bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of variable mating opportunity, delay, and male mating experience on the lifespan, female reproductive traits, and offspring traits of Phytoseiulus persimilis (Acari: Phytoseiidae)
Authors: Chen Xia , Zhang Keshi , Zhang Zhi-Qiang
Published: January 2025

The balance between mating benefits and costs shapes reproductive strategies and life history traits across animal species. For biological control programs, understanding how mating rates influence life history traits is essential for optimising population management and enhancing predator efficacy. This study investigates the impact of mating opportunity availability, delayed mating, and male mating history (copulation frequency) on the lifespan (both sexes), female reproductive traits (duration of oviposition and of pre- and post-oviposition periods, and lifetime oviposition), and offspring quality (egg size and offspring survival) of the predatory mite Phytoseiulus persimilis Athias-Henriot (Acari: Phytoseiidae), an important biological control agent against spider mites. We examined three mating treatments—no mating, limited mating opportunity (24-h access), and continuous lifetime access—to assess their effects on lifespan (both sexes), female reproductive traits, and offspring quality. Further analyses examined the impact of delayed mating and male copulation history on female reproductive success and offspring traits. Our results showed a sexually differentiated response to repeated mating: females with continuous access to mates had similar lifespans in comparison with those mated for only 24 h, while males with continuous mating access exhibited significantly shorter lifespans. Both unlimited mating and delayed mating prolonged the female pre-oviposition period. However, neither varied mating opportunities, delayed mating, nor male copulation had any significant effect on other female reproductive traits or offspring quality. This suggests that repeated mating provides no reproductive advantage and imposes no observable costs on P. persimilis females.
The status of pyrethroid resistance mutation frequencies in Varroa destructor populations in the most important beekeeping areas of Türkiye
Authors: Celikkol Elif , Dogac Ersin
Published: January 2025

The Varroa destructor (hereafter referred to as Varroa) is a major pest of honeybees that is generally controlled using pyrethroid-based acaricides. However, resistance to these insecticides has become a growing problem, driven by the acquisition of knockdown resistance (kdr) mutations in the mite’s voltage-gated sodium channel (vgsc) gene. Resistance mutations in the vgsc gene, such as the L925V mutation, can confer resistance to pyrethroids like flumethrin and tau-fluvalinate. Monitoring genotypic resistance through molecular mutation screening is crucial for tracking and mitigating resistance spread. In this study, the frequency of resistance mutations in the vgsc was examined using a Polymerase Chain Reaction-Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) approach in Varroa populations sampled throughout the Mediterranean, Aegean, and Black Sea regions of Türkiye. Considering all the samples analyzed, the results demonstrated a mean resistance allele frequency of 83.29%, indicating a relatively high frequency of resistant alleles. We observed 94.58%, 85.71%, and 69.58% resistant allele frequencies in populations sampled from the Mediterranean, Aegean, and Black Sea regions, respectively, in our study. The results of our investigation demonstrated substantial regional variations in the frequencies of resistant alleles among Varroa populations throughout Türkiye, with notably elevated resistance levels observed in the Mediterranean and Aegean regions. Due to the significant resistance mutation frequency differences between both provinces and regions, long-term monitoring of resistance alleles and the planning of regional control strategies are required for effective control of this pest.
Quantum theory of the Lemaître model for gravitational collapse
Authors: Kiefer Claus , Mohaddes Hamid
Published: January 2025

We investigate the quantum fate of the classical singularities that occur by gravitational collapse of a dust cloud. For this purpose, we address the quantization of a model first proposed by Georges Lemaître in 1933. We find that the singularities can generically be avoided. This is a consequence of unitary evolution in the quantum theory, whereby the quantum dust cloud collapses, bounces at a minimal radius and re-expands.
Heuristics for the run-length encoded Burrows–Wheeler transform alphabet ordering problem
Authors: Major Lily , Clare Amanda , Daykin Jacqueline W. , Mora Benjamin , Zarges Christine
Published: January 2025

The Burrows–Wheeler Transform (BWT) is a string transformation technique widely used in areas such as bioinformatics and file compression. Many applications combine a run-length encoding (RLE) with the BWT in a way which preserves the ability to query the compressed data efficiently. However, these methods may not take full advantage of the compressibility of the BWT as they do not modify the alphabet ordering for the sorting step embedded in computing the BWT. Indeed, any such alteration of the alphabet ordering can have a considerable impact on the output of the BWT, in particular on the number of runs. For an alphabet

$$\Sigma $$

Σ

containing

$$\sigma $$

σ

characters, the space of all alphabet orderings is of size

$$\sigma !$$

σ
!

. While for small alphabets an exhaustive investigation is possible, finding the optimal ordering for larger alphabets is not feasible. Therefore, there is a need for a more informed search strategy than brute-force sampling the entire space, which motivates a new heuristic approach. In this paper, we explore the non-trivial cases for the problem of minimizing the size of a run-length encoded BWT (RLBWT) via selecting a new ordering for the alphabet. We show that random sampling of the space of alphabet orderings usually gives sub-optimal orderings for compression and that a local search strategy can provide a large improvement in relatively few steps. We also inspect a selection of initial alphabet orderings, including ASCII, letter appearance, and letter frequency. While this alphabet ordering problem is computationally hard we demonstrate gain in compressibility.
Amplitude and Phase Imaging of CW-THz Waves Using a Photomixing System with Coherent Detection
Authors: Ben-Atar Kobi , Deninger Anselm , Engelberg Jacob , Levy Uriel
Published: January 2025

Continuous-Wave Terahertz (CW-THz) phase and amplitude imaging provides valuable insights into the interaction between THz waves and matter, particularly in low-absorption materials. This information is also essential for enhancing CW-THz beam profiling, a critical aspect in the design of free-space THz devices. Hereby, we introduce a single-pixel THz amplitude and phase imaging technique based on frequency scanning and fringe analysis, incorporated into a straightforward experimental setup. We validate the usefulness of the proposed approach by demonstrating two representative case studies. The first is a 3-D measurement of the amplitude and phase profile of a THz wave that is transmitted through a 3-D printed metalens. The second is beam profiling of a THz beam emitted from a photomixer antenna. In both cases, our results are in excellent agreement with previous predictions and validate the usefulness of this imaging technique. As such, we believe that the demonstrated approach will provide an important tool in the quest for establishing THz as an important method for a myriad of applications, including imaging, range finding and metrology.
Design of Perlite Based Thermal Insulation Plate and Determination of its Physical, Mechanical and Thermal Properties
Authors: Davraz Metin , Koru Murat , Isildar Nuri
Published: January 2025

According to the current fire regulations in Turkey, the use of insulation materials such as EPS, which are commonly employed in building insulation, is limited to buildings up to 28.5 m in height. The regulations mandate the use of Class A fire-resistant thermal insulation materials in high-rise buildings. However, these materials may present challenges in terms of application and sustainability. This study aims to develop a perlite-based thermal insulation board that is Class A fire-resistant, competitive with traditional insulation materials, and possesses optimal physical, mechanical, and thermal properties. In the production of the specimens, expanded perlite, liquid sodium silicate, and silicon powder were used, and tests for apparent density, compressive-flexural strength, capillary water absorption, and thermal conductivity were conducted in accordance with EN standards. In the first stage, the produced specimens were subjected to four different activation temperatures to determine the optimal process temperature. In the second stage, the ratios of perlite, sodium silicate, and water were varied to achieve the mixture design that yielded the highest mechanical properties from the specimens. In the final stage, water-repellent admixtures were incorporated into the batches at mass ratios of 1.5 %, 3 %, 4.5 %, and 6 %. The perlite-based thermal insulation board, which offers optimal properties in the most cost-effective manner, has an apparent density of 127 kg·m−3, compressive strength of 266 kPa, flexural strength of 156 kPa, capillary water absorption value of 0.0197 kg·m−2·min−0.5, thermal conductivity of 0.0475 Wm−1·K−1, and a unit cost of 97 $ m−3. Consequently, the insulation board developed in this study presents a viable alternative to conventional insulation materials, offering Class A fire resistance.
Using Social Media to Promote Life Skills Among Adolescents: A Debate on Opportunities, Challenges, and Implications for Health and Education
Authors: Zimmermann Elizabeth , Tomczyk Samuel
Published: January 2025

The digitalization of society increasingly blurs boundaries between analog and digital worlds, offering opportunities such as telemedicine and global connectivity through digital platforms. However, it also presents risks, including cyberbullying, addiction potential, harmful content, misinformation, and privacy concerns from data breaches and surveillance technologies. Social media, with its global reach, amplifies both opportunities for positive engagement and the responsibility to navigate largely unregulated content. Adolescents, due to their developing critical evaluation skills and high prevalence of mental health challenges, are particularly vulnerable in this space and must navigate the risks associated with social media while simultaneously leveraging it for essential developmental tasks, such as identity formation and building social connections. To support them in this challenge, we propose adapting the traditional life skills approach to address the challenges of social media use, empowering adolescents to navigate both digital and analog environments effectively. These life skills include critical thinking, communication, and managing emotions and stress – all of which are essential for navigating social media. Despite its complexities, social media offers a unique platform for health promotion and prevention interventions due to its wide accessibility and reach. It holds significant promise for adolescent health by providing information, motivation, and social support. However, evidence-based, youth-centered prevention strategies on these platforms are still in early development and require further research to ensure effectiveness. Prevention programs integrating proven behavior change techniques, aligning with the preferences and needs of adolescents, and teaching essential life skills can empower them to navigate digital and analog challenges effectively.
A Hybrid Approach to Model Reduction of Generalized Langevin Dynamics
Authors: Colangeli Matteo , Duong Manh Hong , Muntean Adrian
Published: January 2025

We consider a classical model of non-equilibrium statistical mechanics accounting for non-Markovian effects, which is referred to as the Generalized Langevin Equation in the literature. We derive reduced Markovian descriptions obtained through the neglection of inertial terms and/or heat bath variables. The adopted reduction scheme relies on the framework of the Invariant Manifold method, which allows to retain the slow degrees of freedom from a multiscale dynamical system. Our approach is also rooted on the Fluctuation–Dissipation Theorem, which helps preserve the proper dissipative structure of the reduced dynamics. We highlight the appropriate time scalings introduced within our procedure, and also prove the commutativity of selected reduction paths.
Eras of Monetary and Financial Dominance: A Copernican-Type Model of Multilayered Network with Endogenous Regimes
Authors: Bordo Michael D. , Bastidon Cécile
Published: January 2025

Purpose: Recent theoretical advances focus on the configuration and crises of the International Monetary System (IMS) and International Financial System (IFS) rather than their regime switchings. We argue that viewing the evolution of the IMS and IFS in the past several hundred years through the lens of the Copernican heliocentric system developed over five hundred years ago is insightful. Methods: The network representations used today for the study of the IMS and IFS can be directly transposed into the langage of stellar systems. We connect literatures in economic history and the theory of complex networks with some resonant concepts from astrophysics. We trace out the evolution across regimes of the IMS and IFS in terms of network representations of the Copernican system. Results: We provide a simple, fully testable theoretical model completed by a calibration exercise that does generate the observed historical dynamics. The IMS and IFS are described by a two-layer multiplex graph whose three key features (hub, core and distances) are affected by non-linear joint regime changes linked to a technological, institutional, geopolitical and regulatory environment variable. Conclusion: We conclude with a discussion of some perspectives of the future of the international monetary and financial systems, particularly with regard to the inertia of eras of monetary and financial dominance.
Enhancing interaction quality in interdisciplinary group work: The impact of student motivation and teacher-initiated diversity climate
Authors: Li Weiwei , Coelen Robert , Otten Sabine
Published: January 2025

Interdisciplinary Group Work (IGW) is increasingly being adopted in higher education settings to foster interdisciplinary competencies among students. The effectiveness of IGW hinges largely on the quality of student interactions across different disciplines. Understanding how students interact in IGW, along with the role of institutions and educators in facilitating such interaction, is crucial for enhancing interdisciplinary education quality. This study responds to the need for integrated research that considers both individual and environmental factors, employing Expectancy-Value Theory to assess perceived task value and constructing the notion of perceived teacher-initiated diversity climate as an environmental factor. It specifically examines the interactive influence of perceived benefits and costs on interdisciplinary interactions within group work and examines the impacts of perceived teacher-initiated diversity climate in boosting student’s perceptions and interactions in IGW contexts. Data collected from 108 third-year undergraduate students participating in team-based interdisciplinary programs reveals that positive perceptions of diversity significantly enhance interdisciplinary interactions, while perceived costs detract from them. It also shows that the challenges of interdisciplinarity do not substantially diminish students’ willingness to learn from various disciplinary perspectives. Importantly, perceived teacher-initiated diversity climate is related to greater positive perceptions in IGW, thereby improving interdisciplinary interaction. The paper concludes with suggestions for teachers and educational institutions on optimizing interdisciplinary education.
Evaluating environmental impacts of bio-based insulation materials through scenario-based and dynamic life cycle assessment
Authors: Cascione Valeria , Roberts Matt , Allen Stephen , Charbel Charbel , Maskell Daniel , Dams Barrie , Shea Andy , Walker Pete , Emmitt Stephen
Published: January 2025

Purpose

Bio-based insulation materials can have a significant impact in achieving net zero target in the construction sector. However, they face challenges due to lack of data on environmental performances and professional perception, hindering their proliferation. This study aims to combine scenario-based and dynamic analyses of environmental performances to provide comprehensive environmental information on bio-based thermal insulation materials. The goal is to empower professionals with robust information, facilitating informed decisions and promoting the selection of bio-based materials.

Methods

Data on manufacturing, use, recyclability, and technical performance of eleven commercially available natural insulation materials were collected from the literature to create a Life Cycle Inventory (LCI). For each material, a scenario-based life cycle assessment (LCA) was conducted by modelling variation in manufacturing, transportation, end-of-life and material properties, using the UK as the primary case study. Materials were compared to three non-bio-based insulation materials by ranking the thirteen environmental impact categories in EN 15804(2013) + A2(2019) to give an exhaustive overview of their potential benefits and burdens. Additionally, a dynamic LCIA was performed to implement in the analysis both short-and long-term emissions, exploring the impact of biogenic carbon.

Results

The scenario analysis highlighted that recycled cotton and hemp fibre insulation have the lowest impact across all impact categories, attributed to their sustainable manufacturing processes and minimal impacts at the end-of-life stage. The dynamic LCIA demonstrated that recycled textile insulation has the lowest impact both in the short-term (prior to waste disposal) and the long-term (post-waste disposal), regardless of the chosen end-of-life scenario. Furthermore, it indicated that cotton and hemp fibre have a negligible impact on global temperature changes, achieving a net-zero effect in the short-term and close-to-zero impact in the long-term.

Conclusion

The novelty of this paper lies in its comprehensive investigation of the environmental impacts of bio-based thermal insulation materials, employing multiple tools to enhance generalizability. These results will support decision-making by providing data ranges to help practitioners identify the most environmentally friendly insulation materials. Additionally, they offer insights into how similar products compare within that range, driving progress in the built environment towards net-zero emissions. Whilst the full dataset and evaluation methods are illustrated through a UK-based case study, this method can be adapted for specific scenarios and projects, due to the transparency of data and methods. This research significantly influences the built environment and promotes net-zero targets within the sector.
Mit der Digital Leadership Assistance Platform (DigiLAP) digitale Führungskompetenz entwickeln
Authors: Krick Annika , Fröhlich Lene S. , Münstermann L. Franziska , Felfe Jörg
Published: January 2025

In diesem Artikel der Zeitschrift Gruppe. Interaktion. Organisation. wird die Führungskräfte-Onlineplattform Digital Leadership Assistance Platform (DigiLAP) vorgestellt. Dabei wird auf die wissenschaftliche Entwicklung eingegangen, der Aufbau und die wesentlichen Funktionen sowie erste Ergebnisse der wissenschaftlichen Evaluation vorgestellt. Darüber hinaus werden Nutzungsmöglichkeiten für die Personalentwicklung und Führungskräfte dargestellt und abschließend auf Weiterentwicklungspotenzial für die Zukunft eingegangen.
Effect of Multifunction Cavitation Treatment on Helical Gear Surface
Authors: Ijiri Masataka , Yoshimura Toshihiko
Published: January 2025

This study proposes using multifunction cavitation (MFC) to strengthen the surface of helical gears used in transmissions. In addition, because the steel used for helical gears exhibits poor corrosion resistance in water, samples plated with electroless nickel and iron tetroxide were also investigated. In addition to using samples with modified surfaces, we used samples strengthened by carburizing and nitriding. The noncoated and plated samples showed a slight increase in surface roughness and increased compressive residual stress and hardness. The plating method that did not cause red rust during the MFC treatment was iron tetroxide plating. In the samples strengthened by carburizing and nitriding, red rust did not occur on the surface after MFC treatment, the surface roughness was suppressed, and compressive residual stress and hardness increased. The results show that the MFC treatment effectively improved the fatigue properties of gear surfaces with complex shapes.
Efficient deep neural network training via decreasing precision with layer capacity
Authors: Shen Ao , Lai Zhiquan , Sun Tao , Li Shengwei , Ge Keshi , Liu Weijie , Li Dongsheng
Published: January 2025

Low-precision training has emerged as a practical approach, saving the cost of time, memory, and energy during deep neural networks (DNNs) training. Typically, the use of lower precision introduces quantization errors that need to be minimized to maintain model performance, often neglecting to consider the potential benefits of reducing training precision. This paper rethinks low-precision training, highlighting the potential benefits of lowering precision: (1) low precision can serve as a form of regularization in DNN training by constraining excessive variance in the model; (2) layer-wise low precision can be seen as an alternative dimension of sparsity, orthogonal to pruning, contributing to improved generalization in DNNs. Based on these analyses, we propose a simple yet powerful technique–DPC (Decreasing Precision with layer Capacity), which directly assigns different bit-widths to model layers, without the need for an exhaustive analysis of the training process or any delicate low-precision criteria. Thorough extensive experiments on five datasets and fourteen models across various applications consistently demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed DPC technique in saving computational cost (−16.21%–−44.37%) while achieving comparable or even superior accuracy (up to +0.68%, +0.21% on average). Furthermore, we offer feature embedding visualizations and conduct further analysis with experiments to investigate the underlying mechanisms behind DPC’s effectiveness, enhancing our understanding of low-precision training. Our source code will be released upon paper acceptance.
Adaptation of Artificial Intelligence Attitude Scale (AIAS-4) into Turkish: a validity and reliability study
Authors: Köse Neslihan , Şimşek Erdi , Demir Mehmet Can
Published: January 2025

The integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into all areas of our lives has been creating substantial changes. There certainly is an ever-growing need to assess the way public attitudes towards AI have taken shape. This study aims to adapt the Artificial Intelligence Attitude Scale (AIAS-4) (Grassini, 2023) into Turkish, where there are no measures that can be used in different contexts and by different organizations to assess the overall attitude towards AI and test its validity and reliability. The scale adaptation was conducted in two phases. The study was carried out with the participation of 422 undergraduate students during the 2023–2024 academic year. To verify the construct validity of the scale, exploratory factor analysis was conducted with 221 undergraduate students. With another group of 201 undergraduate students, confirmatory factor analysis, test-retest reliability and measurement invariance tests were computed. As in the original scale, results from exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses justified the single-factor structure of the scale with four items explaining 63.03% of the total variance, and item loadings were in the range of 0.70–0.89. The model fit values were in a good fit range (CFI: 0.998, TLI: 0.993, RMSEA: 0.048). Also, the model was strictly invariant between genders. The scale demonstrated good internal consistency in two studies, with Cronbach’s alpha of 0.86 and 0.86; and McDonald’s omega of 0.87 and 0.86. The results indicated that all items had discriminative power and therefore, the Turkish version of the scale proves to be valid and reliable and thus could be used by researchers in the Turkish context.
Highly specific amyloid and tau PET ligands for ATN classification in suspected Alzheimer’s disease patients
Authors: Matsuda Hiroshi , Hanyu Haruo , Kaneko Chikako , Ogura Masato , Yamao Tensho
Published: January 2025

Objective

This study aims to accurately classify ATN profiles using highly specific amyloid and tau PET ligands and MRI in patients with cognitive impairment and suspected Alzheimer’s disease (AD). It also aims to explore the relationship between quantified amyloid and tau deposition and cognitive function.

Methods

Twenty-seven patients (15 women and 12 men; age range: 64–81 years) were included in this study. Amyloid and tau PET scans were performed using 18F-NAV4694 and 18F-MK6240, respectively. For each patient, amyloid and tau PET images were visually assessed and classified as either amyloid-positive or amyloid-negative, and as 18F-MK6240 Braak stage 0 (tau-negative) or Braak stages I–VI (tau-positive). Voxel-based morphometry of three-dimensional T1-weighted MRI was used to evaluate neurodegeneration. Amyloid and tau depositions were quantified using the Centiloid scale and standardized uptake value ratio (SUVR), respectively. Global cognitive function was assessed with the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE).

Results

Patients were categorized into seven ATN profiles. Six patients (22%) exhibited a normal AD biomarker profile, 15 patients (56%) fell within the Alzheimer’s continuum, and 14 patients (52%) were diagnosed with AD. Additionally, six patients (22%) displayed non-AD pathological changes. Positive and negative findings of amyloid and tau PET were concordant in 24 patients (89%). Among the 14 patients diagnosed with AD, the Centiloid scale for amyloid deposition did not show a significant negative correlation with MMSE scores (r = 0.269, p = 0.451). In contrast, the SUVR for tau deposition in the neocortex exhibited a significant negative correlation (r = −0.689, p = 0.014), while tau deposition in the mesial temporal region did not show a significant correlation (r = 0.158, p = 0.763).

Conclusion

Highly specific amyloid and tau PET scans, along with MRI, can be utilized to accurately classify ATN profiles in patients with cognitive impairment and suspected AD. The discordance in amyloid and tau PET findings in three patients allowed for a more precise AD diagnosis. Furthermore, tau PET imaging provided insight into the propagation of tau deposition in the neocortex beyond the mesial temporal region, which is associated with cognitive decline.
Long-lived winter honey bees show unexpectedly high levels of flight activity compared to short-lived summer bees
Authors: Minaud Etienne , Rebaudo François , Requier Fabrice
Published: January 2025

In temperate regions, the overwintering success of honey bee colonies, Apis mellifera, depends on the last generations of long-lived bees emerging in autumn, known as winter bees. While the physiological qualities of winter bees and their extended lifespan are well documented, yet literature on their flight activity performance is scarce. Here we studied the flight activity of long-lived winter honey bees and compared their performance with short-lived bees. Using radio frequency identification (RFID), we automatically monitored the number of flights, the total flight duration and the lifespan of 523 honey bees that emerged over the course of a year, including short-lived bees from spring, summer and autumn, and long-lived winter bees. We found that flight activity performance of short-lived bees decreased progressively from spring to autumn for both the number of flights and the total flight duration. Furthermore, we confirm that only a fraction of the bees emerging before winter are long-lived winter bees, with a lifespan of 143.5 ± 23.5 days (mean ± SD). With an average of 37.5 ± 44.2 flights and 12.7 ± 15.5 h of flight, we found that long-lived winter bees were substantially more active than summer and autumn short-lived bees, but performed similar activity than spring short-lived bees. We also found that a small proportion of long-lived winter bees participate in the vast majority of the flight activity of the colony. Our results suggest that the extended lifespan of long-lived winter bees does not affect their flight activity performance, probably explained by their physiological qualities.
Zn(TFSI)2-Mediated Ring-Opening Polymerization for Electrolyte Engineering Toward Stable Aqueous Zinc Metal Batteries
Authors: Liu Zhenjie , Xi Murong , Sheng Rui , Huang Yudai , Ding Juan , Tan Zhouliang , Li Jiapei , Zhang Wenjun , Wang Yonggang
Published: January 2025

Practical Zn metal batteries have been hindered by several challenges, including Zn dendrite growth, undesirable side reactions, and unstable electrode/electrolyte interface. These issues are particularly more serious in low-concentration electrolytes. Herein, we design a Zn salt-mediated electrolyte with in situ ring-opening polymerization of the small molecule organic solvent. The Zn(TFSI)2 salt catalyzes the ring-opening polymerization of (1,3-dioxolane (DOL)), generating oxidation-resistant and non-combustible long-chain polymer (poly(1,3-dioxolane) (pDOL)). The pDOL reduces the active H2O molecules in electrolyte and assists in forming stable organic–inorganic gradient solid electrolyte interphase with rich organic constituents, ZnO and ZnF2. The introduction of pDOL endows the electrolyte with several advantages: excellent Zn dendrite inhibition, improved corrosion resistance, widened electrochemical window (2.6 V), and enhanced low-temperature performance (freezing point =  − 34.9 °C). Zn plating/stripping in pDOL-enhanced electrolyte lasts for 4200 cycles at 99.02% Coulomb efficiency and maintains a lifetime of 8200 h. Moreover, Zn metal anodes deliver stable cycling for 2500 h with a high Zn utilization of 60%. A Zn//VO2 pouch cell assembled with lean electrolyte (electrolyte/capacity (E/C = 41 mL (Ah)−1) also demonstrates a capacity retention ratio of 92% after 600 cycles. These results highlight the promising application prospects of practical Zn metal batteries enabled by the Zn(TFSI)2-mediated electrolyte engineering.
Evaluation of stability, optical properties, and thermal performance of innovative TiO2/FeVO4 Ethylene Glycol hybrid nanofluids
Authors: Mostafa Eman M. , El-Sherif Rabab M. , Noemy Eman S. , Hammam Rania E.
Published: January 2025

The effectiveness of direct absorption solar collectors (DASCs) is limited due to the low photothermal conversion efficiency and poor heat transfer qualities of traditional fluids. One potential solution to address this problem is the development of innovative technologies to enhance the solar absorption ability and thermal conductivity of conventional fluids. New generation nanofluids where nanosized particles are dispersed in base fluids like water or ethylene glycol (EG) have attracted interest within diverse solar technologies owing to their superior optical and thermal properties. This study presents a novel TiO2/FeVO4/Ethylene glycol (TFV/EG) nanofluid which exhibits significant solar absorption and thermal stability characteristics. A thorough characterization of the samples was conducted utilizing X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Raman Spectroscopy, High-Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy (HRTEM), nitrogen adsorption-desorption isotherms and Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA). The stability, optical and rheological characteristics of TFV nanofluids were also examined. The study’s outcomes indicated that the integration of TFV nanoparticles into ethylene glycol (EG) markedly improved its optical absorption, especially at a concentration of 0.8 g/l TFV, which demonstrated robust absorption in the UV-visible light spectrum. Long-term stability assessments indicated sedimentation for all TFV concentrations following 65 days. A substantial 270% enhancement in thermal conductivity in comparison to EG base fluid was noted at 0.8 g/l TFV reaching 0.83 W·m⁻¹·K⁻¹. All nanofluids exhibited shear-thinning behavior, a hallmark of non-Newtonian fluids. The suggested TFV/EG represents a notable category of nanofluids that exhibited improved thermal performance and stability, rendering them very advantageous for efficient DASCs.
Can school gardens contribute to resilient communities from a scientific and eco-social perspective in early childhood education?
Authors: Aragón Lourdes , Manzano Beatriz Erdozain
Published: January 2025

The use of school gardens in Spain has proliferated significantly since the 1990s. School gardens are learning spaces that have a high educational potential in different areas of knowledge. They represent an opportunity to create greener school environments, mainly in urban areas, allowing students to connect with nature, caring for and conserving the environment, become familiar with the origin of food, and use natural resources responsibly from an early age. In this study, diagnostic research is conducted from a quantitative and qualitative approach. A questionnaire containing 45 close-ended multiple-choice questions and nine open-ended questions is employed. A total of 21 urban schools that use gardens in early childhood education participate. The level of resilience is determined by three indicators (environmental, economic, and social) to which a curriculum dimension is added to assess the use of the school garden from a scientific and eco-social perspective. The results reveal school gardens are valuable spaces to transform urban environments, and contribute to creating resilient communities in response to current challenges. In general, school gardens seem to show a variable level of resilience in which a medium level predominates. Weaknesses are mainly identified in the environmental and social dimensions, and should be addressed in initial and continuing teacher training.
Healthcare financialisation in the Global South: examining the role of the World Bank Group in promoting public private partnerships in health in Africa
Authors: Chukwuma Julia Ngozi , Romero María José , Van Waeyenberge Elisa
Published: January 2025

In recent development policy discourse, an ambition to deliver comprehensive healthcare to all citizens in the Global South via publicly financed provisioning systems has been replaced by calls for universal health coverage (UHC). At the heart of today’s promotion of UHC in the Global South is a strategy to involve private actors as providers and financiers of healthcare. This is presented as an apt approach to overcome an acute financing gap to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 3 on attaining UHC. As part of these efforts, public private partnerships (PPPs) are celebrated as an efficient way of mobilising private sector resources and expertise, including in Africa. The World Bank Group (WBG), as a lead actor in international development, is at the forefront of promoting such a policy solution, despite mounting evidence of the pernicious implications of the increased prevalence of health PPPs across both Global North and South. Our contribution to this Special Issue on healthcare financialisation is twofold. First, we demonstrate how health PPPs can act as vehicles of healthcare financialisation, posing significant threats to equitable healthcare delivery. Second, we examine the WBG’s role in promoting health PPPs in Africa. By doing so, we shed light on the ways in which health PPPs can serve as an important channel for the advancement of financial actors, instruments and practices in national healthcare systems. The WBG’s use of diverse tools in support of health PPPs significantly impacts African healthcare systems, highlighting the scope for ‘financialisation by development policies’.
Moment property and positivity for some algebras of fractions
Authors: Scheiderer Claus , Schmüdgen Konrad
Published: January 2025

T. M. Bisgaard [1] proved that the

$$*$$

∗

-algebra

$$\mathbb {C}[z,\overline{z},z^{-1},\overline{z}^{-1}]$$

C
[
z
,

z
¯

,

z

-
1

,

z
¯

-
1

]

  has the moment property, that is, each positive linear functional on this

$$*$$

∗

-algebra is a moment functional. We generalize this result to polynomials in d variables

$$z_1,\dots ,z_d.$$

z
1

,
⋯
,

z
d

.

We prove that there exist

$$3d-2$$

3
d
-
2

linear polynomials as denominators such that the corresponding

$$*$$

∗

-algebra has the moment property, while for 3 linear polynomials in case

$$d=2$$

d
=
2

the moment property always fails. Further, it is shown that for the real algebras

$$\mathbb {R}[x,y,\frac{1}{x^2+y^2}]$$

R
[
x
,
y
,

1

x
2

+

y
2

]

(the hermitean part of

$$\mathbb {C}[z,\overline{z},z^{-1},\overline{z}^{-1}]$$

C
[
z
,

z
¯

,

z

-
1

,

z
¯

-
1

]

) and

$$\mathbb {R}[x,y,\frac{x^2}{x^2+y^2},\frac{xy}{x^2+y^2}]$$

R
[
x
,
y
,

x
2

x
2

+

y
2

,

xy

x
2

+

y
2

]

, all positive semidefinite elements are sums of squares. These results are used to prove that for the semigroup

$$*$$

∗

-algebras of

$$\mathbb {Z}^2$$

Z

2

,

$$\mathbb {N}_0\times \mathbb {Z}$$

N
0

×
Z

and

$${\textsf{N}}_+:=\{(k,n)\in \mathbb {Z}^2:k+n\ge 0\}$$

N
+

:
=

{

(
k
,
n
)

∈

Z

2

:
k
+
n
≥
0
}

, all positive semidefinite elements are sums of hermitean squares.
Love and Violence in Sierra Leone
Authors: Schneider Luisa T.
Published: January 2025

In the decades following the civil war that took place in Sierra Leone between 1991 and 2002, new laws were passed to rebuild the state, and to prevent rape, teenage pregnancy and domestic violence. In this ethnography, Luisa T. Schneider explores the intricate semantic, empirical and socio-legal dynamics of love and violence in post-conflict Sierra Leone, challenging the oversimplification of these phenomena. Schneider underscores the limitations of imposing singular interpretations on love and violence, advocating for a nuanced, phenomenological approach that reveals how state and institutional attempts to regulate violence and loving relationships without considering local lived experience and meaning-making can yield negative consequences. By analysing how love and violence are historically constituted, experienced, and (re)produced across personal, social, legal, and political levels, this book critiques the construction of violence within gendered sexual relationships by development agencies, law makers and politicians, urging them to engage with local knowledge and experience. This title is also available as Open Access on Cambridge Core.
Battery pack technological considerations for hybrid-electric regional aircraft feasibility
Authors: Spinelli A. , Krupa G.P. , Kipouros T. , Laskaridis P. , Berseneff B.
Published: January 2025

This paper presents a study of the effects of the durability and level of energy storage technology on energy management strategies and the performance of hybrid electric turboprops. The results highlight the key role of battery energy density on the durability of the battery pack and the viability of the concept of hybrid electric aircraft. Additionally, the trade-off between zero-day environmental compatibility and battery lifetime is identified, caused by the size of the pack. The effective energy density would decrease with the aging of the cells, leaving a significant inert mass and increasing fuel consumption. Optimal energy management strategies are suggested in light of this new information. Higher specific energy of the pack would mitigate this aspect, along with a reduction in fuel consumption and

${\rm{N}}{{\rm{O}}_{\rm{x}}}$

emissions. Indeed, the improvement of environmental compatibility was found to be nonlinear with a positive rate, suggesting high returns in investing in great improvements in energy density over a gradual increase. This result relates to the results of the statistical technological forecast presented in this study, which, without an increase in funding, predicts the availability of the specific energy required to match the fuel-only baseline in the 2040–2050 decade.
The Fast Rise of Populist Radical Right Parties: Evidence from the Alliance for the Union of Romanians
Authors: Armeanu Oana I.
Published: January 2025

How did the new Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR) obtain 9% of the vote in the 2020 Romanian general elections? This article explores the fast rise of populist radical right (PRR) parties by examining the support for the AUR at the locality level in Romania during the coronavirus crisis. The AUR's discourse combined populism, nationalism and anti-masking rhetoric. The findings show great variation across the 3,181 localities, from 0% to 50% support for the AUR, and highlight the significant influence of local cultural and political factors, while economic explanations were not confirmed. The vote for the AUR was high in localities with low ethnic diversity and low voter turnout. This research underscores that national-level explanations obscure important dynamics of PRR support that take place at the subnational level. The rise of the AUR is important beyond the Romanian and European contexts and emphasizes the significance of local responses to global crises.
Dearborn English: an ethnolinguistic repertoire for MENA Americans
Authors: Sheydaei Iman
Published: January 2025

This study explores some consonantal and vowel features of the variety of American English spoken in Dearborn, MI. Recent research shows that Dearborners recognize their English variety as distinct. Past studies on Dearborn English have primarily focused on vowel patterns, while some emerging sociolinguistic work has paid attention to the consonantal features. The present study contributes to this emerging literature by presenting a preliminary analysis of some consonantal features of Dearborn English in addition to a description of its vowel pattern. To do so, the speech of MENA Americans in Dearborn has been compared to that of non-Dearborner MENA Americans from the US Upper Midwest. The results show that pre-vocalic word-final /t/ glottalization, convergence of voice onset time of lenis and fortis members of bilabial and velar stops, shorter Euclidean distances for vowels, and a vowel pattern not consistent with local patterns could be parts of an ethnolinguistic repertoire for Dearborners.
Large deviation principle for slow-fast rough differential equations via controlled rough paths
Authors: Yang Xiaoyu , Xu Yong
Published: January 2025

We prove a large deviation principle for the slow-fast rough differential equations (RDEs) under the controlled rough path (RP) framework. The driver RPs are lifted from the mixed fractional Brownian motion (FBM) with Hurst parameter

$H\in (1/3,1/2)$

. Our approach is based on the continuity of the solution mapping and the variational framework for mixed FBM. By utilizing the variational representation, our problem is transformed into a qualitative property of the controlled system. In particular, the fast RDE coincides with Itô stochastic differential equation (SDE) almost surely, which possesses a unique invariant probability measure with frozen slow component. We then demonstrate the weak convergence of the controlled slow component by averaging with respect to the invariant measure of the fast equation and exploiting the continuity of the solution mapping.
The Contribution of Uganda's Constitutional Court Petition No 16 Judgment to the Right of Access to Quality Emergency Obstetric Care under International Law
Authors: Maravall-Buckwalter Isabel , Dubin Adam David , Durojaye Ebenezer
Published: January 2025

On 19 August 2020, the Constitutional Court of Uganda handed down a landmark judgment on maternal health rights in Uganda. This judgment held that the State of Uganda was responsible for violating the right to health, non-discrimination, life and inhuman and degrading treatment of women under international law and Ugandan constitutional law for its failure by omission to provide basic emergency obstetric care in public facilities. This article examines the contribution of the Constitutional Petition No 16 judgment to the strengthening of women's reproductive health rights. By rejecting the “lack of resources” defence when complying with minimum core obligations under progressive realization in the provision of emergency obstetric services, the court makes an important contribution to the limited but growing body of jurisprudence holding governments accountable for a failure to ensure the protection of women's sexual and reproductive rights at both domestic and international levels.
Phylogeography of Pennella (Copepoda: Siphonostomatoida: Pennellidae) indicates interoceanic dispersal mediated by cetacean and fish hosts
Authors: Ten Sofía , Pool Rachel Vanessa , Raga Juan Antonio , Sweet Andrew D. , Aznar Francisco Javier
Published: January 2025

Copepods of the genus Pennella parasitize a wide range of marine animals, including cetaceans, teleosts, and cephalopods worldwide. Their taxonomy is unclear, as there is incongruence between morphological and genetic data and incomplete species coverage. This study provides new morphological and genetic (COI) data from 23 specimens of Pennella cf. filosa (syn. P. balaenoptera) from western Mediterranean whales and a swordfish. First, their position in the phylogeny of Pennella was assessed and species delimitation revisited using all available Pennella COI sequences (n = 189), obtained from Mediterranean and north Pacific specimens from 18 host species (including multiple cetaceans and teleosts). Second, it was investigated whether the geographic location, degree of host vagility, or host taxonomic identity help explain genetic differentiation. Five distinct haplotype groups with varying genetic divergence were distinguished. Although the presence of sibling species cannot be ruled out, species delimitation methods could not find interspecific genetic differences, leaving the taxonomy of the genus unresolved. The observed genetic differentiation could not be attributed to geography or host type. This suggests that members of the genus Pennella show low specificity for definitive hosts and interoceanic dispersal mediated by some vagile definitive hosts. The use of more genetic markers for addressing these questions in the future is encouraged.
Syntactic Structural Development in Chinese deaf Children Aged 4–7 Years with Cochlear Implants
Authors: Wu Yan , Wang Yang , Chen Ying , Huang Jian , Wang Suiping
Published: January 2025

Using the syntactic priming paradigm, this study investigated abstract syntactic knowledge of Chinese transitive structures (i.e., subject-verb-object [SVO], BA, and BEI) in deaf children with cochlear implants (CIs). Specifically, we focused on the differences in the development of various syntactic structures (within CI children and compared with their typically hearing children) and the possible individual differences during this process. Results showed that both CI and hearing children exhibited structural priming for all syntactic structures (i.e., SVO, SbaOV structure [agent-patient ordering], and ObeiSV structure [patient-agent ordering]) after comprehending and repeating the prime sentence regardless of verb repetition. However, verb repetition induced an intense abstract priming effect in CI children but not hearing children, with the lexical boost effect more significant for SVO and BA structures. In addition, CI children’s working memory capability modulated the production of the BA structure but not SVO and BEI structures.