We study the dynamics of a generic automorphism f of a Stein manifold with the density property. Such manifolds include almost all linear algebraic groups. Even in the special case of ${\mathbb {C}}^n$, $n\geq 2$, most of our results are new. We study the Julia set, non-wandering set and chain-recurrent set of f. We show that the closure of the set of saddle periodic points of f is the largest forward invariant set on which f is chaotic. This subset of the Julia set of f is also characterized as the closure of the set of transverse homoclinic points of f, and equals the Julia set if and only if a certain closing lemma holds. Among the other results in the paper is a generalization of Buzzard’s holomorphic Kupka–Smale theorem to our setting.

Understanding of predators functional responses is critical in assessing their efficiency as biological control agents. This study investigates the functional responses of three coccinellid predators Scymnus posticalis Sicard (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), Platynaspis saundersi Crotch (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), and Pharoscymnus horni Weise (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) against varying densities of the prey aphid, Myzus persicae (Hemiptera: Aphididae) under controlled conditions (25 ± 1°C temperature, 70 ± 5% relative humidity and 14 L:10D photoperiod). Predation trials across different prey densities were performed with these adult coccinellid predators. Logistic regression analysis confirmed a Type II functional response for all the three species used in the experiments. Among the three, S. posticalis showed a superior predatory efficiency, with the highest attack rate (a) (0.0994 h−1), shortest handling time (Th) (0.5016 h) and a maximum theoretical predation rate (K) of 48.76 aphids. P. saundersi and P. horni showed lower predatory parameters, positioning S. posticalis as the most efficient predator. These findings underscore S. posticalis as a promising candidate for biological control of M. persicae, with a clear advantage in predation metrics over P. saundersi (a = 0.0876 h−1; Th = 0.5193 h; K = 48.27 aphids) and P. horni (a = 0.0695 h−1; Th = 0.5316 h; K = 47.97 aphids). However, further field validation is essential to assess its real-world efficacy, considering environmental variability and complex ecological interactions.

Sustainable diets should promote good health for both the planet and the individual. While there is a clear association between lower environmental impact diets and better health outcomes, intervention studies are needed to determine the range of dietary changes and to understand inter-individual differences in response. Individuals having different responses to dietary interventions are underpinned by a variety of genetic, phenotypic and behavioural factors. The aim of this review is to apply the findings from previous literature examining inter-individual variation and phenotypic response to the future of sustainable healthy diets. Despite changing diets or improving diet quality, physiological responses are varied in randomised controlled trials. To better understand response, individuals can be grouped based on shared baseline characteristics or by their shared response to an intervention. Studies grouping individuals by shared characteristics use a metabolic phenotyping or metabotyping approach which demonstrates that some phenotypes are more predisposed to respond to a particular intervention. Tailoring dietary advice to metabolic phenotype shows promise for improving health and diet quality. However, more evidence is needed to understand the complexity that will come with whole dietary change in the context of sustainable healthy diets. We envisage a future where metabolic phenotyping is an integral element for prescribing personalised nutrition advice for sustainable healthy diets.

This study uses panel data to examine the relationships among citizen attitudes related to Quebec independence. It has long been established that support for sovereignty is correlated to expectations about the economic and linguistic consequences of independence. Proponents of Quebec sovereignty tend to believe it will enhance the economy and preserve the French language, while opponents anticipate adverse effects on both fronts. We investigate whether economic and linguistic expectations drive preferences about independence, or whether preferences shape expectations. The analyses rely on Canadian Election Study panel surveys from 2004 to 2011 and employ cross-lagged models. Findings show that economic and linguistic expectations do affect support for sovereignty to some degree. However, the influence of sovereignty support on expectations is much more pronounced.

A textbook objection to consequentialism is that it is too demanding—on the assumption that a moral theory which is excessively demanding thereby loses plausibility. In this paper, I assess whether the mechanisms employed by two versions of rule consequentialism, those of Brad Hooker and Tim Mulgan, adequately meet the requirement of not being too demanding. I also examine whether the concept of human nature might help determine what should count as demanding for a moral theory. While this suggestion also faces significant challenges, I contend that prescribing less partiality towards the present generation may not be a drawback for the consequentialist frameworks under consideration.

We construct an explicit algebraic example of a subshift of finite type over a group $\Gamma $ with an invariant Markov measure which has completely positive sofic entropy (with respect to ‘most’ sofic approximations) and yet does not have a direct Bernoulli factor because its model spaces shatter into exponentially many clusters of sub-exponential size. The example and its analysis are related to random low-density parity-check (LDPC) codes.

This article examines the two families of denominative verbs from the semantic field of atimia: atimaô/atimoô and atimazô. By analysing their use in the Attic orators and other major prose texts from the Classical period (Herodotus, Thucydides, Xenophon, Plato and Aristotle), the article shows that these verbs were consistently employed in differentiated, well-defined ways: atimaô/atimoô for ‘effecting an actual loss of status’, and most normally for ‘imposing the legal penalty of atimia’ (especially in the orators), and atimazô for extra-legal examples of ‘dishonour’. This distinction is in part reflected also in the ratios of verbal aspect for the two families, with atimaô/atimoô being used mostly in aorist and perfective forms and atimazô mostly in imperfective forms.

In Modern Standard German both bare infinitives and those formed with the particle zu are used as independent main clause predicates, where they each have illocutionary force. While the former can be associated with a range of functions, the latter specifically encodes indignation towards a state of affairs on the part of the speaker. Taking a constructionist approach, I argue that the exclamative zu-infinitive has emerged as a schematic construction, which is best described as a conventionalized form–function relation between the structure [X + zu + Inf] and an attitudinal semantic feature that represents speaker indignation. I provide diachronic data as well as a cross-linguistic comparison to support this constructionalization process.

We investigate a bracketing property that purports to yield upper- and lower bounds on the treatment effects obtained from a fixed effects (FE) and lagged dependent variable (LDV) model. Referencing both analytical results and a Monte Carlo simulation, we explore the conditions under which the bracketing property holds, confirming this to be the case when the data generating process (DGP) is characterized by either unobserved heterogeneity or feedback effects from a lagged dependent variable. However, when the DGP is characterized by both features simultaneously, we find that bracketing of the treatment effect only holds under certain conditions—but not in general. Practitioners can nevertheless obtain the lower bound estimate by referencing a model that includes both FE and an LDV. While the Nickell bias in the coefficient of the LDV is known to be of order $1/T$, we show that the Nickell-type bias in the estimator of the treatment effect is of order $1/T^2$.