Search Results (2,740)

To understand how habitat heterogeneity drives fungal community assembly in different habitats of the pied avocet (Recurvirostra avosetta), we analyzed four habitat types (water bodies, aquatic plants, soil, and nest sediments) using high-throughput sequencing. A total of 9980 ASVs (Amplicon Sequence Variants) were detected, with only 68 shared across all habitats, indicating strong community differentiation. Ascomycota and Basidiomycota dominated (50–60% relative abundance), reflecting fungal adaptability to wetlands. Water bodies showed significantly higher alpha diversity than aquatic plants and nest sediments. Beta diversity and principal coordinates analysis (PCoA) revealed closer similarity in fungal composition between water and aquatic plant communities, whereas soil and nest sediments formed distinct clusters. PERMANOVA based on binary Jaccard distances further confirmed that habitat type explained 10.9% of the variation in fungal community structure (R² = 0.109, p = 0.001). LEfSe (LDA Effect Size) identified habitat-specific indicator taxa, supporting niche filtering and competitive exclusion as selection mechanisms. The co-occurrence network was dominated by positive correlations, suggesting metabolic complementarity that maintains ecosystem stability. Unclassified fungi accounted for 18–22% of communities, representing untapped fungal resources. These findings support that habitat heterogeneity governs multi-media fungal assembly, revealing how microhabitat conditions regulate fungal composition, diversity, and interactions. This study provides a theoretical basis for biodiversity conservation and ecological restoration in avocet habitats. Full article

Ziziphus mauritiana Lam. (ber or Indian jujube) is a stress-tolerant dryland fruit tree valued for its nutritious fruit and ability to grow on marginal land. However, the phenotypic, cytotypic and genetic structure of its wild-growing/naturalized germplasm in Pakistan remains poorly characterized. This study provides an integrated assessment of phenotypic, cytotypic and simple-sequence-repeat (SSR) diversity in 100 wild-growing/naturalized accessions collected from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab and Sindh to establish a baseline for conservation and germplasm management. We recorded 37 morphological and biochemical traits, estimated ploidy levels by flow cytometry (using diploid Z. jujuba ‘Dongzao’ as a reference), and genotyped a representative subset of 60 accessions with 14 SSR markers scored as a binary presence/absence matrix. Substantial phenotypic variation was observed, especially in canopy architecture, leaf traits and stone-related characteristics; fruit quality traits (total soluble solids, vitamin C, and acidity) varied within a narrower range. Province explained only a modest proportion of phenotypic variation (PERMANOVA R² = 0.059–0.109; p < 0.01), with extensive overlap among regions. Flow cytometry revealed polyploid diversity: hexaploid (2n = 6x = 72) accessions dominated (46.7%), followed by octoploid (2n = 8x = 96; 31.7%) and tetraploid (2n = 4x = 48; 21.7%) cytotypes. SSR analysis showed moderate within-province diversity (Nei’s H ≈ 0.51) but negligible genetic differentiation among provinces (R² = 0.030; p = 0.60; Φ ≈ −0.011), indicating weak geographic structuring. Wild-growing/naturalized Z. mauritiana in Pakistan forms a diverse, weakly structured gene pool in which most variation occurs within rather than among provinces. Sampling for conservation and germplasm management should, therefore, prioritize phenotypic distinctiveness, cytotype representation and ecological context rather than geographic origin alone. Experimental validation of any adaptive or agronomic advantages of particular cytotypes is needed before breeding recommendations can be made. Full article

Hydrogen is a clean fuel with the highest specific energy density and is central to net-zero goals, but its low volumetric energy density creates storage challenges that limit capacity and complicate deployment. Gas hydrates are hydrogen-bonded crystalline solids composed of water molecules forming polyhedral cages that trap gas molecules (guests). Pure hydrogen hydrates can achieve storage capacities comparable to or exceeding conventional systems and U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) targets, but their requirement for extreme pressures and low temperatures limits practical use. Thermodynamic promoters such as tetrahydrofuran (THF) substantially reduce formation pressures but displace hydrogen, therefore reducing capacity. We employ density functional theory (DFT) to examine how guest occupancy affects storage capacity in H₂-THF binary hydrates, leveraging atomic-level control not accessible experimentally. We identify a two-step structural response to increasing H₂ loading: an initial uniform lattice expansion that accommodates additional guests, followed by heterogeneous deformation that defines the upper occupancy limits. Using these occupancy ceilings, we find that binary hydrates can exceed DOE targets when THF loading is sufficiently low. These atomistic insights clarify the mechanisms underlying occupancy-driven structural behaviour and establish theoretical limits that can guide the design and optimization of hydrate-based hydrogen storage materials. Full article

Wearable fitness trackers are increasingly popular for monitoring health-related metrics, yet their ownership patterns across socioeconomic, demographic, and gender-diverse populations remain underexplored at a population level. This study utilized data from the NIH All of Us Research Program to investigate how area-level socioeconomic status, race, and gender identity influence wearable device ownership. Methods. Data were analyzed from 633,547 participants from the All of Us Dataset. Fitbit ownership was modeled with four binary logistic regression models: a demographics-only model, a ZIP3-level socioeconomic indicators model, and a combined model incorporating four demographic × median household income interactions (race, gender, age, and Hispanic/Latino ethnicity), and an intersectional model adding a race x gender interaction. Continuous socioeconomic predictors were rescaled for interpretability (median income per USD 10,000; area-level fractions per 10 percentage points). Socioeconomic-adjusted models were restricted to 606,414 participants with available ZIP3-linked data. Fitbit ownership was defined as having a Fitbit record in the database. Results. Fitbit ownership was observed in 8.34% of the study population. Logistic regression analyses revealed significant demographic disparities: female participants and gender-diverse identities had significantly higher odds of ownership than males (OR = 1.25–2.2). Black or African American (OR = 0.38) and NHPI/MENA (OR = 0.82) participants had lower odds compared to White participants, while Asian (OR = 1.13), more than one race (OR = 1.25), and Hispanic or Latino (OR = 1.25) participants had higher odds. Each USD 10,000 increase in ZIP3 median household income was associated with 12.5% lower odds of ownership overall (OR = 0.875), but this gradient varied significantly by race. For Black or African American participants, the relationship reversed direction (OR = 1.08 per $10,000). A race x gender interaction further showed that female ownership was not uniform across race, being the largest among Black or African American participants (OR = 2.27) and reversed among Asian participants (OR = 0.87). ZIP3 socioeconomic data were structurally unavailable for all American Indian or Alaska Native participants due to the All of Us program’s small-population ZIP3 aggregation policy, precluding their inclusion in socioeconomic-adjusted models. Conclusions. This analysis demonstrates significant gender, racial, and socioeconomic disparities in wearable fitness tracker ownership, showing significantly higher device usage among females and gender-diverse individuals, but lower usage among certain racial groups and a seemingly contradictory negative ownership rates among higher socioeconomic levels. Ownership patterns nonetheless appear more equitable than in consumer cohorts, likely reflecting the device-provision programs undertaken by the NIH. Full article

Formaldehyde (HCHO), a prevalent indoor air pollutant released from furniture and building materials, poses significant health risks due to its carcinogenic nature. In this study, a binary cuprous oxide–titanium dioxide (Cu₂O–TiO₂) composite photocatalyst was synthesized via a hydrothermal method to enable efficient visible-light-driven degradation of gaseous formaldehyde at ambient temperature. The structural, morphological, and optical properties of the as-prepared catalysts were characterized using XRD, SEM, TEM, EDX, and UV-Vis spectroscopy. While pristine Cu₂O exhibited a formaldehyde degradation efficiency of approximately 68% under white light illumination, the incorporation of TiO₂ markedly enhanced the photocatalytic performance. Among the different mass ratios tested, the Cu₂O–TiO₂ (1:1) composite demonstrated the highest activity, achieving 83% degradation of formaldehyde within 240 min under white light. Enhanced performance is attributed to the formation of a heterojunction that reduces the effective bandgap, promotes charge separation, and suppresses electron–hole recombination. Additionally, the generation of carbon dioxide and water as end products confirmed complete mineralization. The catalyst also showed good reusability, retaining over 81% efficiency after five cycles. This work presents a cost-effective, stable, and visible-light-active Cu₂O–TiO₂ heterojunction photocatalyst with strong potential for indoor air purification applications. Full article

The optical counterpart of the gravitational wave event GW170817, known as kilonova, has provided strong evidence that binary neutron star mergers are favourable sites to host the r-process nucleosynthesis. Kilonova is a quasi-thermal electromagnetic emission powered by the radioactive decay of heavy neutron-rich nuclei produced by the r-process. Considering the variety of elements contributing to kilonova ejecta, essential information about its composition can be achieved through spectral characterisation, radiative transfer simulations, and opacities. The latter represents one of the most challenging aspects of the modelling, as it relies on accurate atomic structure calculations of energy levels and transitions. Since light r-process elements are major opacity contributors in early (<2 days) scenario, this work focuses on atomic calculations for Zr I–IV. Energy levels and bound-bound transitions are determined using the GRASP2018 code, assuming two different datasets for each ionisation stage: one including, and one excluding core-core and core-valence correlations. Results demonstrate that the inclusion of f shell and core correlations impacts on both energy levels and transitions. A systematic assessment of the accuracy is performed through detailed comparisons with the NIST ASD and literature references. Finally, these Zr data are integrated on the open access MARTINI platform. Full article

While individual determinants of students’ well-being are well established, less is known about the association with the institutional context. This study evaluates institutional-level factors associated with students’ mental health while controlling for individual characteristics. The cross-sectional analysis used data from 12 German institutions (n = 13,715) collected in the StudiBiFra survey on study conditions and student mental health. Individual-level variables included gender, age, study subject group, and four mental health variables (general well-being, depressiveness, cognitive stress, and exhaustion). Institution-level variables comprised institution type, excellence status, multi-campus structure, size, and satisfaction with the quality of health promotion services. Multilevel binary logistic regression models were applied to examine associations between institutional characteristics and mental health outcomes, adjusting for individual factors. Students enrolled at universities of applied sciences showed a lower likelihood of reporting depressiveness and exhaustion. Higher levels of depressiveness and cognitive stress were observed among students at medium-sized institutions compared to small ones. Students not enrolled at institutions with excellence status had lower risks of depressiveness, stress, and exhaustion. Additionally, higher satisfaction with institutional health promotion services was associated with reduced odds of depressiveness. Institutional factors are related to students’ mental health beyond individual characteristics, highlighting the need for a holistic, setting-based approach. Full article

Whānau (family) is a foundational unit of Māori social organisation, and the replacement of Māori family structures with Western nuclear models is widely regarded as among the most significant tools of colonisation. As Māori move toward decolonisation and re-Indigenisation, approaches to family and identity are shifting from imported structures. However, takatāpui and irahuhua (LGBTQ+ and gender-diverse Māori) are rarely explicitly included in these movements. Contemporary framings of whānau within Māori discourse can inadvertently reiterate colonial talking points, particularly regarding binary gender roles, divisions of labour, and the boundaries of what constitutes whānau. Building on takatāpui scholarship and the findings from three separate wānanga (targeted collective conversations) across a 1.5-year period with 18 irahuhua participants, the article examines the contrasts and connections between “coming out” and “coming in” to tradition and whānau. These conversations revealed that when participants enact self-determination and “come in” to their whānau, they demonstrate pathways to strengthen and restore Māori understandings of whānau and challenge the role of historic inquiry in modern Māori politics. Grounded in one wānanga participant’s understanding that “family pressures that make you feel divided [are] just what the coloniser wanted,” this article explores how takatāpui and irahuhua strengthen their communities and demonstrate sovereignty in settler contexts. Full article

This study examines how the 4Es framework—Experience, Exchange, Everyplace, and Evangelism—influences online cosmetics purchase behavior in Thailand, addressing the growing importance of digital consumer engagement in emerging markets. A mixed-methods approach was employed, combining quantitative data from a structured survey with qualitative insights from semi-structured interviews. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to assess the effects and predictive power of the 4Es and selected demographic and behavioral variables. The results indicate that all four dimensions significantly influence purchase behavior, with Evangelism emerging as the strongest predictor, followed by Experience, Everyplace, and Exchange. The model demonstrates strong predictive capability, highlighting the importance of behavioral factors such as platform usage, purchase frequency, and social media engagement, while several demographic variables show limited influence. Qualitative findings further support these results, revealing that consumers place strong emphasis on social influence, emotional engagement, and convenience in their online shopping experiences. The study concludes that online cosmetics purchase behavior is shaped by a combination of experiential, relational, and socially driven factors, with social influence playing a dominant role. These findings demonstrate that the 4Es framework remains highly relevant in digitally mediated consumer environments, where purchase decisions are increasingly influenced by interactive experiences, omnichannel accessibility, value co-creation, and consumer advocacy. By integrating quantitative and qualitative evidence, the study extends the application of the 4Es framework beyond traditional marketing contexts and demonstrates its value as a comprehensive model for understanding consumer engagement and online purchasing behavior in contemporary digital marketplaces. The mixed-methods approach provides both generalizable and contextually grounded insights, offering theoretical contributions to digital marketing literature and practical guidance for marketers seeking to strengthen consumer engagement and brand advocacy in increasingly competitive online markets. Full article

The work is a continuation of studies , focused on the development of fundamental principles of aluminum activation by low-melting metals forming eutectic alloys with fine-grained structure and limited solid solubility. The aim of this work is to investigate the mechanism and kinetics of the interaction of aluminum-based eutectic alloys with water and aqueous electrolytes. Analysis of phase diagrams of binary systems (Al–Ga, Al–In, In–Ga, Al–Sn, Sn–Ga, Al–Zn, Zn–Ga) shows that alloy composition governs surface heterogeneity and reactivity. Ternary and quaternary systems (Al–In–Ga, Al–Sn–Ga, Al–In–Sn–Ga) exhibit enhanced interaction with water due to increased heterogeneity, leading to the formation of numerous microgalvanic couples and accelerated aluminum dissolution. The process is characterized by the stationary potential of aluminum and involves coupled chemical, electrochemical, and topochemical stages described by the Avrami–Erofeev equation, with n ≈ 1.27–2.07. An increase in the In–Ga or In–Sn–Ga fraction reduces the activation energy: 9.1 kcal/mol (82% Al–9% Ga–9% Sn), 11.4 kcal/mol (92% Al–4% Ga–4% In), and 15.5 kcal/mol (91% Al–3% Ga–3% In–3% Sn). Full article

Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) technology allows for the creation of unique hardware implementations based on mass-produced chips. The process of project prototyping for such systems using Hardware Description Languages (HDLs) remains complex, even with modern tools. The comparison of HDL coding styles, for example, a behavioral case statement against a structural binary-tree decomposition, shows that the choice is capable of affecting post-implementation timing and area. The performed study, using the open-source yosys/nextpnr toolchain, shows that the validity of such a comparison is decided by the fabric domain. Logic that falls through to generic Look-Up Table (LUT) mapping is governed by the mapper’s heuristic fixed point rather than by source intent: on the crossbar, the behavioral and structural netlists become identical in cell composition; on the priority encoder, the verdict reverses; and on the barrel shifter, the LUT area collapses, so the comparison does not isolate the coding-style variable. It was measured that the keep_hierarchy attribute restores a meaningful comparison at ~17% LUT cost (N = 8) and provides a structural invariant to the ABC mapper variant, but the behavioral result is mapper-sensitive and the N = 4 verdict reverses under the legacy -noabc9 mapper (Cohen’s d from +2.4 to −1.6). By contrast, logic that involves a dedicated primitive before LUT mapping—an adder bound to the carry chain or a multiplier bound to a DSP block—yields source-meaningful verdicts that do not reverse with a mapper. Replication on a second fabric (Lattice iCE40) confirms that this behavior is fabric- rather than vendor-specific. The main contribution of this work is the proposed first fabric-domain characterization of synthesis canonicalization as a methodological hazard for cross-HDL FPGA studies on open-source toolchains, which identifies the two-phase synthesis mechanism that delimits it and supplies a decision rule (inspect post-synthesis composition) to identify whether a given comparison is susceptible. Full article

Background/Objectives: Rehospitalization after traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) is common, but binary or count summaries may obscure heterogeneity in timing, recurrence, frequency, and duration. We aimed to identify clinically interpretable rehospitalization burden profiles in the SCIMS 2021ARPublic dataset and examine descriptive associations with clinical correlates and participation outcomes. Methods: We analyzed Form I, Form II, and Record Status public-use files. Among 29,310 individuals with at least one non-lost follow-up interview, 28,745 with at least one non-missing rehospitalization indicator entered latent class analysis. Four prespecified indicators captured early, recurrent, frequent, and prolonged rehospitalization. Candidate two- through six-class models were compared using AIC, BIC, entropy, class size, posterior probabilities, and interpretability. Pairwise adjusted logistic models examined candidate clinical correlates in 10,407 participants with complete 2016+ follow-up data. Adjusted linear models examined CHART participation domains in 20,766–20,949 participants. Results: A four-profile solution was retained: low rehospitalization burden (59.8%), early/prolonged rehospitalization (18.9%), frequent/prolonged rehospitalization (7.7%), and high recurrent/frequent/prolonged burden (13.6%). UTI and pressure ulcer history showed the most consistent associations with burdened profiles. Severe pain and frequent sleep problems were associated with selected heavier-burden profiles, while depressive symptoms showed smaller and less precise associations. Sensitivity analyses supported structural stability while highlighting observation-time bias and classification uncertainty inherent to wave-based public-use data. Compared with the low-burden profile, burden profiles showed lower CHART scores, especially for mobility and occupation. Conclusions: Rehospitalization after traumatic SCI is heterogeneous. These utilization burden profiles summarize distinct observed patterns but require prospective validation before use in risk stratification or follow-up planning. Full article

In this work, an ultrasonic relaxation spectroscopic study of aqueous ammonium Fe(II) sulfate, aqueous ammonium Fe(III) sulfate and the corresponding ternary system has been undertaken. A variety of acoustic parameters including relaxation frequency, relaxation amplitude and speed of sound were determined as a function of solution concentration. In addition, the adiabatic compressibility and the molar volume change during the ionic association in ammonium Fe(II) sulfate and ammonium Fe(III) sulfate aqueous solutions were also estimated from the acoustic data. This approach facilitated a comprehensive characterization of the three systems across different concentrations. In the two binary systems, the presence of an ion association mechanism was identified involving the divalent and trivalent iron ions, with the sulfate anions, respectively. Furthermore, in the ternary system, an internal sphere oxidation–reduction mechanism occurred between the divalent and trivalent iron ions. All ions within each solution play an active role in shaping the structure of water molecules, owing to the prevailing kosmotropic characteristics specific to each solution. The results are examined within the context of the current phenomenological understanding in the field. Full article

The expansion of remote work has transformed labour market conditions across the developed world, yet access to home-based work remains unequally distributed along occupational, sectoral, regional, and organisational lines. Post-pandemic evidence on the persistence of these inequalities is particularly scarce in Central and Eastern European economies, where historically low remote work prevalence, manufacturing-intensive industrial structures, and pronounced regional disparities create a distinctive structural context. Drawing on primary survey data collected from 390 employees in Slovakia in 2025, this study pursues two interrelated empirical goals: to identify the factors predicting a mismatch between the structural feasibility of working from home and its actual availability to employees, and to examine the determinants of experienced work discomfort. Binary logistic regression, multiple linear regression, and a battery of group difference tests were employed across the two analytical strands. The results reveal a pronounced capital–periphery gradient in remote work access, with employees outside the capital city facing dramatically higher odds of mismatch, and identify organisational support as the most practically actionable determinant of work discomfort. Notably, experiencing a mismatch between remote work feasibility and access was not associated with higher discomfort, a finding that challenges assumptions common in the Western European literature and points to the moderating role of contextual expectations in post-communist labour markets. The findings offer directly applicable evidence for employers seeking to reduce work-related strain through targeted support measures, and for policymakers designing regulatory frameworks to promote equitable access to flexible work arrangements across regions and sectors. Full article

Higher-education institutions increasingly use AI-enabled chatbots, personalised communication, recommendation systems, and predictive information services in academic marketing. Adoption of these systems depends not only on technical availability, but also on institutional trust, emotional engagement, and skepticism regarding the reliability, transparency, and autonomy implications of AI. This study examines the Trust-Tech Nexus framework using stakeholder survey data collected at MIT Art, Design and Technology University, Pune, India (N = 300). The analysis combines psychometric validation, WLSMV confirmatory factor analysis for ordered indicators, and cross-validated predictive modelling. Four three-item constructs were measured with five-point Likert indicators, as follows: AI Adoption, Institutional Trust, Emotional Engagement, and AI Skepticism. Reliability and convergent validity were acceptable, and the WLSMV CFA showed strong practical fit (CFI = 0.991, TLI = 0.988, RMSEA = 0.040, SRMR = 0.039). Discriminant validity was supported by HTMT and Fornell–Larcker evidence, while Harman’s single-factor result was treated only as an initial diagnostic. Construct-only ridge regression produced positive out-of-sample predictive evidence (CV R-squared = 0.352; RMSE = 0.642; MAE = 0.501). Exploratory classification results were moderate and are interpreted only as supplementary segmentation evidence because the binary targets were derived from the AI Adoption composite. The study supports a validated four-construct measurement structure and moderate predictive association in one institutional context, while avoiding causal claims. Full article