Search Results (37)

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) has become an increasingly valuable biologic approach for personalized regenerative medicine because of its potent anti-inflammatory/healing effects. It is thought to be an excellent source of growth factors that can promote tissue healing and lessen fibrosis. Although this treatment has demonstrated effectiveness in numerous disease areas, its impact on pulmonary fibrosis (PF) caused by silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) via its antiapoptotic effects remains to be explored. AgNPs were synthesized biologically by Bacillus megaterium ATCC 55000. AgNP characterization was carried out via UV–Vis spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), dynamic light scattering (DLS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) imaging to reveal monodispersed spheres with a mean diameter of 45.17 nm. A total of 48 male Wistar rats divided into six groups, with 8 rats per group, were used in the current study on the basis of sample size and power. The groups used were the PRP donor, control, AgNP, AgNP + PRP, AgNP + dexamethasone (Dexa) rat groups, and a recovery group. Body weights, hydroxyproline (HP) levels, and CASP3 and TWIST1 gene expression levels were assessed. H&E and Sirius Red staining were performed. Immunohistochemical studies for inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cluster of differentiation 68 (CD68) with histomorphometry were conducted. A significant reduction in body weight (BWt) was noted in the AgNP group compared with the AgNP + PRP group (p < 0.001). HP, CASP3, and TWIST1 expression levels were significantly increased by AgNPs but decreased upon PRP (p < 0.001) treatment. Compared with those in the control group, the adverse effects of AgNPs included PF, lung alveolar collapse, thickening of the interalveolar septa, widespread lymphocytic infiltration, increased alveolar macrophage CD68 expression, and iNOS positivity in the cells lining the alveoli. This work revealed that PRP treatment markedly improved the histopathological and immunohistochemical findings observed in the AgNP group in a manner comparable to that of the Dexa. In conclusion, these results demonstrated the therapeutic potential of PRP in a PF rat model induced via AgNPs. This study revealed that PRP treatment significantly improved the histopathological and immunohistochemical alterations observed in the AgNP-induced group, with effects comparable to those of the Dexa. In conclusion, these findings highlight the therapeutic potential of PRP in a rat model of AgNP-induced PF. Full article

An approach is presented to resolve key paradoxes in black hole physics through the application of complex Riemannian spacetime. We extend the Schwarzschild metric into the complex domain, employing contour integration techniques to remove singularities while preserving the essential features of the original solution. A new regularized radial coordinate is introduced, leading to a singularity-free description of black hole interiors. Crucially, we demonstrate how this complex extension resolves the long-standing paradox of event horizon formation occurring only in the infinite future of distant observers. By analyzing trajectories in complex spacetime, we show that the horizon can form in finite complex time, reconciling the apparent contradiction between proper and coordinate time descriptions. This approach also provides a framework for the analytic continuation of information across event horizons, resolving the Hawking information paradox. We explore the physical interpretation of the complex extension versus its projection onto real spacetime. The gravitational collapse of a dust sphere with negligible dust is explored in the complex spacetime extension. The approach offers a mathematically rigorous framework for exploring quantum gravity effects within the context of classical general relativity. Full article

If spacetime is a physical object, it is conceivable that it loses its integrity or is destroyed in some way as a continuum in an abrupt process initiated in spacetime itself. An example is a gravitational collapse leading to a spacetime singularity, as in the interior of a black hole. We find a conservative extension of quantum mechanics by quantum set theory over the singular domain and show that it is reconcilable with the special extension of spacetime 4-diffeomorphisms by automorphisms of Boolean models of set theory. The extension of quantum mechanics supports the random sequences of the quantum mechanical outcomes that can negate Tsirelson’s conjecture, whereas the extension of 4-diffeomorphisms indicates the role of exotic smooth 4-spheres as gravitational instantons. This leads to the negation of the smooth 4-dimensional Poincaré conjecture before its final resolution by mathematicians. We also discuss the case where the Poincaré conjecture would remain true. Full article

The axiomatic framework of quantum game theory gives us a new platform for exploring economics by resolving the foundational problems that have long plagued the expected utility hypothesis. This platform gives us a previously unrecognized tool in economics, the statistical ensemble, which we apply across three distinct economic spheres. We examine choice under uncertainty and find that the Allais paradox disappears. For over seventy years, this paradox has acted as a barrier to investigating human choice by masking actual choice heuristics. We discover a powerful connection between the canonical ensemble and neoclassical economics and demonstrate this connection’s predictive capability by examining income distributions in the United States over 24 years. This model is an astonishingly accurate predictor of economic behavior, using just the income distribution and the total exergy input into the economy. Finally, we examine the ideas of equality of outcome versus equality of opportunity. We show how to formally consider equality of outcome as a Bose–Einstein condensate and how its achievement leads to a corresponding collapse in economic activity. We call this new platform ‘statistical economics’ due to its reliance on statistical ensembles. Full article

Communicative misunderstandings, cultural misinterpretations, and tribal hatreds are not phenomena that emerge and develop only in the digital world. Within platforms, conflicts explode and circulate mainly in crisis situations, but the relationship (constructive or destructive) with the similar and the different, as well as the narration of the symbolic meanings of specific cultural events, originate first and foremost in interpersonal relationships, institutional political contexts, and the representations (and consumption) of traditional media, such as the television space. Italian television is still one of the reference means of communication for the majority of the population, a figure that has been recorded especially during the recent pandemic emergency despite the significant collapse in advertising investments. Hatred, especially anti-Semitic hatred, is increasingly present in the information ecology, linked to nationalist narratives or aimed at restoring traditional values and fuelling an already highly polarised political debate in a now “dense” public sphere. In particular, during the health crisis, television journalists found it very difficult to report in depth on cases of discrimination or COVID-19. Full article

The aim of this article is to reflect on the nature of the structural sins in the present times and to offer light on the structural virtues that are in urgent demand for sustainable development of persons and peoples. Our analysis begins in Benedict XVI’s Caritas in Veritate. In the encyclical, the pope analyses oversimplification of the human reality by ideologies. The simultaneity of moral underdevelopment and a consumeristic super-development, epistemological gulf between faith and reason, erosion of social capital with the shifting of religion to the private sphere, and the collapse of the human ecology beneath the deterioration of environmental ecology are some of the social sins that Benedict XVI points out in the encyclical. Towards the end of the first section, we attempt to show how Benedict XVI understands that these social sins are also the sins of persons and how the personal is derived into the social. In the second section, we try to develop on the proposals for the structural virtues in Laudato Si’. The starting point is Pope Francis’ vision of integral ecology, which is in continuity with Benedict XVI’s finding that human ecology and environmental ecology are interconnected. After a brief analysis of Pope Francis’ thoughts about the current situation of epistemology, we try to understand the dimensions of the common good, law, and personalism in Laudato Si’, from which we can derive threads for the structural virtues. Full article

During mine excavation, rock wall collapse can pose a safety risk to miners. Reasonably designed support equipment can prevent collapse and ensure a safe working environment. In this paper, a new half-bowl spherical rubber structure is introduced and modeled using Abaqus to study its damping ability under different impact energies. By comparing the support reaction forces and pressures of the A-S, R-S, and C-S structures, we find that the R-S structure, with a smaller number of half-bowl spheres, has superior energy absorption abilities and impact resistance. These findings support the designing and manufacturing of mining support equipment. Full article

We demonstrate that at the rim of the photon sphere of a black hole, the quantum statistics transition takes place in any multi-particle system of indistinguishable particles, which passes through this rim to the inside. The related local departure from Pauli exclusion principle restriction causes a decay of the internal structure of collective fermionic systems, including the collapse of Fermi spheres in compressed matter. The Fermi sphere decay is associated with the emission of electromagnetic radiation, taking away the energy and entropy of the falling matter without unitarity violation. The spectrum and timing of the related e-m radiation agree with some observed short giant gamma-ray bursts and X-ray components of the luminosity of quasars and of short transients powered by black holes. The release of energy and entropy when passing the photon sphere rim of a black hole significantly modifies the premises of the information paradox at the falling of matter into a black hole. Full article

Collapsible loess is characterized by its unique soil-forming environment, mineral composition, and microstructure, resulting in poor engineering properties such as high water sensitivity, high collapsibility, high compressibility, and low strength. To improve the poor engineering properties of collapsible loess, we selected a suitable eco-friendly material—guar gum (GG)—for its improvement and reinforcement, and investigated the improvement effect of different GG dosages (0.5~1.5%) and curing ages (0~28 days) on collapsible loess. The mechanical properties of soil samples were determined by direct shear tests, unconfined compressive strength tests, and splitting tests. The water stability of soil samples was evaluated by both cube and sphere crumb tests. SEM and EDS analyses were also conducted to determine the microstructural and mineral changes in soil. The results indicate that the incorporation of GG is beneficial to inhibit the collapsibility of the soil and improves the water stability and strength of the soil. The collapsibility coefficient of loess is reduced to below 0.015 when 0.75% and above of GG is admixed, which is considered a complete loss of its collapsibility. When the GG dosage increases from 0% to 1.25%, the compressive strength and tensile strength of the soil samples increase by 43.5% and 34.9%, respectively. However, by further increasing the GG dosage to 1.5%, the compressive strength and tensile strength decrease by 3.8% and 6% compared to those with 1.25% GG. This indicates that the strength of the specimens shows an increasing trend and then a decreasing trend with the increase in GG dosage, and 1.25% GG was found to be the best modified dosage. Microstructural and mineral analyses indicate that the addition of GG does not change the mineral composition of loess, but, rather, it significantly promotes the agglomeration and bonding of soil particles through cross-linking with Ca²⁺ ions in the soil to form a biopolymer network, thus achieving a reliable reinforcement effect. Compared with the existing traditional stabilizers, GG is a sustainable and eco-friendly modified material with a higher low-carbon value. Therefore, it is very necessary to mix GG into collapsible loess to eliminate some of the poor engineering properties of loess to meet engineering needs. This study can provide test support for the application and promotion of GG-modified loess in water agriculture and road engineering. Full article

RNA transcripts play a crucial role as witnesses of gene expression health. Identifying disruptive short sequences in RNA transcription and regulation is essential for potentially treating diseases. Let us delve into the mathematical intricacies of these sequences. We have previously devised a mathematical approach for defining a “healthy” sequence. This sequence is characterized by having at most four distinct nucleotides (denoted as $nt\le 4$). It serves as the generator of a group denoted as $f_p$. The desired properties of this sequence are as follows: $f_p$ should be close to a free group of rank $nt-1$, it must be aperiodic, and $f_p$ should not have isolated singularities within its $S{L}_2\left(\mathbb{C}\right)$ character variety (specifically within the corresponding Groebner basis). Now, let us explore the concept of singularities. There are cubic surfaces associated with the character variety of a four-punctured sphere denoted as $S_2^4$. When we encounter these singularities, we find ourselves dealing with some algebraic solutions of a dynamical second-order differential (and transcendental) equation known as the Painlevé VI Equation. In certain cases, $S_2^4$ degenerates, in the sense that two punctures collapse, resulting in a “wild” dynamics governed by the Painlevé equations of an index lower than VI. In our paper, we provide examples of these fascinating mathematical structures within the context of miRNAs. Specifically, we find a clear relationship between decorated character varieties of Painlevé equations and the character variety calculated from the seed of oncomirs. These findings should find many applications including cancer research and the investigation of neurodegenative diseases. Full article

The aerodynamic noise of an open rotor is one of the critical challenges that must be considered in its design and application. FODNOPP, a program specifically programmed to predict the aerodynamic discrete noise of single- and counter-rotating open rotors (such as propellers, propfans, and rotorcraft rotors) at subsonic, transonic, and supersonic helical blade tip speeds, has recently been developed by the first author. This program is composed of four prediction codes, namely code a1, code a2, code b, and code c, each based on Farassat-derived formulations Formu 1-RTE, Formu 1A, Formu 1-Sph, and Formu 3, providing time-domain solutions to the Ffowcs Williams–Hawkings equation. Four verification examples for both propeller low-speed flight noise and counter-rotating propfan take-off noise are presented, along with an application case for transonic helical tip speed counter-rotating propfan cruise noise. The results demonstrate the accuracy of FODNOPP in calculating the noise for these verification cases. And in the counter-rotating propfan cruise noise case, the maximum harmonic sound pressure level of the rear propfan is 5.5 dB higher than that of the front propfan. FODNOPP can be referred to as a comprehensive design tool, and it offers valuable guidance for engineering design focused on rotor-related noise reduction. Full article

This paper considers Habermas’s translation proviso, which requires religious concepts to be translated into secular language when in the public sphere. Translation, for Habermas, protects the state from religious interference and elicits essential aspects of pre-rational thought—that is, religious and metaphysical thought, which post-metaphysics cannot generate for itself, e.g., social solidarity. The task undertaken by Habermas’s translation proviso is illustrated through his own work of translation: that of the translation of the biblical image of humanity as created in the image of God into the identical dignity of each human being. To provide context to and to highlight the difficulties involved in Habermas’s translation proviso, consideration is given to the thought of Joseph Ratzinger/Pope Benedict XVI and Alasdair MacIntyre on these themes. What is demonstrated is that Habermas’s translation is, in essence, assimilation and re-appropriation. In practice, it manifests itself as the truncation of Christian metaphysics, in which the divine Logos is replaced by or collapsed into the logos of intersubjective human language. The relational image of humanity as a creature distinct from the Creator, in which human reason is analogous to divine reason, is erased, leaving autonomous human beings, from which human reason emerges out of the discursive communication of the logos of intersubjective human language. The conclusion is that the translation proviso fails in its objective. An alternative to Habermas’s translation proviso, the presupposition proviso, is presented as a more apt approach to addressing the underlying issues involved: facilitating human flourishing in an orderly, free, and just society. Full article

The power of the “moderate” branch of the Islamic Movement (Alharaka al-Islamiyya, subsequently referred to as IM) Southern Faction (IMSF) in Israel stems from its ability to adapt to different situations, reconcile with the complex reality of being an indigenous minority in a state that defines itself a “Jewish state”, and operate within the state structure accepting democratic processes that have long been debated to clash with Islamism. Besides being represented in the Israeli Knesset since 1996, the culmination of this adaptation was the joining of the movement to the short-lived Zionist coalition government on 2 June 2021 (the government collapsed in July 2022). This historic entry of an Arab Party into a Jewish/Zionist government coalition for the first time in Israel’s history was a shocking surprise to many, not only due to the IM being an Arab–Palestinian movement but also an Islamist movement. My analysis shows that despite this reconciliation, the IM continues to emphasize religiosity, binding it to the national political struggle and identity of Israel’s Palestinian minority. For its supporters, the IMSF is seen as a meeting point of spiritual/religious needs on the one hand and material needs in the social, political, and cultural spheres on the other. However, for its opponents, mainly from the other Arab political parties, the IM had deviated from the national consensus and accepted strategies and tools to deal with the challenges facing them as a minority in Israel. And, for some others, the IM had even deviated from Islam itself. I draw on a field study that spanned several years. It is based on qualitative, extensive interviews with senior Islamist and non-Islamist leaders in Israel, as well as primary sources of the IM, including publications, leaders’ speeches, and social media. All quotes in this article are based on the author’s interviews during 2022–2024. Interviews with the following leaders and activists: IM leader Abdul-Malik Dahamsheh, sheik Ibrahim Sarsour, former MK Muhammad Hasan Ken`an, Nosiba Darwish `Issa, IM MK Eman Yassin Khatib, NDA’ chairman Sami Abu Shehadeh, secretary general of Abnaa al-Balad (Sons of the Country) Muhammad Kana`neh, and with Kufr Qare` former mayor Zuhair Yahya were conducted by in-person or by phone during summer–fall 2023. The interviews with former IMNF activist Aisha Hajjar, activist Zuhriyyeh ‘Azab, journalist Abd el-Rahman Magadleh, and DFPE member Elias Abu Oksa were conducted via What’s App, Messenger, and e-mail in 2022. The interview with political analyst Ameer Makhoul was conducted in December 2023 via Messenger. Follow-up communication was mainly through What’s App to clarify certain points. The interview questions focused on the reasons for the Islamic Movement’s division into two wings, the religious and political justifications for entering the Knesset and the coalition, the relationship between the southern wing and the main Arab parties active in the Israeli Knesset, the experience of unity with them, and the experience of its members while in the Zionist coalition. This article examines how the Islamic Movement in Israel uses religion as a tool to influence the national, cultural, political, economic, and social lives of the Arab minority in Israel. It asks: How does the Islamic Movement, religiously and politically, justify its involvement in the political game and in a Zionist government coalition, and how do Arab parties perceive this involvement? Moreover, it raises an important question about the nature of the movement: to what extent is the Islamic Movement a political Islam movement, and whether it has abandoned the basic goals of political Islam for the sake of becoming a democratic Islamic party? This article will provide significant insight into crucial aspects of the IM that have been previously overlooked. While being in a Zionist coalition gave hardly any latitude in decision making about policies, budgets were an attractive avenue for the Islamic Movement to guide public opinion and gain political support. The article comes during the ongoing war on Gaza, which will undoubtedly cast a shadow on the political climate and the political map in Israel in general and on the political work of Arab parties and the Islamic Movement in particular. Although it is too early to predict the impact of this war on the Islamic Movement and its political future, it can be assumed that the impact will be profound. Full article

Since the 1970s, astronomers have struggled with the issue of how matter can be accreted to promote black-hole growth. While low-angular-momentum stars may be devoured by a black hole, they are not a sustainable source of fuel. Gas, which could potentially provide an abundant fuel source, presents another challenge due to its enormous angular momentum. While viscous torques are not significant, gas is subject to gravity torques from non-axisymmetric potentials such as bars and spirals. Primary bars can exchange angular momentum with the gas within corotation, causing it to spiral inwards until reaching the inner Lindblad resonance. An embedded nuclear bar can then take over. As the gas reaches the black hole’s sphere of influence, the torque becomes negative, fueling the center. Dynamical friction also accelerates the infall of gas clouds closer to the nucleus. However, because of the Eddington limit, growing a black hole from a stellar-mass seed is a slow process. The existence of very massive black holes in the early universe remains a puzzle that could potentially be solved through direct collapse of massive clouds into black holes or super-Eddington accretion. Full article

While throughout modern history it has been shown how thoroughly biological discourses were shaped by conceptions originating in the theory and praxis of breeding, for the medieval period similar studies are mostly absent. This paper offers a symmetrical history of theory and praxis of breeding by asking to what extent they shaped medieval conceptions of human ‘race’ and ‘ancestry’ in Europe. For scholarly knowledge of breeding, the analysis relies on Albertus Magnus’ extensive Aristotelian work De animalibus. For the practical knowledge of the breeders, scattered indications from the secondary literature are compiled and promising primary sources are outlined for further research. The paper finds that various concepts and practices whose origins are commonly placed in the early modern period were already present in the Middle Ages, including the concept of reproductive heredity and the view that creation diversified over time through reproductive ancestry. Breeding practices, thus, existed before the rise of genetics in modern biology. The medieval conceptions of ‘race’ and ‘ancestry’ underwent conceptual transfers from the non-human into the human sphere, collapsing the qualitative distinction of the two spheres into one quantitively graded overarching image of nature. Full article