A multilayer lining concept is proposed to mitigate hydraulic leakage risk and loss of load-carrying capacity after cracking in reinforced-concrete tunnels, while also reducing instability concerns typical of metal liners under elevated external pressures. The configuration comprises an inner reinforced-concrete ring, an intermediate steel plate, and an outer concrete ring, forming a cooperative load-resisting assembly. Physical model tests were carried out under alternating external and internal pressurization to quantify circumferential stress evolution and the associated load-transfer path. Under external pressurization, the inner concrete, steel plate, and outer concrete sustained approximately 40%-42%, 13%-16%, and 43%-45% of the resultant hoop action, respectively, and the steel plate remained substantially below the buckling demand, indicating a stable compression regime within the tested range. Under internal pressurization, progressive cracking of the concrete rings triggered a marked redistribution of hoop force toward the steel plate; its load fraction increased from 15% to 25% following inner-ring cracking and from 14% to 26% following outer-ring cracking. Across the two pressurization cycles tested, the steel plate maintained the capacity to carry alternating tensile-compressive demands, thereby preserving global integrity after concrete damage. Overall, the proposed multilayer lining exhibits improved resistance to limited-cycle hydraulic loading and enhanced structural robustness relative to conventional lining schemes, supporting its applicability to high-head conveyance tunnels.

Purpose This study aims to introduce and empirically validate a novel moderated-mediation model to explain how integrating AI and blockchain as an intelligent information system for accounting transforms organizational knowledge into a strategic asset, ultimately enhancing sustainable value and competitive advantage within the ASEAN region. The authors propose a comprehensive framework where this technological system improves sustainability reporting quality (SRQ; a critical knowledge output), contingent upon the firm’s internal governance and the external environment. Specifically, the authors pioneer a contingent governance perspective, arguing that the amplifying role of internal governance is itself conditional on external pressures. Design/methodology/approach Adopting a quantitative approach, this study analyzes a panel data set of 3,300 firm-year observations from listed companies across major ASEAN economies. Structural equation modeling is used to test a sophisticated moderated-mediation framework. This methodology allows for a robust examination of the complex, conditional pathways linking AI and blockchain adoption to sustainable value while simultaneously assessing the contingent effects of enterprise risk management (ERM) and environmental uncertainty. Findings Results reveal that the AI and blockchain-powered system significantly improves the quality of sustainability reporting (a key knowledge output), which in turn drives sustainable value. Critically, the effectiveness of this system is amplified by robust ERM. However, the study uncovers a nuanced conditional effect: the strategic value of ERM is itself contingent on the level of external environmental uncertainty, highlighting how internal knowledge systems must adapt to external pressures to remain effective. Practical implications This research provides a practical roadmap for managers on how to build and govern information systems that translate technological investment into tangible, sustainable performance. It offers a new lens for investors to evaluate a firm’s knowledge management capabilities alongside its technological infrastructure. For policymakers, it underscores the need for policies that foster not just technology adoption but also the development of resilient organizational systems capable of navigating a highly interdependent world. Originality/value First, it is among the first study, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, to empirically model the complete pathway from a specific technological system to sustainable value via the mediating mechanism of SRQ. Second, and most significantly, it pioneers the concept of “contingent governance” by demonstrating that the moderating effect of ERM is not universal but is itself moderated by environmental uncertainty. This multi-level interaction offers a far more nuanced view than previously understood. Third, by situating this complex model within the under-researched, high-growth context of the ASEAN region, the authors provide crucial insights for emerging markets on leveraging information as a predominant asset.

Type of the article: Research ArticleAbstractThis study examines the adoption and implementation of cost accounting practices in Saudi Arabian public universities following their shift from cash-based to accrual-based accounting. Guided by the resource-based view (RBV) framework, it tests four hypotheses related to drivers of cost adoption, cost tracking and allocation abilities, calculation method frequencies, and resources needed for successful cost implementation. Data from 171 financial managers and accountants across all 30 public universities were analyzed using descriptive statistics, correlations, and regression models. Results reveal a negative correlation between cost adoption and organizational factors, with external pressures – including regulatory requirements and negotiations over funding – serving as the primary catalysts. Universities demonstrate a strong capacity to track and allocate direct costs, with over 90% able to manage them; however, indirect cost management remains limited, with only 12% able to allocate indirect costs, indicating early-stage development. Cost implementation is further positively associated with the use of detailed cost calculation and allocation methods and perceived organizational resource needs, including financial policies, skilled personnel, and advanced management systems. Findings suggest that, despite external pressures, resource constraints hamper full implementation. These findings support the RBV assertion that internal capabilities are crucial for gaining a strategic advantage. Successful cost implementation depends on internal resource development and organizational capacity-building, which can transform cost accounting from a symbolic compliance exercise into a strategic tool for transparency, decision-making, and institutional efficiency.

Background: Psychiatrists operate at the interface of clinical care, legal frameworks, and governmental power, where external pressures and insufficient safeguards can potentially engender ethical vulnerabilities. Supranational instruments and wider professional standards notwithstanding, the extent to which national-level psychiatric associations articulate protections against torture and abusive practices in their ethical codes remains underexplored. Methods: A cross-sectional documentary audit was conducted of all 145 World Psychiatric Association (WPA) Member Societies, representing ≈250,000 psychiatrists globally. National-level psychiatric ethical codes were located via systematic web searches and examined for clauses specifically referencing torture or analogous abuses and for any associated enforcement procedures. Results: Only nineteen (13.1%) WPA Member Societies maintained publicly accessible ethical codes, with ten (6.9%) containing explicit provisions proscribing torture and associated abuses. These predominantly originated from high-income countries or jurisdictions with documented histories of human rights violations. Most codes invoked broad principles without directly addressing such abuses, and fewer than half delineated any enforcement mechanisms. Conclusions: Gaps persist in ethical governance and human-rights safeguards amongst WPA Member Societies. Although beneficence and non-maleficence provide moral foundations for psychiatric practice, generic commitments alone may prove inadequate under duress. Strengthening anti-torture prohibitions within national-level psychiatric codes could therefore help support ethical resilience and accountability in situations of institutional or political coercion.

Nonlinear parametric resonances of laminated pipes with the coupling effects of internal fluids and external pressure

External pressure's influence on lithium-ion transport within solid-state electrolytes

The California almond industry underwent a remarkable transformation in food safety management and culture following outbreaks of salmonellosis associated with the consumption of raw almonds in 2000-2001 and 2003-2004. However, limited studies have examined these changes from a longitudinal perspective. This study documents the transformation of food safety management in the California almond industry over an 18-year period, explores indicators of change in food safety culture, identifies the key factors driving these changes, and examines the determinants of industry-wide technology adoption. A multifaceted approach was used, consisting of document analysis and semi-structured interviews. This study provides a detailed review of the almond industry's responses to the outbreaks, highlighting the industry commodity board's proactive leadership in crisis management, collaborative research efforts, risk assessment, and the development of a mandatory Salmonella-control program to mitigate the risks associated with raw almonds. These measures significantly strengthened food safety management systems across the industry. The industry has also shown a shift in mentality toward food safety over time, evidenced by increased prioritization of food safety, stronger management commitment, and reduced resistance to change. A conceptual framework integrating institutional theory and diffusion of innovation theory is proposed to illustrate how external and internal institutional pressures, along with intervention characteristics, influenced the almond industry's adoption of Salmonella-control interventions. The study offers valuable lessons on proactive, industry-driven food safety improvements and self-regulation in enhancing food safety outcomes.

ABSTRACT In the last decade, a consensus has emerged that we are now witnessing a global democratic decline. The democratic backsliding consensus is also extended to the African continent. Reflecting global trends, African incumbent leaders have strategically used the law and courts to control the contestation for power and participation, and also used sovereigntist claims to shield themselves from external scrutiny and pressures. But, three decades into the continent's multiparty era, politics in the region reflect a status quo: Democratic levels have largely remained the same since the 1990s. Seeking to explain this equilibrium of partial democratization, we revisit the arguments of “democratization by elections” and link the focus on elections to the study of social movements. Addressing cases that have experienced episodic challenges of autocratization, we argue that the routinization of elections has contributed to building democratic resilience against the autocratic ambitions of incumbents. Competitive elections provide a formal mechanism for translating the demands of social movements into political change, fostering greater accountability and institutional adaptability. Our analysis shows that social movements emerge in response to these episodic challenges of autocratization and that they – in doing so – strategically borrow from past movements while employing symbolic resonance to mobilize and sustain participation.

Photothermal CO2 methanation presents a promising strategy for mitigating the energy crisis and reducing CO2 emissions, however, the critical role of hydrogen migration dynamics in addressing reaction kinetics and thermodynamics has not been thoroughly investigated. Here, we demonstrate the design ofa (NiO/Ru0)/TiO2 photothermal catalyst with optimized interfacial architecture and enhanced hydrogen mobility, which facilitates exceptionally selective conversion of CO2-to-CH4. Both experimental and theoretical analyses reveal that H2 dissociates efficiently on Ru0, subsequently undergoing spillover to O in NiO (ONiO). This process not only redistributes active sites but also influences the reaction kinetics, thereby fundamentally altering the energy landscape associated with CO2 methanation. Consequently, the (NiO/Ru0)/TiO2 catalyst achieves complete CO2 conversion and CH4 selectivity, with a CH4 production rate of 2552.49 μmol h-1 (85.08 mmol g-1 h-1) under an irradiation of 25.5 suns without external heat or pressure. This research underscores an innovative engineering approach that leverages hydrogen spillover to enhance photothermal catalytic efficiency and selectivity, thereby providing a robust framework for the advancement of sophisticated photothermal catalysts for selective CO2 hydrogenation.

Asylum decision making in state bureaucracies is not only an administrative process but also a practice infused with emotions, with profound consequences for asylum applicants and for the perceived legitimacy of state practices around the governing of migration. How the responsible authorities deal with the emotions of applicants and their employees in a changing political environment is of critical relevance for concerns around administrative violence and the quality and fairness of procedures. Based on interviews with asylum caseworkers and fieldwork conducted within the German Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) in 2013/14, this article demonstrates how notions of professionalism had become contested terrain, with normative expectations concerning emotion regulation at their core. In the context of trends involving more direct political influence, a managerial restructuring of procedures and a steady devaluation of decision makers in terms of their status and autonomy, the BAMF had begun to incorporate elements of more recent notions of professionalism, such as greater reflexivity or empathy with applicants. However, this was selective and partially contested among staff. A large part of emotion work remained unregulated and implicit, and remnants of past administrative practices continued to feed into interviewees’ notions of professional asylum casework. The analysis highlights the relevance of the organisation of emotions in efforts at disciplining caseworkers and safeguarding relative bureaucratic autonomy amid external political pressures. In light of more recent developments, the findings point to the dangers of shallow forms of emotionalisation that contribute to a smoother functioning of procedures while further veiling issues of accountability and justice.

This article explores Turkey’s national cinema policy’s legal, economic, and geopolitical foundations during and after World War II. Focusing on the 1948 Municipal Revenues Law, which introduced differentiated admission taxes for domestic and foreign films, the study examines how this fiscal tool functioned as economic regulation and a mechanism of cultural protectionism. Drawing on archival records, parliamentary debates, diplomatic correspondence, and trade data, the article traces how Turkish cinema gained institutional ground against Hollywood’s dominance and Egyptian melodrama’s popularity. The analysis reveals how taxation policies, sectoral mobilisation, international agreements, and cultural diplomacy converged to open space for domestic film production. Situating Turkish cinema within broader Cold War dynamics and cultural imperialism debates, the article argues that national cinema policy was shaped at the intersection of internal industrial agency and external political pressures, challenging conventional accounts of postwar cultural development.

Digital transformation has emerged as a growing focus of research and practice in hospitality and tourism firms. Drawing on capital-labor substitution theory, this study examines how minimum wage increments influence the digital transformation decisions within hospitality and tourism firms. It also explores the moderating roles of labor intensity and cash holdings in this relationship. Using data from Chinese hospitality and tourism firms listed on the A-share market of the Shanghai and Shenzhen stock exchanges between 2009 and 2022, the findings reveal that higher minimum wages promoted digital transformation in these firms. This effect is particularly pronounced for hospitality and tourism companies with higher labor intensity and lower cash holdings. This study highlights how external labor cost pressures significantly shape digital transformation strategies, expands the understanding of the drivers of digital transformation, and contributes valuable insights to the literature on the effects of minimum wage policies.

Phenotypic adaptation, the ability of cells to change phenotype in response to external pressures, has been identified as a driver of drug resistance in cancer. To quantify phenotypic adaptation in BRAFV600E-mutant melanoma, we develop a theoretical model informed by growth-rate data of WM239A-BRAFV600E cells challenged with the BRAF-inhibitor encorafenib. We use an individual-based model (IBM) in which each cell is described by one of multiple discrete and plastic phenotype states that are directly linked to drug-dependent net growth rates and, by extension, drug resistance. To describe how cells transition between phenotype states, we explore a gamut of candidate models common in the mathematical biology literature. Comparing these on their ability to reproduce in vitro growth curves, data-matched simulations suggest that phenotypic adaptation is directed towards states of high net growth rates, enabling the evasion of drug-effects. The model subsequently provides an explanation for when and why intermittent treatments outperform continuous treatments in the studied system, and demonstrates the benefits of not only targeting, but also leveraging, phenotypic adaptation in treatment protocols. Building on the IBM, we present a flexible mathematical methodology based on ordinary differential equations to compare responses to continuous and intermittent treatments through long-term effective net growth rates.

Black women initiate and continue breastfeeding at lower rates than any other racial and ethnic group. The current study qualitatively examines barriers to breastfeeding among Black mothers. Participants included 37 Black cisgender mothers stratified by age with varying breastfeeding experiences. Data were analyzed using inductive thematic analysis. Results highlighted maternal guilt, shame, and/or other affective barriers (i.e., concerns about latch/supply, emotional/mental health, external pressures, and pain with breastfeeding). These barriers affected initiation and continuation of breastfeeding. Findings highlight the needs of Black mothers seeking to breastfeed. Considerations for providers and peers seeking to support Black mothers are discussed.

Artificial Intelligence continues to reshape the ICT sector in Pakistan, yet organizations differ widely in how and why they adopt this technology. This study explores the key drivers of AI adoption by focusing on national ICT professionals who work directly with digital systems and emerging technologies. A total of 110 valid responses were collected through an organized online survey using purposive sampling. The investigation was guided by Technology Organization Environment framework combined with innovation characteristics from Diffusion of Innovation theory. The variables examined include the perceived suitability of AI to current systems, the benefits and complexity of adopting AI, organizational technical capability, and external environmental pressures. Data analysis involved Smart PLS-SEM, which facilitated reliability and validity assessment along with hypothesis evaluation. The outcomes highlight that seamless compatibility with existing infrastructure plays a key role in encouraging AI adoption, offers clear operational value, and is not overly difficult to implement. Technical capability also demonstrates a strong influence, indicating that firms with mature digital systems are better prepared to integrate AI solutions. In contrast, external environmental pressures did not show a significant role in the adoption process. These findings highlight that internal technological perceptions and readiness are stronger predictors of AI adoption than external forces in operating ICT firms in Pakistan. The study provides insights that can help organizations strengthen their technical readiness and make more confident decisions when transitioning toward AI enabled transformation. This study contributes to AI adoption literature by isolating organizational technical capability and providing national level evidence from an emerging ICT economy.

The equation of state (EOS) for silica glass is crucial for understanding the structure, properties, and modeling of silicate materials under extreme conditions, making it of significant importance in condensed matter physics, materials science, and geoscience. While accurate density measurement of non-crystalline materials under high pressure remains a major challenge,ab initiomolecular dynamics (AIMD) simulations can reveal atomic structures and provide insights into the EOS between volume and external pressure. In this paper, we present the results of an EOS study of SiO₂ glass, based on two relatively large AIMD simulation boxes, i.e. 81 SiO₂ units (243 atoms) and 192 SiO₂ units (576 atoms), with periodic boundary conditions using high accuracy algorithms in AIMD simulations. The obtained EOS of SiO₂ glass undergoes significant changes at compression volume ratiosV/V0of 0.46 and 0.59, forming an intermediate state within this range resembling that observed in GeO2glass under high pressure. The pressure-induced tetrahedral to octahedral transition of network-forming SiO₂ glass can be addressed by AIMD method.

This study analyzes the issue of political reform in the Arab Gulf states amid accelerated regional and international transformations, particularly following the Arab Spring and the ensuing internal and external pressures on regional political systems. It proceeds from the hypothesis that political stagnation and the absence of effective popular participation constitute one of the primary causes of internal crises, placing regimes before challenges related to legitimacy, stability, and responsiveness to citizens' demands. The study discusses the evolution of the concept of political reform—from being perceived as a tool of foreign intervention or international conspiracy to an urgent internal necessity imposed by shifts in the international environment and its conflicts, including proxy wars. It highlights the specificity of Gulf governance systems, which rely on traditional loyalties, while raising questions about these regimes' capacity to adapt to current transformations. The study concludes by forecasting two main scenarios for the region's future: either the resilience of regimes through genuine gradual reforms, or entry into paths of disintegration should the trust gap between rulers and ruled persist.

Abstract Wall shear stress (WSS) serves as a crucial link between the dynamics of blood flow and the biological mechanisms that underlie various cardiovascular diseases. This study investigates WSS fluctuations in a collapsible wavy channel using a two-dimensional (2D) fluid-structure interaction (FSI) model. A combination of immersed boundary-lattice Boltzmann and the generalized interpolation material point methods solves the nonlinear coupled equations. The effects of key parameters on WSS fluctuations, including Reynolds number, pulsatile flow period, and external pressures, are analyzed for two systems: one with a wall constraint and one without the constraint. The results show that decreasing the period of pulsatile flow and increasing external pressure contribute to increased local WSS fluctuations by destabilizing the system through a fluid symmetry-breaking mechanism. Across all investigated parameter domains, the unconstrained system demonstrates a significantly enhanced ability to minimize WSS fluctuations. Since the wavy channel represents a simplified model of a stented artery, the results obtained in this study can be used to guide and optimize the stent design. The two-dimensional simulation is chosen for its low computational cost and its ability to capture key mechanisms. Future research can extend to three-dimensional models for a more comprehensive analysis.

Purpose Usability considerations for wheelchair users remain underexplored. This study evaluated usability requirements of a smartphone App (MvBii) for monitoring physical activity and sedentary behaviour in manual wheelchair users with spinal cord injury (SCI). Materials and methods A mixed-methods design was adopted. Manual wheelchair users with SCI completed System Usability Scale, e-loyalty and user experience questionnaires, think-aloud sessions and scenario-based workshops. Six design and research evaluators undertook think-aloud sessions. Qualitative data was analysed thematically and mapped against heuristics. Results Ten participants with SCI (C5-L1; three females) with a mean age of 51 ± 9 years took part. The App received positive ratings on e-loyalty (mean scores, 5.6 ± 1.51 to 6.10 ± 0.99 across items) and user experience (4.3 ± 1.03 to 5.93 ± 0.78) from participants with SCI. A novel heuristics principle was developed to explore “accessibility and inclusion” usability issues. Thematic analysis captured patterned meanings across tasks and heuristics including “Navigating with autonomy” (e.g., challenges with interface clarity and understanding terminology), “Language and representation” (e.g., simplifying using inclusive language and icons), and “Seeing progress not noise” (e.g., physical activity notifications that encouraged self-competition without external pressure). Conclusions This study demonstrates the value of a mixed-methods approach to usability and heuristic evaluation for identifying effective, accessible and inclusive tailoring of physical activity Apps universally and for wheelchair users specifically. These findings can inform refinements to the MvBii app and provide broader insights for designing inclusive and effective mobile health Apps across diverse populations.

This study examines the impact of monetary policy on income inequality in Iran (1990–2024) within a post Keynesian framework. Unlike mainstream views that emphasize money neutrality, post Keynesian theory highlights endogenous credit, the role of financial institutions, and the structural effects of shocks such as sanctions and exchange-rate fluctuations. Using annual data—including the Gini coefficient, broad money (M2), CPI, real GDP growth, and the official exchange rate (with the last observation corresponding to 1403)—the study employs an autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) model. Results show that liquidity expansion is linked to higher inequality, aligning with a credit-led mechanism where the allocation of finance influences distribution. Economic growth reduces inequality, while the exchange rate has the strongest positive effect, highlighting the significance of the external constraint in Iran’s import-dependent economy. Inflation, once external and institutional factors are considered, has no persistent independent effect, operating primarily through exchange-rate mechanisms. The sanctions dummy further confirms that external pressures worsen income disparities. The findings suggest that reducing inequality requires a strategy combining credit guidance, institutional reforms, exchange-rate stabilization, social transfers, and inclusive growth.