The Changing Role of The Giveaway Ceremony in Contemporary Lakota Life

Abstract

Gift-giving in the context of the giveaway ceremony of the Lakota was indigenously both an economic institution in which goods were exchanged and wealth redistributed as well as religious expression of a native ceremony. Today, gift-giving has practically lost both its religious and economic functions. The ceremony, however, continues to thrive in a new context. Focusing on the distribution of goods common to all, the giveaway has become a primarily social event which continues to play a crucial role in contemporary Indian life. This paper examines the changes which have taken place in this institution .over the last century and analyzes the new role it plays in. reservation society.     

A Ceremony For The Preparation Of The Offering Cloths For Presentation To The Sacred Calf Pipe Of The Teton Sioux*

Abstract

The following ceremony, according to my informants, must be performed each and every time an offering is made to the Sacred Calf Pipe of the Teton Dakota. When it is completed the Sacred Pipe Bundle can then be opened and prayed over.     

The Gros Ventre Ceremony of Supplication for Long Life

Abstract

Mothers in the Gros Ventre tribe, desiring the benefit of long life for their sons, had a private ceremony performed seeking the favor of the Supreme Being to that end.     

The Yuwipi Cult of the Oglala and Sicangu Teton Sioux

Abstract

The Yuwipi Cult of the Teton Sioux falls into the category of the Plains darkened room or darkened tent ceremonies involving monsters, usually diminutive. This type of ceremony with the tieing and subsequent freeing of the shaman by his personal spirits is old on the Plains but is also a circumpolar complex. A Woodland past, with some elements surviving from the even earlier southeastern home, is evident in various practices and artifacts connected with the cult.

The author takes issue with a previous statement that Yuwipi is like the Peyote cult marginal to the Teton religion. Rather, Yuwipi embodies all the basic elements of Teton cultism while peyotism lacks many of these.

A specific Yuwipi meeting is described in detail the preliminary arrangments with the shaman, sweat bath procedures, food preparation for the ceremony, preparation of the meeting room, as well as the altar and sacred area, scarification of volunteers, and finally the lightsout sessions of the Yuwipi ceremony.

It is concluded that, despite rrany stories of trickery common throughout the Sioux country, Yuwipi devotees continue to believe in the power of the Yuwipi men.     

Obituary: Pietro Cugini (13 December 1936 – 6 April 2020)

ABSTRACT

Chronobiology lost a great and distinguished physician-scientist, Pietro Cugini (Figure 1). He will be dearly missed by his family, his friends, and the field he helped shape and guide as he remained active until the end of his life at 83 years of age. In the middle of the worst pandemic the world has known in recent times, but not from COVID-19, Pietro passed away unexpectedly in front of his Rome apartment, on Via Latina, the same street where he was born and where he spent most of his life. He was buried shortly afterward in the Monumental cemetery of Marino. There was no formal ceremony as funerals were suspended because of the coronavirus. A proper ceremony will take place as soon as travel and congregation are possible. Pietro is survived by his three children, Silvia, Raffaella and Riccardo Cugini.     

The Northern Cheyenne Sun Dance and the Opening of the Sacred Medicine Hat 1959

Abstract

In 1959, after several years of teaching the Northern Cheyenne on the Tongue River Reservation in Montana, the writer was able to observe the annual Sun Dance in some detail, to photograph it, and to be present at the rare opening of the Sacred Medicine Hat Bundle which followed. This account reports the main events which took place, and establishes that the Northern Cheyenne Sun Dance has not only survived but has undergone relatively little change since it was reported by Grinnell in 1910. Marked similarity is also seen with the older Southern Cheyenne ceremony recorded by Dorsey in Oklahoma in 1903.

The Medicine Hat, still an object of much veneration, was inspected after a series of misadventures to determine whether its contents were safe, and thus was provided an opportunity to view for the first time in more than 25 years an old and famous object of significance in Plains religion.     

Pictographs At The Desrosier Rockshel Ter

Abstract

The DesRosier rockshelter is located in the Smith River drainage in central Montana, just east of the Continental Divide. Although the deep, stratified, culture-bearing deposit in the shelter has been test excavated and the recovered artifacts described, pictographs in the shelter and in an associated rock structure have never been discussed. My analysis of these pictographs demonstrates that they are representative of the Columbia Plateau rock art style, and in conjunction with the rock structure, were used as part of a vision quest ceremony.     

A Yuwipi Ceremony at Pine Ridge

Abstract

The final phase of the Dakota Yuwipi cult, a rite for curing the sick and foretelling the future, is described. It was held at Pine Ridge, South Dakota for the purpose of forecasting the chances of a candidate’s being elected chairman of the tribal council.

The candidate prepared for the ceremony by fasting, sweat baths, and prayer. The rite found 13 Indians and 3 non-Indian guests seated on 3 sides of a cleared room which had all openings blanketed. After preliminary ritual in which the medicine man was tied in a blanket, lights were put out and singing commenced. Lights came on twice as the candidate was escorted to and from the medicine man. During a last song series, sparks flew around the room, rattles shook, wind blew, beds tilted, etc. The medicine man then answered questions of the guests. He finally foretold the success of the candidate in the coming election. When the light came on the medicine man was found untied with the rope neatly balled beside him.

The reaction of the Indian guests was one of belief and fright. I:espi te candidate’s loss of the election the writer believes it was a wise political maneuver on the part of the mixedblood candidate to identify with the large faction of full-blood voters.     

Audrey’s Overhang: A Pictographic Maze in Central Montana

Abstract

Audrey’s Overhang, a small pictograph site in Montana’s Smith River Drainage, is part of a highly abstract rock art style localized in the Rocky Mountain foothills of central Montana. An abstract anthropomorph at Audrey’s Overhang is similar to those at several nearby sites. Site characteristics suggest that the pictographs of this rock art style were painted as part of a vision guest ceremony. Because the rock art of much of the surrounding area is poorly known the external relationships of this central Montana rock art style remain to be demonstrated.     

Western Dakota Winter Counts:

Abstract

The late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries witnessed the movement of the Western Dakota across the Missouri River and onto the High Plains. Concomitant with this movement were increasing White trade, contact with Whites and other Indian groups, and the impact of disease. The existence of several Western Dakota winter counts provides unique documentation of these groups’ own records of this critical period of change. This paper examines the form and content of Western Dakota winter counts. References to environmental phenomena, locations, inter-group contact, ceremony, disease, and death are examined for changes through the primary migration and early contact period.     

Omitting Late-Night Eating May Cause Hypoglycemia in “Well Controlled” Basal Insulin-Treated Type 2 Diabetes

ObjectiveTo assess hypoglycemia caused by eating the last meal of the day earlier or its omission in “well controlled” type 2 diabetes mellitus patients treated with once-nightly basal insulin.MethodsPreviously basal insulin-titrated subjects (n = 20) (fasting plasma glucose, FPG, < 110 mg/dL and no self-reported hypoglycemia) underwent continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) during 3 consecutive eating conditions of 3 days each; (1) usual eating, (2) the last meal restricted to 18:00, and (3) 1 sequential meal omitted/day thereby creating a fasting day after transposing the 4-hour period after a meal with that when the meal was omitted. One 24-hour (00:00 to 00:00) period within each eating condition was selected for comparison.ResultsThe mean duration in all hypoglycemic ranges doubled (P = .0584 or greater) when the last meal was omitted or eaten at 18:09 ± 0:39 instead of 19:43 ± 1:01, the usual time for the subjects’ undisturbed eating. The mean duration of hypoglycemia was greatest between 00:00 to 06:00 compared to the 3 other 6-hour periods of the day.ConclusionsIncreased hypoglycemia occurs when the subject’s last meal is eaten earlier or omitted and may not be recognized because it occurs predominately during sleep. When titrating basal insulin from the morning FPG, considerations should be given to the effect of the last meal of the day and possible hypoglycemia between 00:00 and 06:00 to avoid excessive basal insulin treatment. (Endocr Pract. 2015;21:280-285)     

The Changing Practice Of The Oglala Medicine Man

Abstract

Among the most durable elements of tribal culture are the quasi-secret ceremonial procedures of the medicine man, surviving the Conquest, suppression, and various revivalist movements almost intact, and retaining rituals possibly dating to the Pleistocene. Consciously rejected aspects of Christian training have reappeared in modified form, as in a wedding ceremony here described. Other syncretisms can be traced to the political activism of recent years, and the impetus it has given to a resurgence of the old religion. By 1978 the Oglala medicine man, originally a healer, seer, and sage, had assumed additional roles as tribal representative to other governments, political leaders, mediator in disputes, judge and counsellor, justice-of-the-peace, mental health worker, psychotherapist, and provider of primary health care.     

Identification of Malassezia species isolated from patients with extensive forms of pityriasis versicolor in Siena,Italy

BackgroundPityriasis versicolor (PV) is an infection caused by various species of Malassezia yeast. There is no agreement in the literature concerning the species of Malassezia and the demographic, clinical, and mycological data.AimsTo prospectively identify Malassezia species isolated from lesions of patients with extensive, long standing and recurrent forms of PV and to estimate the relationship between Malassezia species and the demographic and clinical data of the patients.MethodsAll patients with PV were enrolled over a four-year period. Malassezia species were isolated in cultures and identified by morphological features and physiological tests. In the last 2 years a PCR-based technique was used to confirm the species’ identification.ResultsA total of 74 patients (43 males and 31 females, mean age 39.5 years) were enrolled. Only one species was isolated in 45 patients, and more than one species were identified in the remaining 28 patients (38%). M. globosa was the most frequently isolated (60.3%) species. There was a significant association between the isolation of 2 or more species and the presence of at least one predisposing factor. In the last 29 cases, which were subjected to PCR, there were no differences in the identification of isolated species as compared to traditional methods.ConclusionsThe isolation of more than one species in a single lesion is not infrequent in PV and is related to the presence of one predisposing factor. The isolated species isolated were not influenced by demographic and clinical features. The traditional and more recent (PCR) procedures gave the same results in the isolated species.     

Subcutaneous phaeohyphomycosis due to Curvularia lunata in a renal transplant patient

BackgroundPhaeohyphomycosis is defined as an infection caused by melanized fungi. It predominates in tropical climate and is currently classified as superficial, allergic, central nervous system or lung infections, and disseminated. Curvularia is one of the many genres which can cause this disease. Phialophora, Alternaria and Exophiala are more commonly isolated from subcutaneous lesions.Case reportA 25-year-old male, renal transplant recipient presents with an ulcer on his left leg. Subcutaneous phaeohyphomycosis due to Curvularia lunata was diagnosed based on mycological examination and histopathological findings. He was successfully treated with systemic itraconazole and surgical resection.ConclusionThe incidence of phaeohyphomycosis has increased in the last decades, especially in immunosuppressed individuals; nevertheless the number of cases does not allow for therapeutic controlled trials to be performed. Hence, we consider that it is important to communicate individual cases and reviews of the literature, to increase awareness of the disease, its clinical presentation and response to treatment.     

Association of anal symptoms with anal high grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSIL) among men who have sex with men: Baseline data from the study of the prevention of anal cancer (SPANC)

BackgroundThe association between anal high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL) and anal symptoms has not been systematically investigated.MethodsThe Study of Prevention of Anal Cancer is a prospective cohort study of men who have sex with men (MSM) ≥ 35 years old in Sydney, Australia. Self-reported symptoms were collected. Anal cytology and high-resolution anoscopy were undertaken. Using baseline visit data, men negative for squamous intra-epithelial lesion (SIL) were compared with men diagnosed with composite-HSIL (cytology and/or histology). Logistic regression analyses were performed to assess the association of symptoms with HSIL.ResultsAmong 414 MSM included (composite-HSIL (n = 231); negative for SIL (n = 183)), 306 (73.9%) reported symptom(s) within the last 6 months. There was no association between any symptom and composite-HSIL. A significant association between anal lump and a larger burden of HSIL (at least 2 intra-anal octants) (anal lump within last month: p = 0.014; anal lump within last 6 months: p = 0.010) became non-significant after adjusting for HIV-status and recent anal warts (anal lump within last month: p = 0.057; anal lump within last 6 months: p = 0.182).ConclusionsAmong MSM age 35 years and older, most anal symptoms are not a useful marker of anal HSIL.     

On the seasonal distribution of sunspot frequency

Abstract

Using the Zürich sunspot data, the seasonal distribution of all sunspot‐groups and of all new‐formed groups from 1938 to the last solar minimum in 1976 was investigated.

It is shown that there exist different distributions for the northern and southern solar hemisphere with maxima in the third and second quarter of the years, respectively, and seasonal differences in the north‐south asymmetry.

These results confirm the presumption of an influence of interstellar matter on solar activity.     

Population increase of forest birds in the Czech Republic between 1982 and 2003

Capsule Populations of most forest bird species increased between 1982 and 2003, probably due to increased forest cover and changes in forest age-class composition.

Aims To determine population changes of forest birds in the Czech Republic and to determine their possible causes.

Methods Population data were collected via the Breeding Bird Monitoring Programme, which is based on skilled volunteers counting birds at point transects using a standardized technique. Population trends and indices for the period 1982–2003 were calculated for 47 species using log-linear models. Published data on development of forest cover and forest age composition in the Czech Republic were used to indicate environmental change over the same period.

Results Populations of most forest species increased between 1982 and 2003. There was also an increase in forest cover and an increase in the proportion of older forest age-classes. The increase in forest specialist birds was positively correlated with the average increase in forest coverage.

Conclusions The populations of Czech forest birds have increased in the last two decades. This contrasts with widely reported declines of farmland bird populations throughout Europe. The correlation between populations of specialized forest species and extent of forest habitat suggests that changes in land-use are an important factor. However, increasing cover of mature forests could have a similar effect on the populations of specialist species.     

Purine Based Combinatorial Chemistry: Solution Phase Simultaneous Addition of Functionalities. Iterative Deconvolution by Orthogonal Protection to a Single Compound with Potent Antibacterial Activity

Abstract

We have recently described a method to prepare combinatorial chemistry libraries by solution phase simultaneous addition of functionalities (SPSAF).^1–2 SPSAF has been used to create libraries based on the purine heterocycle. The nucleophilic sites (secondary nitrogens) in the planer heteroaromatic purine scaffold were built in via linkers. Thus, to continue the use of electophilic functionalities, as in previous libraries, a bifunctional nucleophilic linker was required. Piperazines readily served this purpose. Nucleophilic displacement of the chloro groups on 2,6-dichloropurine with piperazines provides reactive, constrained secondary amines for combinatorialization (Figure 1, 1). An additional piperazine was placed in the 9-position by alkylation of 2,6-dipiperazinylpurine. In this manner, the functionality that differentiates each pool (sublibrary) could be placed last in the synthetic scheme (fix last concept).¹     

Determinants of End-of-Life Expenditures in Patients with Oral Cancer in Taiwan: A Population-Based Study

BackgroundTo investigate the association of basic demographic data, socioeconomic status, medical services, and hospital characteristics with end-of-life expenditure in patients with oral cancer in Taiwan who died between 2009 to 2011.MethodsThis nationwide population-based, retrospective cohort study identified 5,386 patients who died from oral cancer. We evaluated medical cost in the last month of life by universal health insurance. The impact of each variable on the end-of-life expenditure was examined by hierarchical generalized linear model (HGLM) using a hospital-level random-intercept model.ResultsThe mean medical cost in the last six months of life was $2,611±3,329 (U.S. dollars). In HGLM using a random-intercept model, we found that patients younger than 65 years had an additional cost of $819 over those aged ≥65 years. Patients who had a high Charlson Comorbidity Index Score (CCIS) had an additional $616 cost over those with a low CCIS. Those who survived post-diagnosis less than 6 months had an additional $659 in expenses over those who survived more than 24 months. Medical cost was $249 more for patients who had medium to high individual SES, and $319 more for those who were treated by non-oncologists.ConclusionThis study provides useful information for decision makers in understanding end-of-life expenditure in oral cancer. We found significantly increased end-of-life expenditure in patients if they were younger than 65 years or treated by non-oncologists, or had high CCIS, medium to high individual SES, and survival of less than 6 months after diagnosis.