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An analysis of the observational polarization properties of the decameter spikes is presented in the paper. It is shown that decameter spikes possess high degree of circular polarization with average value of about 60%. In the frames of "leading spot" theory we associated the spikes activity with a certain active region on the solar disk and determined the mode of the emission. Supposing plasma emission mechanism we link and determine coronal plasma and fast electron beam parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ability to freely control the polarization of X‐rays enables measurement techniques relying on circular or linear dichroism, which have become indispensable tools for characterizing the properties of chiral molecules or magnetic structures. Therefore, the demand for polarization control in X‐ray free‐electron lasers is increasing to enable polarization‐sensitive dynamical studies on ultrafast time scales. The soft X‐ray branch Athos of SwissFEL was designed with the aim of providing freely adjustable and arbitrary polarization by building its undulator solely from modules of the novel Apple X type. In this paper, the magnetic model of the linear inclined and circular Apple X polarization schemes are studied. The polarization is characterized by measuring the angular electron emission distributions of helium for various polarizations using cold target recoil ion momentum spectroscopy. The generation of fully linear polarized light of arbitrary angle, as well as elliptical polarizations of varying degree, are demonstrated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The polarization of the acoustic field in the ocean waveguide environment is a unique property that can provide new ideas for locating and detecting the underwater target, so it is interesting to study the polarization. This paper extends the Stokes parameters to a broadband form, and uses the non-stationary phase approximation method to simplify the expressions, reducing the complexity of theoretical derivation. A physical phenomenon is observed where polarization exhibits significant variations concerning the sea surface, seafloor, source depth, and the source symmetrical depth. Simulation results demonstrate that the simplified equations using the non-stationary phase approximation are effective. Additionally, by normalizing the broadband Stokes parameters, the effects of horizontal range on the depth distribution law of polarization can be eliminated. Subsequently, using the normalized broadband Stokes parameters, the influence of environmental and source parameters on the depth distribution law of polarization is analyzed. The effectiveness of the non-stationary phase approximation and the range-independence property of the normalized broadband Stokes parameters are verified by processing RHUM-RUM experimental data. Based on the conclusions of this paper, it is expected that the polarization can be used for target depth estimation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the discursive strategies employed by Oduduwa secessionists to construct polarization and otherness on Twitter. Using the socio-cognitive approach to CDA combined with social media CDA, the study illustrates how socio-cultural and spatiotemporal contexts are embedded in digital performances of resistance. Findings show that the secessionists employ four main discursive strategies, namely: (1) vitriolic socio-cognitive labels and coinages; (2) generalization and ethnocentrism; (3) language of threat; and (4) use of Yoruba language to legitimize their resistance, accentuate their ideological stances, construct polarization and otherness, and do social mobilization. These strategies are achieved via discursive, linguistic, and stylo-orthographic resources made available by digital technology. The paper concludes that the discursive strategies employed by the secessionists do not directly reflect polarization but are simply constitutive of it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we present a new minimal mathematical conceptual approach to quantum mechanics using light polarization for lower secondary school students with the aim of bringing students closer to the so-called quantum mechanical way of thinking. We investigated how students think about some of the basic concepts and fundamental laws and we found that certain concepts are quite well-understandable in younger grades too. We studied the introduction of the so-called state circle, which can faithfully represent quantum mechanical formalism without involving students in abstract algebraic calculations. We then categorized and analyzed students' thoughts on the superposition principle and the lack of trajectory, finding that the concept of measurement and the lack of trajectory were problematic. We explored that younger students tend to hold gestalt-like mental models of quantum concepts, while at the same time being able to use visualizations correctly for reasoning in the quantum realm. Overall, this paper provides evidence in favor of introducing basic features of quantum mechanics as early as in lower secondary school. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper delves into the depolarization phenomenon of materials using the integral equation method and Mueller matrix method. In the integral equation method, it is observed that depolarization trends with roughness are similar at different wavelengths, but numerical differences exist. The results are well-supported by both theory and experiments. Specifically, at 1064 nm wavelength, materials exhibit smaller depolarization peaks, smoother trends, and right-shifted peaks compared to 633 nm. Additionally, the polarization characteristics of materials may change with varying incident polarization states. The Mueller matrix method investigates the depolarization trend with varying incident angles and different roughness levels. It reveals a gradual increase in depolarization with the incident angle until 60°, followed by a rapid rise, reaching a peak around 80°. Moreover, materials with higher absorption coefficients exhibit stronger depolarization effects. Overall, this research uncovers the impact of absorption and scattering on the polarization properties of materials, providing valuable insights for future studies in polarization recognition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Chinese Journal of Liquid Crystal & Displays is the property of Chinese Journal of Liquid Crystal & Displays and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Fake news has been linked to the rise of psychological disorders, the increased disbelief in science, and the erosion of democracy and freedom of speech. Online social networks are arguably the main vehicle of fake news spread. Educating online users with explanations is one way of preventing this spread. Understanding how online belief is formed and changed may offer a roadmap for such education. The literature includes surveys addressing online opinion formation and polarization; however, they usually address a single domain, such as politics, online marketing, health, and education, and do not make online belief change their primary focus. Unlike other studies, this work is the first to present a cross-domain systematic literature review of user studies, methodologies, and opinion model dimensions. It also includes the orthogonal polarization dimension, focusing on online belief change. We include peer-reviewed works published in 2020 and later found in four relevant scientific databases, excluding theoretical publications that did not offer validation through dataset experimentation or simulation. Bibliometric networks were constructed for better visualization, leading to the organization of the papers that passed the review criteria into a comprehensive taxonomy. Our findings show that a person's individuality is the most significant influential force in online belief change. We show that online arguments that balance facts with emotionally evoking content are more efficient in changing their beliefs. Polarization was shown to be cross-correlated among multiple subjects, with politics being the central polarization pole. Polarized online networks start as networks with high opinion segregation, evolve into subnetworks of consensus, and achieve polarization around social network influencers. Trust in the information source was demonstrated to be the chief psychological construct that drives online users to polarization. This shows that changing the beliefs of influencers may create a positive snowball effect in changing the beliefs of polarized online social network users. These findings lay the groundwork for further research on using personalized explanations to reduce the harmful effects of online fake news on social networks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Western democracies experience profound conflicts that induce concerns about polarization and social cohesion. Yet although conflicts are a core feature of democracies, the forms, functions, and dynamics of democratic conflicts have rarely been subject of political theory. This paper aims at furthering our understanding of democratic conflicts. It analyzes the theory of conflict in Mouffe's agonistic pluralism, confronts it with sociological conflict theory, and presents concrete points of departure for a more comprehensive theory of democratic conflicts. The paper, thus, contributes to two lines of research: (1) Regarding agonistic theories, the paper shows that agonistic pluralism fails to provide a convincing theory of conflict since it underestimates the mechanisms and effects of conflict dynamics (e.g. intergroup cohesion, intragroup conflict, domination, and escalation) and fails to account for the variety of conflict interactions. Proponents of agonistic pluralism should therefore invest more into clarifying their core concept. (2) For a general account of democratic conflicts, the paper proposes to pursue interdisciplinary research on the cognitive concepts shaping conflict interactions, the linked practices of conflict regulation, and the processual dynamics of conflicts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Underwater optical imaging for information acquisition has always been an innovative and crucial research direction. Unlike imaging in the air medium, the underwater optical environment is more intricate. From an optical perspective, natural factors such as turbulence and suspended particles in the water cause issues like light scattering and attenuation, leading to color distortion, loss of details, decreased contrast, and overall blurriness. These challenges significantly impact the acquisition of underwater image information, rendering subsequent algorithms reliant on such data unable to function properly. Therefore, this paper proposes a method for underwater image restoration using Stokes linearly polarized light, specifically tailored to the challenges of underwater complex optical imaging environments. This method effectively utilizes linear polarization information and designs a system that uses the information of the first few frames to calculate the enhanced images of the later frames. By doing so, it achieves real-time underwater Stokes linear polarized imaging while minimizing human interference during the imaging process. Furthermore, the paper provides a comprehensive analysis of the deficiencies observed during the testing of the method and proposes improvement perspectives, along with offering insights into potential future research directions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, we have explored the use of Mueller polarimetry for the detection and enhancement of alterations in questioned documents. Erasures, obliterations (with liquid paper and by pasting an additional layer of paper), and insertions (made with several inks) were studied in both regular and glossy paper. Promising results were obtained, which depend on the type of paper and the relation between the color of the ink and that of the illuminating light source. Erasures are easier to detect in glossy paper than in regular paper. Obliterations with liquid paper produced successful results in both types of paper, while detection of obliterations made with an additional layer of paper led to higher contrast for regular paper. Regarding the insertions, the black ball‐point ink could be differentiated from roller‐ball and gel‐pen ink, which is often difficult to achieve visually. The contrast observed between the two inks was higher for regular paper than for glossy paper. Although the results shown in this article are promising, a wider variety of papers and pen types must be tested to further develop the procedure. It has the advantage of being non‐destructive and far more economic than other methods. In some cases, the results can be complementary to those obtained by other methods (e.g., fluorescence with UV excitation and illumination with transmitted and oblique light), while in other cases the method offers unique advantages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The bipartite polarization problem is an optimization problem where the goal is to find the highest polarized bipartition on a weighted and labeled graph that represents a debate developed through some social network, where nodes represent user's opinions and edges agreement or disagreement between users. This problem can be seen as a generalization of the maxcut problem, and in previous work, approximate solutions and exact solutions have been obtained for real instances obtained from Reddit discussions, showing that such real instances seem to be very easy to solve. In this paper, we further investigate the complexity of this problem by introducing an instance generation model where a single parameter controls the polarization of the instances in such a way that this correlates with the average complexity to solve those instances. The average complexity results we obtain are consistent with our hypothesis: the higher the polarization of the instance, the easier is to find the corresponding polarized bipartition. In view of the experimental results, it is computationally feasible to implement transparent mechanisms to monitor polarization on online discussions and to inform about solutions for creating healthier social media environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we have studied the influence of laser polarization on the dynamics of the ionization-injected electron beams, and subsequently, the properties of the emitted betatron radiation in laser wakefield accelerators (LWFAs). While ionizing by strong field laser radiation, the generated photo-electrons carry a residual transverse momentum in excess of the ionization potential via the above threshold ionization (ATI) process. This ATI momentum explicitly depends on the polarization state of the ionizing laser and eventually governs the dynamics of the electron beam trapped inside the wake potential. In order to systematically investigate the effect of the laser polarization, here, we have employed complete three-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations in the nonlinear bubble regime of the LWFAs. We focus, in particular, on the effects the laser polarization has on the ionization injection mechanism, and how these features affect the final beam properties, such as beam charge, energy, energy spread, and transverse emittance. We have also found that as the laser polarization gradually changes from linear to circular, the helicity of the electron trajectory, and hence the angular momentum carried by the beam, increases significantly. Studies have been further extended to reveal the effect of laser polarization on the radiation emitted by the accelerated electrons. The far-field radiation spectra have been calculated for the linear and circular polarization states of the laser. It has been shown that the spatial distributions and the polarization properties (Stokes parameters) of the emitted radiation in the above two cases are substantially different. Therefore, our study provides a facile and efficient alternative to regulate the properties of the accelerated electron beams and x-ray radiation in LWFAs, utilizing ionization injection mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper attempts to present a comprehensive analysis of the photopolarimetric properties of asteroids. In light of the limitations identified in several previously employed empirical formulae, this paper introduces a new formula that offers a reliable fit for the phase-polarization curve of asteroids. The validity of the new empirical formula is confirmed by analysing polarimetric data for lunar soil samples across a wide range of phase angles and various spectral bands. Notably, this investigation reveals a strong negative correlation between |$P_{\mathrm{ max}}$| and wavelength (⁠|$\lambda$|⁠) for lunar soil samples. Furthermore, the examination of key features of the phase-polarization curve of asteroids, such as the polarization minimum (⁠|$P_{\mathrm{ min}}$|⁠), polarization maximum (⁠|$P_{\mathrm{ max}}$|⁠), and the slope (h) at the inversion angle, allows us to explore their correlations with the geometric albedo (A) of asteroids. We have investigated whether our photopolarimetric studies could corroborate the existing classification scheme for asteroids, which divides them into three major composition classes: Chondrite (C), Metallic (M), and Stony (S)-types, based on spectral analysis. Our findings have revealed a good agreement with the existing classification. Each class is characterized by a specific combination of geometric albedo (A) and polarimetric properties (⁠|$P_{\mathrm{ min}}$|⁠ , |$P_{\mathrm{ max}}$|⁠ , and h) observed in asteroids, represented by four distinct regions. Interestingly, besides the three main types (C-, M-, and S-), we have found an overlapping region containing both M- and S-type asteroids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context. Quantifying the number density and physical characteristics of extragalactic polarized sources is important for the successful planning of future studies based on Faraday rotation measure (RM) grids of polarized sources to probe foreground Galactic and intergalactic magnetic fields. However, it is proving very hard to detect polarized signal from the population of very faint (sub-mJy) polarized sources at low radio frequencies, and their properties are mostly unknown. LOFAR can play an important role in such studies thanks to its sensitivity and angular resolution, combined with the precision on the inferred RM values that can be achieved through low-frequency broad-band polarimetry. Aims. The aim of this study is to probe the sub-mJy polarized source population with LOFAR. In this first paper, we present the method used to stack LOFAR polarization datasets, the resulting catalog of polarized sources, and the derived polarized source counts. Methods. The European Large Area ISO Survey-North 1 (ELAIS-N1) field, one of the deepest of the LOFAR Two-Metre Sky Survey (LoTSS) Deep Fields so far, was selected for a polarimetric study at 114.9–177.4 MHz. A total area of 25 deg2 was imaged at 6″-resolution in the Stokes Q and U parameters. Alignment of polarization angles was done both in frequency and in Faraday space before stacking datasets from 19 eight-hour-long epochs taken in two different LOFAR observing cycles. A search for polarized sources was carried out in the final, stacked dataset, and the properties of the detected sources were examined. The depolarization level of sources known to be polarized at 1.4 GHz was quantified. Results. A one-sigma noise level, σQU, of 19 µJy beam−1 was reached in the central part of the field after stacking. Twenty-five polarized sources were detected above 8σQU, five of which had not been detected in polarization at any other radio frequencies before. Seven additional polarized components were found by lowering the threshold to 6σQU at positions corresponding to sources known to be polarized at 1.4 GHz. In two radio galaxies, polarization was detected from both radio lobes, so the final number of associated radio continuum sources is 31. The detected sources are weakly polarized, with a median degree of polarization of 1.75% for the sample of sources detected in polarized emission. For the 10 polarized sources previously identified in a pilot LOFAR study of the ELAIS-N1 field at 20″-resolution, the RM values are consistent but the degrees of polarization are higher in the 6″-resolution data. The sources previously detected in polarization at 1.4 GHz are significantly depolarized at 150 MHz. The catalog is used to derive the polarized source counts at 150 MHz. Conclusions. This is the deepest and highest-resolution polarization study at 150 MHz to date. A full characterization of the sources and an analysis of the catalog will be presented in Paper II. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The properties of the S-bursts observed during the storm on 20-21 June 2022 in frequency band 10-32 MHz by the radio telescope URAN-2 are discussed in this paper. The storm was highly populated with other solar bursts, such as Type III bursts and drift pairs. The occurrence rate of S-bursts was very high reaching 60 bursts per minute. All observed S-bursts were characterized by low fluxes with respect to the background radio emission. Thus special processing methods are used to retrieve spectral properties of the bursts. Some individual "long" S-bursts covered the whole frequency band of the URAN-2 radio telescope from 10 to 32 MHz. Such extended in frequency S-bursts were recorded for the first time. 50 extended S-bursts were selected for the further analysis. Methods: The S-bursts dynamic spectra with time-frequency resolutions of 100 ms and 4 kHz as well as single-frequency profiles were used in the analysis. Due to low S-bursts intensities the drift rates were estimated from the timedifferentiated dynamic spectra, highlighting the tracks of the bursts maxima. Polarization dynamic spectra were used for measuring the degree and sense of the S-bursts circular polarization. Individual S-bursts tracks were used for instant coronal inhomogeneities diagnostics. Mean S-bursts parameters retrieved from the statistical processing of the set of 50 bursts were compared with previously obtained ones. Results: We concluded that by the mean durations, drift rates, frequency extent and the polarization all observed S-bursts could be divided into two separate groups, the "short" and the "long" S-bursts. The power-law index of the drift ratefrequency dependence averaged over all 50 selected bursts was found to be 1.7. It was shown that sources of S-bursts most likely move through the Newkirk corona with the velocities of 0.06-0.08c. The power-law dependence of the "long" S-bursts durations on frequency in frequency band of 12-30 MHz was obtained. Its index equal to -0.61 appeared to be very close to that for Type III bursts. From this dependence the electron velocity dispersion in the beam, responsible for S-bursts generation was calculated. Its value of 0.02 indicates that the beams, responsible for S-bursts generation are almost monoenergetic. Discussion: It is assumed that non-monotonic appearance of individual S-bursts tracks on the dynamic spectrum reflects density inhomogeneities encountered by the sources on their paths. From the dynamic spectra of such S-bursts the characteristic size and amplitude of these coronal inhomogeneities were detected. From the S-bursts durations and the velocities of their sources the longitudinal sizes of the latter were estimated. It was then shown that the sizes of small-scale coronal inhomogeneities were comparable to those of "long" Sbursts sources. Thus we concluded that individual tracks of the "long" S-bursts can be used for fie diagnostics the coronal plasma at heliocentric heights range from 1.7 to 3.2 Rs, where Rs is the solar radius. On the other hand, these tracks being ensemble-averaged give the information about the long-term large scale properties of the corona. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores religious diversity in Romania and how the trends of indices of religious fractionalization and polarization manifest at the county level in a post-communist period. The county level was selected as the relevant level for analysis due to its more clearly visible spatial dynamics with regard to religions. Recent studies have revealed that the erosion of diversity is an important aspect for any country and needs to be considered as an important aspect of democracy. This paper highlights how digital mapping of religious polarization and fractionalization in Romania has been generally maintained, although the regions of Transylvania, Banat, Dobrogea and Western Moldova remain areas in which there are different religions. Other than the general aspect of religious diversity depending on ethnic trends, there has been a rise of Pentecostals and Baptists at the county level. This aspect has further implications for our study, which calls for creating new institutions for dialogue between majority Orthodox communities and Protestants, not only so that potential conflicts do not appear between Orthodox and emerging religious communities but also to ensure objective, cultural, religious coherence. Our maps revealed the distribution patterns and the temporal evolution of religious denominations for the 1992–2011 period. The major line of originality in our research rests in the findings that after conducting a bivariate spatial autocorrelation analysis of religious fractionalization and polarization, we were able to identify two distinct clusters with spatial overlap over historical provinces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Does party system polarization mobilize voters? Polarization is increasingly shaping democratic competition across Europe. While often perceived to be negative, polarization can be an effective remedy against voter disengagement. This paper investigates two distinct, but often conflated mechanisms, which could explain why polarization leads to mobilization. Spatial polarization of parties diversifies electoral options at the ballot, while affective polarization mobilizes based on emotional considerations. This article then shows the link between polarization and turnout across 22 European countries. The results are complemented by a difference-in-differences analysis of German local elections. However, voting results alone do not inform about the mechanism at play. Survey data is used to show that negative affect appears to be the main driver of voter participation. Party polarization thus has ambivalent consequences for democracies: It mobilizes the electorate, but its effect is driven by negative emotions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) instrument, deployed on multiple satellites including the Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership (S-NPP), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 20 (NOAA-20), NOAA-21, Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS-3), and JPSS-4 spacecraft, with launches in 2011, 2017, 2022, 2032, and 2027, respectively, has polarization sensitivity that affects the at-aperture radiometric Sensor Data Record (SDR) calibration in the Visible Near InfraRed (VNIR) spectral region. These SDRs are key inputs into the VIIRS atmospheric, land, and water Environmental Data Records (EDRs) that are integral to weather and climate applications. If the polarization sensitivity of the VIIRS instrument is left uncorrected, EDR quality will degrade, causing diminished quality of weather and climate data. Pre-launch characterization of the instrument's polarization sensitivity was performed to mitigate this on-orbit calibration effect and improve the quality of the EDRs. Specialized ground test equipment, built specifically for the VIIRS instrument, enabled high-fidelity characterization of the instrument's polarization performance. This paper will discuss the polarization sensitivity characterization test approach, methodology, and results for the JPSS-3 and -4 builds. This includes a description of the ground test equipment, instrument requirements, and how the testing was executed and analyzed. A comparison of the polarization sensitivity results of the on-orbit S-NPP, NOAA-20, and -21 instruments with the JPSS-3 and -4 VIIRS instruments will be discussed as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In an era of increasing political polarization, its analysis becomes crucial for the understanding of democratic dynamics. This paper presents a comprehensive research on measuring political polarization on X (Twitter) during election cycles in Spain, from 2011 to 2019. A wide comparative analysis is performed on algorithms used to identify and measure polarization or controversy on microblogging platforms. This analysis is specifically tailored towards publications made by official political party accounts during pre-campaign, campaign, election day, and the week post-election. Guided by the findings of this comparative evaluation, we propose a novel algorithm better suited to capture polarization in the context of political events, which is validated with real data. As a consequence, our research contributes a significant advancement in the field of political science, social network analysis, and overall computational social science, by providing a realistic method to capture polarization from online political discourse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social media platforms can play a pivotal role in shaping public opinion during times of crisis and controversy. The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a large amount of dubious information being shared online. In Belgium, a crisis emerged during the pandemic when a soldier (Jürgen Conings) went missing with stolen weaponry after threatening politicians and virologists. This case created further division and polarization in online discussions. In this paper, we develop a methodology to study the potential of coordinated spread of incorrect information online. We combine network science and content analysis to infer and study the social network of users discussing the case, the news websites shared by those users, and their narratives. Additionally, we examined indications of bots or coordinated behavior among the users. Our findings reveal the presence of distinct communities within the discourse. Major news outlets, conspiracy theory websites, and anti-vax platforms were identified as the primary sources of (dis)information sharing. We also detected potential coordinated behavior and bot activity, indicating possible attempts to manipulate the discourse. We used the rapid semantic similarity network for the analysis of text, but our approach can be extended to the analysis of images, videos, and other types of content. These results provide insights into the role of social media in shaping public opinion during times of crisis and underscore the need for improved strategies to detect and mitigate disinformation campaigns and online discourse manipulation. Our research can aid intelligence community members in identifying and disrupting networks that spread extremist ideologies and false information, thereby promoting a more informed and resilient society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reconsiders liberal nationalism in light of the current autocratic nationalist threat. I argue that liberal nationalism cannot redress the social ailments which acclimatize people to the sorts of no-holds-barred political contestation favoured by autocratic nationalists – excessive polarization. I then argue that liberal nationalists do not recognize the degree to which 'in-group' racial solidarity motivates members of the racial/ethnic majority to preserve their status, and that the liberal nationalist approach to defending minorities' rights therefore risks either emboldening the majority to embrace autocracy or consolidating social hierarchies between the majority and minorities. On these bases, I show that democrats must seek to not only detach race/ethnicity from nationality but also redress those problematic racial/ethnic hierarchies. This suggests the need to develop liberal nationalism into multiculturalist nationalism. Multiculturalist nationalism, however, promises a sort of bounded solidarity that does not include all citizens: it makes use of targeted political antagonism against anti-democrats like White supremacists and Identitarians to help diffuse any social antagonism that might exist among minorities, inclusive members of the majority, and cultural conservatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Copyright of Politische Vierteljahresschrift is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Materials offering high energy density are currently desired to meet the increasing demand for energy storage applications, such as pulsed power devices, electric vehicles, high-frequency inverters, and so on. Particularly, ceramic-based dielectric materials have received significant attention for energy storage capacitor applications due to their outstanding properties of high power density, fast charge–discharge capabilities, and excellent temperature stability relative to batteries, electrochemical capacitors, and dielectric polymers. In this paper, we present fundamental concepts for energy storage in dielectrics, key parameters, and influence factors to enhance the energy storage performance, and we also summarize the recent progress of dielectrics, such as bulk ceramics (linear dielectrics, ferroelectrics, relaxor ferroelectrics, and anti-ferroelectrics), ceramic films, and multilayer ceramic capacitors. In addition, various strategies, such as chemical modification, grain refinement/microstructure, defect engineering, phase, local structure, domain evolution, layer thickness, stability, and electrical homogeneity, are focused on the structure–property relationship on the multiscale, which has been thoroughly addressed. Moreover, this review addresses the challenges and opportunities for future dielectric materials in energy storage capacitor applications. Overall, this review provides readers with a deeper understanding of the chemical composition, physical properties, and energy storage performance in this field of energy storage ceramic materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Times of national and international crisis are often unifying events which lower levels of division within the public and between political elites. Yet, COVID-19 pandemic responses in the United States have been viewed as markedly polarized. Using a comprehensive dataset of over four million social media posts sent by local, state, and federal level political officials between January 2020 and September 2022, this paper explores the extent to which the COVID-19 pandemic was a rhetorically unifying or divisive event, and whether rhetorical responses differed across levels of government. The results show that federal level officials were less likely to message about COVID-19 and were more likely to do so in a polarizing fashion compared to state and local officials. Temporally, in the early stages of the pandemic there was indeed a collective rhetorical de-polarization across all levels of government. However, as the pandemic progressed, COVID-related messaging became more polarizing, especially among Republicans. Evidence also emerges of dynamic responsiveness from elected officials, with relativeness attentiveness to COVID increasing and polarizing rhetoric decreasing during time periods when local case counts were relatively high. These findings suggest that rhetorical unity is still possible, even in times of high political polarization, but that this unity is also short-lived and tempered by political and electoral considerations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates discrete symmetries for dyon and the invariance of Maxwell's field equations in the macroscopic media (material medium). Using advanced mathematical approaches, the paper derived electromagnetic duality and a unique form of Poynting theorem for dyon in macroscopic media. Here, we demonstrate that the combination of parity (P) , charge conjugation (C) , and time reversal (T) symmetry: CPT , is an exact symmetry for dyon in macroscopic media. Furthermore, a comprehensive analysis of the electromagnetic wave equation for dyons in conducting media is also derived. These findings contribute significantly to the understanding of dyon behavior in electromagnetic fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of POSTData: Revista de Reflexión y Análisis Político is the property of Grupo Interuniversitario Postdata and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This article examines escalating political intolerance in Pakistan and advocate for the revival of the Charter of Democracy to address contemporary challenges facing the nation's democratic institutions. The paper delves into the historical context of political intolerance in Pakistan, highlighting factors such as martial law, political party behavior, and economic instability. It emphasizes the significance of the CoD, initially signed in 2006, as a framework for political cooperation and stability. Utilizing both qualitative and quantitative methods, this research explores the socio-political and economic factors contributing to political intolerance in Pakistan. Political tolerance emerges as essential for Pakistan's democratization process, fostering a participatory society that respects the interests of all segments. Conversely, political intolerance obstructs participatory behaviors and hinders true democracy. Reviving the CoD is proposed as solution to mitigate political intolerance and promote democracy. Encouraging political unity and stability will help Pakistan move closer to achieving real democracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Turkish Journal of Geographical Sciences / Coğrafi Bilimler Dergisi is the property of Cografi Bilimler Dergisi and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Conversations regarding moral values are increasingly becoming a pivotal dimension of public discourse. This paper presents a new approach to unacceptable discourse. Drawing on René Girard's cultural anthropology and Luciano Elizalde's dissent management theory, this work develops a scale of situations of dissent, such as controversy, polemic and public discourse scandal. It offers a detailed study of the polemic raised by the book Marry Him and Be Submissive, a process of dissent which was generated in Spain in November 2013 on the occasion of the publication of this Italian bestseller and lasted until January 2014. The book was written by the Italian journalist Costanza Miriano and translated and edited by the Archdiocese of Granada. The case study uses a triangular approach to discourse analysis, which aims to comprehend the enunciator's legitimacy and social positioning, the communication context in which the debate takes place, and the characteristics of the public discourse. A central element regards how reactions are organized around the signifier 'submissive' and the different frames of interpretation assigned to this word, in what will be called 'feminist' and 'post-feminist' paradigms. Mechanisms of dissent and consensus are explained, and takeaways and actors' strategies are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Growing polarization among the US electorate has in recent years attracted considerable attention from academic and non-academic observers. This paper examines some of the ways in which polarization affects US foreign and security policy in the post-Trump era. In particular, the paper offers an account of why bipartisan agreement over the so-called "rise of China" has prevailed in the face of powerful trends towards increased polarization, while domestic opinions over US aid to Ukraine have become much more contested. Drawing on a constructivist understanding of foreign policy as performative of a certain vision of the domestic self, this paper shows how US aid to Ukraine has become entangled with competing visions of the US, while domestic opinions of China have remained stable. While such a constructivist understanding does not necessarily challenge rationalist accounts, it is helpful in unravelling the link between national identity, domestic polarization, and foreign policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we have mainly reported the preliminary structural analysis and the frequency–temperature dependence of the dielectric and electrical properties of ceramic technology-fabricated Sn-modified bismuth titanate with a chemical composition of Bi4Ti2.9Sn0.1O12 electro-ceramic at room temperature. The compound is synthesized in a single-phase orthorhombic structure, as shown by the analysis of the X-ray diffraction pattern and data at room temperature. Detailed studies of dielectric and electrical properties in a wide temperature range (25 to 400°C) at different frequencies ranging from 1 to 1000 kHz have provided many important properties of the prepared sample. The dielectric constant and tangent loss at temperature 400°C and frequency 1 kHz are found to be 3 × 103 and 1.6, respectively. It was possible to calculate the contributions of the grains and grain boundaries to the overall resistance and capacitance of the synthesized material using Nyquist plots. The types of conduction mechanisms have been studied from an ac-conductivity study of the material. The J–E characteristics of the prepared sample which have slopes closer to 1, support the Ohmic behaviour. The study of the electric field and frequency dependence of electric polarization through hysteresis loops has confirmed the ferroelectric behaviour of the studied material at room temperature. Some experimental data obtained here suggest that the material may be useful as an electronic component in electronic industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Waste heat is inherent to industrial activities, IT services (e.g., data centers and microprocessors), human mobility, and many other common processes. The power lost each year in this way has been estimated in the 1000 TWh in the EU which, owing to skyrocketing energy prices and not least the urgent need for decarbonizing the economy, has engendered tremendous research efforts among scientists and engineers to recover/recycle this waste energy. Beyond established thermal engineering solutions for waste heat, advances in multifunctional materials open new paradigms for waste heat harvesting. Two smart material types are of particular focus and interest at present; these are thermoelectric and pyroelectric materials, which can both transform heat to electrical power, though via different effects. The present paper summarizes our research work on a new class of pyroelectric materials, namely <111> oriented (1 − x)(Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3–xPbTiO3 (PMN-PT) and x-Pb(In1/2 Nb1/2)O3-y-Pb(Mg1/3 Nb2/3)O3-(1 − x − y)-PbTiO3 (PIN-PMN-PT) single crystals that exhibit some of the highest pyroelectric properties ever measured. First, a figure of merit for pyroelectric energy harvesting is derived, followed by a detailed assessment of the properties of the said crystals and how they depend on structure, poling, thickness, and temperature. The properties are further contrasted with those of conventional pyroelectric crystals. It is concluded that the PMN-PT-base single crystals are best suited for harvesting devices with a working temperature range from 40 to 100 °C, which encompasses waste heat generated by data centers and some chemical and industrial processes, affording the highest figure of merit among pyroelectric materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines how partisanship and electoral autocracy (vis-à-vis democracy) influence people's perceptions of party system polarization in their country. Although partisanship generally enhances subjective party system polarization, I posit that this relationship depends on who is in power and the nature of political regime. Cognitive dissonance between losing an election and believing that one's party is the best motivates partisans of parties out of power to see their country's parties as less ideologically distinct compared to partisans of governing parties. Political regimes matter too because higher stakes of political competition and skewed information environment in electoral autocracies not only encourage all citizens to see parties as more polarized, but also magnify the positive impact of partisanship—particularly co-partisanship with governing parties—on subjective party system polarization. Using individual-level data from the Comparative Study of Electoral Systems (1996–2019), the empirical analyses support these expectations, even when accounting for party system polarization based on expert party placements. These findings have important implications for scholarly debates on partisanship, electoral autocracy, and the nature of subjective electoral supply in contemporary electoral regimes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents data on the macroscopic polarization of copolymer films of vinylidene fluoride with tetrafluoroethylene obtained with a modified apparatus assembled according to the Sawyer–Tower Circuit. The kinetics of the polarization process were analyzed taking into consideration the contributions of both bound and quasi-free (impurity) charges. It was shown that an "abnormal" decrease in conductivity was observed in fields near the coercive fields. This could be associated with the appearance of deep traps of the impurity charge carriers formed by the polar planes of β-phase crystals. The conductivity data obtained from the charge and current responses differed. It was concluded that chain segments contributing to polarization with sufficiently low fields were present in the amorphous phase. A comparison showed that the average size of β-phase crystals (crystals of X-ray diffraction reflection width) was almost one order of magnitude lower than the domain size obtained using piezoresponse force microscopy (PFM). The analysis of the fast-stage dielectric response before and after polarization indicated that as the external polarizing field increased in the ferroelectric polymer chains, conformational transitions occurred according to the T3GT3G− → (-TT-)n и TGTG → (-TT-)n types. This was accompanied by an increase in the effective dipole moment in the amorphous phase chains. The analysis of the IR spectroscopy data obtained in transmission and ATR modes revealed a difference in the conformational states of the chains in the core and surface parts of the film. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper introduces an ultra-wideband (UWB) reflective metasurface that exhibits the characteristics of a linear to circular (LTC) polarization conversion. The LTC polarization conversion is an orthotropic pattern comprising two equal axes, v and u, which are mutually orthogonal. Additionally, it possesses a 45 ° rotation with respect to the y-axis which extends vertically. The observed unit cell of the metasurface resembles a basic dipole shape. The converter has the capability to transform LP (linear polarized) waves into CP (circular polarized) waves within the frequency range 15.41–25.23 GHz. The band that contains its 3dB axial ratio lies within 15.41–25.23 GHz, which corresponds to an axial ratio (AR) bandwidth of 49.1%, and the resulting circular polarized wave is specifically a right-hand circular polarization (RHCP). Additionally, an LTC polarization conversion ratio (PCR) of over 98% is achieved within the frequency range between 15 and 24 GHz. A thorough theoretical investigation was performed to discover the underlying mechanism of the LTC polarization conversion. The phase difference Δ φ μ ν among the reflection coefficients of both the v- as well as the u-polarized incidences is approximately ±90 ° that is accurately predictive of the AR of the reflected wave. This study highlights that the reflective metasurfaces can be used as an efficient LTC polarization conversion when the Δ φ μ ν approaches ±90 ° . The performance of the proposed metasurface enables versatile applications, especially in antenna design and polarization devices, through LTC polarization conversion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highly reflective mirror technologies are majorly required in bio-sensing applications to eliminate complex multiple diffraction orders. In this paper, various grating parameters, i.e. width, thickness, and period are analyzed to get optimized values and high reflectivity for high-contrast subwavelength grating (HCSG) structure. Besides these parameters, polarization modes, angle of incidences, and refractive index have been diversely analyzed to monitor their effects on HCSG structure with respect to reflectivity. The simulation results manifest that the optimized parameters help to achieve the best reflectivity that can be further utilized in bio-sensing applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exhibiting altruism toward and cooperativeness with others is a key ingredient for successful work relationships and managerial decision making. Rising political polarization creates a hazard because it ruptures this fabric and impedes the interaction of employees, especially across political isles. This paper's focus is to examine various behavioral-, belief-, and norm-based layers of (non)strategic decision making that are plausibly affected by polarization. I quantify this phenomenon via five preregistered studies in the context of Donald J. Trump, comprising 15 well-powered behavioral experiments and a diverse set of over 8,600 participants. To capture the pervasiveness of polarization, I contrast the findings with various political and nonpolitical identities. Overall, I consistently document strong heterogeneous effects: ingroup-love occurs in the perceptional domain (how close one feels toward others), whereas outgroup-hate occurs in the behavioral domain (how one helps/harms/cooperates with others). The rich setting also enables me to examine the mechanisms of observed intergroup conflict, which can be attributed to one's grim expectations regarding cooperativeness of the opposing faction, rather than one's actual unwillingness to cooperate. For the first time, the paper also tests whether popular behavioral interventions (defaults and norm-nudges) can reduce the detrimental impact of polarization in the contexts studied here. The tested interventions improve prosociality but are ineffective in closing the polarization gap. This paper was accepted by Yan Chen, behavioral economics and decision analysis. Funding: This work was supported by Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft [Grant EXC 2126/1– 390838866]. Supplemental Material: Data and the online appendix are available at https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2023.4701. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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