Studies have called for exploring authentic leadership in diverse contexts, as organizations expressed a need for credible leadership amid challenging business times and societal volatilities. However, there has been limited consideration of the cultural and contextual boundaries of authentic leadership. This paper addresses this gap in literature and expands the empirical evidence by investigating the conceptualization of authentic leadership through a qualitative study in the context of West Africa. To this end, this research adopts a life-story approach with a variety of 16 business executives who shared their leadership experiences from Ghana. The findings of this research not only support and enrich the multifactorial characteristics of authentic leadership but also reveal an emerging dimension described as collective orientation. Additionally, the findings indicate that authentic leadership holds cultural relevance in emerging economies. Therefore, managers aiming to promote authentic leadership in their organizations need to recognize contextual values and cultivate appropriate environments to achieve positive outcomes.

The electrokinetic and unstable behaviour near strongly polarised surfaces cannot be well captured by the canonical asymptotic theory for induced-charge electro-osmosis, and the intrinsic mechanism remains unclear. Using direct numerical simulations and scaling analysis, this paper reveals that, near the strongly polarised surfaces, the strong electric double layer charging induces a strong local electric field, which drives the cations in the electrical double layer to extend to a finite region and form an extended space-charge (ESC) layer. The ESC triggers flow instability near strongly polarised surfaces, causing a transition of the velocity scaling exponent in the electric field dependence from a 2 to a 4/3 power law. The findings and mechanisms pave the way for designs of energy and biomedical systems.

The utilization of carbon dioxide (CO2) has garnered significant attention as a strategy to mitigate anthropogenic emissions. Within this field, the conversion processes of CO2 through photocatalytic systems have emerged as a particularly noteworthy area of research. This approach leverages solar energy for the reaction and is considered a promising and environmentally friendly alternative to traditional thermally driven catalytic systems. This article aims to summarize recent advancements in several key photo-conversion pathways, including the synthesis of methane, methanol, C2 hydrocarbons, dimethyl carbonate, and glycerol carbonate. Additionally, potential configurations for the development of processes aimed at producing various chemicals will be proposed. Current insights indicate that the photocatalytic conversion of CO2 could be effectively integrated with chemical absorption methods, provided that appropriate separation and process intensification strategies are developed. From an economic perspective, the photocatalytic reduction of CO2 minimizes the reliance on green hydrogen as a hydrogen source, thereby significantly improving overall economic viability. Environmentally, it is essential to enhance the reaction conversion and product selectivity of the photocatalytic conversion processes to maximize their decarbonization potential. Overall, this paper is particularly suited for readers who are new to this field and are interested in transitioning from experimental work to process development.

To investigate the characteristics of a turbulent boundary layer (TBL) over the curved edge of the bow of submarine technology program office (SUBOFF) model, wall-resolved large-eddy simulation is conducted at a Reynolds number of $\mathop {\textit{Re}}\nolimits _L = 1.1 \times {10^6}$ based on the model length and free-stream velocity. Instead of using a trip wire at the bow surface, turbulent inflow is added to the simulation to induce boundary layer transition. The effects of geometric curvature and inflow turbulence intensity (ITI) are examined. With a low ITI level, natural transition takes place at the rear end of the straight section. With higher ITI levels, turbulence emerges immediately and evolves gradually, following a strong favourable-pressure-gradient (FPG) region near the forehead, which is significantly influenced by the large streamwise curvature. Within the FPG region, the root mean square of the wall pressure fluctuation (WPF) decreases rapidly, with the frequency spectra of WPF exhibiting good scalability with outer variables. Moreover, higher turbulence intensity levels lead to larger skin friction, which is related to the development of the TBL. To elucidate the generation mechanism of skin friction, the dynamic decomposition is derived in the curvilinear coordinate system. The mean convection and streamwise pressure gradient make the largest contributions to the local skin friction. Furthermore, an analysis of the energy transfer process based on the Reynolds stress transport equations in the curvilinear coordinate system is presented, highlighting the significant impact of geometric effects, particularly on the production term.

With the increasing number and diversity of reptile species kept in zoological facilities and households, their welfare in captivity warrants structured and consistent evaluation. However, focused research on reptile welfare remains limited within the broader field of animal welfare science. Recognising such a gap, this study adopts an evidence-informed approach to review existing literature and proposes two conceptual welfare assessment frameworks — one for zoo settings and another for private keeping. We first identify the intended audiences for each framework and discuss common challenges reptile caretakers may face when conducting welfare assessments in different contexts. The frameworks are grounded in established principles from the Five Domains model and the European Welfare Quality® protocol, incorporating both resource- and animal-based indicators under the domains of Environment, Nutrition, Physical Health, and Behaviour. The design rationale is also explained to support future refinement. Finally, these conceptual frameworks are intended as a foundation for the development and validation of adaptable tools, capable of guiding improved husbandry practices and resource allocation for better welfare outcomes across a broad range of reptile taxa.

Butachlor is a herbicide extensively employed in rice (Oryza sativa L.) cultivation but historically under-investigated for its toxicological impacts on terrestrial vegetation. This study examines the dose-dependent effects of butachlor on the germination and antioxidant defense mechanisms in the seeds of Asian tape grass [Vallisneria natans (Lour.) H. Hara], an important submerged plant species widely distributed in the agricultural ponds. In a hydroponic setup, seeds were exposed to four concentrations of butachlor (0, 20, 200, and 2,000 μg ai L−1), and cultivated under controlled light conditions to quantify germination rates and assess oxidative stress responses. Our findings showed that butachlor concentrations up to 20 μg L−1 had no effect on the germination rate of V. natans seeds, while germination rates decreased by 6.0% and 8.7% at 200 and 2,000 μg L−1, respectively. At 2,000 μg L−1, malondialdehyde (MDA) content increased by 5.7 nmol g−1 FW, and catalase (CAT) activity declined by 21%, indicating oxidative damage. Additionally, the antioxidants proline (Pro) and glutathione (GSH) were upregulated under 20 μg L−1 butachlor treatment after 12 h, contributing to reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging and cellular stability. This study highlights the nuanced interactions between butachlor exposure and the antioxidant defenses in V. natans, providing valuable insights into the ecological impacts of herbicide pollution. Understanding these interactions is crucial for development of sustainable agricultural practices and management of herbicide resistance in aquatic systems.

This article proposes a dielectric waveguide bandpass filter (BPF) with good stopband suppression based on different kinds of dielectric waveguide resonators (DWRs). Three distinct types of DWRs are modified from the traditional rectangular DWR, i.e., one with a metallized blind hole, one with a metallized U-shaped slot and another one with a pair of parallel ridges. These resonators are designed that their fundamental mode frequencies are basically the same and their higher-order modes are staggered. As a result, the higher-order modes can be suppressed to a certain extent when conducting BPF designs. For verification, a sixth-order BPF with an operating frequency band ranging from 3.4 to 3.5 GHz is designed, fabricated and measured. It is composed of the above three distinct types of DWRs, with a deliberate arrangement that prevents the DWRs of the same type from being adjacent to each other, guaranteeing that the harmonics are well suppressed. In measurement, the in-band return loss is better than 12 dB, the minimum in-band insertion loss is about 1.0 dB. Besides, the 20 dB out-of-band suppression reaches 6.9 GHz, which is almost twice the center frequency.

To explore the longitudinal associations between a Chinese healthy diet and the progression of cardiometabolic multimorbidity (CMM) development among Chinese adults. A prospective analysis was conducted utilising data from 18 720 participants in the China Health and Nutrition Survey, spanning from 1997 to 2018. Dietary data were collected by three consecutive 24-h dietary recalls combined with the weighing method. A Chinese healthy diet score was developed by assigning scores to various food components. CMM was defined as the coexistence of two or more cardiometabolic diseases (CMD), including myocardial infarction, stroke and type 2 diabetes, diagnosed through blood indicators and clinical diagnosis. We employed a multistate model to examine the associations between the Chinese healthy diet and the longitudinal progression from being free of CMD to first CMD and then to CMM. Quantile G-computation was utilised to evaluate the relative contribution of each food component. Over a median follow-up period of 7·3 years, 2214 (11·8 %) participants developed first CMD, and 156 (0·83 %) progressed to CMM. Comparing participants in the highest quintile of dietary scores with those in the lowest, we observed a 55 % lower risk of transitioning from baseline to CMM (HR = 0·45, 95 % CI: 0·23, 0·87) and a 60 % lower risk of transition from first CMD to CMM (HR = 0·40, 95 % CI: 0·20, 0·81). Fresh fruits contributed to 42·8 and 43·0 % for delaying CMM and transition from first CMD to CMM, respectively. Our study revealed that greater adherence to the Chinese healthy diet is negatively associated with the risk of CMM.

An experimental study of the equation of state for metallic powders under impact loading was carried out at a high-energy laser facility. A laser-ablatable micro-target was obtained to satisfy the laser equation of state for experimental study, and the precise characterization of the initial density was realized. The technique boosts the pressure of copper powder to 1400 GPa. The data consistency can effectively distinguish the data trends under different initial densities (~4.05 and 4.50 g/cm3). Experimental data can effectively distinguish the differences between the high-pressure Thomas–Fermi model and the Thomas–Fermi–Kirzhnits model, providing strong support for the WEOS-Pα model of the Institute of Applied Physics and Computational Mathematics, which is more in line with the actual state description of the material. This experimental technique can be extended to study the high-pressure physical properties of other powder particles.

Several million years of natural evolution have endowed marine animals with high flexibility and mobility. A key factor in this achievement is their ability to modulate stiffness during swimming. However, an unresolved puzzle remains regarding how muscles modulate stiffness, and the implications of this capability for achieving high swimming efficiency. Inspired by this, we proposed a self-propulsor model that employs a parabolic stiffness-tuning strategy, emulating the muscle tensioning observed in biological counterparts. Furthermore, efforts have been directed towards developing the nonlinear vortex sheet method, specifically designed to address nonlinear fluid–structure coupling problems. This work aims to analyse how and why nonlinear tunable stiffness influences swimming performance. Numerical results demonstrate that swimmers with nonlinear tunable stiffness can double their speed and efficiency across nearly the entire frequency range. Additionally, our findings reveal that high-efficiency biomimetic propulsion originates from snap-through instability, which facilitates the emergence of quasi-quadrilateral swimming patterns and enhances vortex strength. Moreover, this study examines the influence of nonlinear stiffness on swimming performance, providing valuable insights into the optimisation of next-generation, high-performance, fish-inspired robotic systems.

Axisymmetric turbulent boundary layers are of great significance in industry and the fluid dynamics community. In this paper, direct numerical simulations of an axially developing axisymmetric turbulent boundary layer along a slender cylinder are performed. Periodical suction and blowing perturbation are used to trigger the transition from laminar inflow to turbulent flow downstream, resulting in the boundary layer thickness varying from 7 to 13 times the cylinder radius, and the friction Reynolds number varying from 300 to 510. Turbulence statistics including wall friction coefficient, mean velocity profile and Reynolds stresses are obtained. The turbulence intensities are weakened compared with the planar turbulent layer, and the inter-component energy transfer is also inhibited. A curvature-weighted transformation is proposed, and the transformed Reynolds stresses and mean velocity deficit collapse well with the planar case in the near-wall region. The velocity streaks and vortical structures are explored. The wall-normal variation of the mean spanwise spacing of low-speed streaks is greatly influenced by the cylindrical geometry. Quasi-streamwise vortices dominate the near-wall region, and the arch vortices are prevalent in the outer region. The prograde hairpin vortices can be commonly observed.

The pulse duration is a critical parameter of picosecond-petawatt laser systems because it directly affects the results of high-energy-density physics experiments. This study systematically investigated the effects of the spectral width, central wavelength and beam-pointing deviations on pulse duration stability at the SG-II facility. A theoretical analysis of the relationship between spectra and pulse duration is conducted to quantify the impact on pulse duration stability, and the results are further validated through experimental measurements. In addition, beam-pointing deviations at the stretcher significantly affect the pulse duration. For example, a 27 μrad deviation can induce a 30% pulse duration variation. In contrast, the compressor exhibits greater robustness. Based on simulation and experimental results, we identify operational tolerance ranges for spectral width and beam-pointing deviation to maintain pulse duration stability within 5% at the SG-II facility. These findings provide critical guidance for optimizing the performance and reliability of chirped-pulse amplification/optical parametric chirped-pulse amplification-based high-power laser systems.

The Chinese pangolin Manis pentadactyla is categorized as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List, but the development of effective conservation strategies is hindered by a lack of data on its distribution range and population dynamics. In addition, standardized survey and analysis methods are required to facilitate the sharing of results and maximize conservation effectiveness. To fill these knowledge and methodological gaps, we investigated the occurrence of pangolin burrows in the subtropical forest ecosystem of Fujian, China. We surveyed a total of 70 transects across five land-cover types within the Fujian Junzifeng National Nature Reserve and detected 87 burrows. The majority of burrows (87%) were located in mixed conifer and broadleaf forests. We used six environmental variables in a generalized linear model to examine the relationship between the occurrence of burrows and environmental factors. The average model results from the best model set showed that the distribution of burrows was significantly influenced by forest type. For effective pangolin conservation, we recommend that local conservation authorities prioritize the protection of mixed conifer and broadleaf forests. Our findings support the local conservation of the Chinese pangolin and the standardization of surveys and conservation efforts across the species’ range.