Strong First-Order Electroweak Phase Transitions: A Reassessment of the Sphaleron Decoupling Criterion In two Models with Extended Scalar Sectors

Electroweak baryogenesis builds on the premise of a strong first-order electroweak phase transition, which is realized when the temperature T at its onset and the corresponding temperature-dependent Higgs vacuum expectation value v(T) satisfy v(T)/T >~ 1.0 according to a standard working criterion. This thesis reassesses the reliability of the criterion in two models with extended scalar sectors: the Inert Doublet Model and a real scalar singlet extension of the Standard Model. The focus lies in a reevaluation of the dominant temperature- and model-dependent effects of the electroweak sphaleron, which underlie the criterion and determine the order of magnitude of the condition. Furthermore, the widely neglected subtlety of successful bubble nucleation is addressed. Its implications are comprehensively studied in the Inert Doublet Model and generally accounted for in both models – for which recent phenomenological constraints are taken into consideration – by evaluating the phase transition strength at the nucleation temperature. Ultimately, the effects of the new physics and the chosen temperature scheme on the criterion are found to be modest, with the respective analyses of the models both suggesting an updated criterion v(T)/ T >~ (1.05 – 1.30) that agrees well with the most generous state-of-the-art estimates

Mathematical Visions: The Pursuit of Geometry in Victorian England (Book Review)

Reviewed Title: Joan L. Richards. Mathematical Visions: The Pursuit of Geometry in Victorian England. xiii + 266 pp., illus., figs., bibl., index. Boston/New York: Academic Press, Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1988

Wintering grounds, population size and evolutionary history of a cryptic passerine species from isotopic and genetic data

Cryptic species pose a particular challenge to biologists in the context of life history investigations because of the difficulty in their field discrimination. Additionally, there is normally a lag in their widespread acceptance by the scientific community once they are formally recognised. These two factors might constrain our ability to properly assess the conservation status of the different species conforming a cryptic complex. In this study, we analysed isotopic and genetic data to shed light into the still unclear wintering grounds, population size and evolutionary history of the Iberian chiffchaff Phylloscopus ibericus, a species included within the common chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita until two decades ago due to their phenotypic similarity. We used molecular methods to identify spring-migrating Phylloscopus species captured in northern Iberia, and by comparing the Hydrogen isotopic ratios of their claw tips (δ2Hc; which would reflect the signatures of their wintering grounds), we detected that δ2Hc values of Iberian chiffchaffs were similar to willow warblers (Phylloscopus trochilus; a renowned trans-Saharan migrant), and higher than common chiffchaffs (mostly a pre-Saharan migrant). These results strongly support the idea that Iberian chiffchaffs winter in tropical Africa. We additionally reconstructed the phylogeny and evolutionary history of the Iberian chiffchaff's clade using mitochondrial and nuclear markers. Our results revealed relatively high values of nucleotide diversity (and, hence, high Ne) for the species that were greater than the values of the common/Iberian most recent common ancestor. This suggests that the Iberian chiffchaff did not experience strong bottlenecks after diverging from the common chiffchaff approximately one million years ago. Ultimately, our study provides another illustrative example of how isotopic and genetic analysis tools can help to enhance our understanding of avian ecology and evolution.Depto. de Biodiversidad, Ecología y EvoluciónFac. de Ciencias BiológicasTRUEpu

Cultural diversity in the adoption of open education in the Mediterranean basin: collectivist values and power distance in the universities of the Middle East

En este artículo mostramos cómo la adopción de recursos educativos abiertos en las universidades de Oriente Medio depende en parte de factores culturales, tales como el grado de individualismo/colectivismo y la distancia a la autoridad. Utilizando el modelo de Hofstede, describimos el caso de un proyecto Erasmus+ para el desarrollo de capacidades en Educación Superior en el que se promovieron prácticas abiertas en instituciones de educación superior en Egipto, Jordania, Líbano y Palestina. Los resultados muestran cómo el grado de internacionalización es un antecedente directo de la incorporación de prácticas educativas abiertas en el contexto universitario.In this paper, we examine how open education is adopted in the Middle East region in the context of a European-funded project for capacity building in Higher Education. Basing our study on Hofstede’s model, we examine how culture, in particularly collectivism and power distance influence the adoption of open education. In addition, we look at the relationship between internationalisation of tertiary education and open education. Based on indepth interviews, focus group, and participatory action research with experts in the fields from Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon and Palestine, our findings suggest that beyond the technical aspect and the development of content, adoption of open education in the Middle East region is influenced by cultural aspects, which needs to be taken into consideration. As an emerging sub-culture, open education has the potential to transform and change some cultural barriers related to both power distance and collectivist cultures

Desarrollando el marco DALI de alfabetización en datos para la ciudadanía

In the current postdigital age, where data has become increasingly ubiquitous, the management of data has emerged as a vital aspect of digital literacies, particularly for active citizenry. This article introduces a Data Literacy framework that emphasizes the importance of an ideological emancipatory vision of data literacy for critical citizenry. The framework provides a comprehensive perspective on the key elements of data literacy and their interrelationships. Grounded Theory served as the foundation for conducting a three-and-a-half round Delphi study involving experts from diverse fields such as data, education, and literacy, across four countries. The outcome of this study is the DALI Data Literacy framework, which encompasses four primary elements. Three of these elements are interconnected and sometimes overlapping: (1) Understanding Data, (2) Acting on Data, and (3) Engaging Through Data. Additionally, there is a cross-cutting element, (4) Ethics & Privacy, which permeates the other three. The DALI framework is flexible and scalable, making it suitable for adaptation across various international, organizational, and educational contexts. Furthermore, the article's conclusions reflect on how the DALI framework can support pedagogical initiatives aimed at promoting data literacy among adults. Its adaptability and scalability make it well-suited for addressing the diverse needs and contexts found within different educational settings and organizations internationally. By incorporating the DALI framework, digital education can evolve to foster critical data literacy skills and empower individuals to navigate and participate meaningfully in the postdigital age.En la era postdigital actual, donde los datos son cada vez más omnipresentes, la gestión de datos se ha convertido en un aspecto crucial de la alfabetización digital para la ciudadanía activa. Este artículo presenta el proceso de elaboración de un marco de Alfabetización en Datos que se llevó a cabo utilizando la Teoría fundamentada como base metodológica, y el método Delphi como estrategia para conjugar la participación de expertos de diversos campos como la ciencia de datos, la educación y la alfabetización, provenientes de cuatro países, en tres rondas y media de trabajo. El resultado de este estudio es el marco DALI de alfabetización en datos para la ciudadanía, que abarca cuatro elementos principales. Tres de estos elementos están interconectados y a veces se superponen: (1) Comprender los datos, (2) Actuar a partir de los datos y (3) Comprometerse a través de los datos. Además, hay un elemento transversal, (4) Ética y Privacidad, que impregna los otros tres. El marco DALI es flexible y escalable, lo que permite su adaptación a diversos contextos internacionales, organizativos y educativos. Además, las conclusiones del artículo reflexionan sobre cómo el marco DALI puede respaldar iniciativas pedagógicas destinadas a promover la alfabetización en datos entre los adultos y cómo su adaptabilidad y escalabilidad lo hacen ideal para abordar las diversas necesidades y contextos encontrados en diferentes entornos educativos y organizaciones internacionales

Molecular elucidation of CO2 methanation over a highly active, selective and stable LaNiO3/CeO2-derived catalyst by in situ FTIR and NAP-XPS

The CO2 methanation mechanism over the highly active (TOF=75.1 h−1), selective (>92%) and stable 10% LaNiO3/CeO2-derived catalyst is still unresolved. The surface of the catalyst is monitored under hydrogenation (H2), oxidizing (CO2) and CO2 methanation (H2 +CO2) conditions by near ambient pressure X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (NAP-XPS) using synchrotron radiation. Meanwhile, the main reaction intermediates are identified by in situ FTIR analysis. NAP-XPS experiments confirm that LaNiO3 perovskite reduction leads to the ex-solution of Ni0 nanoparticles and Ni2+single bondCeO2−x and Ni2+single bondLa2O3 interfaces conformation, favouring the CO2 adsorption and the H2 dissociation/transfer. In situ FTIR experiments combined with the C1s spectra (NAP-XPS) suggest that the CO2 activation occurs on CeO2−x (oxygen vacancies and OH–) at low temperatures, in the form of bicarbonates; whereas, mono-/bidentate carbonates are formed on different strength La2O3 sites at increasing temperatures. These species are consecutively reduced to formates, as the main reaction intermediate, and methane by the H spilled from Ni0 nanoparticles near to NiOsingle bondCeO2−x and NiOsingle bondLa2O3 interfaces.Support for this study was provided by Projects PID2019–105960RB-C21 and PID2019–105960RB-C22 by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033, the Basque Government (Project IT1509–2022), Generalitat Valenciana (CIPROM/2021/74) and ALBA synchrotron. One of the authors (JAOC) acknowledges the postdoctoral research grant (DOCREC20/49) provided by the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU)

Inequality and poverty in the European Union: In search of lost dynamics

This paper analyses the relationships between income inequality, monetary poverty and economic growth for a sample of 30 European economies over the period 2004-2020. To do so, we adopt a novel approach, based on a dynamic analysis that takes into account the variability that can occur in the evolution of these relationships over the period analysed. The proposed panel-VAR model allows us to perform a Granger causality analysis between the variables mentioned. In a second stage, we complete this analysis with the application of the iterative PC algorithm that allows us to interpret the results of the model by defining the corresponding causal graphs. For the empirical analysis we use micro-data from the EU-SILC database for the period 2004-2020. The results obtained show that, for the set of economies analysed, inequality has a positive effect on poverty. Moreover, we also find that this dynamic is reversed, with a double positive causality between these variables. In addition, we do not find evidence of a poverty or inequality reducing effect of economic growth. However, we find that these results differ across countries, depending on the type of welfare state in place

Are white storks addicted to junk food? Impacts of landfill use on the movement and behaviour of resident white storks (Ciconia ciconia) from a partially migratory population

Background: The migratory patterns of animals are changing in response to global environmental change with many species forming resident populations in areas where they were once migratory. The white stork (Ciconia ciconia) was wholly migratory in Europe but recently guaranteed, year-round food from landfill sites has facilitated the establishment of resident populations in Iberia. In this study 17 resident white storks were fitted with GPS/GSM data loggers (including accelerometer) and tracked for 9.1 ± 3.7 months to quantify the extent and consistency of landfill attendance by individuals during the non-breeding and breeding seasons and to assess the influence of landfill use on daily distances travelled, percentage of GPS fixes spent foraging and non-landfill foraging ranges. Results: Resident white storks used landfill more during non-breeding (20.1 % ± 2.3 of foraging GPS fixes) than during breeding (14.9 % ± 2.2). Landfill attendance declined with increasing distance between nest and landfill in both seasons. During non-breeding a large percentage of GPS fixes occurred on the nest throughout the day (27 % ± 3.0 of fixes) in the majority of tagged storks. This study provides first confirmation of year-round nest use by resident white storks. The percentage of GPS fixes on the nest was not influenced by the distance between nest and the landfill site. Storks travelled up to 48.2 km to visit landfills during non-breeding and a maximum of 28.1 km during breeding, notably further than previous estimates. Storks nesting close to landfill sites used landfill more and had smaller foraging ranges in non-landfill habitat indicating higher reliance on landfill. The majority of non-landfill foraging occurred around the nest and long distance trips were made specifically to visit landfill. Conclusions: The continuous availability of food resources on landfill has facilitated year-round nest use in white storks and is influencing their home ranges and movement behaviour. White storks rely on landfill sites for foraging especially during the non-breeding season when other food resources are scarcer and this artificial food supplementation probably facilitated the establishment of resident populations. The closure of landfills, as required by EU Landfill Directives, will likely cause dramatic impacts on white stork populations

Monitoring by in situ NAP-XPS of active sites for CO2 methanation on a Ni/CeO2 catalyst

Ni/CeO2 catalysts are very active and selective for total hydrogenation of CO2 to methane, but the nature of the active sites is still unclear. The surface of a Ni/CeO2 catalyst has been monitored under CO2 methanation conditions by Near Ambient Pressure-XPS (NAP-XPS) using synchrotron radiation, and has been concluded that the species involved in the redox processes taking place during the CO2 methanation mechanism are the Ni2+-CeO2/Ni0 and Ce4+/Ce3+ pairs. In addition, a small fraction of nickel is present on the catalyst surface forming NiO and Ni2+-carbonates/hydroxyls (around 20% of the total surface nickel), but these species do not participate in the redox processes of the methanation mechanism. Under CO2 methanation conditions the H2 reduction rate of the Ni2+-CeO2/Ni0 and Ce4+/Ce3+ couples is much faster than their CO2 reoxidation rate (2 times faster, at least, at 300ºC), but a certain proportion of nickel always remains oxidized under reaction conditions. The high activity of Ni/CeO2 catalysts for CO2 methanation is tentatively attributed to the simultaneous presence of Ni2+-CeO2 and Ni0 active sites where CO2 and H2 are expected to be efficiently dissociated, respectively.Generalitat Valenciana, Spain (PROMETEO/2018/0765) Ministry for Science and Innovation MICINN, Spain (Projects PID2019-105960RB-C21 and PID2019-105960RB-C22) Junta de Andalucía, Spain (Project P18-RTJ-2974); European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Program (Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement No 713567) Science Foundation Ireland Research Centre, Ireland (award 12/RC/2278_P2) ALBA synchrotron, Spain (Proposal number: ID 2020094556)