bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Perspectives of business stakeholders about EMI in Turkiye
Authors: Yuksel Dogan , Altay Mehmet
Published: December 2023

EMI programmes have grown exponentially in various parts of the world. While the reasons for the growth in EMI
programmes have been commonly discussed, the consequences or outcomes of EMI studies did not attract too much attention. Moreover,
various stakeholders of EMI, such as students, lecturers, parents and administrators, have been examined, but the stakeholders in
industry have received less consideration. Motivated by the necessity for a deeper investigation of the business stakeholders’
opinions about EMI, this study examined the perspectives of business stakeholders about EMI programmes and their graduates in
Turkiye. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 12 company managers and 12 human resources (HR) supervisors from a range
of large, medium and small companies. Our findings revealed that recruiters perceived obtaining a degree from an English-taught
programme as an important aspect of human capital taken together with other factors such as prior working experience, certificates
and/or further training. Nevertheless, company managers and HR supervisors occasionally had different perspectives regarding EMI
graduates’ English proficiency levels, which might be a sign of these stakeholders’ different perceptions towards EMI graduates
and their language proficiency.
Conventional metaphors in English as a lingua franca
Authors: Alejo-González Rafael
Published: December 2023

In the present article, I study the language used in three English as a Medium of Instruction (EMI) digital
marketing seminars, in which the tutor and other participants gave feedback about the ‘pitches’, (i.e., short marketing speeches),
presented by students in the same session. As this activity involved making reference to what students said in their ‘pitches’,
the seminars provide ample evidence for the metaphorical construction of speech activity by the participants in the
seminars. The analysis shows that these ELF speakers mostly adopted pre-existing and conventionalised metaphorical models used in
English and that they do not attempt to incorporate other source domains, except for one, which I have labelled
storytelling, as it associates pitch delivery with telling a story. However, at the level of linguistic metaphors
used, greater use of unconventional metaphors can be found, although mostly adapted to and consistent with the conceptual models
identified. In general terms, metaphor innovation in this English as a Lingua Franca context seems to be ‘norm following’ rather
than ‘norm transcending’.
Unexploited economic and environmental benefits from cultivated forages in Zambia
Authors: Mwendia Solomon , Dey Bhramar , Makkar Harinder , Notenbaert An , Ngoma Noah , Peters Michael
Published: December 2023

Livestock production is critical for improved food and nutrition security, sustainability of ecosystems, and resilience. Zambia, like many countries in sub-Saharan Africa, aspires to increase livestock’s contribution to the Gross Domestic Product and generate economic opportunities. Global environmental change, however, and the potential of ruminant production to exacerbate it, requires the implementation of innovative and pragmatic technologies for mitigation of and adaptation to the adverse effects of environmental change. Feeding of quality cultivated forages is one of the improved options to address such challenges, especially with dismal cultivation in the country. Cultivated forages provide multiple benefits including an increase in livestock productivity and soil health and reduced greenhouse gas emission intensity. In this study, the seed requirement of promising forage crops to offset the current ruminant roughage gap is estimated. The nutritional and economic benefits of including forages in beef and dairy rations, and associated projected greenhouse gas abatement, are presented. Consequently, the study proposes contextualized business models in Zambia based on both demand-pull factors and supply-push technologies. Zambia is land-linked with eight neighboring countries, and a member of both the Southern African Development Community and the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa trade blocks. Therefore, Zambia could produce forage seeds for domestic use as well as the regional market. In addition, it can be a hub for feed production for drier neighboring countries and locations with good livestock production, thereby benefiting the whole region.
A measurement equivalence study of English and Spanish versions of the Family Bondedness Scale
Authors: Nugent William R. , Daugherty Linda , Moulick Aritra
Published: December 2023

The purpose of the current research was to translate the Family Bondedness Scale (FBS), a recently developed scale for measuring the extent to which pet owners are emotionally bonded with their pets in a manner commensurate with their emotional bondedness with human family members, into Spanish and test the measurement equivalence, or measurement invariance, of scores from the English and Spanish versions. This study was intended to address the need for Spanish versions of human-animal interaction (HAI) and human-animal bond (HAB) measures given the rapid increase in Latinx pet owning families in the United States. The FBS was first translated from English to Spanish using the back translation method. A measurement equivalence study was then conducted. A total of 732 responses on the FBS were obtained, 511 on the English version and 221 on the Spanish version. Readability analyses suggested both versions require a second grade reading level. Multi-Group Confirmatory Factor Analyses, with and without covariates, were used to test for three forms of measurement equivalence: configural, metric, and scalar. Results were consistent with full configural and full metric invariance, and with partial scalar invariance. The results suggested the item intercepts of seven FBS items were not the same for the two versions. Further analyses suggested the practical importance of the lack of full scalar invariance of these seven items was minimal. Results were also consistent with the equivalence of reliabilities of scores on the two versions. These findings support the use of the Spanish version of the FBS in HAI and HAB research. The results also have implications for future research on the Spanish version of the FBS.
Three-Wave Mixing of Dipole Solitons in One-Dimensional Quasi-Phase-Matched Nonlinear Crystals
Authors: Guo 郭 Yuxin 宇欣 , Xu 徐 Xiaoxi 晓喜 , Chen 陈 Zhaopin 招拼 , Zhou 周 Yangui 延桂 , Liu 刘 Bin 彬 , He 和 Hexiang 河向 , Li 黎 Yongyao 永耀 , Xie 谢 Jianing 嘉宁
Published: December 2023

A quasi-phase-matched technique is introduced for soliton transmission in a quadratic [χ
(2)] nonlinear crystal to realize the stable transmission of dipole solitons in a one-dimensional space under three-wave mixing. We report four types of solitons as dipole solitons with distances between their bimodal peaks that can be laid out in different stripes. We study three cases of these solitons: spaced three stripes apart, one stripe apart, and confined to the same stripe. For the case of three stripes apart, all four types have stable results, but for the case of one stripe apart, stable solutions can only be found at ω
1 = ω
2, and for the condition of dipole solitons confined to one stripe, stable solutions exist only for Type1 and Type3 at ω
1=ω
2. The stability of the soliton solution is solved and verified using the imaginary time propagation method and real-time transfer propagation, and soliton solutions are shown to exist in the multistability case. In addition, the relations of the transportation characteristics of the dipole soliton and the modulation parameters are numerically investigated. Finally, possible approaches for the experimental realization of the solitons are outlined.
Temporal evolution and mechanism of secondary streamers in N2/O2 mixtures at atmospheric pressure under DC voltage
Authors: Zheng Xinlei , Sun Zihan , Li Chenjie , Zheng Haotian , Zhao Zheng , Li Jiangtao
Published: December 2023

In this work, the temporal evolution of secondary streamers in N2/O2 mixtures at atmospheric pressure under DC voltage were investigated using a two-dimensional axisymmetric fluid model. The effects of voltage amplitude, polarity and oxygen concentration were analyzed. The propagation of secondary streamers is divided into two stages: fast propagation followed by slow propagation. The interior of secondary streamers is filled with positive space charges, while the exterior contains negative space charges. The reduced electric field in the secondary streamer is initially linearly proportional to the applied voltage and decreases linearly with the length of secondary streamers. The length of secondary streamers is primarily determined by the applied voltage, regardless of the oxygen concentration. A reversed propagation direction is simulated under negative applied voltage. We propose a different mechanism for secondary streamers. The high-density positive charge layer near the electrode initiates the propagation of secondary streamers, and the extension of positive charge region dominates the propagation. The distribution of electric field along the channel is mainly determined by the distribution of net space charge. The propagation direction is opposite to the direction of electron drift. The secondary streamer eventually stagnates due to the decrease in electron density in high oxygen concentration, while it is caused by the uniform current density at the front of the secondary streamer in low oxygen concentration.
Active-parameter polydispersity in the 2d ABP Yukawa model
Authors: Saw Shibu , Costigliola Lorenzo , Dyre Jeppe C
Published: December 2023

In experiments and simulations of passive as well as active matter the most commonly studied kind of parameter polydispersity is that of varying particles size. This paper investigates by simulations the effects of introducing polydispersity in other parameters for two-dimensional active Brownian particles with Yukawa pair interactions. Polydispersity is studied separately in the translational and rotational diffusion coefficients, as well as in the swim velocity v
0. Uniform and binary parameter distributions are considered in the homogeneous and the motility-induced phase-separation (MIPS) phases. We find only minute changes in structure and dynamics upon the introduction of parameter polydispersity, even for situations involving 50% polydispersity. The reason for this is not clear. An exception is the case of v
0 polydispersity for which the average radial distribution function with changing polydispersity shows significant variations in the MIPS phase. Even in this case, however, the dynamics is only modestly affected. As a possible application of our findings, we suggest that a temporary introduction of polydispersity into a single-component active-matter model characterized by a very long equilibration time, i.e. a glass-forming active system, may be used to equilibrate the system efficiently by particle swaps.
Non-minimally coupled scalar field and scaling symmetry in a cosmological background
Authors: Almatwi Malik , Nozari Kourosh
Published: December 2023

We study Noether symmetries of a class of non-minimally coupled scalar field in a background spatially flat Friedmann-Robertson-Walker (FRW) spacetime. We explore the model symmetries and its conserved currents and charges. Especially, the scaling symmetry, its possible break down and outcomes of such a symmetry breaking are treated in details. A suitable potential of the non-minimally coupled scalar field is adopted which is necessary to get a symmetric Lagrangian of the system including gravity, scalar field and ordinary matter density. We use the obtained charge and the adopted potential in the equations of motions to see the role of the non-minimal coupling (NMC) on the cosmic expansion. We study evolution of the scalar field in the phase space of the model and explore the stability of the obtained critical point. In this manner we derive a relation that relates the cosmological constant and gravitational constant via a unique identity which reflects the scaling symmetry breaking in the space (a, φ).
A Web-based coordinated control platform for source-grid-load-storage of low-voltage stations
Authors: Wang Jie , He Xin , Jing Tianjun , Feng Zikai , Pan Pengkai , Wang Tianyu , Zhang Liqing
Published: December 2023

In order to improve the analysis and control ability of power consumption in the station area, a load storage analysis and control platform based on the Django Web framework is built. The platform takes real-time data acquisition, analysis, and optimal scheduling as the core to realize the comprehensive management and control of power supply, load, and energy storage equipment in the station area. The browser/server (B/S) mode is adopted to support a variety of interactive operations. The energy data, analysis results, and control status of the station area can be viewed intuitively. The Django Web framework is used to realize the extensible design. The analysis and control of the station area are realized by calling the optimization algorithm. Based on Bootstrap, the responsive layout is realized to improve the availability and accessibility of the platform. The graphics are drawn on the platform through Canvas technology, and the interaction and visualization effects are realized.
Control Strategy of Seamless Switching Between Grid-connected and Islanding Operation for Weak-connected Microgrid
Authors: Wang Jian , Wang Chen , Wu Renze , Xu Guangfu , Hou Wei , Zhu Haobin
Published: December 2023

A control strategy of seamless switching is proposed for the high-capacity microgrid, which is at the end of long-distance transmission. Firstly, the control modes of energy storage and diesel generator set under grid-connected conditions and islanding conditions are analyzed. Meanwhile, the seamless switching strategy for the microgrid, in which energy storage or diesel generator sets can be taken as the main power source adaptively, is proposed. During the switching from the grid-connected condition to the islanding condition, the connection line power is optimized according to the respective operational characteristics of the energy storage and diesel generator sets. And the interaction of the power step control with voltage blocking and the regulation characteristics of the line voltage regulator is utilized to effectively suppress the fluctuation of system voltage and frequency. Finally, the combination of auto-synchronization control and multiple synchronization control improves the success rate of switching from the islanding condition to the grid-connected condition. The on-site test results of an actual microgrid project verify the effectiveness of the proposed control strategy.
Converter valve state evaluation method based on hierarchical graded fuzzy theory
Authors: Yang Yuefeng , Li Tianqi , Liu Li , Cao Nan , Shi Xiuping , Ma Qun , Huang Yuanchao
Published: December 2023

As the core equipment of the DC power transmission project, the operation status of the converter valve is the key to the safety and stability of the DC system. Existing assessment methods cannot accurately assess the health status of the converter valve in project operation. According to the independence of the function and structure of each component of the converter valve, this paper proposes a converter valve state evaluation method based on hierarchical grading fuzzy theory. The data used are various information characterizing the state of the converter valve, such as voltage, current, sound, image, and other data. According to hierarchical grading, the evaluation index system is constructed. Based on the fuzzy theory, the affiliation function is proposed, and the affiliation probability of four hierarchical states is output for the state evaluation results of the converter valve and its group components. Experiments show that the method improves the accuracy and practicability of converter valve evaluation in engineering sites.
Energy Management and Networking for Sensor-based Transmission Line State Monitoring
Authors: Chen Tianle , Liu Fan , Gou Xiantai , Lei Xiao
Published: December 2023

The transmission line condition monitoring sensor network is large in scale and difficult to maintain. Its long-chain network topology differs from general wireless sensor networks, so it is necessary to develop a self-organizing sensor network with self-energy harvesting. In this regard, a three-layer network model is designed. Three types of node models are constructed. The sensor nodes implement round-robin sleep/wake and energy management mechanisms, powered by self-harvested energy. Additionally, reliable routing between nodes is established. Simulation results show that the developed simulation model is suitable for the application of transmission line condition monitoring. The expected functions of each module have been realized, and the stable and reliable transmission of perceived data of key components of transmission lines has been achieved, thereby providing technical and data basis for the deployment of practical networks.
Micro-Grid Line Protection Method Based on Current Frequency Variability
Authors: Zhao Jianwen , Zhao Kaiyuan , Xu Yanjie
Published: December 2023

Due to the access of multiple distributed power sources (DG) in the Micro-Grid, the original radiation topology is changed, making the traditional distribution network line protection methods no longer applicable; and most of the existing Micro-Grid line protection methods discuss their grid-connected and Islanded operation separately, resulting in a complex and variable line protection configuration. By analysing the transient current characteristics provided by the DG side and the network side of the Micro-Grid during grid-connected operation and the transient current characteristics provided by different types and numbers of DG on both sides during Islanded operation, it is concluded that there are significant differences in the frequency characteristics of the first-mode components of the current provided on both sides of the protected section of the Micro-Grid line during a fault. As a result, a Micro-Grid line longitudinal differential protection method based on the frequency similarity of the current first-mode quantities is proposed to achieve the identification and removal of faults inside and outside the protected section. A 380 V Micro-Grid simulation model is set up in MATLAB software and the proposed method is tested in a large number of experiments to enable it to operate correctly under different operating modes, different fault locations, and different transition resistances of the Micro-Grid, and to adapt to different operating conditions.
A low-power anti-interference parallel downlink communication system design
Authors: Shao Xiandong , Zhang Yixiang
Published: December 2023

The Internet of Things (IoT) has seen rapid advancements and widespread deployment of wireless devices recently. To pursue the long-term deployment goal of the Internet of Things, a lot of work in recent years has focused on low-power devices, such as backscatter systems. However, they face two key challenges, unequal uplink and downlink communication range, and weak end devices’ inability to handle downlink conflicts and networking. In this paper, we propose a µW-level downlink receiving system, which enhances the anti-interference and anti-conflict capabilities of low-power end devices. We also present a state machine model for networking capabilities. We implemented the prototype system using discrete components and FPGA and conducted experiments. The result shows that our system achieves a downlink communication range of over 250m at a 1kbps data rate with 1% BER and increased by more than 10 times compared to conventional backscatter receivers. The power consumption is 73.6 µW.
Vibration Analysis and Optimization of Permanent Magnet Motor Based on Mode Programme Method
Authors: Hu Kai , Zhang Guangming , Zhang Wenyi
Published: December 2023

Aiming at optimizing the vibration of the permanent magnet motor, the vibration performance of the permanent magnet motor was analyzed and optimized based on the mode program in this paper. A new kind of permanent magnet motor was designed. The radial electromagnetic force is larger under 256.8 Hz and does not exceed 7.1 kPa at frequencies above 577.8 Hz. Then the mode program by response surface method was conducted and its goal was to make the first-order inherent frequency greater than 577.8 Hz. The inner diameter, outer diameter, and length of the motor housing are selected as optimization factors. The first-order and the second-order inherent frequency of the designed permanent magnet motor housing are used as the optimization objectives. The average error rate of the regression equations of the first and second-order inherent frequency is only 0.76% and 0.88%, respectively. At last, the optimal scheme was put forward. The inner diameter, outer diameter, and length of the motor housing are 115.0 mm, 140.8 mm, and 160.0 mm are the optimal solution. The optimized first and second-order inherent frequency is 605.43 Hz and 1490.3 Hz, respectively. It is effective to weaken vibration and avoid resonance.
Node priority evaluation modeling of the substation to be restored based on weight fusion
Authors: Xin Zhongliang , Bao Wei , Yan Yuehao , Lan Guangyu , Liu Xiaohui
Published: December 2023

Severe weather is likely to lead to a large area of power outage accidents, and the emergency repair manpower, flood control materials reserve, and transportation capacity are often limited. This paper studies the node priority evaluation method of substations to be restored in disaster areas and establishes a node priority evaluation model of substations to be restored based on weight fusion. Firstly, the priority evaluation index system is constructed, then subjective weight is assigned to each evaluation index through hierarchical analysis, and objective weight is assigned by the entropy weight method. Finally, the subjective and objective weight fusion optimization strategy based on game theory is adopted, which not only retains the objectivity of the original object but also considers the subjectivity of expert evaluation opinions. The example analysis shows that the combined weights of each priority evaluation index are [0.1835, 0.2432, 0.2631] and [0.0376, 0.0694, 0.0806, 0.1226], and the emergency response needs urgency score of disaster site A is finally 0.6024. We set the recovery priority to Level 2.
Research on the Growth Characteristics of the Electrical Tree at Polyethylene/Silicone Rubber Composite Interface Under Power Frequency Voltage
Authors: Sun Haofei , Zhang Juning , Wang Chong , Zhao Xuefeng , Pu Lu , Ju Zeli , Duan Wei , Yun Xiahaoyue
Published: December 2023

During operation, the composite interface of the cable joint will experience a tangential electric field. When the composite interface has insulation defects, it is easy to experience interface discharge. Electrical tree is a phenomenon of electrical degradation and it’s a precursor of polymer breakdown. It is observed in the laboratory that under the power frequency voltage, the electrical tree will initiate at the composite interface, and the tree growth will finally lead to the interface breakdown. This paper investigates the development of an electrical tree at the composite interface of polyethylene/silicone rubber under power frequency voltage through microscopic observation. The results show that the air gap of the interface is the weak position of insulation, and the electrical tree will be initiated from the triple junction of the air gap and the impacted area of the two materials. The increase in voltage amplitude will speed up the initiation. High amplitudes also promote the electrical tree. The electrical tree shape will be changed from a branch structure at low voltage to a single branch structure at high voltage. The study on the electrical tree at the interface provides a visual display of the degradation process of the material before the breakdown at the composite interface.
Improved Crow Search Algorithm and XGBoost for Transformer Fault Diagnosis
Authors: Jiang Jinyang , Liu Zhi , Wang Pengbo , Yang Fan
Published: December 2023

To enhance the accuracy of transformer fault diagnosis, this study proposes an enhanced transformer fault diagnosis model incorporating the Improved Crow Search Algorithm (ICSA) and XGBoost. The dissolved gas analysis in oil (DGA) technique is employed to extract 9-dimensional fault features of transformers as model inputs, in conjunction with the codeless ratio method for training. The output layer utilizes a gradient boosting-based decision tree addition model to obtain the fault diagnosis type. Furthermore, the Golden Sine Algorithm (GSA) is employed for improvement, and the ICSA’s performance is tested by using typical test functions, demonstrating faster convergence and stronger merit-seeking capabilities. The obtained results reveal that the comprehensive diagnostic accuracy of the proposed model reaches 94.4056%, marking an improvement of 8.3916%, 6.2937%, 4.1958%, and 2.0979% compared to the original base XGBoost, PSO-XGBoost, GWO-XGBoost, and CSA-XGBoost fault diagnosis models, respectively. These findings validate the effectiveness of the proposed method in enhancing the fault diagnosis performance of transformers.
Investigation of the Energy Storage Simulation and Evaluation Index System Performance Considering Network Transmission Constraints and Peak Shaving Imitation
Authors: Chen Jie , Zheng Xiaoming , Deng Jiaojiao , Wang Yao , Jing Yongming
Published: December 2023

Connecting a new type of Energy Storage with renewable energy is one of the solutions to promote low-carbon energy systems and improve energy flexibility. However, the evaluation index system for large-scale new types of Energy Storage is not yet sound. This paper takes the power export base of a high proportion of new energy as an example. They are combined with actual operational and historical statistical data from Shanxi. The construction of operation mathematical models is refined for energy storage. The configuration of energy storage is analyzed and considered under network transmission constraints and system peak-shaving constraints. Strong support is provided for China’s development vision of achieving dual carbon goals and building a new power system.
State feedback method of inter-turn short circuit in rotor winding of induction motor based on improved association rule algorithm
Authors: Zhou Lei , Zheng Jijun , Zhuang Gewei , Chen Haibin , Gu Zhen , Zhang Jingyue , He Qing
Published: December 2023

Aiming at timely feedback and processing of asynchronous motor rotor windings, a feedback method based on an improved association rule algorithm of asynchronous motor rotor windings is studied. Based on the inter-turn short circuit mechanism of asynchronous motor windings, the fuzzy association rule mining method is used to mine the inter-turn short circuit mechanism of asynchronous motor windings. The method mines the rotor-side electrical parameters as the input of the deep neural network and uses the deep neural network to output the short-circuit state feedback results of the rotor windings of the asynchronous motor. The experimental results show that when the A-phase of the asynchronous motor is the faulty phase, the A-phase current of the rotor winding inter-turn short circuit increases significantly, and the phase angle difference deviation has a positive correlation, which effectively feedbacks the asynchronous motor rotor winding inter-turn short-circuit state.
Assessing the soil moisture-precipitation feedback in Australia: CYGNSS observations
Authors: Bui Hien X , Li Yi-Xian , Sherwood Steven C , Reid Kimberley J , Dommenget Dietmar
Published: December 2023

Previous modelling and case studies highlight the impacts of antecedent soil moisture on precipitation, showing the connection between the anomalous land surface and atmospheric conditions. However, observational evidence is lacking, especially on daily timescales, primarily due to the difficulty in assessing the interaction between soil moisture and atmospheric variability and dataset quality. Using satellite retrievals, this study investigates the relationship between soil moisture and next-day precipitation in Australia. Analysing the 5 year soil moisture data from the Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System, we find that soil moisture anomalies influence next-day precipitation probability where higher soil moisture is associated with a higher probability of precipitation, even allowing for precipitation persistence. We also find that this feedback is generally positive in northern Australia but slightly negative in the southern regions, suggesting regional dependence. Linkages between the persistence of dry/wet soil moisture days and the possibility of wildfires and floods are also discussed. These findings have direct implications for the management and predictions of extreme conditions.
Methods and approaches
Authors: Ragone Sabrina , Smorto Guido
Published: December 2023

Chapter 4 introduces the methodologies for comparative inquiry, describing how the critique of legal classicism and formalism dominating legal disciplines in the 19th–20th centuries became the foundation for comparative law. It discusses how an invariant, universal language was pursued to provide an unbiased, objective framework for comparing laws, and the identification of the function legal concepts and rules perform as providing the common feature to make comparison possible. It explores criticisms of this functionalist account of law and the turn to an understanding of law as a social construct embedded in culture and rooted in history. The chapter also discusses the most recent versions of functionalism. Finally, it considers the strengths and weaknesses of this pluralism in methodology.
Sameness and difference
Authors: Ragone Sabrina , Smorto Guido
Published: December 2023

Chapter 5 elucidates how the choices and purposes of comparative research may contribute to uncovering similarities and universal features across laws as well as differences. It explores how early comparative legal scholarship tended to emphasize similarities and seek harmonization and unification of laws. It portrays the affirmation of a new wave of scholars more attuned to dissimilarities and divergences, in line with the cultural and hermeneutical turn in comparative legal studies. The chapter ends by describing how the relationships between sameness and difference, inclusion and exclusion led to greater scrutiny of political choices behind apparently technical assumptions in comparative law, also contributing to articulate a postcolonial critique of the discipline.
The Meaning of Power for Female Arab Social Workers under the Youth Law
Authors: Allassad Alhuzail Nuzha , Mahajne Ibrahim , Abo Saleh Khawaled Anan
Published: December 2023

Israel’s Youth Law (Care and Supervision), 1960 grants social workers power, authority and responsibility to intervene to protect minors at risk. But female social workers in Israel’s Arab population function in a traditional society in which women’s power is often labelled as negative and unfeminine, and power is primarily seen as indicating masculinity. Moreover, the law is perceived as symbolising the Israeli establishment, which the Arab population has experienced as ignoring its substantive problems, such as violence and crime.

In this context, a qualitative study using a semi-structured interview was conducted among twenty female Arab social workers employed in Israeli welfare bureaus under the above-mentioned Youth Law, in an attempt to understand the meaning of power for them.

The analysis of the findings revealed that some participants used different terminology from the others in describing the power granted them by the law and that this terminology affected how they fulfilled their role, the relation between them and the population they served and their relations with the service users.
The evolutionary empire: demystifying state formation in Mughal South Asia (1556–1707)
Authors: Morshed Safya
Published: December 2023

This article summarizes my thesis, which studies the impact of conflicts on the Mughal South Asian state formation in the seventeenth century. This thesis examines the relationship between states, elites, and the peasantry in the face of changing conflict intensity. It uses newly collected conflict and state-personnel data to map the evolving structure of the state, arguing that the patterns indicate a localization of the state's administration. By comparing patterns to other large early modern land empires, the text reflects on our broader understanding of the way in which conflict affected changes in state institutions, and the evolving dynamics between core and periphery.
Transcoronary mapping with an over-the-wire multielectrode catheter in scar-related ventricular tachycardia patients
Authors: Nishimura Takuro , Goya Masahiko , Takigawa Masateru , Negishi Miho , Ikenouchi Takashi , Yamamoto Tasuku , Kawamura Iwanari , Goto Kentaro , Shigeta Takatoshi , Takamiya Tomomasa , Tao Susumu , Yonetsu Taishi , Miyazaki Shinsuke , Sasano Tetsuo
Published: December 2023

Aims

The usefulness of coronary venous system mapping has been reported for assessing intramural and epicardial substrates in patients with scar-related ventricular tachycardia (VT). However, there has been little data on mapping from coronary arteries. We investigated the safety and utility of mapping from coronary arteries with a novel over-the-wire multielectrode catheter in scar-related VT patients.

Methods and results

Ten consecutive scar-related VT patients with non-ischaemic cardiomyopathy who underwent mapping from a coronary artery were analysed. Six patients underwent simultaneous coronary venous mapping. High-density maps were created by combining the left ventricular endocardium and coronary vessels. Substrate maps were created during the baseline rhythm with 2438 points (IQR 2136–3490 points), including 329 (IQR 59–508 points) in coronary arteries. Abnormal bipolar electrograms were successfully recorded within coronary arteries close to the endocardial substrate in seven patients. During VT, isthmus components were recorded within the coronary vessels in three patients with no discernible isthmus components on endocardial mapping. The ablation terminated the VT from an endocardial site opposite the earliest site in the coronary arteries in five patients.

Conclusion

The transcoronary mapping with an over-the-wire multielectrode catheter can safely record abnormal bipolar electrograms within coronary arteries. Additional mapping data from the coronary vessels have the potential to assess three-dimensional ventricular substrates and circuit structures in scar-related VT patients.
The effect of subsidies on R&D in the financial crisis—the role of financial constraints of firms and banks
Authors: Giebel Marek , Kraft Kornelius
Published: December 2023

We analyze the effect of subsidies on firm R&D, conditional on firms’ access to external financing during the financial crisis when access to external financing was particularly difficult. Specifically, we determine whether subsidies can mitigate or completely offset the effect of external financing constraints of firms or banks. Financial constraints are considered through (i) firms’ credit ratings, and (ii) the capital reserves of their banks. Subsidies were found to help maintain R&D investments during the crisis, especially when financial constraints were present. After the crisis, the subsidized firms reached the level of R&D spending they had prior to the crisis.
Simulating dispersal in a complex coastal environment: the Eastern Shore Islands archipelago
Authors: Ma Yongxing , Wu Yongsheng , Jeffery Nicholas W , Horwitz Rachel , Xu Jinshan , Horne Ed , Stanley Ryan R E
Published: December 2023

The Eastern Shore Islands (ESI) archipelago on the Scotian Shelf supports a rich variety of biogenic habitats and associated diversity of coastal species. The unique and complex geometry of the ESI coastline has a significant impact on circulation and, correspondingly, influences the dispersal of nearshore organisms. For many coastal areas, the ability to accurately resolve the dispersal processes is contingent on the availability of oceanographic models that can resolve fine-scale coastal boundary conditions, including coastlines and bathymetric features. We applied a high-resolution ocean circulation model and Lagrangian particle tracking in the ESI to simulate dispersal of nearshore organisms. Our results revealed predominant southwest–northeast transport that was associated with a nearshore reversal flow. While transport among different zones of the study region is mainly determined by residual currents over the long term, tidal currents dominate patterns of particle dispersal over shorter time scales. An analysis of Lagrangian coherent structures found that they were consistently associated with the mouths of bays, demonstrating that the islands and associated oceanographic processes promote self-retention. These results highlight how complex coastlines and associated oceanographic processes promote retention and underline the need to resolve these fine-scale physical and oceanographic features when estimating biophysical dispersal in the coastal environment.
Phenylacetaldehyde induced olfactory conditioning in Drosophila melanogaster (Diptera: Drosophilidae) larvae
Authors: Ali Md Zeeshan , Anushree Anushree , Bilgrami Anwar L , Ahsan Aarif , Ola Mohammad Shamsul , Haque Rizwanul , Ahsan Jawaid
Published: December 2023

Phenylacetaldehyde (PAH), an aromatic odorant, exists in varied fruits including overripe bananas and prickly pear cactus, the 2 major host fruits of Drosophila melanogaster. It acts as a potent ligand for the Ionotropic receptor 84a (IR84a) and the Odorant receptor 67a (OR67a), serving as an important food and courtship cue for adult fruit flies. Drosophila melanogaster larvae respond robustly to diverse feeding odorants, such as ethyl acetate (EA), an aliphatic ester. Since the chemical identity and concentration of an odorant are vital neural information handled by the olfactory system, we studied how larvae respond to PAH, an aromatic food odorant with aphrodisiac properties for adult flies. Our findings revealed that PAH attracted larvae significantly in a dose-dependent manner. Larvae could also be trained with PAH associated to appetitive and aversive reinforcers. Thus, like EA, PAH might serve as an important odorant cue for larvae, aiding in food tracking and survival in the wild. Since IR84a/IR8a complex primarily governs PAH response in adult flies, we examined expression of Ir84a and Ir8a in early third-instar larvae. Our experiments showed the presence of Ir8a, a novel finding. However, contrary to adult flies, PAH-responsive Ir84a was not found. Our behavioral experiments with Ir8a1 mutant larvae exhibited normal chemotaxis to PAH, whereas Orco1 mutant showed markedly reduced chemotaxis, indicating an OR-mediated neural circuitry for sensing of PAH in larvae. The results obtained through this study are significantly important as information on how larvae perceive and process PAH odorant at the neuronal level is lacking.
Skull shape and size changes in different subpopulations of the California Sea Lion (Zalophus californianus) in Mexico
Authors: Aguilar Medrano Rosalía , Cruz Escalona Víctor Hugo , Payán Alcacio Juan Ángel , de Oliveira Larissa Rosa , Ornelas Vargas Arelly , Hernández Camacho Claudia J , Peredo Carlos Mauricio
Published: December 2023

California sea lions (Zalophus californianus) are distributed along the Gulf of California and northeastern Pacific coast. Genetic studies have suggested the existence of 3 to 4 subpopulations in Mexico—1 on the Pacific coast of the Baja California peninsula (PC) and 3 in the Gulf of California—but the extent of this divergence is unclear, and it remains unknown if these subpopulations are morphologically distinct. In this context, we analyzed variation in skull size and shape of adult males between 5 and 13 years of age among 2 (north and central) of the 3 subpopulations of Z. californianus from the Gulf of California and the PC in Mexico. However, since the sample sizes for the 2 subpopulations in the Gulf of California were small, we merged all samples into 1 that we called the Gulf of California (GC) subpopulation. Artificial neural networks and geometric morphometrics were used to analyze skull images to quantify the extent to which these geographically separated subpopulations are undergoing morphological divergence. Our results find no significant differences in size in any view between the 2 subpopulations, but significant differences in the morphology of the dorsal, ventral, and lateral views of the skull between the 2 subpopulations. Overall, Z. californianus from the GC subpopulation have wider and lower skulls, extended back and outward with a more voluminous (bulky) nuchal crest, and narrow rostrum in comparison with skulls of Z. californianus from the PC subpopulation. Results concur with a previous genetic-based study, demonstrating that Z. californianus from both subpopulations in Mexico are diverging in their skull morphology and perhaps suggesting that they are experiencing different evolutionary pressures.
JWST observations of the Ring Nebula (NGC 6720): I. Imaging of the rings, globules, and arcs
Authors: Wesson R , Matsuura Mikako , Zijlstra Albert A , Volk Kevin , Kavanagh Patrick J , García-Segura Guillermo , McDonald I , Sahai Raghvendra , Barlow M J , Cox Nick L J , Bernard-Salas Jeronimo , Aleman Isabel , Cami Jan , Clark Nicholas , Dinerstein Harriet L , Justtanont K , Kaplan Kyle F , Manchado A , Peeters Els , Van de Steene Griet C , van Hoof Peter A M
Published: December 2023

We present JWST images of the well-known planetary nebula NGC 6720 (the Ring Nebula), covering wavelengths from 1.6 to 25 $\, \mu$m. The bright shell is strongly fragmented with some 20 000 dense globules, bright in H2, with a characteristic diameter of 0.2 arcsec and density nH ∼ 105–106 cm−3. The shell contains a narrow ring of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) emission. H2 is found throughout the shell and also in the halo. H2 in the halo may be located on the swept-up walls of a biconal polar flow. The central cavity is filled with high-ionization gas and shows two linear structures which we suggest are the edges of a biconal flow, seen in projection against the cavity. The central star is located 2 arcsec from the emission centroid of the cavity and shell. Linear features (‘spikes’) extend outward from the ring, pointing away from the central star. Hydrodynamical simulations reproduce the clumping and possibly the spikes. Around 10 low-contrast, regularly spaced concentric arc-like features are present; they suggest orbital modulation by a low-mass companion with a period of about 280 yr. A previously known much wider companion is located at a projected separation of about 15 000 au; we show that it is an M2–M4 dwarf. NGC 6720 is therefore a triple star system. These features, including the multiplicity, are similar to those seen in the Southern Ring Nebula (NGC 3132) and may be a common aspect of such nebulae.
Gene set correlation enrichment analysis for interpreting and annotating gene expression profiles
Authors: Chang Lan-Yun , Lee Meng-Zhan , Wu Yujia , Lee Wen-Kai , Ma Chia-Liang , Chang Jun-Mao , Chen Ciao-Wen , Huang Tzu-Chun , Lee Chia-Hwa , Lee Jih-Chin , Tseng Yu-Yao , Lin Chun-Yu
Published: December 2023

Pathway analysis, including nontopology-based (non-TB) and topology-based (TB) methods, is widely used to interpret the biological phenomena underlying differences in expression data between two phenotypes. By considering dependencies and interactions between genes, TB methods usually perform better than non-TB methods in identifying pathways that include closely relevant or directly causative genes for a given phenotype. However, most TB methods may be limited by incomplete pathway data used as the reference network or by difficulties in selecting appropriate reference networks for different research topics. Here, we propose a gene set correlation enrichment analysis method, Gscore, based on an expression dataset-derived coexpression network to examine whether a differentially expressed gene (DEG) list (or each of its DEGs) is associated with a known gene set. Gscore is better able to identify target pathways in 89 human disease expression datasets than eight other state-of-the-art methods and offers insight into how disease-wide and pathway-wide associations reflect clinical outcomes. When applied to RNA-seq data from COVID-19-related cells and patient samples, Gscore provided a means for studying how DEGs are implicated in COVID-19-related pathways. In summary, Gscore offers a powerful analytical approach for annotating individual DEGs, DEG lists, and genome-wide expression profiles based on existing biological knowledge.
Why Musical Theatre?
Authors: Savran David
Published: December 2023

The Broadway musical has become the most mobile form of theatre in the world. It migrates not only as a body of globetrotting works such as The Lion King, but also as a set of musical theatre forms and conventions uniquely adaptable to local traditions. This Introduction answers the big questions: what is a musical? Why is it the great success story of US theatre? How has it been assimilated to musical theatre traditions around the world? Examining Germany and South Korea, it studies how producers have started using overseas productions of musicals as far-flung Broadway tryouts, focusing on two productions that later moved to New York: Rocky: The Musical and Dreamgirls.
Musical Comedy Recalibrated
Authors: Savran David
Published: December 2023

Since the 1990s, there has been an explosion in state-subsidized German theatres of music theatre that features an original score played by live musicians. These plays, however, are performed by actors trained in spoken rather than musical theatre and, despite their obvious kinship with musicals, are very rarely classified as such. Among German directors making musicals in everything but name, one of the most celebrated is Herbert Fritsch, who has directed plays, musicals, opera, operetta, and his own eccentric mixtures of farce, musical theatre, and the work of the twentieth-century avant-garde. This chapter analyzes several of his most distinctive and unusual works, including the Swiss musical Der schwarze Hecht (The Black Pike) and Zelt (Tent), a performance piece centered on a twenty-minute, off-the-wall, Austrian hootenanny.
Celebrating the Great Tralala
Authors: Savran David
Published: December 2023

Musicals in Germany are performed more and more frequently in state-subsidized opera houses where they receive far more sumptuous productions than they could ever expect on Broadway. Among directors of music theatre, Barrie Kosky, who was artistic director of the Komische Oper Berlin between 2012 and 2022, has become especially celebrated for bringing the glamour and pizzazz of Broadway to Berlin. Kosky is unique among directors based in Germany for his mastery of the Broadway idiom and his ability to make musicals speak directly and powerfully to contemporary audiences. His productions of Kiss Me, Kate, West Side Story, Candide, Fiddler on the Roof, and The Threepenny Opera reconceived the originals while leaving the scores intact, to give them an immediacy, splendor, and relevance that their recent Broadway revivals lacked.
Introduction
Authors: Spector Stephen
Published: December 2023

If you’ve ever watched the sitcom Modern Family, you know that one of the main characters, Phil, can be a loveable klutz. In one episode, he gets jealous when his wife laughs at another man’s jokes, and he blurts out
Defining Some Really Basic Terms
Authors: Spector Stephen
Published: December 2023

If you’re like most of my students, you don’t love grammar jargon. I don’t either. When I teach, I use only the terms that my students really need to know in order to learn how to write well in formal contexts. I take the same approach in this book. The lessons don’t always define basic grammar terms, though, so let’s review some of them here.