Gorstian sediments in south-central Wales preserve an asymmetric, compound mixed-process delta system north of the Carreg Cennen Disturbance and east of the Golden Grove Axis. The 30 km SW-NE outcrop, extending from the Cennen Valley to Y Pigwn, is oblique to the NNE delta progradation direction. The Hafod Fawr Formation comprises subaqueous delta slope deposits. Sandstone bed amalgamation indicates shoaling and wave/storm influence within the overlying subaqueous delta platform deposits of the Cwar Glas Member. The succeeding Mynydd Myddfai Sandstone Formation contains shoreline delta lithofacies within three geographical tracts. An embryonic Golden Grove Axis shed shoal water shoreline fan-delta and alluvial fan lithofacies (of the Trichrug Formation) in the Cennen Valley Tract. The SW Tract (Cilmaenllwyd to Banc Celynog) was deposited on the updrift flank of the asymmetric delta, with longshore drift to the NE. Amalgamated sandstone bedsets dominate in the mouth bar and terminal distributary channel lithofacies. Pen y Bicws preserves the axial gravel bed distributary channel lithofacies, which created a headland and palaeogeographic divide between the SW and NE tracts. The latter (Sawdde Gorge to Y Pigwn) records deposition in a low-energy bay that hosted cycles of heterolithic lithofacies. Collectively, these tracts occupied part of a sediment supply route to deeper facies of the subsidence-prone Clun Forest Sub-Basin. Emergent delta plain deposits become dominant within the overlying Trichrug Formation. Thin, locally preserved deposits of the Cribyn Du Member record delta abandonment and transgression during the Ludfordian associated with basin reconfiguration and expansion of the Caer’r mynach Seaway.

London’s nineteenth-century sailortown – centred around Ratcliffe Highway and the surrounding docklands – was a vital hub of maritime activity. Yet much of what is known about this space derives from landsmen’s accounts: narratives by Victorian reformers, novelists and journalists who often portrayed the sailortown as a site of crime, vice and moral degeneration. In contrast, sea shanties, rooted in the lived experiences of sailors themselves, offer an alternative perspective, illuminating the values and self-perceptions of the maritime community. This article examines how London’s sailortown is represented in shanty repertoire, analysing the lyrics of shanties associated with the city to reveal recurring themes, such as encounters with women, financial exploitation, alcohol consumption and the dangers of the Highway. These songs provide insight not only into the everyday lives of sailors ashore but also into how they navigated and interpreted urban spaces. Furthermore, by considering the broader soundscapes of the docklands (including the influence of street performers, public houses and the music hall), this study explores how urban auditory culture shaped the content and form of shanties. By highlighting sailors’ voices through their songs, this article reconstructs a more nuanced and culturally embedded understanding of London’s sailortown and its place within the wider maritime world.

In recent decades, it has become clear that if our universe had been born with slightly different physics, e.g. if the masses of fundamental particles were altered by a tiny fraction, it would be sterile and uninhabitable. We explore the current state of the evidence for this cosmological fine-tuning. We then explore three possible explanations of fine-tuning: traditional theism, the multiverse hypothesis, and a pantheistic God of limited power.

Speculative design is widely used in research contexts across multiple disciplines, emphasising problem-finding over problem-solving, and involves methods for exploring possibilities that challenge ingrained assumptions. This systematic literature review analyses speculative design methods used in 52 studies within disciplines such as human–computer interaction, fashion, urban planning, and healthcare, among other fields. It presents results about the common phases and methods of speculative design that are utilised in these studies. It identifies and characterises four core phases that appear to be common within speculative design processes, namely select, explore, transform, and provoke. It shares examples of how these phases are used to achieve the goals of speculative design. The discussion section considers the process of speculative design, leading to the synthesis of a framework that visually and conceptually organises these findings to facilitate their comprehension and application. This paper contributes to the understanding of speculative design by providing a clear process that addresses gaps in its theoretical and methodological foundations.

Fluency is an essential aspect of second language (L2) oral proficiency. Recent studies have demonstrated that L1 individual speaking style is connected to L2 fluency, suggesting that L2 speech fluency does not solely represent L2-specific skills. Furthermore, task mode (monologue vs. dialogue) has been shown to influence fluency. The present study examines the extent to which these two factors (L1 speaking style and task mode) can predict L2 speech fluency, and how such connections are modified by the learners’ L2 proficiency level. The data consist of monologic and dialogic speech samples from 50 advanced students of English in their L1 (Finnish) and L2 (English). The samples were analyzed for speed, breakdown, repair, and composite fluency. The results of multiple linear regressions demonstrated high predictive power for speed, breakdown, and composite fluency dimensions, while the model for repair fluency showed weak predictive power. The results have implications for L2 fluency research.

The radical right succeeds when minorities challenge the societal standing of majorities. In Central and Eastern Europe (CEE), research often focuses on the political gains of ethnic minorities. We build on this work by differentiating among (1) types of representation; (2) minority mobilization versus ally advocacy; and (3) politically mobilized versus socially marginalized ethnic minorities. First, we introduce a novel measure of representation based on the power, influence, and prestige afforded to ethnic minorities at the executive (cabinet) level. Second, we evaluate whether legislative descriptive representation, ethnic minority party coalition participation, and ethnic minority cabinet-level prestige are associated with radical-right aggregate electoral success and individual-level radical-right vote choice. Cabinet-level prestige consistently predicts radical-right success; descriptive representation and coalition participation have less robust associations. Third, experiments in Romania and Slovakia highlight the mechanism, underscoring that representation – namely the substantive representation of politically mobilized minorities – causes resentment among ethnic majorities. In sum, majority-minority relations continue to structure CEE electoral politics, and the politicization of minority gains remains a viable strategy for mobilizing radical-right support.

Narratives and frames have shaped the overdose crisis since its early stages. Efforts to control knowledge about the role of opioids in chronic pain have influenced clinical guidelines and prescribing behaviour. Dominant narratives shape policy by influencing how problems are defined, and which solutions are considered appropriate. A more nuanced understanding of how framing shapes interactions among stakeholders, including patients, clinicians, advocacy groups, industry, educators, and regulators, can clarify these dynamics. Engaging multiple perspectives, rather than relying on a single dominant narrative, offers a more effective path for addressing complex public health emergencies such as the overdose crisis.

Critical interpretive synthesis was introduced in 2006 to address various shortcomings of systematic reviews such as their limitations in synthesizing heterogeneous data, integrating diverse study types, and generating theoretical insights. This review sought to outline the methodological process of conducting critical interpretive syntheses by identifying the methods currently in use, mapping the processes that have been used to date, and highlighting directions for further research. To achieve this, a scoping review of critical interpretive syntheses published between 2006 and 2023 was conducted. Initial searches identified 1628 publications and after removal of duplicates and exclusions, 212 reviews were included in the study. Most reviews focused on health-related subjects. Authors chose to utilize the method due to its iterative, inductive, and recursive nature. Both question-based and topic-based reviews were conducted. Literature searches relied on electronic databases and reference chaining. Mapping to the original six-phase model showed most variability in use of sampling and quality assessment phases, which were each done in 50.7% of reviews. Data extraction utilized a data extraction table. Synthesis involved constant comparison, critique, and consolidation of themes into constructs, and a synthesizing argument. Refining critical interpretive synthesis methodology and its best practices are important for optimizing the utility and impact and ensuring findings are relevant and actionable for informing policy, practice, and future research.

In 1967, Klarner proposed a problem concerning the existence of reflecting n-queens configurations. The problem considers the feasibility of placing n mutually nonattacking queens on the reflecting chessboard, an $n\times n$ chessboard with a $1\times n$ “reflecting strip” of squares added along one side of the board. A queen placed on the reflecting chessboard can attack the squares in the same row, column, and diagonal, with the additional feature that its diagonal path can be reflected via the reflecting strip. Klarner noted the equivalence of this problem to a number theory problem proposed by Slater, which asks: for which n is it possible to pair up the integers 1 through n with the integers $n+1$ through $2n$ such that no two of the sums or differences of the n pairs of integers are the same. We prove the existence of reflecting n-queens configurations for all sufficiently large n, thereby resolving both Slater’s and Klarner’s questions for all but a finite number of integers.

This article explores the concept of transfer as it emerges in German-speaking academic discourse and considers its broader implications for the Global Public Literary Humanities. While transfer has become an established term in university policy, especially in Germany, its potential for literary studies remains under-examined. Building on both German and Francophone models, this article offers a nuanced framework that distinguishes between transfer and its synonyms—such as application, practice, communication, cooperation, and mediation—and proposes the concept of transferability as a means to sharpen theoretical and practical awareness regarding the conditions for successful transfer. This article presents a model that identifies both enabling conditions (such as relevance and resonance) and practical forms of transfer, arguing that transferability is shaped by ethical, esthetic, and anthropological considerations. Drawing on examples from current German debates (e.g., #RelevanteLiteraturwissenschaft, collaborative literary festivals, and citizen science projects), the analysis demonstrates that successful literary transfer is always co-creative and dialogical. Ultimately, this article calls for more institutional and structural efforts to enable transferability within literary studies and suggests that increased awareness of its prerequisites and possibilities for implementation can make academic work more responsive, inclusive, and socially engaged. This essay also advocates for extending the debate by incorporating concepts and practices from other linguistic and cultural traditions, thereby advancing the vision of Global Public Literary Humanities as a truly interconnected, dynamic, and transformative field. In doing so, this article hopes to encourage further critical reflection, experimentation, and the opening of new perspectives in research, teaching, and public engagement.

Over the past two decades, the Canadian Arctic Archipelago has undergone significant glacier mass loss, driven primarily by surface melt. This study presents a detailed analysis of supraglacial drainage evolution along Ellesmere Island’s ∼830 km latitudinal extent using satellite imagery, historical aerial photographs and DEMs from 1959 to 2020. Analysis of five glaciers shows that drainage density (Dd) has increased over time, driven by the expansion of perennial rivers, especially at higher elevations. Far northern glaciers exhibit stable, well-developed drainage systems, while southern glaciers show a relatively greater increase in canyon development since 1959. Cold surface ice in the north supports higher Dd, while southern glaciers with extensive sinks (moulins and large crevasses) exhibit stronger surface-to-bed connectivity. Despite increased channelization, sinuosity changes remain statistically insignificant, reflecting dynamic canyon behavior governed by surface slope and meltwater discharge. Results align with modeled increases in melt, especially on southern glaciers where supraglacial systems have expanded most rapidly. Continued equilibrium line altitude rise under future warming is expected to intensify melt and result in the expansion of supraglacial drainage systems up-glacier, particularly for glaciers with large amounts of ice at mid-elevation.

This article examines women’s work in rural areas of the Republic of Venice between the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, with a focus on the district of Padua. By applying the verb-oriented method to judicial sources, it reconstructs a detailed and nuanced picture of female labour, highlighting the extent and continuity of women’s economic activities. The findings show that women were engaged across all sectors of the economy, including sectors far beyond care and housework. They played an active role in agriculture, trade, and manufacturing. Moreover, their work was fully integrated into the household economy, structured around seasonal labour demands, and performed throughout the year. A comparison with previous studies suggests that women’s work in the Venetian countryside aligned closely with broader European patterns. These findings underscore the fundamental contribution of female labour to household survival, challenging long-standing assumptions about women’s economic roles in Italy and the Mediterranean.

We prove that every irreducible component of the coarse Kollár-Shepherd-Barron and Alexeev (KSBA) moduli space of stable log Calabi–Yau surfaces admits a finite cover by a projective toric variety. This verifies a conjecture of Hacking–Keel–Yu. The proof combines tools from log smooth deformation theory, the minimal model program, punctured log Gromov–Witten theory, and mirror symmetry.

This guide provides a philosophical framework and practical advice for gathering, analyzing, and reporting a particular type of qualitative data. These data are obtained from including an open-text box following the key quantitative question in survey-style studies with the request to ‘Please explain your response’. While many studies currently collect such data, they often either fail to report or analyze it, or they conduct unstructured analyses with limited detail, often mistakenly referring to it as ‘thematic analysis’. Content analysis provides a well-established framework for analyzing such data, and the simplicity of the data form allows for a highly pragmatic and flexible approach. The guide integrates the concept of reflexivity from qualitative research to navigate the large number of researcher degrees of freedom involved in the process, particularly in working with the second coder. It begins by arguing for the value of this data, before outlining the guide’s philosophy, offering advice on maximizing the validity of your data, and addressing the common concern of confabulation. It then provides advice on developing a coding scheme, recruiting and collaborating with a second coder, and writing your report, considering the potential role of large language models at these various stages. Additionally, it provides a checklist for reviewers to evaluate the quality of a given analysis. Throughout the guide, a running example is used to demonstrate the implementation of the provided advice, accompanied by extensive example materials in the online repository, which can be used to practice the method.

In the last few years, Hindu nationalism’s effort to shape the Hindu identity of the nation has intensified. Apart from its move to assert cultural homogenisation over the diverse landscape, this ideology produces a newer understanding of spaces in the land. When it is read as a part of the broader Hindutva movement, the use of violence, bureaucratic overreach, or judicial intervention to rewrite the sacred topography of the land unmasks the territorial goal of Hindu Rashtra. The territorial manifestation of this ideology takes a strident effort inside the country to encroach and reclaim the spaces inhabited by the “other” as Hindu spaces in the name of the nation. This immediately establishes a clear and precise correlation between the spaces and the nature of the spaces. This territorialisation of the spaces indicates the spatial rearrangement of the public spaces to marginalise minorities, invisibilise Muslims, and push them into the “private” space.

Mathematical billiards is much like the real game: a point mass, representing the ball, rolls in a straight line on a (perfectly friction-less) table, striking the sides according to the law of reflection. A billiard trajectory is then completely characterized by the number of elastic collisions. The rules of mathematical billiards may be simple, but the possible behaviours of billiard trajectories are endless. In fact, several fundamental theory questions in mathematics can be recast as billiards problems. A billiard trajectory is called a periodic orbit if the number of distinct collisions in the trajectory is finite. We show that periodic orbits on such billiard tables cannot have an odd number of distinct collisions. We classify all possible equivalence classes of periodic orbits on square and rectangular tables. We also present a connection between the number of different equivalence classes and Euler’s totient function, which for any positive integer N, counts how many positive integers smaller than N share no common divisor with N other than $1$. We explore how to construct periodic orbits with a prescribed (even) number of distinct collisions and investigate properties of inadmissible (singular) trajectories, which are trajectories that eventually terminate at a vertex (a table corner).