Forces Shaping Research Articles

The Turnaround in Israel’s Haredi Society in the Late 20th Century: A Data-Based Analysis

In recent decades, research on Haredi society has expanded significantly, emphasizing its distinctive characteristics in contrast with the broader Israeli social fabric. Commonly described as “separatist”, “secessionist”, “isolated”, and “an enclave”, Haredi society is often perceived as segregated from the rest of Israel’s population. However, recent studies suggest that this reclusiveness is a relatively recent development. Until the 1980s, most Haredim coexisted in mixed residential areas with secular, traditional, and national-religious populations. The employment rate among Haredi men was comparable to that of other Israelis, and secular subjects were part of the curriculum in Haredi schools. Moreover, many Haredi men served in the Israeli army and held a positive view of the state, celebrating its accomplishments. The contemporary concept of a “society of learners”, where many married men engage in yeshiva study while their wives serve as the main breadwinners, was once largely unacceptable within the community. Unlike earlier qualitative studies that documented the transformation of Haredi society, this article employs a quantitative approach to detail these changes. Through an analysis of residential patterns, education, military service, political influence, and the rise of the “society of learners”, this study provides a deeper understanding of the forces shaping contemporary Haredi society and explores potential future trajectories.

Roles of Spatial Distance, Habitat Difference, and Community Age on Plant Diversity Patterns of Fragmented Castanopsis orthacantha Franch. Forests in Central Yunnan, Southwest China

The semi-humid evergreen broadleaved forest (SEBF) is the zonal vegetation type of western subtropical regions in China. Under human and natural disturbance, the area of SEBFs is severely shrinking, with remaining fragments scattered across mountains of the Central Yunnan Plateau. To explore the mechanisms of community assembly and species maintenance in the severely fragmented SEBFs, we selected three sites—Jinguangsi Provincial Nature Reserve, Huafoshan Scenic Area, and Qiongzhusi Forest Park—across the range of this vegetation type, and sampled a total of 42 plots of forest dominated by Castanopsis orthacantha Franch., the most widely distributed community type of SEBFs. We compared the species richness and composition of the communities of different age classes, employed the net relatedness index to characterize the phylogenetic structure of communities, and used Mantel tests and partial Mantel tests to quantify the impacts of spatial distance, age class, and habitat factors (including climate, topography, and soil) on species turnover across different spatial scales (i.e., intra- and inter-site) for trees, shrubs, and herbs, respectively. The results indicated the following: (1) In the young stage, the C. orthacantha communities exhibited a species richness statistically lower than those in middle-aged and mature communities. Notably, the difference in species richness among age classes was merely significant for shrub and herb species. Moreover, the phylogenetic structure changed towards over-dispersion with increasing community age. (2) The age class of the community played a pivotal role in determining taxonomic β diversity in the tree layer, while climate and soil factors significantly influenced β diversity in the shrub and herb layers of the communities. (3) Environmental filtering emerged as the predominant force shaping community assembly at the intra-site scale, whereas spatial distance was the primary determinant at the inter-site scale. Meanwhile, dispersal limitation versus biological interaction seemed to dominate the community dynamics of the C. orthacantha communities in the early versus middle and old ages, respectively. Our results highlight the variability in community assembly processes across different spatial and temporal scales, providing insights into the priority of the conservation and restoration of severely degraded zonal SEBFs. Expanding research to broader scales and other SEBF types, as well as considering the impacts of climate change and human activities, would provide further insights into understanding the mechanisms of community assembly and effective conservation strategies.

The Role of Nature in Edith Wharton’s Ethan Frome: An Ecocritical Lens

This paper applies an ecocritical lens to Edith Wharton’s Ethan Frome, exploring the intricate relationship between nature and American identity. It examines how the novel portrays the dynamic interaction between individuals and their environment, offering a fresh perspective on the influence of nature on personal and collective identities. Through an analysis of the characters, narrative developments, and the consequences of their decisions, the paper uncovers the deeper connections between the American psyche and the landscapes that shape it. Rooted in ecocriticism, the study underscores the role of literature in fostering ecological awareness and demonstrates how nature acts as both a shaping force and a reflection of cultural narratives. This research highlights how environmental factors influence both individual choices and societal values, contributing to a broader understanding of the American experience. Ultimately, the study aims to offer a more nuanced interpretation of the relationship between nature, literature, and the evolving story of American identity, while also recognizing the artistic depth of Wharton’s work.

Afterword

Abstract How should we understand the complex and often contradictory role the other-and-more-than-human occupies in the lives and imaginations of people in the Middle East? Adopting a self-consciously post-secular stance on this question, the contributors of this special section convincingly show the theoretical and narrative possibilities of methodological attunement to the other-worldly and transcendent, to the divine. As I finished reading the section, I was struck by how the ethnographic task of reckoning with God seemed to end up meaning mostly reckoning with theology, with people talking about God. But if to take God seriously anthropologically is above all to pay attention to how our interlocutors themselves take God seriously as they grapple with the range of social, political and economic forces shaping their lives, where does that leave the issue's broader aim of going beyond an anthropocentric anthropology?

Substrate stiffness dictates unique doxorubicin-induced senescence-associated secretory phenotypes and transcriptomic signatures in human pulmonary fibroblasts.

Cells are subjected to dynamic mechanical environments which impart forces and induce cellular responses. In age-related conditions like pulmonary fibrosis, there is both an increase in tissue stiffness and an accumulation of senescent cells. While senescent cells produce a senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP), the impact of physical stimuli on both cellular senescence and the SASP is not well understood. Here, we show that mechanical tension, modeled using cell culture substrate rigidity, influences senescent cell markers like SA-β-gal and secretory phenotypes. Comparing human primary pulmonary fibroblasts (IMR-90) cultured on physiological (2kPa), fibrotic (50kPa), and plastic (approximately 3 GPa) substrates, followed by senescence induction using doxorubicin, we identified unique high-stiffness-driven secretory protein profiles using mass spectrometry and transcriptomic signatures, both showing an enrichment in collagen proteins. Consistently, clusters of p21 + cells are seen in fibrotic regions of bleomycin induced pulmonary fibrosis in mice. Computational meta-analysis of single-cell RNA sequencing datasets from human interstitial lung disease confirmed these stiffness SASP genes are highly expressed in disease fibroblasts and strongly correlate with mechanotransduction and senescence-related pathways. Thus, mechanical forces shape cell senescence and their secretory phenotypes.

How knee muscles and ground reaction forces shape knee buckling and ankle push-off in neuromuscular simulations of human walking

Ankle push-off is important for efficient, human-like walking, and many prosthetic devices mimic push-off using motors or elastic elements. The knee is extended throughout the stance phase and begins to buckle just before push-off, with timing being crucial. However, the exact mechanisms behind this buckling are still unclear. We use a predictive neuromuscular simulation to investigate whether active muscles are required for knee buckling and to what extent ground reaction forces (GRFs) drive it. In a systematic parameter search, we tested how long the knee muscles vastus (VAS), gastrocnemius (GAS), and hamstrings could be deactivated while maintaining a stable gait with impulsive push-off. VAS deactivation up to 35% of the gait cycle resulted in a dynamic gait with increased ankle peak power. GAS deactivation up to 20% of the gait cycle was detrimental to gait efficiency and showed reduced ankle peak power. At the start of knee buckling, the GRF vector is positioned near the knee joint’s neutral axis, assisting in knee flexion. However, this mechanism is likely not enough to drive knee flexion independently. Our findings contribute to the biomechanical understanding of ankle push-off, with applications in prosthetic and bipedal robotic design, and fundamental research on human gait mechanics.

Topology changes of Hydra define actin orientation defects as organizers of morphogenesis.

Hydra regenerates one head when cut, but how forces shaping the head are coordinated remains unclear. Soft compression of Hydra's head-regenerating tissues induces the formation of viable, two-headed animals. Compression creates new topological defects in the supracellular orientational order of muscular actin fibers, associated with additional heads. Theory supports that these defects organize muscle stresses required to shape the head. By compressing head-regenerating tissues along their body axis, we formed toroidal tissues, whose unique topology allows for the absence of defects. Toroids with no actin defects did not regenerate. Toroids with actin defects regenerated into viable toroidal animals with a bifurcated body. Topological defects in the actin orientational order are thus necessary for complete regeneration of Hydra, defining actin topological defects as mechanical organizers of morphogenesis.

An expanding universe of mutational signatures and its rapid evolution in single-stranded RNA viruses.

The study of mutational processes in somatic genomes has gained recent momentum, uncovering a wide array of endogenous and exogenous factors associated with somatic changes. However, the overall landscape of mutational processes in germline mutations across the tree of life and associated evolutionary driving forces are rather unclear. In this study, we analyzed mutational processes in single-stranded RNA (ssRNA) viruses which are known to jump between different hosts with divergent exogenous environments. We found that mutational spectra in different ssRNA viruses differ significantly and are mainly associated with their genetic divergence. Surprisingly, host environments contribute much less significantly to the mutational spectrum, challenging the prevailing view that exogenous cellular environment is a major determinant of the mutational spectrum in viruses. To dissect the evolutionary forces shaping viral spectra, we selected two important scenarios, namely the inter-host evolution between different viral strains as well as the intra-host evolution. In both scenarios, we found mutational spectra change significantly through space and time, strongly correlating with levels of natural selection. Combining the mutations across all ssRNA viruses, we identified a suite of mutational signatures with varying degrees of similarity to somatic signatures in humans, indicating universal and divergent mutational processes across the tree of life. Taken together, we unraveled an unprecedented dynamic landscape of mutational processes in ssRNA viruses, pinpointing important evolutionary forces shaping fast evolution of mutational spectra in different species.

Persistent, Private and Mobile genes: a model for gene dynamics in evolving pangenomes.

The pangenome of a species is the set of all genes carried by at least one member of the species. In bacteria, pangenomes can be much larger than the set of genes carried by a single organism. Many questions remain unanswered regarding the evolutionary forces shaping the patterns of presence/absence of genes in pangenomes of a given species. We introduce a new model for bacterial pangenome evolution along a species phylogeny that explicitly describes the timing of appearance of each gene in the species and accounts for three generic types of gene evolutionary dynamics: persistent genes that are present in the ancestral genome, private genes that are specific to a given clade, and mobile genes that are imported once into the gene pool and then undergo frequent horizontal gene transfers. We call this model the Persistent-Private-Mobile (PPM) model. We develop an algorithm fitting the PPM model and apply it to a dataset of 902 Salmonella enterica genomes. We show that the best fitting model is able to reproduce the global pattern of some multivariate statistics like the gene frequency spectrum and the parsimony vs. frequency plot. Moreover, the gene classification induced by the PPM model allows us to study the position of accessory genes on the chromosome depending on their category, as well as the gene functions that are most present in each category. This work paves the way for a mechanistic understanding of pangenome evolution, and the PPM model developed here could be used for dynamics-aware gene classification.

Analysis of the spiking dynamics of a diode laser with dual optical feedback

In a complex dynamical system, noise, feedback, and external forces shape behavior that can range from regularity to high-dimensional chaos. Multiple feedback sources can significantly alter its dynamics, potentially even suppressing the system’s output. This study investigates the impact of competing feedback sources on a stochastic complex dynamical system using a photonic neuron—a diode laser with external optical feedback. By varying the feedback intensities from two external reflectors, we explore how dual feedback influences the system’s behavior. Using ordinal analysis and advanced measures of complexity, we quantify the system’s dynamics and uncover underlying symmetries. Our findings reveal that the interaction between the two feedback sources induces a more intense deterministic behavior, distinct from the dynamics produced by each feedback source individually. Additionally, clear temporal symmetries emerge across all dynamical regimes. By employing a novel entropy-vector representation, we are able to identify a unique signature that characterizes the system’s dynamics.

Mapping of water spread dynamics of a tropical Ramsar wetland of India for conservation and management.

Wetlands are dynamic ecosystems vital for sustaining ecological health and development at regional and global scales. Geospatial tools have emerged as essential for managing wetland ecosystems. This study assessed the spatiotemporal dynamics of water spread in the Point Calimere Wetland, a coastal Ramsar site located along the Bay of Bengal, India, from 1984 to 2023. The analysis based on Global Surface Water Explorer (GSWE) and Normalized Difference Water Index (NDWI) derived from Landsat 5, 7, and 8 data revealed that 21% of the total wetland area showed an increasing trend. In comparison, 5.7% of the area showed a decreasing trend of surface water coverage, largely driven by erosion and climatic variability. The mean water spread increased from 119.47 km2 (2000-2003) to 160.88 km2 (2020-2023), with notable seasonal fluctuations. Among all seasons, the monsoon with the highest surge (41.1%) in water dynamics reported the largest water spread in 2020-2023 (221.87 km2). A moderate positive and negative relationship was noted between rainfall and water spread (r = 0.35) and temperature and water spread (r = - 0.43). A marked increase in habitat patches and edge density between 2000-2003 and 2020-2023 indicates the wetland's vulnerability to changing climatic conditions and the critical role of seawater intrusion, shoreline changes, and tidal forces in shaping its hydrological dynamics. The data presented on the historical water dynamics in this study is invaluable for the conservation planning and management of wetlands to support the associated coastal biodiversity and livelihood of the dependent communities.

Computational investigation of moving shock interaction with a granular particle curtain using a coupled Eulerian–Lagrangian approach

The objective of this research is to investigate the influence of a moving shock wave on a dense particle curtain using a coupled supersonic Eulerian–Lagrangian solver. The numerical investigation seeks to gain a deeper understanding of the interactions between particles and gas flow through a four-way coupling approach that incorporates interparticle collisions. Upon interaction, the particle curtain undergoes rapid expansion, generating transmitted and reflected shocks. This work focuses on how different particle arrangements affect the fluid flow dynamics and vice versa. By systematically varying the shock Mach number, we elucidate the effects of these interactions across a range of shock strengths, providing a comprehensive picture of the phenomenon. Our findings reveal the crucial role of particle properties and interparticle forces in shaping the dynamics of shock–granular interactions, paving the way for a deeper understanding of multiphase shock flows in various applications.

REPENSANDO A INVESTIGAÇÃO EM LINGUÍSTICA APLICADA: UMA ENTREVISTA COM O ALASTAIR PENNYCOOK

ABSTRACT During the 1st International Congress of Critical Applied Linguistics (ICCAL) - held in Brasilia-DF, Brazil, from October 19 to 21, 2015, by the “Group for Critical and Advanced Language Studies” [Grupo de Estudos Críticos e Avançados em Linguagens) - Alastair Pennycook (University of Technology, Sydney/Australia and the MultiLing Center at the University of Oslo, Norway) gave the event’s opening lecture entitled Critical Applied Linguistics Challenges. Widely known for his pioneering work with critical approaches in language education and applied linguistics, he generously accepted our request of being interviewed on this topic at this opportunity in 20242. This interview is divided into two parts. Firstly, we aim to delve into the philosophical underpinnings and motivations that have guided his illustrious career, offering our readers an in-depth look at the forces shaping his research and theoretical stances. Secondly, we seek to inspire the next generation of researchers by sharing his insights on navigating the complexities of interdisciplinary research, the evolution of his theoretical perspectives, and his vision for the future of applied linguistics.

Effects of side ratio on wind load characteristics on high-rise building

This study investigates the impact of varying side ratios (SR) on wind loads in high-rise buildings using wind tunnel tests and large eddy simulations. It assesses surface wind load by analyzing static three-component force coefficients and shape factors across different SRs. The results show that the model with D/B = 0.5 exhibits the largest mean and r.m.s drag forces, while the model with square cross section (D/B = 1) experiences the lowest torque. Meanwhile, the model with D/B = 0.5 reveals strong vertical but relatively weak horizontal wind pressure correlation. In addition, models with large SRs exhibit altered wind pressure mechanisms due to the occurrence of flow reattachment and secondary separation, resulting in lower side-surface correlation compared to small SR models.

Sensor-Free Strategy for Estimating Guidewire/Catheter Shape and Contact Force in Endovascular Interventions

Sensor-Free Strategy for Estimating Guidewire/Catheter Shape and Contact Force in Endovascular Interventions

Estimation of Sensitivity Coefficients for Rockwell Indenters Using Finite Element Simulation for Uncertainty Evaluation

Abstract Rockwell hardness testing is a widely used hardness test, and there are many scales depending on the indenter shape and test force for corresponding to various materials. The common Rockwell indenters are the diamond sphero-conical indenter and the tungsten carbide ball indenter. The influence of indenter shape error on Rockwell hardness has been acknowledged, as this shape impacts test results. To accurately estimate this uncertainty, it is essential to understand the sensitivity coefficient, which delineates the relationship between indenter shape and Rockwell hardness. Traditionally, this coefficient has been derived experimentally, but this approach faces challenges that are attributable to the nonuniformity of hardness test blocks and indenter shape measurement errors. This study introduces the estimation of sensitivity coefficients for Rockwell indenters using finite element analysis (FEA). The FEA method offers the advantage of being unaffected by the nonuniformity of test blocks and indenter shape measurement errors. We calculated the sensitivity coefficients by assessing the influence of variations in indenter angle and tip radius for diamond indenters, and indenter diameter for ball indenters, on hardness results through FEA. The sensitivity coefficients obtained via FEA for specific scales aligned with those from previous experimental studies, affirming the validity of FEA-derived coefficients for other scales. This study demonstrates that FEA is a useful tool for estimating the sensitivity coefficients of Rockwell indenters.

Identity categories and the dilemma of calling police about family violence.

The under-reporting of family violence is a global problem. Multiple barriers to help-seeking have been identified, including some associated with social identities like race, age and gender. This discursive psychology study examines identity and help-seeking in social interaction. We analysed 200 calls classified by police call-takers as family harm using conversation analysis and membership categorization analysis. We found that callers oriented to a locally generated identity category 'the one who called police' as problematic. Callers sought anonymity or proposed cover stories to avoid being identified by others. Anonymity raised practical problems for recording callers' names and cover stories raised questions about the legitimacy of alternative accounts for police contact. We found callers' concerns with being identified create a dilemma produced through competing moral judgements tied to coexisting institutional and relational identity categories. Participants display understandings that calling the police may be the right thing to do as a help-seeker, but the wrong thing to do as a friend or family member. Our findings reveal how a locally generated identity category was observable as a force shaping help-seeking in real-time high-stakes encounters.

A study of the Impact of AI and New Media on Trade Development in the Retail Sector and Coping Strategies

The rapid advancement of global information technology is transforming industries at an unprecedented pace, with emerging technologies becoming integral to our daily lives and reshaping traditional business models. The retail industry, in particular, has witnessed a significant evolution over the past three decades. What once relied solely on face-to-face interactions has now shifted through the e-commerce revolution and into a highly sophisticated model powered by artificial intelligence (AI) and big data. These technological breakthroughs have redefined the retail landscape, enabling businesses to harness data-driven marketing strategies and leverage the growing influence of social media for promotion. As a result, geographical barriers are no longer a limitation, and retailers can reach a global audience with ease. However, this transformation also brings new challenges, such as increased competition and the need for product differentiation in a crowded marketplace. The evolution of retail not only reflects the broader impact of global technological advancements but also highlights the opportunities and complexities of operating in the digital age. By exploring these cutting-edge technologies, this paper can better understand the forces shaping modern retail and gain valuable insights into this rapidly changing era.

Device for calibration of hot air welding machines

Plastics hot air welding techniques involve measuring and maintaining certain values of three physical quantities: temperature, clamping force and the dwell time of the product under load. Technical regulations of the last century do not specify the clamping force value. The value was kept by the mass of the active element of the technology equipment only. The paper considers the newly developed and studied device for calibration of hot air welding machines by clamping force. The device provides calibration of various types of machines with an operating gap of 13 mm and more. The calibration device itself was calibrated by the method of loading with standard weights using a special device. The functioning of the controller board adder was also studied, which allowed controlling the clamping force characteristics of hot air welding machines in case of inhomogeneous distribution of force and non-ideal geometric shape of clamping elements. It is shown that the new device allows controlling one of the main characteristics of hot air welding machines of various designs and manufacturers. The device made it possible to periodically control the actual value of the clamping force of the active element of the machine during the technological process realization. If in a specific model of the machine the measured value is the pressure in the pneumatic system instead of the clamping force, then during the initial calibration the clamping force against the pressure in the pneumatic system matrixes is generated, and its stability is then controlled.

Canada goose fecal microbiota correlate with geography more than host‐associated factors

Gut microbiota interact with host biology in numerous important ways. The forces shaping the composition, diversity, and function of the microbiota vary within and between species. Avian microbiota often correlate more strongly with sampling location specific environmental variables than with host‐associated factors such as age, but robust, range‐wide sampling is rare. To better understand the connection between geographic distance and the microbiota, fecal samples were collected from non‐migratory Canada goose populations across the United States. We expected that geographically closer populations would be exposed to more similar environmental microbes and would therefore have more similar gut microbiota. We hypothesized that intrinsic host‐associated factors would have a weak correlation to gut microbial composition and geographic distance would have a stronger correlation. We found that some components of Canada goose microbiota are present in a majority of the geese, including four bacterial phyla, five families, and three genera. However, there were significant differences in microbial alpha diversity based on state of origin as well as significant positive correlations between geography and beta diversity. Supervised machine learning models were able to predict the state and flyway of origin of a fecal sample based on bacterial composition alone. Distance−decay analysis showed a significant positive relationship between geographic distance and beta diversity. Our work provides novel insights into the microbiota of the Canada goose and supports the hypothesis that avian microbiota are influenced by the host's environment. This work also suggests that there is a minimum geographic distance, likely associated with sufficient variation in habitat, climate, and local food sources, that must be reached before significant differences in the microbiota between two populations can be detected.