bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Deep Learning Methods for Multi-Element Bias Correction in Numerical Weather Forecasts
Authors: Liu Peiting , Chen Wei , Dong Jun , Zhang Li , Pang Jin , Yang Haipeng
Published: February 2025

Modern weather forecast operations rely on numerical model predictions, and improving the accuracy of model forecasts is crucial for enhancing refined intelligent gridded forecasts. In this study, based on three deep learning models, namely Coupled U-Nets (CU-Net), Attention U-Net (Att-Unet) and Swin-Unet, the integration of meteorological factors and terrain data for modelling is conducted in the Huang-Huai River Basin and its surrounding areas by using the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts multi-element forecast data from March 2017 to April 2022. The results from the deep learning-based methods are analyzed and compared with those from the traditional Anomaly Numerical-correction with Observations (ANO) method. The results indicate that the deep learning methods exhibit more remarkable positive correction effects than the ANO method. Specifically, the Swin-Unet model performs the best in correcting 2-m temperature (T2m
) forecasts and 2-m specific humidity forecasts, while the Att-Unet model is optimal for correcting 10-m zonal wind, 10-m meridional wind and surface pressure forecasts. The credibility curves of the corrected results indicate that the correction benefits of various deep learning methods tend to be related to the different ranges of corrected elements. For example, the Att-Unet and Swin-Unet models perform the best when T2m
< 0°C and T2m
> 25°C, respectively. However, in terms of the correction for 10-m wind speed forecasts, the advantages of deep learning methods are outstanding when wind speed is less than 8 m·s−1. The CU-Net model excels in high-humidity regions. Moreover, the Swin-Unet model, which is based on a U-shaped encoder-decoder with a pure transformer, demonstrates a stronger ability to portray the details in individual correction cases, such as characterizing high-temperature regions, extreme humidity areas and local wind speed variations in the Yangtze River Basin.
The sedimentary evolution of distributive fluvial system in arid and low accommodation space sag: A case study of the lower fourth sub-member of Shahejie Formation from Bonan Sag in Zhanhua Depression, Bohai Bay Basin
Authors: Xu Qisong , Wang Yongshi , Meng Tao , Zhang Bo , Wang Hao
Published: February 2025

The distributive fluvial system (DFS) mainly dominates sedimentary process of arid zones and is quite different from fans of mild climate zones. recent researchers focused on DFSs and try to reveal development law of DFSs in arid zones. However, different time scales of research from modern DFSs, ancient DFSs and physical simulation experiment induced debates on the sedimentary character and evolution of ancient DFSs. This paper constructs sedimentary model of ancient arid DFSs in constrain with sequence stratigraphy and sag structure for providing a new way to understand the ancient DFSs in arid zones. During the period of lower fourth sub-member of Shahejie Formation (Es4x), arid climate and low accommodation space developed in Bonan Sag. That provide well natural conditions for investigating the ancient DFSs in arid zones. The unique evolution of sequence stratigraphy and distinctive sag structure constructed two type distributive fluvial system in different topography in Bonan Sag during the period of Es4x. In the gentle slope belt, the DFS transported sediments in a long distance and wide range. The DFS developed in large scale and thin sand body during the transgressive system tract (TST). As the sediment supply decreased, retrogradation and distal fan developed in the DFS during the regressive system tract (RST). The DFS of gentle slope belts shortened and narrowed during the RST stage. In the steep slope belt, more accommodation spaces generated with the high gradient. The concentration of accommodation constructed thick DFS with restricted distribution during the TST stage. During the RST stage, the sediment supply decreased and accommodation spaces became low and migrated with the evolution of sequence stratigraphy and sag structure. In response to the evolution of sediment supply and accommodation spaces, the DFS developed progradation in space with thinner sand body.
Studies on properties of coral aggregate strengthened by granulated blast furnace slag (GBFS) and concrete prepared by strengthened coral aggregates
Authors: Huang Yijie , Liu Honggang
Published: February 2025

To enhance the mechanical, durability and deformation properties of coral coarse aggregate concrete (CAC), alkali-activated granulated blast furnace slag (GBFS) paste (AGP) coated CCA is used to strengthen coral coarse aggregate (CCA). The strengthened coral aggregate concrete (SCAC) was prepared by strengthened CCA (SCCA). The influences of the strengthening parameters (molarity of sodium hydroxide (Mol) and modulus of sodium silicate (Ms) of AGP) on the microstructures and properties of SCCA and SCAC were studied by axial compression tests and scanning electron microscopy. The results showed that microstructures and properties of SCAC were greatly improved after using SCCA. Compared to CAC, the cubic compressive strength (f
cu) of SCAC increased by 23.74% on average. With the increase of Ms, the f
cu of SCAC first increased and then decreased, while the influence of Mol was negligible. The deformation properties of SCAC also varied with the change of strengthening parameters. With the increase of Ms of AGP, the peak strain (ε
o) of SCAC increased, and the maximum increase in ε
o was 28.32% in comparison to CAC. The decline of the stress-strain curve of SCAC became gentle, and its curve curvature was enhanced, which caused the energy dissipation capacity and ductility of SCAC to be 122.76% and 15.28% greater than those of CAC, respectively.
Oxygen-vacancy-abundant amorphous layer and Dual-doping strategy enabling superior electrochemical performance in Li-rich materials
Authors: Liu Deyuan
Published: February 2025

To meet the rapid development demands of high-energy Li-ion batteries, this paper presents a strategy for a Co- and Ni-free single-crystal Li-rich cathode via a high-speed temperature rise sintering method. By constructing an oxygen-vacancy-abundant amorphous layer on the surface and inducing dual-ion doping in the bulk phase, this research aims to optimize the irreversible oxygen loss, voltage decay, and poor cycling stability of single-crystal Li-rich Mn-based materials. Testing results indicate that the prepared material exhibits an initial discharge capacity of 342.1 mAh g−1 and capacity retention of 76.2% after 800 cycles, and the gas generation and voltage decay are also significantly reduced.
Numerical simulation of aluminum deoxidization in the RH process
Authors: Zhao Xinyu
Published: February 2025

Metal aluminum is usually used to deoxidize as a deoxidant in RH reactor for producing ultra-low carbon Al-killed steel. Studying the process of aluminum deoxidization is of significance for forecasting the distribution of aluminum and optimization of deoxidization duration. An inhomogeneous two-phase model is used to simulate the RH circulating process. A multicomponent equation is used to simulate the diffuse process of elements, aluminum and oxygen. The control of the source term of the component equation is used to simulate the reaction process. Then the numerical model of aluminum deoxidization for producing ultra-low carbon Al-killed steel is established. The following results are concluded: the results of the simulation are accorded with the results of actual production. So the model is authentic and veracious. When the flux of lift gas is 96 Nm3/h, the mass fraction of oxygen is exhausted to balance concentration about 200 s after aluminum is thrown into liquid steel. Then the reaction stops. The element aluminum is uniform about 500 s after aluminum is thrown into liquid steel. The maximum value of the mass fraction of aluminum decreases from 0.14% to 0.12% and the time of deoxidization decreases from 179.2 s to 149.4 s while the flux of lift gas increases from 72 Nm3/h to 120 Nm3/h.
Sterilization of escherichia coli in cotton fabric by supercritical carbon dioxide fluid
Authors: Yan Jun , Chen Yitong , Zhang Huimin , Li Hong , Liao Yongping , Du Bing , Gao Dawei
Published: February 2025

Sterilizing clothing is essential due to the health risks posed by bacteria, which thrive in fabrics. Traditional sterilization methods have limitations, making supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2) an innovative alternative. This technology effectively inactivates microorganisms at lower temperatures and moderate pressures without generating waste. Using first-order inactivation kinetics, results show that increased temperature and pressure lead to higher E. coli mortality rates. The stages of the deactivation process can be divided into two stages: a rapid phase lasting 1 to 15 minutes, followed by a slower phase after 15 minutes. Performance tests reveal that scCO2-treated cotton fibers exhibit greater surface roughness, fracture strength, and elongation, though their structure becomes denser and permeability decreases. Under optimal conditions of 50°C, 12 MPa pressure, and 25 minutes, the inactivation logarithm reaches 6.7 orders of magnitude, suggesting a promising new method for fabric sterilization.
Quantitative analysis of slurry cement powder injection based on microwave plasma torch
Authors: Zhu Zongjun , Wei Haoze , Yu Dengjie , Jin Wei , Yu Bingwen
Published: February 2025

The elements of Mg, Al, Ca, and Si in cement were quantitatively analyzed by slurry powder injection microwave plasma torch emission spectrometry (MPT-OES). Through the comparative test of powders with different particle sizes, 40 μm powder was selected to configure 0.05% m/v slurry, and 0.01% m/v glycerol + 1% v/v HCl was selected as a dispersant. Based on the principle of the Babington nebulizer, a slurry nebulizer with a good atomization effect was designed and fabricated to meet the experimental conditions, and the atomization efficiency was 3.28%. The slurry was stabilized by ultrasonic shaking for 20 min before injection, and the MPT light source was introduced through the nebulization chamber through a peristaltic pump (0.2 mL/min). The oxygen shielding gas was 1.2 L/min, the argon maintenance gas was 0.6 L/min, and the argon carrier gas was 0.2 L/min. The mass concentrations of Mg, Al, Ca, and Si were 2.85∼10.92, 17.96∼34.76, 192.11∼211.00, and 9.38∼54.81 μg/mL, respectively, and the intensity in the concentration range was linear. The linear correlation coefficients were greater than 0.997, and the relative standard deviations were 1.14%-4.56% (n=50). The results show that this method has a good detection effect under different powers, and has a good application prospect in the online detection of solid powders.
Mixed adsorption characteristics of magnetic calcium silicate for Pb(II), Cd(II), and Cr(III) in solution
Authors: Han Jianfeng , Chen Xiaoping
Published: February 2025

Adsorption methods have been widely employed for heavy metal wastewater treatment, yet traditional adsorbents pose challenges in terms of recovery. Magnetic adsorbent materials have garnered attention due to their ease of recovery and reuse. However, studies on their simultaneous adsorption of multiple heavy metal ions are limited. In this study, a magnetic mesoporous calcium silicate adsorbent (Fe3O4@MCS) was synthesized via an improved solvothermal and chemical precipitation method and applied to treat simulated wastewater containing Pb, Cd, and Cr ions. The adsorption capability of Fe3O4@MCS was assessed in a series of batch studies under a range of circumstances, including adsorbent dosage, pH, temperature, oscillation intensity, contact time, and initial metal concentration. The results demonstrated that Fe3O4@MCS exhibited excellent adsorption capacities for Pb, Cd, and Cr. Enhancements in adsorbent dosage, pH, temperature, and oscillation intensity improved the adsorption performance. After five cycles, the removal percentages of Pb2+, Cd2+, and Cr3+ decreased by 21.48%, 13.56%, and 23.54%, respectively. The adsorption mechanisms were found to include surface precipitation, surface complexation, physical adsorption, and ion exchange.
Research on the synthesis and properties of EPEG high water reducing polycarboxylate superplasticizer at room temperature
Authors: Yang Xianxian
Published: February 2025

A highly water reducing polycarboxylate superplasticizer was prepared at room temperature using ethylene glycol monovinyl polyethylene glycol ether (EPEG, content of 60%), acrylic acid (AA), hydroxyethyl acrylate (HEA), and multiple esters as the main synthetic materials, under the action of initiators and based on the principle of the free radical polymerization reaction. The influence of different synthetic factors on the dispersibility of polycarboxylate superplasticizers was studied through orthogonal experimental analysis and single-factor adjustment. The results showed that the optimal synthesis process was as follows: the acid ether ratio was 2.2, and the amounts of reducing agent, hydrogen peroxide, and mercaptoethanol were 0.07%, 0.55%, and 0.24% of the amount of EPEG, respectively. The synthesis temperature was controlled within the range of 25°C to 35°C. At this time, the synthesized polycarboxylate superplasticizer had a better water reduction rate and slump retention performance.
Bactericidal properties of magnesium hydroxide nanodispersions and intelligent feedback platforms
Authors: Cao Chang , Dun Linan
Published: February 2025

In this study, 3-(Trimethoxysilyl) propyl methacrylate was used as a modifier for surface modification of magnesium hydroxide to prepare magnesium hydroxide nanodispersions. Among them, the magnesium in magnesium hydroxide comes from the brine of the Charkhan Salt Lake. Magnesium hydroxide nanodispersions are well dispersed in water, and the UV transmittance of aqueous nanodispersions with a powder mass ratio of 10 wt% can reach more than 60%. Aqueous-phase magnesium hydroxide nanodispersions were used for the preparation of a bactericidal solution, which had a good scavenging effect on Escherichia coli, providing a new idea for the application of magnesium hydroxide in the field of bactericides.
Glucose assisted preparation of Cu/ZnO/Al2O3 catalyst for the synthesis of neopentyl glycol
Authors: Zhu Wanbang , Liu Hui , Wei Bing , Wang Fang
Published: February 2025

The preparation of ternary Cu/ZnO/Al2O3 catalysts with different gradients of glucose mass fraction was carried out using a distributed and concurrent precipitation method. The catalytic promotion effect on the hydrogenation synthesis of neopentyl glycol (NPG) from hydroxypropionaldehyde (HPA) was analyzed and characterized. It was found that adding a certain amount of glucose to the catalyst preparation process can enhance the distribution of surface-reduced copper, increase the amount of active Cu+, and improve the Cu+/Cu0 ratio. Evaluation results demonstrated that the glucose-modified catalyst has a promoting effect on the conversion of HPA to NPG.
LaAl11.76-x-y(NixTiy)O19 (x,y=0.2-0.8) microwave dielectric ceramics exhibit τf nearly zero
Authors: Jiang Mian , He Hua , Huang Chuyun
Published: February 2025

The development of mobile communication technology urgently needs microwave dielectric ceramic materials with high-temperature stability. Herein, LaAl11.76-x-y(Ni
x
Ti
y
)O19 (LANT, x,y=0.2-0.8) ceramic samples were produced using the solid-state reaction technique. The experimental results show that after sintering at 1300 °C for 2 h, the excellent microwave dielectric properties are gained at x=0.4 and y=0.6, εr=18.1, Q×f=23677 GHz, and τf=+0.15 ppm/°C. The εr and Q×f values first rise and then diminish as the amount increases x due to the change in the structural stability of the material and the symmetric tensile pattern of the Al/NiTi-O bond. It is speculated that the addition of [Ni
x
Ti
y
]3+ increases the inclination angle of the Oxygen octahedron, and thus promotes the orientation of τf to zero. This work verifies the great potential of LANT (x,y=0.2-0.8) ceramics in improving the temperature stability of microwave devices.
In situ fabrication of solid-state carbon dots for random lasers
Authors: Wu Zefeng , Zhang Wenfei , Zhang Shaofeng , Yao Xin , Lin Ye , Chen Zhenhui
Published: February 2025

Random microlasers with convenient laser cavities preparation are vital for various photonic applications. In addition, the method of in situ fabricating carbon dots utilizes the structures of precursors hindering aggregation-caused quenching and provides high CD yield with easy-to-design random laser cavities. Inspired by the above, a facile solvothermal route was reported for the in situ controllable synthesis of blue-emitting solid-state carbon dots (CDs with TEOS) with the addition of tetraethoxysilane (TEOS). The fluorescence spectrum of CDs with TOES ranges from 390-650 nm. The carbon dots (CDs without TEOS) without TEOS addition are similar to those with TEOS possessing the same fluorescence spectrum range. What’s more, the emission intensity of CDs with TEOS can be enhanced 37 times than that without TEOS, and the PL lifetimes of CDs with TEOS and CDs without TEOS are 1.23 ns and 7.26 ns, respectively. As a result, CDs with TEOS were employed to gain materials realizing blue emissive random lasers with a threshold of about 17 mJ/cm2 due to their intense emission.
Thermal runaway hazards of Lithium-Ion batteries in enclosed spaces
Authors: Liang Xiaoqiang , Liu Na , Zhang Kun , Tian Jun , Sun Wenhao , Tian Cuijun , Hu Daozhong , Tong Lei , Gao Hongbo
Published: February 2025

Lithium-ion batteries, celebrated for their high voltage, durability, and cleanliness, are the cornerstone of today’s new energy field. Their thermal stability in confined, explosion-proof settings is crucial for high-risk industries like military and mining, directly impacting worker safety and equipment reliability. Insight into thermal runaway triggers and progression is vital for crafting preventive strategies and enhancing battery system safety. This research, involving thermal runaway tests on three lithium-ion batteries in an explosion-proof enclosure, shows that while the enclosure doesn’t halt runaway, it can lower temperatures, especially peak temperatures, easing the runaway’s impact. Moreover, the batteries’ differing stability levels lead to varied outcomes in these tests, underscoring the importance of battery design in critical applications.
In-situ modification of nickel nanoparticles based on laser-induced graphene and their electromagnetic Properties regulation
Authors: Ge Hu , Gao Daming
Published: February 2025

The investigation of flexible and high-performance materials for shielding against electromagnetic interference (EMI) has consistently remained a prominent subject in the realm of electromagnetic protection. In this study, a porous graphene/nickel nanoparticle (Ni NPs) composite (LIG/Ni) with in-situ modification was fabricated via secondary laser-induced graphene (LIG). The concentration of the NiSO4·6H2O solution could be adjusted to modify the size and amount of the Ni NPs, which would adapt the electromagnetic characteristics of the composite material. The results demonstrate that when the concentration of NiSO4·6H2O is 0.4 mol/L, the composite material exhibits a conductivity 3.6 times that of LIG, a saturated magnetization strength 23.2 times that of LIG, and delivers an impressive 56.33 dB shielding effectiveness (SE) in the X-band. Furthermore, even after 1000 bending cycles, it retained 82.23% of its SE. The proposed secondary laser scanning method in an inert atmosphere holds promising application prospects for efficient and rapid large-scale production of flexible electromagnetic shielding materials. It is foreseeable that by altering the precursor solution and the laser scanning environment, this technique could be further expanded to achieve rapid in situ doping of various metals or metal oxides within graphene.
Analysis of thermal and mechanical properties of transparent nylon modified PA66/GF system
Authors: Tian Enyong , Zhang Lin , Wang Junjie , Mao Qiang
Published: February 2025

PA66 was selected as the reaction matrix for preparing the modified composite system. Nylon 66 was modified using GF and maleic anhydride grafted polypropylene copolymer. Based on compatibilization and blending technology, a PA66/GF modified composite system was prepared by combining toughening agents and compatibilizers. The specific effects of different transparent nylon contents on the thermal and mechanical properties of the composite system were tested and analyzed using sample testing methods. The experimental results show that adding 30% transparent nylon to the modified composite blend system can significantly improve the system’s overall performance. Specifically, the mass fraction of the composite material can be increased by 30% to 40%, with the best melting point performance. The crystallization temperature increased by 81.4°C compared to the sample without transparent nylon and the highest tensile strength. The notch impact strength of the material reaches 8.4kJ · m-2. Compared with the EPDM modification method, this article’s melting behavior and tensile strength are better, indicating that the research method can further optimize the comprehensive performance of composite materials.
Community engagement with engineering to address the environmental and public health impacts of a fertilizer fire.
Authors: Young Kyana R L , Dixon Crystal T , Johnson Amarie , Shukla Aryaman
Published: February 2025

On February 1, 2022, 600 tons of ammonium nitrate (NH4NO3), at the Winston Weaver Company in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, ignited and caught fire. Surrounding homes and businesses, within a 1-mile radius, were evacuated while the fertilizer burned for two days. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) conducted air quality assessments for ammonia (NH3) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2). USEPA detected levels of NH3 at 45 -151 ppm (USEPA Action Level is 30 ppm) and NO2 of 0.700 – 5.200 ppm (USEPA Action Level is 0.500 ppm), during Day 2 and Day 3 of the fire. Following the extinguishing of the fire, ambient air levels were documented as safe (below action levels) by the USEPA. Members of the Piney Grove Neighborhood – a historic African American community, located 0.4 miles from the now defunct Winston Weaver Company – were concerned about the long-term health impacts of exposure to the chemicals from the fire. At the request of the community, researchers from Wake Forest University conducted soil quality tests (nutrients and heavy metals). Results from the soil heavy metals test showed that the highest concentrations of arsenic (4.9 mg/kg), cadmium (0.76 mg/kg), copper (51.1 mg/kg), and lead were below the World Health Organization (WHO) action levels of arsenic (20 mg/kg), cadmium (12 mg/kg), copper (100 mg/kg), lead (300 mg/kg). However, the concentrations of nickel (19.3 mg/kg) and zinc (289.9 mg/kg) were close to the WHO action levels of 36 mg/kg and 300 mg/kg, respectively. The concentrations of nutrients were, notably, within acceptable ranges of highest concentrations at nitrate (2.93 mg/L), ammonia (2.63 mg/L), and phosphorus (997.5 mg/kg). There is a need to document the longitudinal environmental assessment with the community. Thus, the WFU researchers and the Piney Grove community are in agreement for annual testing and communication of data directly to residents.
Development and validation using of artificial intelligence algorithms for tool wear forecasting in the CNC turning process of 7075 Al alloy with tungsten carbide tool
Authors: Gabsi Abd El Hedi , BOUAJILA Sofiane
Published: February 2025

This paper investigates the application of Gradient Boosting Model (GBM), Gaussian Process (GP), and Decision Tree (DT) algorithms to analyze and predict the progression of crater tool wear (CTW) in CNC turning processes. Experiments were conducted using tungsten carbide cutting tools on 7075 aluminum alloy, focusing on the effects of corner radius, cutting speed, depth of cut, and feed rate on tool crater wear. CTW measurements were obtained using an optical microscope. A total of 45 experiments were performed, with 36 used to train the models and the remaining 9 for evaluation. Additionally, a validation experiment was carried out under different cutting conditions to assess the accuracy of the selected model. The novelty of this study lies in its results, which outperform previous literature, and it is the first to evaluate three distinct AI models in the context of tool wear analysis. The findings show that the GBM model provided the most accurate predictions, with performance indices of R2=0.986R2=0.986, RAE=0.015RAE=0.015, MAE=0.004MAE=0.004, RMSE=0.065RMSE=0.065, and RSE=0.046RSE=0.046, and an average difference of 5.02% between the predicted and actual CTW values. These forecasts can help manufacturing companies prevent tool failure, boost productivity, and optimize costs by balancing cycle time with tool adjustment and replacement expenses.
Towards the creation of an inverse electron distribution function in two-chamber inductively coupled plasma discharges
Authors: Wang Ying , Chen Nie , Yao Jingfeng , Bogdanov Evgeniy , Kudryavtsev Anatoly , Yuan Chengxun , Zhou Zhongxiang
Published: February 2025

The work continues the studies on searching for plasma media with inverse electron energy distribution function (EEDF) and providing recommendations for setting up subsequent experiments. The inverse EEDF is a distribution function that increases with increasing the energy at zero electron energy. The inverse EEDF plays a central role in the problem of negative conductivity. Based on the previously obtained criterion for the formation of an inverse EEDF in a spatially inhomogeneous plasma, a heuristic method is proposed that allows one to avoid resource-intensive calculations for spatially two-dimensional (2D) kinetic modeling on a large array of different glow discharges. It is shown that the conditions for EEDF inversion can be realized in two-chamber discharge structures due to violating the known Boltzmann distribution for electron density. The theoretical conclusions are validated by numerical modeling of low-pressure two-chamber inductively coupled plasma (ICP) discharges in the COMSOL Multiphysics environment. As a result, areas of conditions with inverse EEDF were found for subsequent detailed kinetic analysis and experimental studies.
The Story of Mary of Bethany
Authors: Stump Eleonore
Published: February 2025

Mary of Bethany is an exemplar of a person who suffers shame and heartbreak, if the story of the raising of Lazarus, in which she and her sister Martha figure largely, is understood in a certain way. This chapter focuses on the problem of suffering in connection with shame, desires of the heart, and heartbreak. The chapter concentrates on the narrative of the anointing of Jesus by Mary of Bethany in the Gospel of John, and on the narrative of the anointing of Jesus by an anonymous sinful woman in the Gospel of Luke. It also discusses methodological issues in connection with philosophical examination of Gospel narratives. It shows the way in which, in the narratives, suffering is redeemed in second-personal relationship.
Normalization and standardization
Authors: Coulmas Florian
Published: February 2025

Affording a language special status raises the question of how it differs or should be distinguished from others. One important aspect in this regard that is dealt with in this chapter is setting and promoting a standard, that is, a human-made norm. Likening standard grammars and legal codes is more than a fleeting allegory. Both distinguish right from wrong and are designed to regulate human behaviour. Accordingly, rather than as natural species—a metaphor that has a long tradition in general linguistics, but also plays a role among nativists—language is here conceptualized as an artefact. Language standardization is recognized as an important language policy aim. Generally, this means studying and regulating writing rather than speech, since for any sizeable population it is much more feasible to implement standards of written than of spoken language. This chapter looks at how three European models of language standardization that share much of their tradition, French, English, and German, differ from one that was developed more recently in a very different cultural context, Indonesia.
Language ideologies
Authors: Coulmas Florian
Published: February 2025

Language ideologies are highly complex conceptual systems that reflect the instrumentalization of language for various purposes, the relationship between different speech communities, as well as the interaction of language and other artefacts, notably nation, religion, and race. A key property of such ideologies is to mark dividing lines of inclusion and exclusion. Accordingly, linguistic nationalism, purism, and linguistic imperialism are prominent language ideologies to be examined in this chapter on the basis of examples from Turkey, Greece (Katharevousa), France, and the US, among others. Religion as an instrument of proselytizing and a driving force of language-spread policies is also examined here. Proselytizing book religions have exercised a deep influence on the spread of languages, if only because they have been instrumental in the promotion of literacy. Different patterns of linking faith and language are expounded in this chapter, which also demonstrates where language policy is still informed by religious conventions and edicts.
Anti-discrimination policies
Authors: Coulmas Florian
Published: February 2025

Many states have anti-discrimination laws designed to ensure that people are not excluded or otherwise discriminated against on the basis of race, colour, national origin, age, religion, disability, sex, gender identity, language, or other classifications. Over the past half century, the implications of such laws for language policy have garnered much scholarly and societal attention. Feminist sociolinguists were in the vanguard of public campaigns against overt and covert discrimination in language use. Gender-neutral, anti-racist, and anti-xenophobic movements followed. Taking the French discussion about the new gender-neutral pronoun iel as point of departure, this chapter examines how the interaction of language structure and social attitudes influences anti-discrimination policies and how, as a result, they differ from country to country, as testified, among others, by the controversies about ‘political correctness’ sparked in the United States. By way of conclusion, the chapter discusses the difficulties of language policy efficiency checks on macro and micro levels.
Careers for Your Daughters
Authors: Taylor James
Published: February 2025

Chapter 4 documents growing openings for women in finance, focusing on a cohort of eleven women stockbrokers active in the interwar years. As in other fields, new opportunities were presented by the demands of the First World War, opportunities which did not entirely disappear after the war’s end. Unlike the period before 1914, when women stockbrokers were mostly active in London, they became more prominent across the country, especially in small to medium-sized towns without stock exchanges. Though several got into stockbroking through family firms, others started as clerks, acquiring skills and experience that equipped them to establish their own businesses. The chapter explores how these women’s careers developed, and the broader cultural context in which they operated. Traditional attitudes to women and finance died hard, though the ‘feminization’ of the interwar press meant that newspapers did publicize women’s achievements as stockbrokers. Though women operated in the same commercial environment, ran similar businesses, and faced the same risks as male stockbrokers, gender was an important element shaping women stockbrokers’ professional identities, encouraged by the new business and professional networks for women that were developing in the 1920s and 1930s.
Angels in the House
Authors: Taylor James
Published: February 2025

Chapter 5 argues that whereas women’s membership of stock exchanges was largely regarded as implausible before 1914, it became a serious prospect in the interwar years. In the context of political enfranchisement and legislation against sex discrimination in 1918–19, and buoyed by support from women’s organizations and the press, more women were willing to apply for membership, forcing stock exchanges to define and justify their exclusionary policies. The chapter identifies differing outcomes in Ireland and the United Kingdom: while Oonah Keogh successfully joined the Dublin Stock Exchange in 1925, attempts by women to join the London and Bradford Stock Exchanges were rejected. This is largely because Dublin was a chartered body, whereas British stock exchanges were unincorporated and therefore outside the scope of the Sex Disqualification (Removal) Act of 1919. Obliged to continue operating outside the stock exchanges, women stockbrokers faced a new threat in the mid-1930s with the prospect of a legislative clampdown on the activities of outside brokers. The chapter explores the implications for women stockbrokers of a parliamentary inquiry and subsequent legislation. It concludes by examining the impact of the Second World War on women in finance, and the limits to the new opportunities that emerged.
Thirteen Forms of Ordinary Manipulation
Authors: Noggle Robert
Published: February 2025

This chapter explores the diversity of influences that seem like clear cases of manipulation. This will provide an initial data set of paradigm examples of manipulation, which we can use to build and test theories about the nature of manipulation. Since the topic of this book is ordinary manipulation as it occurs in real life, the examples come from real life or psychologically realistic fiction. They are: playing on the emotions, misdirection and “misemphasis” (distorted emphasis), gaslighting, game switching (tricking someone into following the wrong norms for the situation), social proof, peer pressure, emotional blackmail, nagging, charm offensives, exploiting conflict aversion, exploiting reciprocity, negging, and conditional flattery. The chapter also discusses the fact that some forms of influence, such as emotional appeals, can be used in ways that seem clearly manipulative, as well as in ways that seem clearly not manipulative.
The Psychology of Manipulation
Authors: Noggle Robert
Published: February 2025

This chapter discusses psychological mechanisms that contribute to the mistakes that manipulators induce targets to make. It begins with a sketch of a simple model of decision and action. Next, it discusses how limits on time and information create challenges for decision-making. Because of these limits, most decision-making relies on a combination of fast, unconscious processes that identify promising courses of action, and slower, conscious processes that select among them. This is the basic insight of dual process theories of decision-making. Adding the findings and insights from these theories to the sketch of decision-making helps us see a variety of ways that manipulation works. The chapter concludes with a discussion of several cognitive and decision-making biases that facilitate manipulation. These include the availability heuristic; framing effects; the status quo bias; the immediacy bias; and biases toward social conformity and against conflict.
Praying Alone
Authors: Barylo William
Published: February 2025

Although Muslim presence in the UK has been recorded as far back as the sixteenth century, few British Muslims know about how through artistic interventions, or the creation of solidarity, Muslims have shaped Great Britain. Many experiment with the creative disruption of institutions and networks, despite enduring glass ceilings. Through archival work and guided tours on red double-deckers, some initiatives have started excavating local stories, organizing film clubs and other events to uncover the work, impact, and heritage of Muslims in Europe and America just two generations ago. However, intra-community divisions make many doubt the existence of a united global ummah (Muslim community) or the possibility of a British Islam.
I Was Just Following the Trend
Authors: Barylo William
Published: February 2025

Social media celebrities in the era of metacolonialism are impostors. Social chameleons, they absorb trends like sponges, commodify their body, culture, faith, identity, and moral principles for the sake of an illusory access to fame, wealth, and power. ‘Fake it until you make it’ suggests chasing brand deals from companies with poor work ethics and human rights records, and promoting products manufactured in labour camps. The Muslim Ummah is drinking its own blood and the oppressed of yesterday becomes the today’s oppressors. Even humanitarian charities copy the looks and behaviours of the colonizer, turning missionary businesses into for-profit, provoking a wake of scandals. However, whether it is through Islamic pop-art, community open-mics or Muslim Futurism, there are Muslim artists using visual arts not only as a novel form of expression for their spirituality but also as ways to subvert and contest contemporary dominant values and send strong political messages.
Western Europe
Authors: Churchill Robin
Published: February 2025

This chapter considers the influence of Western European culture on the development of the law of the sea, focusing on the period between the early sixteenth century—when a recognizably modern system of states began to emerge in Western Europe—and the Hague Codification Conference of 1930. During this period, Western European nations played a dominant role in world affairs because of colonialism and their economic and military power. The chapter argues that there is a common culture in Western Europe, which has its roots in ancient Greek civilization, the Roman Empire, and Christianity. The principal features of that culture include a strong belief in the importance of law and good administration; a profound interest in science; and, until very recently, a widespread belief in the racial superiority of Europeans. The chapter identifies the influence of those features on the law of the sea. It discusses in turn European influence on codification of the law of the sea; the great debates in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries between Grotius and other writers over the legal status of the sea; European influence on the role of science in the law of the sea; and the influence of capitalism, as seen, for instance, in the laissez-faire regime of the high seas that prevailed until the late twentieth century and the 1994 revisions to the regime of the International Seabed Area. Lastly, the chapter considers the influence of two Western European languages, English and French, on diplomacy, literature, and legal concepts relating to the law of the sea.
Russia
Authors: Skaridov Alexander S
Published: February 2025

The Russian style of rulemaking has formed over many centuries, passing through several formative stages and historical experiences of Christianity and cultural contributions associated with a multi-ethnic State. The system has its inception in Roman law, combined with traditional values transmitted through history and shaped by the definitive role that the Orthodox faith played in the life of the Russian person. Soon after the advent of a Russian fleet of notoriety in the early 1700s, the first systemized regulations on maritime transportation of goods were imported from Germany and Holland. The legal culture of eighteenth-century Russia was influenced by the infatuation of the tsar’s entire court with all things Western. However, the individualism inherent in the Western European consciousness was in stark collision with the Russian concept of sobornost, or unity within the organic fellowship of the Orthodox Church, as opposed to the individualism in the Protestant ethic and the juridical authority in the Catholic tradition. This idea incorporates a sense that decisions are taken by conducting a general ‘people’s survey’ or plebiscite prior to making important regulatory decisions. A ‘healthy pragmatism’ shaped the Soviet culture of legal objectivism in relations with the Western countries throughout the nascent era of Soviet Russia and continues to this day. Hardly anything can be considered a more genuine part of the Russian culture than its ability to endure in challenging times.
East Asia
Authors: Lee Seokwoo
Published: February 2025

As maritime societies flourished along the shores of East Asia, they cultivated a profound connection with the seas, shaping their collective identity and influencing their approach to governance. The cultural heritage of East Asia, encompassing philosophical beliefs, ancient maritime traditions, and profound reverence for the natural world, has left an indelible mark on the development and evolution of the law of the sea. The law of the sea, a pivotal framework governing the rights and responsibilities of nations over oceanic spaces, has emerged as a reflection of diverse cultural narratives and historical experiences. Within this context, East Asia stands as an exceptional case study, where cultural values and traditions have intricately intertwined with modern legal principles, crafting a unique maritime legal landscape. Embodied in the cultural fabric of East Asia lies Confucianism, a philosophical system emphasizing respect for authority and the pursuit of harmony within hierarchical relationships. The East Asian approach to the law of the sea is shaped by a combination of national interests, political constraints, and cultural influences. Economic, security, and territorial concerns drive national interests, while domestic and international political factors play a significant role. Additionally, the region’s historical cultural interactions contribute to its distinct maritime practices. Understanding these multifaceted dynamics is crucial to grasping the East Asian perspective on the law of the sea.
South America
Authors: Teresa Infante María
Published: February 2025

Latin American cultural influences are generally of Western origin with deep elements of Native American and African culture. The colonial experience and legacy of intervention by European states and the United States have influenced the perceptions of security and independence that are expressed in economic and military norms towards the sea. Since World War II, significant developments in Latin America have participated in the global trajectory of the law of the sea. The concerted efforts by the Latin American countries to develop law of the sea institutions and to establish them in practice prompted a search for negotiations at a global scale. Latin American countries are fully immersed in the technical and legal processes of delineating extended continental shelves. On the other hand, Latin American countries and Caribbean states have renewed the historic dialogue over the extent of ocean sovereignty and sovereign rights, adding in emerging notions or models, such as shared or common spaces. These views also reflect the interconnection between the environmental agenda and the law of the sea. Moreover, Latin American nations have aimed to join other states and regions around a conception of global oceans governance. This shift towards a global approach is underscored by the enthusiasm with which Latin American and Caribbean states embraced the negotiations on the 2023 High Seas Biodiversity Treaty.
Quebec French Version of the Hayling Sentence Completion Test: Error Scoring Guidelines, Normative Data for Adults and the Elderly and Validation Study in Mild Cognitive Impairment and Alzheimer’s Disease
Authors: Macoir Joël , Lapierre Véronick , Brouillard Marie-Michelle , Verreault Phylicia , Landry Mariane , Hudon Carol
Published: February 2025

Introduction

Deficits in inhibition have been associated with various clinical conditions, including neurodegenerative diseases. The Hayling Sentence Completion Test (HSCT) is an assessment tool commonly used in clinical settings to measure verbal initiation and prepotent verbal response inhibition. Although it is used by numerous clinical and research groups in Quebec, normative data for the HSCT are not yet available for French-Quebec speakers.

Objectives

The aims of this study were to provide error scoring guidelines and normative data in the adult population of French Quebec for the HSCT-QC (Study 1) and to determine its known-group discriminant validity (Study 2).

Results

The results of Study 1, based on a sample of 214 healthy individuals aged 50 to 89, indicated that age significantly affected test performance, while educational level and sex did not. As no transformations were able to normalize the score distribution, percentile ranks for HSCT-QC performance were calculated solely based on age. Results from Study 2 demonstrated that the HSCT-QC effectively distinguishes the performance of healthy participants from those with mild cognitive impairment or Alzheimer’s disease.

Conclusion

Norms and psychometric data for the HSCT-QC will be highly beneficial for assessing inhibitory control in French-speaking adults in Quebec, Canada.
iDOMO: identification of drug combinations via multi-set operations for treating diseases
Authors: Zhou Xianxiao , Wu Ling , Wang Minghui , Wu Guojun , Zhang Bin
Published: February 2025

Combination therapy has become increasingly important for treating complex diseases which often involve multiple pathways and targets. However, experimental screening of drug combinations is costly and time-consuming. The availability of large-scale transcriptomic datasets (e.g. CMap and LINCS) from in vitro drug treatment experiments makes it possible to computationally predict drug combinations with synergistic effects. Towards this end, we developed a computational approach, termed Identification of Drug Combinations via Multi-Set Operations (iDOMO), to predict drug synergy based on multi-set operations of drug and disease gene signatures. iDOMO quantifies the synergistic effect of a pair of drugs by taking into account the combination’s beneficial and detrimental effects on treating a disease. We evaluated iDOMO, in a DREAM Challenge dataset with the matched, pre- and post-treatment gene expression data and cell viability information. We further evaluated the performance of iDOMO by concordance index and Spearman correlation on predicting the Highest Single Agency (HSA) synergy scores for four most common cancer types in two large-scale drug combination databases, showing that iDOMO  significantly outperformed two existing popular drug combination approaches including the Therapeutic Score and the SynergySeq Orthogonality Score. Application of iDOMO to triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) identified drug pairs with potential synergistic effects, with the combination of trifluridine and monobenzone being the most synergistic. Our in vitro experiments confirmed that the top predicted drug combination exerted a significant synergistic effect in inhibiting TNBC cell growth. In summary, iDOMO is an effective method for the in silico screening of synergistic drug combinations and will be a valuable tool for the development of novel therapeutics for complex diseases.