Abstract: Okanagana monochroma sp. nov. is described from a unique and geographically isolated serpentine ecosystem in Northern California. The new species is diagnosed from other Okanagana Distant by a combination of morphological and bioacoustic characters. We provide a description of the calling song, habitat, and host plant associations of O. monochroma sp. nov., and present hypotheses for possible endemism models to explain its remarkably narrow geographic range, which may be the smallest of any North American cicada.
From the Abstract: The estimation of physical activity (PA) and sedentary behaviour with accelerometers is typically based on the relationship between accelerometer output and metabolic equivalents (METs)—an index of PA intensity. But for adults with Down syndrome (DS), PA intensity may be better reflected in the percent oxygen uptake reserve (%VO2Reserve), as it accounts for their lower aerobic fitness. This study examined if the relationship between accelerometer output and METs or %VO2Reserve across various PAs and sedentary behaviours differs between adults with and without DS.
Abstract: The adsorption efficacy of commercial activated carbon (AC) toward volatile organic compounds (VOCs) is generally impeded by the presence of moisture under real environmental conditions. To address this limitation, surface modification strategies such as oxidative treatments are employed to enhance the hydrophilicity of AC. In this study, coconut shell-based AC (CSAC) is subjected to mild hydrogen peroxide (H O ) oxidation at 100 and 125 °C, producing samples labeled as CSAC100 and CSAC125, respectively. The oxidized CSAC samples are tested against gaseous benzene (10 ppm) in dry and humid conditions using raw CSAC as reference. Under dry conditions, CSAC100 and CSAC125 exhibit enhanced adsorption capacities (Q ) of 124.1 and 128.7 mg g , respectively relative to CSAC (108.1 mg g ). At 25% RH, they record the optimal uptake performance in terms of Q (135.4/136.9 mg g ) and partition coefficients (PC : 1.73/1.75 mol kg Pa ). The intraparticle diffusion model confirms that the diffusions of benzene across the oxidized CSACs proceed more favorably at 25% RH than in dry air, supporting their active adsorption of water vapor. Furthermore, the enhanced benzene uptake (e.g., Q (mg g )) of the oxidized AC samples is evident such as CSAC100 (78.3) and CSAC125 (96.6) relative to untreated CSAC (60.8) at 50% RH. The high adsorption performance of the oxidized CSACs, regardless of the moisture level, can be explained by the presence of additional mesopores with strong hydrophilicity. Overall, this study should provide the practical guidelines to tailor the sorbent properties required for the upscaled production of advanced adsorption systems to operate efficiently in the presence of moisture.
Piazza, Olivia, and Sudhir Shrestha. “Pre-Contextualized Augmented Language Instructions for Autonomous Vision-and-Language Navigation.” 2025 3rd International Conference on Disruptive Technologies (ICDT), IEEE, 2025, pp. 386–90.
Abstract: Advances in natural language has allowed for the automation of robotic tasks with minimal supervision, even in ambiguous situations. In the field of robotic navigation, human instruction can be utilized to allow a robotic agent to traverse unknown environments using instructional commands that mimic human-to-human interaction. This paper demonstrates the success of one such machine learning algorithms, delineating each machine learning architecture, and processes alternate fields where learning techniques can be applied for robotic automation.
Duran, Kirk, et al. “Deep Reinforcement Learning for a Four Degree of Freedom Robot Arm Accelerated by Human Demonstration.” 2025 3rd International Conference on Disruptive Technologies (ICDT), IEEE, 2025, pp. 537–42.
Abstract: This work investigates the use of deep reinforcement learning (DRL) for training a four-degree-of-freedom (4-DOF) robotic arm to efficiently and adaptively reach arbitrary target positions. A dueling double deep Q-network (D3QN) manages the large state-action space, while human demonstration data guides the agent's policy toward more human-like and effective trajectories. Experimental results show that integrating human demonstrations enables the robot arm to achieve more precise target positioning more frequently and in fewer steps than a purely self-trained agent. To assess generality and adaptability, the approach is tested on both a PhantomX Reactor robot arm and a Dobot Magician robot arm, with adjustments made to the Denavit-Hartenberg parameters of the latter. After running 5000 simulated training episodes on each platform, the resulting model is then implemented on the Dobot hardware for 50 episodes, demonstrating the feasibility of accurately controlling a robotic arm model different from the one used during training. The method's potential extends to practical computer vision-guided tasks such as pick-and-place or peg insertion, thus showcasing its versatility in both simulation and physical implementations.
Chang, Gene H., et al. “Assessing Effective VAT Rates and Tax Efficiency at Industry-Level: The Case of China.” China Economic Review, vol. 93, 102454, 2025.
Abstract: In the real-world value-added tax (VAT) rates among industries are often non-uniform. Estimating effective VAT rates (EVATRs) at the industry level can increase understanding VAT burden and tax efficiency in individual industries. EVATRs should be solved endogenously in a general equilibrium framework, so the estimated EVATRs are consistent with the given data of the input-output relationship and industry net VAT revenues. We adopt this new approach to estimate the industry-level EVATRs and assess tax performance under China's multi-tiered VAT rate system on a set of newly released data. The results demonstrate many Chinese industries - in particular, all service industries - pay more VAT taxes than their statutory rates require. The VAT overpayment is mainly driven by unrefunded VAT for inputs by small firms, induced by government policies. We also find China and its industries have higher VAT tax efficiency than most OECD countries, which challenges the conventional preference for a uniform VAT rate regime.
Liu, Lu, et al. “Advances in Morphological and Interfacial Tuning of Metal Oxides for Electrochemical CO2 Conversion.” Progress in Materials Science, vol. 155, 101522, 2026.
The electrochemical CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR) has been recognized as a highly promising technological approach for realizing carbon capture and utilization. A plethora of metal-oxide (MO) nanostructures have been designed with the merits of unique crystal structures to achieve noticeable advances in the electrochemical CO2RR. However, more efforts are needed to properly elucidate the intricate relationships between their synthesis, structure, and activity. In this perspective, this review centers on: (i) the structural engineering of key factors (e.g., crystal facet, defect, interface, spin, and morphology), (ii) synthesis strategies governing the development of such structural features, (iii) structure–activity relationships, (iv) catalytic mechanisms of multiple proton/electron transfer steps in conversion of CO2 (e.g., either into C1 (e.g., CO, CH4, and CH3OH) or C2+ products (e.g., C2H4, C2H6, C2H5OH, CH3COOH, and C3H7OH)), and (v) the performances of diverse electrocatalysts (e.g., in terms of Faradaic efficiency, current density, and stability). The factors controlling the catalyst morphology and the adsorption/transfer behavior of the key intermediates are also discussed based on in situ/ex-situ techniques combined with density functional theory. Collectively, this review aims to provide critical insights that can guide the rational design of next-generation MO-based electrocatalysts for efficient and selective CO2 electroreduction.
Anthropogenic carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions pose a major threat to the environment and public health. The advancement and implementation of CO2 capture and storage (CCS) technologies have progressed alongside improvements in various capture approaches (e.g., solid adsorbents, solvent-based capture, and membranes). The practical utility of an adsorption system is determined by multiple factors, including high selectivity, energy efficiency, scalability, and reusability. Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) have emerged as a promising class of porous adsorbents for CCS. The functionality of COFs can be enhanced significantly either through composite formation with MOFs or ionic liquids or through various modification strategies (e.g., pore surface engineering and metal ion-doping). The viability of those options with regard to their CCS potential is evaluated here using the partition coefficient and adsorption capacity. The regeneration of COFs following CO2 capture is also discussed to help expand their practical applications. Furthermore, current challenges and future research directions are outlined to help enhance the scalability and performance of COF-based materials in real-world conditions. [Display omitted] •Recent progress in the synthesis/modification strategies for COFs is summarized.•Regeneration of COFs post CO2 capture is discussed.•Performance are assessed between various modification strategies.•Metal ion doping of COFs is superior to all modified strategies compared.•The directions for the future advancement in this research filed are discussed.
Valderama-Wallace, Claire, et al. “Struggling to Shape the Future of Nursing: Paths of Resistance.” Nursing Philosophy, vol. 26, no. 3, e70031, 2025.
Within the health professions, systems of oppression discretize the world into factors and determinants. Nursing institutions are rife with contradictions and still our many forms of connection and resistance endure. This dialogue captures 2 h spent among nurse educators and scholar colleagues. Generally, our time together has defied task and deliverable-oriented agendas and, instead, has invited the power of counter-storytelling, strategizing, and support. The experiences we share are not only manifestations of power dynamics in nursing but also made possible through trust we continue to build among each other while navigating the labyrinth of struggling for social justice in and through nursing. We create paths for ourselves and each other while keeping future generations of nursing students and nurses as our north star.
Thomas Paine has long been heralded as a voice of universal egalitarianism. That representation proceeds from wishful misattributions of antislavery writings and concerted misreadings of the existing archive that continue to this day. Building on insights from critical race theory, Black Marxism, settler colonial theory, and Indigenous studies, this article reveals a consistent pattern of white supremacy in Paine’s published writings. It argues that the emerging Republic defined itself as foundationally white against Black and Indigenous others, and that Thomas Paine was instrumental in this process. The article begins by delineating the systematic scholarly misrepresentation of Paine on the subject of race. It then provides a brief overview of his career in a transatlantic eighteenth-century frame, and proceeds to a radically new reading of Common Sense . It culminates with a reinterpretation of the racial ideology of Paine’s archive. A coda considers the significance of this argument in the current conjuncture.
