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Copyright of Soziale Systeme is the property of De Gruyter and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

In the present era, the Turkic states are experiencing an upward trajectory in the expansion of their relationships, particularly in the economic sphere. After the collapse of the USSR, the Turkic states that regained their independence - Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan - followed different dynamics of economic development. These Turkic states are located in regions of significant geopolitical and geostrategic importance, spanning a wide area from the Adriatic to the Great Wall of China. The purpose of the study is to examine the dynamics of the development of economic relations between Türkiye and the Turkic states of South Caucasus and Central Asia in the modern era. The main objectives are to examine the economic potential of the Turkic states and Türkiye's economic policy towards the Turkic states of the South Caucasus and Central Asia, to analyze the development dynamics and characteristics of the economic relations between Türkiye and the Turkic states of these two regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exploring periodic dry–wet changes is an important topic in climate change research due to its impact on drought and flood disasters. The purpose of this research was to determine the occurrence law of dry–wet changes in China on a scale of several hundred years, using the example of transitional zones. In this study, we analyzed typical areas of the ecotone between agricultural land and pasture along the Great Wall of China. The ring width index of Carya cathayensis was fitted with the March–August Palmer drought severity index (PDSI38). The PDSI38 was divided into different periods using the stepwise function fitting method. The results indicated that there were two dry periods and one wet period in the region from 1543 to 2019. In each dry and wet period, there were also different temporal periods, including long (decades), intermediate (ten years), and short periods (several years). Drought represents a significant threat to agricultural production in China. In the first dry period (1543–1756), four periods with low PDSI38 values (1633–1635, PDSI38 = −1.71; 1636–1939, PDSI38 = −3.35; 1640–1642, PDSI38 = −4.68; and 1643–1645, PDSI38 = −2.92) occurred, during which severe droughts (PDSI38 < −4) lasted for 13 years. The dry–wet change showed the characteristics of a 12-year or multiple 12-year cycle. The results can be used to prepare to effectively address extreme drought scenarios worldwide in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowak argues that the problem with language loss is not linguists' loss of data or that the loss of a language is often a result of discrimination against its speakers. Instead, the real problem is its speakers' loss of illocutionary force. I argue that Nowak's argument rests on two premises that are both empirically unjustified: that cultural knowledge is a prerequisite for illocutionary force, and that language is a prerequisite for illocutionary force. Languages are among the most fascinating accomplishments of mankind, surpassing Machu Picchu and the Great Wall of China in the eyes of many. I think language loss is comparable to loss of species. The intuition that the death of a language is a significant event, reflects that: Something that evolved gradually over hundreds of years, passed on through hundreds of generations and thousands of individual speakers, is irreversibly gone, once and for all. The illocutionary force of its individual speakers is not. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Following the completion of the Great Wall Resource Survey in 2012, numerous landscape heritage resources along the Great Wall remained undiscovered, highlighting the limitations of conventional survey methods. This study aimed to conduct in-depth investigations of Great Wall signal sites through digital fieldwork methods, unveiling a crucial signaling structure—the auxiliary beacon—and presenting genuine historical scenes of the Great Wall signal network. Through the retrieval of the image database of the entire Great Wall and the utilization of UAVs (drones) for low-altitude remote sensing surveys, 252 auxiliary beacon sites were identified in diverse environments (e.g., deserts, mountains, plains) in Xinjiang, Gansu, Inner Mongolia, Qinghai, Ningxia, and other 10 regions. These case studies enable the categorization of layout types and the proposal of reconstruction hypotheses for the signal network of the Great Wall of China. The findings demonstrate that the beacon fire signals are not lit on the beacon tower tops, but through the ignition of various signals by auxiliary beacons, expressing pre-arranged information. Beacon towers and auxiliary beacons together form an efficient signal network along the Great Wall. This study explores how to use digital survey methods to unearth unknown landscape heritage resources of the Great Wall, enhancing the accuracy of observation for cross-regional and large-scale cultural heritage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Great Wall is the crystallization of the wisdom of the ancient people of China and a famous world historical cultural heritage, of which the Ming Great Wall accounts for 41% of the total length of the Great Wall of China. As an important building material of the Ming Great Wall, the strength of grey bricks is directly related to the safety and durability of the Great Wall structure, and is also an important basis for reuse in the repair process. Since the Great Wall is a key protected cultural relic in China, it is inappropriate to use broken testing methods, and nondestructive testing methods should be the main focus. In the collapsed section of the Great Wall in Dazhuangke, Yanqing, Beijing, 27 randomly selected bricks were subjected to rebound, ultrasonic and compressive tests. Three types of strength curves, linear, power and exponential, were fitted by regression of rebound and compressive strength, and the coefficient of determination, mean relative error and mean square relative error were compared and analyzed, and the results showed that the exponential function had the best strength curve. The combined strength curve in the form of power function was fitted by regression of rebound value, ultrasonic value and compressive strength, and the comparative analysis showed that this curve was better than the rebound strength curve. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Telos is the property of Revista Telos and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The article discusses an exhibition featuring the work of Marina Abramović, a Serbian conceptual and performance artist. The exhibition includes backlit videos of Abramović and other individuals, showcasing their minute movements and conveying a sense of community. It also explores Abramović's performance art, including her famous piece "The Artist is Present" where she sat silently for three months at the Museum of Modern Art in New York. The exhibition features various installations and videos that depict Abramović's exploration of identity, relationships, and the limits of the body. [Extracted from the article]

This article investigates the problematic coherence of Franz Kafka's Alchimistengasse notebooks, focusing on the fragment in which that coherence is both thematized and performed: "At the Building of the Great Wall of China." By distinguishing the "system of piecemeal construction" used in the building of Kafka's wall from the Kantian architectonics through which the wall has been interpreted by most critics, the author uncovers a concept of piecemeal coherence that is irreducible to the binary oppositions of traditional aesthetic theory: allegory or symbol, fragment or unity, aggregate or system. By then reflecting the method of Kafka's wall onto the text in which that method is described, the author develops an aspect of Kafka's modernism that distinguishes it from the aesthetic programs of both early romanticism and the historical avant-garde. (RS) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Great Wall of China constitutes a significant cultural treasure of the Chinese nation and a valuable piece of heritage of world civilization. Owing to both natural and anthropogenic factors, the Great Wall is undergoing gradual deformation, thereby posing considerable challenges to the overall preservation of the associated sites. This study aims to investigate techniques for monitoring deformation at large-scale linear heritage sites, leveraging the Great Wall as a representative example, and to offer valuable insights for monitoring surface deformations at extensive cultural heritage sites worldwide. Employing SBAS-InSAR technology, this research analyzes and monitors the deformation of the Great Wall. A series of Sentinel-1A images captured between March 2017 and January 2022, consisting of 161 scenes, were subjected to SBAS-InSAR processing to derive the deformation rate field along the wall. To ensure the reliability of the findings, a representative mountainous segment, spanning approximately 896.53 km within the scenic corridor of the Great Wall, was selected for analysis. The outcomes indicate that 75.8% of the scenic corridor in Shanxi Province, representing the Ming Great Wall, exhibits relative stability with deformation rates ranging from −10 to 10 mm/year. Conversely, 24.2% of the scenic corridor demonstrates significant deformation, with a maximum subsidence rate of 33.1 mm/year and a maximum subsidence of 148.6 mm. Therefore, this research highlights the potential application of SBAS-InSAR technology in the monitoring and assessment of surface deformation at massive linear cultural heritage sites and offers a reference point for similar monitoring efforts on a global scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over two decades from 1949 until the resumption of the diplomatic relations between these two countries in 1972, West German companies never gave up on the Chinese market despite substantial difficulties caused by Cold War frictions. This paper exams the payment transactions and terms of credits for financing industrial projects between the PRC and West German companies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diyarbakır City Walls, one of the longest defensive structures in the world, following the Great Wall of China, the walls of Antakya, and the walls of Istanbul, is a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2015. With a history of approximately 5000 years, the Diyarbakır City Walls have been affected by consecutive earthquakes centered in Kahramanmaraş in 2023, resulting in damages to various sections. Urgent restoration and repair interventions are needed for these sections of the Diyarbakır City Walls due to earthquake-induced damages. Although there are limited studies presenting stone analysis of the Diyarbakır City Walls in the literature, no studies focusing on mortar analysis have been found. The objectives of this study are as follows: (I) to identify the mechanisms and factors of earthquake damages in the Diyarbakır City Walls, (II) to conduct necessary analyses for the selection of mortar materials for post-earthquake repairs, and (III) to provide restoration and strengthening recommendations to ensure the sustainability of the original structure. Observational, petrographic, chemical, and SEM analysis techniques were used, and the findings were interpreted comparatively. The results demonstrate that the most severe damages after the earthquake in the Diyarbakır City Walls were caused by the inadequate adhesion of missing mortar joints and different types of materials used between double-walled structures. Additionally, the presence of clay minerals identified in the mineralogy of the mortar through experimental analysis was defined as an internal issue causing the loss of mortar due to osmotic pressure created by water absorption. Another factor causing the loss of mortar is the presence of chloride-type salts, which were found to be present in a significant amount in all samples and were attributed to the use of Portland cement in previous faulty repairs. It was also determined that recent faulty repointing works contributed to the loss of mortar. Finally, this article presents original restoration and strengthening recommendations to repair the earthquake-induced damages and prevent their reoccurrence in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the image of China and how China has been approached in the 9th, 10th and 11th grade Turkish history textbooks of secondary school was evaluated. Within the scope of the study, compulsory history textbooks, Turkish Culture and Civilization History textbook, Contemporary Turkish and World History textbook published by the Ministry of National Education of the Republic of Türkiye were examined. By considering the basic factors that create the image of China in Turkish history textbooks, how China has been represented in the textbooks and positive, negative statements were analyzed. In the study, which was designed as a qualitative research, document analysis was used as data collection technique and descriptive research model was used as a research model. As a result of the research, the name of China is mostly mentioned in the section of China's relations with pre-Islamic Turkish states. However, the interaction of the Chinese with the Huns and Göktürks and the construction of the Great Wall of China were frequently included in the history textbooks of secondy education. While the image of China stands out in Turkish history textbooks through historical events, no direct negative images of China have been identified. The mention of One Road One Belt Project in the 9th grade textbook is an indication of a positive image of China. The history textbooks are affected by the relations between the two countries periodically in history, and as a result the image of China changes in line with periods and historical events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Great Wall of China was a military facility that has been continuously built and used for over thousands of years, and is a world-renowned cultural heritage site today. The plants growing on top surface of the Great Wall caused the damage of the Great Wall, but the process of removing these plants may further damage the body of the Great Wall. In this paper, based on the Analytic Hierarchy Process and the expert Delphi method, we selected 13 specific indices from three Constraint Layer factors, and then estimated and identified 45 species/categories of plants on top surface of the Dazhuangke section of the Great Wall. The results showthe constitution and the evaluation gradeof the evaluation system. The factor of Disruptive Effects plays the main guidance role in the evaluation system of the Constraint Layer; The indices of Impact on the Near Side Wall is the core element of the evaluation model with the highest weight of the Standard Layer. And the "Preservation", "Partial Preservation"and "Removal" recommendations were given based on three evaluation grade (from Grade I to Grade III). This research provides scientific basis for the protective repair of the Great Wallheritage as well as "Garden on the Great Wall". [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China became financially dependent on the European powers after its defeat in the war with Japan (1894-1895). These were mainly Russia, Great Britain, France, and Germany, which began to seek economic concessions and define their spheres of influence in China. Russia took the first steps in this direction. The event that accelerated the process was the German occupation of the area around Jiaozhou Bay in Shandong Province in November 1897. Russia placed increased pressure on China. The entire region north of the Great Wall was recognized as its sphere of influence. Russia also leased the ports of Port Arthur and Dalian. Until then, Britain had been opposed to defining spheres of influence, as the British assumed that their economic power would give them dominance in China. However, under the pressure of new circumstances, London changed its mind and joined the struggle for concessions and the establishing spheres of influence. Britain leased the port of Weihaiwei, and the rich Yangtze valley was recognized as its sphere of influence. Around the same time, French interest in southern China prevailed, resulting in the lease of Guangzhouwan. Although it seemed to contemporaries that this development could eventually lead to the division of China among the great powers, their rivalry was one of the main reasons why it did not happen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Cultural Studies / Kültür Araştırmaları Dergisi is the property of Journal of Cultural Studies / Kultur Arastirmalari Dergisi and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Augmented reality (AR) has revolutionized the tourist experience, presenting an opportunity to generate meaningful engagement with unique culture and heritage. Despite the potential, a limited empirical inquiry has assessed the efficacy of AR for the creation of memorable heritage tourism experiences (MTEs). Consequently, this research aims to examine the efficacy of AR for enhancing the memorability of tourism experiences (MTE) at heritage sites, the such as Great Wall of China, using a smartphone app, equipped with four interrelated AR heritage tourism experiences, used by visitors. Applying one-group pre–post quasi-experimental design (n = 275), respondents' MTEs were examined, compared and contrasted with and without the AR experience. Results demonstrate that virtual AR heritage tourism experiences enhance the MTE of a visit to the heritage tourism site, with differences in experience intensity found across the MTE parameters. Furthermore, this empirical research probed into impacts of AR experiences on the satisfaction and dissatisfaction of tourists visiting an outdoor heritage site, and it addressed MTE is a mediator of the relationship between tourist attitude to AR experience and behavioural intention. The paper contributes new understandings and insights to the on-going application and advancement of AR technology in a nature-based tourism context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work presents some aspects of diffraction in the human eye, which occurs in the pupil, in the cells of the lens, and in structures within it. An Appendix presents the calculations necessary to understand the phenomenon of diffraction. To complement the understanding of optical phenomena, some physiological aspects of the eye, especially the retina, are examined. The purpose of the paper is to provide teachers and students with examples that can help in the study of optics and motivate students to take a closer look at diffraction, including numerical calculations. Examples include the visibility of structures like the Great Wall of China when viewed from long distances, the dots of the letters i and j from the drug information leaflet the shape of floaters, and why we see stars as pointy objects. This article targets physicists, physics students, and professionals from other areas related to human vision, such as ophthalmologists, opticians, and optometrists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of International Journal of Social Sciences (IJSS) / Uluslararasi Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi is the property of International Journal of Social Science and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Tourism Tribune / Lvyou Xuekan is the property of Tourism Institute of Beijing Union University and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The cultural, architectural, and historical heritage value of the Great Wall of China drives the need to maintain, rehabilitate, and restore its structural integrity from artificial and natural damage. In this study, a hybrid architectural visualization and structural collapse simulation of the Ming Great Wall (1368–1644 AD) are conducted in Blender based on the unit blocks and a physics engine (i.e., Bullet Constraint Builder). Visualized failure predictions caused by four damages, i.e., stone layer collapse, step collapse, parapet walls inward tilting, and stone layer bulge, are developed and performed on a strength basis. The main input parameters are brick dimensions, friction coefficient, and adhesive/glue strength, while the primary output includes collapse, and global and local stabilities. Finally, the results show that the combination of unit blocks and a physical engine can visually simulate the occurrence process of the Great Wall's failures with preliminary engineering outcome, especially those related to collapse, and can also predict the adverse consequences of the precipitating factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From the Longqing 隆慶 to the early Wanli 萬曆 era (1567-1583), the Ming court implemented a large-scale program of military reform around Beijing, especially the military region of Jizhou 薊州. This program was mainly designed and led by Tan Lun 譚綸 (1520-1577), the governor-general of Ji-Liao 薊遼, and Qi Jiguang 戚繼 光 (1528-1587), a prominent general. They used Qi's former subordinates, Zhejiang soldiers—a well-trained, victorious army against Japanese pirates—as the instructors to train and reorganize the Jizhou-Changping 昌平 troops, and built and repaired local Great Wall fortresses at the same time. They reversed the weak Ming defense force after the Gengxu 庚戌 Incident in 1550. The Longqing Peace Treaty, in which the Ming government reached an agreement with Altan Khan 俺答 (1507-1582), the main power of western Mongolia, and permitted his request for trade, had great influence and increased the effectiveness of this military reform program. The reform and the treaty were both important historical events when the Ming-Mongol relationship improved across the east and west sides of the Great Wall during the second half of the 16th century. Because of this reform, northern Ming military strength returned, and they were able to intimidate the Mongol khan on the Chahar Plateau in the east. Such an important program must have its shaping process, steps for implementation, and specific measures; however, the support from the Ming government was the most significant. It finally launched the traditional military system onto a new path. These topics have not often been discussed in past papers. Thus, I will focus on them and view the changing Ming-Mongol relationship through the lens of these historical facts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Xuanzang, who traveled to India by crossing East Turkestan, Central Asia and Afghanistan between 629-645, is known as a great traveler, translator and scholar. Xuanzang's life story and his visit to India were later written as a separate work by his students around 650. At the beginning of the XI century Shinku Sheli Tutung translated this work, which was written in Chinese, into Old Turkic/Uyghur in East Turkestan. In the 'Xuanzang Biography' written in the Old Uyghur script, there is some information about Old Turkish place names, peoples and history. One of them is the ethnonym Kyrgyz. In the part of the work where the skills of the Chinese emperor Taizong are praised, this ethnonym is mentioned in two places. In the first text, it is explained that Taizong fully researched Tibet, understood and knew the Kyrgyz completely, and that they were subject to China because he brought the right laws there. In the second text, it is described that the peoples of the north, including the Kyrgyz, came under Chinese rule. According to the general meaning of these texts, the Kyrgyz are a Turkish tribe that resides in the North of the Great Wall of China, which should be understood for China, that is, who they are to be known, and conquering them brings great prestige to China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Great Wall of Ming Dynasty is a predominant space-time composition and significant image representative of the cultural heritage of the Great Wall of China. The natural defensive installation formed by mountain and river barriers accounts for about 1/4 of the total length of the Ming Great Wall. Helan Mountain has been an important boundary line of natural geography, nomadic and farming activities in China since ancient times. It is also one of the mountain barriers that can prevent from being intruded in ancient times. The Rock Art on Helan Mountain, Western Xia Imperial Tombs at the foot of Helan Mountain and the handcraft technology of Helan inkstone making skids and other cultural heritages with regional cultural characteristics need to be included in the landscape resources of the Great Wall National Cultural Park. The basic reference achievements for the interpretation and presentation in the planning and construction of the Great Wall National Cultural Park will be provided, and also make up for the lack of research on the mountain barriers at present, through research on the attributes and values of the mountain barriers of the Great Wall in Ming Dynasty and multicultural heritages in Helan Mountain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growth of tourism has its own history. Macro Polo in 13th century; the "grand tour" of the British aristocracy to Europe in 18th Century; David Livingstone journey through Africa in 19th century are the examples of early tourism. During the medieval age tourism lost its importance because people were completely towards spirituality. People moving from Italy towards China on Silk route which is 12000 miles long did not forget to visit the Great Wall of China and the palaces there. Then the 18th century was called as the Era of Grand tour. A committee was set up by the Government under the Chairmanship of Sir John Sargent, the then Educational Adviser to the Government of India to promote tourism in India in 1945. In 1997, the New Tourism Policy recognised the roles of Central and State governments, public sector undertakings and the private sector in the development of tourism. Several initiatives were taken by the government of India in developing the industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Nabo is the property of Republic of Iraq Ministry of Higher Education & Scientific Research (MOHESR) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Journal of Remote Sensing is the property of Editorial Office of Journal of Remote Sensing & Science Publishing Co. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)