Positive Side Research Articles

2D/1D VSe2/MWCNT hybrid-based electrochemical sensor for carbendazim quantification of environmental, food, and biological samples.

Forthe first time the sensitive determination of carbendatim (CRB) is reportedutilizing a well-designed sensing architecture based on vanadium diselenide-multiwalled carbon nanotube (VSMC). FTIR, XRD, FESEM, EDS, and EIS were employed to evaluate the sensor's structural integrity, and the results demonstrated the successful integration of nanomaterials, resulting in a robust and sensitive electrochemical sensor. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) and chronoamperometric (CA) investigations showed that the sensor best performed at pH 8.0 (BRB) with an excellent detection limit of 9.80nM with a wide linear range of 0.1 to 10.0µM. A more thermodynamically viable oxidation of CRB was observed at the VSMC/GCE, with a shift of 200mV in peak potential towards the less positive side compared with the unmodified GCE. In addition, the sensor demonstrated facile heterogeneous electron transfer, favorable anti-fouling traits in the presence of a wide range of interferents, good stability, and reproducible analytical performance. Finally, the developed sensor was validated for real-time quantification of CRB from spiked water, food, and bio-samples, which depicted acceptable recoveries (98.6 to 101.5%) with RSD values between 0.35 and 2.23%. Further, to derive the possible sensing mechanism, the valence orbitals projected density of states (PDOS) for C, H, and N atoms of an isolated CRB molecule, VSe2 + CNT and VSe2 + CNT + CRB were calculated using density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The dominant charge transfer from the valence 2p-orbitals of the C and N atoms of CRB to CNT is responsible for the electrochemical sensing of CRB molecules.

Nutritional implications of substituting plant-based proteins for meat: evidence from home scan data

There is growing concern among policymakers and researchers about the negative health and climate impacts of meat consumption. Consumers are encouraged to re-evaluate their dietary choices to preserve our ecosystem and reduce the burden of diet-related diseases. However, limited information is available about how price changes in animal protein sources affect plant-based protein demand and the consequences for nutrient intake and/or diet quality. The goal of the present paper is to fill this gap by explaining how consumers react to price changes in animal protein types and to present the implications for nutrition or diet quality. This paper applied the exact affine stone index implicit (EASI) Marshallian demand system to 2021 home scan panel data collated by the Kantar Worldpanel to estimate both price and expenditure elasticities. Twelve food groups of seven animal-based protein products and five plant-based protein products were considered. The results revealed that dairy and eggs are daily necessities for the people of Scotland. The demand for fish and non-dairy milk are the most sensitive to price. Estimates based on expenditure elasticities show that beef is considered a luxury and a highly substitutable product in the Scottish diet. Peas are relatively basic, essential foodstuffs. In general, increasing the price of animal protein sources will shift demand towards plant protein. On the positive side, there will be a significant reduction in cholesterol and fat purchases. However, there would also be a significant reduction in the total amount of protein, carbohydrates, and healthy fats, such as unsaturated fatty acids, purchased by the average household. This shows that increases in plant-based protein are not enough to compensate for the reductions in essential macro- and micronutrient purchases from animal protein. From the climate perspective, reductions in meat purchases could reduce emissions from production and consumption.

A Review of the Application and Impact of Drip Irrigation under Plastic Mulch in Agricultural Ecosystems

Food security, a crucial issue for the development of humankind, is often severely constrained by water scarcity. As a globally recognized most advanced agricultural water-saving technology, drip irrigation under plastic mulch (DIPM) has played a significant role in grain production. However, a comprehensive review of the dual impacts of this practice in farmland remains lacking. This study has conducted an exhaustive review of DIPM research from 1999 to 2023 and employed CiteSpace software to perform a co-occurrence and clustering analysis of keywords in order to reveal research hotspots and trends. The results show that the attention to DIPM technology has increased annually and reached a peak in 2022. China leads in the number of publications in this field, reflecting its emphasis on agricultural water-saving technologies. This study critically discusses the dual impacts of DIPM on farmland. On the positive side, DIPM can improve soil temperature and moisture, enhance nutrient availability, promote water and nutrient absorption by roots, and increase the crop growth rate and yield while reducing evaporation and nitrogen loss, suppressing weed growth, decreasing herbicide usage, and lowering total greenhouse gas emissions. On the negative side, it will cause pollution from plastic mulch residues, damage the soil structure, have impacts on crop growth, and lead to increased clogging of drip irrigation systems, which will increase agricultural costs and energy consumption, hinder crop growth, hamper soil salinization management, and further reduce the groundwater level. The future development of DIPM technology requires optimization and advancement. Such strategies as mechanized residual-mulch recovery, biodegradable mulch substitution, aerated drip irrigation technology, and alternate irrigation are proposed to address existing issues in farmland triggered by DIPM. This review advocates for the active exploration of farming management practices superior to DIPM for future agricultural development. These practices could lead to higher yields, water–nitrogen efficiency, and lower environmental impact in agricultural development.

Comparing Electrode Overpotential Contributions in Vrfbs Amongst Multiple Techniques

Redox flow batteries (RFBs) offer a potential remedy for the escalating need for energy storage amid the ongoing transition from carbon-intensive fossil energy to renewable energy sources. Yet, many RFB chemistries are shown to have low energy efficiencies which can be attributed, in part, to ineffective electrode materials. Identifying overpotential contributions from electrodes under operating conditions is a key step in understanding how to design better RFB electrodes Previously, three-electrode setups using rotating disk electrodes (RDE) were the effective technique at isolating overpotentials; however, this can only be accomplished by looking at one side of the RFB at a time. RDEs do not easily replicate the operational conditions of a power cell or the porous nature of carbon electrodes used in RFBs. Alongside the normal operation of an RFB, symmetry cells are another approach that can be utilized in quantifying the performance of electrodes. The advantage of a symmetrical cell setup allows us to monitor the overpotential contributions of two different electrodes in the same electrolyte concurrently. Membrane-based reference electrodes (MBRE), and other reference electrode integration concepts, allow us to use three-electrode techniques in operational RFB power cells. As a case study, we examined the effect of oxidative electrode treatments on the positive and negative side of the VRFB using multiple methods. While other studies have shown that an untreated negative electrode may be the key inhibitor in VRFB performance, we have quantified the overpotential at 50% state of charge to be 194 mV when 50 mA cm-2 is applied. After an oxidative treatment is applied to the negative electrode, the overpotential is reduced to 111 mV. Applying this to other techniques, we can compare the effectiveness of a non-symmetry cell setup vs. a symmetry cell setup, which displayed that oxidative treatment techniques appear to have an opposite effect on the positive electrode. A treated-positive electrode shows an overpotential of around 100 mV whereas an untreated-positive electrode only contributes 15 mV less of overpotential. These findings are further compared using common reference electrodes placed in the electrolyte tank, providing insights into the effectiveness of power cell techniques in improving RFB electrode performance.

All Organic Quinone Solid State Batteries for Environmentally Friendly and Chemical Robust Alternatives Beyond Lithium-Ion Batteries

Introduction: Organic solid-state quinone batteries have unparalleled properties that can meet the most urgent challenges the industry faces. It can create an energy system that is environmentally friendly and electrochemically robust, while being cost efficient enough for industry to adopt and invest in. The inspiration for fully organic solid-state batteries came from extended studies on our all-organic aqueous redox flow batteries, where much of the science of organic redox coupling molecules were understood. Like redox flow batteries, organic solid state quinone batteries utilizes the breaking and reforming of bonds to generate electrical energy. However, it doesn’t require the constant flow of charge carrier solution like the flow batteries. Consequently, this avoids the cost of an extra pumping system and significantly reduce the size of the batteries compared to flow battery systems. Furthermore, the downsized battery system allows for the cell to be implemented into applications such as EV and portable devices. The redox species are directly deposited onto the electrodes. This deposition of active material on carbon paper enables higher surface area for charge transfer, which increases the capacity for fast charge and discharge compared to flow batteries. Additionally, the active materials are of organic quinone nature providing great robustness that other battery systems like lithium-ion batteries don’t allow. The redox chemistry of these quinones still happens in aqueous system, which allows us to use very small amount of aqueous electrolyte instead of the combustible organic solvent used in lithium batteries. Results and discussion: The appropriate quinone species for this solid-state battery must be electrochemically stable and dissolution free in the aqueous system. Various quinones with different substituents were tested. One of the promising redox couples discovered is 2-methylanthraquinone (MAQ) and duroquinone (DQ). The couple displayed a cell voltage of 400 mV (0.4 V) as shown in Figure 1. This value was found to correspond to the redox potential difference between DQ and MAQ. New methods of deposition of active materials onto the electrodes were developed. High conductivity was achieved by introducing CNT with appropriate binder, which resulted in improvements to the cell’s charge and discharge performance (Figure 2). Figure 1. Cyclic voltammetry study of 10 mM 2-Methylanthraquinone (MAQ) and 10 mM Duroquinone (DQ) in 1 M sulfuric acid with 20% ethanol, MSE reference electrode, glassy carbon, 50 mV/s. (Refer to image file) Figure 2: Charge and discharge of solid-state batteries of 2-Methylanthraquinone (MAQ) and Duroquinone (DQ) at 10 mA. (Refer to image file)For the positive side, 0.164 g of duroquinone was deposited on 25 cm2 carbon paper with 0.05 g of CNT. Correspondingly, 0.222 g of 2-Methylantroquinone was deposited for the negative side. The cell was assembled with Nafion 117 as separator and small amount of 1 M sulfuric acid as the supporting electrolyte. The initial charge and discharge curve of this cell showed 97% columbic efficiency. Long-term cycling to test the stability was performed and other redox couples also showed higher cell voltage with high efficiency.The next step for this study is to explore different redox couples that might have better compatibility and higher cell voltage compared to the current redox couple. This will be done through studying the large library of organic compounds including quinones and other redox active organic compounds. Figure 1

The adverse effects of political instability on innovation systems: The case of Mexico's wind and solar sector

The global transition to clean energy requires policies to support innovation in the energy sector. However, the stability of energy policies is vulnerable to political disruptions and policy reversals. This paper aims to understand how innovation systems respond to periods of political instability. Specifically, it investigates the impact of policy retrenchment under Mexico's President Andrés Manuel López Obrador (AMLO) on the sectoral innovation system (SIS) for renewable energy. Employing the innovation system framework, we examine how the structure and functions of the SIS were affected by political changes under the AMLO Administration. Notable policy changes include canceling long-term auctions and strategic transmission projects, reducing science funding, and fostering uncertainty. These alterations significantly impact entrepreneurial experimentation, knowledge development, market formation, guidance of the search, resource mobilization, and the creation of legitimacy in the SIS for wind and solar technologies. On the positive side, we find that non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and local governments took action to compensate for the lack of federal leadership, and distributed generation continued as a niche of innovation. This research contributes to the innovation literature with an empirical study of innovation systems in Mexico. More generally, it highlights the adaptability of innovation systems during political transitions.

The Effects of Islamic Economy and Islamic Finance on Social Life

Living together comes with both advantages and disadvantages. On the positive side, people benefit from each other by fulfilling mutual needs, such as buying goods and services that they cannot produce themselves. However, living together can also lead to conflicts, with individuals sometimes infringing on each other's rights. Islam brought significant changes to ensure justice in social life, introducing rules and innovations in economy and finance. When these Islamic principles are followed, justice and social welfare improve. This study will explore Islamic economy and finance and their effects on social life.

تصورات الفكر الحداثي عن التشريعات الإسلامية للأسرة: دراسة تحليلية مقارنة

This study aims to contribute to the ongoing debate on the perceptions of modernity-related thought concerning family affairs in Islamic legislation. Analyzing the discourse of modernity and the issues raised therein, the researcher attempts to answer the following questions: what effect-if any- does one’s stance on religious heritage have on the study of family-related issues? what are the flaws of the modernists with respect to the family? what are the alternative perceptions that Islam presents concerning family values and legislation? To answer these questions- and to achieve the objective of his study- the researcher has used a descriptive as well as a comparative approach. In conclusion, the study has found that the flaws of the modernist approach, which adopts western secular concepts and values on a universal scale, can be traced back to its rejection of any cultural particularities stemming from religious heritage. That is why it fails to acknowledge or explain the changes witnessed in daily life in Muslim societies. Understandably, an explanation of such changes cannot be reduced exclusively to a material worldview. Identifying some features of such shortcomings, the researcher has referred to the modernists’ rejection of value-based family cohesion, and how they see it as a source of violation to women's rights. Or worse still, they see it as a form of stereotyping the gender roles in line with religious rulings. On the positive side, the study outlined some features of an alternative methodology from within the Islamic worldview- to address the issues of parent education, family upbringing based on dialogue, equality among family members, and women’s freedoms, which modernists usually raise. The study ends by urging researchers to conduct further case studies on a specific country or family institutions. The focus of such works should be on evaluating the content of the modernist discourse in international agreements, and its impact on women and children, on the identity of the family, as well as its functions and characteristics from the perspective of cultural differences among nations.

Solidaritas Sosial Petani Jagung di Desa Papualangi, Kecamatan Tolinggula, Kabupaten Gorontalo Utara

This study aims to examine the social solidarity among corn farmers in Papualangi Village, Tolinggula District, North Gorontalo Regency. A qualitative approach with descriptive analysis was employed. Five corn farmers from Papualangi Village served as informants for this research. Data were collected through documentation, interviews, and observation. The findings indicate the following: First, the Papualangi Village government's role in enhancing the welfare of corn farmers has not been effectively implemented. Second, while corn farmers’ response to social solidarity remains strong, there has been a shift from a previously unpaid system of solidarity to one that employs a wage system. Third, materialism acts as a hindrance; specifically, the wage system provided to workers during corn planting is a form of materialism that inhibits solidarity. Fourth, the wage system's impact on corn farmers includes both positive and negative effects. On the positive side, field observations reveal that the wage system enhances efficiency and accelerates work completion. Additionally, it increases income for workers who benefit from earning extra money. Besides the direct economic benefits, the wage system can positively influence social solidarity within the farming community. However, the shift to a wage system may also have adverse effects. One potential negative consequence is a decline in social solidarity among farmers. Some may prefer paying workers rather than relying on traditional mutual cooperation, which can diminish the sense of dependency and communal involvement.

Challenging Stereotypes and Celebrating Family Bonds: Analysing the Representation of Older Adults in the Contemporary Chinese Dictionary

Abstract While there is growing interest in representations of older adults across media in general, specific studies of their representation in dictionaries are scarce. This study used content analysis, transitivity analysis and attitude system to explore how older adults’ identities are discursively constructed in the seventh edition of the Contemporary Chinese Dictionary (CCD7). On the negative side, CCD7 reveals several stereotypes (e.g., being frail and vulnerable), presenting old age as the antithesis of active youth. On the positive side, CCD7 uniquely highlights the significant role of older adults within the Chinese extended family structure. In addition, CCD7 emphasises that, in Chinese culture, caring for older adults is seen as a familial and social responsibility. Through the lens of CDA, this study contributes to our understanding of old age in lexicographic discourse and promotes inclusive language.

Effect of Citrate-Based Bath pH on Properties of Electrodeposited Cu–Zn Coating on an Aluminum Substrate

In this study, Cu–Zn alloys were deposited in citrate-based electrolytes on aluminum substrate by electrodeposition method. The effect of bath pH variation on the properties of the obtained Cu–Zn alloy coatings was investigated. The electrochemical behavior of the citrate-based baths and the crystalline structure, surface morphology and elemental content, electrical resistivity and thermal behavior of the alloy coatings were analyzed. According to the results of cyclic voltammetry (CV) analysis, increasing bath pH caused a negative shift in the cathodic deposition potential. In addition, the anodic dissolution peaks first shifted to the positive side with increasing pH and then shifted back to the negative direction. According to the results of XRD analysis, the phase structure of Cu–Zn alloys generally consists of α and β′ phases, but according to differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) analysis, it is possible that there is a γ phase in the structure in addition to these phases. In addition, pH increase (4.5 to 6.5) caused a relative increase in crystal grain size (~14 to ~ 25 nm). The Zn content of Cu–Zn coatings first increased (~pct 15 to ~ pct 55) with pH increase, then followed a horizontal trend (~pct 55 to ~ pct 59) with further pH increase and then exhibited a slight decreasing trend (~pct 59 to ~ pct 52). The pH increase significantly affected the surface morphology of the coatings and denser coatings were obtained with increasing pH. While the electrical resistivity of Cu–Zn coatings first increased (0.0408 to 0.0696 µΩcm for 297 K) with increasing pH, it tended to decrease (0.0696 to 0.0479 µΩcm for 297 K) again at higher pH values. In addition, the electrical resistivity of the coatings increased with increasing measurement temperature. According to DSC analysis of the coatings, endothermic peaks were obtained, possibly representing the transformation from γ to β′ phase.Graphical

Effect of rainfall-derived inflow and infiltration on dissolved organic matter in urban sanitary sewers using chemometric and machine learning approaches

This study investigated changes in dissolved organic matter (DOM) properties within urban sanitary sewers influenced by groundwater infiltration and excessive rainfall-derived inflow and infiltration (RDII). It employed optical indices and fluorescence excitation-emission matrix-parallel factor analysis (PARAFAC) coupled with self-organizing map (SOM) to compare DOM characteristics during wet weather flows (WWFs) and dry-weather flows (DWFs). Sampling sites impacted by RDII were identified based on flowrate. Optical indices and PARAFAC components (C1–C4) were used to differentiate DOM properties between DWFs and WWFs. In WWFs, E<sub>2</sub>/E<sub>3</sub> and S<sub>350-400</sub> increased, while spectral ratio (S<sub>R</sub>) decreased, indicating a shift towards smaller organic matters. Reduced fluorescence and humidification indices suggested the input of fresher/terrestrial organic matters. C3 and C4 exhibited significant distinctions, showing increased C3 and decreased C4 levels. The PARAFAC-SOM modeling further illustrated that water samples in the urban sewer system could be categorized based on the dominance of DOM properties. Principal component analysis revealed separation between DWF and WWF samples in principal component 1 (PC1), associated with molecular size. PC2 was linked to microbial activity in WWFs. Notably, DWF samples from the NY-11 site shifted to the positive side of the PC1 axis, while their corresponding WWF samples moved to the negative side.

Search for high-mass exclusive diphoton production with tagged protons in proton-proton collisions at s=13 TeV

A search is presented for high-mass exclusive diphoton production via photon-photon fusion in proton-proton collisions at s=13 TeV in events where both protons survive the interaction. The analysis utilizes data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 103 fb−1 collected in 2016–2018 with the central CMS detector and the CMS and TOTEM precision proton spectrometer (PPS). Events that have two photons with high transverse momenta (pTγ>100 GeV), back-to-back in azimuth, and with a large diphoton invariant mass (mγγ>350 GeV) are selected. To remove the dominant inclusive diphoton backgrounds, the kinematic properties of the protons detected in PPS are required to match those of the central diphoton system. Only events having opposite-side forward protons detected with a fractional momentum loss between 0.035 and 0.15 (0.18) for the detectors on the negative (positive) side of CMS are considered. One exclusive diphoton candidate is observed for an expected background of 1.1 events. Limits at 95% confidence level are derived for the four-photon anomalous coupling parameters |ζ1|<0.073 TeV−4 and |ζ2|<0.15 TeV−4, using an effective field theory. Additionally, upper limits are placed on the production of axionlike particles with coupling strength to photons f−1 that varies from 0.03 TeV−1 to 1 TeV−1 over the mass range from 500 to 2000 GeV. © 2024 CERN, for the CMS and TOTEMs Collaboration 2024 CERN

Surface Engineering of Two-Dimensional Black Phosphorus for Advanced Nanophotonics.

ConspectusEverything in the world has two sides. We should correctly understand its two sides to pursue the positive side and get rid of the negative side. Recently, two-dimensional (2D) black phosphorus (BP) has received a tremendous amount of attention and has been applied for broad applications in optoelectronics, transistors, logic devices, and biomedicines due to its intrinsic properties, e.g., thickness-dependent bandgap, high mobility, highly anisotropic charge transport, and excellent biodegradability and biocompatibility. On one hand, rapid degradation of 2D BP under ambient conditions becomes a vital bottleneck that largely hampers its practical applications in optical and optoelectronic devices and photocatalysis. On the other hand, just because of its ambient instability, 2D BP as a novel kind of nanomedicine in a cancer drug delivery system can not only satisfy effective cancer therapy but also enable its safe biodegradation in vivo. Until now, a variety of surface functionality types and approaches have been employed to rationally modify 2D BP to meet the growing requirements of advanced nanophotonics.In this Account, we describe our research on surface engineering of 2D BP in two opposite ways: (i) stabilizing 2D BP by various approaches for advanced nanophotonic devices with both remarkable photoresponse behavior and environmentally structural stability and (ii) making full use of biodegradation, biocompatibility, and biological activity (e.g., photothermal therapy, photodynamic therapy, and bioimaging) of 2D BP for the construction of high-performance delivery nanoplatforms for biophotonic applications. We highlight the targeted aims of the surface-engineered 2D BP for advanced nanophotonics, including photonic devices (optics, optoelectronics, and photocatalysis) and photoinduced cancer therapy, by means of various surface functionalities, such as heteroatom incorporation, polymer functionalization, coating, heterostructure design, etc. From the viewpoint of potential applications, the fundamental properties of surface-engineered 2D BP and recent advances in surface-engineered 2D BP-based nanophotonic devices are briefly discussed. For the photonic devices, surface-engineered 2D BP can not only effectively improve environmentally structural stability but also simultaneously maintain photoresponse performance, enabling 2D BP-based devices for a wide range of practical applications. In terms of the photoinduced cancer therapy, surface-engineered 2D BP is more appropriate for the treatment of cancer due to negligible toxicity and excellent biodegradation and biocompatibility. We also provide our perspectives on future opportunities and challenges in this important and fast-growing field. It is envisioned that this Account can attract more attention in this area and inspire more scientists in a variety of research communities to accelerate the development of 2D BP for more widespread high-performance nanophotonic applications.

Effect of COVID-19 on the Tourism Industry of Bangladesh: A Qualitative Study on Kuakata Sea Beach

We must recommend or support the "tourism sector" because it allows us to unwind, enjoy ourselves, be refreshed, and learn new things. This paper aims to examine the Effect of COVID-19 on Bangladesh's tourism industry before and after COVID-19. This is a qualitative study. The paper is based on primary data where we went to root-level people, took their own opinions, and focused on identifying how COVID-19 has affected tour operator organizations (hotels, motels, and restaurants), floating businessmen and tourists at Kuakata.We tried to find out the adjustment strategy of tour operator organizations to overcome the problematic situation the existing conditions of tourism sectors based on consumers' current situation after COVID-19. Non-probability sampling method has been used to choose the sample through convenience sampling and judgment sampling. To collect data face-to-face and telephone in-depth interviews were used. Qualitative content analysis was used for analyzing data. This paper's findings showed that before COVID-19 the traffic of tourists at residential hotels, motels, and restaurants was significant. During the pandemic time, all the activities of tour operators were locked.This paper also found that after COVID-19 the number of tourists increased for Payra Bridge and Padma Bridge which is a positive side. After COVID-19, everyone moves to maintain a hygienic way, but tourists don’t enjoy their time because the side roads and other visitable areas like Lal Kakrar Deep, Fatrar Chor, Jhau Bon, Shutkipolli, Narikel Bagan, etc. haven’t proper transportation system. The findings of the paper will play an important role theoretically and practically.

SENI MUSIK HADRAH SEBAGI MEDIA KONSELING ISLAM DALAM MENGUBAH PERILAKU REMAJA

The problem of juvenile delinquency in Indonesia is the main problem faced today. Delinquency that occurs in teenagers is influenced by the social, emotional environment and the mindset of teenagers. The aim of this research is to describe the positive side of hadrah music as a medium for Islamic counseling for teenagers. This research uses a qualitative research method with a case study type of research. The results of the research that has been carried out can be concluded that teenagers can change deviant behavior to positive behavior, change interaction patterns, thought patterns, control emotions. Through the hadrah and sy’ir arts activities that they present, they are able to become wiser and wiser in their behavior.

Regional Multidimensional Attitudes Towards Immigration: Evidence from the European Social Survey Using Small Area Estimation

The present article is the first empirical investigation of attitudes towards immigration in Europe via small area estimation providing reliable regional estimates across European regions. Four dimensions of regional attitudes are considered, i.e., restrictive attitudes towards specific groups, restrictive attitudes towards acquired criteria, threat, and restrictive attitudes towards ascribed criteria. We produce maps of these, as well as validation outputs, demonstrating that our estimates are reliable, hence, have a strong potential in informing policy makers. We show that, although there is a large between-country variation of these attitudes, there are also large spatial differences between-region in some countries. Overall, Swedish public attitudes tend to be quite homogeneous across regions, and located towards the positive side, whereas Eastern European countries tend to show negative attitudes across all the dimensions apart from the acquired criteria. However, in these countries, we can see larger spatial differences across regions, especially in the ascribed criteria and attitudes towards specific groups indicator. In general, the threat dimension does not show a large between-region variability, compared to the other three dimensions.

Climate change and income inequality in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA): effects and transmission channels

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to assess the direct effect of climate change on income inequality in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and the channels through which it spreads. Design/methodology/approach Using a sample of 38 countries, the authors specify and estimate a panel data model using the generalized least squares method over the period 1991–2020. Robustness is achieved through the generalized moment method-system. Findings The results show that an increase in vulnerability to climate change is positively and significantly associated with an increase in income inequality. The results also show that the effects of climate change are mediated by gross domestic product/capita, population and agriculture at the 15%, 17% and 24% thresholds, respectively. Research limitations/implications The authors suggest the implementation of inclusive development policies consistent with climate mitigation and adaptation objectives; the creation of financial spaces from various sources to finance the social security of the most vulnerable; and the strengthening of agricultural resilience to climate-related adverse events, including financing for greenhouse agriculture. Originality/value On the positive side, it contributes to the literature on the analysis of the direct and indirect effects (transmission channels) of climate change on income inequality in SSA. Methodologically, the study goes beyond previous work as it adopts a stepwise methodology, dealing with the endogeneity issue. At the logical level, it offers some non-exhaustive suggestions of potentially interesting economic policies to guide policymakers in their common commitment to “reduce income inequality” (Sustainable Development Goal 10, target 10.1).

Assessing the longevity of attribute framing in attenuating the nocebo effect to brand and generic medication.

The perception of taking a generic, relative to brand, medication has been demonstrated to exacerbate the nocebo effect. Conversely, positive attribute framing has been shown to attenuate the nocebo effect. However, little is known about the longevity of positive attribute framing nor how it interacts with generic versus brand treatment cues. Healthy participants (N = 205) were randomised to receive either sham-modafinil capsules with a brand or generic appearance, in conjunction with standard negative side effect framing (brand-negative: N = 42; generic-negative: N = 41) or positive side effect framing (brand-positive: N = 40; generic-positive: N = 40). The remainder were randomised to a no-treatment control (N = 42). Participants were informed that modafinil could enhance alertness and cognitive performance and reduce fatigue. Critically, modafinil was described as having several potential side effects. Treatment-related side effects, alertness, fatigue and cognitive performance were measured at baseline, 30-min post-treatment and 24 h later. Nocebo and placebo effects were observed across modafinil-treated participants relative to control. Positive framing significantly reduced warned side effects for 24 h. Perceived side effect likelihood, severity, and worry mediated the nocebo, but not framing, effect. Results have important implications for the presentation of side effect information, providing a potential route to reduce unwanted negative effects of generic medication.

Dimension-reduced mathematical modeling of self-shaping wooden composite bilayers

ABSTRACT Swelling and shrinkage of wood provides challenges when used as construction material. On the positive side, it allows for manufacturing curved wood elements by self-shaping upon drying. We present a two-dimensional model for simulating the moisture-induced bending of wooden bilayers and more general composite plates with multiple, periodically distributed material phases. The model is derived in a mathematically rigorous way from a fully three-dimensional nonlinear hyperelasticity model of the plate and is computationally cheap to handle. We focus specifically on the scenario of free deformations. While the derived model is capable to describe general isometric bending deformations, it has the property that free deformations in equilibrium are given by uniaxial bending deformations that can be computed without the need for solving the plate equations via finite element simulations. The hereby gained computational efficiency enables extensive parameter studies to be conducted regarding the design of wooden composite plates with complex composite geometry. We validate the model for homogeneous wooden bilayers and obtain good agreement between simulations and experimental data. Then we use the model to predict the bending behavior of periodically perforated bilayers. The comparison to other existing models and implications for practical use are discussed.