bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Role of TMPRSS6 rs855791 (T > C) polymorphism with iron and ferritin in Iraqi adult patients with iron deficiency anemia
Authors: Hoshe Sawsan Hashim , Gazally Moead E.AL , AL-Shammari Hussein Naji
Published: September 2023

Our study aimed to investigate the association between TMPRSS6 polymorphism and risk of iron deficiency anemia. In this analytical (case and control) study, venous blood samples were taken from (100) subjects, (50) patients with iron deficiency anemia and (50) healthy volunteers as a control group. Hemoglobin (Hb), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), iron, and ferritin were measured. Genomic DNA was extracted by salting out method and the TMPRSS6 C/T polymorphism and AQP1 were analyzed using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The results showed that the frequency of TT genotype of TMPRSS6 C/T polymorphism was higher in IDA patients. The results also showed significantly low Hb concentration, MCV, MCHC, MCH, iron, and ferritin in IDA patients when compared with normal individuals (P≤0.00). The well gene and mutant gene within the IDA patients were shown to have no interaction with the CBC parameters (Hb, MCV, MCHC, MCH and RBC). The frequency of TT genotype of AQP1 polymorphism was significantly higher with mutant gene in IDA patients in comparison with the controls. In conclusion, there were statistically significant association between TMPRSS6 C/T polymorphism and risk of IDA and the same as of AQP1gene among Iraqi patients in Baghdad state. Also, There were interactions observed between TMPRSS6 C/T genotypes and AQP1 with means of Hb, MCV, MCHC, MCH, and iron in IDA patients group when compared with normal individuals. But there were no statistically significant differences between well gene and mutant gene in IDA patients.
The reaction of heaptocytes to the effects of pesticides
Authors: Nishonov Yu. N. , Mamasaidov J. T.
Published: September 2023

The work is devoted to the study of the effect of pesticides on the morphological structure of the liver in experimental animals. The work was performed in a scientific laboratory. Modeling was performed in 138 outbred white rats. The morphological changes in dynamics were studied and appropriate conclusions were drawn on structural changes and the possibilities of correction were indicated.
Improving the independent creative activity of students on the basis of competent approach
Authors: Choriev R. , Xadjanov A. , Kirgizbaev A. , Sadikova F. , Jumanov A. , Yunusov O. , Baratov D.
Published: September 2023

The article is aimed at defining the stages of organization of independent creative activity of students through observation and analysis of the educational process and the organizational and pedagogical conditions for independent learning to improve the quality of the educational process. independent work instructions,development of teaching and didactic support and methods of organizing independent creative activity, as well as criteria and indicators for determining the level of improvement of independent creative activity of students on the basis of a competency approach.
Adding competence of students of higher educational institutions on the basis of creative approach to the development of technology
Authors: Urinova N. , Yuldosheva D.
Published: September 2023

This article deals with the development of creative competence of future teachers on the basis of acmeological approach, the qualities of creativity of future teachers, approaches based on the development of creative competence of future teachers, pedagogical conditions for the development of creative competence and the possibility of organizing creative activities. The skill groups that are given are shown. An analysis of the results of experimental work is also presented.
Pedagogical efficiency of integrated learning in the organization of hygiene classes in medical universities
Authors: Ashurova M. D. , Mo’ydinova Y. , Atadjanova D. , Muhammadova G. , Ismoilov D.
Published: September 2023

The article presents the experience of using integrated learning and elements of problem based learning (PBL) within the framework of the course of teaching hygiene disciplines to students of the Faculty of Preventive Medicine. The high efficiency of the (PBL) method was achieved after the preliminary preparation of cases, with a description of specific situations and a set of necessary documents and sources of information.
The effectiveness of the process of self-education in a foreign language at non-linguistic faculties
Authors: Kadirova M. , Iminahunova I.
Published: September 2023

This article discusses the effectiveness of the process of self-education increases when the following set of pedagogical conditions, under which we understand the set of interrelated measures of the educational process, the observance of which ensures the achievement of pre-planned goals and objectives of training: the competence of the English teacher; the combination of collective, group and individual forms of organization of the educational process; the use of a variety of teaching methods and methods of activity, taking into account the individual characteristics and the initial level of preparedness of students; methodical provision of students for the organization and implementation of this type of activity (comprehensive and timely information about the sources of educational information, thematic content of the work, the need for works, forms of control, etc.).
The influence of modern mobile devices on the performance of medical students
Authors: Abdumananov A.A.
Published: September 2023

The modern smartphones attract teachers and students with their opportunities to develop competencies with numerous applications, and at the same time, the obvious and yet insufficiently studied threats associated with smartphones cause concern and concern. Having a huge potential for use in the educational environment, the phone becomes a cause of conflict, a hindrance in lessons and a competitor to productive pastime. The paucity and inconsistency of data on the impact of the phone on academic achievement, psychological well-being, and interpersonal relationships require further research. The study among junior students of the Institute considered the issues of productive and problematic use of mobile phones. The survey method was used to obtain information about the use of a mobile phone. One of the manifestations of the construct “problematic mobile phone use” is the presence of problems in various spheres of life, including problems related to school. As a result of the study, the positive and negative effects of mobile phones on educational activities were identified.
The role and significance of national values in teaching students to creative thinking
Authors: Naralieva Shakhlo , Khamroeva Khulkar , Ganiev Salimzhan
Published: September 2023

Since ancient times, the relationship between language and culture has been closely linked. Their common features associated with national values are combined in folklore. Great human values, several thousand years of historical and gradual stages of development and formation of folk artistic thinking are reflected in folklore, which was enriched and polished by the artistic and aesthetic genius of each generation. As a result, language is an integral part of national culture and cultural traditions. Depending on the development of society and its adjustments and updates, the vocabulary of the language develops and is enriched with new words and terms. We have enough written and oral resources to study the features of the language. Through the masterpieces of folklore, we fully feel that the Turkic-speaking peoples were able to express all the subtle aspects of folk wisdom thousands of years ago. A correctly used word, especially an artistic one, arouses spiritual and aesthetic pleasure and interest in the history of the nation in the rising young generation. The role and importance of folklore works in the development of pupil’s speech, in their study of the history of their native language, in the formation of creative thinking skills through a sense of its magic, beauty and grace is incomparable. The customs, traditions and values of the people, their unusual national and cultural aspects are manifested in linguoculturology. The article discusses the role and significance of linguoculturological studies of folklore works in teaching students creative thinking, the formation of their speech competence.
Development processes of language and philosophical views in Central Asia
Authors: Gaibullaev Otabek
Published: September 2023

In the history of human society, the territory of Central Asia attracted the peoples of the world as a place for the development of the Turkic language, where its own culture and values were formed. This region is rightfully considered a place of cultural life, embodying the literary heritage of our people, and worldviews, one of the first centers of spirituality, and a testing ground where social and philosophical ideas were born. In it, literature about language and philosophy created in different periods, the characters of works based on reality, and the expression of philosophical thinking in our national culture are embodied in literary genres. They reflect the processes of formation of linguistic and philosophical views in the hearts of the young generation on a value basis and reveal the national image of the ideas of goodness and justice in our history. The Central Asian region, as a settlement where a rich intellectual potential has long been formed, is characterized by rich philosophical masterpieces of our ancestors, ancient oral and written sources, narratives that reflect the image of national heroes, and traditions that have merged with the earth. Of particular importance in them are the way of life, art, and culture of the Turkic peoples, the world of philosophical thought, a subtle aesthetic worldview, and the moral values of representatives of other peoples. Harmonization of ideas based on the Turkic language, formed on this earth, with divine beliefs, and views on the creation of being, earth, and heaven in “Avesto” are elements of a specific philosophical thought. The unity of a noble word, a noble thought, and a noble deed in this work is considered the main idea in ensuring the eternity of life, in enriching the immortality of the language. The processes of parallel development of philosophical views in Central Asia and language not only served as the basis for later periods but also contributed to the development of spiritual treasures in the world.
The technology of radio frequency fingerprint identification based on deep learning for 5G application
Authors: Lin Yun , Wang Hanhong , Zha Haoran
Published: September 2023

User Equipment (UE) authentication holds paramount importance in upholding the security of wireless networks. A nascent technology, Radio Frequency Fingerprint Identification (RFFI), is gaining prominence as a means to bolster network security authentication. To expedite the integration of RFFI within fifth-generation (5G) networks, this research undertakes the creation of a comprehensive link-level simulation platform tailored for 5G scenarios. The devised platform emulates various device impairments, including an oscillator, IQ modulator, and power amplifier (PA) nonlinearities, alongside simulating channel distortions. Consequent to this, a plausibility analysis is executed, intertwining transmitter device impairments with 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) new radio (NR) protocols. Subsequently, an exhaustive exploration is conducted to assess the impact of transmitter impairments, deep neural networks (DNNs), and channel effects on RF fingerprinting performance. Notably, under a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of 15 dB, the deep learning approach demonstrates the capability to accurately classify 100 UEs with a commendable 91% accuracy rate. Through a multifaceted evaluation, it is ascertained that the Attention-based network architecture emerges as the optimal choice for the RFFI task, serving as the new benchmark model for RFFI applications.
Jeder BMI Punkt zählt – VOR der
Schwangerschaft
Authors: Weschenfelder Friederike , Groten Tanja
Published: September 2023

Abstrakt

Hintergrund LGA-Neugeborene haben ein höheres Risiko für
neonatale Komplikationen und leiden später häufiger an Diabetes
und Fettleibigkeit. Als Risikofaktoren für die Geburt eines LGA Kindes
ist neben der Adipositas der Mutter ein unzureichend behandelter GDM und die
übermäßige Gewichtszunahme in der Schwangerschaft
beschrieben.

Methodik Wir sind in einer Studie der Frage nachgegangen welcher dieser
Faktoren in der Schwangerschaft bei adipösen Frauen den
größten Einfluss auf das Risiko für die Geburt eines
makrosomen Kindes hat.

Ergebnisse Im Vergleich zwischen adipösen und
nicht-adipösen Schwangeren unterschieden sich in der Gruppe der
nicht-adipösen Frauen die LGA-Raten signifikant zwischen GDM- und
Nicht-GDM-Frauen (13 vs. 7,3%). Im Gegensatz dazu ergab die
Subgruppenanalyse der adipöser Mütter keinen Einfluss des GDM
auf die LGA-Rate.

Diskussion Für das Outcome der Schwangerschaften adipöser
Frauen zählt damit tatsächlich vor allem die BMI Reduktion VOR
der Schwangerschaft. Eine adäquate Schwangerschaftsbetreuung kann
darüber hinaus den Einfluss von weitern Einflussfaktoren wie GDM und
übermäßiger Gewichtszunahme reduzieren helfen.
Mentalisieren fördern – Zur Beziehung von
Gruppenleitung und Teilnehmerinnen
Authors: Raab Josef
Published: September 2023

Mentalisieren, wie von Fonagy et al. [1] dargelegt, wird als eine zentrale
Grundlage veränderungswirksamer Psychotherapie verstanden. Auch in der
Balintarbeit erzeugen Erkenntnisgewinn und Mentalisieren eine zufriedenstellende
Gruppenarbeit. Bezugnehmend auf Balint wird der innerpsychische
Reflexionsprozess, dem die Gruppenleiterinnen in ihrer spezifischen Funktion
unterworfen sind, untersucht, strukturiert und in Anlehnung an Schultz-Venrath
[12] zu konkreten Hilfestellungen ausformuliert. Allgemeine Überlegungen
zur Intersubjektivität sind vorangestellt.
Einsatz KI-gestützter Diagnostik von Sprach- und Sprechstörungen bei neurodegenerativen Erkrankungen
Authors: Fischer Mira , Jäck Alexander
Published: September 2023

Gegenstand und Ziel Der Artikel behandelt die Anwendungsmöglichkeiten der KI-gestützten Sprachanalyse bei neurodegenerativen Erkrankungen. Das Ziel besteht darin, einen Überblick über die sprachlichen Auffälligkeiten bei verschiedenen Krankheiten zu geben und zu zeigen, wie KI-basierte Methoden zur Diagnosestellung und Behandlung eingesetzt werden können.

Material und Methoden Es werden neurodegenerative Erkrankungen und ihre spezifischen sprachlichen Störungen vorgestellt. Die traditionellen Methoden der Sprachanalyse für neurologische Erkrankungen werden erläutert und Möglichkeiten der KI-gestützten Analyse diskutiert.

Ergebnisse Die KI-basierte Sprachanalyse stellt eine vielversprechende Möglichkeit zur Früherkennung und Diagnosestellung von neurologischen Erkrankungen dar. Durch automatische Transkripte und Fehleranalysen können subtile Veränderungen der Sprache und des Sprechens erkannt und objektiviert werden. Die KI-basierte Sprachanalyse ermöglicht eine genaue und quantifizierbare Bewertung von sprachlichen Defiziten und kann Fachpersonal zusätzliche Informationen liefern.

Schlussfolgerung Die KI-basierte Sprachanalyse bietet neue Möglichkeiten zur Früherkennung und Überwachung von neurologischen Erkrankungen. Sie kann subtile Veränderungen der Sprache frühzeitig erkennen und eine rechtzeitige Intervention ermöglichen. Dennoch sollte sie als unterstützendes Werkzeug betrachtet werden und nicht als Ersatz für die Expertise von Fachpersonal. Die KI-basierte Sprachanalyse kann Ressourcen schonen, die Genauigkeit der Diagnose verbessern und eine kontinuierliche Verlaufsdiagnostik ermöglichen.

Klinische Relevanz Die KI-basierte Sprachanalyse kann dazu beitragen, neurodegenerative Erkrankungen frühzeitig zu erkennen und eine gezielte Behandlung einzuleiten. Sie bietet eine objektivierbare Methode zur Bewertung sprachlicher Defizite und kann die Diagnosestellung unterstützen.
Aesthetic Values of Nasofacial Angles
Authors: Nagarkar N M , Mann S B S , Gupta A K
Published: September 2023

There is a paucity of anthropometric data, especially in relation to the nose, with regard to Indian population. A study was conducted wherein the nasofacial profile of 120 subjects of both sexes was recorded for measuring nasofrontal, nasofacial, nasolabial and columellar angles. It was found that the nasofrontal angle and nasolabial angle decreased with increase in age in a significant number of cases (P<0.01). It was also found that the columellar - alar angle was significantly more (P<0.01) in males as compared to females, except in younger age groups. The data collected could serve as aguideline during aesthetic surgery.
The trauma and fragmentation narrative in Amy Tan’s The Kitchen God’s Wife and Toni Morrison’s Beloved
Authors: Yang Yali
Published: September 2023

Trauma theory, which emerged in the early 1990s, unveiled the deep-rooted violence characterising modern civilisation. As an essential subset of trauma studies, trauma literature acts as a testament to victims’ experiences. A narrative technique pivotal to this literature is the fragmented narrative, mirroring both the inherent nature of trauma and its external portrayal. This technique aptly captures the often-ineffable nature of traumatic experiences. This research scrutinises the application of fragmented narrative in two seminal works: Amy Tan’s The Kitchen God’s Wife published in 1991 and Toni Morrison’s Beloved published in 1987. Through a lens focused on mother-daughter dynamics and trauma representation, the study illuminates the novels’ shared themes of motherhood and the agonising internal battles of trauma-afflicted mothers. Tan and Morrison, using fragmented narrative, vividly depict their protagonists’ harrowing traumas, and offer invaluable insights into the experiences of marginalised communities. The emphasis on trauma literature is pivotal, both for a comprehensive understanding of traumatic events and the advancement of trauma research. This underscores the paramountcy of acknowledging personal and communal traumas and championing a humane approach to trauma victims.
How does industry-university-research collaborative innovation affect energy intensity in China: a novel explanation based on political turnover
Authors: Yang Guanglei , Cao Dongqin , Zhang Guoxing
Published: September 2023

As a form of integrating knowledge resources and promoting technological innovation, industry-university-research (IUR) collaborative innovation is thought to influence energy intensity reduction. However, the boundary conditions of IUR collaborative innovation affecting energy intensity have yet to be discussed. To fill this gap, we explore the impact of IUR collaborative innovation on energy intensity and the role of political turnover in its influencing mechanism, using a panel dataset of 30 Chinese provinces from 2010 to 2018. IUR collaborative innovation inhibits energy intensity, but this effect is only significant in the eastern region. Interestingly, political turnover positively moderates the inhibitory effect of IUR collaborative innovation on energy intensity. However, this moderating effect is only significant in the central and western regions. Moreover, the robustness tests provide abundant evidence to support the above findings. Finally, some policy implications are suggested.
Polymer nanocomposite films of Sr-doped BiVO4 for photodegradation of malachite green
Authors: Nithin B. M. , Jineesh A. G. , Manikanda Prabu N.
Published: September 2023

Nanosized m-BiVO4 and Sr-doped derivatives were prepared by solid state reactions, to produce Bi1-xSrxVO4 (X = 0%, 4%, 8% & 12%). XRD and Raman investigations confirmed the formation of BiVO4 phase. 8% and 12% doped samples contained a small fraction of secondary t-BiVO4 phase. SEM images exhibited flat and irregular nanoparticles (64–70 nm). Estimated band gaps were in visible region (2.34–2.42 eV). The materials were used to photodegrade malachite green and BVO-12 showed maximum efficiency ˜ 88% in 180 min. The catalyst was stable and effective for three cycles. Radical scavenging experiments proved the role of holes and hydroxyl radicals. Polymer nanocomposite films made of EOC and photocatalyst were prepared. 0.15 g catalyst loaded film showed maximum activity and recyclability.
Highly correlated structural, local structural, Raman spectroscopic and magnetic properties of Mn-substituted Cu2V2O7
Authors: Das A , Neogi S K , Banerjee A , Tayal A , Bandyopadhyay S
Published: September 2023

Low-dimensional quantum spin ½ system Cu2V2O7 has been investigated in the framework of Mn-substitution at the Cu site, which is really un-investigated. The studied compounds Cu2 − x
Mn
x
V2O7 (x = 0, 0.05, 0.1 and 0.15) have been synthesized and characterized structurally, spectroscopically, local structurally and magnetically via x-ray diffraction, Raman, x-ray absorption and temperature, field dependent magnetization measurements respectively. Although Cu2V2O7 can be found in α, β and γ-phase, however all of the studied compounds are found in single orthorhombic α-phase which has crucial magneto-electric application potential. Temperature dependent Raman spectra indicated anharmonic phonon–phonon scattering but there is no spin–phonon coupling for VO4 vibrational modes. The local structure probed via x-ray absorption near edge structure and extended x-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy at 15 K, 300 K indicates Cu2+, V5+ and mixed valent Mn2+ and Mn3+ ionic states and justified local structure for the probed ions. Magnetic measurements indicate long-range antiferromagnetic ordering with doping independent Neel temperature (32.5 K). Further observations are strong magnetic hysteresis at 5 K (due to canted spin structure), zero field exchange-bias and their noteworthy enhancement upon Mn-substitution. Interesting correlation between structural parameters and magnetic exchanges has been developed.
Momentum map reduction for nonholonomic systems
Authors: Balseiro Paula , Eugenia Garcia Maria , Tori Cora Inés , Zuccalli Marcela
Published: September 2023

This paper presents a reduction procedure for nonholonomic systems admitting suitable types of symmetries and conserved quantities. The full procedure contains two steps. The first (simple) step results in a Chaplygin system, described by an almost symplectic structure, carrying additional symmetries. The focus of this paper is on the second step, which consists of a Marsden–Weinstein–type reduction that generalises constructions in (Balseiro and Fernandez 2015 Nonlinearity
28 2873–912, Cortés Monforte 2002 Geometric, Control and Numerical Aspects of non-Holonomic Systems (Springer)). The almost symplectic manifolds obtained in the second step are proven to coincide with the leaves of the reduced nonholonomic brackets defined in (Balseiro and Yapu-Quispe 2021 Ann. Inst. Henri Poincare C 38 23–60). We illustrate our construction with several classical examples.
Dynamic modulated single-photon routing
Authors: Li 李 Hao-Zhen 浩珍 , Zeng 曾 Ran 然 , Hu 胡 Miao 淼 , Xu 许 Mengmeng 蒙蒙 , Zhou 周 Xue-Fang 雪芳 , Xia 夏 Xiuwen 秀文 , Xu 许 Jing-Ping 静平 , Yang 羊 Ya-Ping 亚平
Published: September 2023

The dynamic control of single-photon scattering in a pair of one-dimensional waveguides mediated by a time-modulated atom–cavity system is investigated. Two cases, where the waveguides are coupled symmetrically or asymmetrically to the atom–cavity system, are discussed in detail. The results show that such time-modulated atom–cavity configuration can behave as a dynamical tunable directional single-photon router. The photons with different frequencies can dynamically be routed from the incident waveguide into any ports of the other with a 100% probability via adjusting the modulated amplitude or phases of the time-modulated atom–cavity coupling strengths, associate with the help of the asymmetrical waveguide–cavity couplings. Furthermore, the influence of dissipation on the routing capability is investigated. It is shown that the present single-photon router is robust against the dissipative process of the system, especially the atomic dissipation. These results are expected to be applicable in quantum information processing and design quantum devices with dynamical modulation.
Study of neutron density fluctuation and neutron-proton correlation in Au+Au collisions using PYTHIA8/Angantyr*
Authors: Zhang 张 Zuman 祖满 , Li 李 Sha 莎 , Yu 喻 Ning 宁 , Lin 林 Jianping 健平 , Li 李 Shuang 双 , Tang 汤 Siyu 思宇 , Zhou 周 Daicui 代翠
Published: September 2023

Utilizing the PYTHIA8 Angantyr model, which incorporates the multiple-parton interaction (MPI) based color reconnection (CR) mechanism, we study the relative neutron density fluctuation and neutron-proton correlation in Au+Au collisions at

= 7.7, 11.5, 14.5, 19.6, 27, 39, 62.4, and 200 GeV. In this study, we not only delve into the dependence of these two remarkable observations on rapidity, centrality, and energy, but also analyze their interplay with the MPI and CR. Our results show that the light nuclei yield ratio of protons, deuterons, and tritons, expressed by the elegant expression

, remains unchanged even as the rapidity coverage and collision centrality increase. Interestingly, we also reveal that the effect of CR is entirely dependent on the presence of the MPI; CR has no impact on the yield ratio if the MPI is off. Our findings further demonstrate that the light nuclei yield ratio experiences a slight increase with increasing collision energy, as predicted by the PYTHIA8 Angantyr model; however, it cannot describe the non-monotonic trend observed by the STAR experiment. Based on the Angantyr model simulation results, it is essential not to overlook the correlation between neutron and proton fluctuations. The Angantyr model is a good baseline for studying collisions in the absence of a quark-gluon plasma system, given its lack of flow and jet quenching.
Expanding proton dripline by employing a number of muons*
Authors: Liu 刘 Lang 朗 , Yu 余 Yongle 永乐
Published: September 2023

Through mean-field calculations, we demonstrate that, in a large Z nucleus binding multiple muons, these heavy leptons localize within a few dozen femtometers of the nucleus. The mutual Coulomb interactions between the muons and protons can lead to a substantial decrease in proton chemical potential, surpassing 1 MeV. These findings imply that, in principle, the proton-dripline can be expanded on the nuclear chart, suggesting the possible production of nuclei with Z around 120.
Hydrological regimes explain the seasonal predictability of streamflow extremes
Authors: Du Yiheng , Clemenzi Ilaria , Pechlivanidis Ilias G
Published: September 2023

Advances in hydrological modeling and numerical weather forecasting have allowed hydro-climate services to provide accurate impact simulations and skillful forecasts that can drive decisions at the local scale. To enhance early warnings and long-term risk reduction actions, it is imperative to better understand the hydrological extremes and explore the drivers for their predictability. Here, we investigate the seasonal forecast skill of streamflow extremes over the pan-European domain, and further attribute the discrepancy in their predictability to the local river system memory as described by the hydrological regimes. Streamflow forecasts at about 35 400 basins, generated from the E-HYPE hydrological model driven with bias-adjusted ECMWF SEAS5 meteorological forcing input, are explored. Overall the results show adequate predictability for both hydrological extremes over Europe, despite the spatial variability in skill. The skill of high streamflow extreme deteriorates faster as a function of lead time than that of low extreme, with a positive skill persisting up to 12 and 20 weeks ahead for high and low extremes, respectively. A strong link between the predictability of extremes and the underlying local hydrological regime is identified through comparative analysis, indicating that systems of analogous river memory, e.g. fast or slow response to rainfall, can similarly predict the high and low streamflow extremes. The results improve our understanding of the geographical areas and periods, where the seasonal forecasts can timely provide information on very high and low streamflow conditions, including the drivers controlling their predictability. This consequently benefits regional and national organizations to embrace seasonal prediction systems and improve the capacity to act in order to reduce disaster risk and support climate adaptation.
The human person
Authors: Adamson Peter
Published: September 2023

An overview of Ibn Sīnā’s philosophical anthropology. The first section looks at his ‘faculty psychology’ according to which the powers of the soul are distributed throughout the body, with a set of ‘internal senses’ seated in the brain that complement our external senses of vision, hearing, etc. The rational soul or intellect is an immaterial power, for Ibn Sīnā, and can survive bodily death. Particular in focus is his famous ‘flying man’ thought experiment, which tries to establish that the soul is distinct from the body by using the concept of self-awareness. A final section looks at his views on the afterlife.
God and the world
Authors: Adamson Peter
Published: September 2023

In this chapter we reach some of Ibn Sīnā’s most famous ideas, which fall within the science of metaphysics: his essence‒existence distinction and his proof for the existence of God. Using the former distinction, Ibn Sīnā is able to give new meaning to the contrast of the contingent and necessary, and suggest that the contingent is that which needs a cause to ‘preponderate’ it to exist. Careful discussion is devoted to his proof for God as the necessary existent, with consideration of potential objections and how they might be answered. Finally the chapter considers the necessitarianism of Ibn Sīnā’s philosophical theology and its attendant commitment to the eternity of the world and determinism.
Observational Astronomy: A Very Short Introduction
Authors: Cottrell Geoff
Published: September 2023

Observational Astronomy: A Very Short Introduction provides an overview of how modern observational astronomy is revealing the mysteries of the Universe. In the past, most knowledge about the Universe has come from from observing visible light. However, the development of new telescopes operating over the whole electromagnetic spectrum is opening new windows on the cosmos and revealing numerous novel phenomena. We are, for the first time, able to glimpse how the first stars and galaxies were formed in the Universe. The dramatic expansion of observable wavelengths from radio waves to gamma waves is revealing violent cosmic events such as exploding stars, pulsars, quasars, and merging black holes. The book also covers the new astronomies based on observations of cosmic neutrinos and gravitational waves. These, allied with with traditional astronomical methods, offer highly informative multi-messenger pictures of the Universe. Throughout, the VSI emphasises the close relationship between observational astronomy and theory; the two work together to inspire new observations and new knowledge.
The radio Universe
Authors: Cottrell Geoff
Published: September 2023

This chapter describes how the radio window in the atmosphere was opened up for observational astronomy, the techniques needed to do this, and the key results that have come from radio observations. Starting from the accidental discovery of cosmic radio emission, the chapter moves on to describe how the science of radio astronomy developed rapidly post-WWII, quickly revealing numerous bright extragalactic sources, radio galaxies and quasars. Radio wavelengths are a million times longer than those of visible light, and so interferometers are needed to make high-resolution observations, giving rise to telescopes with sharp vision. With the discovery of quasars, the most powerful sites of energy release in the Universe, radio astronomy has shown us supermassive black holes, lurking in the centre of galaxies, gorging themselves on material. Sophisticated earth-sized radio telescope arrays have imaged the shadows in the hearts of supermassive black holes. Radio observations discovered pulsars, the collapsed neutron-star cores of exploding massive stars, beaming out powerful pulses. Radio astronomy also observes spectral line emission from hydrogen, the dominant component of the Universe, as well as from other molecules. These observations also show us the cold Universe, in Giant Molecular Clouds of gas associated with star-formation.
The future of the law
Authors: Wacks Raymond
Published: September 2023

This chapter reflects on the future of the law. Those who suggest that law is moribund point to signs of the infirmity of many advanced legal systems. Symptoms of this demise include the privatization of law. On the other hand, the resilience of law is evident in the extension of the law’s reach into the private domain in pursuit of efficiency, social justice, and other political goals; the globalization of law and its internationalization through the United Nations, regional organizations, and the European Union; and the massive impact of technology on the law. The chapter then discusses legal development, the threat of terrorism, surveillance, and the limits of law.
The economic and technological dimensions of globalization
Authors: Steger Manfred B.
Published: September 2023

This chapter looks into the economic and technological dimensions of globalization. It starts with the definition of economic globalization, which refers to the intensification and stretching of economic connections across the globe. The recent advances in digital technology played a crucial role in profound social transformations centred on the market. Moreover, the Internet assumes a pivotal function in expanding global networks that involve all dimensions of globalization. The chapter also looks into the emergence of the global economic order and the internationalization of trade. It elaborates on the power of transitional companies, which are known to be the contemporary versions of early modern commercial enterprises.
Present and future trends
Authors: Steger Manfred B.
Published: September 2023

This chapter reflects on the present and future trends of globalization. It explains how the COVID-19 pandemic served as a particularly significant marker of unsettled time after global interconnectivity and mobilities of various kinds faced major pandemic-related obstacles caused by repeated national lockdowns. However, the rapid global spread of COVID-19 and the ensuing global efforts to develop vaccines indicate that certain forms of globalization accelerated and intensified during times of worldwide COVID-19-related disruption and paralysis. The chapter then explains ‘disjunctive globalization’ which refers to acceleration of digital and other manifestations of disembodied globalization formations at the expense of the other three major globalization formations. The chapter ends with a discussion of how necessary transformative social processes should be guided by an ethical commitment to advance global social justice.
Understanding the world
Authors: Taub Liba
Published: September 2023

‘Understanding the World’ introduces attempts to comprehend the natural world, rather than strategies to control it. It focuses on Greece and Rome, covering a broad sweep of time from the 8th century bce to the 6th century ce. For many early Greek philosophers, the study of nature focused on explaining what can be seen (phenomena), while for some, nature included the human body and disease. This chapter discusses conceptions of ‘nature’ among ancient Greeks and Romans; the investigation of nature was part of a larger culture of enquiry. The meaning of the Greek word kosmos is examined, meaning ‘order’ or ‘adornment’. For some ancient thinkers, not only animals, humans, and plants but the cosmos itself was understood to be alive. The chapter considers modern accounts of ancient science that emphasize certain perceived features, which are implicitly approved of or disparaged, such as the emphasis on mathematics and the lack of experimentation.
Let no one unskilled in geometry enter
Authors: Taub Liba
Published: September 2023

This chapter explores the ideas credited to Pythagoras and his followers regarding the importance of number in explaining the world. It also considers the origin of the idea of the harmony of the spheres that is usually traced to early Pythagoreans. The Greek word harmonia refers to joining together or fastening. Plato highlighted the Pythagorean idea of the mathematical structure of the cosmos and of cosmic harmony. Plato also emphasized the value of mathematics in education. Astronomy was a branch of mathematics for the ancient Greeks and was used by Plato, Eudoxus, and others to describe the motions of astronomical bodies.
Chapter 12 Beyond antiquity
Authors: Taub Liba
Published: September 2023

‘Beyond Antiquity’ traces the legacies of ancient Greek and Roman science that endured through the Middle Ages, Renaissance, and into the modern period. The longevity of some concepts and concerns, such as those relating to matter, atoms, and chaos, points to a degree of continuity among scientific practitioners and communities. The influence of some ancient thinkers remained strong throughout the medieval and early modern periods. A division of labour between mathematicians and philosophers continued in formalized ways through the organization of education. The universities that were founded in the Middle Ages followed an Aristotelian curriculum, prevailing throughout the Renaissance until the 18th century. This chapter explores the specific interests of several Nobel prize-winning physicists in ancient Greek science, and the publication of the fragments of the Presocratic philosophers by Hermann Diels.
Interactions in ecosystems
Authors: Lockwood Julie L. , Welbourne Dustin J.
Published: September 2023

This chapter explains how interactions between invasive species and their ecosystems underpin impacts. It defines an ecosystem as the community of organisms that exist within a given area that interact with one another and the physical environment. The major types of interactions that invasive species have in the ecosystem range from eating native species, competing with native species, and increasing infections of native species with parasites and pathogens. The chapter considers the ecological interactions between the invasive species and their physical environment, which can affect the niche space of native species. It emphasizes that ecological interactions do not occur in isolation.
It is never simple
Authors: Lockwood Julie L. , Welbourne Dustin J.
Published: September 2023

This chapter expounds on the complexities of understanding and managing invasive species, grouping them into three broad areas. First, the chapter looks at how different people weigh the desirability of impacts since a single non-native species might produce both desirable and undesirable impacts, depending on who evaluates the desirability. Second, the chapter highlights the difficulties when invasive species positively affect endangered species, or when the invasive species is itself endangered. Finally, the chapter concludes by examining how climate change adds a new dimension to understanding biological invasions.
A deliberate future
Authors: Lockwood Julie L. , Welbourne Dustin J.
Published: September 2023

This concluding chapter considers the future of invasive species. It acknowledges that invasive species have had enormous impacts on economic and human health, recognizing that they are one of the greatest global threats to other species and ecosystems. In the future, more invasive species are expected to arise due to climate change, economic demand, and international trade. However, breakthroughs in policy, technology, or understanding may mitigate the future number of invasive species and their associated impacts. The chapter points out that our actions with respect to invasive species will either be lambasted or praised by future generations, since society is a patchwork of cultural, institutional, and philosophical paradigms.
The pulse of the past
Authors: Dixon Thomas
Published: September 2023

This chapter introduces the role of emotions in history. Narrative histories often attribute key decisions of protagonists to emotional states from jealousy or vengeance to empathy and compassion. Moreover, historians have always written about the lives of people in the past in order to move people in the present. The chapter begins by looking at the debates among historians regarding the French Revolution to introduce the emergence of the history of emotions as a discipline. It then discusses French historian Lucien Febvre’s Annales school of history, before discussing historically ancient beliefs around emotions’ correlation with dichotomies of gender.
A multitude of states of matter
Authors: McKenzie Ross H.
Published: September 2023

There are ‘a multitude of states of matter’. Materials composed of just one or two types of atoms can form many different states of matter. Each state has qualitatively different physical properties. Transitions between distinct states are tipping points and are defined by abrupt changes in properties. Dramatic examples include superconductivity and superfluidity. Phase diagrams encode which state of a material is stable under specific conditions defined by variables such as temperature and pressure. The phase diagrams of water, carbon dioxide, and carbon are discussed to illustrate key ideas in condensed matter physics and its industrial relevance. At the critical point there is no distinction between liquid and gas. Sublimation involves a direct transition between solid and gas states. Topics discussed are relevant to making artificial diamonds, freeze-dried food, decaffeinated coffee, and dry ice.
The critical point
Authors: McKenzie Ross H.
Published: September 2023

‘The critical point’ in a phase diagram denotes the conditions under which a continuous transition between two states of matter occurs. Surprisingly, near the critical point diverse systems can have the same dependence of physical properties on parameters such as temperature. The only details that determine the critical exponents are the symmetry of the order parameter and the spatial dimensionality of the system. This independence from chemical and structural details, known as universality, presented a major challenge to theoretical physics for decades. Theory must deal with the large fluctuations in the amount of order that occurs close to the critical point. The successful theory developed by Ken Wilson exploits the fact that different states of a system and different systems can be related to one another by mathematically rescaling the length scales in the system. The mathematics involved can be made tractable by considering the abstract idea of a system with a variable number of spatial dimensions. The idea of rescaling is illustrated with the results of computer simulations of an Ising model and with images of fractals.
Quantum matter
Authors: McKenzie Ross H.
Published: September 2023

‘Quantum matter’ describes how superconductors and superfluids can have properties like those found in the strange quantum world of atoms, electrons, and photons. In quantum theory, properties such as energy cannot have any possible value, but are quantized. Energy comes in discrete lumps. Particles can act like waves, be in more than one place at the same time, and interfere with themselves. The weirdness of quantum theory is captured in the paradox of Schrödinger’s cat, where quantum effects occur on the macroscopic scale. This is realized in a superconductor, where magnetic flux is quantized. Brian Josephson proposed an electrical circuit that is the basis for a Superconducting Quantum Interference Device (SQUID). These devices are of technological significance as they are used in quantum computing, and to make precise measurements of fundamental physical constants and of magnetic field strengths. SQUIDs are now used in metrology, the science of precise measurements, being the basis for the international standard for the volt, the unit of electrical voltage, and are used in quantum computing.
I’ll name that tune in…
Authors: Earl Richard
Published: September 2023

A piano string can vibrate to create a single, pure note, but generally a vibration is made up of infinite such pure contributions or ‘harmonics’. Fourier analysis—named after Joseph Fourier—is the idea of expressing general vibrations as an infinite sum of harmonics. ‘I’ll name that tune in…’ describes Fourier’s work, which has wider significance, for example in quantum theory. It would take the development of an infinite-dimensional analysis, called ‘functional analysis’, in the 20th century to describe all these applications rigorously. The chapter also discusses the related question: can you hear the shape of a drum? That is, can differently shaped drums produce the same frequencies of harmonics?
But there’s more…
Authors: Earl Richard
Published: September 2023

‘But there’s more…’ describes other topics of 20th-century analysis that didn’t make it into earlier chapters. This includes: Lebesgue’s generalization of the rather limited Riemann integral; the foundational grounding of probability theory using analysis; hyperreals, a way to treat infinities and infinitesimals rigorously; and, finally, Dirichlet’s introduction of analytical methods to number theory, including the Prime Number Theorem, which describes the long-term distribution of prime numbers.
What is biodiversity, and why does it matter?
Authors: Macdonald David W.
Published: September 2023

This chapter discusses the concept of biodiversity, the diversity of life at different scales. Biodiversity is crucial to safeguarding human well-being, as well as the well-being of nature and all its moving parts. The chapter begins by providing an overview of the astonishing range of life on Earth, before explaining how biodiversity is assembled into communities. Biomes are the regions of Earth that can be distinguished by their climate, fauna, and flora, with the organisms that live in each biome adapted to its circumstances. The five major types of biome include aquatic, grassland, forest, desert, and tundra. The chapter then considers biodiversity hotspots and the ecosystem services underpinned by biodiversity.
The Tale of Genji
Authors: Tansman Alan
Published: September 2023

In the first decade of the eleventh century, Murasaki Shikibu, a lady-in-waiting at the imperial court, began writing what was to become the most influential work in the Japanese tradition. The novelist Kawabata Yasunari, for example, looking back at the entire Japanese literary tradition, situated Murasaki Shikibu’s The Tale of Genji at its apex, a view that is widely shared. Genji may be the greatest achievement of all of Japanese literature, and has inspired a vast machinery of interpretation, translation into both modern Japanese and other languages, and adaptation in a range of media, throughout the centuries.