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Combination theorems for Wise's power alternative
No full textWe show that Wise's power alternative is stable under certain group constructions, use this to prove the power alternative for new classes of groups and recover known results from a unified perspective. For groups acting on trees, we introduce a dynamical condition that allows us to deduce the power alternative for the group from the power alternative for its stabilisers of points. As an application, we reduce the power alternative for Artin groups to the power alternative for free-of-infinity Artin groups, under some conditions on their parabolic subgroups. We also introduce a uniform version of the power alternative and prove it, among other things, for a large family of two-dimensional Artin groups. As a corollary, we deduce that these Artin groups have uniform exponential growth. Finally, we prove that the power alternative is stable under taking relatively hyperbolic groups. We apply this to show that various examples, including all free-by groups and a natural subclass of hierarchically hyperbolic groups, satisfy the uniform power alternative
Longitudinal analysis shows possible distinct patterns of associations between conspiracy beliefs and either institutional distrust or the sense of precarity
No full textThe paper reports longitudinal analyses examining the extent to which institutional trust mediates the relationship between individuals' sense of precarity and their adherence to conspiracy beliefs. Across three waves, 925 participants (50.2% female) between the ages of 18 and 85 (M = 49.53; SD = 15.81) reported subjective appraisals of their financial situation (precarity), trust in institutions and adherence to conspiracy beliefs. The current study extends the previous analyses by including three-wave longitudinal data. The preregistered autoregressive cross-lagged panel model supports the notion that a sense of precarity follows adherence to conspiracy beliefs rather than preceding them, while institutional (dis)trust and conspiracy beliefs show a bidirectional pattern. However, the random-intercept cross-lagged panel model does not corroborate this, suggesting that the effects may be driven by stable between-person differences rather than actual within-person changes. Additionally, the latter model reveals two separate temporal patterns linking conspiracy beliefs with either the sense of precarity or institutional trust, opening the possibility that our results were driven by two distinct underlying mechanisms. The paper discusses the importance of longitudinal studies for a more accurate understanding of social-psychological realities in which conspiracy beliefs and suspicions of institutions may flourish
Evolution of infragravity waves on a macro-tidal low-tide-terrace beach
No full textThis study investigates infragravity (IG) wave dynamics on a low-energy macrotidal low-tide-terrace beach through field observations and numerical simulations using the one-dimensional nonhydrostatic SWASH model. Field measurements were conducted in the intertidal zone to capture wave transformation across varying tidal stages. The collected data were used to validate model performance and to carry out detailed analyses, including incoming/outgoing signal separation, cross-correlation, and bispectral analysis. Results show that, in the IG band, tides chiefly regulate wave height and the partitioning of energy between bound and free modes: at high water the bound long-wave component dominates the IG energy budget, whereas at low water the contribution from free long waves exceeds 80 %. At low tide, a transition in IG wave generation mechanism is observed from bound wave dominance offshore to breakpoint-forced IG waves in the surf zone, with wave group structure weakening progressively after breaking. At high tide, IG wave amplification occurs under non-breaking conditions, attributed to nonlinear energy transfer from short waves during shoaling, supported by a time lag between wave groups and IG waves. A notable slow-down in outgoing IG wave celerity to its half is observed from the surf zone, indicating substantial energy dissipation and dispersion
Ghana’s Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) Industries: Exploring the Relationship Between Supply Chain Collaboration and Operational Performance
No full textThe global FMCG industries have been vital in supporting both workforce employment and business expansion around the world. The global FMCG industry output has contributed to multiple United Nations Sustainable Development Goals by working on poverty elimination and worldwide equality promotion. Efficient supply chain systems show positive effects across all business sectors and sizes while transcending cultural boundaries. Research on supply chain collaboration and its effects on business operational performance remains scarce, particularly in the FMCG sector in the West Africa region. This study aims to explore the connection between supply chain collaboration and operational performance in FMCG businesses operating in Ghana. This research selects Ghana as its geographic focus because it is West Africa’s second-largest population centre and holds a leading position as an exporter of gold and lumber which reveals its emerging economic potential. The survey questionnaire research with 300 FMCG industry participants in Ghana took place between 11th March and 30th March 2024. Purposive sampling was adopted to finalise the research participants and SPSS was adopted to analyse the data. The findings indicate an important link between knowledge management strategies and operational performance through resource sharing, information sharing, synchronous decision-making and collaborative knowledge generation. The paper concludes with implications and recommendations based on the key findings from this research
Thoracic epidural insertion using extended reality hologram assistance: a randomised trial of regional anaesthesia skill performance on the soft embalmed Thiel cadaver
No full textBackgroundMedical extended reality projects a 3D digital image onto live surface anatomy via a wearable device while allowing operators to interact with the real world. We have developed a 3D hologram of the thoracic spine from CT images of a soft embalmed Thiel cadaver and visualised spinal anatomy through a Microsoft Hololens2 headset. The primary objective of this study was to test whether thoracic epidural training performance on the cadaver was improved using extended reality compared with the landmark insertion technique.MethodsThe study comprised psychometric evaluation of anaesthetists of all grades, a lecture, needling practice on both a plastic simulator, and a soft embalmed Thiel cadaver and familiarisation with the Hololens2. Testing of cadaveric thoracic epidural procedural performance occurred at 10 randomly allocated anatomical sites between T1/2 and T 10/11, randomised equally to the landmark paramedian technique or hologram guidance. Both groups used loss of resistance to fluid as the procedural endpoint. The primary outcome was the log-log slope of Global Rating Scale assessments.ResultsFor 58 anaesthetists who completed the study, Global Rating Scale slopes did not differ between groups or by grade of anaesthetist. Secondary endpoints showed differences: the mean log number of needle movements was reduced in the extended reality group: 0.94 (0.95) vs 1.49 (0.97), P<0.001; and ideal performance, defined as a single needle insertion through skin and two or fewer subsequent needle movements, was higher in the extended reality group, 52% vs 28%, Relative Risk (RR) 1.50 (0.91–2.53).ConclusionsExtended reality hologram-assisted thoracic epidural insertion did not alter Global Rating Scale scores for the holographic vs landmark techniques, but reduced needle movements
A Deep Implicit-Explicit Minimizing Movement Method for Partial Integro-Differential Equations, with application to Option Pricing in Jump-Diffusion Models
No full textWe develop a novel deep learning approach for solving partial integro-differential equations (PIDEs) in high dimensions, involving diffusion and drift terms. To showcase its practicality and versatility, the methodology is presented for the specific challenge of pricing European basket options written on assets that follow jump-diffusion dynamics. The option pricing problem is formulated as a partial integro-differential equation, which is approximated via a new implicit-explicit minimizing movement time-stepping approach, involving approximation by deep, residual-type Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) for each time step. The integral operator is discretized via two different approaches: (a) a sparse-grid Gauss–Hermite approximation following localised coordinate axes arising from singular value decompositions, and (b) an ANN-based high-dimensional special-purpose quadrature rule. Crucially, the proposed ANN is constructed to ensure the appropriate asymptotic behavior of the solution for large values of the underlyings and also leads to consistent outputs with respect to a priori known qualitative properties of the solution. The performance and robustness with respect to the dimension of these methods are assessed in a series of numerical experiments involving the Merton jump-diffusion model, while a comparison with the deep Galerkin method and the deep BSDE solver with jumps further supports the merits of the proposed approach
Cultural transmission of attitudes and behaviours from parents, peers and grandparents
No full textThis study investigates how attitudes and behaviours are transmitted across generations and social networks, focusing on the relative influence of parents, grandparents, and peers. Building on the influential work of Cavalli-Sforza and Feldman (1982), we aimed to disentangle vertical and horizontal pathways of cultural transmission and assess their contribution to the stability and variation of cultural traits in a contemporary population. We conducted a large-scale survey involving 1905 university students in Australia and 4000 of their parents, grandparents, and friends. Participants reported their attitudes and behaviours across domains such as religiosity, politics, environmentalism, health, and leisure. Responses were analysed using factor analysis, path modelling, correlational analysis, and simulations based on additive transmission models. Our results show that cultural resemblance is strongest for religiosity, political orientation, environmentalism, and health behaviours. These traits exhibited clear vertical transmission from parents to children, with additional indirect influence from grandparents. Peer similarity was also evident, suggesting horizontal transmission and/or peer selection. Traits such as media use, music, and reading habits showed weaker familial resemblance and appeared more influenced by non-familial or contextual factors. Simulations confirmed that cultural traits are more likely to be adopted when shared by both parents and peers, though for some traits (especially left-wing political views and non-religiosity) external influences predominated. The findings demonstrate that cultural transmission is domain-specific and shaped by both family structure and social networks. Vertical and horizontal pathways contribute jointly, but their strength varies by trait. These results underscore the importance of integrating biological, psychological, and sociocultural factors to understand the persistence and evolution of beliefs and behaviours over generations
Marine Mammals in the Anthropocene: Developing a Systematic Evidence Base of Threats to Nineteen Species
No full textIntroductionMarine mammals have long been affected by human activities.AimsTo understand the state of knowledge regarding anthropogenic threats, we systematically mapped peer‐reviewed and grey literature on this topic for 19 marine mammal species found in the North Atlantic.MethodsSearches in 2022 and 2024 resulted in 3390 relevant documents for review. Relevant records were extracted from each document (n = 6964 records), and threats were grouped into 13 major classes (e.g., climate change, fisheries, acoustic disturbance).Results & DiscussionOf the 19 species, bottlenose dolphins had the most records (n = 1365), and of the threat classes, fisheries had the most records (n = 2124), with 59% being associated with mortality. Mapping the study locations highlighted how records were unevenly distributed across each IUCN‐defined species range. Furthermore, species of conservation concern (i.e., globally assessed by IUCN as ‘Endangered’) often received comparatively little study effort. We highlight the species and threats that have to date received limited attention and discuss the potential reasons for disparities in research effort.ConclusionIncreased efforts to understand and appropriately mitigate threats are critical, given the continued co‐existence of marine mammals and human threats in the ‘Anthropocene’
Assessment of the Implementation of Design out Construction Waste Strategies in the UAE: Exploring Challenges, Solutions, Opportunities, and Emerging AI Trends
No full textOne of the fastest growing construction sectors in the region is UAE and its sustainable development faces waste reduction at building design stage. Grounded on the case study of the UAE, looking at design-out-waste strategies, this research employs a qualitative methodology, based on 14 semi-structured interviews with professionals from the field of construction. The results show that the main causes of waste during design stage are found to be complex projects, harsh climate, logistics deficiencies and low usage of advanced technology. The most recent strategies include adherence to green building regulations, use of passive design techniques, and better resource management. Emerging technologies, including Building Information Modelling (BIM) and Artificial Intelligence (AI), offer the potential to predict and mitigate design waste; however, their use is still limited. This problem may be attributed to insufficient knowledge, high costs, and the propensity to avoid change. One of the most important conclusions of the study is that the bolstering of stakeholder collaboration and governance frameworks is necessary to make the adoption of sustainable design practices in the construction industry of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) a reality. The main contribution of this research is the evidence-based identification of several waste drivers within the design phase, as well as the construction of viable, technologically supported frameworks to promote sustainable construction approaches. In summary, the results of the research indicate that waste within the design phase can be minimized, and the practice of sustainable construction in the UAE can be advanced through the proactive incorporation of digital technologies and engaged collaboration among stakeholders
Exploring Disciplinary Perspectives on Community Resilience
No full textThroughout human history, communities have responded to challenges in urban and rural contexts by engaging multiple agents and actors, including individuals, institutions, and governments. Disciplinary expertise, including deep knowledge and practice, has contributed to economic, social, technological, and political change. Yet, it is increasingly apparent that the complex global, systems‐level challenges facing twenty‐first century communities require responses that transcend traditional disciplinary boundaries. The ability of communities to respond to challenges faced, from natural and anthropogenic hazards to the systemic threat of climate change, is often referred to as ‘community resilience’. Despite increasing scholarly interest, there appears to be, however, a lack of consistency in understanding and applying community resilience among cross‐disciplinary practitioners. This ambiguity can limit the potential of collaborative action and impact at the community level. This study explores cross‐disciplinary perspectives of community resilience to better understand how the term is described and applied in practice. Drawing on the experiences of more than 100 international respondents to an online survey, this study analyses the emerging themes to gauge the potential of transdisciplinary community resilience in realising the possible value of collective action
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