Philosophy

Ancient scrolls are being ‘read’ by machine learning — with human knowledge to detect language and make sense of them

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水曜日, 3月 13, 2024

Using a non-invasive method that harnesses machine learning, an international trio of scholars retrieved 15 columns of ancient Greek text from within a carbonized papyrus from Herculaneum, a seaside Roman town eight kilometres southeast of Naples, Italy.

Key Points: 
  • Using a non-invasive method that harnesses machine learning, an international trio of scholars retrieved 15 columns of ancient Greek text from within a carbonized papyrus from Herculaneum, a seaside Roman town eight kilometres southeast of Naples, Italy.
  • The work of reading and analyzing the new Greek and Latin texts recovered from the papyri will fall to human beings.

Buried in ash

  • Like Pompeii, Herculaneum was buried by the catastrophic eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 CE.
  • But in 1752, excavation uncovered hundreds of papyrus scrolls in the library of an elaborate Roman villa.

Carbonized papyri


Starved of oxygen, the intense heat of Vesuvius’ pyroclastic flow carbonized (but did not ignite) the papyri. Resembling lumps of coal to the eye, 18th-century excavators did not immediately recognize them as ancient books.
The papyri are so brittle that many were destroyed by early attempts to access their texts. Studying them has therefore always required ingenuity. In 1754, a conservator and priest at the Vatican library devised a machine for slowly unrolling them.
More recently, multispectral photography has dramatically improved their legibility. But until now, a non-invasive method that would leave the scrolls intact remained out of reach. Its development marks a significant breakthrough. McOsker notes there are 659 items in the catalogue listed as “not unrolled,” but some of these are parts of scrolls.

Sparking innovation

  • The latter are essential as a reference point (or “control”) for innovative approaches.
  • The competition’s design encouraged transparency and collaboration: data published in the pursuit of smaller goals benefited all competitors.

Text mentions music, taste, sight

  • A PhD student studying machine learning, an engineer studying computer science and a robotics student were declared
    the victors.
  • According to McOsker, the text they retrieved mentions music twice, as well as the senses of taste and sight.

Hundreds of rolls to be studied

  • With hundreds of rolls yet to be studied, the new method of recovering the contents of the Herculaneum papyri is only getting started.
  • The production of scans at sufficiently high resolution can’t be done via ordinary equipment, but requires access to a facility with a particle accelerator.
  • Via current techniques, which involve a fair bit of manual manipulation, fully segmenting one scroll would cost US$1–5 million.

Critical minds needed

  • Their role is to analyze the model’s output of legible ancient Greek — and in so doing determine which approaches are most effective.
  • It requires mastery of ancient languages and ideas as well as the puzzle-solver’s ability to fill in the inevitable gaps.
  • For the challenge truly to succeed, we’re going to need critical minds as well as whizbang technology.


C. Michael Sampson receives funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada for 'the Books of Karanis,' a project that studies fragmentary Greek literature from the Egyptian village Karanis.

Peelers Apparel Unveils Inclusive Fall/Winter 2024 Collection at LA Fashion Weekend

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火曜日, 3月 12, 2024

Revolutionizing Athletic Wear: Introducing Women's Compression Gear and Innovative Outerwear

Key Points: 
  • This revolutionary collection, premiering at LA Fashion Weekend in March 2024, introduces the brand's entrance into the realm of women's and gender nuetral compression wear and presents advanced outerwear options set to transform the athletic fashion landscape.
  • This presentation at LA Fashion Weekend exemplifies the pinnacle of LA Fashion Weekend festivities.
  • Under Peeler's creative direction, Peelers Apparel is set to challenge industry norms once again.
  • As Peelers Apparel gears up to unveil its newest creations at LA Fashion Weekend, the brand steadfastly upholds its hallmark fusion of luxury and performance, a synergy that has been pivotal to its remarkable success.

YOHO eCommerce unveils "YOHO AI Assistant" to Enhance Shopping Experience, Introduce "Best Deal Guarantee" to Train the Pricing Algorithm

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金曜日, 3月 1, 2024

To celebrate its 11th anniversary, the Group officially unveiled its AI e-commerce blueprint and launched YOHO AI Assistant, a personal AI shopping assistant on the YOHO platform, to comprehensively address customers' various shopping queries.

Key Points: 
  • To celebrate its 11th anniversary, the Group officially unveiled its AI e-commerce blueprint and launched YOHO AI Assistant, a personal AI shopping assistant on the YOHO platform, to comprehensively address customers' various shopping queries.
  • YOHO AI Assistant serves as a personal AI shopping assistant for each customer, embodying the five core objectives of personalization, professionalism, convenience, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness.
  • Consequently, we are actively engaging with leading global AI firms to research and develop applications and integrations of AI technology.
  • We are thrilled to announce the launch of the YOHO AI Assistant Beta version on 28 February, marking a pivotal milestone in the YOHO AI e-commerce blueprint.

Q&M Dental Group recorded growth in both Revenue and Net Profit after tax attributable to parent of S$182.7 million and S$11.5 million respectively for FY2023

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金曜日, 3月 1, 2024

Comparing FY2023 with FY2022, share of loss in Aoxin Q & M, decreased by S$0.5 million for the same reason give above.

Key Points: 
  • Comparing FY2023 with FY2022, share of loss in Aoxin Q & M, decreased by S$0.5 million for the same reason give above.
  • This is mainly attributable to operating cash flow before changes in working capital offset by increase on working capital.
  • As at 31 December 2023, Q & M has cash and cash equivalents of S$34.0 million and bank borrowings plus finance leases amounting to S$80.3 million.
  • Net Aset Value attributable to owners of parent is S$99.1 million as at 31 December 2023 compared to S$96.5 million a year ago, an increase of 3%.

4BIO Capital Strengthens Advisory Board and Investment Team

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月曜日, 3月 11, 2024

LONDON, 11 March 2024 – 4BIO Capital (“4BIO” or “the Group”), an international venture capital firm unlocking the treatments of the future by investing in advanced therapies and other emerging technologies, announces today the appointments of biopharmaceutical industry veteran Abbas Hussain and world-leading vectorology expert Leszek Lisowski, PhD MBA to its Advisory Board.

Key Points: 
  • LONDON, 11 March 2024 – 4BIO Capital (“4BIO” or “the Group”), an international venture capital firm unlocking the treatments of the future by investing in advanced therapies and other emerging technologies, announces today the appointments of biopharmaceutical industry veteran Abbas Hussain and world-leading vectorology expert Leszek Lisowski, PhD MBA to its Advisory Board.
  • Along with the appointment of Abbas and Leszek, 4BIO is also pleased to announce the promotion of Dr Natalie Johnston to Principal.
  • I am honoured to be joining the 4BIO Capital Advisory Board alongside such esteemed members and look forward to working closely with the entire team to support the firm’s portfolio companies and identify the disruptive companies of the future.”
    Leszek Lisowski, newly appointed Advisory Board member added: “I have watched the 4BIO Capital team’s success over the last 8 years with admiration and I am excited to support them as an Advisory Board member.
  • Fostering the development of our team is core to 4BIO’s philosophy, ensuring we have the very best talent to help drive tomorrow’s innovation.

The King Center Joins the King Family in Mourning the Loss of Naomi Barber King, wife of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr’s Late Brother

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木曜日, 3月 7, 2024

Atlanta, GA., March 07, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The King Center joins the King Family, civil rights leaders, and cultivators of the Beloved Community in mourning the loss of Naomi Barber King, the wife of the late Rev.

Key Points: 
  • Atlanta, GA., March 07, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The King Center joins the King Family, civil rights leaders, and cultivators of the Beloved Community in mourning the loss of Naomi Barber King, the wife of the late Rev.
  • Alfred Daniel Williams King, the brother of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  Naomi King passed today at age 92.
  • Naomi King was a strong supporter of The King Center’s founder, Mrs. Coretta Scott King after the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
  • She continued her work with youth at The King Center serving 10 years as a consistent panelist for Students with King.

Novacap Announces Digital Infrastructure Fund’s Strategic Partnership with INdigital

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木曜日, 3月 7, 2024

Founded in 1995 by 9 Indiana, Ohio, and Michigan local exchange telephone companies, INdigital is a leader in developing Next Generation 9-1-1 services.

Key Points: 
  • Founded in 1995 by 9 Indiana, Ohio, and Michigan local exchange telephone companies, INdigital is a leader in developing Next Generation 9-1-1 services.
  • “Novacap is proud to partner with INdigital, a leader in the essential field of Next Generation 9-1-1 services, underscoring our commitment to mission-critical technologies that enhance public safety,” said François Laflamme, Senior Partner at Novacap.
  • We are excited about the possibilities this partnership opens up for further innovation and our ability to deliver state-of-the-art, lifesaving technologies," said Mark Grady, Founder and CEO of INdigital.
  • Houlihan Lokey served as exclusive financial advisor and Dentons served as legal advisor to INdigital.

Eminence Rise Media Announces the Inclusion of a Major Painting by Kazimir Malevich in the Suprematist Catalog Raisonné

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火曜日, 3月 5, 2024

NEW YORK, NY, March 05, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Eminence Rise Media is thrilled to announce the inclusion of one of the major paintings by the famous Russian Artist, Kazimir Malevich on the front cover of the Suprematist Catalog Raisonné.

Key Points: 
  • NEW YORK, NY, March 05, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Eminence Rise Media is thrilled to announce the inclusion of one of the major paintings by the famous Russian Artist, Kazimir Malevich on the front cover of the Suprematist Catalog Raisonné.
  • The Suprematist Catalog Raisonné to be published in 2025 will feature the artworks that was looted and seized in the 1930s by the USSR government from dissident artists of the generation of Russian suprematism.
  • From 1990, after the fall of communism, the Russian Government organized the liquidation of property looted in 1930, including the works of Dissident Artists.
  • Kazimir Malevich had a profound influence on the development of non-objective, or abstract art, in the 20th century.

Snack’in For You Debuts Better-for-You Veggie Puffs at Expo West

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火曜日, 3月 5, 2024

Available in Sour Cream and Onion Cauliflower, Buffalo Ranch Cauliflower, Mesquite Barbeque Broccoli, Cheddar Jalapeno Broccoli flavor profiles.

Key Points: 
  • Available in Sour Cream and Onion Cauliflower, Buffalo Ranch Cauliflower, Mesquite Barbeque Broccoli, Cheddar Jalapeno Broccoli flavor profiles.
  • Snack’in For You veggie puffs include four grams of protein per one-ounce serving.
  • “Snack’in For You meets the consumer desire for a flavorful snack that satisfies both nutritional needs and cravings.
  • Our philosophy is to prove that health and taste can co-exist in one snack, and we look forward to introducing our boldly delicious veggie puffs to customers at Expo West and beyond,” said Steve Sklar, Division Vice President of Snacking.

Tim Lamb Group Brings Two Families Together with Sale of Foothills Lincoln Mazda in Spokane, WA

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月曜日, 3月 4, 2024

Foothills Lincoln Mazda, has been rebranded as Knudtsen Foothills Mazda and Knudtsen Foothills Lincoln, and is situated in the Foothills Auto Mall at 202 E. North Foothills Dr. in Spokane, WA.

Key Points: 
  • Foothills Lincoln Mazda, has been rebranded as Knudtsen Foothills Mazda and Knudtsen Foothills Lincoln, and is situated in the Foothills Auto Mall at 202 E. North Foothills Dr. in Spokane, WA.
  • Foothills Lincoln Mazda was founded in 1981 by Ray Kish, a graduate of Rutgers University and Stanford University.
  • Rick Rielly joined Ray approximately 10 years later as General Manager, and eventually purchased a majority stake in the dealership.
  • As a result, Foothills Lincoln Mazda occupies a huge footprint spanning 82,000 square feet and is situated on 6.8 acres of land.