Browse Articles
Discover research articles across all indexed journals
Correction to “Directing Nanoparticle Organization in Response to Diverse Chemical Inputs”
Do xenophobic attitudes influence migrant workers’ regional location choice?
This paper investigates whether xenophobic attitudes, as measured by the regional share of votes for right-wing parties and xenophobic violence, affect migrants’ choices of where to live in Germany. We use a unique panel data set for the period 2004 to 2017 and apply fixed effects regression models and instrumental variable estimation to examine the relationship between anti-immigrant attitudes and immigration. Our results indicate that xenophobic attitudes tend to reduce regional labour immigration. However, evidence seems to be more robust for the support of right-wing parties than for xenophobic violence. Regarding heterogeneous effects across skill groups, the findings are ambiguous. While the immigration of skilled workers seems to be more sensitive to xenophobic violence, evidence is more robust for the share of right-wing votes in the case of low-skilled foreign workers. The strength of the adverse effect of anti-immigrant attitudes tends to increase with the local size of the coethnic community.
Evolution law of overlying rock fracture field in goaf mining with double-roof-cutting retaining roadway
Impoundments facilitate upstream invasion and introgression: Case studies of fluvial black basses (Micropterus spp.) in the southeastern USA
Impoundment construction has resulted in the alternation and loss of fluvial habitats, threatening the persistence of many native fishes. Compounding this threat, non-native species stocked into impoundments often invade interconnected fluvial habitats, where they may negatively affect native species. Black basses (genus Micropterus) are popular sportfishes with divergent ecologies: some taxa are tolerant of impoundments and widely stocked to create fishing opportunities, whereas others are endemic fluvial specialists that are threatened by introgression with non-native congeneric taxa. We investigated whether impoundments facilitate non-native invasion and introgression in two case study systems: Lake Lanier, Georgia, and Lake Tenkiller, Oklahoma. In both case studies, native fluvial taxa inhabited upstream tributaries and a non-native was established within the downstream impoundment. Results from longitudinal surveys of upstream tributaries provided clear evidence that non-natives invaded upstream from impoundments, and in some cases, extensive introgression with native taxa also occurred. Variation in spatial trends of invasion and directionalities of introgression across case studies provided insights into eco-evolutionary drivers. Within the riverscapes studied, proximity to impoundment appeared to influence invasion and introgression dynamics, and in one case, stream size was also influential. Introgression rates also varied markedly across the species pairs studied–from very little introgression to the onset of hybrid swarming–illustrating the importance of underlying eco-evolutionary mechanisms such as habitat alteration, propagule pressure, and reproductive isolation. Our results underscore the need to consider the upstream influences of impoundments, and the non-natives that invade from them, to create more holistic riverscape conservation plans for fluvial fishes, including native black basses.
Piezoelectric characteristics of coal rock leakage under uniaxial compression
Perceived urban environment elements associated with momentary and long-term well-being: An experience sampling method approach
Abstract Well-being (WB) extends beyond physical health, as defined by the World Health Organization and encompasses two aspects: (1) long-term WB (LWB), such as overall life satisfaction; and (2) momentary WB (MWB), such as immediate mood. While research has demonstrated a positive association between one’s environment and LWB, limited studies have explored the association between environmental characteristics and MWB. We applied the experience sampling method (ESM) to collect data on location, perceived environmental characteristics, MWB, and LWB of adult participants living in Kashiwa-no-ha area, Kashiwa City, Japan. Structural equation modeling was used to calculate the correlation coefficients between different environments and both MWB and LWB. LWB was positively associated with MWB (standardized coefficient=0.24) and urban elements—cafés/restaurants/bars (0.11), cultural/sports/education facilities (0.04), and public spaces (0.11). Meanwhile, relaxing/clean (0.56) and natural environments (0.14) were associated with higher MWB. Conversely, vibrant environments (−0.14) and being on the move (−0.11) were linked to lower MWB. LWB was positively associated with being at cultural/sports/educational facilities (0.06), and vibrant (0.15) and communicative (0.13) urban settings. MWB was associated with various built environments, emphasizing the need for places like parks and cafés that promote a positive mood, and well-designed transportation and roads. These elements are important for developing urban areas that meet the physical requirements of residents while supporting their emotional and psychological well-being.
Novel Azo dyes containing a hydrazide-hydrazone moiety for dyeing polyester fabric
Abstract Novel azo dyes containing a hydrazide-hydrazone moiety linked to the benzothiazole nucleus are synthesized effectively in this study. The primary purpose of the study was to identify the best dyeing parameters, such as shade, temperature, pH, and time, in order to better understand the behaviour of dispersed dyes during polyester dyeing. To achieve excellent colour strength in value (K/S = 26), the ideal dyeing conditions for disperse dye 4 were 30 min, pH of 8, and 110 °C at shade 3%. While the ideal dyeing conditions for disperse dyes dye 10 and dye 11 were 30 min, pH of 2, and 130 °C at a shade of 3%. Depending on the coupler moieties, the coloured polyester samples ranged in hue from beige to dark brown. Furthermore, the impact of substituent’s was examined in relation to colour strength (K/S) measures and colourimetric coordinates (CIEL*a*b*) of dyed polyester fabrics. The synthesized dispersed dyes are good options for giving polyester textiles a variety of stable hues and very good colour strength as well as exceptional fastness to light, washing, and crocking.
Poke, twist, vibrate: a wearable device that delivers touch to the skin
Mechanical properties of double-solid waste cement stabilized Macadam
Eukaryotic plankton community and assembly processes in a large-scale water diversion project in China
Design optimization of pangolin inspired composites for enhanced energy absorption
Environmental selection underlies distinct distribution patterns of closely related European evening primroses
Abstract Understanding of species distribution is becoming a key concern in biogeography, ecology and evolution when to consider the ongoing climate change. This study investigates the distribution patterns of closely related Oenothera species focusing on their adaptations to environmental conditions through morphological traits and photosynthetic adjustments. We documented the three distinct distribution patterns in Europe among the studied species. Oenothera rubricaulis, found at higher latitudes, has the smallest flowers and the highest chlorophyll content, accompanied by anthocyanin accumulation, which maximizes light acquisition under low light conditions. Oenothera suaveolens, observed at lower latitudes, displays the largest flowers, a pure green phenotype, the highest stomatal conductance, and a light avoidance strategy, reflected by rapid photoinhibition and hyponasty. Oenothera biennis, with the widest distribution, exhibits an intermediate phenotype, suggesting high plasticity and adaptability of its photosynthetic apparatus. Given the close relationship of these species, our findings suggest that environmental selection following hybridization events has been crucial for their establishment in Europe.
Cortical and subcortical activities during food rewards versus social interaction in rats
Abstract Balancing food foraging with social interaction is crucial for survival and reproduction in many species of mammals. We wanted to investigate the reward preferences in adult male rats by allowing them to lever-press for both food and social rewards (interaction with another rat), while their performance and electrophysiological activities were recorded. Local field potentials (LFPs) were analyzed across five neuroanatomical regions involved in reward processing, decision-making, and social behavior. Despite ad libitum food availability, rats consistently prioritized food. LFP analysis revealed a decrease in nucleus accumbens (NAc) spectral power following social interaction, accompanied by specific alterations in delta and theta bands within the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). The spectral power of LFPs delta and/or theta bands were different for the five selected regions following food reward vs. social interactions. Cross-frequency coupling analysis provided further insights, demonstrating dynamic changes in theta-to-gamma coupling during both food and social rewards, with distinct roles for slow- and fast-gamma frequencies. These findings shed light on the intricate neural processes underlying reward preferences and/or decision-making choices, highlighting the NAc’s potential role in social reward processing, and the mPFC’s involvement in modulating theta–gamma rhythms during reward-related decision-making.
Ultrasonic characteristics of inserted central catheter related fibroblastic sleeve
An unconstrained four pool model analysis of proton relaxation and magnetization transfer in ex vivo white matter
Abstract Understanding proton relaxation in the brain’s white matter remains an active field of magnetic resonance imaging research. Models of varying complexity have been proposed to link measurements to tissue composition/microstructure, in particular myelination. Although the presence of multiple aqueous and nonaqueous proton pools is well established experimentally, so-called “quantitative MRI” is usually based on simpler models due to the large number of model parameters. In this work, a comprehensive set of parameters characterizing a four-pool model is obtained. A piece of fixed porcine spinal-cord WM was investigated at 3 T and temperatures between 21 and 35 °C. Measurements included a wide range of preparations of the spin system in combination with long echo trains to achieve sensitivity to all model parameters. The results allow the extraction of all intrinsic relaxation and exchange rates as well as assigning them to specific dynamic processes involving tissue water. A critical assessment indicates that simpler models often lack specificity to myelin.