Search Results (376)

In 1978, Brian Kernighan and Dennis Ritchie insisted that the first program to write in a new language is one to print the words “hello, world.” From then until now, “hello, world” has frequently been the first exercise in introductory programming courses. On one hand, this does seem like a good first program because it makes something familiar—a greeting—appear on the screen. On the other hand, it is extremely strange. How can it be understood as a greeting? Who is greeting whom? Unfortunately, the bulk of formal means for defining programming languages provides very little help for assigning a meaning to the “hello, world” program. It is argued that the weakness of older theories and methods of programming language semantics is due to the historical, disciplinary segregation (in logic, semiotics, and linguistics) of semantics as a study apart from syntax and pragmatics. Drawing from both more recent work in programming language semantics that addresses side effects and on speech-act-based programming language design, this paper proposes a possible reintegration of semantics and pragmatics in order to better define the meaning of “hello, world” and the programming languages used to produce speech acts more generally. Full article

Complex phase diagrams are a generic feature of quantum materials that display high-temperature superconductivity. In addition to d-wave superconductivity (or other unconventional states), these phase diagrams typically include various forms of charge-ordered phases, including charge-density waves and/or spin-density waves, as well as electronic nematic states. In most cases, these phases have critical temperatures comparable in magnitude to that of the superconducting state and appear in a “pseudo-gap” regime. In these systems, the high temperature state does not produce a good metal with well-defined quasiparticles but a ”strange metal”. These states typically arise from doping a strongly correlated Mott insulator. With my collaborators, I have identified these behaviors as a problem with “Intertwined Orders”. A pair-density wave is a type of superconducting state that embodies the physics of intertwined orders. Here, I discuss the phenomenology of intertwined orders and the quantum materials that are known to display these behaviors. Full article

Cohabiting family dogs form hierarchies, and there are rank-related differences in certain behaviours even in noncompetitive situations. For companion dogs, the main limited resource could be the owner, but this assumption needs further behavioural testing. We hypothesized that dogs’ hierarchical status within multi-dog household is associated with variations in their attachment and dependency behaviours toward their owner. We tested n = 62 cohabiting companion dogs from 31 multi-dog households. The rank score of each subject was determined with a questionnaire (DRA-Q). We used the strange situation test (SST) to assess the dogs’ attachment complex towards their owner. The results show that higher-ranking dogs showed less signs of stress in the SST when their owner was present, but they also showed fewer friendly behaviours towards the stranger. Older dogs also presented fewer stress behaviours; however, they were friendlier with the stranger. This is the first time that dogs’ hierarchy was taken into consideration regarding dog–owner attachment. We can conclude that dogs’ rank and its stability could play a crucial role in creating differences between cohabiting dogs’ attachment patterns. We propose further research into the functional analysis of these behavioural differences. Full article

A new species in a new family and genus of sea anemone, Discoactis tritentaculata fam. gen. and sp. nov., was discovered at several localities around Japan. These anemones were indicated to belong to the superfamily Actinostoloidea by phylogenetic analyses. However, the specimens have flat, disc-like bodies; triplet tentacles on the oral disc; endocoels without tentacles; 10 macrocnemes in the column; and numerous microcnemes only in the aboral end. These features are unique among not only Actinostoloidea but also sea anemones in general, and thus they could not be accommodated into any existing families and genera in Actinostoloidea. Therefore, we establish the new family Discoactinidae and the new genus Discoactis for this species of anemone. Our phylogenetic analyses also suggested that the family Capneidae, of which the phylogenetic position has not been certainly convinced yet, also should be a member of Actinostoloidea, and thus we revised its placement and discussed the diagnosis of the superfamily. With these results, the superfamily Actinostoloidea now accommodates eight families. Full article

Introduction: Nonbinary individuals who do not identify as exclusively male or female often face unique emotional challenges due to societal cisheteronormativity and limited recognition of their identities. While existing research has primarily focused on anxiety, depression, and pathways to parenthood among nonbinary people, little attention has been paid to their comprehensive emotional experiences as parents. This study aims to explore the emotional universe of two nonbinary parents from Spain and the United States. Design: Hermeneutic study. Materials and Methods: We implemented purposive sampling, conducted semi-structured virtual interviews, and followed Ricoeur’s theory of interpretation for data analysis. We used the Universe of Emotions affective taxonomy as a starting category in this analysis. Our sample consisted of a 32-year-old white Spanish nurse (she/they/them), assigned female at birth and parent of two one-year-old toddlers, and a 34-year-old white North American physiotherapist (he/they/them) assigned female at birth and parent of a ten-year-old child. Results: Through its four themes (A story of misunderstanding: “What are you, a combat helicopter?”; Clearly, you don’t fit, so…; But (a new) family is there; No monster here: I’m, at the core, a human being), this study reveals the complex emotional journey experienced by two nonbinary parents. Conclusions: Central to this journey are three key emotions: strangeness, belonging, and acceptance. The participants describe an initial stage marked by body and social dysphoria, confusion, and rejection, followed by a transformative process in which parenthood becomes a catalyst for emotional and identity integration. This transition—from alienation to connection—reflects a broader movement from dehumanization to humanization, where the experience of parenting fosters emotional resilience, social recognition, and a renewed sense of self. Implications for the profession and/or patient care: Analyzing their emotions (both negative and positive ones), we obtained robust insights into these parents’ personal and social contexts. Therefore, we can facilitate understanding of the emotional complexity of nonbinary parents by the trans and cisgender communities. Through this understanding, nurses and the organizations they work for can improve their competence in their holistic care. Acceptance from nonbinary parents’ social contexts, of which nursing is a part, is a critical factor in their health and emotional wellbeing. Full article

Marine animals without faces (MAWFs), are some of the most important creatures maintaining the ecological balance in marine environments. How these animals are depicted across conservation organizations may impact public perceptions and conservation efforts. We assessed the online presentation of sea stars, jellies, and corals among all public websites of institutions accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) (N = 237). Among the organizations with an aquarium (n = 125), only 55 (44 percent) profiled at least one of the three animals, resulting in 89 total profiles. Five general approaches to characterizing these animals emerged: (1) scientific social distancing, (2) beautiful and eye-catching, (3) grotesque, otherworldly, and strange, (4) brainless beauties, and (5) objects of touch, entertainment, and experience. While some practices, like touch exhibits, can support empathy outcomes among visitors, online profile practices may contribute to the objectification of these animals among visitors, which could ultimately impact conservation attitudes, intentions, and behaviors. Full article

The use of multi-joint arms in a high-spindle environment can solve complex problems, but the singularity problem of the manipulator related to the structure of the serial manipulator is prominent. Therefore, based on the general mathematical model of fruit spatial distribution in high-spindle apple orchards, this study proposes two harvesting system architecture schemes that can meet the constraints of fruit spatial distribution and reduce the singularity of harvesting robot operation, which are four-arm dual-module independent moving scheme (Scheme A) and four-arm single-module parallel moving scheme (Scheme B). Based on the link-joint method, the analytical expression of the singular configuration of the redundant degree of freedom arm group system under the two schemes is obtained. Then, the inverse kinematics solution method of the redundant arm group and the singularity avoidance picking trajectory planning strategy are proposed to realize the judgment and solution of the singular configuration in the complex working environment of the high-spindle. The singularity rate of Scheme A in the simulation environment is 17.098%, and the singularity rate of Scheme B is only 6.74%. In the field experiment, the singularity rate of Scheme A is 26.18%, while the singularity rate of Scheme B is 13.22%. The success rate of Schemes A and B are 80.49% and 72.33%, respectively. Through experimental comparison and analysis, Scheme B is more prominent in solving singular problems but still needs to improve the success rate in future research. This paper can provide a reference for solving the singular problems in the complex working environment of high spindles. Full article

Curiosity lies at the heart of the sixteenth-century miscellany books, which served as precursors to the essay genre. Among them, a truly exceptional piece stands out: La silva curiosa by Julián de Medrano, published in 1583. This work pushes the boundaries of curiosity to such an extent that it challenges its classification within the genre of miscellany owing to its unconventional and strange nature. Julián de Medrano, the author of this outlandish work, transforms himself into a character and protagonist, defining himself as an “extremely curious” individual. During his extensive travels, he curates a collection of “curious” epitaphs associated with often comical and peculiar deaths, spanning Latin, Spanish, Portuguese, French, Galician, and Italian. In addition to this, La silva curiosa includes an autobiographical narrative, a precursor to the Gothic genre, in which Medrano recounts unsettling encounters with black magic. This work offers a multifaceted exploration of curiosity, taking it to the extreme by narrating the author’s life experiences driven by a relentless pursuit of the curious, which is synonymous with the bizarre, extraordinary, marvelous, and unexpected. La silva curiosa emerges from a time marked by an almost nihilistic void, as the full force of the Baroque era has not yet arrived, and the ideals of humanism are fading away. It stands as a unique document that unveils an unexpected facet of the concept of curiosity within Spanish Renaissance culture. Full article

Previous research has shown that antibiotic use during the first year is associated with infants’ difficult behavior, maternal low sensitivity, and infant insecure-ambivalent attachment. However, these results may depend on the extent and type of parental involvement, paternal stress related to infant care, or the infant’s exposure to infections. To explore this question, we analyzed the relationship between these factors and examined potential predictors of antibiotic use among demographic, health, and psychological variables. This study included 62 Portuguese infants and their fathers as participants. Demographic and health information was collected at birth, 3, 9, and 12 months. Father–infant interactive behavior was observed in free play at 3 months and infant attachment in Strange Situation at 12 months. Parental Stress and Parents’ Responsibility Scales were used at 9 and 12 months, respectively. Infants who received antibiotics in the first year were less cooperative, more difficult, and less passive in free-play interactions and were more likely to attend a center-based daycare than others. In this study, the predictors of antibiotic use are infant difficultness and daycare type. Full article

This study employs Monte Carlo (MC) models and thermal-statistical analysis to investigate the production mechanisms of strange ($K_S^0$, $\mathrm{\Lambda }$) and multi-strange ($\mathrm{\Xi }$, $\mathrm{\Omega }$) hadrons in high-multiplicity proton–proton collisions. Through systematic comparisons with experimental data, we evaluate the predictive power of EPOS, PYTHIA8, QGSJETII04, and Sibyll2.3d. EPOS, with its hydrodynamic evolution, successfully reproduces low-$p_T$$K_S^0$ and $\mathrm{\Lambda }$ yields in high-multiplicity classes (MC1–MC3), mirroring quark-gluon plasma (QGP) thermalization effects. PYTHIA8’s rope hadronization partially mitigates mid-$p_T$ multi-strange baryon suppression but underestimates $\mathrm{\Xi }$ and $\mathrm{\Omega }$ yields due to the absence of explicit medium dynamics. QGSJETII04, tailored for cosmic-ray showers, overpredicts soft $K_S^0$ yields from excessive soft Pomeron contributions and lacks multi-strange hadron predictions due to enforced decays. Sibyll2.3d’s forward-phase bias limits its accuracy at midrapidity. No model fully captures $\mathrm{\Xi }$ and $\mathrm{\Omega }$ production, though EPOS remains the closest. Complementary Tsallis distribution analysis reveals a distinct mass-dependent hierarchy in the extracted effective temperature ($T_{\mathrm{eff}}$) and non-extensivity parameter (q). As multiplicity decreases, $T_{\mathrm{eff}}$ rises while q declines—a trend amplified for heavier particles. This suggests faster equilibration of heavier particles compared to lighter species. The interplay of these findings underscores the necessity of incorporating QGP-like medium effects and refined strangeness enhancement mechanisms in MC models to describe small-system collectivity. Full article

The fact that chiral symmetry is a crucial feature of the strong force was realized before the discovery of quantum chromodynamics. However, the full power it exerts on the structure of the nucleon only became apparent afterwards. We present a high-level and somewhat personal overview of its role in almost every aspect of the proton structure, from its mass and spin to the asymmetry of its antimatter content and its strange quark content. The lessons learned from studying the proton are also vital with respect to the modern challenge of the nature of baryon-excited states. Full article

Disney’s Strange World (2022) explores the themes of “energy unconscious”, “intergenerational equity”, and “ecophobia”, focusing on the legacy parents leave to their children. The film centers on three generations of men, each representing different attitudes towards nature. Jaeger Clade, the grandfather, embodies colonialist values, viewing nature as a hostile force to be conquered. His son, Searcher, an intensive farmer, sees nature as a battleground between useful beings and pests, focusing on improving society through domestication. In contrast, Ethan, Searcher’s teenage son, adopts an ecocentric perspective. His worldview is expressed through the card game Primal Outpost, where he and his friends embrace symbiosis, interconnectedness, and the rejection of the man-nature divide. Ethan is the first to recognize that their ecosystem is a living organism reminiscent of the Gaia Hypothesis, advocating for a paradigm shift that the older generations fail to grasp. The article analyzes Strange World as a cli-fi allegory, urging humanity to choose between being parasitic destroyers or symbiotic contributors to ecological recovery. The film, while offering a simplified solution to climate change, presents a comic apocalyptic vision where youth-driven hope for change challenges older, ecophobic attitudes and offers a transformative, ecotopian message. Full article

Langlands duality is one of the most influential topics in mathematical research. It has many different appearances and influential subtopics. Yet there is a topic that until now has seemed unrelated to the Langlands program. That is the topic of invariant differential operators. It is strange since both items are deeply rooted in Harish-Chandra’s representation theory of semisimple Lie groups. In this paper we start building the bridge between the two programs. We first give a short review of our method of constructing invariant differential operators. A cornerstone in our program is the induction of representations from parabolic subgroups $P=MAN$ of semisimple Lie groups. The connection to the Langlands program is through the subgroup M, which other authors use in the context of the Langlands program. Next we consider the group $SL(2n,\mathbb{R})$, which is currently prominently used via Langlands duality. In that case, we have $M=SL(n,\mathbb{R})\times SL(n,\mathbb{R})$. We classify the induced representations implementing $P=MAN$. We find out and classify the reducible cases. Using our procedure, we classify the invariant differential operators in this case. Full article

Though both critical thinking and creative thinking are often cited and promoted as important cognitive processes in personal, academic and professional settings, common misconceptualisation of both often leads to confusion for non-experts; for example, with respect to lumping them together erroneously as much the same thing, completely confusing them for one another or, on the other hand, distinguishing them to such an extent that all genuine overlap is ignored. Given the importance of these processes in real-world scenarios, quality education and ‘metaeducation’ is necessary to ensure their appropriate translation to students and educators, alike. Thus, the aim of the current review is to discuss various perspectives on both critical and creative thinking with particular focus paid to addressing such common misconceptualisation. Detailed discussion is provided with respect to important ways in which they are distinct and overlap. Recommendations for what contexts application of each are appropriate are also provided. Furthermore, implications for such enhanced understanding are discussed, in light of both theory and research. Full article

This paper recounts the author’s reluctant journey of translating Matthew Fuller and Eyal Weizman’s Investigative Aesthetics: Conflicts and Commons in the Politics of Truth into Japanese, a process that turned out to be a mix of philosophical tightrope walking and comedic pratfalls. Along the way, we meet Baumgarten, the original translator who coined the aesthetica nomenclature, Kant, who insists that there can be no such thing as a science of sensibility, and a parade of Japanese translators who took great artistic liberties in rendering an alien term into a complicated language formed by three layers of different writing systems. The author reflects on his coining of a new translation for “aesthetics” in Japanese—Kansei-Jutsu (“Sensibility-Art”)—a term that baffled publishers, thrilled a few cultural studies scholars, and may have earned a side-eye from beauty salons already using “estetikusu” for facials. The translation saga spirals into debates about what “aesthetics” even means, culminating in a bittersweet realisation: translation is less about getting it right and more about sparking delightful, sometimes ridiculous, new ways of thinking. By the end, aesthetics re-emerges as a celebration of difference, proving that even conflicts can create a strange and wonderful commons when approached with an openness to diverse sensibilities. Full article