Abstract:

While Kepler is regarded as a major figure in standard historical accounts of the scientific revolution of early modern Europe, he is typically seen as having one foot in the new scientific culture and one in the old. In some of his work Kepler appears, along with Galileo, to be on a trajectory towards Newton’s celestial mechanics. Besides his advocacy of Copernicus’s heliocentrism, he appeals to physical causes in his explanations of the movements of celestial bodies. But other work expresses a neo-Platonic “metaphysics” or “mysticism”, as most obvious in his self-alignment with the ancient tradition of the “music of the spheres”. Here I problematize this distinction. Kepler’s purported neo-Platonic “metaphysics”, I argue, had been tied to Platonic and neo-Platonic features of the methodology of a tradition of mathematical astronomy that would remain largely untouched by his shift to heliocentrism and that would be essential to his actual scientific practice. Importantly, certain inherited geometric practices—one’s later formalized as “projective geometry”—would carry those “harmonic” structures expressed in the thesis of the music of the spheres.

Abstract: The UNESCO site of Arslantepe is located in Eastern Anatolia in the Malatya Plain (Türkiye) about 10km from the Euphrates River. Here for about a century archaeological excavations have been carried out reconstructing a long sequence of human frequentation starting from 5000 years BC up to the Middle Ages. The settlement, one of the most important and largest in the region, has undergone numerous changes over time resulting in a complex superposition of structures, palac-es, temples and burials concentrated on the hill. With the aim of extending the knowledge of the site, in 2022 geophysical surveys were carried out through the application of electrical resistivity tomography, covering a surface of approximately 4,300 m2 in an unexplored area at the foot of the hill. In this paper, the Extended data-adaptive Probability-based Electrical Resistivity Tomog-raphy Inversion approach (E-PERTI), recently published as development of the probability to-mography imaging approach, has been applied to a large apparent resistivity field dataset providing the best estimate of the most probable estimate of the resistivity distribution through an intrinsic linear regression model implementing standard least squares routines. Results seem to prove the effectiveness of the E-PERTI approach in noise dejection enhancing associated resistivity highs that can be ascribable to the trace of a potential fortification. The obtained information rep-resents new unexpected data that opens new frontiers of archaeological research adding value to the knowledge of the site.

Abstract: Seeking to examine cases of sacrificial love for another that is empathetic, unconditional, and morally redemptive, I focus on writer Jeff Lemire’s and artist Dustin Nguyen’s heralded comic series, Descender and Ascender (published by Image Comics starting in 2015 and 2018, respectively). In the first main subsection, I argue how illustrative fictional cases can mirror inter-human ethical struggles in our own world. Next, I look at some representative theoretical, literary, and biblical examples of sacrifice, especially regarding morally problematic theories about Jesus’ death on the cross, a classic Western example of sacrificial love. I then provide a brief context for why Descender and Ascender and highlight some of the main themes and characters in the comics. In doing so I draw from three main examples: the cyborg and mother Effie (Queen Between), the companion robot TIM-21, and an extended focus on the robot, Driller (“a real killer”), where I gleam key traits of sacrificial love as empathetic, unconditional, and morally redemptive. I close with how to distinguish unholy and holy forms of sacrificial love, and reflect on how the examples of sacrificial love in the comics ultimately complement my reading of Jesus’ sacrificial death on the cross while adding some stipulations to his oft-quoted saying: “No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (John 15:13).

Abstract:

The mid-20th century heralded a critical epistemological rupture, foregrounding the contestation of Eurocentric paradigms and the emergence of decolonial frameworks in African intellectual discourse. This article interrogates the formative contributions of early Pan-African thought, spanning the 1910s to the 1950s, which constituted the intellectual scaffolding for epistemological decoloniality. Through an incisive critique of colonial knowledge systems, Pan-African thinkers transitioned from passive engagement to an assertive reclamation of epistemic agency. Central to this ideological shift was the reconfiguration of educational paradigms. Visionaries such as Edward Blyden and James Africanus Horton repudiated the erasure of African historical and cultural legacies within colonial pedagogical structures, advocating instead for educational models anchored in African epistemologies. Their endeavors sought to cultivate intellectual self-determination and socio-cultural justice. Simultaneously, scholars like W.E.B. Du Bois and Cheikh Anta Diop interrogated Eurocentric historiographical distortions, rigorously documenting Africa's pre-colonial civilizations to subvert hegemonic narratives and restore historical subjectivity. The intellectual ferment of the Négritude movement further amplified these critiques by valorizing African identity, aesthetics, and heritage, while the deliberative platforms provided by Pan-African congresses facilitated transcontinental solidarity and strategic epistemic resistance. Collectively, early Pan-African thought catalyzed a profound challenge to Eurocentric epistemic dominance, inaugurating a transformative trajectory toward Africa-centered paradigms of knowledge production and equitable global intellectual engagement.

Abstract: This study builds upon the Reactive Heritage Digital Twin paradigm established in prior research, exploring the role of artificial intelligence in expanding and enhancing its capabilities. After providing an overview of the ontological model underlying the RHDT paradigm, this paper investigates the application of AI to improve data analysis and predictive capabilities of Heritage Digital Twins, in synergy with the previously defined RHDTO semantic model. The structured nature of ontologies is highlighted as essential for enabling AIs to operate transparently, minimizing hallucinations and other errors that are characteristic challenges of these technologies. New classes and properties within RHDTO are introduced to represent the AI-enhanced functions. Finally, some case studies are provided to illustrate how integrating AI within the RHDT framework can contribute to enrich the understanding of cultural information through interconnected data and facilitate real-time monitoring and preservation of cultural objects.

Abstract: In recent decades,museums have evolved from traditional knowledgerepositories to dynamic educational communication spaces.Whileinteractive facilities have become crucial tools for museum educationalcommunication,their effectiveness in knowledge dissemination remainsdebated among scholars and practitioners.This study explores how to optimize educational communication bydeveloping a theoretically grounded framework across three commonmuseum types:Art Museums,History Museums,and Science Museums.Based on their respective emphases on art perception,historical concepttransmission,and scientific experience provision,this paper appliesspecific theories-Experiential Learning Theory,Storytelling&NarrativeTheory,and Multiple Intelligence Theory to develop systematicguidelines for their interactive facilities design and provides threeapplications.The educational communication effects of these changes isverified through questionnaires.

Abstract:

This study explores the application of output - oriented interval reliability theory in eval-8 uating the landscape bridge design ability of students in bridge aesthetics courses. With the contin-9 uous improvement in the aesthetic requirements for bridges and the increasing emphasis on sus-10 tainable development, accurate evaluation of students' landscape bridge design ability is crucial. 11 The output - oriented concept emphasizes guiding students' learning outcomes. Interval reliability 12 theory provides a scientific and quantitative evaluation method. The evaluation index system for 13 landscape bridge design capability now includes design creativity, structural rationality, aesthetic 14 expression, coordination with the environment, and sustainable features such as material recycla-15 bility and energy - efficiency. Using the output - oriented principle, students' design works are the 16 core basis, focusing on their quality and how well they meet sustainable goals. Interval reliability 17 theory analyzes the uncertainty of design ability. By considering the range of indicators and factors 18 like the durability of sustainable materials, the reliability of designs in different situations can be 19 evaluated. This comprehensive approach reflects the true design ability better. In practical applica-20 tions, the multidimensional evaluation of students' works combined with interval reliability analy-21 sis considering sustainability provides teaching feedback. Teachers can adjust content and methods 22 based on results to improve quality and better cultivate students' landscape bridge design abilities 23 with a sustainable vision. Overall, output - oriented interval reliability theory with sustainability 24 offers an effective evaluation approach.

Abstract: Despite the growing presence of digital Vtubers in educational settings, there is limited empirical evidence on their effectiveness in language acquisition. In this investigation, we delved into the realm of digital education to assess how the visual fidelity of digital Vtuber avatars affects the acquisition of Mandarin Chinese characters by beginners. Through incorporating a diverse array of digital Vtubers, ranging from simple two-dimensional figures to complex three-dimensional models, we explored the relationship between digital Vtuber design and learner engagement and efficacy. This study employed a randomized tutorial distribution, immediate post-tutorial quizzing, and a realism scoring rubric, with statistical analysis conducted through Pearson correlation. The analysis involving 608 participants, illuminated a clear positive correlation: digital Vtubers with higher levels of realism significantly enhanced learning outcomes, underscoring the importance of visual fidelity in educational content. This research substantiates the educational utility of digital Vtubers and underscores their potential in creating more immersive and effective digital learning environments. The findings advocate for leveraging sophisticated digital Vtubers to foster deeper learner engagement, improve educational achievement, and promote sustainable educational practices, offering insights for the future development of digital learning strategies.

Abstract: A technique for characterization of color of small ochre samples was proposed. The technique includes visual color determination with the aid of stereomicroscope and Munsell Soil Color Chart, conversion of Munsell values to CIE L*a*b coordinates, cluster analysis and principle component analysis (PCA). The technique was applied to ochre samples form Kapova Cave and Kamennaya Balka 2 Upper Paleolithic sites. Characterization the color of a statistically significant number of pigment samples makes it possible to identify the relationships between different structural features of the cultural layer, reliably identify a wide range of artistic practices in parietal caves in addition to the actual creation of drawings, and also possibly serves as a chronological marker at multi-layered sites.

Abstract: This work combines the Doctoral Thesis of Dr. Mg. Industrial Designer Ibar Federico Anderson (UNLP) called "The Argentine Belle Époque. Art, domestic architecture and furniture design applied to bourgeois interior decoration (1860-1936)", defended in 2014 at the National University of La Plata; with the Master's Thesis of the University of Palermo by the Architect Gastón Eduardo Girod (UBA) called "The construction of Argentine Creole furniture. Country chairs from San Antonio de Areco, Province of Buenos Aires, in the period 1990-2021", defended in 2023. It seeks to develop a new Theoretical Framework for what will be the Doctoral Thesis at the University of Palermo by Mg. Architect Gastón Girod; whose title is "The incorporation of traditional artisan techniques in the design of contemporary Argentine furniture, period 2000-2023".Two previous works have already been written in 2022 in co-authorship in the ArtyHum magazine. This work emphasizes the publication “The Argentine Creole chair. A study of the most relevant typologies of 'sitting' furniture (urban-rural) in the Argentine Republic” (ArtyHum No. 84).