Shape Factor Research Articles

Parametric study for shear failure of bearing pads due to hurricane-induced wave loadings

The increasing frequency of extreme weather events, such as hurricanes and rising sea levels due to climate change, presents significant challenges to coastal infrastructure. With 42% of bridges in the United States exceeding 50 years of age, which surpasses their intended service life, there is a pressing need to assess their structural integrity, especially in coastal regions. This study focuses on evaluating the structural performance of bearing pads in coastal bridges under hurricane-induced wave loadings. Utilizing a combination of physics-based models (PBM), nonlinear modal time history analysis, and numerical validation, the research examines the hysteresis response of eight distinct bearing pad configurations. The findings indicate that reinforced circular bearing pads exhibit significantly greater shear displacements compared to plain elastomeric pads, underscoring the critical influence of shape factors on shear response. Fragility functions developed in the study illustrate the probability of shear failure, with reinforced circular pads showing a 28% higher likelihood of exceedance compared to rectangular plain pads. These results highlight the necessity for advanced design methodologies specifically for bearing pads to enhance the resilience of coastal infrastructure against severe hydrodynamic forces induced by hurricanes.

Failure Prediction of an Airfoil-Type Crack in Thermoelectric Coupling Materials

Airfoil-type cracks with curved surfaces and sharp tips are frequently encountered in modern engineering applications and the aerospace industry. However, such cracks significantly threaten structures due to stress concentration and further cause damage. This study investigates the theoretical analysis and failure prediction of airfoil-type cracks within thermoelectric coupling materials under the interaction of remote mechanical loads, heat flux and electric current density. By employing complex variable theory, conformal mapping methods, and the analytic continuation theorem, the full-field stress and stress intensity factors of an airfoil-type crack were determined under three different loading conditions. The results indicate that when the airfoil-shaped crack tip is subjected to horizontal compression, vertical tensile mechanical load, and both heat flux and current density parallel to the crack, the crack tip would reach a dangerous state. Additionally, the full-field stress distribution reveals stress concentration around the crack tip, which explains variations in SIFs under different external forces and shape factors. Four critical situations suppressing crack propagation under mixed loading conditions are proposed. Furthermore, using an acrylic plate and bismuth telluride alloy as examples, the critical values of external loading for the mixed-mode fracture are determined based on the strain energy density criterion. These critical values can be used to predict failure initiation, thus reducing the risk of structural failure due to airfoil cracks within thermoelectric coupling materials.

Guadeloupe and Haiti's coffee genetic resources reflect the crop's regional and global history

Societal Impact StatementDespite strong historical declines, Guadeloupe and Haiti's coffee sectors remain important to rural communities' livelihood and resilience. Coffee also holds value as part of the islands' historical legacy and cultural identities. Furthermore, it is often grown in agroforestry systems providing important ecosystem services, which will become more important as these vulnerable islands work to adapt to a changing climate. Current efforts to revitalize coffee farms and target strategically important specialty markets would benefit from understanding existing genetic resources and the historical factors that shaped them. Our study reveals the rich history reflected in current coffee stands on the islands.Summary The West Indies, particularly former French colonies like Haiti and Guadeloupe, were central to the spread of coffee in the Americas. The histories of these Islands are shared until the 19th century, where they diverged significantly. Still, both Islands experienced a strong decline in their coffee sector. Characterizing the genetic and varietal diversity of their coffee resources and understanding historical factors shaping them can help support revitalization efforts. To that end, we performed Kompetitve Allele‐Specific PCR (KASP) genotyping of 80 informative single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers on field samples from across main coffee‐growing region of Guadeloupe, and two historically important ones in Haiti, as well as 146 reference accessions from international collections. We also compared bioclimatic variables from sampled geographic areas and searched for historical determinants of present coffee resources. At least five Coffea arabica varietal groups were found in Haiti, versus two in Guadeloupe, with admixed individuals in both. The traditional Typica variety is still present in both islands, growing across a variety of climatic environments. We also found Coffea canephora on both islands, with multiple likely origins, and identified C. liberica var. liberica in Guadeloupe. These differences are explained by the Islands' respective histories. Overall, Guadeloupe experienced fewer, but older introductions of non‐Typica coffee. By contrast, several recent introductions have taken place in Haiti, driven by local and global factors and reflecting the history of Arabica varietal development and spread. Diversity on these islands is dynamic, and our results reveal opportunities and limits to the future of Guadeloupean and Haitian coffee.

Severe and long-lasting meteorological drought events develop from precipitation deficits of mixed continental and oceanic origin

Drought is one of the most damaging hydroclimatic hazards, impacting environmental systems and socioeconomic sectors. Therefore, understanding the physical mechanisms that cause drought events is of critical importance. Here we investigate the influence of oceanic and continental moisture deficits on global meteorological drought events in recent decades, utilizing a Lagrangian dispersion model to track the origin of precipitation deficits leading to droughts. Additionally, meteorological drought events between 1980 and 2018 were segmented based on a three-dimension algorithm considering spatial extent, duration, and magnitude of drought events. Severe meteorological drought events exhibit mixed contribution of precipitation deficits from both continental and oceanic sources. This highlights the importance of considering both types of deficits in understanding severe meteorological droughts. Comparative analysis across time periods shows a consistent pattern in the dominant mixed contribution of precipitation deficits. There is no relevant decadal change in the mixed contributions of these deficits, which implies stability in the prevalence of oceanic and continental sources driving extreme drought events. These findings offer valuable insights into the factors shaping meteorological drought evolution.

Factors shaping pelagic-benthic coupling in the process of settlement in an Arctic fjord

Benthic organisms typically possess a planktonic propagule stage in the form of larvae or spores, which enables them to spread over large distances before settlement, and promotes tight pelago-benthic coupling. However, factors driving dispersal and epibenthos recruitment in shallow hard-bottom Arctic communities are poorly known. We therefore conducted a year-round in situ colonization experiment in Isfjorden (Svalbard), and found out that variation in early-stage epibenthic assemblages was explained by the combination of: abiotic (45.9%) and biotic variables (23.9%), and their interactions (30.2%). The upward-facing experimental plates were dominated by coralline algae, and this is the first study showing that at high latitudes coralline algae Lithothamnion sp. settle in high numbers on available substrates during the polar night in winter. The downward-facing plates, which had much less exposure to light, contained more diverse organisms, with a predominance of polychaetas and bryozoans. However, in summer, the barnacle Semibalanus balanoides outcompeted all the other recruits, as a result of massive occurrence of meroplanktonic Cirripedia larvae, triggered by the phytoplankton bloom. In conclusion, the rate and success of epibenthic settlements were dependent mostly on light availability and temperature, suggesting that larval settlement will be impacted by global warming with some taxa benefitting, while others losing.

Candidates nomination strategy in a mixed electoral system: Evidence from the 2022 Italian general election

Abstract Despite the significant attention that scientific literature has dedicated to candidate selection mechanisms, relatively few studies have delved into which characteristics influence candidate positioning on the list. Social scientists have primarily focussed on factors shaping a candidate’s career rather than those affecting their placement on the list. Placement is a crucial factor in mixed or proportionally representative electoral systems with closed-list structures. Through a multivariate statistical analysis applied to an original dataset on candidates from major parties, this article aims to fill this gap in the literature by analysing candidates in the list during the 2022 Italian political elections. The results suggest that factors such as incumbency, previous national career, and the level of local rootedness favour placement on the list in positions where the chance of election seems more realistic. Conversely, gender favours placement in positions where the chances of election are less realistic. Additionally, dual candidacy in both the proportional and majoritarian parts also appear to have a positive effect; however, its interaction effects with other variables are less clear.

Establishing the minimum clinically important difference of the Quality of Life in Childhood Epilepsy Questionnaire.

To estimate the minimum clinically important difference (MCID) for the parent-reported 55-item Quality of Life in Childhood Epilepsy Questionnaire (QOLCE-55) and its shortened 16-item version, QOLCE-16. Data came from 74 children with epilepsy (CWE) (ages 4-10, mean age = 8 [SD = 1.8]) enrolled in the Making Mindfulness Matter in Epilepsy (M3-E) trial, a pilot, parallel randomized-controlled trial of a mindfulness-based intervention. Both anchor-based and distribution-based methods were used to estimate MCID values for the QOLCE-55 and QOLCE-16. For the anchor-based approach, the Patient Centered Global Ratings of Change (PCGRC) scale and linear regression analysis were used to estimate the MCID. For the distribution-based approach, .5 SD of the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) change score distribution was used to estimate the MCID. For the QOLCE-55, the MCID obtained using an anchor-based approach was 10 points and using a distribution-based method was 6 points. For the QOLCE-16, the MCID obtained using an anchor-based method was 13 points and using a distribution-based method was 7 points. This is the first study to estimate MCID values for the QOLCE-55 and the QOLCE-16. It has been well documented that CWE are at risk of experiencing psychological, behavioral, and cognitive impairments, which can negatively impact their HRQOL. Reporting MCID values for the QOLCE-55 and QOLCE-16 is important in determining whether changes in HRQOL observed are meaningful to CWE themselves, as a key factor in shaping the nature of epilepsy care delivered.

Dynamic modeling of human error in industrial maintenance through structural analysis and system dynamics.

Human error constitutes a significant cause of accidents across diverse industries, leading to adverse consequences and heightened disruptions in maintenance operations. Organizations can enhance their decision-making process by quantifying human errors and identifying the underlying influencing factors, thereby mitigating their repercussions. Consequently, it becomes crucial to examine the value of human error probability (HEP) during these activities. The objective of this paper is to determine and simulate HEP in maintenance tasks at a cement factory, utilizing performance shaping factors (PSFs). The research employs the cross-impact matrix multiplication applied to classification (MICMAC) analysis method to evaluate the dependencies, impacts, and relationships among the factors influencing human error. This approach classifies and assesses the dependencies and impacts of different factors on HEP, occupational accidents, and related costs. The study also underscores that PSFs can dynamically change under the influence of other variables, emphasizing the necessity to forecast the behavior of human error over time. Therefore, this paper utilizes the MICMAC method to analyze the interdependencies, relationships, and impact levels among different variables. These relationships are then utilized to optimize the implementation of the system dynamics (SD) method. An SD model is employed to forecast the system's behavior, and multiple scenarios are presented. By considering the HEP value, managers can adjust organizational conditions and personnel to ensure acceptability. The paper also presents various scenarios related to HEP to assist managers in making informed decisions.

Change and Inequality in German Teenagers’ Typical Time-Use Sequences Between 1991 and 2013

How children spend their time is widely regarded as a key factor shaping their development and wellbeing, as well as the intergenerational transmission of socio-economic and gender inequalities. While there is much evidence on the aggregate amount of time teenagers spent on different activities, we know little about how teenagers’ activities unfold during a typical day. We use social sequence analysis and data collected in 1991/92, 2001/02 and 2012/13 via high-frequency time-use diaries of teenagers aged 12-16 in Germany to provide a fine-grained description of teenagers’ everyday time-use sequences. We identify and visualize a typology of teenagers’ time-use during weekdays and weekend days, respectively, which groups teenagers into clusters of typical time-use sequences. These typical time-use sequences change in prevalence over time, and are stratified by teenagers’ socio-economic background, gender, and age. Our findings reveal the sequential structure of teenagers’ time use, provide new evidence corroborating theories of the social stratification of teenagers’ time use, and complement existing evidence on teenagers’ aggregate time-use. Our identification of teenagers’ typical time-use sequences forms the basis for future research to examine their causes and consequences, as well as their role in the reproduction of social inequalities.

AI Chatbots in Fintech Sector: A Study Towards Technological Convergence

The Fintech industry, particularly banks, has witnessed a profound transformation with the integration of Artificial Intelligence chatbots, redefining customer experience and engagement. As Fintech firms increasingly integrate AI chatbots into their platforms, understanding customer perceptions becomes paramount for strategic decision-making and sustained success. To unravel the complexities of this convergence, a holistic examination is needed, encompassing not only the technological aspects but also the strategic dimensions that underpin competitive advantage. In this context, the role of intellectual property, particularly patents, emerges as a critical factor shaping the innovation landscape. This research aims to comprehensively investigate customers' perceptions towards AI chatbots in the Fintech industry, with a specific focus on technological convergence. The study seeks to analyze the impact of cutting- edge AI chatbot technologies, including those protected by patents, on user attitudes and overall customer experience within the dynamic fintech landscape. This study provides a comprehensive review of 40 empirical studies on AI chatbots in the fintech industry, particularly the banking sector, featuring patented innovations using the PRISMA methodology. Study outcomes illustrate emerging themes related to consumer behavior and response to financial chatbots in terms of acceptance and adoption intention. Additionally, four key factors that influence how people perceive, anticipate, and engage with fintech chatbots, namely satisfaction, trust, anthropomorphism, and privacy are explored. In conclusion, the finance industry's effective integration and broad use of AI chatbots is dependent on the convergence of four factors: satisfaction, privacy, trust, and anthropomorphism. Current study offers a strong basis for analysing and resolving the obstacles to AI chatbot acceptance and deployment in the financial sector by addressing all these elements extensively. This exploration of technological convergence in fintech industry by analyzing customers' behavior and response to financial chatbots not only contributes to a comprehensive understanding of its intricacies but also serves as a foundation for development and deployment of user-centric fintech chatbots.

Language ideologies in transnational families with Israeli background in Finland.

Transnational families manage complex language dynamics, with multifaceted linguistic practices representing a key aspect in shaping communication among family members, where balancing heritage and host country languages impacts both cultural preservation and integration into a new society. The situation complicates when multilingual and multicultural families relocate to a country with a new majority language, while maintaining ties to their original society. This study analyzes language ideologies of seven transnational participants who were repatriated to Israel from post-Soviet states (PSS) during childhood and decades later relocated to Finland with their children. The study based on the data gathered through semi-structured interviews addresses two key questions: What are the language ideologies held by Israeli Generation 1.5 parents in transnational multilingual families residing in Finland? What are the parental language beliefs concerning their and their children's social integration in Finland? Thematic data analysis reveals parents' efforts to balance multiple languages, driven by their overwhelmingly positive views on their children's multilingualism. The language choices impact language acquisition and maintenance, while also preserving old social connections and building new ones for the entire family. Findings highlight key factors shaping parental ideologies on language transmission, multilingualism, code-switching, and integration, mostly influenced by personal convenience and practicality. This study presents a novel perspective on the language ideologies of multilingual parents. By examining individual parental beliefs and attitudes toward each language involved, it identifies recurring collective ideologies regarding multilingualism overall and each specific language, thus enriching discussions on linguistic diversity and multicultural integration in transnational contexts. Additionally, informing policymakers about the linguistic challenges encountered by transnational multilingual families can facilitate the promotion of inclusive educational practices and foster cultural awareness initiatives, thus contributing to the creation of a more equitable and supportive environment for such families managinglinguistic diversity.

Change and Inequality in German Teenagers’ Typical Time-Use Sequences Between 1991 and 2013. Online Appendix

How children spend their time is widely regarded as a key factor shaping their development and wellbeing, as well as the intergenerational transmission of socio-economic and gender inequalities. While there is much evidence on the aggregate amount of time teenagers spent on different activities, we know little about how teenagers’ activities unfold during a typical day. We use social sequence analysis and data collected in 1991/92, 2001/02 and 2012/13 via high-frequency time-use diaries of teenagers aged 12-16 in Germany to provide a fine-grained description of teenagers’ everyday time-use sequences. We identify and visualize a typology of teenagers’ time-use during weekdays and weekend days, respectively, which groups teenagers into clusters of typical time-use sequences. These typical time-use sequences change in prevalence over time, and are stratified by teenagers’ socio-economic background, gender, and age. Our findings reveal the sequential structure of teenagers’ time use, provide new evidence corroborating theories of the social stratification of teenagers’ time use, and complement existing evidence on teenagers’ aggregate time-use. Our identification of teenagers’ typical time-use sequences forms the basis for future research to examine their causes and consequences, as well as their role in the reproduction of social inequalities.

Navigating economic crisis: Factors shaping resilience in Sri Lankan construction SME supply chains

In today’s construction industry, supply chains are subject to much greater disruption than they were in the past, resulting in a greater need for resilience. However, there is a gap in the literature that examines the resilience of construction small and medium scale Enterprises (SMEs) specifically focusing on developing countries. This article is a step towards identifying the factors influencing the resilience of construction SME supply chains taking the case of Sri Lanka: a developing country which is currently amidst a major economic crisis. This research study adopted a mixed-method approach, employing 08 structured interviews with employees ranging from executive level to top level management of 08 construction SMEs followed by a questionnaire survey considering a sample of 195 construction SMEs also with executive level to top level management of each construction SME. The findings indicated that Collaboration, Entrepreneurial Orientation (EO), Internal Integration, and Outsourcing have a positive significant impact on the resilience of Sri Lankan construction SMEs’ supply chains during an economic crisis, while ‘collaboration’ and ‘EO’ are the most influential factors respectively. Therefore, construction SMEs must prioritize and enhance collaboration and EO when devising supply chain strategies to strengthen resilience during economic crises. This paper contributes to filling the research gap by investigating factors influencing construction SME supply chains in a developing country during an economic crisis. Moreover, it contributes to the knowledge by being one of the latest empirical studies focusing on the construction SME supply chains in Sri Lanka. The findings provide a valuable reference for both policymakers and practitioners seeking to improve the resilience of construction SME supply chains.

Significance of magnetic field and Darcy–Forchheimer law on dynamics of non-Newtonian hybrid nanofluid flow over a spinning disc with Arrhenius activation energy and shape factor

Purpose The purpose of the study is to explore the three-dimensional heat and mass transport dynamics of the magneto-hydrodynamic non-Newtonian (Casson fluid) hybrid nanofluid flow comprised of − as nanoparticles suspended in base liquid water as it passes through a flexible spinning disc. The influence of a magnetic field, rotation parameter, porosity, Darcy−Forchheimer, Arrhenius’s activation energy, chemical reaction, Schmidt number and nanoparticle shape effects are substantial physical features of the investigation. Furthermore, the influence of hybrid nanofluid on Brownian motion and thermophoresis features has been represented using the Buongiorno model. The novelty of the work is intended to contribute to a better understanding of Casson non-Newtonian fluid boundary layer flow. Design/methodology/approach The governing mathematical equations that explain the flow and heat and mass transport phenomena for fluid domains include the Navier−Stokes equation, the thermal energy equation and the solutal concentration equations. The governing equations are expressed as partial differential equations, which are then converted into a suitable set of non-linear ordinary differential equations by using the necessary similarity variables. The ordinary differential equations are computed by combining the shooting operation with the three-stage Lobatto BVP4c technique. Findings Graphs and tables are used in the process of analysing the characteristics of velocity distributions, temperature profiles and solutal curves at varying values of the parameters, along with friction drag, heat transfer rate and Sherwood number. It has been revealed that the radial and axial velocities decrease when the Casson parameter value increases and that the rate of heat transmission is higher in hybrid nanofluids with nanoparticles in the shape of a blade. The increase in Brownian motion and thermophoresis parameters causes a rise in the temperature profile. Also, an increase in the activation energy parameter improves the solutal curve. The use of nanoparticles was shown to improve extrusion properties, the rotary heat process and biofuel generation. Originality/value All results are presented graphically and all physical quantities are computed and tabulated. The current results are compared to previous investigations and found to agree significantly with them.

Hierarchies of Elitism among Urban and Rural Palestinian Students in Israel

This research investigates Palestinian students residing in both urban and rural areas who are enrolled in an elite high school located in a mixed Arab-Jewish city in northern Israel. We investigate how these divergent backgrounds influence their experiences and perceptions of their elite identities and how elite identities within national minority sub-groups (urban and rural) impact the formation and perpetuation of intra-group hierarchies. We find that elite identities are influenced by geographic positionality, that hierarchies exist within the same minority elite and that these factors shape both personal and collective identities.

Socioeconomic position and sports in the US today: the economic and cultural capital of sports followers

PurposeThis study aims to explore the relationship between social class and sports following in the United States, addressing a gap in research that has largely overlooked spectator sports in sociocultural analyses. The paper seeks to be an expanded update on previous work focusing on how socioeconomic factors such as income and education interact with sports engagement.Design/methodology/approachEmploying 2023 national survey data from the United States, this study analyzes the following of 31 different spectator sports in relation to income and education. The methods include the use of Cramer’s V statistic to assess associations between sports following and socioeconomic variables and multiple logistic regression analysis to understand the relative predictive power of these variables on sports following.FindingsThe study reveals significant socioeconomic associations in sports consumption patterns in American society, with higher income and education levels generally predicting an increased likelihood of following a wide range of sports. Notably, international soccer leagues like the English Premier League and La Liga showed the strongest associations with higher socioeconomic status, suggesting their following might serve as particularly potent markers of sociocultural distinction.Originality/valueThis research provides a contemporary empirical update to the study of social class and spectator sports in the US, expanding the understanding of the evolving landscape of sports consumption and its socioeconomic connections. It underscores the importance of considering sports following as a vital aspect of cultural engagement, reflecting and reproducing broader socioeconomic stratifications. The findings offer new insights into how factors of social class shape sports consumption today, highlighting the role of sports in the cultural life of different social classes in the US.

Steady-State Shape Factor for a Slug Test in an Unconfined Aquifer

A new solution is presented for the steady-state shape factor of a partially penetrating well in an unconfined aquifer. The problem is solved by taking into account mixed boundary conditions at the well, i.e., zero flux at the well casing and constant head at the well screen equal to the head in the well so that the flow through the well screen is non-uniform. The new method is compared with established methods, such as those of Bouwer and Rice and Zlotnik et al., demonstrating that the new approach provides more accurate results under certain conditions. The comparison highlights that the new method is particularly effective in scenarios where the assumptions of uniform flow through the well screen do not hold. This study assumes idealized conditions, such as homogeneity, isotropy, and negligible storativity in the aquifer, which may limit the method’s applicability in more complex environments. The computational demands of the iterative solution process may pose challenges for practical use, especially in resource-constrained settings.

Historical Foundations of Green Developmental Policies: Divergent Trajectories in United States and France

ABSTRACTIn recent years, many countries have adopted biodiversity offset policies to internalize the ecological impacts of land developments. Although national policies share the general principle of equalizing ecological harm with gain, there is substantial variation across programs regarding the institutional forms governing offsetting. In this paper, we compare biodiversity governance in the United States and France to reflect more broadly on the factors shaping divergent trajectories of green developmental policies. Both countries have some form of biodiversity offsetting in place, but the major fault line of difference is the more extensive use of market‐based instruments (MBI) in the United States. Using a historical lens, we argue that one important reason for this variation lies in the different legal‐institutional definitions of biodiversity. A narrower definition in the United States focused on individual species, versus a broader definition in France focused on ecosystems, has facilitated a more standardized biodiversity governance arrangement in the United States. Leveraging this standardization, biodiversity markets have expanded in the United States while similar efforts to institutionalize market mechanisms have struggled in France. The comparison allows us to draw insights into the challenges in greening economic development, particularly in showing how historical scientific, legal, and institutional structures condition policy outcomes.

The determinants of data use practice for instructional practice in higher education

PurposeAn evidence-based approach to improving instructional practices and student outcomes in data use. It is a systematic process of evaluating and analysing learning problems, collecting and transforming various types of data into instructional decisions, and implementing informed actions to improve instruction and student learning. Since teachers are the main actors in instructional practices, this article reports on a study aimed at predicting the influence of various teachers’ characteristics on the degree of data use practices for instructional purposes.Design/methodology/approachIn this study, we conducted a survey in a developing country to gather primary data. The collected data were analysed using a supervised machine learning approach, focussing on decision tree analysis, to determine the influential factors.FindingsOur investigation identifies pedagogical knowledge, data literacy, content knowledge, knowledge of English for teaching and attitudes towards data as crucial determinants in predicting the intensity of such data use practices. Notably, pedagogical knowledge emerges as the most potent predictor, emphasising its pivotal role in shaping teachers’ frequency of instructional data use practices. Surprisingly, English proficiency does not exhibit a significant influence in this predictive model.Research limitations/implicationsThe findings may not be generalisable to a wider context since this study relied on a relatively small teacher self-reported sample collected through surveys, and, as this study used perception data, this may or may not reflect teachers’ actual knowledge and skills.Practical implicationsBy spotlighting the nuanced interplay between teacher individual characteristics and the practice of data use for instructional improvement, this research contributes to a nuanced understanding of the factors shaping teachers’ engagement with data. Ultimately, it provides a foundation for targeted interventions and strategies aimed at fostering a culture of evidence-based practices to improve instruction and consequently student learning outcomes within educational settings.Social implicationsThis insight holds significant implications for policymakers, educational practitioners and providers of professional development programmes seeking to facilitate effective data use practices for instructional improvement.Originality/valueBy spotlighting the nuanced interplay between teacher individual characteristics and the practice of data use for instructional purposes, this research contributes to a nuanced understanding of the factors shaping teachers’ engagement with data. This study represents an empirical examination of such factors by employing a quantitative approach: a flexible decision tree analysis. This contributes to a growing body of research on factors related to teacher characteristics and much of the research in the field of data use has been done using a qualitative approach.

Membership robustness but structural change of the native gut microbiota of bumble bees upon systemic immune induction.

Our work demonstrates how innate immunity may influence the host-associated microbiota. While previous work has demonstrated the role of adaptive immunity in regulating the microbiota, we show that stimulation of an innate immune response in bumble bees may disrupt the native gut microbial community by shifting individual abundances of some members and pairwise associations. This work builds upon previous work in bumble bees demonstrating factors determining microbe colonization of hosts and microbiota membership, implicating immune response-induced changes as a factor shaping these important gut communities. While some microbiota members appear unaffected, changes in others and the community overall suggests that collateral perturbation of the native gut microbiota upon an innate immune response may serve as an additional selective pressure that shapes the evolution of host innate immunity.