How did the COVID-19 outbreak affect citizens’ democratic preferences? Were the changes persistent or temporary? We track a representative sample of Spanish citizens before, during, and after the pandemic, with eight survey waves from January 2020 to January 2024. We compare democratic attitudes before and after the pandemic with individual fixed effects models. We identify a sharp increase in preferences for technical rather than ideological policy-making at the very onset of the pandemic, as well as significant changes in voters’ preferences for competent rather than honest politicians. These changes are sudden and persistent over 4 years. Using a set of repeated survey experiments, we also document a widespread willingness to sacrifice rights and freedoms to deal with the pandemic as compared to other global threats, such as international terrorism and climate change. But this effect quickly faded over time. Overall, we identify significant changes in democratic attitudes during the pandemic and a durable shift in technocratic preferences that outlived the pandemic, setting the conditions for the long-term legacies of COVID-19 on democracy.

From the 1950s to the 1980s, disputes about fishing rights and practices that emerged due to decolonisation processes and the expansion of maritime boundaries shaped diplomatic relations between Taiwan and Pacific polities. Whether legal or illegal, fisheries provided a space where Taiwan and Pacific locales engaged at state and non-state levels. Using newspapers and archival materials, this article examines how the Taiwanese fishing community in American Samoa became intertwined in American Samoan society and complicated state-level relationships. This legal fishing community then expanded into illegal fishing incidents in Tuvalu, Niue, and the Cook Islands, again shaping Taiwan-Pacific relations. Taiwan’s fisheries history demonstrates beyond-the-state encounters for Taiwan, overseas Chinese communities in the Pacific, colonised and independent Pacific locales, and colonial powers. It contributes to global history understandings of a deep relationality between histories of the Pacific Rim and Oceania that have been separated in historical analysis.

The rare Pb silicate jagoite, known only from the Långban and Pajsberg Mn–Fe oxide deposits in Värmland, Sweden, is associated with a more diverse mineral assemblage than originally described: alamosite, barysilite, hyttsjöite, margarosanite, melanotekite, nasonite and yangite and other, not fully characterised Pb silicates. Primary melanotekite and barysilite, formed as skarn (together with hematite, quartz, clinopyroxene and andradite) during regional metamorphism, are prone to alteration, with Cl⁻, SiO₂, Ca2⁺ and H₂O acting as modifying agents. In the process, newly formed Pb silicates exhibit increasing Si content, reflecting a higher degree of SiO₄ polymerisation at high pH and decreasing temperatures.

A refinement of the crystal structure of jagoite from X-ray diffraction data, to R1 = 1.2% [space group P$\bar 6$2c, a = 8.53926(5) Å and c = 33.3399(2) Å], confirms previous work, and provides significantly improved structural parameters. New data were also obtained with Mössbauer spectroscopy, laser-Raman micro-spectroscopy, electron-microprobe and laser-ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry analyses. The results indicate that jagoite accommodates minor elements, notably Al at an octahedrally coordinated Fe-dominated site and Mn3⁺, Zn and Mg at four-coordinated mixed Fe–Si sites, and small amounts of Ca+Na replacing Pb. Jagoite is also enriched in Be, Sb, Bi and Br, but those elements have a limited role in its crystal chemistry. Mössbauer measurements show that Fe3⁺ is distributed over three different crystallographic sites, two 4-coordinated and one 6-coordinated, and that jagoite remains paramagnetic down to 77 K. The ideal chemical formula for jagoite should be written Pb11Fe5Si12O41Cl3 for Z = 2.

Ice crystal fabrics can exert significant rheological control on ice sheets and ice shelves, potentially softening or hardening anisotropic ice by several orders of magnitude compared to isotropic ice. We introduce an anisotropic extension of the Shallow Shelf Approximation (SSA), allowing for fabric-induced viscous anisotropy to affect the flow of ice shelves in coupled, transient simulations. We show that the viscous anisotropy of synthetic ice shelves can be parameterized using an isotropic flow enhancement factor, suggesting that existing SSA flow models could, with little effort, approximate the effect of fabric on flow. Next, we propose a new way to directly solve for SSA fabric fields using satellite-derived velocities, assuming velocities are approximately steady and that fabric evolution is dominated by lattice rotation with or without discontinuous dynamic recrystallization. We apply our method to the Ross and Pine Island ice shelves, Antarctica, suggesting that these regions might experience significant fabric-induced hardening and softening depending on the relative strength of lattice rotation and recrystallization. Our results emphasize the ice-dynamical relevance of needing to better constrain the strength of fabric processes. This calls for more widespread fabric and temperature measurements from the field, since measurements are currently too sparse for model validation.

In 1570, Johannes Stradanus (1523–1605), a Flemish-born artist settled in Florence, produced two paintings meant to adorn the new Studiolo of Prince Francesco I de’ Medici (1541–87). The best-known painting is The Alchemist’s Laboratory, a depiction of the laboratory then existing at the Palazzo Vecchio. The laboratory was set up by Cosimo I (1519–74), the first grand duke of Tuscany. His son Francesco was also enthusiastic about it: Stradanus’s painting portrays the prince working on the premises amongst other artisans. This paper will present the laboratory, instruments and practices by linking them with a specific form of alchemy popular in the period, quintessence alchemy. I will also discuss the extent to which Stradanus’s depiction may be deemed ‘realistic’, relating it to its underlying ideology as well as other contemporary representations.

Since the mid-2010s, conflicts at UNESCO over the interpretation of Japanese colonial rule and wartime actions in the first half of the twentieth century in Japan, South Korea, and China have been fierce. Contested nominations include the Meiji Industrial Revolution Sites for the World Heritage List (Japan), the Documents of Nanjing Massacre for the Memory of the World (MoW) Register (China), and two still pending applications on the Documents on the Comfort Women (South Korean and Japanese NGOs). This paper examines the recent “heritage war” negotiations at UNESCO as they unfolded in a changing political, economic, and security environment. Linking World Heritage and MoW nominations together for a holistic analysis, this paper clarifies the interests of State actors and of various non-State actors, such as NGOs, experts, and the UNESCO secretariat. We discuss the prospects for these contested nominations and recommend further involvement of non-State actors to ensure more constructive and inclusive heritage interpretation to enable a more comprehensive understanding of history.

The study investigated the effects of replacing maize with enzyme-supplemented Dried Date Fruit Pulp (DDFP) in the diets of broiler chickens. 576-day-old commercial broiler chicks (Arbor Acre Plus) were randomly selected and distributed into 8 treatment groups of 72 birds each. Each treatment was divided into six replicates of 12 birds on a weight-equalisation basis. The treatments consisted of 4 levels of DDFP (0, 100, 200 and 300 g/kg) and 2 levels of enzyme supplementation (with or without). The data obtained were subjected to an Analysis of Variance in a 4 × 2 factorial arrangement. Birds fed 300 g/kg DDFP recorded the least weight gain (971 g) and final weight (1013 g) across the treatments at the starter phase, while there were no significant (P > 0.05) differences in the final weight, weight gain, feed intake and feed conversion ratio of birds fed with DDFP and maize-based diets at the finisher phase. DDFP inclusion reduced the experimental birds’ feeding cost (NGN/kg) and cost/kg weight gain (NGN/kg WG). Enzyme supplementation increased serum protein and glucose concentrations. Reduced (P < 0.05) EE and CF digestibility coefficients were seen in birds fed 30% DDFP at the finisher phase. Carcass indices, ileal digesta viscosity and caecal total bacteria were not negatively influenced. It was concluded that DDFP could replace up to 200 g/kg maize in broiler chicken diets at the starter phase and up to 300 g/kg at the finisher phase without any deleterious effects on health and performance.

The study explores the vertical stratification of microbial diversity and metabolic potential in Earth’s lower atmosphere. Using 16S rRNA sequencing data spanning the planetary boundary layer to the lower stratosphere, we conducted taxonomic profiling and metabolic pathways predictions. The aim was to elucidate microbial community dynamics and their ecological roles under diverse atmospheric conditions. Methods: 51 Publicly available datasets with 3584 samples were retrieved from repositories such as Sequencing Read Archive and European Nucleotide Archive, filtered for studies employing 16S rRNA sequencing. Quality control was performed using FastQC and Trimmomatic, followed by taxonomic classification with Qiime2 and the Silva132 database. Functional pathway predictions were derived using PICRUSt2, and statistical analyses included Kruskal-Wallis tests for diversity comparisons and Mann-Whitney U tests for pathway activity. Results: Microbial diversity decreased with altitude, with the Surface Layer exhibiting the highest Shannon diversity and the significantly decreased in Low Stratosphere. Taxonomic composition shifted along the elevation gradient, with Actinobacteria and Alphaproteobacteria predominant at lower altitudes. In contrast, Bacilli and Gammaproteobacteria became more dominant at higher elevations, though they maintained a notable presence at lower sites as well. Functional analysis revealed altitude-specific adaptations, including significant upregulation of CO2 fixation pathways in the Free Troposphere Transition Layer and secondary metabolite biosynthesis in the lower stratosphere. Discussion: These findings reveal distinct microbial metabolic profiles across atmospheric layers with varying conditions such as oxygen levels, UV radiation, and nutrient availability. While these differences may represent adaptive strategies, they could also reflect source environment characteristics or selective transport processes. The conserved metabolic pathways across altitude layers suggest functional resilience despite taxonomic divergence. These results have implications for astrobiology, providing analogs for microbial life in extraterrestrial environments like Mars or Europa. In summary, this study advances our understanding of aerobiomes’ ecological roles and their potential as models for life detection in extreme environments, bridging atmospheric microbiology with astrobiological exploration.

This review highlights the importance of dietary fibres (DF) intake and its interconnection with the gut microbiome and psychological well-being, while also exploring the effects of existing DF interventions on these aspects in adults. The gut microbiota is a complex and diverse ecosystem in which microbial species interact, influencing the human host. DF are heterogeneous, requiring different microbial species to degrade the complex DF structures. Emerging evidence suggests that microbial fermentation of DF produces short-chain fatty acids (SCFA), which may play a role in regulating psychological well-being by affecting neurotransmitter levels, including serotonin. The effectiveness of DF interventions depends on factors such as baseline gut microbiota composition, the dosage and the source of DF consumed. Although the gut microbiota of adults is relatively stable, studies have shown that the abundance of the species in the gut microbiota can change within 24 h of an intervention and may return to baseline following the termination of DF intervention. This review underscores the need for larger and well-powered dietary clinical trials incorporating longitudinal biological sample collections, advanced sequencing and omic techniques (including novel dietary biomarkers and microbial metabolites), validated subjective questionnaires and dietary records. Furthermore, mechanistic studies driven by clinical observations are crucial to understanding gut microbiota function and its underlying biological pathways, informing targeted dietary interventions.

There has been a renewed focus on improving mental health outcomes and experiences for women with the publication of ‘Embedding Women’s Mental Health in Sharing the Vision’, but much needs to be done to translate this policy into tangible improvements in delivered care. Historical biases in medical education and practice, as well as in research, have led to serious deficiencies in how illnesses are diagnosed and managed in women. This is not solely observed in mental health, and andronormative perspectives and gender blindness are widespread throughout medicine. Trauma informed practices should be adopted in all healthcare settings that treat women. Consideration also needs to be given to reproductive life stage in psychotropic prescribing beyond concerns of the risk of teratogenicity. Medical education and training should play a central role in increasing gender awareness among healthcare professionals. Combining top-down policy initiatives with bottom-up education and training is required to meaningfully integrate gender awareness into mental healthcare and address historical shortcomings in care for women. Implementing gender-sensitive practices is an important step toward delivering more individualised, patient-centred mental health services.

Stimulants that act on the central nervous system have been used since antiquity for ritual and other uses. Organic chemistry techniques, especially those developed in Germany in the late 1800s, resulted in the isolation and structural determination of several important stimulants. Synthetic pathways for amphetamine and related stimulants were developed in the first half of the 19th century, and these new drugs were widely marketed. Awareness of abuse potential emerged soon after but was contested. Stimulants have been used to counteract fatigue and promote wakefulness during military operations, as well as to treat sleep disorders, since the 1930s. Methylphenidate was approved to treat children with behavioral problems in 1962, predating the recognition of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Stimulant abuse became a political concern in the post-war period, initially with the use of “pep-pills” by long-haul truck drivers and later as drug dealing became common in night clubs, with new laws limiting availability passed in the early 1960s. They have also been used to increase athletic and cognitive performance. Stimulants are still first-line therapies for ADHD and some sleep disorders; however, newer-generation drugs have been developed with better safety profiles and lower abuse potential. Illicit stimulant use continues to be common in many countries.

This article contends that the humanitarianism that developed in Europe in the 1930s and 1940s and, in particular, because of the Spanish Civil War, was shaped by a transnational network that was fundamentally female. Within this network, women with diverse political experiences converged; however, suffragism, pacifism and anti-fascism occupied a central place. Humanitarianism became for them a favourable space from which to intervene politically. To demonstrate this, we focus on the CAEERF, an aid organisation formed in 1939 in response to the arrival of Spanish refugees in France. It was created, led by and composed mainly of women from different backgrounds. The first part of this article concerns anti-fascist and humanitarian women’s networks that emerged during the Spanish Civil War. The second traces the journey of the British Quaker Edith Mary Pye, the driving force behind the CAEERF. The third and fourth parts discuss its creation and the work that it carried out on the ground.

An all-silica-fiber thulium-doped fiber laser emitting at 0.82 μm on the transition from 3H4 to the ground state 3H6 outputs 105 W continuous-wave power and 555 W quasi-continuous-wave instantaneous power with 0.96% duty cycle in 240 μs rectangular pulses. The system comprises a double-clad thulium-doped fiber designed and fabricated in-house, incorporated into an all-fiber cavity and cladding-pumped by diode lasers at 0.79 μm. Co-lasing at 1.9 μm counteracts population trapping in 3F4. The slope efficiency reaches 64% and 77.5% under quasi-continuous-wave and continuous-wave operations, respectively. Under quasi-continuous-wave conditions, the beam quality M2 becomes 2.2 (beam parameter product: 0.57 mm mrad) and 2.45 (0.64 mm mrad) in orthogonal directions at approximately 250 W of instantaneous output power. In addition, a modified quasi-continuous-wave setup is continuously wavelength-tunable from 812 to 835 nm. We believe this is the first reported demonstration of high-power laser operation of the 3H4 → 3H6 transition in a thulium-doped fiber.

Metarhizium guizhouense (Clavicipitaceae) is an insect pathogen employed as a mycoinsecticide against many insect pests worldwide. In this study, for the first time in a laboratory setting, the pathogenicity of the M. guizhouense isolate PSUM04 was evaluated against the coffee berry borer, Hypothenemus hampei (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae). Following the exposure (1 × 109 spores/mL) of H. hampei to M. guizhouense PSUM04, morpho-histopathological changes and numbers of apoptotic cells via the TUNEL (terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT), dUTP (deoxyuridine triphosphate) nick-end labelling) assay in H. hampei were evaluated at 12-hour intervals until 144 hours after exposure. The external morphology of H. hampei underwent drastic changes from 24 to 144 hours post-exposure accompanied by the degeneration of integument and adipose tissues. The semi-quantitative analytical score of TUNEL-positive cells showed a slight increase at 12 hours after exposure and a significant increase in TUNEL-positive apoptotic cells at 48 hours after exposure. These results suggest a series of tissue alterations of H. hampei during its process of infection with a strain of M. guizhouense, highlighting the pathogen’s potential as a biological control agent in natural settings.