Although many contemporary theologians and philosophers of religion distinguish between ‘idolatry’ in a general sense and ‘conceptual idolatry’ as a distinct error, close attention to theorists of idolatry shows that ‘conceptual idolatry’ should not be considered distinct from idolatry proper. After discussing the relation between concepts and idolatry in key thinkers from the phenomenological and grammatical traditions, this article discusses analytic attempts to understand idolatry, showing how each falls short.

Ultimately, attention to the category of ‘conceptual idolatry’ shows the deficiencies present in contemporary framings of idolatry simpliciter. This article concludes with a proposal for a new framework by which to understand the dispute about idolatry: turning away from the question of whether we are worshipping the right God, towards the question of how God might (and might not) become apt to human thought and speech.

We propose a novel micro-level Cox model for incurred but not reported (IBNR) claims count based on hidden Markov models. Initially formulated as a continuous-time model, it addresses the complexity of incorporating temporal dependencies and policyholder risk attributes. However, the continuous-time model faces significant challenges in maximizing the likelihood and fitting right-truncated reporting delays. To overcome these issues, we introduce two discrete-time versions: one incorporating unsystematic randomness in reporting delays through a Dirichlet distribution and one without. We provide the EM algorithm for parameter estimation for all three models and apply them to an auto-insurance dataset to estimate IBNR claim counts. Our results show that while all models perform well, the discrete-time versions demonstrate superior performance by jointly modeling delay and frequency, with the Dirichlet-based model capturing additional variability in reporting delays. This approach enhances the accuracy and reliability of IBNR reserving, offering a flexible framework adaptable to different levels of granularity within an insurance portfolio.

This paper studies public opinion towards the introduction of a universal basic income in the case of Germany. Using novel data from a vignette survey experiment conducted in the summer of 2022, we analyse to what extent variations in the policy design characteristics of a hypothetical basic income scheme affect levels of support. We find that support for basic income strongly depends on these characteristics, with support being highest for schemes that are relatively generous, paid to citizens and long-term residents, paid to individuals rather than households, unconditional and financed with taxing the rich. In a further step, we explore interaction effects between vignette dimensions and respondent characteristics, finding significant heterogenous treatment effects in the cases of income, age and ideology.

In response to the prevailing trend of an aging society and the increasing requirements of rehabilitation, this paper presents an approach involving brain-machine interaction (BMI) for a single-degree-of-freedom (1-DOF) sit-to-stand transfer robot. Based on a 1-DOF rehabilitation robot, three experiment paradigms involving motor imagery (MI), action observation of motor imagery (AO-MI) and motor execution are designed using both electroencephalography (EEG) and electromyography (EMG). To enhance motion intention recognition accuracy, a Gumbel-ResNet-KANs decoding model is established. The Gumbel-ResNet-KANs model integrates the Gumbel-Softmax method with the ResNet-KANs network module and demonstrates strong decoding capability, as demonstrated by comparative tests in this paper. To validate the effect of robotic assistance, EEG and EMG coherence are analyzed to assess the impact of robotic assistance on rehabilitation from a neuromuscular perspective in both assisted and unassisted conditions. We assessed the effect of robotics on rehabilitation from an emotional perspective by analyzing the difference between the differential entropy of the right and left brain. The proposed study also reveals that the movement-related cortical potentials in AO-MI are beneficial for promoting the performance of BMI in sit-to-stand training, which provides a possible approach for the development of new types of robots for lower limb rehabilitation.

There are multiple equilibrium points in the launching and unfolding process of the multi-body aircraft. Different equilibrium points exhibit different stability characteristics and change with parameters such as connection method. The changes in stability characteristics can also lead to the inability of multi-body aircraft to achieve stable deployment. To solve these problems, the dynamic stability of multi-body aircraft during falling is analysed based on bifurcation theory in this paper. In this paper, Lagrange multiplier method is used to establish the multi-body dynamics model of the multi-body aircraft, and the curly spring torque model is added. In order to consider the coupling effect between the wings and the influence of the relative motion between the flight units on the aerodynamic force, the reference angle-of-attack, the reference sideslip angle, the relative attitude angle and the relative attitude angular velocity between the flight units were introduced as new variables to establish the aerodynamic model of the multi-body aircraft. Based on the equilibrium equations, the equilibrium curve of the two-body aircraft is obtained by using the joint stiffness coefficient as the continuous variable parameter. The stability of the equilibrium point domain on each equilibrium curve was analysed by using linearised theory. The dynamic characteristics of the launching and unfolding process of the two-body aircraft were analysed using bifurcation theory, and the stable domain was obtained regarding the initial folding angle and connection stiffness coefficient. The influence of initial folding angle and connection stiffness coefficient on the dynamic characteristics of the launching and unfolding process and the meaning of the stability domain were analysed through numerical simulation calculations. Finally, the correctness of the analysis conclusion was verified through experiments on the two-body aircraft, accumulating the technical foundation for subsequent research on high-altitude deployment.

Coarctation of the aorta is characterised by narrowing of the descending aorta and is a rare cause of secondary hypertension in children and young adults. The aortic stenosis lesion is in a special location with severe consequences, and long-term survival is very low, with high rates of disability and mortality, and can be challenging to detect due to its few clinical manifestations. We report a case of a young patient with atrial fibrillation, renal infarction, and acute cerebral infarction, which are consequences of untreated hypertension due to coarctation of the aorta. The purpose of this report is to emphasize the importance of early diagnosis and management of coarctation of the aorta as a cause of secondary hypertension in children and young adults.

A museum should be a place where cultures, dialogue, and social relations are enhanced. Given the renewed public interest in the topic, the author poses the question: Is there a need and a possibility to decolonize ethnographic museums? Should we have common and shared practices? In an attempt to eliminate colonial vestiges in museums, an analysis of literature and practices leads the author to analyze five European ethnographic museums in order to understand their merits and shortcomings. The subjectivity of these institutions and the diversity with which colonization can be presented makes the proposal of a single generalized solution not preferable. An objective analysis, based on actions and variables, drives the author to determine, however, that in order to revitalize museum practices, there is a need to create a sharable framework. The design of minimum standards can help museums set clear and measurable goals to achieve a higher level of decolonization.

Capturing the non-cooperative tumbling target by the free-floating space robot stands as a crucial task within on-orbit servicing. However, the strong dynamic coupling of the base-spacecraft and the manipulator seriously disturbs the base-spacecraft, which reduces the power generation efficiency of solar panels and the communication quality with the earth station. In this paper, the trajectory planning method of the free-floating space robot for non-cooperative tumbling target capture based on deep reinforcement learning is proposed, which can reduce the disturbance of the base-spacecraft during target capture. First, the generalized Jacobian matrix of the space robot is derived, from which the dynamics model is obtained. The kinematics model of the space non-cooperative tumbling target is established. And the contact collision dynamics between the space robot and the tumbling target are analysed. Second, the twin delayed deep deterministic policy gradient algorithm is introduced to plan the trajectory for capturing the non-cooperative tumbling target, where apart from the motion parameters of the manipulator and the generalized manipulability of the space robot, the pose disturbance of the base-spacecraft is initially added to the reward function. Finally, the simulation for target capture is carried out. The results show that compared with the existing method, the proposed method converges faster with a larger reward, and the pose disturbance of the base-spacecraft is reduced. Moreover, the method performs well for capturing the non-cooperative tumbling target with different initial rotational angular velocities.

We explore the role that large fires played in the early development of the Japanese fire insurance industry. Using a prefecture-level data set spanning 30 years, our econometric analysis shows that large fires led to an increase in new policies and policy renewals, consistent with historical narratives that insurance companies used these events to advertise their business. We also show that this subsequent surge in policies led to more small fires due to arson. Anecdotal evidence suggests that it is more likely to have been due to moral hazard rather than adverse selection.

The Biden administration requested comments regarding “Public and Private Sector Uses of Biometric Technologies” in the Federal Register from October 2021 to January 2022. This generated 130 responses, helped shape the “Blueprint for an AI Bill of Rights,” and resulted in Executive Order 14110 on “Safe, Secure, and Trustworthy Development and Use of Artificial Intelligence.” While the Trump administration immediately rescinded this executive order, these comments provide insight into salient AI biometrics technologies and relevant political players. We first identify AI biometric technologies before asking which institutions and individuals commented (RQ1), and what the substance and tenor of responses were regarding the opportunities and threats posed by AI biometrics (RQ2-a) based on respondent type (RQ2-b). We use text mining and qualitative analyses to illuminate how uncertainty about AI biometric technology in this nascent policy subsystem reflects participants’ language use and policy preferences.

The Western European prison reforms of the 1960s and 1970s were based, among other things, on the claim that prison labour should match the conditions of free labour as closely as possible. In reality, prison labour remained forced labour and thus followed its own logic, within which social security and remuneration did not correspond to the free labour market conditions. Prisoners were not and are not workers in the true sense of the word; rather, they oscillate between forced labour and non-work. This article deals with this contradiction, which is still inherent in prison labour in many Western democracies today. Using the example of West Germany, it historicises the relationship between work and punishment behind bars and attempts to show that although the punitive nature of prison work has changed since the late 1960s, it has ultimately never been lost – despite criminal policy objectives to the contrary. It was a normative question of values: how much equality did prisoners deserve?

Micromix combustion technology emerges as a promising solution to address challenges in achieving clean combustion, particularly for hydrogen utilisation. This review provides a critical analysis for the potential of micromixing by delving into its core principles, diverse applications and the factors influencing its performance. The paper focuses on injector design, flame stabilisation and NOx mitigation strategies within the micromixing framework. Key findings include innovative burner designs, optimised air distribution techniques and the crucial role of fuel properties, especially for hydrogen combustion. The review highlights significant reductions in NOx emissions achieved through micromix combustion technology. For instance, NOx emissions were lowered to 2.2 ppm at φ = 0.4, representing a 45% improvement compared to conventional design configurations. Furthermore, a reduction of 40% in NOx emissions compared to standard configurations was observed at an equivalence ratio of 0.65. The study also compares NOx emissions between hydrogen and its blended fuels, showing lower emissions for methane. By highlighting the importance of optimising fuel mixture formation and flame stability for various operating conditions, this review underscores the significance of micromix combustion for advancing sustainable combustion technologies with low NOx emissions and reduced chance of flashback in hydrogen combustion.

Kalicephalus (Molin, 1861) comprises 33 species of gastrointestinal snake and lizard parasites with a cosmopolitan distribution, with seven taxa occurring in the Neotropical realm. In the present study, we describe Kalicephalus atroxi n. sp., found parasitising the snake Bothrops atrox, from the Eastern Amazon in the State of Amapá, North of Brazil. We used an integrative approach that included light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and sequencing of the internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS1) region to describe Kalicephalus atroxi n. sp. The new species has a buccal capsule characteristic of the genus, a slight cuticular inflation in the cephalic region. The females have an amphidelphic reproductive system, a vulva with prominent lips, and a long tail, tapering posteriorly. The males have long and alate spicules, and the copulatory bursa is lobed with dorsal rays with distinct morphology compared to their congeners. Molecular analyses and phylogenetic reconstructions cluster the new species into a well-supported clade with K. costatus costatus, from Chironius fuscus, from the same locality in northern Brazil. Kalicephalus atroxi n. sp. is the eighth species of the genus in the Neotropics, the seventh in Brazil, the second described parasitising B. atrox in Brazil, and the first species of snake nematode described in the State of Amapá.

Minerals incorporate 72 different essential elements, many of which are redox sensitive. We compiled oxidation states of ions in 4834 IMA-approved mineral species with oxygen and/or halogens as anions and have identified 87 essential mineral-forming ions. We compiled data on the coexistence of these ions as recorded in their minerals’ chemical formulas, and applied methods of network analysis with community detection and heatmap analysis with agglomerative clustering to reveal patterns of ion coexistence.

Unipartite networks illustrate the most common coexisting ion pairs, whereas Louvain and Walktrap methods reveal distinct ion groups—patterns that both reinforce and refine the Goldschmidt geochemical classification of elements. Key findings include: (1) that mineral-forming ions group into two major communities with a number of subcommunities; (2) that different ion communities primarily reflect contrasting geochemical and paragenetic processes such as primary igneous mineralisation, hydrothermal precipitation, and near-surface oxidation and weathering, rather than crystal chemical constraints; and (3) that different oxidation states of some redox-sensitive elements fall into two or more of these communities, underscoring how ions of the same elements commonly display contrasting geochemical and/or paragenetic affinities.

Heatmap analysis reveals groupings of co-occurring ions that mimic many aspects of community detection methods, as well as significant patterns of ion antipathies—groups of ions that are seldom if ever paired. For example, alkali metals commonly associated with late-stage igneous fluids (Cs+, Li+ and Rb+) rarely co-occur with low field strength ions found concentrated in brines (Ag+, Br–, Cu+, Hg+ and I–) or high field strength ions from weathered primary oxide or sulfide deposits (Cr6+, Pb4+, Mo4+, Te4+ and Te6+). Such ion pairs are well known in synthetic oxides. Therefore, with the exceptions of cations having very different redox potentials, unobserved ion pairs are principally the consequences of element rarity coupled with natural geochemical and paragenetic antipathies rather than crystal chemical constraints.

Despite growing interest in novel treatments for anorexia nervosa, outcomes remain poor – often not because existing interventions are inherently ineffective, but due to systemic barriers that hinder their delivery. Written by a person with lived experience, this article critiques the prioritisation of innovation over implementation, highlighting how funding structures, methodological limitations and ethical practices in research can exacerbate inequalities and constrain real-world impact. It explores the untapped potential of existing treatments, the ethical complexities of researching anorexia nervosa and the risks of reinforcing false dichotomies – such as those between old and new, promise and futility, and body and mind. The paper argues for an integrated approach that values both innovation and refinement, closing current gaps in knowledge and treatment through greater collaboration across disciplines. Recommendations are made to support the orientation of research and care systems towards more effective, personalised and just treatment for anorexia nervosa.