The near-axis theory for quasi-isodynamic stellarator equilibria is reformulated in terms of geometric inputs to allow greater control of the ‘direct construction’ of quasi-isodynamic configurations and to facilitate understanding of the space of such equilibria. This includes a method to construct suitable magnetic axis curves by solving Frenet–Serret equations and an approach to controlling magnetic surface shaping at first order (plasma elongation), which previously has required careful parameter selection or additional optimisation steps. The approach is suitable for studying different classes of quasi-isodynamic stellarators including different axis ‘helicities’ and topologies (e.g. knotted solutions), and as the basis for future systematic surveys using higher order near-axis theory. As an example application, we explore a family of configurations with per-field-period axis helicity equal to one half, demonstrating an approximate scaling symmetry relating different field period numbers.

Alfalfa is a widely cultivated forage crop with high nutritional value, and it relies heavily on pollinators for successful reproduction owing to its keel petal structure. Numerous studies have shown the differences in pollinator diversity at different landscapes and/or regions, subsequently impacting plant reproduction. However, there is still insufficient evidence on variation in pollinator diversity at different sites with different landscapes and its effects on alfalfa reproduction. In this study, we investigated the diversity and abundance of floral visitors, and their impacts on alfalfa seed yield, across three sites represented by different landscapes, i.e. urban (Gongzhuling), semi-natural grassland (Changling), and farmland (Harbin) in north-eastern China. Our results showed that the diversity and abundance of all visitors, including bees in Changling were significantly higher than those of the other two sites. Changes in visitor diversity and abundance of alfalfa were closely related to climate variables, with positive effects of air temperature, and complex effects of precipitation. Meanwhile, the differences in pollinators may also be attributed to landscape types due to different habitat heterogeneity. Alfalfa seed yield in Changling was also significantly higher than that in the other two sites. Among these factors, air temperature, and diversity of floral visitors, particularly bees were positively related to alfalfa seed yield, indicating that pollinators combined with climate have an important contribution to changes in alfalfa seed yield. The findings from this study emphasise the importance of conserving pollinators to sustain and even enhance alfalfa yields, especially in the context of climate change and alterations in landscape types.

When did marriage become strongly assortative? I use a uniquely suitable database from Quebec 1800–1970 to provide the long-run perspective necessary to answer this question. First, I develop a novel method that reveals that marriage was highly assortative as far back as the early nineteenth century. Next, I show this matching depends on the individual human capital of women, not just on family backgrounds. Finally, I show that mothers had an effect on child outcomes independent of the fathers. Thus, despite deeply conservative gender norms, marriage matching—and women—have always mattered for social mobility.

Seabirds are largely used as indicators of Ocean health and are final hosts of several helminth parasites. However, the helminth fauna of seabirds is still poorly studied. Here, we quantified the diversity of gastrointestinal parasites in 52 individuals belonging to 10 seabird species with different habitat preferences and feeding strategies from the North-East Atlantic and Antarctica. Fresh carcasses were collected in Northern France and at Svarthamaren (Dronning Maud Land, Antarctica), helminth parasites were extracted from the gastrointestinal tract, and were identified by morphological inspection and DNA barcoding. In total, we identified 13 helminth taxa. North-East Atlantic seabirds hosted parasites from four helminth groups (Acanthocephala, Cestoda, Nematoda, Trematoda), while Antarctic seabirds hosted Acanthocephala and Cestoda only. The largest parasite diversity was found in northern fulmars Fulmarus glacialis (9 species), European shags Gulosus aristotelis (5 species), razorbills Alca torda (4 species), and black-legged kittiwakes Rissa tridactyla (4 species). Co-infections with multiple parasite species in single hosts were common. Oceanic diving species were found to be the most parasite-poor, with common guillemots Uria aalge and Atlantic puffins Fratercula arctica hosting no parasites. In contrast, oceanic surface-feeding seabirds had a large parasite diversity, which notably included trematodes, and was comparable to that of coastal species. To the best of our knowledge, this study identified 9 new host-parasite associations: Andracantha sp. in northern fulmars and south polar skuas Stercorarius maccormicki, C. septentrionale in northern fulmars and black-legged kittiwakes, a species of Microphallidae in black-legged kittiwakes, Cardiocephaloides longicollis in European shags, Cryptocotyle lingua in Sandwich terns Thalasseus sandvicensis, and a clophyllidean species in south polar skuas and Antarctic petrels Thalassoica antarctica.

Phenolic compounds may reduce oxidative stress and inflammation, but evidence on inflammatory markers is limited. This study investigated associations between phenolic compounds intake and ten inflammatory markers in the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brasil). The cross-sectional analysis included participants from the full cohort (n 14 151) and a São Paulo subsample (n 681). Food intake was assessed using a semiquantitative FFQ, and phenolic content was estimated from Phenol-Explorer and Brazilian Food Composition Database. Logistic regression models compared the highest v. lowest tertiles of phenolic intake for high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), glycoprotein acetylation (GlycA), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), E-selectin, transforming growth factor β1, TNF α, IL-6, IL-10, fibrinogen and leptin levels. Inflammatory markers were dichotomised as low (tertiles 1–2) or high (tertile 3), except hs-CRP (> 3 mg/l). Multiple testing was corrected using P < 0·0036. Mean age was 52·1 years for hs-CRP/GlycA and 45·6 years for other markers. Compared with T1, participants in T3 of total phenolics, phenolic acids and flavonoids had 14 %, 18 % and 18 % lower odds of elevated hs-CRP, respectively. For GlycA, higher intakes of phenolic acids, stilbenes and other phenolics were associated with 18–48 % lower odds of high levels (all P ≤ 0·003). Higher intake of hydroxybenzoic acids and stilbenes was associated with lower E-selectin levels, while phenolic acid intake showed an inverse association with MCP-1. No associations were observed for other markers. Higher intakes of phenolic compounds were associated with lower systemic inflammation, suggesting a role in preventing inflammation-related chronic diseases.

Gaussian Process (GP) modeling is a probabilistic, non-parametric framework for describing spatio-temporal dependence that is well-suited for fitting risk-related surfaces. I summarize the main emerging actuarial use cases of GPs, including their applications in longevity modeling, insurance contract valuation, and loss development. The editorial also discusses further contexts with potential for GP-based approaches.

The scope of an arbitration agreement shapes and determines an arbitrator’s jurisdiction, making it a key issue in international arbitration theory and practice. Courts in pro-arbitration countries usually interpret the scope of an arbitration agreement broadly to cover all disputes related to the contract between the parties. This ensures that arbitration can function as an effective and efficient ‘one-stop’ forum for business entities. China is a crucial player in the international arbitration system. Despite having maintained an overall pro-arbitration stance, the Supreme People’s Court of China (SPC) misconceptualises the scope of an arbitration agreement by equating it with the boundaries of the contract between the parties. This misconception leads the SPC to adopt two problematic legal doctrines. First, it develops a literal approach to interpretation that focuses on an arbitration agreement’s exact wording. Second, it conflates the existence of an arbitration agreement with its scope. As a result, the SPC frequently interprets scope narrowly, and wrongly applies the New York Convention and the relevant Chinese law. These problematic approaches stand in stark contrast to the international trend to interpret scope broadly and the SPC’s otherwise consistent pro-arbitration stance. So far, this has not received the necessary attention from legal academics. This article identifies the SPC’s misconception and the problematic doctrines it has developed, and argues that the SPC should reconsider its case law. Only by doing so can the SPC bring its jurisprudence in line with international practice, strengthen its pro-arbitration stance, and further facilitate economic cooperation between China and other countries. In addition, by exposing the misconception of the SPC, this article will inform business entities around the world and enable them to avoid possible pitfalls when engaging in commercial dealings with China. At the same time, courts in countries striving to build a pro-arbitration reputation can learn from the mistakes of their Chinese counterparts and reflect on how best to interpret the scope of arbitration agreements.

Urinary iodine concentration (UIC) is the principal biomarker for assessing iodine status; however, it is subject to marked fluctuations and practical challenges. This proof-of-concept study evaluated protein-corrected salivary iodide (SI/P) as a potential alternative biomarker, comparing it with spot UIC in distinguishing between iodine-deficient and iodine-adequate individuals, assessing its responsiveness to short-term dietary iodine restriction and exploring its correlation with 24 h urinary iodine excretion (UIE). Twenty-six participants were categorised into low-iodine (n 17) and high-iodine (n 9) groups based on 24 h UIE collected on Day-1. Postprandial spot urine and unstimulated saliva samples were collected under habitual diet (Day-1) and low-iodine diet (Day-2). SI/P was significantly higher in the high-iodine group at all time points on both Day-1 (post-breakfast [1-PB]: 61·28 v. 27·89 µg/g, P = 0·03; post-lunch [1-PL]: 71·03 v. 27·4 µg/g, P = 0·003; post-dinner [1-PD]: 114·13 v. 31·58 µg/g, P = 0·002) and Day-2 (2-PB: 81·86 v. 26·51 µg/g, P = 0·013; 2-PL: 54·56 v. 18·83 µg/g, P < 0·001; 2-PD: 38·2 v. 18·79 µg/g, P = 0·043), whereas UIC only differed significantly post-dinner on Day-1 (156·15 v. 36·63 µg/l, P = 0·009). SI/P also showed stronger correlation with 24 h UIE (1-PB: r = 0·65, P = 0·001; 1-PL: r = 0·70, P < 0·001; 1-PD: r = 0·67, P < 0·001; 2-PB: r = 0·70, P < 0·001; 2-PL: r = 0·65, P = 0·001; 2-PD: r = 0·50, P = 0·01) compared with UIC (1-PB: r = 0·49, P = 0·011; 1-PL: r = 0·38, P = 0·055; 1-PD: r = 0·58, P = 0·002; 2-PB: r = 0·68, P < 0·001; 2-PL: r = 0·52, P = 0·007; 2-PD: r = 0·44, P = 0·027). Unlike UIC, which is primarily suited for population-level monitoring, SI/P demonstrated stable performance irrespective of diet/sampling time, suggesting utility as a reliable, individual-level biomarker of iodine status.

Worldviews can serve as a resource or an obstacle when navigating intellectual and existential challenges encountered in life. My objective in this article is to identify and analyse the various ways in which people’s worldviews can shift, break down, evolve, or be strengthened by their life experiences. The proposed model of worldview formation identifies five outcomes that an encounter with what I refer to as existentially significant life events can have: worldview compartmentalisation, integration, revision, conversion, and confirmation. I will explain the content and function of these categories, provide concrete examples, and discuss their rationality.

Post-seeding vegetation management is critical for restoring grasslands dominated by invasive species, yet few studies have evaluated these strategies in the Aspen Parkland ecoregion. We tested the effects of no treatment (Control), mowing-only (Mow), herbicide-only (Herbicide; aminopyralid 52.5% + metsulfuron-methyl 9.45% at 230 g ai ha⁻¹), and mowing and herbicide application (Combination) on plant community composition, diversity, and biomass over two growing seasons following seeding of seven cool season native grass species. The study was conducted on a disturbed site in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, where non-native Cirsium arvense, Sonchus arvensis, and Bromus inermis dominated prior to treatment. Treatments with aminopyralid+metsulfuron-methyl (aminopyralid+metsulfuron-methyl alone and Combination) significantly reduced noxious and introduced species richness and cover (p < 0.001), eliminated forbs, and shifted plant composition toward greater dominance by seeded and native grasses. However, these treatments also eliminated native shrubs (Rosa woodsia and Symphoricarpos occidentalis), reduced litter biomass, and increased bare ground. The Mow treatment maintained high species richness and forb biomass, with noxious and introduced species remaining dominant, and seeded species establishment improving slightly relative to the control. Despite differential species responses, overall seeded species richness, diversity, and cover did not differ significantly among treatments. Hesperostipa comata, Pascopyrum smithii, and Nassella viridula showed moderate establishment under treatments with aminopyralid + metsulfuron-methyl, while Festuca hallii, F. idahoensis, F. saximontana, and Koeleria macrantha established less in any treatment. Community composition diverged most between treatments with aminopyralid + metsulfuron-methyl and the control treatment. These results highlight trade-offs between invasive species control and impacts on non-target natives and ecosystem function. Among the treatments, aminopyralid + metsulfuron-methyl alone provided the most balanced outcome, suppressing invasive species while minimizing soil disturbance, and improving seeded grass recruitment. This study highlights the importance of integrating vegetation treatments with species-specific seeding when restoring heavily invaded grasslands in the Aspen Parkland.

This research reconsiders the true nature of Japanese military comfort stations and comfort women. To summarize the discussion in this paper, comfort stations were military facilities, and comfort women were the third unit of the Japanese military, after soldiers and direct civilian employees of the Army and Navy. The Japanese military recognized the comfort stations as an essential element of military operations, and institutionalized and formalized their comfort stations by incorporating them into innumerable detailed regulations.

While the structure of proteins can now be predicted from sequence with high certainty, the prediction of protein functional dynamics remains to be achieved. Progress towards this goal will require a much larger experimental database of the relationships among sequence, dynamics, and function than currently available. Dynamic transitions that are key to protein function and turnover remain difficult to access and characterize because they have significantly higher free energy than the folded states of proteins and hence are not populated. To access these higher free energy states, proteins must be perturbed. High temperatures often lead to aggregation, while chemical denaturants, because they interact with the entire protein backbone, tend to smooth protein conformational landscapes. In contrast, high hydrostatic pressure represents a continuous and reversible variable that can perturb protein structure locally around internal cavities, leading to partial structural disruption, populating these higher energy states sufficiently for their characterization.

Democratic theorists and social epistemologists often celebrate the epistemic benefits of diversity. One of the cornerstones is the ‘diversity trumps ability’ result by Hong and Page (2004). Ironically, the interplay between diversity and ability is rarely studied in radically different frameworks. In particular, the diversity-expertise trade-off has not been studied systematically for small, deliberative groups facing binary classification problems. To fill this gap, I will introduce a new evidential sources framework and study whether, when, and (if so) why diversity trumps expertise in binary classification problems. The newly gained insights are used to revisit the epistemic credentials of deliberative democracy.