Search Results (25)

‘King of the North’ (‘KON’), as a cold-hardy grape, has many advantages, such as tolerance to a wide range of soil conditions and harsh winter climate. Due to the adapting demand of North Dakota’s fruit and wine industry, optimized quality of wine from regionally productive grapevines is required. In this study, yeast strain, one of the primary fermentation tactics, was tested on ‘KON’ grapes. Five different commercial yeast strains, including 71B, EC1118, Maurivin B, Rhône 4600, and W15, were added to initiate fermentation. The analysis of grape must characteristics and the fermentation dynamic changes indicated a high correlation between color and acid metrics. Yeast strains have influenced the color dynamic changes and fermentation process. The panelist sensory evaluations confirmed that yeast strains contributed differently to the perceived aromas and flavors within ‘KON’ wines. Rose, apple, grape, and apricot aromas were distinguished in ‘KON’ wines. The lemon taste was the dominant flavor detected in ‘KON’ wines. However, wines were also varied based on the extent of the aroma or taste observed. Therefore, exploring the use of different yeast strains for fermentation provides information for further application to cold-hardy grape cultivars and other high-acid fruit, aiding winemakers in using North American grapes with diverse fruit chemistry. Full article

Barrow Island, off the coast of north-west Western Australia, supports a rich subterranean amphipod fauna amid major resource development. Previous biological surveys for the purpose of species documentation and environmental impact assessment have helped to uncover a once overlooked genus of amphipod from the family Eriopisidae. Here, we describe this new genus and one new species, Aenigmata megabranchia Stringer and King gen. et sp. nov., using a combination of molecular and morphological data, and present a key to Western Australian subterranean eriopisid genera. The new genus represents a distinct, genetically divergent lineage that can be distinguished from all other eriopisid genera by the following characters: the shape and setation of the mouthparts, the enlarged coxal gills, the straight posterior margin of the first coxa, and an almost entirely cleft telson. This research enhances our knowledge of the Australian Eriopisidae, emphasises the importance of Barrow Island as a key location for subterranean amphipod fauna, and will assist in the future recognition of the species for conservation. Full article

Used to mark devotion to the main propagators of Jainism, namely the Jina (arhat), the Liberated Souls (siddha), the Teachers (ācārya), the spiritual Guides (guru), the Preceptors (upādhyāya), and the monks (muṇi), the formula of homage to the five supreme entities (pañcanamaskāra) underwent a significant development in the medieval period where it became a mantra protecting against all evils and violence and symbolising Jainism in its entirety and its respect for life in all its forms amidst the various Indian religions. In the present paper, I intend to investigate how the formula was used in largely unknown romance poems composed in the Prakrit language by Jaina scholar monks in medieval North India between the 8th and 12th centuries. Particular attention will be paid to how the writer monks used the formula of homage in the narrative to avoid the use of violence. The analysis will also focus on the development of the formula in the hymns of praise of the romance poems and study its significance in the context of the spread of Jainism at the turn of the first millennium, a period that led to the advent of King Kumārapāla, who has remained famous in history not only for the imposing monuments he left behind, but also for his conversion to Jainism and his governance according to principles of non-violence. Full article

The performance of photovoltaic solar panels is influenced by their temperature, so there is a need for a tool that can accurately and instantly predict the panel temperature. This paper presents an analysis of the panel temperature’s dependence on atmospheric parameters at an operational photovoltaic park in the semi-arid north of Chile using Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs). We applied the back-propagation algorithm to train the model by using the atmospheric variables tilted solar radiation (TSR), air temperature, and wind speed measured in the park. The ANN model’s effectiveness was evaluated by comparing it to five different deterministic models: the Standard model, King’s model, Faiman’s model, Mattei’s model, and Skoplaki’s model. Additionally, we examined the sensitivity of panel temperature to changes in air temperature, TSR, and wind speed. Our findings show that the ANN model had the best prediction accuracy for panel temperature, with a Root Mean Squared Error (RMSE) of 1.59 °C, followed by Mattei’s model with a higher RMSE of 3.30 °C. We also determined that air temperature has the most significant impact on panel temperature, followed by TSR and wind speed. These results demonstrate that the ANN is a powerful tool for predicting panel temperature with high accuracy. Full article

There are ongoing debates globally regarding excessive executive compensation, the perceived weak link between pay and performance, and the widening inequality gap. The South African corporate governance code King IV’s Principle 14 addresses the need for fair, responsible, and transparent remuneration. At the same time, the newly enacted Companies Amendment Act No. 16 of 2024 in South Africa emphasizes transparency in compensation, shareholder voting, and responding to shareholder feedback. This study conducts a systematic literature review of 30 articles on the transparency of executive remuneration disclosures and their determinants by analyzing Scopus-indexed articles published between 2010 and 2023, selected through specific keyword searches. The findings suggest an increasing focus on research regarding the disclosure of executive compensation, predominantly conducted in the Global North and primarily framed through agency theory. Studies exploring the factors influencing executive remuneration and the relationship between pay and performance are prevalent, with mixed results generally indicating a positive connection. Firm size emerges as a key factor in transparency, and many studies employ binary scoring to evaluate whether executive compensation disclosure is present. This paper provides valuable insights for investors, analysts, and policymakers and adds to the current understanding of executive remuneration transparency. Full article

Despite countless advances in recent years, exploration for volcanogenic massive sulfide (VMS) deposits remains challenging. This is particularly the case in the Yilgarn Craton of Western Australia, where outcrop is limited, weathering is deep and extensive, and metamorphism is variable. At Erayinia in the southern Kurnalpi terrane, intercepts of VMS-style mineralization occur along ~35 km strike length of stratigraphy, and a small Zn (-Cu) deposit has been defined at King (2.15 Mt at 3.47% Zn). An extensive aircore and reverse circulation drilling campaign on the regional stratigraphy identified additional VMS targets, including the King North prospect. Through a combination of detailed rock chip logging, petrography (inc. SEM imaging), and lithogeochemistry, we have reconstructed the volcanic stratigraphy and alteration halos associated with the King North prospect. Hydrothermal alteration assemblages and geochemical characteristics at King North (Mg-Si-K enrichment, Na depletion, and high Sb, Tl, Eu/Eu*, alteration index, CCPI, and normative corundum abundance values) are consistent with an overturned VMS system. The overturned footwall stratigraphy at King North is dominated by metamorphosed volcanic rocks, namely the following: garnet amphibolite (tholeiitic, basaltic), biotite amphibolite (andesitic, calc-alkaline), chlorite–quartz schist (dacitic), and narrow horizons of muscovite–quartz schist (dacitic to rhyolitic, HFSE-enriched). The hanging-wall to the Zn-bearing sequence is characterized by quartz–albite schists (metasedimentary rocks) and thick sequences of amphibolite (calc-alkaline, basaltic andesite). An iron-rich unit (>25% Fe₂O₃) of chlorite–actinolite–quartz schist, interpreted as a meta-exhalite, is associated with significant Cu-Au mineralization, adjacent to a likely syn-volcanic fault. Extensive Mg metasomatism of the immediate felsic footwall is represented by muscovite–chlorite schist. Diamond drilling into the deep hanging-wall stratigraphy at both King North and King has also revealed the potential for additional, stacked VMS prospective horizons in the greenstone belt stratigraphy. The discovery of HFSE-enriched rhyolites, zones of muscovite–chlorite schist, presence of abundant sulfide-rich argillaceous metasedimentary rocks, and a second upper meta-exhalite horizon further expand the exploration potential of the King–King North region. Our combined petrographic and lithogeochemical approach demonstrates that complex volcanic lithologies and VMS alteration signatures can be established across variably metamorphosed greenstone belts. This has wider implications for more cost-effective exploration across the Yilgarn Craton, utilizing RC drilling to reconstruct the local geology and identify proximal halos, and limiting more costly diamond drilling to key areas of complex geology and deeper EM targets. Full article

Cyprus with its rich cultural heritage has been the showcase of ornamentation throughout history with a rich variety of materials, details, and narratives. Integrating ornamentation with its body architecture can be seen as one of the storytellers of these narratives through design elements. After the mid-1990s when casinos had been banned in Turkey, five-star casino hotels became one of the main investment areas in North Cyprus. Together with this new building type and new users’ expectations with a new understanding of holidays, the 21st century brought the changing use of ornamentation in hotel interiors and, hence, decoration came to the fore more than before. Hotel lobbies welcoming the users to their second homes and introducing the hotels’ identities have always been seen as the most important area of hotels by investors, designers, and hotel managers. Sometimes the reception areas were perceived as the living room of the hotel customers where they feel attached culturally, socially, or economically, and sometimes it could be a place where they can feel themselves as one of the characters of ancient history, a king or a queen for a while. Hence, hotel interiors, in general, and hotel lobbies, in particular, acted as a cultural representative, a social status symbol, and a political image of the story told. The aim of this paper is to examine five-star hotel lobbies within the framework of ornamentation through a reading model created with the concepts used by theoreticians. Together with the site visits and visual recordings, the analysis conducted in this paper is based on qualitative data incorporated by a rich theoretical background on ornamentation. The paper tries to highlight the representational value of ornamentation that can help to understand and interpret the spatial transformation of hotel interiors. Full article

A total of fourteen diverse, interspecific hybrid grapevines (Vitis spp.) were evaluated for their adaptability to North Dakota winter conditions using differential thermal analysis (DTA) of low-temperature exotherms (LTE) and bud cross-sectional assessment of survival techniques. This research was conducted in two vineyard locations in eastern North Dakota. This work demonstrates the use of DTA for monitoring and selecting cultivars capable of withstanding sub-zero temperatures. These results were assessed for quantitative genetic traits. High heritability was observed for bud LTE traits and may thus be a useful target for cold hardiness breeding programs; however, it is necessary to ensure that variance is reduced when pooling multiple sample events. After DTA sampling, grapevines were assessed for survival of primary and secondary dormant buds using cross-sectional visual evaluation of death. ‘Valiant’ had the greatest primary bud survival (68%), followed by ‘Frontenac gris’, ‘Crimson Pearl’, and ‘King of the North’. These varieties are among those with potential for production in eastern North Dakota’s environment. The newly evaluated relationships between traits and the heritability of DTA results provide valuable tools to grapevine breeders for the development of cold-tolerant genotypes for future climatic challenges. Full article

The Four Heavenly Kings, Sida Tianwang 四大天王, are the guardians of the four quarters of the world in Buddhism. They are among the most frequently represented protective deities in Buddhist art across different traditions. In their standard iconographies developed in China popular during the Ming and Qing dynasties (1368–1911), they wear full armor, and each holds exclusive attributes—lute (pipa 琵琶), sword, snake, and parasol—from the east, south, west, to the north respectively. There is no direct textual base in the Chinese cannon for such iconographies. Neither can we find prototypes in India or central Asia. Indeed, how did this iconographic group develop in China? In the past, since the standard iconographies of the Four Heavenly Kings are clear, and identification is no problem, comprehensive in-depth study on this is lacking. Actually, those attributes came from a Tantric tradition related to Tibetan Buddhism filtered through the Xi Xia (1036–1227) and Yuan (1206–1368). What revealed in the development of this iconography is the complex relationship among the Tibetan, Tanguts, Mongols, and Chinese Buddhism. Full article

Inscriptions of Buddhist mantras and dhāraṇīs were interred in Chinese tombs on behalf of the deceased from the Tang dynasty onward as the fear of postmortem judgment and punishment in the ten courts of hell became firmly rooted. This notion of the afterlife and the practice of enclosing dhāraṇī inscriptions in tombs seem to have been received by Korean Buddhists by the beginning of the Koryŏ (918–1392). This paper, through a close examination of a wooden inner coffin excavated in 2014 from a tomb in Nongso-myŏn, Ullim-ri, Sunch’ang-gun, North Chŏlla Province of Korea, sheds new light on the use of dhāraṇī on funerary objects and structures during the Koryŏ. The coffin bears, on its lacquered exterior walls, inscriptions of the Mantra of the Six-Syllable King of Great Clarities (Oṃ maṇi padme hūṃ) and the Mantra for Shattering Hell (Oṃ karadeya svāhā). While defining the dhāraṇī coffin from Nongso Tomb as one form of funerary dhāraṇī, this paper situates it in the historical trajectory of such practice by comparing it with Liao (916–1125) precedents. The dhāraṇī coffins from Koryŏ and Liao tombs attest that the Buddhists made use of mantras and dhāraṇīs promising salvation of the deceased from hell during their lifetime and beyond. This study shows that two different kinds of dhāraṇīs, which are similarly named and believed to have the power of shattering hell, were practiced by Chinese and Korean Buddhists. It also proposes that the Mantra for Shattering Hell (Oṃ karadeya svāhā) may have been transmitted to the Korean peninsula as part of the food bestowal ritual before its incorporation into the funerary context. Full article

Ageratina adenophora (Spreng.) R.M.King & H.Rob. is one of the most threatening invasive alien plants in China. Since its initial invasion into Yunnan in the 1940s, it spread rapidly northward to southern Mount Nyba in Sichuan, which lies on the eastern edge of the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau. During fieldwork, we found an interesting phenomenon: A. adenophora failed to expand northward across Mount Nyba, even after the opening of the 10 km tunnel, which could have served as a potential corridor for its spread. In this work, to explore the key factors influencing its distribution and spread patterns, we used a combination of ensemble species distribution models with the MigClim model. We found that the temperature annual range (TAR), precipitation of driest month (PDM), highway density (HW), and wind speed (WS) were the most predominant factors affecting its distribution. The north of Mount Nyba is not suitable for A. adenophora survival due to higher TAR. The spatial–temporal dynamic invasion simulation using MigClim further illustrated that the northward invasion of A. adenophora was stopped by Mount Nyba. Overall, Mount Nyba may act as a topographic barrier that causes environmental differences between its south and north sides, preventing the northward invasion of A. adenophora. However, other suitable habitats on the northern side of the mountain still face challenges because A. adenophora is likely to invade via other routes. Therefore, long-term monitoring is needed to prevent human-induced long-distance spread events. Full article

Occupational heat exposure is associated with substantial morbidity and mortality among outdoor workers. We sought to descriptively evaluate spatiotemporal variability in heat threshold exceedances and describe potential impacts of these exposures for crop and construction workers. We also present general considerations for approaching heat policy-relevant analyses. We analyzed county-level 2011–2020 monthly employment (Bureau of Labor Statistics Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages) and environmental exposure (Parameter-elevation Relationships on Independent Slopes Model (PRISM)) data for Washington State (WA), USA, crop (North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) 111 and 1151) and construction (NAICS 23) sectors. Days exceeding maximum daily temperature thresholds, averaged per county, were linked with employment estimates to generate employment days of exceedances. We found spatiotemporal variability in WA temperature threshold exceedances and crop and construction employment. Maximum temperature exceedances peaked in July and August and were most numerous in Central WA counties. Counties with high employment and/or high numbers of threshold exceedance days, led by Yakima and King Counties, experienced the greatest total employment days of exceedances. Crop employment contributed to the largest proportion of total state-wide employment days of exceedances with Central WA counties experiencing the greatest potential workforce burden of exposure. Considerations from this analysis can help inform decision-making regarding thresholds, timing of provisions for heat rules, and tailoring of best practices in different industries and areas. Full article

The red king crab (RKC) is a large invasive species inhabiting bottom communities in the Barents Sea. Larval stages of RKC play an important role in determining the spread and recruitment of the population in the coastal waters. We present a review of studies concerned with the ecology of RKC larvae in the Barents Sea focusing on their dynamics and role in the trophic food webs as well as on the role of environmental factors in driving RKC zoeae. Zoeal stages are larger, and their development time is shorter in the Barents Sea compared to the North Pacific. RKC larvae appear in late January–February and can be found in the coastal plankton until mid-July. Mass hatching of RKC larvae in the Barents Sea starts in late March-early April. The highest densities of RKC larvae are located in small semi-enclosed bays and inlets with weak water exchange or local eddies as well as in inner parts of fjords. Size structures of the zoeal populations are similar in the inshore waters to the west of Kola Bay but slightly differ from those in more eastern regions. RKC larvae perform daily vertical migrations and move to deeper depths during bright daylight hours and tend to rise during night hours. RKC larvae are plankton feeders that ingest both phyto- and zooplankton. A set of environmental variables including food conditions, water temperature, and advective influence are the most important factors driving the spatial distribution, phenology, survival rates, development, growth, and interannual fluctuations of RKC larvae. Recent climatic changes in the Arctic may have both negative and positive consequences for RKC larvae. Full article

Discreditation of the monoclinic tourmaline mineral species luinaite-(OH), ideally (Na,▯)(Fe²⁺,Mg)₃Al₆(BO₃)₃Si₆O₁₈(OH)₄ was approved by the IMA-CNMNC (proposal 21-L) and is described. We analyzed two luinaite-(OH) samples: one from the type locality Cleveland tin mine, Luina, Waratah, Tasmania, Australia, and the other from Blue Mountain Saddle (Bald Hornet Claim), North Bend, King County, Washington, DC, USA. Biaxial (−) crystals representative of the studied samples were spectroscopically (Mössbauer, polarized Fourier transform infrared, optical absorption spectroscopy), chemically (nuclear microprobe analysis and electron microprobe analysis), and structurally characterized (single-crystal X-ray diffraction). Results show the occurrence of a triclinic structure for the studied luinaite-(OH) samples, which differs only in terms of a slight structural distortion from typical trigonal tourmaline structure (the topology of the structure is retained). As a result, following the IMA-CNMNC and tourmaline nomenclature rules, the triclinic luinaite-(OH) from the type locality (Australia) can be considered as the triclinic dimorph of schorl, as its chemical composition corresponds to schorl, and thus it should be referred as schorl-1A. Similarly, the triclinic sample from the USA can be considered as the triclinic dimorph of oxy-dravite, as its chemical composition corresponds to oxy-dravite, and then is referred to as oxy-dravite-1A. Full article

Background and Objectives: Sarcomas are rare malignant tumors of mesenchymal origin. Their low prevalence and histological heterogeneity make their diagnosis a challenging task. To the best of our knowledge, the epidemiology of soft tissue sarcomas (STSs) was not well studied in Jordan. This study thus aimed to determine STS epidemiologic trends at King Abdullah University Hospital (KAUH); a tertiary hospital that provides cancer healthcare for 70% of the population in Irbid Governorate, North Jordan. The findings of this study will provide a good reference point of the burden of STSs in Jordan and the Middle East region. Materials and Methods: All cases with confirmed STS diagnoses who attended KAUH from January 2003 until December 2018 were included in the initial analysis. Bone sarcomas, gastrointestinal stromal tumors and uterine sarcomas were not included in the study. Information collected from the pathology reports and electronic medical records was used to determine STS prevalence, incidence rate, age and gender distributions, histological types and anatomic location. Cases were reviewed by three pathologists with interest in soft tissue tumors. The findings were compared with literature. Results: In total, 157 STS cases were reported (1.9% of cancers diagnosed at KAUH during the 16-year study period). Crude annual incidence rate (IR) per 100,000 person-years ranged from 0.48 in 2015 to 1.83 in 2011 (average = 1.04). Age-standardized IR (ASR)_{(World WHO 2000–2025)} was 1.37. Male:female ratio was 1.3:1. Median age was 39 years. Age ranged from <1 year to 90 years. Overall STS rates increased with age. The most common histological types were liposarcoma (19%), rhabdomyosarcoma (17%) and leiomyosarcoma (10%). The most common anatomic location was the extremity (40.1%), followed by the trunk (14.7%), then head and neck (10.8%). Conclusion: STSs are rare in North Jordan. A slight increase in their incidence was identified during the study period similar to global trends. The collection of relevant data on established risk factors along with a broader scale evaluation of the epidemiology of STS in the Middle East region is recommended to better evaluate disease burden and trends. Full article