Voters’ perceptions of election candidates are known to be shaped by stereotypes about candidates’ characteristics and social identities, including gender and disability. More recently, scholars have started paying attention to how the intersection of politicians’ identities shapes citizens’ perceptions of them, recognizing that identities do not simply “add up” but give rise to distinct stereotypes and expectations. This paper explores how candidate gender and disability affect voter perceptions through a survey experiment with a conjoint design in the UK and the US. The findings reveal a complex picture in which candidate gender and disability interact in shaping some, but not the majority, of voters’ perceptions of candidates’ traits, competences, beliefs, as well as voter support. The study underlines that intersectional approaches are fundamental to advancing our understanding of voter attitudes and behavior, candidate competition, and the representation of social groups.

Chater and Christiansen argue that cultural complexity arises through social “tinkering.” While compelling, this framework remains mechanistically underspecified. Integrating recent empirical and theoretical advances, this commentary proposes that cultural complexity emerges from interactions among transmission dynamics, cognitive constraints, social network structure, and environmental pressures and calls for a formalized, testable multilevel theory.

Non-equilibrium evaporative flows play a central role in many nanoporous membrane technologies, where transport of fluids is confined by solid surfaces at the nanoscale. In this work, we propose a molecular kinetic model that consistently resolves the coupled interactions among vapour, liquid and solid surfaces in such flows. As a direct consequence of this bottom-up approach, the liquid–vapour, liquid–solid and vapour–solid interfaces form autonomously, and the effects of non-equilibrium and real fluids can be captured simultaneously, which does not need empirical models depending on ad hoc parameters such as the evaporation/condensation coefficients and contact angle. Accuracy of the model improves further by including the soft-collision effect in the pair correlation function and applying a temperature-dependent correction to the mean-field Vlasov term, as validated against the experimental data and the molecular dynamics simulations. Furthermore, when applied to unsteady, evaporation-driven liquid–vapour flows, the model reveals distinct dynamics due to surface wettability: the hydrophilic surfaces exhibit phenomena such as liquid meniscus breakage and enhanced evaporation flux, whereas the hydrophobic surfaces lead to disappearance of liquid droplets. These findings highlight the potential of the proposed molecular kinetic model as a powerful design tool for next-generation nano-technologies that leverage nano-confined phase change.

Aphis gossypii Glover (Hemiptera: Aphididae) is a globally significant agricultural pest that has developed varying degrees of resistance to numerous classes of insecticides. Studies on the plant growth regulator mepiquat chloride (DPC) indicate that direct exposure inhibits development and reduces the reproductive capacity of A. gossypii. However, the effects of combining DPC with insecticides on the development and population dynamics of A. gossypii remain unclear. Therefore, this study investigated the effects of DPC in conjunction with sublethal doses of imidacloprid (IMI-LC30) and sulfoxaflor (SUL-LC30) on the toxicity and sublethal effects of A. gossypii, using life table parameters and qPCR analysis. The results showed that the combination of DPC with IMI or SUL did not enhance the toxicity of either IMI or SUL. Compared to treatments with IMI-LC30 or SUL-LC30 alone, the combination treatments showed no significant differences in longevity, fecundity, and population parameters of the F0 generation. However, the fecundity of the F1 generation was significantly reduced, and population parameters also exhibited a decreasing trend. Moreover, exposure of A. gossypii to IMI-LC30 or SUL-LC30 resulted in the upregulation of reproduction-related genes Vg and VgR in the F1 generation. This effect was suppressed when either IMI-LC30 or SUL-LC30 was co-applied with DPC. These findings demonstrate that combining DPC, in combination with IMI or SUL, can suppress the population resurgence of A. gossypii induced by sublethal exposure to these insecticides on their own. This research provides insights for the effective use of DPC and insecticides.

Systematic reviews (SRs) are critical for evidence-based research but are time-consuming and labor-intensive. The rapid expansion of academic publications further challenges the performance and applicability of existing screening and classification methods. While large language models (LLMs) present new opportunities for automation, limited research has examined whether they can achieve classification performance comparable to human reviewers in large-scale, multi-class settings. With the goal of improving classification performance, we proposed an LLM-based framework that leverages full-text key-insight extraction to enhance literature classification. We constructed a manually curated dataset of 900 articles from 17 published SRs to quantitatively evaluate the classification capabilities of LLMs. The results provided empirical evidence of LLMs’ potential in supporting large-scale SRs and introduced a practical pathway for improving efficiency and reliability in evidence synthesis. Empirical results showed that key-insight-based classification (KBC) significantly outperforms abstract-based classification (ABC). We implemented a confidence-weighted voting (CWV) mechanism using multiple LLMs to improve robustness. The CWV method achieved the highest macro F1-score of 0.796, substantially exceeding KBC (0.732), ABC (0.676), and unsupervised K-means clustering (0.446). By employing zero-shot LLMs, our approach demonstrated the potential for enhanced adaptability across diverse domains and classification tasks without requiring fine-tuning, demonstrating that a carefully designed pipeline can enable LLMs to achieve classification performance comparable to human reviewers.

We study the dynamics of a delayed predator–prey system with Holling type II functional response, focusing on the interplay between time delay and carrying capacity. Using local and global Hopf bifurcation theory, we establish the existence of sequences of bifurcations as the delay parameter varies and prove that the connected components of global Hopf branches are nested under suitable conditions. A novel contribution is the demonstration that the classical limit cycle of the non-delayed system belongs to a connected component of the global Hopf bifurcation in Fuller’s space. Our analysis combines rigorous functional differential equation theory with continuation methods to characterize the structure and boundedness of bifurcation branches. We further demonstrate that delays can induce oscillatory coexistence at lower carrying capacities than in the corresponding ordinary differential equation model, yielding counterintuitive biological insights. The results contribute to the broader theory of global bifurcations in delay differential equations while providing new perspectives on nonlinear population dynamics.

Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is emerging as the leading cause of chronic liver disease worldwide, with a spectrum ranging from simple steatosis to advanced fibrosis and cirrhosis. Its pathogenesis is multifactorial and involves genetic, metabolic, and gut microbiota factors. Gut microbiota, through the gut-liver axis, plays a crucial role in the progression of MAFLD. Here, we investigated the association between DI-GM, a novel metric reflecting diet-microbiota interactions, MAFLD, and liver fibrosis, with a focus on the mediating role of vitamins. Using data from 13,498 participants across seven NHANES cycles (2007–2018), we found that higher DI-GM scores, indicative of a healthier gut microbiota-promoting diet, were associated with a reduced prevalence of MAFLD (OR = 0.93, 95% CI = 0.88–0.99) and high-risk liver fibrosis (OR = 0.94, 95% CI = 0.90–0.98) in fully adjusted models. Notably, the relationship between DI-GM and MAFLD and the risk of liver fibrosis is largely mediated by specific vitamins and carotenoids, with vitamin C and cis-β-carotene emerging as key mediators. These findings suggest that dietary interventions targeting the gut microbiota and vitamin supplementation could offer new strategies for the prevention and management of MAFLD. Our study provides the first comprehensive evidence linking DI-GM to MAFLD and the risk of liver fibrosis, highlighting the potential of diet and nutrition to modulate metabolic liver diseases. Future research should focus on elucidating the underlying mechanisms and validating these findings through prospective studies and clinical trials.

Expansive soils, characterized by large montmorillonite (Mnt) contents, exhibit significant swelling-shrinkage behavior, posing engineering challenges in regions with alternating wet and dry seasons, such as southern China. Recent studies have explored the possible use of microbes to control or modify the swelling-shrinkage behavior. This study has evaluated microbial influence on the swelling-shrinkage behaviors of expansive soils. A combination of aqueous phase characterization through inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) and solid phase analyses including X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) was adopted to elucidate the variations in system parameters. Results showed that Si, Al, K, and Mg concentrations in the supernatant increased with prolonged interaction, with K concentration peaking at 14 days and decreasing to 27.5 mg L−1 at 42 days, indicating K+ uptake by Mnt interlayers. The Si–O bonds in tetrahedral sheets, Al–O bonds in octahedral structures, and –OH bonds in water molecules were disrupted by Paenibacillus mucilaginosus, accelerating the montmorillonite to illite (Mnt-to-Ilt) transformation. An Ilt-Mnt interstratification peak appeared near 9.88°2θ after 14 days, and an Ilt peak emerged at 48.07°2θ after 28 days. The Mnt content decreased by 37.28%, while the Ilt content increased by 104.01% after 42 days, as calculated by the K-value method. Analysis of swelling-shrinkage properties revealed that reduced Mnt content led to a 69.01% decrease in the free swell index and a 24.04% decrease in the swell ratio under load. The linear and volumetric shrinkage ratios decreased by 32.90% and 30.98%, respectively. Microorganisms can promote the weathering and phase transformation of Mnt into non-expansive minerals, thereby reducing the amount of it and thus reducing the swelling-shrinkage potential in expansive soils.

This paper employs the Riemann-Hilbert problem and nonlinear steepest descent method of Deift-Zhou to provide a comprehensive analysis of the asymptotic behavior of the genus two Korteweg-de Vries soliton gases. It is demonstrated that the genus two soliton gas is related to the two-phase Riemann-Theta function as $x \to +\infty $, and approaches zero as $x \to -\infty $. Additionally, the long-time asymptotic behavior of this genus two soliton gas can be categorized into five distinct regions in the x-t plane, which from left to right are quiescent region, modulated one-phase wave, unmodulated one-phase wave, modulated two-phase wave, and unmodulated two-phase wave. Moreover, an innovative method is introduced to solve the model problem associated with the high-genus Riemann surface, leading to the determination of the leading terms, which is also related to the multiphase Riemann-Theta function. A general discussion on the case of arbitrary genus N soliton gas is also presented.

The present paper originates from the need to understand nonlinear wave behaviour in dusty plasmas, aiming to explore stable envelope wave propagation and interactions beyond traditional theoretical models. By using nonlinear Schrödinger equation (NLSE) analysis and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, the study verifies the existence and stable propagation of non-standard envelope waves. It demonstrates elastic like collisions, introduces tuneable parameters for wave shaping and quantifies error trends with nonlinearity. A key breakthrough is confirming that even analytically invalid waveforms remain stable, challenging NLSE constraints. Present results enhance nonlinear wave theory and support precise, tuneable signal transmission in plasma diagnostics and microgravity experiments.

Nd,Y:CaF2 (NYCF) crystals are exceptional gain materials for high-power laser drivers; however, laser-induced damage remains a substantial challenge that restricts their broader application. In this study, by establishing an in situ testing system for photothermal weak absorption and the laser-induced damage threshold (LIDT), the relationship between the photothermal weak absorption characteristics of NYCF and its LIDTs was analyzed. A fully connected neural network was employed to facilitate deep learning of these relationships, thereby enabling non-destructive evaluation of NYCF via photothermal weak absorption. Moreover, this study examined both the effect of spot size during testing and the influence of crystal orientation on the evaluation outcomes. The underlying mechanisms were further elucidated by investigating NYCF’s thermal mechanical properties and damage characteristics. This work not only offers a rapid, non-destructive method for evaluating the laser damage resistance of NYCF using artificial intelligence but also enhances the understanding of its damage mechanisms.

Political theorists and scientists have published extensive scholarship on the political representation of the marginalised. Some notable and widely cited scholars include Jane Mansbridge, Anne Phillips, Iris M. Young, Suzanne Dovi, and Melissa Williams. They have mostly focused on the importance of representation of women and argue that such representation enhances the functioning of representative democracies. This strand of literature has made significant contributions to contemporary research, especially on studies showing how and why political representation matters. Underdiscussed, nonetheless, is how such classic studies should be taught in a classroom in the context of global movements, namely #BlackLivesMatter, #StopAsianHate, and #MeToo, where various marginalised identities intersect when subjected to oppression. We contest and strengthen some of these ideas in extant scholarship promoting diversity politics by taking intersectional and decolonial approaches. We advocate for prioritising intersectionality over diversity and for decolonising teaching political representation by centring the feminist works of BIPOC and Global South scholars. By challenging both the absence of minoritised women as political actors as well as scholars—as a matter of the production of knowledge and as political activism—we create an inclusive learning environment. We enable both the educators and students to reflect on their positionalities and furthermore achieve the long-term goal of equality in the classrooms, political institutions, and beyond.