Search Results (862)

We pose and address the radical question of whether quantum mechanics, known for its firm internal structure and enormous empirical success, carries in itself the genomes of larger quantum theories that have higher internal intricacy and phenomenological versatility. In other words, we consider, at the basic level of closed quantum systems and regardless of interpretational aspects, whether standard quantum theory (SQT) harbors quantum theories with context-based deformed principles or structures, having definite predictive power within much broader scopes. We answer this question in the affirmative following complementary evidence and reasoning arising from quantum-computation-based quantum simulation and fundamental, general, and abstract rationales within the frameworks of information theory, fundamental or functional emergence, and participatory agency. In this light, as we show, one is led to the recently proposed experience-centric quantum theory (ECQT), which is a larger and richer theory of quantum behaviors with drastically generalized quantum dynamics. ECQT allows the quantum information of the closed quantum system’s developed state history to continually contribute to defining and updating the many-body interactions, the Hamiltonians, and even the internal elements and “particles” of the total system. Hence, the unitary evolutions are continually impacted and become guidable by the agent system’s experience. The intrinsic interplay of unitarity and non-Markovianity in ECQT brings about a host of diverse behavioral phases, which concurrently infuse closed and open quantum system characteristics, and it even surpasses the theory of open systems in SQT. From a broader perspective, a focus of our investigation is the existence of the quantum interactome—the interactive landscape of all coexisting, independent, context-based quantum theories that emerge from inferential participatory agencies—and its predictive phenomenological utility. Full article

For various religious and political reasons, the idea of divine sovereignty (ḥākimiyya) has found support in many Islamic movements and discourses between the 1940s and the 1980s throughout the Muslim world. Nonetheless, in the 1990s, the consolidation of contemporary nation-states, the appeal of liberal democracy, and human rights in the Muslim world, along with the failure of Islamism, paved the way for a turn towards popular sovereignty in Islamic political thought. The emergence of a post-Islamist age in the Arab world and Iran, especially in the aftermath of the Arab Spring (2011), has changed the perspectives of many Islamic intellectuals and jurists, who now place a higher emphasis on popular sovereignty, depoliticizing divine sovereignty. This article offers an intellectual history of the shift from divine to popular sovereignty in modern Islamic political ethics, as well as a discussion of the factors that led to this change. Few critical voices on sovereignty highlight the ethical aspects of sharia’s governance and challenge the popular sovereignty narrative as authoritarian. Full article

In this study, a rare 3.49-carat yellow diamond was analyzed to reconstruct the geological processes that led to its distinctive form. The diamond exhibits growth and dissolution features, indicating a complex history. To preserve the sample’s integrity, non-destructive analytical techniques—including VIS, UV–Vis–NIR, and IR spectroscopy—were employed. The yellow coloration of the diamond is attributed to the presence of N3 and N2 defects. Additionally, other defects such as N₃VH⁰ centers and platelets were detected; however, the latter do not contribute to the coloration. The observations of the etch pits and surface microreliefs suggest that the diamond underwent size reduction due to dissolution events, which also altered its crystal habit over time. The diamond’s initial mixed-habit morphology evolved into a more complex one through a series of growth and dissolution processes that began during mantle storage. Furthermore, the presence of brown surface stains indicates radiation damage, likely acquired during its residence in alluvial deposits at the Earth’s surface. Full article

Setúbal Peninsula (SetPe) has played a critical role in Portugal’s industrial history, symbolizing economic growth in the 1960s and serving as the centre of the working-class movement during the Carnation Revolution. This study examines the impacts of deindustrialisation and integration into Global Network and Chain Structures (GNCS) on the region’s daily life and urban areas. Despite the decline in industrial employment and the challenges posed by abandoned industrial areas, the region has remained connected to GNCS through existing industrial facilities. The study utilised both quantitative and qualitative methods to analyse these transformations and highlighted the region’s vulnerability in the face of these global processes. The findings suggest that integration into GNCS in SetPe has led to economic dependence on multinational companies, social and cultural decline, and challenges in urban redevelopment. Full article

Bullous pemphigoid (BP) is a rare autoimmune disease, primarily affecting elderly individuals, that significantly impacts the patient’s quality of life. In contrast, psoriasis vulgaris (PV) is a common, chronic, immune-mediated skin condition recognized as a systemic T-cell-mediated disorder. We aim to present the case of a patient suffering from a dermatologic association of BP and PV, which unveiled hepatitis C viral infection as a potential trigger and led to complex therapeutic challenges. A literature review is also included, exploring previous cases of overlapping BP and PV, along with a discussion of the unique pathogenic mechanisms and an analysis of the available therapeutic options. The patient, a 53-year-old male with a seven-year history of PV, presented with tense bullae overlying the psoriatic papules and plaques, with a generalized distribution. The presence of hepatitis C infection was considered a potential trigger for the concurrent presentation of BP and PV. Recent GWASs have demonstrated a potential causal relationship between PV and the subsequent development of BP, suggesting shared genetic susceptibility and immune pathways. However, the exact mechanisms driving this transition remain incompletely understood. Our case is particularly relevant as it exemplifies how environmental triggers—such as chronic hepatitis C infection—together with chronic cutaneous inflammation may act as cofactors in this process, possibly through the ‘epitope spreading’ phenomenon. This case underlines the importance of identifying triggering factors in patients with overlapping autoimmune diseases and reinforces the need for future research to further elucidate the pathogenic link between genotype and phenotype, in order to improve personalized therapeutic strategies. Full article

The Yana–Kolyma collision orogen, Eastern Siberia, is one of world-class gold economic belts, where large gold deposits are localized, mainly in the Upper Paleozoic and Lower Mesozoic clastic rocks. Dike-hosted orogenic gold deposits are found and to a lesser extent studied, but they are important for understanding the structural control of mineralization within the framework of the orogen. Orogenic gold deposits of the Vyun ore field are hosted in Kimmeridgian–Titonian mafic, intermediate and felsic dikes, but they have no genetic connection with dikes. The late formation of deposits led to the fact that previously reactivated polydeformed structures were subsequently mineralized. The study of the structural control of mineralization is also complicated by superimposed late tectonic events. Based on the analysis of collected field materials, this paper presents the results of the study of deformation structures of the Vyun ore field within the framework of the Mesozoic evolution history throughout the geological time of the eastern convergent margin of the Siberian Craton. Four stages of deformations are identified. The pre-mineralization deformations and metamorphic and magmatic events share a common NE-SW shortening (D1 phase), which is related to the subduction of the Oymyakon oceanic slab and collision of the Kolyma–Omolon superterrane from the eastern margin of the Siberian Craton. This first stage is characterized by the superposition of several tectonic events under conditions of compression and progressive deformations (D1/1 and D1/2). Ore mineralization was formed at the end of compression in the same stress field (D1/2). Its structural control is determined by reactivation of older dikes and faults. Dikes are areas of heterogeneous stress and heterogeneous strain, being favorable for the concentration of ore fluids. The metallogenic time of formation of the gold mineralization is synchronous with the tectonic event, which likely reflects the final stages of the Kolyma–Omolon microcontinent–Siberian Craton collision of the Valanginian during crustal thickening. The main impulse of the Au mineralization D1/2 phase coincided with a slowdown in convergence. The post-mineralization tectonic regime was related to the Aptian–Late Cretaceous tectonic transition from compression to transpression. Transpressional tectonics were determined accordingly by W-E (D2 phase) and N-S (D3 phase) stress fields caused by several accretion events in the Cretaceous on the northern and eastern margins of Siberia. D4 phase extensional structures were caused by the opening of the Eurasian Oceanic basin in the Arctic in the Paleocene. The obtained results have a first-order impact on the understanding of the structural control of orogenic gold deposits and their relationship to the evolution of the host orogen. The new findings improve the tectonic knowledge of an area of interest for ore deposit exploration targeting orogenic gold deposits in Phanerozoic terranes of craton margins. Full article

Quantifying changes in soil properties greatly benefits our understanding of soil management and sustainable land use, especially in the context of strong anthropogenic activities and climate change. This study investigated the effects of long-term reclamation on soil properties in an artificial oasis region with a cultivation history of more than 50 years. Critical soil properties were measured at 77 sites, and a total of 462 soil samples were collected down to a depth of 1 m, which captures both surface and subsurface processes that are critical for long-term cultivation effects. Thirteen critical soil properties were analyzed, among which four properties—soil organic carbon (SOC), total phosphorus (TP), pH, and ammonium nitrogen (NH₄⁺)—were selected for detailed analysis due to their ecological significance and low intercorrelation. By comparing cultivated soils with nearby desert soils, this study found that semicentennial cultivation led to significant improvements in soil properties, including increased concentrations of SOC, NH₄⁺, and TP, as well as reduced pH throughout the soil profile, indicating improved fertility and reduced alkalinity. Further analysis suggested that environmental factors—including temperature, clay content, evaporation differences between surface and subsurface layers, sparse vegetation cover, cotton root distribution, as well as prolonged irrigation and fertilization—collectively contributed to the enhancement of SOC decomposition and the reduction of soil alkalinity. Furthermore, three-dimensional digital soil mapping was performed to investigate the effects of long-term cultivation on the distributions of soil properties at unvisited sites. The soil depth functions were separately fitted to model the vertical variation in the soil properties, including the exponential function, power function, logarithmic function, and cubic polynomial function, and the parameters were extrapolated to unvisited sites via the quantile regression forest (QRF), boosted regression tree, and multiple linear regression techniques. The QRF technique yielded the best performance for SOC (R² = 0.78 and RMSE = 0.62), TP (R² = 0.79 and RMSE = 0.12), pH (R² = 0.78 and RMSE = 0.10), and NH₄⁺ (R² = 0.71 and RMSE = 0.38). The results showed that depth function coupled with machine learning methods can predict the spatial distribution of soil properties in arid areas efficiently and accurately. These research conclusions will lead to more effective targeted measures and guarantees for local agricultural development and food security. Full article

The recent fast advances in consumer electronics, especially in cell phones and displays, have led to the development of ultra-thin, hence flexible, glasses. Once available, such flexible glasses have proven to be of great interest and usefulness in other fields, too. Flexible photonics, for instance, has quickly taken advantage of this new material. At first sight, “flexible glass” appears to be an oxymoron. Glass is, by definition, fragile and highly breakable; its structure has puzzled scientists for decades, but it is evident that in most conditions it is a rigid material, so how can it bend? This possibility, however, has aroused the interest of artists and craftsmen since ancient times; thus, in Roman times the myth of flexible glass was born. Furthermore, the myth appeared again in the Middle Age, connected to a religious miracle. Today, however, flexible glass is no more a myth but a reality due to the fact that current technology permits us to produce micron-thick glass sheets, and any ultra-thin material can be bent. Flexibility is coming from the present capability to manufacture glass sheets at a tens of microns thickness coupled with the development of strengthening methods; it is also worth highlighting that, on the micrometric and nanometric scales, silicate glass presents plastic behavior. The most significant application area of flexible glass is consumer electronics, for the displays of smartphones and tablets, and for wearables, where flexibility and durability are crucial. Automotive and medical sectors are also gaining importance. A very relevant field, both for the market and the technological progress, is solar photovoltaics; mechanical flexibility and lightweight have allowed solar cells to evolve toward devices that possess the advantages of conformability, bendability, wearability, and moldability. The mature roll-to-roll manufacturing technology also allows for high-performance devices at a low cost. Here, a brief overview of the history of flexible glass and some examples of its application in solar photovoltaics are presented. Full article

The word “curiosity” has an opaque history with contradictory attitudes and connotations acquired ever since Antiquity. This poses an interesting problem in the case of Leo Africanus, who never uses the word in his Cosmographia de l’Affrica yet exhibits curiosity at every turn as a traveler and a writer. This essay relies on a distinction that Michel Foucault makes regarding types of curiosity: that which produces conventional knowledge (which he rejects) and that which seeks extraordinary knowledge that “enables one to get free of oneself”, resulting in “the knower’s straying afield of himself”. Both as a traveler and a writer, Michel de Montaigne demonstrates that such an attitude was a living reality in sixteenth-century Europe. Montaigne’s many reflections on his “straying afield of himself” provide a bridge to interpreting Leo Africanus’s practices of traveling and writing. Leo’s profession as a diplomat, his economic expertise and his training as an Islamic legal expert all led to his far-reaching journeys, particularly in Islamic Africa but also Asia as of a young age, bringing about his many encounters with historical figures and events while also granting him access to uninhabited nature, as well as every sort of human settlement, from remote villages to great cities. His will to knowledge—curiosity that leads him to ‘stray afield of himself’ by seeking out the unusual and the unknown—proves to be the key to his travel and his writing. Full article

Background/Objectives: The improved long-term survival of rectal cancer patients has led to a major increase in the prevalence of functional complications. Understanding which patients are prone to develop major LARS is important for their preoperative counselling and follow-up. Herein, we aimed to assess the risk factors for LARS. Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study on rectal cancer patients. All patient and tumour variables, management plan, type of neoadjuvant therapy, radiation dose to anal sphincter, and perioperative outcomes were collected from the hospital electronic databases. We quantified LARS and compared the score before and after surgery (mean follow-up of 42.2 ± 32 months). Results: A total of 182 patients were included for the final analysis. LARS was present in 43.4% (n = 79) of patients, with 14.8% (n = 27) having minor LARS and 28.5% (n = 52) having major LARS. Age (p = 0.03), male gender (p < 0.00001), smoking (p = 0.04), neoadjuvant radiotherapy (p = 0.02), rectal stump length (p = 0.008), end-to-end anastomosis (p = 0.008), and ileostomy (p = 0.002) were found to significantly increase the rate of LARS. A logistic regression model based on the above variables was able to predict major LARS with good predictive value (AUC 0.700). Conclusions: LARS is highly common after sphincter-preserving surgery, and it is significantly more common in young, male patients with a history of smoking, having mid-lower rectal cancers with neoadjuvant radiotherapy, and undergoing TME surgery with end-to-end low anastomosis and ileostomy. Full article

The integration of AI tools like ChatGPT in education has sparked debates on their benefits and limitations, particularly in subjects requiring region-specific knowledge. This study examines ChatGPT’s ability to generate accurate and contextually rich responses to assignments in Romanian history and geography, focusing on topics with limited digital representation. Using a document-based analysis, this study compared ChatGPT’s responses to local archival sources, monographs, and topographical maps, assessing coverage, accuracy, and local nuances. Findings indicate significant factual inaccuracies, including misidentified Dacian tribes, incorrect historical sources, and geographic errors such as misplaced landmarks, elevation discrepancies, and incorrect infrastructure details. ChatGPT’s reliance on widely digitized sources led to omissions of localized details, highlighting a fundamental limitation when applied to non-digitized historical and geographic topics. These results suggest that while ChatGPT can be a useful supplementary tool, its outputs require careful verification by educators to prevent misinformation. Future research should explore strategies to improve AI-generated educational content, including better integration of regional archives and AI literacy training for students and teachers. The study underscores the need for hybrid AI-human approaches in education, ensuring that AI-generated text complements rather than replaces verified academic sources. Full article

Inefficient stock space use in urban and rural areas causes economic losses and environmental harm, needing better solutions. Currently, this field is constrained by a relatively underdeveloped research history, which has led to the lack of a comprehensive theoretical framework and established solution methodologies. Therefore, it is crucial to clarify the principles of spatial evolution within theoretical approaches to promote the rapid advancement and practical application of subsequent theories. This effort will improve the understanding of the effective utilization of inefficient inventory space and encourage critical analysis by systematically reviewing the developmental trajectory of previous research. This study aims to conduct a thorough analysis of the developmental trajectory, evaluation frameworks, and strategies for the effective utilization of inefficient space by utilizing the Web of Science (WOS) and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) databases. Through the application of CiteSpace for visualization and analysis, the research investigates the pertinent literature on inefficient stock space, covering the period from 2004 to the present. The results show that research on inefficient stock space exhibits diverse characteristics, with WOS publications focusing on four primary dimensions, namely land space reuse, the establishment of evaluation systems, environmental governance, and urban and rural development planning. Conversely, CNKI publications tend to prioritize spatial optimization design and the mechanisms of planning and development. In relation to policy frameworks and evolutionary trends, the study of inefficient stock space in urban and rural contexts has evolved through three distinct phases, the embryonic stage (2004–2013), the exploration stage (2013–2020), and the growth stage (2020–present). While the effective utilization of currently inefficient stock space in urban areas has been addressed through various initiatives, there remains a significant gap in research focused on rural areas, highlighting the necessity for an enhanced exploration of urban–rural coupling mechanisms. Additionally, the efficient utilization of inefficient stock space in both urban and rural environments is a multidisciplinary challenge that requires the development of innovative urban and rural development models aligned with the principles of sustainable development, drawing insights from disciplines such as economics, architecture, and urban planning. Full article

Lyme disease (LD), caused by the spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi, is the most prevalent tick-borne disease in Europe, including Romania, where endemic areas are well documented. It has a wide range of clinical manifestations and severity, including rare neurological complications. Persistent hyponatremia is an atypical presentation of Lyme neuroborreliosis and can be associated with the syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion (SIADH). SIADH is characterized by unregulated antidiuretic hormone release, leading to impaired water excretion, dilutional hyponatremia, and low serum osmolality. We report the case of a 16-year-old female with clinically well-tolerated, but severe, refractory hyponatremia, who was poorly responsive to intravenous sodium supplementation and fluid management. Complex investigations ruled out multiple causes of hyponatremia; neuroborreliosis was confirmed via positive Borrelia serologies, despite the absence of a suggestive history of exposure. SIADH likely symptomatology resulted from central nervous system inflammation induced by Borrelia, a mechanism rarely documented in the medical literature. Treatment with antibiotics and fluid restriction led to a gradual improvement in fluid balance and sodium homeostasis. This case emphasizes the importance of considering rare infectious causes, such as LD, in patients with unexplained SIADH, especially in endemic areas. It highlights the importance of a multidisciplinary approach in intricate, complex cases. Full article

This paper describes the methods of creative activism used by a women-led plantation trade union in Sri Lanka to improve workers’ living and working conditions. We discuss how the feminist idea of “relational humility” is a vital component of how creative activism with plantation workers can work against extractive forms of research and knowledge-making. The paper unfolds in three parts. After setting out our orienting ideas and describing the colonial history of Sri Lankan plantations, we present two examples of unexpected relational humility, first in a workshop and then in a plantation Sunday School. Finally, we suggest the particular value of trade union research in taking up and locating research findings within workers’ self-organised struggles for sustainable living and working conditions. Full article

Background: THA is a widely performed surgical procedure that improves mobility and quality of life in patients with hip joint diseases. The increasing prevalence of obesity has led to a rise in the number of patients undergoing THA following bariatric surgery. This study investigates trends in THA among patients with a history of bariatric surgery, comparing demographics, hospitalization metrics, post-operative complications, and overall surgical outcomes to those without such history. Methods: Using the NIS database (2016–2019), we analyzed a cohort of 1,496,809 THA patients, including 20,429 with a history of bariatric surgery. Propensity score matching was employed to control for confounding factors, resulting in a matched cohort of 20,429 patients in each group. Statistical analyses compared demographic characteristics, comorbidities, hospitalization outcomes, and post-operative complications, with a significance threshold of p < 0.05. Results: The proportion of THA patients with prior bariatric surgery increased significantly between 2016 and 2019 (p < 0.01). Compared to those without a history of bariatric surgery, these patients were younger (60.3 vs. 66.0 years, p < 0.01) and predominantly female (75.0% vs. 55.5%, p < 0.01). After PSM, patients with a history of bariatric surgery had a shorter hospital stay (2.17 vs. 2.37 days, p = 0.027) but incurred higher hospital charges ($63,631 vs. $62,883, p < 0.01). Post-operative complications were significantly higher in this group, with increased risks of hip dislocation (RR = 4.0, 95% CI: 3.4–4.8, p < 0.01), surgical site infection (RR = 2.0, 95% CI: 1.8–2.4, p < 0.01), pneumonia (RR = 2.5, 95% CI: 2.1–2.8, p < 0.01), and intraoperative fracture (RR = 1.6, 95% CI: 1.3–2.0, p < 0.01). Conclusions: The rising prevalence of THA in post-bariatric surgery patients highlights the need for optimized perioperative care. Despite shorter hospital stays, these patients face higher complication risks, requiring tailored management. Further research should explore alternative weight management strategies to improve outcomes. Full article