bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Comparative analysis of switching power supply fault diagnosis model based on particle swarm optimization and convolutional neural network
Authors: Liu Jialong , Cai Yuanli
Published: December 2024

Due to the complex topology of switching power supply, the traditional fault diagnosis method has been unable to meet the needs of engineering. A neural network model is developed to enhance the efficiency and accuracy of fault diagnosis in switching power supplies. This model utilizes the fault characteristics post wavelet packet transformation as input and predicts the corresponding fault type as output. We establish an experimental platform for forward switching power supply, construct 10 typical fault modes, collect 30 groups of output voltage signals under each fault mode, and extract the fault characteristics after wavelet packet transform as data samples. Simultaneously utilizing the PSO-BP neural network and CNN neural network enables the realization of fault diagnosis and analysis for the switching power supply. Various test outcomes have demonstrated that the fault detection ratio of the PSO-BP neural network structure exceeds 95%, with a speed of convergence achieving 60 seconds. Meanwhile, the fault detection ratio of the CNN neural network structure exceeds 90%, with a convergence speed of 31 seconds. These both demonstrate remarkable performance in fault diagnosis and reliability.
XXVIII International Conference on Integrable Systems and Quantum Symmetries (ISQS-28)
Authors: Burdık C. , Navratil O. , Toppan F. , Vourdas A.
Published: December 2024

The XXVIII International Conference on Integrable Systems and Quantum Symmetries (ISQS-28), was organized by the Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Nuclear Sciences and Physical Engineering, Czech Technical University Prague. It belongs to a successful series of conferences held at the Czech Technical University which began in 1992, and it is devoted to problems of mathematical physics and in particular to the theory of integrable systems, quantum groups and quantum symmetries. This year the Conference attracted around 95 scientists from all over the world. 47 papers of plenary lectures and contributions presented at ISQS-28, are published in the present issue of the Journal of Physics: Conference Series.

List of Conference board and Local organizing committee are available in this Pdf.
New interpretation of Kaluza-Klein compactification
Authors: Catto Sultan , Nicolescu Bogdan , Burdik Cestmir
Published: December 2024

Utilizing Jordan algebras and superalgebras, we focus on the significant role of lattices associated with discrete subgroups of the non-compact groups of the magic square. These lattices are not just a part of the process, but they play a profound role in reformulating conformal field theories and forming superstring theories, thereby pointing to a more comprehensive theory connected with a chiral 27-dimensional lattice, which is an extension of Conway’s lattice. We also highlight our newly discovered 16-dimensional algebra, which resembles Hurwitz’s algebras and its connection to superstrings, octonionic color algebras, and Galois Fields.
Trace dynamics, octonions and unification: An E8 × E8 theory of unification
Authors: Singh Tejinder P.
Published: December 2024

This is a very brief overview of the ongoing research program of unification known as the octonionic theory. We highlight the quantum foundational origins for the theory, and the seven key ingredients which go into its making.
First integrals of some two-dimensional integrable Hamiltonian systems
Authors: Ghosh Aritra , Sinha Akash , Bagchi Bijan
Published: December 2024

In this paper, we discuss some results on integrable Hamiltonian systems with two degrees of freedom. We revisit the much-studied problem of the two-dimensional harmonic oscillator and discuss its (super)integrability in the light of a canonical transformation which can map the anisotropic oscillator to a corresponding isotropic one. Following this, we discuss the computation of first integrals for integrable two-dimensional systems using the framework of the Jacobi last multiplier. Using the latter, we describe some novel physical examples, namely, the classical Landau problem with a scalar-potential-induced hyperbolic mode, the two-dimensional Kepler problem, and a problem involving a linear curl force.
On the degeneracy of the energy levels of Schrödinger and Klein-Gordon equations on Riemannian coverings
Authors: Chanu Claudia Maria , Rastelli Giovanni
Published: December 2024

We study the degeneracy of the energy levels of the Schrödinger equation with Kepler-Coulomb potential and of the Klein-Gordon equation on Riemannian coverings of the Euclidean space and of the Schwarzschild space-time respectively. Degeneracy of energy levels is a consequence of the superintegrability of the system. We see how the degree of degeneracy changes depending on the covering parameter k, the parameter that in space-times can be related with a cosmic string, and show examples of lower degeneracy in correspondence of non integer values of k.
The Hénon-Heiles type system: Lyapunov exponent and physics-informed neural networks
Authors: Zurita Martínez Marco A. , Juárez Flores Paini M. , Escobar Ruiz A. M.
Published: December 2024

In this paper, as a continuation of [Chaos, Solitons and Fractals
184 (2024) 115025], the classical 2D potential

V

N

=

1

2

r

2

+

1

N

r

N

sin(N θ), N ∊ ℤ+ is considered. For N = 3, 4, …, 10 and critical energy

E
=

99

100

E

c

E

c
the average

λ

¯

of the largest Lyapunov exponent is obtained. As a complement of previous results, for N = 7, 8 the dynamics of the system is characterized employing time series, Poincaré sections, symmetry lines and the largest Lyapunov exponent as a function of the energy E. Additionally, we study in certain detail the forward and inverse problems, employing the Hénon-Heiles system (N = 3) as a test model, using the physics-informed neural networks (PINN) algorithm.
On the Classification of the Lévy-Leblond Spinors
Authors: Miranda Luiza , De Freitas Isaque P. , Toppan Francesco
Published: December 2024

The first-order Lévy-Leblond differential equations (LLEs) are the non-relativistic analogous of the Dirac equation: they are the “square roots” of the Schrödinger equation in (1 + d) dimensions and admit spinor solutions. In this paper we show how to extend to the Lévy-Leblond spinors the real/complex/quaternionic classification of the relativistic spinors (which leads to the notions of Dirac, Weyl, Majorana, Majorana-Weyl, Quaternionic spinors). Besides the free equations, we also consider the presence of potential terms. Applied to a conformal potential, the simplest (1 + 1)-dimensional LLE induces a new differential realization of the osp(1|2) superalgebra in terms of first-order differential operators depending on the time and space coordinates.
A remark on the Tremblay-Turbiner-Winternitz potential
Authors: Smirnov Roman G. , Vargas Amelia
Published: December 2024

We verify, using a polar representation of the vector space of Killing tensors of valence two defined in the Euclidean plane, that the Tremblay-Turbiner-Winternitz (TTW) potential, an important integrable perturbation of the Smorodinsky-Winternitz potential, loses the property of multi-separability for all but two specific values of the arbitrary parameter k.
Kontsevich graphs act on Nambu–Poisson brackets, II. The tetrahedral flow is a coboundary in 4D
Authors: Jagoe Brown Mollie S , Schipper Floor , Kiselev Arthemy V
Published: December 2024

Kontsevich constructed a map from suitable cocycles in the graph complex to infinitesimal deformations of Poisson bi-vector fields. Under the deformations, the bi-vector fields remain Poisson. We ask, are these deformations trivial, meaning, do they amount to a change of coordinates along a vector field? We examine this question for the tetrahedron, the smallest nontrivial suitable graph cocycle in the Kontsevich graph complex, and for the class of Nambu–Poisson brackets on ℝ
d
.

Within Kontsevich’s graph calculus, we use dimension-specific micro-graphs, in which each vertex represents an ingredient of the Nambu–Poisson bracket. For the tetrahedron, Kontsevich knew that the deformation is trivial for d = 2 (1996). In 2020, Buring and the third author found that the deformation is trivial for d = 3. Building on these discoveries, we now establish that the deformation is trivial for d = 4.
Minimal length scale in quantum mechanics from a deformation quantization perspective
Authors: Domański Ziemowit
Published: December 2024

We develop a deformation quantization approach to quantum mechanics that exhibits a nonzero minimal uncertainty in position through the modification of commutation relations for the operators of position and momentum. Deformation quantization is a method of quantizing a classical Hamiltonian system by suitably deforming the Poisson algebra of the system. The developed theory of deformation quantization is non-formal. An appropriate integral formula for the star-product is introduced, along with a suitable space of functions on which the star-product is well defined. A C*-algebra of observables and a space of states are constructed. Moreover, an operator representation in momentum space is presented. Finally, an example of states of maximal localization is given in terms of generalized Wigner functions.
On the center and the antipode of the super-Yangian of Q(1)
Authors: Poletaeva Elena
Published: December 2024

For the queer Lie superalgebra Q(1), we explicitly describe the center of the super-Yangian Y Q(1) of Q(1) in terms of generators of Y Q(1). We also describe the square of the antipodal map on Y Q(1) and use the antipode to construct an involutive automorphism of Y Q(1).
Finite element modeling of 10kV cement pole and mechanical response analysis of icing
Authors: Yan Tong , Liu Yangsheng , Zhang Xin , Xie Xing , Qiu Hao , Cheng Tianle
Published: December 2024

In order to solve problems such as tower deformation and the toppling of 10kV distribution wire under the influence of ice covering, the physical model of a 10kV cement pole is built by using SolidWorks software, and the stress of cement pole under different ice covering thicknesses is analyzed in detail. Specifically, this paper simulates the maximum bearing capacity of the wire under seven different ice thicknesses of 0mm, 5mm, 10mm, 15mm, 20mm, 25mm, and 30mm, determines whether it exceeds the ultimate strength of the material, and generates the corresponding simulation model diagram. Through simulation analysis, this paper further discusses whether the unbalanced tension generated by the conductor on the pole and tower will lead to the structural damage of the 10kV cement pole under different ice thickness conditions. Special attention is paid to the simulation results of the deformation and toppling of the tower, and the vulnerable parts of the 10kV cement tower under the condition of ice cover are deeply analyzed. This study provides an important basis for the formulation of anti-icing design, which is helpful in improving the reliability and safety of distribution lines under extreme weather conditions.
Optimization of reinforcement ratio and stirring speed on mechanical properties of Al-TiB2-B4C hybrid composite using Taguchi – grey relational analysis
Authors: Soni Sheetal , Gohil Piyush
Published: December 2024

The aim of the research is to optimise percentage ratio of hybrid reinforcements and stirring speed to maximize the mechanical properties of the hybrid composite by applying Taguchi analysis and grey relational analysis. The matrix material employed in this study is Al 7075, while boron carbide (B4C) and titanium diboride (TiB2) serve as the reinforcement materials. The hybrid metal matrix composite is produced via the stir casting method. For experimental design Taguchi L9 orthogonal array was adopted, with the weight percentage of the reinforcement materials and stirring speed identified as experimental factors. The specified levels of weight percentage for the reinforcements B4C and TiB2 were established at 3%, 6%, and 9%. The incorporation of both hard ceramic particles, B4C and TiB2 plays a significant role in improving the mechanical properties of the hybrid composite. The highest tensile strength, hardness and flexural strength achieved is 203.72MPa, 129.2 BHN and 369 MPa respectively for highest percentage ratio of both the reinforcements i.e. Al/9% B4C/ 9% TiB2 and for 600 rpm stirring speed. The mechanical properties analysed as response parameters consist of tensile strength, hardness, impact strength, and flexural strength. The Taguchi analysis, particularly the signal-to-noise (S/N) ratio evaluation, reveals that the percentage weight of TiB2 is the predominant factor affecting tensile strength. In contrast, the percentage weight of B4C significantly influences both hardness and flexural strength, while stirring speed is the most critical parameter for impact strength. The optimal parameters identified for maximizing tensile strength, hardness, and flexural strength are 9% B4C, 9% TiB2, and a stirring speed of 600 rpm. Multi-objective optimization employing grey relational analysis is performed to maximise the mechanical properties. The highest grey relational grade was attained in experiment number 9, which is having parameter values 9% of B4C, 9% of TiB2 and stirring speed of 600 rpm. The integration of Taguchi and grey relational analysis provides a robust optimization framework, offering a systematic methodology that enhances the understanding of parameters and enables the development of high-performance HMMCs tailored for engineering applications characterized by high significant demands.
Vortex cannon generates toroidal electromagnetic pulses
Authors: Dumé Isabelle
Published: December 2024

Toroidal electromagnetic pulses can be generated using a device known as a horn microwave antenna, producing topological structures that could be used for information encoding and probing the dynamics of light–matter interactions.
Air-powered computers make a comeback
Authors: Jarman Sam
Published: December 2024

A new type of air-powered computer that does not require any electronic components has been created by researchers at the University of California at Riverside.
Richard Friend wins 2024 IOP Isaac Newton Medal
Authors: Banks Michael
Published: December 2024

Richard Friend from the University of Cambridge has won the 2024 Isaac Newton Medal and Prize for his work on the fundamental electronic properties of molecular semiconductors and in their engineering development.
‘Sometimes nature will surprise us’
Authors: Skipper Katherine
Published: December 2024

Particle physicist Juan Pedro Ochoa-Ricoux talks to Katherine Skipper about how the next generation of neutrino experiments will test the boundaries of the Standard Model.
Quantum data centres: a simulation-based comparative noise analysis
Authors: Campbell K , Lawey A , Razavi M
Published: December 2024

Quantum data centres (QDCs) could overcome the scalability challenges of modern quantum computers. Single-processor monolithic quantum computers are affected by increased cross talk and difficulty of implementing gates when the number of qubits is increased. In a QDC, multiple quantum processing units (QPUs) are linked together over short distances, allowing the total number of computational qubits to be increased without increasing the number of qubits on any one processor. In doing so, the error incurred by operations at each QPU can be kept small, however additional noise will be added to the system due to the latency cost and errors incurred during inter-QPU entanglement distribution. We investigate the relative impact of these different types of noise using a classically simulated QDC with two QPUs and compare the robustness to noise of the two main ways of implementing remote gates, cat-comm and TP-comm. We find that considering the quantity of gates or inter-QPU entangled links is often inadequate to predict the output fidelity from a quantum circuit and infer that an improved understanding of error propagation during distributed quantum circuits may represent a significant optimisation opportunity for compilation.
Highly efficient encoding for job-shop scheduling problems and its application on quantum computers
Authors: Schmid Mathias , Braun Sarah , Sollacher Rudolf , Hartman Michael J
Published: December 2024

Combinatorial optimization problems are considered to be an application, where quantum computing can have transformative impact. In the industrial context, job shop scheduling problems that aim at finding the optimal schedule for a set of jobs to be run on a set of machines are of immense interest. Here we introduce an efficient encoding of job shop scheduling problems, which requires much fewer bit-strings for counting all possible schedules than previously employed encodings. For problems consisting of N jobs with N operations, the number of required bit-strings is at least reduced by a factor

N

/

log
2

⁡
(
N
)

as compared to time indexed encodings. This is particularly beneficial for solving job shop scheduling problems on quantum computers, since much fewer qubits are needed to represent the problem. Our approach applies to the large class of flexible and usual job-shop scheduling problems, where operations can possibly be executed on multiple machines. Using variational quantum algorithms, we show that the encoding we introduce leads to significantly better performance of quantum algorithms than previously considered strategies. Importantly, the encoding we develop also enables significantly more compact classical representations and will therefore be highly useful even beyond applicability on quantum hardware.
The dual-channel convolutional neural network for rotating machinery fault diagnosis based on HHT and TMSST
Authors: Song Yadi , Wang Haibo , Zhao Chuanzhe , Wang Ronglin , Li Pengtao
Published: December 2024

Fault diagnosis of rotating machinery is crucial for ensuring the reliability of industrial equipment, especially when dealing with nonlinear, non-stationary signals and limited sample data. This paper proposes a novel fault diagnosis method that combines the Hilbert-Huang Transform (HHT) and Time-frequency Manifold Singular Spectrum Transformation (TMSST) with a dual-channel Convolutional Neural Network (CNN). The method utilizes HHT and TMSST to convert raw signals into time-frequency images, which are then processed by the CNN to extract key features and classify fault types. This approach effectively addresses small-sample scenarios, enhancing the accuracy and robustness of rotor fault diagnosis. Additionally, the method incorporates standard deviation analysis to ensure reliable results over multiple runs, demonstrating stability under various conditions.
Zinc oxide tetrapods as novel field emitters with low turn-on voltage
Authors: Giubileo Filippo , Faella Enver , Kumar Arun , De Stefano Sebastiano , Viscardi Loredana , Intonti Kimberly , Durante Ofelia , Pelella Aniello , Mazzotti Adolfo , Martucciello Nadia , Beliayev Eugeniy , Mishra Yogendra Kumar , Passacantando Maurizio , Di Bartolomeo Antonio
Published: December 2024

We investigate the field emission properties of tetrapod-shaped zinc oxide (ZnO) micro and nanostructures prepared using a flame transport synthesis approach. Using a piezo-driven metallic tip as an anode, we performed a local characterization from the apex of a tetrapod arm, where the effective emitting area was limited below 1 μm2. This configuration allows extremely low turn-on voltages, of 7 V, and a field enhancement factor of 70 at an anode-cathode distance of 600 nm. The experimental data were analyzed using the Fowler–Nordheim model, evidencing a non-monotonous dependence of the turn-on field and the field enhancement factor on the cathode-anode separation distance in the range of 100–900 nm. The ZnO tetrapods demonstrated good current stability, highlighting their potential for high-performance, low-consumption electron-emitting devices with very low turn-on voltage.
Charity and the Limits of Unity
Authors: Teubner Jonathan D
Published: December 2024

Chapter 2 discusses many of the texts that have occupied scholars who attempt to come to terms with Augustine’s legacy as an ecclesial “strongman.” Focusing mainly on sermons in the 400s, the chapter looks at Augustine’s efforts to unify the church in his debates with Donatists, efforts that famously drew out his endorsement of coercion. Drawing on the recently discovered Erfurt sermons, the chapter probes the connections between Augustine’s understanding of the Pauline correctio cum caritate and the unifying function of almsgiving. Chapter 2 also contends that Augustine’s efforts of inclusion meet their limits in his encounters with “pagans,” which are used to frame his ecclesiologically attuned theology of caritas. This chapter qualifies some recent theological accounts that have sought to exonerate Augustine from Arendt’s critique of him as being other-worldly and agrees with Arendt’s critics that Augustine should not be seen as so simply rejecting “the world,” but when seen through Augustine’s view of almsgiving, the exoneration is a rather ambivalent one.
Intellectual Disability and Literature
Authors: Bérubé Michael
Published: December 2024

Intellectual disability is difficult to define—in the past it was generally understood as “mental retardation” or “feeblemindedness”—and difficult to distinguish from developmental and/or psychosocial disability (e.g., muscular dystrophy or schizophrenia, neither of which entails cognitive impairment). Nevertheless, it has been widely depicted in literature for centuries. In the 21st century, the field of literary disability studies, which had begun in the 1990s with an almost exclusive focus on physical disability, began to develop theories of literary representation that could be extended to depictions of literary characters with intellectual disabilities as well. Some of those characters are among the most widely discussed figures in the fiction of the past few centuries, such as Benjy Compson, the nonverbal thirty-three-year-old man in William Faulkner’s The Sound and the Fury, and Christopher Boone, the (apparently) autistic teenager in Mark Haddon’s The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time.

Much of the analysis of literary characters with intellectual disabilities has turned on the question of whether the depictions of those characters are realistic, accurate portrayals, since there is understandable concern as to whether the literary representation of intellectual disability might contribute to the stigmatization and ostracism of actual people with intellectual disabilities (some of whom, it is presumed, may be incapable of representing themselves in fiction). However, there are other ways to read intellectual disability in literature that do not rely on representation but rather seek to understand how intellectual disability functions to reveal the workings of narrative. Intellectual disability can be used as a device to explore temporality, causality, and a text’s capacity for self-reflection, which might serve as an analogue for human self-reflection in general. Moreover, literary texts can mobilize ideas about intellectual disability, including the stigma attached to intellectual disability, regardless of whether they contain any characters with identifiable intellectual disabilities. Finally, intellectual disability can be rendered in such a way as to disorient readers, either in the service of psychological realism (showing what it is like to have dementia) or in the service of narrative experimentalism. A literary text might thereby expand the capacity for human self-expression precisely, if paradoxically, by allowing us to imagine humans with limited capacity for self-expression.
Foster Family Communication
Authors: Thomas Lindsey J.
Published: December 2024

Humans have markedly long periods of dependency; as such, care for one another—especially adults providing for children’s needs—is a necessity of survival. Most often, this necessary care is provided by immediate family members, and scholars and laypersons alike acknowledge parent–child relationships as foundational. While assumptions of biological connection permeate the ideology of family, not all (biological) parents of origin are able to provide care for (their) children. For hundreds of thousands of youths in the United States who are unable to safely live with their families of origin, the foster care system, of which foster families are a part, provides temporary residential care.

Although youths require care, understandings of and within the foster care system are mixed. Indeed, children in care, caregivers (e.g., foster parents and families), families of origin, and caseworkers and judges carry varied perspectives and goals as well as report on diverse experiences and outcomes. Contributing to efforts to understand and address these variances, communication researchers have begun to examine the foster care system and those it involves and impacts, with research typically focusing on one or more arms of the foster square (i.e., children in care; parents of origin; foster parents and families; and the state via case workers, child welfare departments, judges, etc.). Communication scholars have implemented numerous theories to frame foster square- and foster care-related studies and have focused on varied relationships and experiences within the foster care system and foster families, providing helpful insights into the nuances of foster care. However, extant literature has illuminated avenues for potential future research to expand on the breadth and depth of knowledge surrounding foster care and the foster square and related experiences and relationships.
The South American Climate During the Last Two Millennia
Authors: Flores-Aqueveque V. , Arias P.A. , Gómez-Fontealba C. , González-Arango C. , Apaestegui J. , Evangelista H. , Guerra L. , Latorre C.
Published: December 2024

Paleoclimate reconstructions are essential for understanding the dynamics of the climate system and its past variations. By utilizing climate-dependent proxies, these reconstructions provide a comprehensive perspective on climatic variations that extend far beyond the limited scope of instrumental records, spanning centuries to millennia. Particularly, proxy-based reconstructions for the last two millennia provide valuable insights into natural climate variability during the preindustrial era and the anthropogenic influence on current climate change. As a result, paleoclimate studies are also critical for interpreting climate projections in the context of anthropogenic forcing. South America, with its vast and diverse climate conditions, is a region rich in high-resolution paleoclimate records, including marine, lacustrine, and fjord sediments, speleothems, ice cores, tree rings, glacial and aeolian deposits, archaeological evidence, and historical documents, among others, all of which capture past climate changes. However, despite numerous paleoclimate reconstructions conducted across the continent and significant advances in understanding its past climate, substantial research gaps remain. These gaps are particularly evident in understudied regions and poorly understood phenomena, hindering a comprehensive understanding of climate variability at both regional and continental scales. To advance paleoclimatic research in South America, future efforts should prioritize (a) the collection of high-resolution records from key locations, (b) the integration of diverse proxies and innovative methodologies, (c) enhancing our understanding of climate-proxy relationships, and (d) developing new proxy calibrations. Collaboration with local communities and indigenous peoples and adopting interdisciplinary approaches will be vital in driving the field forward.
Archaeology of Postmedieval Sudan
Authors: Wyżgoł Maciej
Published: December 2024

Postmedieval is a conventional term describing the period between the fall of the Christian Nubian kingdoms of Makuria and Alwa and the colonial Turco-Egyptian expansion toward Sudan. A void after the medieval kingdoms was filled by the Ottoman Empire north from the Third Cataract, and a newly established Funj Sultanate, which dominated the rest of the Sudanese Nile Valley. At the same time, Darfur was ruled by the Tunjur and from the 17th century the Keira state. The political transformation of the postmedieval period coincided with changes in the society. It encompassed the abandonment of Christianity and the spread of Islam instigated by Sufi holy men, whose activity left traces in the form of shrines—baniyas, and tombs—qibab, focal points of the local religious landscape.

Despite political division, the society of the Middle and Upper Nile Valley was rather uniform. It was expressed by shared material culture, including pottery, basketry, and textiles, as well as a characteristic organization of egalitarian houses built around shared courtyards, known, for example, from Old Dongola and settlements in Ottoman Nubia. Alien components, added to the local landscape of Ottoman Sudan, were military forts, for instance, in Ibrim or Sai. The material culture of the postmedieval Sudan is characterized by home craft production. Nevertheless, the use of imported objects from the Ottoman Empire, Europe, and/or Asia attests a far-reaching trade.

The territory of Darfur is much less recognized archaeologically. Nonetheless, data from surveys confirm that Dar Fur was a multiethnic sultanate with a large component of nomad or seminomad population, characterized by hilltop palaces of sultans and local chiefs. The Turco-Egyptian invasions put an end to the states of the postmedieval Sudan and eventually led to the transformation of the society by the colonial regimes.
Medieval Spice Trade in the Arabic World
Authors: Ducène Jean-Charles
Published: December 2024

In the medieval Middle East, the spice trade is documented from the middle of the 9th century, but it was based on older trends. In addition to locally produced and sold spices (saffron, cumin, sumac, etc.), new aromatics were imported from Southeast Asia, thanks to a maritime trade that took advantage of the monsoon season. These spices were exchanged for metals or textiles, together with other aromatic materials such as musk, nard, and amber. These spices included cloves, nutmeg, turmeric, and, above all, pepper, which was shipped in increasing quantities over time. These trade ventures were carried out by a limited partnership of an investor and a commercial agent who set out to trade far away, relying on a family and community network, with these actors being mainly Jewish and Muslim. From the 9th to the 11th centuries, the Persian Gulf was the main trade route, with Baghdad as the final destination, from where goods could be sent back to the Levant via the traditional caravan routes. From the beginning of the 11th century, the Red Sea and Egypt emerged as the new import corridor, following in the footsteps of the Romans and maintaining this position until the 15th century. Irrespective of political contingencies, transit initially took place via certain Red Sea ports and the Nile Valley, before the Arab ports and caravan routes began to compete with the Nile route in the mid-14th century. In the 13th and 14th centuries, however, the Persian Gulf route regained its vitality, carrying oriental goods as far as Tabriz. The importance of Egypt was all the greater from the 12th century, when Alexandria became a port of redistribution in the Mediterranean, where Italian merchants were increasingly active. They also settled in the ports of the Levant and then in Tabriz, when spices arrived via the Arab and Iraqi routes.
Feminism, Art, and Religion in the North Atlantic
Authors: Carnes Natalie
Published: December 2024

While the terms feminist and feminism originated in the North Atlantic in the 19th century, the practices and ideals of feminism emerged through global circulations of power, goods, and ideas. Outside Europe and North America and in indigenous communities within those continents, people have for centuries been challenging gender norms and promoting the well-being of women, sometimes embracing and other times refusing the label feminist. Within the North Atlantic, the philosophies and movements that comprise feminism were conceived and constructed with and against women, the ideas of women, and the collective actions of women around the world. The story of feminism, in other words, includes its cultural moorings, translations, limitations, and revisions—and religion and the arts have been significant forces in those negotiations.

Religion and the arts have been important to the story of feminism because they provided feminists material they could reclaim, deny, alter and otherwise use to advance feminist ideas and projects . In the case of the three Abrahamic religions, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam have birthed, aided, and antagonized feminist movements, as feminists augmented resources within those traditions for affirming women and enlarging their social roles while they defied aspects that diminished and circumscribed women. Feminists’ ambivalent relationship with religious traditions positioned art as a fecund site for reimagining and rechoreographing gender within those traditions. In media as diverse as literature, visual arts, fashion, theater, film, and song, art proved a powerful force for transforming the symbolics of gender and experimenting with new gendered identities and values. Via art, feminists criticized the commitments and visions of religious traditions, and they also sometimes criticized religious art or art engaging religious themes. They critiqued; they constructed. By breaking and making images and artworks, feminist movements nourished and invigorated an imagination of power and identity more favorable to women.
Women and Migration in the Early Modern Spanish Empire
Authors: Poska Allyson
Published: December 2024

Women’s migration in early modern Spain and its empire was framed by the quotidian nature of women’s mobility, cycles of displacement and colonization, and the use of women as agents of empire. Typically, peninsular women chose to leave home in search of work or spouses, often hoping to escape rural poverty; for others, however, the abandonment of their homes was forced on them. The expulsions of Muslims and Jews compelled women and their families to leave the peninsula, while African women were captured, enslaved, and brought involuntarily first to the peninsula and then to the Americas. Despite the coercive nature of their migration, they created vibrant diasporic societies on both sides of the Atlantic. After the initial contacts in the Americas, women of all races and classes, both alone and with family members, made the transatlantic voyage. In their new homes, they fulfilled imperial expectations by establishing and perpetuating Spanish culture and bearing Spanish children. Their successes came at the expense of displaced Indigenous women, who increasingly migrated to cities and mining regions in search of work and stability. By the 18th century, the Bourbon monarchy strategically employed women and their families in colonization projects to secure Spanish territory against other empires and establish Spanish society on the far edges of the empire.
Working-Class Newspapers before 1930
Authors: Poy Lucas
Published: December 2024

In the last third of the 19th century and the first decades of the 20th century, Latin American societies underwent a process of social and economic transformations. Albeit with local specificities and different chronologies, a common by-product of these changes was the emergence of the labor movement as a political actor. This article examines an instrument that played an essential role in the organizational development of the working classes and remains a crucial source for reconstructing their history: the working-class newspaper. As elsewhere, these labor periodicals were ubiquitous and resilient: distributed at the doors of factories and workshops, sold on the streets, handed out at rallies and protests, they were read, silently and aloud, in cafés, taverns and bars, workshops, mines, or communal areas of tenement houses. They shared news of glorious victories and vicious repressions and put anger and hope into paper and ink.
Climate Change Impacts on Natech Risk
Authors: Luo Xiaolong , Tzioutzios Dimitrios , Suarez-Paba Maria Camila , Cruz Ana Maria
Published: December 2024

Natech events are natural hazard–triggered technological accidents, which often cause hazardous material releases, fires, or explosions. In the past decades, the number of Natech events has trended upward. Many researchers emphasize that the observed trend could be attributed to climate change due to climate change’s influence on the growing frequency, duration, and severity of natural hazards. Apart from logical reasoning, however, there is limited direct evidence to support this surmise. To understand how climate change impacts Natech risk, this article specifically focuses on the history of scholarly understanding of climate change and Natech risks. It identifies gaps in current research and highlights the necessity for advanced risk management approaches. Finally, recommendations for future policy directions are provided, proposing adaptive strategies and active stakeholder engagement to mitigate the heightened Natech risks resulting from climate change.
Recent trends in respirable crystalline silica and elemental carbon exposure in the Ontario, Canada mining industry
Authors: Arrandale Victoria H , Shakeel Ali , Hedges Kevin , O’Connell Kimberly , Gorman Ng Melanie
Published: December 2024

Introduction

Mining is a high-hazard industry with significant occupational disease risks. Despite this there is limited data describing current exposure conditions. The aim of this short communication is to share recent exposure data from underground mines in Ontario, Canada.

Methods

Data from underground mines were accessed through a freedom of information request. Data were cleaned and standardized. Data contained measurements of several hazards from 2013 to 2018; analysis focused on personal samples for respirable crystalline silica (RCS) and elemental carbon (EC) from 2014 to 2018. Descriptive statistics were calculated overall and by sampling year; comparisons were made to current occupational exposure limits. Linear regression models were constructed to examine time trends.

Results

EC exposures decreased significantly, ~10% per year over the measurement period (2014 to 2018). Overall 14% of EC measurements were above the current mining exposure limit (0.12 mg/m3 EC) in Ontario, Canada. Results for silica did not show a statistically significant trend but did suggest a reduction of ~1.8% per year. Almost one-third of the RCS measurements were above the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) recommended threshold (0.025 mg/m3).

Conclusions

Current exposure data is needed to understand workers’ exposure and support occupational disease prevention. Recent data from the Ontario mining industry suggests that exposure to elemental carbon decreased significantly from 2014 to 2018, but the annual reduction for silica exposure was not nearly as substantial. Mining workers continue to be exposed to levels of EC and RCS that are hazardous to health.
A new phthalide derivative from the mushroom Cyclocybe cf. erebia culture filtrate affects the phase of circadian rhythms in mouse fibroblasts
Authors: Kobayashi Yusei , Lu Yuanyuan , Li Nan , Endo Naoki , Sotome Kozue , Ueno Kotomi , Tahara Yu , Ishihara Atsushi
Published: December 2024

Circadian rhythms are biological systems that provide approximately 24-h cycles for the behavior and physiological functions of organisms. As diverse modern lifestyles often cause disturbances in circadian rhythms, new approaches to their regulation are required. Therefore, new compounds that affect circadian rhythms have been explored in edible mushrooms. The extract from the culture filtrate of Cyclocybe cf. erebia showed activity that advanced the circadian rhythm in a bioassay with mouse fibroblasts expressing the LUCIFERASE protein under the control of the Period2 promoter. Bioassay-guided fractionation of the extract resulted in the isolation of the compound. Spectroscopic analyses identified the compound as a phthalide derivative, and the compound was named cyclocybelide. Treatment of mouse fibroblasts with the compound shifted the circadian rhythm forward, irrespective of the timing of treatment. In addition, some phthalide derivatives with hydroxy and methoxy groups showed similar effects on circadian rhythms.
Joint extraction of entity and relation based on fine-tuning BERT for long biomedical literatures
Authors: Gao Ting , Zhai Xue , Yang Chuan , Lv Linlin , Wang Han
Published: December 2024

Motivation

Joint extraction of entity and relation is an important research direction in Information Extraction. The number of scientific and technological biomedical literature is rapidly increasing, so automatically extracting entities and their relations from these literatures are key tasks to promote the progress of biomedical research.

Results

The joint extraction of entity and relation model achieves both intra-sentence extraction and cross-sentence extraction, alleviating the problem of long-distance information dependence in long literature. Joint extraction of entity and relation model incorporates a variety of advanced deep learning techniques in this paper: (i) a fine-tuning BERT text classification pre-training model, (ii) Graph Convolutional Network learning method, (iii) Robust Learning Against Textual Label Noise with Self-Mixup Training, (iv) Local regularization Conditional Random Fields. The model implements the following functions: identifying entities from complex biomedical literature effectively, extracting triples within and across sentences, reducing the effect of noisy data during training, and improving the robustness and accuracy of the model. The experiment results prove that the model performs well on the self-built BM_GBD dataset and public datasets, enabling precise large language model enhanced knowledge graph construction for biomedical tasks.

Availability and implementation

The model and partial code are available on GitHub at https://github.com/zhaix922/Joint-extraction-of-entity-and-relation.
Knowledge mining of brain connectivity in massive literature based on transfer learning
Authors: Chai Xiaokang , An Sile , Chen Simeng , Li Wenwei , Feng Zhao , Li Xiangning , Gong Hui , Luo Qingming , Li Anan
Published: December 2024

Motivation

Neuroscientists have long endeavored to map brain connectivity, yet the intricate nature of brain networks often leads them to concentrate on specific regions, hindering efforts to unveil a comprehensive connectivity map. Recent advancements in imaging and text mining techniques have enabled the accumulation of a vast body of literature containing valuable insights into brain connectivity, facilitating the extraction of whole-brain connectivity relations from this corpus. However, the diverse representations of brain region names and connectivity relations pose a challenge for conventional machine learning methods and dictionary-based approaches in identifying all instances accurately.

Results

We propose BioSEPBERT, a biomedical pre-trained model based on start-end position pointers and BERT. In addition, our model integrates specialized identifiers with enhanced self-attention capabilities for preceding and succeeding brain regions, thereby improving the performance of named entity recognition and relation extraction in neuroscience. Our approach achieves optimal F1 scores of 85.0%, 86.6%, and 86.5% for named entity recognition, connectivity relation extraction, and directional relation extraction, respectively, surpassing state-of-the-art models by 2.6%, 1.1%, and 1.1%. Furthermore, we leverage BioSEPBERT to extract 22.6 million standardized brain regions and 165 072 directional relations from a corpus comprising 1.3 million abstracts and 193 100 full-text articles. The results demonstrate that our model facilitates researchers to rapidly acquire knowledge regarding neural circuits across various brain regions, thereby enhancing comprehension of brain connectivity in specific regions.

Availability and implementation

Data and source code are available at: http://atlas.brainsmatics.org/res/BioSEPBERT and https://github.com/Brainsmatics/BioSEPBERT.
A cognitive and sensory approach based on workshops using the zebrafish model promotes the discovery of life sciences in the classroom
Authors: Bourcier Laure M , Babin Patrick J
Published: December 2024

The main objective of the ZebraCool programme was to create a positive attitude and curiosity towards science by bringing experimental activities within schools using an introductory cognitive and sensory approach. This innovative programme was offered at all levels of primary and secondary education including vocational high schools. Thematic workshops can be carried out on various themes such as comparative anatomy and embryology, molecular biology and evolution, or toxicology and endocrine disruptors. They were on an ad hoc basis or as part of an annual school project using zebrafish as a model. This animal was a very attractive entry point for the educator to motivate students to appreciate biology, in particular in the field of molecular biology and evolution. For each practical workshop, the student was an actor in his/her learning, which was intended to arouse the curiosity and desire to understand and learn. The programme was based on close collaboration between class teachers and programme educators to adapt workshops’ content to the school curriculum. Students conducted their own experiments, formulated and tested hypotheses, learned laboratory techniques, collected, and analysed data. ZebraCool scientific activities fell within a conceptual framework of evolutionary biology through which participants perceived their own inner fish through the comparison of biological processes between humans and zebrafish.
Geospatial analyses demonstrate variation of cutaneous T-cell lymphomas across Australia, providing insights into possible causes
Authors: Campbell Belinda A , Baade Peter D , Dasgupta Paramita , Cameron Jessica K , Porceddu Sandro V , Prince H Miles , Thursky Karin
Published: December 2024

Background

Cutaneous T-cell lymphomas (CTCL) are rare with distinct diagnostic challenges. Equitable access to cancer care is a recognised priority, internationally. To date, the geospatial distribution of CTCL has not been definitively studied. Understanding the incidence and geographical distribution of patients with CTCL are critical first steps towards the ultimate goal of equity of care. Geospatial analyses also allow the opportunity to explore environmental causative factors: for CTCL, the contribution of ultraviolet (UV) radiation on causation remains unclear.

Objectives

We investigate geospatial patterns of CTCL incidence across Australia, compare to all rare cancers, and consider solar UV exposure on causality and diagnosis rates.

Methods

All CTCL diagnoses (1/1/2000-31/12/2019) were obtained from the nation-wide dataset. Areas of residence were collected according to nationally-approved definitions. Bayesian spatial incidence models were applied. Geospatial distributions were visually analysed.

Results

The CTCL age-standardised incidence was 7.7 [95%CI:7.4-7.9] per million people in Australia. Diagnostic disparity was seen between Australian states/territories, with lower diagnosis rates in rural/remote and socio-economically disadvantaged areas. Incidence exceeded the national average within more densely populated capital cities. Visual comparisons of the geospatial distribution of CTCL revealed marked discordances with the geospatial patterns of all rare cancers and solar UV in Australia.

Conclusions

Geographical heterogeneity in CTCL exists across Australia. Incidence reflects population density. Geospatial patterns of CTCL substantially differ from all rare cancers, with implications for the unique diagnostic challenges and unmet needs of this patient population. The distribution of CTCL across Australia does not support a causative link with UV exposure. Further global evaluation of geospatial patterns is warranted.