Search Results (110)

We report new medium-resolution spectroscopy covering the wavelength range from 0.6 to 2.4 $\mathsf{\mu }$m, as well as multi-epoch, multi-wavelength photometry, of the Class I high-mass embedded young stellar object Mol 12 (IRAS 05373+2349). It is embedded ($A_V\simeq 12$) in the centre of a dense core at a distance of 1.59 kpc from the Sun and has a total luminosity of $1.74\times {10}^3{L}_{\odot }$. The spectra show a large number of permitted atomic emission lines, mostly for Fe, H, C, N, and Ca, that originate in the inner zones of a very active protoplanetary disc and no photospheric absorption lines. Conspicuously, the He I line at 1.0830 $\mathsf{\mu }$m displays a complex P-Cygni profile. Also, the first overtone CO emission band-heads at 2.3 $\mathsf{\mu }$m are seen in emission. From the strengths of the principal emission lines, we determined the accretion rate and luminosity to be $\dot{M}\sim {10}^{-5}{M}_{\odot }$ y⁻¹ and $L_{\mathrm{acc}}\sim {10}^3{L}_{\odot }$, respectively. Decade-long light curves show a series of irregular brightness dips of more than four magnitudes in r, becoming shallower as the wavelength increases and disappearing at $\lambda >3\mathsf{\mu }$m. The colour–magnitude diagrams suggest the occurrence of a series of eclipses caused by the passage of small dust cloudlets in front of the star, producing more than 10 magnitudes of extra extinction. Full article

Mediterranean island cities face unique challenges in implementing smart city initiatives due to fragmented governance structures, seasonal economic pressures, and evolving societal expectations. This study investigates how strategic aspirations and public discourse shape the feasibility of smart city policies in insular contexts. Specifically, it combines SOAR (Strengths, Opportunities, Aspirations, Results) analysis with the Overton Window framework to examine both the strategic capacities and normative acceptability of technological interventions. The Overton Window, a model originally developed in political theory, is applied here to evaluate how public and policy acceptance of smart technologies, ranging from digital governance systems to AI-based mobility, varies across different islands. While this study draws on cross-case comparisons of multiple Mediterranean island contexts, the primary data were collected in Athens, Greece, through surveys and focus groups with citizens and stakeholders. The findings reveal disparities in institutional maturity, stakeholder coordination, and levels of citizen support. This study concludes that successful smart city transformation requires both strategic coherence and alignment with evolving public values. It proposes the ‘Ecopolis’ model as a conceptual planning framework that integrates sustainability, citizen participation, and data-driven governance in tourism-dependent island settings. Full article

A detailed description of the components of the CRD technique is presented and applied to the detection of organic esters. These molecules typically have a pleasant smell resembling the aroma of flowers and fruits and are responsible for many distinct odors in plants. They are emitted into the atmosphere by natural sources and human production. The weak absorption spectrum of the fifth vibrational overtone of ethyl, ethyl trimethyl, and tert-butyl acetate are recorded to show the sensitivity of the CRD technique. A description of a compact instrument to be used in the near-IR and visible regions will be presented for measurements of ester detection in the field. Potential chemical reactions of esters induced by visible light absorption in the atmosphere are discussed. Full article

Background/Objectives: The objective of this study is to determine whether the strong acoustic stimuli used in vestibular evoked myogenic potential (VEMP) testing contribute to distortion product otoacoustic emission (DPOAE) level reduction due to noise-induced hearing loss. Methods: The DPOAE levels were measured routinely to evaluate vestibular balance disorders with sensorineural hearing loss and to monitor changes in cochlear function before and after VEMP. The changes in DPOAE levels after VEMP testing in 174 patients (80 males and 94 females; median age, 53 years [interquartile range, 39–67 years; range, 15–85 years]) who were examined in the vertigo outpatient clinic between June 2021 and December 2024 were retrospectively analyzed. Results: The DPOAE levels decreased significantly after VEMP testing at 1.4 kHz, 2 kHz, 2.8 kHz, sum all 1/2 octave, and average 1/2 octave (1–6 kHz). The decrease in DPOAE levels at 6 kHz exhibited a significant negative linear correlation with age (the coefficient of determination: 0.0189, p = 0.01), but not sex or side. Conclusions: The strong sound stimulation used in VEMP testing can decrease DPOAE levels. The frequencies at which DPOAE levels decreased significantly were overtones of the stimulus frequency, suggesting a possible effect of acoustic stimulation. VEMP testing can be an invasive test method and should be performed with detailed consideration of the risks and benefits. The age factor can influence the decrease in DPOAE levels in VEMP testing. Full article

Chloromethane (CH₃Cl) is a key chlorinated organic compound not only in atmospheric chemistry, but also in the field of molecular astrophysics and a possible biosignature in exoplanetary atmospheres. While the spectroscopic characterization of the main isotopic species has been addressed in great detail, that of its isotopologues remains incomplete. This work aims at filling this gap by focusing on the bideuterated species, CHD₂Cl, and exploiting both rotational and vibrational spectroscopy in combination with state-of-the-art quantum-chemical (QC) calculations. First, the rotational spectrum of CHD₂Cl has been measured in the millimeter-wave domain, allowing the accurate determination of several spectroscopic constants for four isotopologues, namely ¹²CHD₂³⁵Cl, ¹²CHD₂³⁷Cl, ¹³CHD₂³⁵Cl, and ¹³CHD₂³⁷Cl. The newly determined rotational constants have been used to refine the semi-experimental equilibrium structure of chloromethane. Secondly, the vibrational analysis, supported by high-level QC predictions of vibrational energies, has been conducted in the 500–6200 cm⁻¹ infrared (IR) region, enabling the identification of more than 30 bands including fundamental, overtone, and combination transitions. Finally, chloromethane’s radiative efficiency has been simulated using the QC IR absorption cross-sections, and the effects of isotopologue distribution on the predicted radiative properties have been investigated. All these findings greatly improve the comprehension of the spectroscopic properties of bideuterated chloromethane isotopologues, and of chloromethane in general, and facilitate future terrestrial and extraterrestrial studies. Full article

The character “雜” (zá), commonly found in Chinese Buddhist literature, typically conveys the meaning of “mixed” or “varied”. However, in the translations of the renowned Tang dynasty translator Xuanzang, its usage stands out both in frequency and distinctiveness, setting his work apart from that of other translators. Terms traditionally conveyed using “不淨” (bù jìng, “impure”) or “穢” (huì, “filth”) were deliberately transformed by Xuanzang into “雜染” (zá rǎn, “mixed defilement”) and “雜穢” (zá huì, “mixed filth”), with “雜” nearly becoming synonymous with impurity. Examining the original meaning of “雜”, we find that it primarily signifies “to gather” or “miscellaneous”, typically carrying a neutral connotation. However, when used as an adjective describing a state, “雜” transcends its neutral sense of “various” or “diverse” to encompass notions of impurity, disorder, and deviation from normative standards—often with negative implications. Building on this understanding, it becomes clear that the abstract opposition between purity and impurity in the doctrinal meanings of Buddhist scriptures was reinterpreted by Xuanzang as a concrete opposition between “清淨” (qīng jìng, “purity”) and “雜穢” (mixed filth). This reinterpretation allowed “雜” to describe anything defiling the mind or carrying negative overtones—even when the original Sanskrit text did not explicitly indicate such a notion—thereby constituting a strategic substitution in translation. Furthermore, Xuanzang and his contemporaries frequently employed “雜” as a functional component within disyllabic compounds that collectively expressed negative meanings. Some terms containing “雜” thus cannot be understood simply as “mixed” or “varied”; instead, “雜” functions as a negative marker, reinforcing unfavorable connotations. This paper provides a focused case study on the lexical strategies of ancient Buddhist translators, illustrating how particular concepts—including 雜—were leveraged to reshape doctrinal content. In doing so, it highlights the deliberate linguistic and interpretative choices made by translators like Xuanzang, offering insights into their motivations and the cultural–linguistic contexts that framed their work. Full article

The absence of interdental papillae in dental prosthetics often leads to unsatisfactory esthetic outcomes, such as black triangles and elongated clinical crowns. While previous research has demonstrated that papillae can regenerate in a coronal direction, the underlying mechanisms remain incompletely understood. Several theories have been proposed to explain this phenomenon, but no clear cause–effect relationship has been established among the various factors involved in spontaneous papilla growth around implants. This study aims to identify and classify the factors influencing this process. Various potential contributors were analyzed, including adjacent elements, buccal–lingual papilla width, contact point position, convergent neck design, crown overcontour, intraoral negative pressure, and others. To systematically organize these factors, a modified Overton Window and a mind map were employed. The factors were categorized as cause-related, essential, or influencing based on the collective opinion of the research group following a comprehensive review of the relevant literature. In the absence of clear evidence supporting a definitive cause–effect relationship, Occam’s Razor (the principle of parsimony) was applied to identify the most plausible cause-related factors. Full article

We present an empirical model for the cross-section of low concentration acetone gas in the range of 1671.5–1675 nm that encompasses the absorption band of the methyl stretch overtone. This model is experimentally validated with cavity ring-down spectroscopy (CRDS) measurements performed with a calibration gas and its diluted mixtures with breath samples. Particular attention is paid to accurate wavelength measurements with an interferometric wavemeter. The theoretical framework for analysis of gas mixtures with several absorbing species is presented. We show that the proposed empirical model can be used to accurately determine the concentration of acetone vapor in human breath samples. The comparison of the acetone absorption cross-section with previous results is also presented. Full article

The kinetics of vibrationally excited OH(ν = 1) and OH(ν = 2) radicals was studied by time-resolved laser absorption in the overtone IR region. Two DFB laser diodes, 1509.3 and 1589 nm, were used. The technique allowed for the reliable study of the vibrational relaxation kinetics as well as the relative populations of the vibrationally excited states. The yields of OH(ν = 1) and OH(ν = 2) in the reaction O(¹D) + H₂O were determined. The rate constant of OH(ν = 1) relaxation in collision with water molecules was obtained ((9.2 ± 2.0) × 10⁻¹² cm³/s). The dynamics of OH(ν = 1) and OH(ν = 2) populations were analyzed in detail, which made it possible to separately determine the relative contribution of the vibrational ladder relaxation channels OH(ν = 2) → OH(ν = 1) → OH(ν = 0) and the direct relaxation OH(ν = 2) → OH(ν = 0). Full article

The enduring narrative of Islamist victimhood, particularly for those who call for a just governance system on behalf of devout Muslim society, which they claim has been systematically repressed and forced underground by the Kemalists, has been prominently echoed in both Turkish and Western scholarship from the late 1990s to the early 2010s. Scholars argued that loosening the hegemonic Kemalist grip on state institutions would promote democracy and civil rights; however, when Islamists took control of the state apparatus in the 2010s, it became evident that this support contributed to the rise of an autocratic electoral regime with Islamist overtones, worsening democracy, which became more repressive than ever after the Kemalist threat was removed. Despite the prominence of these victimhood narratives, the origin and credibility of these claims have not been critically and systematically examined. Through a detailed analysis of biographies, official texts, and personal memoirs, this study assesses the validity of the foundational Islamist victimhood narratives. The findings challenge the narrative of widespread repression, demonstrating that many religious figures continued to operate openly under the Kemalist regime, using the closure of Sufi lodges as a tool to construct a narrative of collective victimhood for political leverage. This study is significant because it highlights how academia can fall into similar “victimhood traps” elsewhere in the world by amplifying victimhood narratives without fully understanding their dynamics or verifying their factual basis, ultimately worsening the situation. Full article

Vitamin E is an essential nutrient, but its poor water solubility limits food and pharmaceutical applications. The usability of vitamin E can be enhanced via modification methods such as encapsulation, which transforms the physical state of vitamin E from a liquid to a powder. This study examined the efficacy of near-infrared (NIR) and mid-infrared (MIR) spectroscopy in identifying and predicting various vitamin E derivatives in vitamin E-encapsulated powder (VEP). An MIR analysis revealed the fundamental C–H vibrations of vitamin E in the range of 2700–3250 cm⁻¹, whereas an NIR analysis provided information about the corresponding combination, first, and second overtones in the range of 4000–9000 cm⁻¹. The MIR and NIR data were analyzed using a principal component analysis to characterize the VEP. Partial least squares (PLS) regression was applied to predict the content of individual vitamin E derivatives. PLS cross-validation revealed that NIR analysis provides more reliable predictive accuracy and precision for the contents of vitamin E derivatives, achieving a higher coefficient of determination for prediction (Q²) (0.92–0.99) than MIR analysis (0.20–0.85). For test set validation, the NIR predictions exhibited a significant level of accuracy, as indicated by a high ratio of prediction to deviation (RPD) and Q². Furthermore, the PLS models developed using the NIR data had statistically significant predictive performance, with a high RPD (1.54–3.92) and Q² (0.66–0.94). Thus, NIR spectroscopy is a valuable nondestructive technique for analyzing vitamin E samples, while MIR spectroscopy serves as a useful method for confirming its presence. Full article

Using the atmospheric pulsation code written by George Bowen, we have performed a parameter study examining the effects of modifying various parameters of models of oxygen-rich AGB atmospheres pulsating in the fundamental and first-overtone modes. For each pulsation mode, we have examined the effects of adjusting the dust condensation temperature, dust condensation temperature range, pulsation amplitude, dust opacity, and metallicity. Our model grids are generated with the constraint that their luminosities are chosen to span the range of observed mass loss rates at a chosen mass. The dust condensation temperature, pulsation amplitude, and dust opacity have strong effects on the ultimate location and shape of the final model grids in the mass luminosity plane. The mass loss rate evolution of the fundamental and first-overtone mode models show a significant difference in behavior. While the fundamental mode models exhibit the typically assumed power–law relation with mass and luminosity, the first-overtone mode models show significant non-power law behavior at observed mass loss rates. Effectively, models in the first-overtone mode require somewhat higher luminosities to reach the same mass loss rates seen in fundamental mode models of the same mass, consistent with observed AGB stars. Full article

In this paper, I take the cultural effects of generative artificial intelligence (generative AI) as a context for examining a broader perspective of AI’s impact on contemporary art notions. After the introductory overview of generative AI, I summarize the distinct but often confused aspects of art notions and review the principal lines in which AI influences them: the strategic normalization of AI through art, the representation of AI art in the artworld, academia, and AI research, and the mutual permeability of art and kitsch in the digital culture. I connect these notional factors with the conceptual and ideological substrate of the computer science and AI industry, which blends the machinic agency fetishism, the equalization of computers and humans, the sociotechnical blindness, and cyberlibertarianism. The overtones of alienation, sociopathy, and misanthropy in the disparate but somehow coalescing philosophical premises, technical ideas, and political views in this substrate remain underexposed in AI studies so, in the closing discussion, I outline their manifestations in generative AI and introduce several viewpoints for a further critique of AI’s cultural zeitgeist. They add a touch of skepticism to pondering how technological trends change our understanding of art and in which directions they stir its social, economic, and political roles. Full article

Multi-pitch perception is investigated in a listening test using 30 recordings of musical sounds with two tones played simultaneously, except for two gong sounds with inharmonic overtone spectra, judging roughness and separateness as the ability to tell the two tones in each recording apart. Of the sounds, 13 were from a Western guitar playing all 13 intervals in one octave, the other sounds were mainly from non-Western instruments, comparing familiar with unfamiliar instrument sounds for Western listeners. Additionally the sounds were processed in a cochlea model, transferring the mechanical basilar membrane motion into neural spikes followed by post-processing simulating different degrees of coincidence detection. Separateness perception showed a clear distinction between familiar and unfamiliar sounds, while roughness perception did not. By correlating perception with simulation different perception strategies were found. Familiar sounds correlated strongly positively with high degrees of coincidence detection, where only 3–5 periodicities were left, while unfamiliar sounds correlated with low coincidence levels. This corresponds to an attention to pitch and timbre, respectively. Additionally, separateness perception showed an opposite correlation between perception and neural correlates between familiar and unfamiliar sounds. This correlates with the perceptional finding of the distinction between familiar and unfamiliar sounds with separateness. Full article

This work describes our recent PCB-based plasmonic nanostructured platform patent (US 11,828,747B2) for the detection of biomarkers in breast cancer serum (BCS). A 50 nm thin gold film (TGF) was immersion-coated on PCB (i.e., PCB-TGF) and immobilized covalently with gold nanourchin (GNU) via a 1,6-Hexanedithiol (HDT) linkage to produce a plasmonic activated nanostructured thin film (PANTF) platform. A label-free SERS immunosensor was fabricated by conjugating the platform with monoclonal HER-II antibodies (mAb) in a directional orientation via adipic acid dihydrazide (ADH) to provide higher accessibility to overexpressed HER-II biomarkers (i.e., 2+ (early), 3+ (locally advanced), and positive (meta) in BCS. An enhancement factor (EF) of 0.3 × 10⁵ was achieved for PANTF using Rhodamine (R6G), and the morphology was studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscope (AFM). UV-vis spectroscopy showed the peaks at 222, 231, and 213 nm corresponding to ADH, mAb, and HER-II biomarkers, respectively. The functionalization and conjugation were investigated by Fourier Transform Near Infrared (FT-NIR) where the most dominant overlapped spectra of 2+, 3+, and Pos correspond to OH-combination of carbohydrate, RNH₂ 1st overtone, and aromatic CH 1st overtone of mAb, respectively. SERS data were filtered using the filtfilt filter from scipy.signals, baseline corrected using the Improved Asymmetric Least Squares (isals) function from the pybaselines.Whittaker library. The results showed the common peaks at 867, 1312, 2894, 3026, and 3258 cm⁻¹ corresponding to glycine, alanine ν (C-N-C) assigned to the symmetric C-N-C stretch mode; tryptophan and α helix; C-H antisymmetric and symmetric stretching; NH₃⁺ in amino acids; and N-H stretch primary amide, respectively, with the intensity of Pos > 3⁺ > 2⁺. This trend is justifiable considering the stage of each sample. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Linear Discrimination Analysis (LDA) were employed for the statistical analysis of data. Full article