also to be found. Furthermore, geo-media is also represented and includes such as maps produced by means of geographical information systems and web map mashups. In contrast, techniques that have almost been forgotten today, such as typometry and map printing on silk, are also presented. A very special historic piece is the 16th century globe by Abraham Gessner which can also be used as a drinking cup. There are even maps of subterranean and lunar worlds or maps of imaginary places. Some of the authors or producers of the presented documents are well-known cartographic publishers and federal institutions, but some are little known individuals working away on their own. Besides trained cartographers, the blog also features work by a priest, a spy and an artist.</p><p>For the purpose of this blog, only maps created by Swiss authors or published by a Swiss publishing house were selected. Another selection criterion was the fair balance among the different regions in Switzerland. All parts of the country and almost all cantons feature at least once. In order to document the global network of Swiss cartography, about a third of the presented documents also show areas outside of the country’s borders.</p><p>The blog offers plenty of background information and is spiced with a pinch of humour, without ever losing sight of the central theme – Swiss cartography. The individual blog texts were researched and written by Markus Oehrli who is a long-standing SSC member. The pictures have been published with the consent of the copyright holders. Where possible, a link within the blog refers to a high-resolution image or to an interactive map application on the Internet. The first blog entry was published on 4 September 2015 and each further blog was released every Friday until 30 December 2016.</p><p>Special issue – Kaleidoskop der Schweizer Kartografie (Kaleidoscope of Swiss Cartography) in German</p><p>In 2017, Cartographica Helvetica, the leading German-language journal for map history, devoted a 64-page special issue to the map blog. Under the title “Kaleidoskop der Schweizer Kartografie” (“Kaleidoscope of Swiss Cartography”), a selection of 58 documents from the blog were printed in the issue in a new, innovative way, both in terms of graphics and content. In addition, this edition of Cartographica Helvetica was published in digitized form on the Swiss journal repository e-periodica.ch. It is free to access and offers features such as full text search, an advanced search using various filters, the ability to browse page by page, the enlargement of pages up to about 600%, download possibility for all pages and all articles as PDF documents. The repository navigation is trilingual, in German, English and French.</p><p>English edition part of SSC’s 50th anniversary celebrations in 2019</p><p>In order to meet the great demand for the widely acclaimed map blog and the “Kaleidoskop der Schweizer Kartografie” special issue – which sold very well – SSC decided to publish the blog also in English to help commemorate its 50th anniversary in 2019. This will make the content accessible to an even wider public. With this contribution we propose to announce and publish the English version during a presentation to an international audience of experts at ICC 2019 in Tokyo. We will give insight how the 70 artefacts were chosen according to the scientific, geographic and thematic selection criteria. The composition of the accompanying texts is based upon the thorough scientific research especially carried out for this project. We hope that this approach may serve as a model for similar projects showing the richness of excellent cartographic artefacts all over the world!</p>

The methanol extract of Acacia ferruginea (Family- Mimosaceae) was studied for possible antidiabetic activity on normoglycaemic, OGTT and alloxan induced diabetic rats at doses of 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg, p.o. The acute toxicity studies were carried out on Swiss albino mice to determine the LD50 values. The experiments were performed as per OECD guidelines. The results of the normoglycaemic, OGTT and hyperglycaemic studies revealed that the extract exhibited reduction in blood glucose concentration in a dose dependant manner as compared to the standard drug metformin (250 mg/kg, p.o.). The acute toxicity studies revealed no signs of mortality in animals treated with a single dose of 2000 mg/kg body weight. Preliminary phytochemical studies of the methanol extract revealed presence of alkaloids, steroids, triterpenoids, saponins, flavonoids, tannins and phenolic compounds, carbohydrates, gums and mucilages, proteins and amino acids. The present study justifies the use of the plant for treating diabetes as suggested in folklore remedies.

Abstract Background Wound healing has being extensively investigated over the world. Healing impairment is caused by many reasons including increasing of free-radicals-mediated damage, delaying in granulation tissue formation, reducing in angiogenesis and decreasing in collagen reorganization. These facts consequently lead to chronic wound healing. Piper betle Linn (Betle) leaves have been folklore used as an ingredient of drugs for cutaneous wound treatment. However, the effect of betle leaf on wound healing is not yet well elucidated. In this study, we aimed to investigate the healing efficacy of methanol leaf extract of Piper betle Linn on proliferation of fibroblast NIH3T3 cells as well as full-thickness burn and excision wounds in swiss mice. Methods Scratch wound healing assays were conducted to examine the effects of betle leaf extract on healing activity of fibroblast cells. Burn and excision wounds on swiss mouse skins were created for investigating the wound healing progress caused by the betle leaf extract. Malondialdehyde (MDA) was also evaluated to examine the products of lipid hydroperoxide (LPO) under conditions of with or without betle leaf extract treatment. Results The results of this study showed that Piper betle Linn leaf extract in methanol increased proliferation of NIH3T3 cells and promoted wound healing in vitro and in vivo with both burn wound and excision wound models. In addition, this extract significant decreased level of malondialdehyde (MDA) in liver of treated-mice compared with that in non-treated mice. Conclusions Our results suggest that Piper betle Linn can be used as an ingredient in developing natural origin drugs for treatment of cutaneous wounds.

Urtica massaica (Urticaceae) and Croton megalocarpus are used either as vegetables or as food additives and as medicine in traditional African societies. However, in spite of the widespread consumption of these plants as folklore remedies and for diet, there is a scarcity of scientific data on their teratogenicity. Hence this study sought to assess the teratogenic effects of these plant extracts in an animal model. The study was conducted using Swiss albino mice. The extracts of these plants were administered orally in mice which were then euthanized. The weights of the gravid uterus and pups, as well as the number of pups, were determined. The pups were examined for gross malformations. The data set was analysed using one-way analysis of variance and Tukey as the post-Anova test. P < 0.05 was the limit of significance. U. massaica and C. megalocarpus caused 40% and 20% fetal partial resorption respectively. The latter also caused microcephaly and polyhydramnios. Hence, U. massaica leaves and C. megalocarpus stem extracts exhibited teratogenic activity and should be used with care during pregnancy

Background: In Indian traditional medicine, the flowers of Jasminum grandiflorum L. (Oleaceae) are claimed to possess powerful central nervous system (CNS) depressant activity. Despite these traditional claims, no in-depth scientific study has been performed on the CNS depressant activity of the flowers of J. grandiflorum. Therefore, the present study was aimed at evaluating the CNS depressant activity of an ethanolic extract of the flowers of J. grandiflorum in Swiss albino mice. Methods: Acute oral toxicity tests were done at doses of 550, 1750, and 5000 mg/kg. The extract was also subjected to phytochemical tests and TLC tests. The CNS depressant activity of the EEJG was evaluated by various models, such as the forced swimming test, tail suspension test, thiopental sodium-induced sleeping time test, locomotor activity test, and muscle co-ordination test, at two different doses (500 and 1000 mg/kg) in Swiss albino mice. Diazepam (1 mg/kg) was used as a standard drug. Results: In acute oral toxicity studies, the extract was found to be safe up to a dose level of 5000 mg/kg body weight. EEJG at both doses (500 and 1000 mg/kg) showed significantly (p<0.05, p<0.01) increase in immobility time in the forced swimming test and tail suspension test. In the thiopental-induced sleeping time test, EEJG at 1000 mg/kg showed a significant (p<0.05) effect on the onset of action time and also significantly (p<0.01) increase the duration of sleeping time. EEJG at 1000 mg/kg showed a significant (p<0.01) decrease in locomotor activity, and the EEJG at both doses (500 and 1000 mg/kg) showed a significantly (p<0.05, p<0.01) decreased in muscle co-ordination activity when compared to control group. Conclusions: The present study confirms the significant CNS depressant activity of the ethanolic extract of the flowers of J. grandiflorum, which may be due to flavonoids and steroids present in the extract as phytoconstituents confirmed by TLC. This study supports the plant's traditional use as a CNS depressant.

Tinospora cordifolia (TC), a medicinal plant deeply integrated into India's folklore and Ayurvedic medical tradition, has been a reliable remedy for addressing various health concerns. Despite its proven efficacy in managing diseases, it is essential to exercise prudence regarding its dosage, as excessive consumption may result in undesirable consequences. This present study seeks to ascertain if the methanolic extract of TC triggers any adverse effects on organ function, haematological parameters, or biochemical profiles. The extract was administered intra peritoneally (IP) into the Swiss albino mice at a concentration of 300mg/kg body weight and observations were taken on 7th and 14th day. In comparison to control groups, the levels of haemoglobin (Hb), packed cell volume (PVC), red blood corpuscles (RBC), red cell distribution width (RCW), and platelet count increase. However, significant decrease was also observed in the levels of erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and lymphocytes. Blood biochemical analysis reveals a significant increase in urea but a subsequent decrease in blood sugar levels. The findings unequivocally illustrate the disruption in the seminiferous tubules of the testis, accompanied by a decrease in spermatid count. Furthermore, observable damage to kidney tissues was noted. Based on these observations, it can be inferred that, despite its multifaceted therapeutic applications, TC extract may exert toxic effects in mice.

Terminalia brownii is widely used in folklore medicine and has diverse biological activities. However, its effect on the immune system is yet to be studied. Therefore, our study evaluated the immunomodulatory effect of T. brownii on nonspecific immunity. Innate immunity is the initial defence phase against pathogens or injuries. Dichloromethane plant extracts were tested on female Swiss albino mice and Wister rats. The effect of the extract on innate immunity was assessed via total and differential leukocyte counts, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and nitric oxide production by mouse macrophages. The 3-(4, 5-dimethyl thiazolyl-2)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay was employed for viability testing. Phytochemical profiling was carried out using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, while toxicity studies were carried out following the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development guidelines. Our results demonstrated that administration of T. brownii stem bark dichloromethane extract to pyrogallol-immuno compromised mice significantly ( p < 0.05 ) increased total and differential leukocyte counts compared with the control. The extract showed no adverse effect on the viability of Vero cells and macrophages and significantly ( p < 0.05 ) augmented tumor necrosis factor-alpha and nitric oxide production. Hexadecanoic acid, linoleic acid, octadecanoic acid, squalene, campesterol, stigmasterol, and β-sitosterol, all of which stimulate, were identified in the extract. The extract did not cause any death or toxic signs in rats. In conclusion, T. brownii dichloromethane extract has an immunoenhancing effect on innate immune responses and is not toxic. The observed immunoenhancing impact of the extract was attributed to the presence of the identified compounds. The results of this study provide crucial ethnopharmacological leads towards the development of novel immunomodulators for managing immune-related disorders.

This research surveys the Swiss missionaries' management of social transformation in South Africa (1873-1973). It has as its major focus the management of schools, hospitals and churches as the primary institutions of social change in society. The researcher's realisation that more often than not, the changes brought to bear on proselytes by the change forces take time to manifest themselves vividly induced him to extend the scope to include the dawn of the new political dispensation in this country in 1994. This need not surprise the readership as the triadic approach, which is synonymous with historical analyses compels researchers to avail readers of what happened in the past, present as well as what is likely to occur in future. In other words, readers will encounter the ethnic nationalism engineered by different change agents in this country and the repercussions thereof, and the schism within the Swiss Mission in South Africa/Evangelical Presbyterian Church in South Africa that started in 1989 and became reality in 1991. Finally, the thesis also appraises readers of what should be done in periods of rapid social change.
Educational Studies
D.Ed. (History of Education)

This research traces the developments in Europe that led to a rush for foreign missions i different parts of the world, with specific reference to South Africa. It describes the operations of the Swiss missionaries in South Africa from 1873 to 1975. This study also evaluates the motives for the evangelization of the African masses, and contradictions th existed in the relations that missionaries had with proselytes during the period under review. The sterling contributions of black evangelists in this period are demonstrated. It cannot be denied that the Swiss missionaries did a lot of good to the indigenous populac of South Africa-the importance of their services at Lemana Training Institution (1906) and Elim Hospital (1899) are indelibly inscribed in our historiography. They should also applauded for their response to the plight of the Shangaans, who had for reasons unkno to the researcher been by-passed by other missions during the "scramble for mission fields". But the missionaries also had their shortcomings, for instance their failure to ind the state to remove capital punishment from the statute books. They may nonetheless stil continue to be used by the present government of South Africa to assist in carrying the social transformation process forward.
Educational Studies
M. Ed. (History of Education)

This chapter explores the evolution of foodways traditions in the West Virginia Swiss community of Helvetia to examine how ethnographic fieldwork mirrors the evolution of folklife, specifically in that they are both dialogic processes, negotiated at every step through informal conversation. Through the lens of rosettes, fried cookies made for Helvetia’s pre-Lenten celebration, Fasnacht, Hilliard investigates how a specific localized tradition can be a point of inter- and cross-cultural connection—a potent example of how culture in Appalachia can be viewed as connective rather than singular and insular.