Abstract: Many publications on early house and techno music have the character of documentation and include (auto-)biographical statements from contemporaries of the scene. This literature has led to many statements, hypotheses, and conclusions. Weaknesses of such sources are their selective and subjective nature, and the danger of unclear memories, romanticization and constructive memory. Consequently, a validation through content-based, quantitative music analyses is desirable. For this purpose, the HOuse and Techno music from Germany and AMErica (HOTGAME) corpus was built. Metrics from the field of data quality control show that the corpus is representative and explanatory for house and techno music from Germany and the United States of America between 1984 and 1994. HOTGAME can serve as a reliable source for the analysis of early house and techno music using big data methods, like inferential statistics and machine learning.

Abstract: In the Spanish Empire, the term mestizo/mestiza denoted overwhelmingly people of so-called “mixed” European and indigenous ancestry, but there existed also some regional adaptations with differing genealogies such as the mestizos de sangley in the Philippines. The article traces some developments of the application and racialization of the term mestizo shortly after the end of the Spanish Empire in the Philippines under US-rule. It will look at photographs which were taken in by Dean Worcester, Secretary of the Interior and his staff in order to apply and develop theories of the biologist racism which in the early twentieth century which was en vogue all over the globe. Worcester and his crew took the photographs during their expeditions and fieldwork and used them to illustrate their hypotheses about racialized taxonomies, adapting and further developing Spanish colonial ideas. I will contrast them with a photograph from a local studio in Mindanao. The photographs stem from the photographic collection of the Rautenstrauch-Joest-Museum in Cologne, Germany.

Abstract: Rapid digitalization has dramatically altered many ways in which educational resources are accessed, shared, and consumed. This paper reports on the design and implementation of a new Educational Resource Sharing Platform that aims at collaboration and equitable access to educational materials. By taking its cues from the Vite.js build tool that is optimized for efficiency, the platform is developed to provide a friendly and intuitive User- Interface. The architectural design capitalizes on the dynamic functionalities of JavaScript to facilitate modular scalability and the smooth incorporation of interactive elements. This platform empowers users to efficiently share, discover, and utilize a wide array of educational resources, thereby fostering a community-oriented approach to learning. Notable characteristics encompass a lightweight, rapid-loading interface, as well as the prospective integration of machine learning models that could provide personalized content recommendations aligned with user preferences and behaviors. Preliminary study results show that the platform possesses capacity for reducing redundancy in resources, opportunities for collaborative learning, and an inclusive environment for sharing knowledge. Thus, this study contributes to closing educational disparities by responding to growing demand for accessible educational resources. Follow-up studies are going to be able to integrate advanced analytics and machine learning techniques in order to better optimize what content is delivered and experienced by the user.

Abstract: This study explores the publication and dissemination of the Pilu Canon 毗卢藏, engraved by followers of Bao'en Wanshou Hall in Houshan Village, Fujian, during the Yanyou reign of the Yuan Dynasty. Funded through donations, this canon was part of a broader initiative to republish the four major Buddhist canons. Its engraving style blends influences from Yan Zhenqing, Ouyang Xun, and Zhao Mengfu, with rounder characters and more spacious layouts compared to earlier Song editions. The project, supported by the White Lotus Society, involved various engravers and resulted in diverse transcription practices. Although no complete set survives, scattered volumes are housed in different institutions. The Pilu Canon provides valuable insights into the evolution of Buddhist scripture layout, the White Lotus Society's influence, and the interaction between Buddhist texts and secular society in medieval China.

Abstract: This article examines the interaction between European and pre-Hispanic urban traditions in shaping colonial urbanism in the Americas, with a particular focus on the transformation of the city of México over the remnants of ancient México-Tenochtitlan. It argues that the development of the viceregal city was not merely an imposition of the Castilian urban model but was significantly influenced by the pre-existing spatial organization of the Mexica capital. The study explores the extent to which the original urban layout of México-Tenochtitlan affected the planning of the colonial city, the similarities, and differences between Castilian and pre-Hispanic urban models, and the ways in which both traditions merged in the new metropolis. The methodology follows a historical-analytical approach, including documentary review, comparative analysis of urban models, and case studies of early colonial cities. The findings suggest that the city of México became a paradigm of hybrid urbanism, blending European planning principles with indigenous spatial configurations, which influenced later urban development in Spanish America.

Abstract: Ecological ethics is gaining traction. Can this new attitude towards our ecosystems help to motivate a change in our relationship with land and nature? Can we move towards a legal system that supports the legal personality of land, devoid of human ownership? There are substantial amounts of international environmental law that have been hovering on the fringes of defining and then redefining our relationship with land, with more emphasis on respecting the land as itself, rather than as a vehicle with which humanity can gain wealth. This article briefly explores the conjunction of international environmental law history and ecological ethics in the hope that it will encourage a segue in our approach to conservation, ecology and being.

Abstract: Many authors argue that astronomical gains lie in attempting to prevent human extinction, often assuming that the long-term future has net positive value on average. However, I argue that we appear to face axiological cluelessness: significant or complete ignorance about the long-term future’s net value. Then, I examine how robust the case for existential risk reduction is to this ignorance. I find that a strong form of axiological cluelessness makes existential risk reduction less cost-effective than certain global health charities, indicating that the case for reducing existential risk is sensitive to the extent of our uncertainty about the long-term future’s net value. Exploring a weak form of axiological cluelessness indicates that the expected value of existential risk reduction is also sensitive to the expected future population. Finally, I examine the implications of these considerations on longtermism and interventions seeking to improve the long-term future other than existential risk reduction.

Abstract: The lighting conditions of university libraries directly influence reading comfort, learning efficiency, and energy consumption. However, the current lighting design still faces problems such as uneven illumination distribution, severe glare, low utilization of natural light and high energy consumption. Especially in the reading area, due to insufficient lighting control, the light in some areas is too bright or too dark, which affects visual comfort and increases energy consumption. To this end, this study proposes a novel multi-objective optimization framework that effectively balances illumination uniformity, visual comfort, and energy efficiency using NSGA-II, outperforming conventional single-objective methods. The experimental results indicate that after optimization, illumination uniformity improved significantly from less than 0.1 to a stable range of 0.6–0.75, the average monthly energy consumption reduced by approximately 20%, and the natural lighting area expanded by approximately 25% (500m²). Unlike previous research that focuses solely on either energy efficiency or visual comfort, this study integrates multiple critical lighting parameters into a unified optimization framework, achieving a better balance between energy efficiency, lighting uniformity, and visual comfort.

Abstract: The Jewish heritage in Greece, with roots to antiquity, suffered greatly during the Holocaust with over 87% annihilation of the Jewish population. Synagogues, Jewish institutions and Jewish property were looted and destroyed, although, some property was retrieved after Second World War. Synagogues were destroyed, demolished, vandalized or just left abandoned, although some were used by Christian organization for their own purposes. Some synagogues were used as storage houses, for the Red Cross (Monastirioton), for flour or for animals (Komotini). Out of nearly one hundred synagogue that stood throughout Greece before the Second World War, only a handful survived. Some were damaged, others abandoned, or used by Christian organizations and other uses. In 1993, the author undertook a pioneer project to survey all standing synagogues in Greece, some of which were subsequently demolished. From the surveys, digital drawings were produced, which enabled a complete record of these buildings to be compiled and disseminated. The surveys included in-situ photography, and interviews with members of the Jewish community or neighbors, who recorded their own impressions and memories of the synagogue – whether demolished, in ruins or still standing. In 2023, an unexplored and previously unknown archive was added to the author’s work. It included surveys of synagogues by the late architect Shemtov Samuel, who in the early 1960s visited and documented Greek synagogues, for a university lecture he delivered as an architecture student at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. Many of the synagogue he surveyed, were subsequently demolished too. The two archives, Samuel’s and the author’s, form a rare and unique architectural record and database of visible and invisible synagogues ready to be further digitally explored and disseminated using 3D models and rendering and VR technologies. In addition to submitted proposals with the Democritus University in Xanthi and the Jewish Community of Thessaloniki, projects have been completed by the author, among others, the enrichment of the official Archaeological Registry of Greece, on behalf of the Hellenic Ministry of Culture, the digital reconstruction and representation of lost synagogues, such as Beth El in Kavala and Aragon in Kastoria, for exhibitions curated by the Jewish Museum of Thessaloniki. Further, digital short films are being created by Israeli cinematographer Gil Lupo, depicting the author’s journeys to visible and invisible Jewish sites and synagogues throughout Greece. Finally, the author’s publications, in Greece and English, establish an accessible resource for the public, and create a tangible database of previously-unknown information, on these synagogues for the present and for the future evolution of the field.

Abstract: Despite the promising properties of melanin and the abundance of acid sulfate soils, the potential of specific unexplored aspect remains largely unexplored. Previous studies have focused on existing research directions, but have overlooked your specific focus area. This critical knowledge gap limits specific consequence of the gap and hinders progress toward sustainable textile alternatives. In this paper, we present a novel approach to synthesizing bio-melanin fibers from Streptomyces isolated from acid sulfate soil, a globally abundant and underutilized resource. Fermentation conditions were optimized using a central composite design (CCD) to maximize melanin production. The extracted biopolymer was characterized using UV-Vis, FTIR, SEM, XRD, DSC, TGA, and rheological measurements to elucidate its structure, thermal stability, and processability. Wet-spinning techniques were employed to produce bio-melanin fibers with tunable properties suitable for textile applications. The resulting fibers exhibited a tensile strength of approximately 50 MPa and excellent UV protection (UPF > 50), demonstrating their potential in sustainable fashion and functional fabrics. This research transforms an environmental challenge into a valuable resource, aligning with sustainable development goals (SDGs) and promoting a circular economy in the textile industry.

Abstract: The digitization of cultural and intellectual heritage is expanding the research scope and methodologies of the scientific discipline of Humanities. Culturally diverse epigraphic systems reveal a range of methodological impediments on the way to their integration into digital epigraphic data preservation systems – EAGLE and FAIR ontologies pre-dominantly based on Greco-Roman cultural categorization. We suggest an interdisci-plinary approach – utilizing critical insights from Heritage Studies, Cultural Episte-mology, and Social Semiotics – to provide a comprehensive encoding, preservation, and global access to these cultural artifacts at risk. Heritage Studies focus on the material records of historical consciousness represented in the inscriptions. Cultural epistemology identifies the metalanguage scope of the datasets based on the semiotic analysis of the social practices to link contextual interpretation to universal open databases. The case of the integration of Ukrainian epigraphy illustrates the methodology proposed in this study, which, we suggest, is applicable to the digitization of other, non-Greco-Roman cultural heritage. FAIR Ontology and EAGLE vocabularies prioritize standardization and interoperability, introducing text mining, GIS mapping, and digital visualization to trace patterns across the vast body of texts from different historical periods. Standardizing valuable elements of cultural categorization and reconstructing and integrating lost or underrepresented cultural narratives will expand the capacity of the above systems and will foster greater inclusivity in Humanities research. Ukrainian epigraphic classification systems offer a unique, granular approach to inscription studies as a worthwhile contribution to broader cognitive and epistemological horizons of the Humanities. Through a balanced use of specificity and interoperability principles, the study attempts to contribute to epigraphic metalanguage by challenging the monocentric ontologies, questioning cul-tural biases in digital categorization, and promoting open access to diverse sources of knowledge production.

Abstract: During the Modern Age, Seville was known as the Port of the Indies due to its key role in transatlantic trade, but its actual port was in Triana, a riverside quarter outside the city walls along the Guadalquivir River. This area was essential for maritime and commercial activities, shaping Seville’s economic and social development. This study analyses Triana’s urban layout, social composition, and architecture in the 16th century using historical sources and graphic representations. The quarter combined defensive structures, religious buildings, and residential complexes, reflecting both its strategic importance and distinct identity. Its streets and architecture accommodated defence, commerce, and daily life, while its diverse community –including sailors, merchants, craftsmen, and dockworkers– was vital to its mercantile and manufacturing activity. Architecturally, Triana featured traditional dwellings, corrales de vecinos, mesones, and posadas that supported trade and travel. Examining these elements reveals Triana’s adaptability to economic and social conditions, highlighting its resilience, diverse population, and rich architectural heritage within Seville’s historical context and Atlantic trade.

Abstract: In digital 3D reconstruction of shapes and surface reflectance of ancient paintings and drawings using Photometric Stereo (PS) techniques, normal integration is a key step. However, difficulties in locating light sources, non-Lambertian surfaces, and shadows make the results of this step inaccurate for such artworks. This paper presents a solution for PS to overcome this problem based on some enhancement of the normal integration process and the accurate measurement of Points of Interest (PoIs). The mutual positions of the LED lights, the camera sensor, and the acquisition plane in two custom-designed stands, are measured in laboratory as system calibration of the 3D acquisition workflow. After an introduction to the requirements and critical issues arising from the practical application of PS techniques to artworks, and a description of the newly developed PS solution, the measurement process is explained in detail. Finally, results are presented showing how normal maps and 3D meshes generated using the measured PoIs’ positions, and further minimized using image processing techniques, significantly limits the outliers and improves the visual fidelity of digitized artworks.

Abstract: Generative AI leads to designs that prioritize cognition, emotional resonance, and health, thus offering a tested alternative to current trends. In a first AI experiment, the large-language model ChatGPT-4o generated six visual environments that are expected to boost creative thinking for their occupants. The six test cases are evaluated using Christopher Alexander’s 15 Fundamental Properties of living geometry as criteria, also using ChatGPT-4o, to reveal a strong positive correlation. Living geometry is a specific type of geometry that shows coherence across scales, fractal structure, and nested symmetries to harmonize with human neurophysiology. The human need for living geometry is supported by interdisciplinary evidence from biology, environmental psychology, and neuroscience. Then, in a second AI experiment, ChatGPT-4o was asked to generate visual environments that suppress creativity, for comparison to the cases that boost creative thinking. Checking those negative examples using Alexander’s 15 fundamental properties, they are almost entirely deficient in living geometry, thus confirming the diagnostic model. Used together with generative AI, living geometry therefore offers a useful method for both creating and evaluating designs based on objective criteria. Adopting a hybrid epistemological framework of AI plus living geometry as a basis for design uncovers a flaw within contemporary architectural practice. Dominant design styles, rooted in untested aesthetic preferences, lack the empirical validation required to address fundamental questions of spatial quality responsible for human creativity.

Abstract: In a world grappling with the rise of populist leaders and the complexities of governance, this article takes a closer look at former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte, a leader whose paradoxical and oxymoronic leadership style has deeply impacted the Philippines. Blending strength with vulnerability, toughness with compassion, and authority with relatability, Duterte’s presidency mirrors the resilience and struggles of the Filipino people, shaped by a turbulent history. Much like the resonating “Agong” of Mindanao, a traditional Filipino gong symbolizing unity and cultural identity, his leadership echoes through the world, embodying the contradictions of governance in a society balancing its past and future. Through in-depth qualitative content analysis, enriched by observations and interviews to ensure rigor and reliability, this study uncovers how these paradoxes and oxymorons resonate with global public sentiment, fostering both a sense of belonging and empowerment. By exploring these complexities, the findings emphasize the importance of an engaged and informed citizenry—one that actively shapes its political future while honoring the diverse voices within society. Overall, this paper seeks not only to illuminate Duterte’s leadership but also to inspire readers to recognize their vital role in upholding democratic values and fostering collective resilience.

Abstract:

Augmented reality (AR) is revolutionising education by integrating virtual elements into physical environments, enhancing interactivity and participation in learning processes. This study analyses the impact of AR in higher education, examining its influence on ease of adoption, student interaction, academic motivation and educational sustainability. A quantitative and explanatory design was employed, applying structural equation modelling (SmartPLS) to a sample of 4,900 students from public and private universities. The results indicate that AR significantly improves the ease of adoption (β = 0.867), favouring its implementation. In addition, student interaction increases academic motivation (β = 0.597), impacting on perceived academic performance (β = 0.722) and educational sustainability (β = 0.729). These findings highlight the need to design effective learning experiences with AR to maximise their impact. However, challenges such as technological infrastructure, teacher training and equitable access must be addressed to ensure sustainable adoption. This study provides empirical evidence on the potential of AR to enhance motivation, learning and educational transformation. Future research should explore its effectiveness in diverse contexts to optimise pedagogical strategies and institutional policies.

Abstract:

The discovery of an Aurignacian lithic assemblage along the northern coast of the Island of Lemnos in the northeast Aegean Sea has opened new perspectives to the study of the beginning the Upper Palaeolithic in Greece. The site is located some 93 m from the present seashore. It was discovered in the summer of 2020 ca 2 km west of the Pournias Bay. The lithics were exposed in a well-defined oval concentration, ca 25x10 metres wide, buried by a Holocene sand dune. They were uncovered after sand removal by a bulldozer for the construction of a parking place. The knapped stones are made almost exclusively from hydrothermal siliceous rocks, a raw material available on the island. Raman spectroscopy and optical observations confirmed that this raw material is chalcedony. The surfaces of most artefacts are weathered due to deposition in an environment rich of marine salt which did not preserve any organic material suitable for radiocarbon dating. The knapped stone assemblage consists of diagnostic artefacts among which are different types of carinated end scrapers, cores, and a few bladelets. The discovery of an Aurignacian site plays an important role in the study of the Palaeolithic peopling of Lemnos and the northeast Aegean in general, a period which was previously known only through Epipalaeolithic sites discovered and exca-vated mainly along the eastern coast of the island.

Abstract:

This study examines the transformation of modern Chinese literary discourse following the May Fourth Movement's repudiation of Confucianism, focusing on the substantial influence of Russian literature. Through the lens of Even-Zohar's polysystem theory, it analyzes how Chinese intellectuals, particularly prominent translators like Lu Xun, Ba Jin, and Yu Dafu, assimilated Russian literary models during the formative stage of modern Chinese literature. The research demonstrates how the translation and adaptation of works by Chekhov, Turgenev, and Tolstoy led to the displacement of traditional Chinese characteristics by Russian literary elements in both form and creative conceptualization. Employing an indirect methodological approach, the study investigates the absence of Chinese-ness in modern literary texts through the interpretation of Russian influences, offering insights into the complex process of literary modernization in China.

Abstract: Water holds a unique position in Iranian architecture, influenced by geographical and cultural factors. In the past, methods of water utilization were rooted in a culture of frugality, and were compatible with the challenge of water scarcity. However, with industrialization and modernization, changes in consumption patterns occurred, posing multiple environmental challenges, including the water crisis in Iran. Therefore, there is a knowledge gap in understanding how contemporary Iranian architecture can adapt itself to challenges of water crisis. The main objective of this article is the recognition of the water heritage in Iranian architecture, aiming to better understand its significance and revitalize effective solutions that are compatible with water scarcity for contemporary architecture. Achieving this goal was facilitated through the analysis of the functions and concepts of water in the tradition of Iranian architecture. The research findings can serve as a valuable guide for sustainable architectural practices during the current water crisis. This research is of an analytical-historical kind. Data collection was carried out using library resources, and the analysis was performed through a descriptive-interpretive method. The present research underscores the importance of revisiting indigenous knowledge in traditional societies, adopting water-efficient criteria, and redefining the conceptual functions of water in Iranian architecture as a necessity to confront current challenges. In other words, it is necessary to revive a combination of efficient water consumption traditions and the forgotten spiritual aspects of water in contemporary Iranian architecture.

Abstract: The recent remarkable progress in Artificial Intelligence (AI) has renewed the discussion on the possibility of human-level AI. Despite the difficulty of the problem and the presence of many large gaps and challenges, most people working in the field think that human-level AI is achievable, but they disagree on the date. In this paper, I briefly discuss the possibility of human-level AI from the perspective of two traditions in the Islamic world, namely Kalam and Sufism, and despite their different mode of investigation, they converge to the same conclusion on this topic.