Reading, writing, and literary engagements are often assumed to be solitary practices, but looking at the places where books are sold and discussed, and amateur literature written, reveals the relational side to this creative engagement. This article presents an ethnographic study of haiku composition in Booktown Jimbōchō in Tokyo, Japan, an area known for its literary bookstores, to explore how the social practices of literature unfold. Sketching the social life of a bar in Jimbōchō, I explore collaborative creativity through an ethnographic study of a bi-monthly haiku meeting that takes place in this social space.

This article explores the relationship between ethnic diversity and intermarriage in Vojvodina, Serbia, a highly diverse region with a history of shifting political landscapes. Unlike many studies focusing on migration, this research examines autochthonous settings from a quantitative perspective, offering insights into how diversity and intermarriage intersect locally. Findings indicate that greater ethnic diversity is generally associated with higher interethnic marriage rates within sub-regions. However, these rates have not always paralleled changes in diversity, especially during disruptions like the Yugoslav wars of the 1990s. The study reveals that declining diversity tends to reduce intermarriage by creating more homogeneous marriage markets, while intermarriages may also―albeit intermittently, under specific political circumstances, and indirectly―influence diversity trends. Results highlight small social distances and permeable ethnic boundaries among Vojvodina’s ethnic groups, though significant ethnic asymmetries remain. This study contributes to understanding the dynamics of diversity and interethnic relations, specifically through marriage, within national minority contexts.

In “Everything is Tuberculosis,” author John Green assesses the intricacies of the communicable condition, TB, as a source of significant morbidity and mortality globally over centuries. Despite available vaccines, treatments, and protocols, tens of millions are infected and over a million persons will die from TB in 2025 alone. In searching for answers to mitigate this global scourge, however, Green looks past a key factor — specifically the role of law — as a primary tool for prevention and control.

This article provides a Construction Grammar (CxG) analysis of the Complex Modifier Construction (CMC) in English and an investigation of its productivity in World Englishes with a particular focus on African and South-East Asian Englishes. By examining data from the Corpus of Global Web-based English (GloWbE), we seek to establish whether the productivity of the construction correlates with the developmental phase of the variety of English in Schneider’s Dynamic Model of Postcolonial Englishes, or whether language contact, and particularly the typological profiles of the local substrate languages (head-initial versus head-final syntax), affects productivity. We find that evolutionary progress is indeed a relevant factor insofar as the most advanced ‘Inner Circle’ varieties are concerned, but we also observe substantially lower productivity in the African varieties of English when compared to the South-East Asian Englishes represented in the corpus. As the main substrate languages in the African countries under study have head-initial syntax and those in the South-East Asian countries head-final syntax, we conclude that the productivity of complex premodifiers is affected by the multilingual situation in these regions and propose that language contact should be considered more closely as an explanatory factor in future studies of constructional productivity in World Englishes.

This article is a theoretically oriented discussion of noticeable creative syntactic innovations. On the basis of three case studies (the ‘X-much’ construction (racist much?), the ‘extrasentential not’ construction (I like this movie. Not.) and the ‘because X’ construction (Can’t come to the party, because headache.)), we explore the idea that language users may deliberately create novel syntactic constructions by recycling and creatively blending existing constructions. At least two of the constructions discussed here (X much and extrasentential not) are probably not products of informal, natural daily language use, but may have originated (or at least have been propagated) in well-crafted, scripted media language geared towards younger audiences, who in turn have spread these constructions in their communities and beyond. Because X seems to have taken a slightly different route. The main motivations for these three rather noticeable creative innovations may be the Maxim of Extravagance and the Maxim of Wittiness, in Keller’s (1994) sense. We suspect that because X is perhaps less noticeable, or deviant, and pragmatically more complex than the other two constructions, which provides their speakers with more ‘syntactic fireworks’.

This article presents an exploratory study of an innovative future adverb construction, going forward, typically meaning ‘in the future, from now on’ (e.g. What does this mean going forward?). Going forward probably originated in the domain of business in or around the 1970s. In this study, the spread of going forward is examined on the basis of over 1,500 examples from six genres of the Corpus of Contemporary American English (COCA), covering the years 1990–2019. The data is analysed in terms of four morphosyntactic variables, and the developments in the frequency of going forward are analysed using variability-based neighbour clustering. The results show that, in the 1990s, going forward had a modest rate of occurrence mainly in texts having to do with business and finance, but its frequency rose sharply in the 2000s and the 2010s. At the same time, the discourse contexts in which it appeared broadened from business and finance to other domains. The syntactic contexts of going forward show that it has become an adverb. The results highlight the need to incorporate social meanings such as domain preferences in the description of grammatical constructions. They also illustrate the need to consider constructional innovations at the lexical end of the grammar–lexicon continuum, in addition to highly grammaticalised constructions.

Linguistic creativity and productivity have become active topics of research, especially amongst scholars who employ insights from Construction Grammar (CxG) in their analyses. The question of how creativity should be defined and operationalized has in particular emerged as a major point of discussion and debate (e.g. Hoffmann 2018, 2024; Bergs 2018; Bergs & Kompa 2020), and the psychological, contextual and interactional factors that underlie creative language use have received a great deal of attention in recent work (e.g. Hoffmann 2018, 2020, 2024; Herbst 2018; Turner 2018; Hartmann & Ungerer 2023). These studies have substantially increased our understanding of linguistic creativity and productivity, but there are still many open questions about their mutual relationship as well as their connection to related phenomena, such as extravagance (Haspelmath 1999; Eitelmann & Haumann 2022; Trousdale & Norde 2025). In this special issue, the authors investigate a variety of questions related to creative language use and productivity, each providing new insights into the ongoing discussion of the nature of linguistic innovation in the context of English.

A coset partition of a group G is a set partition of G into finitely many left cosets of one or more subgroups. A driving force in this research area is the Herzog–Schönheim Conjecture [15], which states that any nontrivial coset partition of a group contains at least two cosets with the same index. Although many families of groups have been shown to satisfy the conjecture, it remains open.

A Steiner coset partition of G, with respect to distinct subgroups $H_1,\dots ,H_r$, is a coset partition of G that contains exactly one coset of each $H_i$. In the quest of a more structural version of the Herzog–Schönheim Conjecture, it was shown that there is no Steiner coset partition of G with respect to any $r\geq 2$ subgroups $H_i$ that mutually commute [1]. In this article, we show that this result holds for $r=4$ mutually commuting subgroups provided that G does not have $C_2\times C_2\times C_2$ as a quotient, where $C_2$ is the cyclic group of order $2$. We further give an explicit construction of Steiner coset partitions of the n-fold direct product $G^*=C_p\times \ldots \times C_p$ for p prime and $n\geq 3$. This construction lifts to every group extension of $G^*$.

Rallidae are frequent colonists of oceanic islands and are often susceptible to introduced predators. The Tristan Moorhen Gallinula nesiotis was endemic to Tristan da Cunha, South Atlantic and is thought to have gone extinct in the late nineteenth century. The closely related Gough Moorhen G. comeri was introduced to Tristan da Cunha from neighbouring Gough Island in 1956. We report historical records of their spread across Tristan da Cunha and the results of a population survey undertaken in February–March 2024. Gough Moorhens are now found across the entire island wherever there is suitable habitat from sea level to above 900 m elevation. Gough Moorhens prefer fern bush habitat on the Base, the plateau above the steep coastal cliffs. The total population is approximately 41,500 birds (95% confidence interval 24,000–72,000). Our density estimates (3–6 birds/ha) are similar to estimates for Gough Moorhens on Gough Island before the post-2021 population decline and are at the higher end of densities reported for oceanic island rallids, suggesting that the Tristan da Cunha population may be near carrying capacity.

Here we analyse the archival data for a set of 27 Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite Targets of Interest in search for artificially generated radio signals, or ‘technosignatures’, interrupted by occultation. Exoplanetary eclipses are notable events to observe in the search for technosignatures, as they mark the geometrical alignment of the target, its host star, and Earth. During an eclipse event, any signal emanating from the target of interest should cease for the duration of the eclipse and resume after the line-of-sight has been restored. Target observations were made by Breakthrough Listen using Murriyang, the CSIRO Parkes 64-m radio telescope, coupled with the ultra-wide low frequency receiver covering a continuous range of frequencies spanning 704–4 032 MHz inclusive. Each target was observed in a pattern consisting of six back-to-back 5-min source and reference sky positions for comparison during data analysis. We performed a Doppler search for narrowband signals with a minimum signal-to-noise ratio of 10, a minimum drift rate of $\pm\,0.1$ Hz/s, and a maximum drift rate of $\pm\,4.0$ Hz/s using the turboseti pipeline. In the analysis of 1 954 880 signals, 14 639 passed automated radio interference filters where each event was presented as a set of stacked dynamic spectra. Despite manually inspecting each diagram for a signal of interest, all events were attributed to terrestrial radio frequency interference.

Karl Popper introduced a metaphor of demarcation for identification of claims that should not be classified as scientific. This metaphor still dominates the philosophical discussion on pseudoscience. We show that it has hampered the discussion in several ways, most importantly by blocking the insight that determining whether some particular claim is pseudoscientific usually requires specialized scientific expertise. We conclude that it would be better to give up this metaphor and leave room for the two tasks of defining pseudoscience (a task for philosophers) and diagnosing potential cases of pseudoscience (a task for experts in the respective areas of science).

Sessile serrated lesions (SSL) are recognised precursors to colorectal cancer. Little is known about risk factors for SSL due to their relatively recent clinical recognition as a cancer precursor and routine documentation of cases. Lifestyle and diet-related information were collected using validated questionnaires in a colonoscopy-based case–control study in Australia (257 SSL cases, 239 conventional adenoma (CA) cases, 180 polyp-free controls). A posteriori dietary patterns were derived from self-reported dietary intake in the past 12 months using principal component analysis. Multivariable-adjusted OR and 95 % CI were used to examine associations between lifestyle factors and dietary patterns on risk of SSL and CA v. polyp-free controls and SSL v. CA using logistic regression modelling. Use of anti-inflammatory medications was associated with reduced SSL risk (OR = 0·61; 95 % CI 0·38, 1·00), while current smoking was associated with increased SSL risk (OR = 1·96; 95 % CI 1·09, 3·53). Unlike CA, SSL risk was not increased by hormone replacement therapy use and current alcohol consumption but was increased by taller height. Higher adherence to a dietary pattern featuring processed meats, ready-made convenience foods and high-energy drinks was associated with increased SSL risk (OR = 2·13; 95 % CI 1·13, 4·00; Ptrend = 0·03) and CA (OR = 2·60; 95 % CI 1·32, 5·09; Ptrend = 0·005). Compared with CA, a dietary pattern featuring wholegrains, low-fat dairy products, nuts, seeds and oily fish was associated with reduced SSL risk (OR = 0·60; 95 % CI 0·36, 0·98; Ptrend = 0·04). This study supports a healthy diet as primary prevention for both SSL and CA and reinforces smoking as a risk factor for SSL.

This article examines professional diviners employed by the Qing (1636–1912) government to assist in local administration. Known as yin-yang officers, these officials served among the technical and religious specialists embedded in prefectural and county governments across the empire. Although they held marginal or unranked positions within the formal bureaucracy, yin-yang officers played a vital role in both administrative and ritual life at the grassroots level. By tracing their training, sources of authority, and everyday responsibilities, this article sheds light on the Qing’s local technical and religious bureaucracy—an often-overlooked dimension of imperial statecraft that bridged ritual, cosmological knowledge, healing and divination, and official governance. It argues for the importance of examining imperial bureaucracy from below, showing how these unsalaried, low-level figures helped sustain the empire’s overstretched administrative apparatus well into the early twentieth century.

Germplasm resources are the foundation for improving crop varieties and a strategic asset for global food security. They also advance plant breeding, agricultural biotechnology and the production of essential agricultural goods. To assess the distribution, diversity and conservation status of food crop germplasm in the Hainan Province, China, we conducted a detailed survey of the Hainan Island. Between 2017 and 2022, we collected 330 food crop germplasm resources, encompassing 16 cereal crops, including rice, maize, sweet potato. The collected germplasm resources exhibited traits of high resistance to both biotic and abiotic stresses, including common diseases and drought stress, as well as superior quality and adaptability to poor soil conditions such as sandy land. However, challenges such as low productivity and hybrid degradation were identified. These resources were primarily found in Haikou City, Baisha County, Danzhou City, Wuzhishan City and Sanya City. Additionally, we collected several ancient local varieties and endangered germplasm resources such as ‘Jiezi rice’ and ‘Wuzhishan maize’. This study serves as a reference for the conservation, development and utilization of local food crop germplasm resources in Hainan Province and lays the foundation for breeding and developing new varieties.

Wheel-leg composite robots exhibit robust mobility and exceptional obstacle-crossing capabilities in complex environments. This paper proposes a novel transformable wheel-leg composite structure and presents the design of a wheel-leg composite obstacle-crossing robot, fundamentally configured as a two-wheeled quadruped. The research encompasses a comprehensive analysis of the robot’s overall mechanical structure, a detailed kinematic investigation of its body and obstacle-crossing gait planning, virtual prototype dynamics simulation, and field experimentation. Utilizing advanced modeling software, a 3D model of the robot was established. The kinematic characteristics of the robot in both wheeled and legged modes were thoroughly examined. Specifically, for the legged mode, the Denavit-Hartenberg coordinate system was established, and a detailed kinematic model was analyzed. The obstacle-crossing gait was planned based on the robot’s leg action mechanism. Furthermore, the Lagrangian method was employed to develop a mathematical model for the dynamics of the robot in both wheel-foot modes, allowing for a comprehensive force analysis. To validate the feasibility and rationality of the robot’s obstacle-crossing capabilities under various conditions, extensive simulations and prototype tests were conducted across diverse terrains. The results provide valuable insights and practical guidance for the structural design of wheel-leg composite obstacle-crossing robots, contributing to advancements in this promising field.

Ozette Lake, located on the Olympic Peninsula of western Washington, is ideally situated to provide a sedimentary record of past earthquakes along the northern portion of the Cascadia subduction zone. The lake stratigraphy is punctuated by turbidites, with characteristics typical of those triggered by earthquake shaking as seen in other lakes worldwide. Sediments deposited in Ozette Lake over the past 1300 years between earthquake events show decadal-scale variations in color, magnetic susceptibility, clay content, organic carbon content, density, and computed tomography (CT) intensity. Applying the dynamic time warping technique reveals a strong correlation of CT intensity to historical, instrumental measurements of regional cool-season precipitation, indicating that sediments in the lake preserve a high-fidelity record of decadally averaged fluvial sediment discharge and climate. Correlation of CT intensity patterns from older strata preserved deeper in the lake stratigraphy to two independent, regional paleo-precipitation reconstructions similarly suggests that the sediments record decadal variations in hydroclimate. We provide radiocarbon-independent dates for the past four northern Cascadia subduction earthquakes that are within the uncertainty of a radiocarbon age-depth model but are more precisely estimated by placing earthquake-triggered turbidites in the context of wet and dry periods in these tree-ring- and oxygen-isotope-based reconstructions. Paleoclimate-based constraints on the age of event layers in this and other regional lakes have the potential to help address ongoing questions about past ruptures on the Cascadia subduction margin.

Although Philadelphia’s nineteenth-century public school system was praised by some contemporaries for its efficient administration, the city’s sudden embrace of clinical discourse and “bottom-up” hygienic initiatives between 1896 and 1898, along with critical reports on poor sanitary conditions by the early 1910s, suggest underlying structural issues. This paper contributes to the material history of education by examining the organizational context of Philadelphia’s school construction efforts, focusing on overcrowding and ventilation problems. Drawing from statistical data, works on school architecture, and a sample of representative school buildings, I argue that the city’s legacy of early Lancasterian designs, inconsistent architectural standards, decentralized school construction, and conflicts between local and central authorities hindered compliance with sanitary standards, compromising the health of teachers and pupils. Philadelphia’s lag in sanitary provisions in comparison to other US cities underscores the material consequences of these conflicts, shedding light on the city’s late-1890s push for clinics and dispensaries.

The topic of absences and their ontological status has long been the focus of intense philosophical debate. Recent years have witnessed the burgeoning of a related discussion concerning the phenomenon of experiencing absences. A lot of this discussion revolves around the question of whether such experiences are best construed as literal perceptions or as some other kind of mental state. Rather than try to settle that ongoing debate, I take as my starting point a claim that seems to be granted by virtually all of the participants in that debate, namely, that experiences of absence are capable of representing reality accurately and of misrepresenting reality. But if they can represent reality accurately, they can do so in a manner that is merely a lucky coincidence and they can do so in a way that is noncoincidental, and I offer reasons for thinking that the latter is more valuable than the former. The burden of this paper, then, is to try to offer an account of the conditions under which absence experiences can be noncoincidentally accurate representations of reality – something that only one other author in the current literature has thus far attempted. To begin with, Section 1 outlines various kinds of experiences of absence and singles out the kind that will be my focus throughout the rest of the paper. In Section 2, I survey the current debate over whether experiences of absence are best construed as perceptual or as something else, and I outline several assumptions I shall be making in the remainder of the paper. Section 3 motivates the project of trying to understand the conditions in which experiences of absence are noncoincidentally accurate, and Sections 4–5 develop an account of those conditions. Finally, in Section 6, I discuss the connections between experiences of absence and justifiedly believing and knowing that a given object is absent from a given location.

For many researchers, the ethical approval process can appear confusing, overwhelming, or irrelevant. Common sources of confusion include knowing which types of ethics approvals are required, how to get the approval, and understanding the language surrounding the review process. This editorial discusses the importance of ethics in creating and reporting quality research and provides a practical guide to help navigate the ethical approval process.