Shifts In Structure Research Articles

Intraseasonal shift in the wintertime North Atlantic jet structure projected by CMIP6 models

The projected winter changes of the North Atlantic eddy-driven jet (EDJ) under climate change conditions have been extensively analysed. Previous studies have reported a squeezed and elongated EDJ. However, other changes present large uncertainties, specifically those related to the intensity and latitude. Here, the projections of the EDJ in a multimodel ensemble of CMIP6 are scrutinised by using a multiparametric description of the EDJ. The multimodel mean projects non-stationary responses of the EDJ latitude through the winter, characterised by a poleward shift in early winter and equator migration in late winter. These intraseasonal shifts (rather than a genuine narrowing) explain the previously established squeezing of the EDJ and are linked to the future changes in different drivers: the 200 hPa meridional temperature gradient and Atlantic warming hole in early winter, and the stratospheric vortex in late winter. Model biases also influence EDJ projections, contributing to the poleward shift in early winter.

Vertical Distribution of Rocky Intertidal Organisms Shifts With Sea-Level Variability on the Northeast Pacific Coast.

Disentangling the effects of cyclical variability in environmental forcing and long-term climate change on natural communities is a major challenge for ecologists, managers, and policy makers across ecosystems. Here we examined whether the vertical distribution of rocky intertidal taxa has shifted with sea-level variability occurring at multiple temporal scales and/or long-term anthropogenic sea-level rise (SLR). Because of the distinct zonation characteristic of intertidal communities, any shift in tidal dynamics or average sea level is expected to have large impacts on community structure and function. We found that across the Northeast Pacific Coast (NPC), sea level exhibits cyclical seasonal variability, tidal amplitude exhibits ecologically significant variability coherent with the 18.6-year periodicity of lunar declination, and long-term sea-level rise is occurring. Intertidal taxa largely do not exhibit significant vertical distribution shifts coherent with short-term (monthly to annual) sea-level variability but do exhibit taxa-specific vertical distribution shifts coherent with cyclical changes in lunar declination and long-term SLR at decadal timescales. Finally, our results show that responses to cyclical celestial mechanics and SLR vary among taxa, primarily according to their vertical distribution. Long-term SLR is occurring on ecologically relevant scales, but the confounding effects of cyclical celestial mechanics make interpreting shifts in zonation or community structure challenging. Such cyclical dynamics alternatingly amplify and dampen long-term SLR impacts and may modify the impacts of other global change related stressors, such as extreme heat waves and swell events, on intertidal organisms living at the edge of their physiological tolerances. As a result, intertidal communities will likely experience cyclical periods of environmental stress and concomitant nonlinear shifts in structure and function as long-term climate change continues. Our results demonstrate that consistent, large-scale monitoring of marine ecosystems is critical for understanding natural variability in communities and documenting long-term change.

Производительность труда в российской Арктике: структурная динамика и регионально-отраслевые тенденции

Labor productivity is a key indicator of economic development and public well-being. This study assesses the structural shifts, regional dynamics, and sectoral trends in the domain of labor productivity in the Russian Arctic from 2011 to 2021, identifying aggregated economic sectors. The findings reveal that labor productivity levels in the Russian Arctic exceed the national average, primarily due to the resource-based nature of regional economies. However, a major issue is the persistently high level of interregional differentiation in labor productivity within the Arctic. The study demonstrates that an initially high level of labor productivity does not necessarily ensure long-term growth. An analysis of structural shifts in labor productivity over the past decade indicates a shift towards the market sector of the Arctic economy, evidenced by an increased share in gross regional product (GRP) and a decrease in time worked. Within the market sector, several trends are observed: the leading role of the extractive industry is maintained due to its expanding share in GRP; the role of agriculture is growing, reflected in a decreased share of hours worked; and the importance of other market sector branches, particularly transport, communication, and electric power, is diminishing as their share of total hours worked increases. The observed decline in labor productivity within the non-market sector suggests the potential for negative social consequences for the Arctic population. An analysis of labor productivity growth rates indicates that the leading sectors in terms of growth are mining, finance and business services, construction, and trade. These sectors can be considered sources of economic growth in the Arctic. Interregional differences in labor productivity growth rates within the same sector of the Arctic economy suggest the influence of regional factors, highlighting the potential for discovering unique reserves of productivity growth in each region.

High-performance electric energy storage in BiFeO3–Ba(Ti0.8Zr0.2)O3 relaxor ferroelectric ceramics

Perovskite relaxor ferroelectrics have been widely developed for energy storage applications due to their exceptional dielectric properties. This work explores the energy storage performance, thermal stability, and structural evolution in (1-x)BiFeO3–x Ba(Ti0.8Zr0.2)O3 ceramics (x = 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, and 0.6) via modulating Ba(Ti0.8Zr0.2)O3 (BZT) concentration. An enhancement of breakdown electric field from 120 kV/cm at x = 0.3–220 kV/cm at x = 0.5 can be attributed to increased grain boundaries and nanodomains as electric barriers to inhibit charge mobility. A high recoverable energy density of 5.9 J/cm3 and a high energy efficiency of 86.2 % were achieved at x = 0.5 and 0.6, respectively. The structure shifts from ferroelectric rhombohedral R3c symmetry toward a coexistence of nonpolar symmetries (including tetragonal P4/mmm, cubic Pm-3m, and orthorhombic Pbnm) with increasing BZT. The integration of BZT in BiFeO3 demonstrates to break the long-range order and promote the formation of polar nanoregions and nanodomains, leading to a high-efficiency energy storage.

Changes in Family Structure and Increasing Care Gaps in the United States, 2015–2050

Research on caregiving in the United States has not clearly identified the scope of the gap between care needed and care received and the changes implied by ongoing and anticipated shifts in family structure. This article examines the magnitude of contemporary gaps in care among older adults in the United States and how they are likely to evolve through 2050. We use data from the Health and Retirement Study (1998–2014) to estimate care gaps, operationalized as having difficulties with activities of daily living (ADLs) or instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) but not receiving care. We also estimate variation in care gaps by family structure. Then, we use data from demographic microsimulation to explore the implications of demographic and family changes for the evolution of care gaps. We establish that care gaps are common, with 13% and 5% of adults aged 50 or older reporting a care gap for ADLs and IADLs, respectively. Next, we find that adults with neither partners nor children have the highest care gap rates. Last, we project that the number of older adults with care gaps will increase by more than 30% between 2015 and 2050—twice the rate of population growth. These results provide a benchmark for understanding the scope of the potential problem and considering how care gaps can be filled.

Availability Problem of Drinking Water in an Urban Area - Effects of Family Size and Monthly Income: An Empirical Study

The availability of water is a major problem faced by the urban masses and policy makers. Bridging the gap between the demand for and supply of water is a major policy decision confronted by the urban authorities. The ever-increasing urban population and shift in occupational structure results in the increased demand which confronts with lagging supply of water which needs immediate policy attention. The present study is based on the survey of households in urban areas who have piped water connections in their homes. 600 households were selected at random from the total connections available. The data is analysed using the x2 test. The present study aims at examining the relation between size of the family and income of the respondents with that of severity of availability problem of water and comes to the conclusion that severity problem is not connected with the size of the family size but it is connected with the family income of the consumers.

Remote Impacts of Cyclonic Eddies on Productivity Around the Main Hawaiian Islands

AbstractThe Hawaiian Island chain lies on the southern limb of the oligotrophic North Pacific Subtropical Gyre, an area characterized by low productivity. In this region, productivity is controlled by several factors, including the island mass effect and mesoscale eddies generated by wind stress curl in the lee of the islands. This study identifies high‐chlorophyll events that occur periodically off the northern coasts of the Main Hawaiian Islands. These events are present in the satellite record and can be reproduced using a regional dynamical model. Model results indicate events are characterized by increases in total phytoplankton and total zooplankton, and a shift in phytoplankton size structure. We show these events are uniquely driven by the presence of cyclonic mesoscale eddies located downstream, on the opposite side of the island chain. While these eddies are known to impact productivity locally, we reveal that nutrients upwelled by these eddies can also be transported around the islands, counter to the mean background flow. These results demonstrate how leeward cyclonic eddies can have far‐reaching, remote impacts on productivity around the Hawaiian Islands.

Food waste biochar for sustainable agricultural use: Effects on soil enzymes, microbial community, lettuce, and earthworms

This study investigates the effects of food waste biochar (FWB) on the biological properties of soil, including the microbial community structure, enzyme activities, lettuce growth, and earthworm ecotoxicity. This holistic assessment of various soil organisms was used to assess the potential of FWB as a soil amendment strategy. Pot experiments were carried out over a 28-d period using various FWB concentrations in soil (0–3% w/w). The presence of FWB enhanced the activity of alkaline phosphatase and beta-glucosidase in proportion to the FWB concentration. Similarly, the dehydrogenase activity after 28 d was positively correlated with the FWB concentration. Notably, the application of FWB improved the bacterial diversity in the soil, particularly among hydrocarbonoclastic bacteria, while also prompting a shift in the fungal community structure at the class level. Measures of lettuce growth, including total fresh weight, shoot length, and leaf number, also generally improved with the addition of FWB, particularly at higher concentrations. Importantly, FWB did not adversely affect the survival or weight of earthworms. Collectively, these findings suggest that FWB can enhance soil microbial enzyme activity and support plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria, potentially leading to increased crop yields. This highlights the potential of FWB as an eco-friendly soil amendment strategy.

Study on the effects of pre-slaughter transport stress on water holding capacity of pork: Insights from oxidation, structure, function, and degradation properties of protein

This work systematically investigated the effects of pre-slaughter transport stress on pork water holding capacity (WHC) during aging from the perspectives of oxidation, structure, function, and degradation properties of protein. Pigs were randomly divided into three-hour transport (Transport-induced stress, T group) and three-hour transport followed by three-hour resting (Control, TR group). Results demonstrated that T treatment markedly declined pork WHC. Compared with TR group, T group presented increased oxidation levels. Meanwhile, T treatment exacerbated the shift of protein secondary structure from α-helix to random coil and protein unfolding levels. The decreased solubility, thermal stability, and degraded levels of proteins were also observed in T group. Additionally, muscle contractions of T group were more severe than TR group. This study supported that pre-slaughter transport stress altered physicochemical properties and structures of postmortem muscle proteins, which reduced pork WHC via impairing the interactions between protein and water molecules and changing the muscle fiber structure.

Data-Driven Decision-Making for Flexible Natural Gas Allocation Under Uncertainties: An Agent-Based Modelling Approach

Despite the anticipated growth in the global demand for energy commodities, the frequently changing market dynamics imposed by environmental regulations and political sanctions create end-user demand uncertainties. This imposes the need for prompt quantitative decision-making approaches to understand how various market structures affect the planning of current natural gas projects. Agent-based modelling (ABM) emerges as a powerful approach to facilitate expedited and well-informed decisions amidst limited timeframes. This study deploys agent-based modelling to investigate natural gas allocation across various utilisation routes under diverse economic and environmental scenarios. Results from four main cases and two sub-scenarios imply that the allocation strategy is driven by utilisation routes considered in each case, followed by the allocation target (i.e., economic or environmental) and the operational bounds. The results reveal that cases prioritising natural gas monetisation for export outperform those meeting power requirements in average annual profitability. In case 4, considering a full network with power, the average annual profitability in the economic scenario reduces by approximately 47% compared to case 3, representing the optimal network configuration with $5.22 billion in average annual profitability. However, the economic scenario of case 3 demonstrates the second-highest rate of emissions (0.66 CO2-eq t/y), following the hydrogen-rich process routes in case 2. Overall, this study presents an innovative data-driven framework for enhancing strategic resource allocation in dynamic business environments. By integrating empirical evidence and technical data with an advanced technical tool (i.e., ABM), the framework provides decision-makers and policymakers with valuable insights for managing uncertainties and shifts in market structures, particularly in existing natural gas projects.

Revolutionizing nutrition: Exploring the transformative impact of amaranth integration on composite millet flakes

This study focuses on the development and comparative analysis of multi-millet flakes comprising amaranth, finger millet, and foxtail millet. Two drying methods, baking and dehydration, were employed to produce the flakes. Physicochemical, structural, and thermal properties were evaluated, along with changes observed during soaking in various media. Baked flakes exhibited larger dimensions and a more porous internal structure compared to dried flakes. Baking induced gelatinization and protein denaturation, enhancing water holding capacity and resulting in lower water activity (0.24) conducive to long-term storage. Dehydrated flakes had slightly higher water activity (0.41) and exhibited higher color values with a glossy outer surface. Flakes soaked in hot milk, milk, and water displayed distinct structural properties, crystallinity shifts, and thermal degradation patterns. The nutritional analysis revealed a significant carbohydrate content (55 %), moderate protein (11 %), and notable levels of fat (4.4 %) and total dietary fiber (6.88 %). Fatty acid profiling indicated low levels of saturated, monounsaturated, and polyunsaturated fats, with no trans-fat or cholesterol. Sensory evaluation favored baked flakes, indicating higher acceptability. This research underscores the potential of multi-millet flakes as a nutritious and palatable food option.

Supply Chain Plasticity: A Responsive Network Capability to Ensure Resilience

ABSTRACTIn the face of supply chain disruptions, firms are expected to swiftly recover and resume operations. Traditional strategies focus on restoring operations to pre‐disruption states while largely maintaining the existing supply network structure. Recent cases, however, highlight a different approach: supply chain plasticity, wherein firms undergo significant structural shifts in supply network design as a response to disruptions with the goal to improve performance. Drawing on the foundations of supply chain responsiveness and network theory, we investigate how (and if) firms redesign their supply chains against a backdrop of increased disruptions and the implications supply chain plasticity has on resilience. Rooted in network theory, this study not only theoretically compares, contrasts, and connects prior concepts with supply chain plasticity but also empirically investigates whether firms exhibit a plastic response by modifying their supply chain network structures—specifically focusing on structural holes, centrality, and clustering network dimensions. Furthermore, we hypothesize that network plasticity impacts firm performance in the form of time to recover from a disruption. The findings demonstrate that the existence and significance of network plasticity in shaping firm responses to disruptions are indeed present and can be beneficial. We also provide evidence that supply chain plasticity is an efficacious strategy to enhance resilience and recovery performance amidst heightened disruption frequency. As firms increasingly face dynamic and complex environments, understanding and leveraging network plasticity will be vital for sustaining competitive advantage and achieving long‐term success.

Трансформация структуры государственного долга по составу кредиторов в странах Центральной Азии и Южного Кавказа

The rapid growth of public debt in developing countries in recent years and the increasing risks associated with this process emphasize the importance of research in this area. The article examines one of the key aspects of public debt management — the structure of creditors’ debt portfolio. The object of the study is the public debt of four countries of Central Asia and three countries of the South Caucasus. The states of this region are important foreign economic partners of Russia, their contribution to mutual trade and realization of joint projects is growing. Their role in the global and regional economy is also expanding, including participation in major transport and logistics projects designed to increase the connectivity of Eurasia. The study is based on the data of international organizations on the total volume of public debt, debt to individual external creditors and the dynamics of macroeconomic indicators. The article examines changes in the structure of the main groups of creditors for each country over three long-term periods and analyzes similarities and differences in the observed structural shifts. It also decomposes the indicator of public debt dynamics and estimates the contribution of the economic growth factor and the effects of changes in countries’ debt to certain groups of creditors. The study identified the following key trends in public debt structural changes: 1) the declining role of bilateral loans from developed and developing countries since the 2000s; 2) the continued strong influence of debt raised from international financial organizations and development banks in most countries throughout the period under study; 3) in a number of countries, a gradual increase in market sources of debt financing (domestic and Eurobonds); the increasing role of loans from China — in the Kyrgyz Republic and the Republic of Tajikistan, etc. The study identifies reasons for these structural changes, and concludes with a discussion of the risks associated with the observed shifts in the structure of public debt.

Long-Term Elasticity of Environmental Demand: Environmental Protection Expenditures in Sweden, 1972–2020

This study uses reconstructions of historical Environmental Protection Expenditure Accounts (EPEA) in Sweden from 1970–2020 to present a time series approach that analyses the demand for environmental services. The paper’s aim is to analyse environmental adaptation as a historical, economic and environmental process and to explore structural shifts suggestive of an overall periodisation of environmental demand. The article contributes to a deeper understanding of demand-side factors in environmental adaptation as part of contemporary economic history. The investigation also provides evidence that the income elasticity of environmental demand was slightly higher than 1.0 and largely stable over time, and even though we were able to detect trend breaks, there is insufficient evidence for major structural breaks suggesting sharp shifts in societal environmental preferences. Policies requiring sharply rising environmental expenditures should consider this level of historical stability. This article was published open access under a CC BY licence: https://creativecommons.org/licences/by/4.0 .

Infodemic, Ignorance, or Imagination? The Problem of Misinformation in Health Emergencies

Abstract In understanding and responding to the problem of misinformation during global health emergencies, health experts and organizations such as the WHO have relied on the concept of the “infodemic,” or the idea that there is such an overabundance of information that ascertaining trustworthy sources and reliable guidance is difficult. Is this the best way to understand the problem of misinformation, however? A large and multidisciplinary literature has argued that such an approach misses the important role of individual psychological factors and societal “mega-trends” such as hyperpolarization, structural shifts in the media, and public mistrust in elites. This article argues that such contributions are important in understanding the multifaceted problem of misinformation but may miss another, equally important component: the politics of emergency. Specifically, the prominent role of speculation during moments of emergency—the need to respond to “what ifs” rather than just “what is”—provides a conducive context for misinformation, facilitating its production and spread while also problematizing efforts to correct it. The article illuminates this relationship through a discourse analysis of prominent misinformation claims during the US responses to Ebola in 2014 and COVID-19 in 2020.

Predictive Patterns and Market Efficiency: A Deep Learning Approach to Financial Time Series Forecasting

This study explores market efficiency and behavior by integrating key theories such as the Efficient Market Hypothesis (EMH), Adaptive Market Hypothesis (AMH), Informational Efficiency and Random Walk theory. Using LSTM enhanced by optimizers like Stochastic Gradient Descent (SGD), Adam, AdaGrad, and RMSprop, we analyze market inefficiencies in the Standard and Poor’s (SPX) index over a 22-year period. Our results reveal “pockets in time” that challenge EMH predictions, particularly with the AdaGrad optimizer at a size of the hidden layer (HS) of 64. Beyond forecasting, we apply the Dominguez–Lobato (DL) and General Spectral (GS) tests as part of the Martingale Difference Hypothesis to assess statistical inefficiencies and deviations from the Random Walk model. By emphasizing “informational efficiency”, we examine how quickly new information is reflected in stock prices. We argue that market inefficiencies are transient phenomena influenced by structural shifts and information flow, challenging the notion that forecasting alone can refute EMH. Additionally, we compare LSTM with ARIMA with Exponential Smoothing, and LightGBM to highlight the strengths and limitations of these models in financial forecasting. The LSTM model excels at capturing temporal dependencies, while LightGBM demonstrates its effectiveness in detecting non-linear relationships. Our comprehensive approach offers a nuanced understanding of market dynamics and inefficiencies.

Evaluating the Impact of Chinese FDI in the Energy Sector on Green GDP Growth: A Spatial Econometric Analysis of MENA Countries

This study analyzes the impact of Chinese foreign direct investment (FDI) in the energy sector on the green GDP (GGDP) growth of seven Middle East and North Africa (MENA) countries based on data from 2009 to 2019. Using panel regression analysis, the study focuses on the effects of FDI, economic development level, population size, energy consumption structure, environmental regulation intensity, government fiscal expenditure, and the KOF Economic Globalization Index on GGDP growth. By comparing fixed-effects and random-effects models and applying the Hausman test to select the most appropriate model, the research indicates that the random-effects model is the most suitable. The results show that FDI, economic development level, and population size have significant positive effects on GGDP, while shifts in energy consumption structure also promote sustainable economic growth. In contrast, environmental regulation intensity and the globalization index have no significant impact on GGDP, suggesting that GGDP growth in MENA countries relies more on internal economic policies and the efficiency of resource allocation.

Contribution of Economic Development to The Development of The Mamminasata Region

Mamminasata (Makassar, Maros, Gowa, Takalar) is one of the urban or metropolitan areas in Eastern Indonesia. Mamminasata as a strategic area with economic interests has an important role in the development of its city and surrounding areas. Meanwhile, the dynamic development of the city causes demands for space needs to increase, especially the need for residential land. The objectives of this study are to 1) know economic development in the Mamminasata district/city in 2001-2021 2) know the development of built-up land in the Mamminasata district/city in 2001-2021 and 3) know the influence and contribution of economic growth to the development of the Mamminasata region. The research location is Makassar City, Maros Regency, Gowa Regency and Takalar Regency. This type of research is descriptive quantitative qualitative. The required data is collected through literature studies in the form of secondary data, namely Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP) at constant prices 2010, and google earth images 2001-2021. The analysis used in the research is literature study analysis, qualitative quantitative descriptive, basic statistics, LQ-DLQ, Shift Share, and multiple linear regression analysis. The result of this study is that during 2001-2021 the real income of the Mamminasata Region continued to increase. With the highest growth rate in Gowa Regency. Makassar City only has one leading sector, Maros Regency has two leading sectors, Gowa Regency has three leading sectors, and Takalar Regency has two leading sectors. Only Kabupaten Maros experienced a shift in economic structure from the tertiary sector to the primary sector in 2021 due to a significant economic decline. Spatially, sub-districts that are adjacent or directly adjacent to Makassar City have the most significant built-up land growth with developments following the main road network pattern. Based on the results of multiple linear regression analysis, it shows that there is no significant influence between the independent variables on the dependent variable either jointly or partially individually. Then the t-test was conducted again between tertiary variables and built-up land and showed a significant influence with a contribution of 33% to built-up land.

Between Tradition and Modernity: The Sociospatial Dynamics of Japanese Residential Architecture from Pre-War to Present

This research examines the evolution of Japanese residential architecture throughout the 20th century, focusing on the transformation of house plans in response to changing societal needs. This study specifically examines how traditional spatial configurations adapted to urbanization, modernisation, and shifts in the family structure. By analysing house plans across three distinct periods—the pre-war and post-Kanto earthquake period, the post-war period, and the post-oil shock period to the present—this research illustrates the transition from detached houses to modern collective housing. Utilising a space syntax methodology, this research quantitatively analyses threshold spaces, circulation, and family gathering spaces to understand their social and architectural implications. Historical analyses are paired with a network analysis of selected house plans, highlighting the persistent significance of traditional elements such as the doma (vestibule) and the en-gawa (verandah) in contemporary designs. The findings demonstrate a significant reduction in the size and complexity of living spaces over time, reflecting broader trends towards efficiency and modernisation in public housing. This research contributes to architectural scholarship by providing a detailed account of how Japanese customary spaces have been reconfigured to accommodate evolving lifestyles, offering insights into the balance between tradition and modern living.

The Role of Renewable Energy, Technological Innovation, and Human Capital on Environmental Quality in Türkiye: Testing the LCC Hypothesis with Smooth Structural Shifts

Newly industrializing economies are ardently striving for rapid development, aspiring to emulate the affluence of Western nations. However, amidst this relentless economic dynamism, the world grapples with an escalating climate change crisis. Therefore, it becomes imperative to identify the factors contributing to improving developing nations' environmental quality while concurrently advancing their sustainable development objectives. In this regard, the present study aims to dissect the environmental implications of renewable energy consumption, technological innovation, and human capital and examine the "Load Capacity Curve" (LCC) hypothesis in Türkiye through an extension of the STIRPAT model. To achieve this objective, the research operates a novel econometric methodology, namely the "augmented autoregressive distributed lag" (A-ARDL) approach with Fourier terms, to analyze yearly data from 1980 to 2019. The empirical findings substantiate the validation of the LCC hypothesis in Türkiye, both in the short and long term. Furthermore, the results unveil that renewable energy consumption and human capital significantly bolster ecological welfare over the long term, whereas technological innovation exhibits no discernible impact on the environment. Additionally, the outcomes display that population growth positively impacts the environment in the short term; nevertheless, over the long term, it becomes detrimental to environmental quality.