bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Climate change and rural livelihoods: The potential of extension programs for sustainable development
Authors: Ullah Ayat , Bavorova Miroslava , Shah Ashfaq Ahmad , Kandel Giri Prasad
Published: March 2024

Agricultural extension programs promote regenerative land management practices by increasing farmers' awareness of land use, climate risks, and adoption of adaptation practices for sustainable livelihoods. This study focuses on the perceptions of communities that participate in extension programs and those that do not, regarding climate change risks and livelihood sustainability in Pakistan's Hindu Kush Himalayan (HKH) region. The findings indicate that communities participating in extension programs reported poor community land use practices as a cause of negative climate impacts. Farmers identified livestock deaths due to drought and frequent flooding as the main climate risks in their communities. Our study emphasizes the crucial role of extension programs in mitigating and adapting to environmental risks by increasing awareness, promoting a comprehensive understanding of climate risks and adaptation, and planning for land use management. Additionally, our findings underscore the significance of extension initiatives in enhancing livelihoods, such as agriculture, livestock, and forest‐based livelihoods, in the face of climate change challenges. We recommend increasing access to extension programs, strengthening the role of extension initiatives in climate change mitigation and adaptation, and promoting community participation in decision‐making to support sustainable livelihoods.
Enhanced Hydrogen Evolution Catalysis of Pentlandite due to the Increases in Coordination Number and Sulfur Vacancy during Cubic‐Hexagonal Phase Transition
Authors: Liu Yuegao , Cai Chao , Zhu Shengcai , Zheng Zhi , Li Guowu , Chen Haiyan , Li Chao , Sun Haiyan , Chou I‐Ming , Yu Yanan , Mei Shenghua , Wang Liping
Published: March 2024

The search for new phases is an important direction in materials science. The phase transition of sulfides results in significant changes in catalytic performance, such as MoS2 and WS2. Cubic pentlandite [cPn, (Fe, Ni)9S8] can be a functional material in batteries, solar cells, and catalytic fields. However, no report about the material properties of other phases of pentlandite exists. In this study, the unit‐cell parameters of a new phase of pentlandite, sulfur‐vacancy enriched hexagonal pentlandite (hPn), and the phase boundary between cPn and hPn are determined for the first time. Compared to cPn, the hPn shows a high coordination number, more sulfur vacancies, and high conductivity, which result in significantly higher hydrogen evolution performance of hPn than that of cPn and make the non‐nano rock catalyst hPn superior to other most known nanosulfide catalysts. The increase of sulfur vacancies during phase transition provides a new approach to designing functional materials.
The effective velocity model: An improved approach to velocity sampling in actuator line models
Authors: Muscari Claudia , Schito Paolo , Viré Axelle , Zasso Alberto , van Wingerden Jan‐Willem
Published: March 2024

Actuator line modeling of wind turbines requires the definition of a free‐stream velocity in a computational mesh and a regularization kernel to project the computed body forces onto the domain. Both choices strongly influence the results. In this work, a novel velocity sampling method—the so‐called effective velocity model (EVM)—is implemented in the CFD software SOWFA, validated, and compared to pre‐existing approaches. Results show superior method robustness with respect to the regularization kernel width (
) choice while preserving acceptable accuracy. In particular, the power predicted by the EVM is nearly independent of the
value.
Decolonial interventions: Intentional emergence, Black Shoals, and the pedagogical possibilities
Authors: Taylor Leonard , Davis Ronald
Published: March 2024

Using Black Shoals as a theoretical guide, we explore how intentional emergence (IE) can help erode the colonial and capitalist underpinnings of leadership education. Informed by Black Shoals and IE, we offer three pedagogical recommendations we frame as decolonial interventions—dissolving the center, weaving the margins, and collective imagining. Attending to these, and other, interventions stand to disrupt the normative structures and cultures of leadership learning, catalyze new relations and relationships, and engendering new possibilities for leadership development and social change.
Classification of generalised higher-order Einstein-Maxwell Lagrangians
Authors: Colléaux Aimeric , Langlois David , Noui Karim
Published: March 2024

Abstract

We classify all higher-order generalised Einstein-Maxwell Lagrangians that include terms linear in the curvature tensor and quadratic in the derivatives of the electromagnetic field strength tensor. Using redundancies due to the Bianchi identities, dimensionally dependent identities and boundary terms, we show that a general Lagrangian of this form can always be reduced to a linear combination of only 21 terms, with coefficients that are arbitrary functions of the two scalar invariants derived from the field strength. We give an explicit choice of basis where these 21 terms include 3 terms linear in the Riemann tensor and 18 terms quadratic in the derivatives of the field strength.
One-Dimensional Discrete Hardy and Rellich Inequalities on Integers
Authors: Gupta Shubham
Published: March 2024

In this paper, we consider a weighted version of one-dimensional discrete Hardy inequalities with power weights of the form $$n^\alpha $$

n
α

. We prove the inequality when $$\alpha $$
α
is an even natural number with the sharp constant and remainder terms. We also find explicit constants in standard and weighted Rellich inequalities(with weights $$n^\alpha $$

n
α

) which are asymptotically sharp as $$\alpha \rightarrow \infty $$

α
→
∞

. As a by-product of this work we derive a combinatorial identity using purely analytic methods, which suggests a plausible correlation between combinatorial and functional identities.
Consumers lived experiences and satisfaction with sub-acute mental health residential services
Authors: Waks S. , Morrisroe E. , Reece J. , Fossey E. , Brophy L. , Fletcher J.
Published: March 2024

Purpose

Sub-acute recovery-oriented facilities offer short-term residential support for people living with mental illness. They are generally highly regarded by consumers, with emerging evidence indicating that these services may support recovery. The aim of the current study was to explore the relationship between personal recovery and consumers’ satisfaction with sub-acute residential services, and consumers’ views about service features that aid recovery.

Methods

Consumers at 19 adult Prevention and Recovery Care Services in Victoria, Australia, were invited to complete measures containing sociodemographic information and measures on personal recovery and wellbeing. After going home, participants were invited to complete measures on service satisfaction and experience.

Results

Total and intrapersonal scores on the personal recovery measure increased significantly between Time 1 and Time 2, indicating marked improvement. Personal recovery and satisfaction measures were moderately to strongly correlated. Thematically analysed open-ended responses revealed themes of feeling connected, finding meaning and purpose, and self-empowerment as important aspects of these services, with some recommendations for improvements.

Conclusion

Sub-acute residential mental health care may support individuals’ personal recovery; consumer satisfaction indicates these services also offer an acceptable and supportive environment for the provision of recovery-oriented care. Further exploring consumers’ experiences of sub-acute residential services is essential to understand their effectiveness, opportunities for improvement and intended impacts on personal recovery.
Thoracic aortic microcalcification activity in combined positron emission tomography and magnetic resonance imaging
Authors: Nash Jennifer , Debono Samuel , Whittington Beth , Kaczynski Jakub , Clark Tim , Macnaught Gillian , Semple Scott , van Beek Edwin J R , Tavares Adriana , Dey Damini , Williams Michelle C , Slomka Piotr J , Newby David E , Dweck Marc R , Fletcher Alexander J
Published: March 2024

Introduction

Non-invasive detection of pathological changes in thoracic aortic disease remains an unmet clinical need particularly for patients with congenital heart disease. Positron emission tomography combined with magnetic resonance imaging (PET-MRI) could provide a valuable low-radiation method of aortic surveillance in high-risk groups. Quantification of aortic microcalcification activity using sodium [18F]fluoride holds promise in the assessment of thoracic aortopathies. We sought to evaluate aortic sodium [18F]fluoride uptake in PET-MRI using three methods of attenuation correction compared to positron emission tomography computed tomography (PET-CT) in patients with bicuspid aortic valve,

Methods

Thirty asymptomatic patients under surveillance for bicuspid aortic valve disease underwent sodium [18F]fluoride PET-CT and PET-MRI of the ascending thoracic aorta during a single visit. PET-MRI data were reconstructed using three iterations of attenuation correction (Dixon, radial gradient recalled echo with two [RadialVIBE-2] or four [RadialVIBE-4] tissue segmentation). Images were qualitatively and quantitatively analysed for aortic sodium [18F]fluoride uptake on PET-CT and PET-MRI.

Results

Aortic sodium [18F]fluoride uptake on PET-MRI was visually comparable with PET-CT using each reconstruction and total aortic standardised uptake values on PET-CT strongly correlated with each PET-MRI attenuation correction method (Dixon R = 0.70; RadialVIBE-2 R = 0.63; RadialVIBE-4 R = 0.64; p < 0.001 for all). Breathing related artefact between soft tissue and lung were detected using Dixon and RadialVIBE-4 but not RadialVIBE-2 reconstructions, with the presence of this artefact adjacent to the atria leading to variations in blood pool activity estimates. Consequently, quantitative agreements between radiotracer activity on PET-CT and PET-MRI were most consistent with RadialVIBE-2.

Conclusion

Ascending aortic microcalcification analysis in PET-MRI is feasible with comparable findings to PET-CT. RadialVIBE-2 tissue attenuation correction correlates best with the reference standard of PET-CT and is less susceptible to artefact. There remain challenges in segmenting tissue types in PET-MRI reconstructions, and improved attenuation correction methods are required.
The function of microbial enzymes in breaking down soil contaminated with pesticides: a review
Authors: Chia Xing Kai , Hadibarata Tony , Kristanti Risky Ayu , Jusoh Muhammad Noor Hazwan , Tan Inn Shi , Foo Henry Chee Yew
Published: March 2024

The use of pesticides and the subsequent accumulation of residues in the soil has become a worldwide problem. Organochlorine (OC) pesticides have spread widely in the environment and caused contamination from past agricultural activities. This article reviews the bioremediation of pesticide compounds in soil using microbial enzymes, including the enzymatic degradation pathway and the recent development of enzyme-mediated bioremediation. Enzyme-mediated bioremediation is divided into phase I and phase II, where the former increases the solubility of pesticide compounds through oxidation–reduction and hydrolysis reactions, while the latter transforms toxic pollutants into less toxic or nontoxic products through conjugation reactions. The identified enzymes that can degrade OC insecticides include dehalogenases, phenol hydroxylase, and laccases. Recent developments to improve enzyme-mediated bioremediation include immobilization, encapsulation, and protein engineering, which ensure its stability, recyclability, handling and storage, and better control of the reaction.
Hourly methane and carbon dioxide fluxes from temperate ponds
Authors: Sø Jonas Stage , Martinsen Kenneth Thorø , Kragh Theis , Sand-Jensen Kaj
Published: March 2024

Ponds are regarded as greenhouse gas (GHG) emission hot spots, but how hot are they? We examined this question by measuring methane (CH4) and carbon dioxide (CO2) fluxes in six forest and open land ponds on grasslands in Denmark during summer and winter. We used floating chambers with do-it-yourself sensors and automated headspace venting, allowing for 7404 hourly measurements. We found highly variable gas fluxes within ponds and between seasons and pond types. Ebullitive CH4 fluxes were more variable than diffusive CH4 fluxes. Ebullition was absent when total CH4 fluxes were lowest (15 µmol m−2 h−1), dominant (> 90%) at the highest fluxes (> 400 µmol m−2 h−1), and increased with water temperature. In summer, a minor daily increase in diffusive fluxes was found on days with high wind speed, while CH4 ebullition remained constant. CO2 fluxes paralleled the day-night balance of photosynthesis and respiration. Mean CH4 ebullition in open and forest ponds exceeded CH4 diffusive fluxes 4.1 and 7.1-fold in summer (avg. 22.5 °C) and 2.3 and 2.5-fold in winter (9.6 °C), respectively. CO2 emissions were higher on a molar basis than CH4 emissions, both in summer and winter, while their annual global warming potentials were similar. Mean annual gas emissions from open and forest ponds (1092 and 2527 g CO2e m−2 y−1) are naturally high due to extensive external input of dissolved CO2 and organic carbon relative to pond area and volume.
Self-defence Against Metaphysical Witch Attacks: A Legal Conundrum in Anglophone Africa
Authors: Owusu Emmanuel Sarpong
Published: March 2024

Superstition-driven homicide is a frequent occurrence in many African societies. People charged with homicidal acts supposedly perpetrated under the influence of belief in witchcraft and juju sometimes raise the plea of self-defence or self-defence in conjunction with mistaken belief. Hence, since the latter part of British colonial rule in Africa, particularly the 1930s, the courts in Anglophone Africa have on several occasions been invited to address the question of whether killing suspected witches to repel supposed metaphysical attacks avails to accused persons the plea of self-defence or self-defence based on mistaken belief and, if so, under what conditions. Drawing on case law, statutes, and a range of pertinent academic literature, the present study explores the historical development of the self-defence based on mistaken belief plea in witchcraft-related homicide cases in English-speaking Africa. It examines the African courts’ attitude towards the self-defence against metaphysical witch attacks defence, highlighting the divergent perspectives of various national and regional courts.
Recovery of lakes from eutrophication: changes in nitrogen retention capacity and the role of nitrogen legacy in 10 Danish lakes studied over 30 years
Authors: Jeppesen Erik , Sørensen Peter Borgen , Johansson Liselotte Sander , Søndergaard Martin , Lauridsen Torben Linding , Nielsen Anders , Mejlhede Peter
Published: March 2024

Using data on 23 Danish lakes, we conducted mass balances to develop total nitrogen (TN) models for predicting annual mean TN in lakes based on external TN loading and found high predictability when including lake hydraulic retention time and mean depth in the model. We further used a unique 30-year mass balance data series from 10 Danish lakes with contrasting mean depths and hydraulic retention times to elucidate the effect of external TN loading reduction and N legacy on lake TN. We found that the TN retention percentage during the 30 years was generally not sensitive to an often major reduction in the external TN loading; it overall followed the pattern of the above model predictions, suggesting a low TN legacy effect. Moreover, the TN retention percentage was not affected by changes in TP. Our results, therefore, show a fast response to TN loading reduction, indicating that we can expect an immediate effect on lake water quality in shallow lakes suffering from internal phosphorus loading during re-oligotrophication provided that inorganic N is low enough to become a growth-limiting nutrient.
A Highly Frequency-Selective 3D-Printed Dielectric Structure for the Terahertz Range
Authors: Kubiczek Tobias , Kolpatzeck Kevin , Schultze Thorsten , Balzer Jan C.
Published: March 2024

In this paper, we present a terahertz transmission frequency-selective quasi surface (FSQS) that exhibits strong absorption lines and a periodic band-pass characteristic. The FSQS structure is created by laterally combining Fabry-Pérot resonators with different thicknesses. The transfer function of the FSQS can serve as a broadband reference for testing the signal integrity of the transmission path for broadband terahertz systems. The transfer function achieves a combination of band-pass characteristics and sharp resonances with a theoretical attenuation of over 80 dB and with quality factors of more than 40,000 for a combination of 36 resonators. A single FSQS made up of four resonators is 3D printed by fused deposition modeling using a low-loss cyclic olefin copolymer (COC) filament. Finally, the 3D-printed FSQS is characterized using both frequency-domain and time-domain terahertz spectroscopy. The results show an attenuation of over 42 dB and a quality factor above 100.
Nonstationary coastal flood hazard analysis
Authors: Jia Yiming , Sasani Mehrdad
Published: March 2024

It is well known that the increase in coastal flood hazard is expected to continue due primarily to climate change. While, previous studies have advanced probabilistic approaches for estimating future coastal flood hazard, two seminal issues have received little attention: (1) sea level trend projections that arise as a consequence of climate change not being incorporated in nonstationary coastal flood frequency analysis and (2) traditional stationary approaches that estimate return periods are not suited for analysis of nonstationary water levels. In this paper, a regression approach for sea level rise estimation is proposed to detrend water levels. The peak-over-threshold approach is used to analyze the probabilistic behavior of detrended water levels via a generalized Pareto distribution. Two interpretations of return period—the expected waiting time until an exceedance event occurs and the time associated with the expected number of exceedance events equal to one—are elaborated in a nonstationary context. By incorporating the existing sea level trend projections and using two interpretations of return period, flood hazard curves with uncertainty (i.e., water levels vs. return periods) are developed to describe the probabilistic behavior of future coastal flood hazards. Two case studies are conducted: one for Boston, Massachusetts, and one for New York City, New York.
High School Follow-Up of the Dating Matters® RCT: Effects on Teen Dating Violence and Relationship Behaviors
Authors: Niolon Phyllis Holditch , Estefan Lianne F. , DeGue Sarah , Le Vi D. , Tracy Allison J. , Ray Colleen , Bontempo Daniel , Little Todd D. , Vivolo-Kantor Alana M. , Latzman Natasha , Taylor Bruce , Tharp Andra
Published: March 2024

Teen dating violence (TDV) is a significant public health problem that can have lifelong consequences. Using a longitudinal, cluster randomized controlled trial (RCT), this study examines whether the Dating Matters comprehensive prevention model, implemented in middle school, prevented TDV and negative relationship behaviors and promoted positive relationship behaviors in high school (9th–11th grades), when compared with a standard of care intervention. Dating Matters includes programs for sixth to eighth grade youth and their parents, training for school staff, a youth communications program, and policy and data activities implemented in the community. Self-report survey data were collected from students in 46 middle schools that were randomly assigned to condition within site. Students completed two surveys (fall and spring) in each middle school grade and a single survey in the spring of each high school grade. This study examined self-reported TDV perpetration and victimization, use of negative conflict resolution strategies, and positive relationship skills in the high school follow-up. While varying patterns emerged, latent panel models demonstrated significant program effects for all outcomes. Dating Matters students reported 19% reduced risk for TDV perpetration, 24% reduced risk for TDV victimization, 7% reduced risk for use of negative conflict strategies, and 3% more use of positive relationship skills, on average across time and cohort, than standard of care students. On average, Dating Matters, implemented in middle school, continued to be more effective at reducing TDV perpetration, TDV victimization, and use of negative conflict resolution strategies in high school than an evidence-based comparison program.

Trial Registration: clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT01672541.
The Challenging Nature of Volcanic Heritage: The Fogo Island (Cabo Verde, W Africa)
Authors: Alfama V. , Henriques M. H. , Barros A.
Published: March 2024

Many volcanic landscapes reflect the essence of volcanism and are particularly attractive to different kinds of visitors, featuring the concept of volcanic geoheritage. The expressiveness of volcanic processes is exacerbated in active volcanoes, which increasingly attracts geotourism, despite the natural hazards associated to such geological environment. This work reports how the 2014–2015 eruption of the Fogo volcano at Cabo Verde (West Africa) affected the geoheritage of the central part of the caldera, classified since 2003 as Natural Park, and which caused the destruction of several villages but enabled the occurrence of new geosites. Chã das Caldeiras is the only inhabited area within the perimeter of the park and the unique case of human settlement inside the crater of an active volcano. Besides agriculture, geotourism is an important economic activity for the local communities, and both were devastated after the eruption. However, after the 2014–2015 crisis and despite the eruption risk the local population decided to return to the affected villages and re-start their former life, including geotourism which has since recorded enormous growth. The volcanic geoheritage has dynamic nature that stand out from the majority of stable geosites, with periodic destruction of geosites and corresponding geotouristic infrastructures, and the emergence of new geosites. But despite the costs of rehabilitating, this type of geoheritage must be seen as an economic asset capable of attracting visitors to travel to destinations subject to the risk of eruptions, therefore contributing to foster the typical community-based tourism of normally inhospitable territories.
A two-stage framework for Arabic social media text misinformation detection combining data augmentation and AraBERT
Authors: Mohamed Ebtsam A. , Ismail Walaa N. , Ibrahim Osman Ali Sadek , Younis Eman M. G.
Published: March 2024

Misinformation can profoundly impact the reputation of an entity, and eliminating its spread has become a critical concern across various applications. Social media, often a primary source of information, can significantly influence individuals’ perspectives through content from less credible sources. The utilization of machine-learning (ML) algorithms can facilitate automated, large-scale analysis of textual content, contributing to the rapid and efficient processing of extensive datasets for informed decision-making. Since the performance of ML models is highly affected by the size of the training data, many research papers have presented different approaches to solve the problem of limited dataset size. The data augmentation (DA) approach is one of these strategies, aiming to enhance ML model performance by increasing the amount of training data. DA generates new instances by applying different transformations to the original data instances. While many DA techniques have been investigated for various languages, such as English, achieving an enhancement of the classification model’s performance on the new augmented dataset compared to the original dataset, there is a lack of studies on the Arabic language due to its unique characteristics. This paper introduces a novel two-stage framework designed for the automated identification of misinformation in Arabic textual content. The first stage aims to identify the optimal representation of features before feeding them to the ML model. Diverse representations of tweet content are explored, including N-grams, content-based features, and source-based features. The second stage focuses on investigating the DA effect through the back-translation technique applied to the original training data. Back-translation entails translating sentences from the target language (in this case, Arabic) into another language and then back to Arabic. As a result of this procedure, new examples for training are created by introducing variances in the text. The study utilizes support vector machine (SVM), naive Bayes, logistic regression (LR), and random forest (RF) as baseline algorithms. Additionally, AraBERT transformer pre-trained language models are used to relate the instance’s label and feature representation of the input. Experimental outcomes demonstrate that misinformation detection, coupled with data augmentation, enhances accuracy by a noteworthy margin 5 to 12% compared to baseline machine-learning algorithms and pre-trained models. Remarkably, the results show the superiority of the N-grams approach over traditional state-of-the-art feature representations concerning accuracy, recall, precision, and F-measure metrics. This suggests a promising avenue for improving the efficacy of misinformation detection mechanisms in the realm of Arabic text analysis.
The Tension Between Allowing Student Struggle and Providing Support When Teaching Problem-Solving in Primary School Mathematics
Authors: Stewart Elizabeth , Ball Lynda
Published: March 2024

This article reports two primary school teachers’ perceptions of the effectiveness of lessons based on a problem-solving intervention. The intervention included enabling and extending prompts, independent student struggle time initially and time to share problem-solving strategies at the end. The intervention had two versions: one included whole class prompts and teachers anticipated students’ responses before teaching; the other without these features. Each teacher implemented two lessons in year 1/2 composite classes, with one lesson common. Teachers identified positive impacts of the intervention including providing support for students, extending students’ thinking and providing positive challenge during problem-solving. Struggle time was believed to negatively impact some students’ resilience and confidence; both teachers deviated from the intervention to reduce struggle time. Students used more problem-solving strategies when struggle time was included compared to when the teacher modelled an approach for solving. There was a tension for teachers between providing time for students to struggle and preserving some students’ confidence. One teacher facilitated student share time in the middle of one lesson, allowing students to experience both struggle and success; this compromise could address the tension. Overall, the intervention was perceived to positively impact teaching practice.
Thermal diffusivity of inclined magnetized Cross fluid with temperature dependent thermal conductivity: Spectral Relaxation scheme
Authors: Darvesh Adil , Akgül Ali , Elmasry Yasser , Sánchez-Chero Manuel , Collantes Santisteban Luis Jaime , Sánchez-Chero José Antonio , Hassani Murad Khan
Published: March 2024

Understanding and controlling the thermal transport phenomena are crucial in numerous applications. The current research emphasizes thermal diffusivity of an inclined magnetized Cross fluid with temperature-dependent thermal conductivity with a computational iterative spectral relaxation scheme. Cross mathematical model is employed to characterizes non-Newtonian behavior and to uncover viscoelastic properties of fluid. Flow is incorporated under temperature thermal influence and external inclined magnetic strength is considered for thermal variations. Various prominent factors, including cross index, magnetic field, inclination angle, temperature-dependent thermal conductivity are analyzed on the fluid's thermal diffusivity. The flow governing PDEs are converted into system of ODEs by using suitable transformation. Spectral relaxation computation scheme is then used for controlling the new set equations. SRM algorithm controlling subsystems is built through MATLAB. Numerical results are illustrated by MATLAB graphs. Physical quantities such as Sherwood numbers, Nusselt and skin friction coefficient are visually taken place through statistical graphs with two cases of imposed magnetic field. The results of this investigation shed light on how non-Newtonian fluids behave when exposed to temperature changes and magnetic fields and useful in understanding and leverage these effects for specific applications.
Chromosomal R-loops: who R they?
Authors: Székvölgyi Lóránt
Published: March 2024

R-loops, composed of DNA–RNA hybrids and displaced single-stranded DNA, are known to pose a severe threat to genome integrity. Therefore, extensive research has focused on identifying regulatory proteins involved in controlling R-loop levels. These proteins play critical roles in preventing R-loop accumulation and associated genome instability. Herein I summarize recent knowledge on R-loop regulators affecting R-loop homeostasis, involving a wide array of R-loop screening methods that have enabled their characterization, from forward genetic and siRNA-based screens to proximity labeling and machine learning. These approaches not only deepen our understanding on R-loop formation processes, but also hold promise to find new targets in R-loop dysregulation associated with human pathologies.
The Invisible Safeguards of Judicial Independence in the Israeli Judiciary
Authors: Lurie Guy
Published: March 2024

The Israeli democracy regulates the operation of the judiciary through the constraints of formal rules that check the political actors, the individual judges, and the judiciary. Basic laws, laws and regulations prescribe the operation of every subject. Yet beyond these formal rules, informal institutions and practices are sometimes equally important in the operation of the judiciary, as they are in any constitutional system. In Israel, some of these informal institutions are crucial for the flourishing of democracy and the rule of law, through their protection of judicial independence from external political interference. The imminent possibility that political actors may set some of them aside is nothing less than a potential transformation in the constitutional order. Over the past few decades, judges and court administrators have introduced other internal informal institutions in the administration of the Israeli Judiciary, which qualify formal judicial accountability mechanisms in ways that may prove to be detrimental to democratic principles. This article discusses informal institutions that are important in the operation of the Israeli judiciary, separating the former external kind that are conducive to the rule of law—such as the illegitimacy of political and partisan considerations in judicial appointments—and whose disregard may signal democratic decay from the latter internal kind that may prove detrimental to the courts—such as opaquely changing who is responsible for court administration. Lastly, the political attempt to change informal institutions, detailed herein, can be seen as a harbinger of the current attempt to change formal institutions in the constitutional status of the judiciary in Israel.
Actors of Informal Judicial Institutions and Practices
Authors: Hamřík Lukáš
Published: March 2024

While informal institutions significantly affect the functioning of courts, they also change the powers, position, and influence of individual actors in judicial systems. This Article analyzes how the presence of informal judicial institutions and practices reshapes the influence and importance of roles individual actors play in the functioning of the judiciary. The aim of this Article is three-fold. First, it maps the actors of informal judicial institutions and practices. Second, it stresses the importance of looking at actors who are not formally involved in particular judicial processes and recognized as decision-makers but have the ability to influence the judiciary informally. Third, it shows why it is necessary to keep in mind that also collective bodies can take part in informal judicial institutions and practices.
Estrategias de aprovisionamiento de otáridos en la margen meridional de Tierra del Fuego durante el Holoceno
Authors: Martinoli María Paz , Zangrando Atilio F.
Published: March 2024

Los otáridos fueron recursos críticos para muchas sociedades costeras de Sudamérica. Se han propuesto diferentes estrategias para la explotación de esta presa, que parten principalmente de considerar parámetros ecológicos sobre su distribución y comportamiento y que pueden ser examinados según la especie, la edad y el sexo de los especímenes identificados en el registro arqueológico. En este trabajo partimos de estos criterios para analizar la representación de restos de otáridos en conjuntos zooarqueológicos de diferentes espacios del sur de Tierra del Fuego. Los resultados indican que se implementaron estrategias similares de explotación en toda el área, aún donde se presumen condiciones geográficas, culturales y ecológicas diferentes en la relación humano-otárido. A partir de los resultados se examinan algunos aspectos analíticos sobre la identificación zooarqueológica de individuos lactantes y la caracterización de la forma de explotación de esta presa según el tipo de apostadero y su distribución en el ambiente actual.
A boundary maximum principle for stationary pairs of varifolds with fixed contact angle
Authors: Zhang Xuwen
Published: March 2024

In this note, we establish a boundary maximum principle for a class of stationary pairs of varifolds satisfying a fixed contact angle condition in any compact Riemannian manifold with smooth boundary.
Food Profiteering, Paper Laws, and Criminal Justice in the Bohemian Lands after 1918
Authors: Šmidrkal Václav
Published: March 2024

The article deals with food profiteering in the Bohemian Lands after the declaration of Czechoslovakia in 1918. The new state faced a disintegrated society in which various units continued to fight each other for an advantage in the food market. While food shortages persisted, the Czechoslovak authorities had to deal with a situation in which food rationing laws had lost some of their power to distinguish between the legal and the criminal. Moreover, collective ideas about what was right and wrong, about the victims and perpetrators of food profiteering, and of whom to punish and how, varied according to the different social and ethnic affiliations of the population. Political instrumentalization of such ideas jeopardized the postwar consolidation based on the promise of a better future. Thus, the introduction of food profiteering courts with lay judges was an attempt to institutionalize conflicts over food profiteering and to reduce the impacts of the atomization of society until the economic situation improved.
Planting the Republic: State Regulation of the Discourse on Food Shortages in Public Communication in Early Czechoslovakia (1918–21)
Authors: Horák Pavel
Published: March 2024

Czechoslovakia as a victorious, yet still fragile post-imperial state, considered censorship and state propaganda to be a necessary tool to secure its legitimacy at home and abroad. From the very beginning, Czechoslovakia defined itself as a democracy with freedom of speech as its basic principle, yet at the same time, it had to deal with inner fragility and outer vulnerabilities. The strategic agenda of people's nutrition, which was closely associated with the perceived competence of state institutions, serves as a litmus test for the state's regulation of press and public speech and the implementation of republican practices and acceptable limits on public discourse. This study analyzes how the new republican state regulated information on food supply shortcomings in the press and at public gatherings. It argues that Czechoslovakia maintained the prewar Habsburg practices of censorship; however, instead of the vaguely defined public interest of the multinational monarchy, it was now used to protect the public interest of “the national state of the Czechoslovaks.” This study analyzes how the government thought about the consistency of its communication during the postwar (supply) crisis, and thus also options of how to shape a clear and positive brand of the state.
Promoting the State through Food Scarcity: Czechoslovakia and the United States after World War I
Authors: Hájková Dagmar
Published: March 2024

After the collapse of the Habsburg monarchy, Czechoslovak leaders sought ways to strengthen the state's position in Europe and considered the republic's good reputation as essential to stabilizing the state and securing food supplies. This article analyzes how the Czechoslovak authorities portrayed their country's image and the postwar food shortage, and who participated in its construction. Hunger and scarcity were interpreted as the result of years of deliberate exploitation by Austria-Hungary, and requests for aid were justified on the grounds that a democratic and moral state deserved aid as a matter of priority. Czechoslovak leaders sought to secure a favorable position among the victorious powers by establishing a consistent historical narrative, an elaborate system of publicity, lobbying networks, and personal relationships with Entente officials. They were able to present their country's situation in a positive manner, even in terms of scarcity, and to promise their citizens a better future. This article examines the ways the Czechoslovak state communicated its need for humanitarian aid, particularly from the United States. It argues that the Czechoslovak effort to capitalize on its self-proclaimed moral reputation was partially successful in attracting a circle of supporters, even promoters, and in creating and cultivating its international image as “an island of democracy in Central Europe.”
Strategic Lawsuits against Public Participation (SLAPPs), the Governance of Historical Memory in the Rule of Law Crisis, and the EU Anti-SLAPP Directive
Authors: Bodnar Adam , Gliszczyńska-Grabias Aleksandra
Published: March 2024

Strategic Lawsuits against Public Participation (SLAPPs) – the rule of law backsliding – governance of historical memory – academic freedom – EU Draft Directive on protecting persons who engage in public participation from manifestly unfounded or abusive court proceedings
Towards Development: The Yellow River project and UNRRA’s technical assistance to China, 1944–1947
Authors: Tao Jiayi
Published: March 2024

This article examines an international endeavour to manage the 1938 Yellow River dyke breach and to bring mechanized farming to the flooded area, as part of the UNRRA China Programme (1944–1947). It reveals why a Chinese Nationalist vision of international aid entailed technical assistance, and how this call for development was received by UNRRA’s multi-national, albeit predominantly American, cadre of experts at a transitional period from war to reconstruction. This article argues that technical assistance is integral to understanding the history of UNRRA and its role in negotiating different visions for the post-war world, especially a developmental one. Development did not emerge as a united concept; instead, the ambiguity created a space for experts with different backgrounds to fit themselves into the post-war programme. Focusing on those recipients and fieldworkers that shaped the UNRRA aid on the ground, it offers a non-European perspective for understanding how development thoughts gained momentum through a post-war programme, leading the way to global proliferation of development projects.
Mesoscale Meridional Heat Transport Inferred From Sea Surface Observations
Authors: Chen Yanxu , Yu Lisan
Published: March 2024

The ocean regulates the Earth's climate by transporting heat from the equator to the poles. Here, we use satellite‐based sea surface observations of air‐sea heat fluxes and eddy detection to investigate the mesoscale heat transport. “Mesoscale” refers to both the Eulerian perspective as the spatio‐temporal scales of ∼100 km and ∼1 month, as well as the Lagrangian aspect as isolated vortices identified from the dynamic topography. Paradoxically, there are a considerable number of mesoscale eddies inconsistent between their surface thermal and dynamic signals, that is, cold‐core anticyclones and warm‐core cyclones are globally prevalent. On account of such inconsistency, we show that the mesoscale meridional heat transport carried by geostrophic components is 10 times larger than (and opposite in direction to) that of the wind‐driven Ekman components. An offset between SSH‐SST coherent and incoherent eddies in the Ekman heat transport is apparent, whereas the geostrophic heat transport is contained within coherent eddies.
Changes in External Forcings Drive Divergent AMOC Responses Across CESM Generations
Authors: Needham Michael R. , Falter Douglas D. , Randall David A.
Published: March 2024

It has been suggested that the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation (AMOC) in many CMIP6 models is overly sensitive to anthropogenic aerosol forcing, and it has been proposed that this is due to the inclusion of aerosol indirect effects for the first time in many CMIP6 models. We analyze the AMOC response in a newly released ensemble of simulations performed with CESM2 forced by the CMIP5 input data sets (CESM2‐CMIP5). This AMOC response is then compared to the CMIP5‐generation CESM1 large ensemble (CESM1‐LE) and the CMIP6‐generation CESM2 large ensemble (CESM2‐LE). A key conclusion, only made possible by this experimental setup, is that changes in aerosol‐indirect effects cannot explain differences in AMOC response between CESM1‐LE and CESM2‐LE. Instead, we hypothesize that the difference is due to increased interannual variability of anthropogenic emissions. This forcing variability may act through a nonlinear relationship between the surface heat budget of the North Atlantic and the AMOC.
Inverting Geodetic Strain Rates for Slip Deficit Rate in Complex Deforming Zones: An Application to the New Zealand Plate Boundary
Authors: Johnson Kaj M. , Wallace Laura M. , Maurer Jeremy , Hamling Ian , Williams Charles , Rollins Chris , Gerstenberger Matt , Van Dissen Russ
Published: March 2024

The potential for future earthquakes on faults is often inferred from inversions of geodetically derived surface velocities for locking on faults using kinematic models such as block models. This can be challenging in complex deforming zones with many closely spaced faults or where deformation is not readily described with block motions. Furthermore, surface strain rates are more directly related to coupling on faults than surface velocities. We present a methodology for estimating slip deficit rate directly from strain rate and apply it to New Zealand for the purpose of incorporating geodetic data in the 2022 revision of the New Zealand National Seismic Hazard Model. The strain rate inversions imply slightly higher slip deficit rates than the preferred geologic slip rates on sections of the major strike‐slip systems including the Alpine Fault, the Marlborough Fault System and the northern part of the North Island Fault System. Slip deficit rates are significantly lower than even the lowest geologic estimates on some strike‐slip faults in the southern North Island Fault System near Wellington. Over the entire plate boundary, geodetic slip deficit rates are systematically higher than geologic slip rates for faults slipping less than one mm/yr but lower on average for faults with slip rates between about 5 and 25 mm/yr. We show that 70%–80% of the total strain rate field can be attributed to elastic strain due to fault coupling. The remaining 20%–30% shows systematic spatial patterns of strain rate style that is often consistent with local geologic style of faulting.
Exploring van der Waals materials with high anisotropy: geometrical and optical approaches
Authors: Slavich Aleksandr S. , Ermolaev Georgy A. , Tatmyshevskiy Mikhail K. , Toksumakov Adilet N. , Matveeva Olga G. , Grudinin Dmitriy V. , Voronin Kirill V. , Mazitov Arslan , Kravtsov Konstantin V. , Syuy Alexander V. , Tsymbarenko Dmitry M. , Mironov Mikhail S. , Novikov Sergey M. , Kruglov Ivan , Ghazaryan Davit A. , Vyshnevyy Andrey A. , Arsenin Aleksey V. , Volkov Valentyn S. , Novoselov Kostya S.
Published: March 2024

The emergence of van der Waals (vdW) materials resulted in the discovery of their high optical, mechanical, and electronic anisotropic properties, immediately enabling countless novel phenomena and applications. Such success inspired an intensive search for the highest possible anisotropic properties among vdW materials. Furthermore, the identification of the most promising among the huge family of vdW materials is a challenging quest requiring innovative approaches. Here, we suggest an easy-to-use method for such a survey based on the crystallographic geometrical perspective of vdW materials followed by their optical characterization. Using our approach, we found As2S3 as a highly anisotropic vdW material. It demonstrates high in-plane optical anisotropy that is ~20% larger than for rutile and over two times as large as calcite, high refractive index, and transparency in the visible range, overcoming the century-long record set by rutile. Given these benefits, As2S3 opens a pathway towards next-generation nanophotonics as demonstrated by an ultrathin true zero-order quarter-wave plate that combines classical and the Fabry–Pérot optical phase accumulations. Hence, our approach provides an effective and easy-to-use method to find vdW materials with the utmost anisotropic properties.