Abstract:

Background: Abnormal occlusal loading may alter temporomandibular joint (TMJ) homeostasis and promote extracellular matrix remodelling. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are key regulators of extracellular matrix turnover, but the bilateral response of different TMJ fibrocartilaginous components to a sustained unilateral occlusal disturbance remains insufficiently characterised. Objective: To characterise MMP-2, MMP-3, and MMP-9 immunoreactivity in the glenoid cartilage, condylar cartilage, and articular disc of both temporomandibular joints following sustained unilateral occlusal alteration in rats. Methods: Twenty-five female Wistar rats were included in the experimental design. The study comprised a 4-week control group (n = 4), a 24-week control group (n = 9), and an experimental group (n = 12). In experimental animals, sustained unilateral occlusal alteration was created at 8 weeks of age by application of light-cured composite to the three right maxillary molars and maintained for 16 weeks. MMP-2, MMP-3, and MMP-9 were detected immunohistochemically in the glenoid cartilage, condylar cartilage, and articular disc of both TMJs. DAB immunostaining intensity was quantified by grayscale densitometry; lower grayscale values corresponded to stronger immunoreactivity. Results: Sustained unilateral occlusal alteration was associated with stronger MMP-2, MMP-3, and MMP-9 immunoreactivity in the glenoid cartilage, condylar cartilage, and articular disc relative to 24-week controls (P < 0.01 for the comparisons reported in the original analysis). The increase was bilateral but consistently greater in the TMJ ipsilateral to the occlusal alteration (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01, depending on marker and tissue). The original analysis also documented maturation-related differences for MMP-2 in glenoid cartilage and for MMP-9 in glenoid and condylar cartilage, whereas MMP-3 showed no significant age-related differences. Conclusions: Sustained unilateral occlusal alteration was associated with a bilateral but asymmetric increase in the MMP immunoreactivity profile of TMJ fibrocartilaginous tissues. The concordant involvement of MMP-2, MMP-3, and MMP-9 across the glenoid cartilage, condylar cartilage, and articular disc supports a broad alteration of matrix-remodelling proteins following altered occlusal loading. These findings refer to immunoreactivity and should not be interpreted as direct evidence of increased enzymatic activity or matrix proteolysis.

Abstract: Aim: To evaluate the effects of treatment using both conventional and 3D-printed Twin Block appliances for growth modification in Class II malocclusion.Background: Twin blocks are removable devices commonly used for treating Class II malocclusion. As functional appliances, they’re great for guiding craniofacial growth during a person’s developmental years. They work by harnessing nearby muscle forces to create changes in both the skeleton and teeth. Designed as a tooth- and tissue-borne appliance, the twin block makes the most of orthopedic forces. Since their introduction, they’ve become a popular orthodontic choice thanks to quick results, the ability to maintain normal oral functions, and comfort that supports long-term wear—boosting both motivation and compliance.Patients and methods: Pre-treatment (T1) and post-treatment (T2) lateral cephalograms of 10 patients treated with a conventional Twin Block appliance for class II malocclusion were compared to those of 10 patients treated with a 3D-printed Twin Block appliance for a 6-month follow-up period. Both groups were evaluated for dentoskeletal and soft tissue changes using various angular and linear geometric measurements, and differences between pre- and post-treatment were analyzed with a paired t-test.Results: The cephalometric analysis showed that the Twin Block appliance encouraged mandibular growth. Patients using it experienced a significant (p < 0.001) boost in mandibular length and lower facial height in both groups, with no significant differences between the two groups. All dental angular and linear measurements also changed notably from before to after treatment in each group. Similarly, there was improvement in the facial profile; thus, mean soft tissue measurements improved significantly over the treatment period, but there were no significant differences between the two groups Conclusion: Results of this study show that the Twin Block appliance is effective for treating Class II malocclusion, whether using a conventional or 3-D printed device. This effectiveness comes from the combined benefits of skeletal and dentoalveolar changes in both arches. Future research with larger sample sizes, 3D imaging, and long-term follow-ups could provide a clearer picture of how different functional appliances perform.

Abstract: Wind-turbine blades and hydrofoil sailcraft operate through the same fundamental inter-action between free-stream wind and system motion. For a horizontal-axis wind turbine (HAWT), aerodynamic lift is resolved into a tangential force that produces rotor torque; correspondingly, in sailing, the forward component of sail lift provides the driving force that propels the craft. This paper develops a comparative apparent-wind framework for these rotating and translating aerodynamic systems. Velocity and force-vector analysis re-lates apparent-wind velocity, apparent-wind angle, angle of attack (AoA), lift-to-drag ratio (L/D), and useful-force production. For hydrofoil sailing, a force balance gives the speed ra-tio U/V = (L/D) sin θ − cos θ – K, where U is craft speed, V is true-wind speed, θ is the true-wind angle relative to the course, and K represents normalized aerodynamic and hy-drodynamic losses, and the associated velocity made good, VMG = U cos θ. For vertical-axis wind turbines (VAWTs), the corresponding relative-wind angle varies cyclically with blade azimuth and tip-speed ratio, requiring rapid pitch adjustment to control AoA, dynamic stall, torque, and fatigue loading. Sail trim performs an analogous function by adjusting sail angle, twist, and camber to maintain favorable AoA and L/D, although its objective is maximum speed or VMG rather than maximum power coefficient. The comparison shows that apparent-wind velocity and angle provide a common basis for understanding tangen-tial-force generation, pitch or trim control, and system-level aerodynamic optimization. The results show that sailing faster than the true wind arises from the combined high lift-to-drag performance of the sail and the low-drag lift and lateral resistance provided by the hydrofoil. Finally, the potential for apparent-wind power generation aboard a high-performance sailing craft, scaling approximately as ½ ρ Asail V³ (L/D)², is also explored.

Abstract: Mobile robots with omnidirectional locomotion have attracted increasing attention owing to their superior maneuverability in confined environments. Although omnidirectional wheeled robots have been widely investigated, research on omnidirectional tracked robots remains limited. One of the key challenges in the design of such systems is the computationally efficient determination of motion resistance resulting from the rollers-surface interaction. Therefore, this study aims to develop surrogate models for predicting the longitudinal and lateral motion resistance of an omnidirectional tracked roller. A multibody dynamics model of a single roller was developed to simulate the contact interaction under different roller orientation angles, applied masses, coefficients of friction, and bearing friction torque. An experimentally validated model was subsequently employed to multiple regression surrogate models relating the operating and design parameters to the motion resistance forces. The developed surrogate models achieved coefficients of determination exceeding 99%, enabling rapid prediction of both longitudinal and lateral forces while preserving high predictive accuracy. The proposed surrogate models provide a computationally efficient alternative to repeated multibody dynamics simulations and support the design of omnidirectional tracked mobile robots.

Abstract: Voluntary certification policies channel fiscal, financial, and regulatory support, but their evaluation is complicated by self-selection and staged policy exposure. Italy illustrates this problem: innovative start-up status expires sixty months after incorporation, after which firms may transition into the innovative-SME register while retaining similar benefits. Consequently, the apparent pre-treatment period may already reflect earlier policy exposure. Linking financial data for approximately 2,900 certified and 1,180 non-certified SMEs to business-register records, we find that certified firms grow faster but are financially less solid, with roughly three-quarters of the revenue advantage emerging before registration. Entry clusters sharply around the expiry of start-up status, and 44 per cent register within six years of incorporation. Crucially, pre-registration growth is absent among firms legally unable to hold prior start-up status but pronounced among likely transitioning firms. Standard robustness procedures do not detect this mis-dating. In staged regimes, correctly identifying first policy exposure is therefore essential.

Abstract: Muon orthogonalizes the momentum matrix, granting every singular direction of the update equal trust. EchoMuon prices that trust by each direction's echo: its support in a second, slower momentum buffer. This paper reports what that buys, and what measuring such a gate honestly costs. The gate is a contraction, not a reallocation. Its multiplier never exceeds one in 5,760 logged layer-steps, and the arm carrying it sits higher on the learning-rate axis: over four cells it is penalized 3.7x less than ungated Muon for a step twice too large, and 1.6x more for one half too small, without exception in either direction. A shared learning-rate grid therefore does not compare the two fairly: when the grid sits above the joint optimum, the contracting arm is rescued and the other is not, by an amount comparable to the margins being measured. Our initial hypotheses about the gate were wrong on this point, so we re-ran the full suite under corrected selection. All eight CIFAR arm-cells had picked the bottom edge of a single shared grid; widening it and selecting on a held-out split cuts those margins by 42 to 80% and leaves none individually significant. Tiny ImageNet, whose optimum the original grid did contain, is unchanged at +1.65 pp (t = +7.4) pooled over its two cells, and on the clean cell a norm-matched scalar control reproduces only 30% of the gain, so what remains is directional rather than a step-size effect. Three further boundaries are measured. The FineWeb advantage falls from -0.031 nats at 0.3 tokens per parameter to -0.003 at 0.9, verified not to be a learning-rate artifact. Across ten vision cells the margin scales with the baseline's error rate and crosses zero near 90% accuracy. On byte-level text EchoMuon wins on clean enwik8 (t=-10.1) and loses only under input corruption, which replaces the tokenization boundary we first proposed. We release 1,815 runs, the re-run suite behind these numbers, and the reporting practice we recommend: publish the margin by which each learning rate beat its runner-up. Here a pick that won by 0.0026 in validation loss reversed under an equally valid split, with a 1.45 pp consequence on test accuracy.

Abstract: Avian Metapneumovirus (aMPV) is an emerging viral pathogen causing many outbreaks in chickens all over the world. There are several subtypes of the MPV circulating in chickens in the US. The current circulating subtypes of the virus in the US chicken are (A, B, and C). Despite the availability of some aMPV vaccines in the US, most of these vaccines are based on foreign strains, particularly European aMPV-A/B strains. Their protective efficacy against contemporary U.S. aMPV isolates has not been fully established. The main goal of this study is to integrate the most recent aMPV genome sequencing data and the machine learning tools to design a novel aMPV. The machine learning tools such as epitope mapping, molecular docking, and immune simulation were used to design the multiepitope DNA vaccine based on the top ranked epitopes of two major surface proteins of the virus (F and G). The top ranked seventeen epitopes representing B cells, CD4 and CD8 epitopes were linked using linkers, with IL-18 added as an adjuvant. The selected epitopes showed high antigenicity, no toxicity and no allergenicity values among the screened epitopes. The molecular docking analysis of the designed vaccine construct showed a high binding affinity to the MHC class I and II epitopes to chicken alleles. The immune simulation analysis of this vaccine construct showed the potential to induce robust immune response including the humoral and the cell mediated immunity. Further functional studies are required to test the immunogenicity and the efficacy of this novel vaccine before applications using chickens and turkey.

Abstract: Background/Objectives: Community-based activities supporting function and well-being are increasingly relevant. This cross-sectional study examined senior dance in older women, focusing on participation duration and additional regular physical activity. Methods: Participants were 160 women: 66 in senior dance only (SD), 34 in senior dance plus additional regular physical activity (SD+PA), 30 physically inactive older women, and 30 physically inactive younger women aged 25–40 years. Eight outcomes were assessed. Welch’s ANOVA and prespecified Welch–Satterthwaite contrasts with Benjamini–Hochberg correction were used; duration analyses used partial Spearman correlations adjusted for weekly attendance and age. Results: Overall group differences were observed for all outcomes (all p ≤ 0.002). Seven outcomes remained significant in the first planned contrast, which did not isolate a dance-specific association. No SD versus SD+PA difference remained significant after correction. Longer SD participation was associated with better Timed Up and Go (rₛ = −0.428, 95% CI −0.610 to −0.204), 30-Second Chair Stand (rₛ = 0.425, 95% CI 0.200–0.607), and 2-Minute Step Test performance (rₛ = 0.423, 95% CI 0.198–0.606; all q = 0.0013). WBI-5 did not remain significant after correction (q = 0.061). Conclusions: Longer participation was most consistently associated with integrated functional performance, extending observational evidence beyond short-term intervention settings. Prospective studies are warranted; causal effects cannot be inferred. ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT07170241.

Abstract: Background/Objectives: Patients undergoing resection of large fronto-basal meningiomas may present persistent cognitive, behavioral, motor, and functional impairments. Evidence regarding EEG neurofeedback as part of postoperative neurorehabilitation remains preliminary. This case report describes the feasibility and associated clinical and neurophysiological changes of a sensory-adapted multimodal rehabilitation program. Methods: A 53-year-old man underwent emergency resection of a giant fronto-basal meningioma and subsequently completed 20 inpatient rehabilitation sessions over four weeks. Each session included auditory SMR/theta EEG neurofeedback at Cz, individualized cognitive training, and physiotherapy. Neuropsychological, emotional, functional, and mobility outcomes were assessed before and after treatment. EEG outcomes included longitudinal single-channel recordings acquired during neurofeedback sessions and 19-channel resting-state recordings obtained under eyes-open and eyes-closed conditions before and after the program. Spectral power, spectral ratios, and weighted phase-lag index connectivity were analyzed descriptively. Results: Reliable or measurement-based improvements were observed in global cognition, executive functioning, immediate and delayed verbal recall, total and cognitive functional independence, and mobility. Across the 20 neurofeedback sessions, the conservative primary analysis retained 9,936 of 10,261 epochs and showed reduced theta activity, increased SMR and beta activity, increased SMR/theta, and reduced theta/total-beta. Resting-state EEG showed lower relative theta power and higher SMR, beta-1, and beta-2 power under both recording conditions. Connectivity changes included reduced theta and posterior alpha coupling together with increased SMR connectivity across fronto-central and parieto-occipital networks. Conclusions: Sensory-adapted EEG neurofeedback was feasible within an intensive multimodal rehabilitation program and was accompanied by convergent cognitive, functional, and neurophysiological changes. Because of the single-case, uncontrolled, multimodal design, the findings cannot establish treatment-specific efficacy and should be considered hypothesis-generating.

Abstract: Genome-wide association studies have identified more than 200 common-risk loci for multiple sclerosis (MS), but common variants do not fully explain familial aggregation. Whole-exome sequencing (WES) has therefore been applied to multiplex families and clinical cohorts to identify rare protein-altering variants. We systematically searched five databases from inception to 10 August 2026, supplemented by citation searching. Of 663 unique records screened, 33 primary reports were identified between 2011 and 2026, representing approximately 15 distinct participant collections. Study quality was appraised with the validated Quality of Genetic Studies (Q-Genie) instrument, and each principal gene-disease claim was classified using the Clinical Genome Resource (ClinGen) clinical validity framework. At study level, 27 of 33 reports were rated Good, four Moderate, and two Poor. Of 21 gene-disease claims, none reached Definitive, Strong, or Moderate validity: 16 were Limited, two Disputed, two Refuted, and one No Known Disease Relationship entry comprised NOTCH3 and PYGM, genes with definitive validity for other disorders but no established relationship with MS. No gene-disease relationship in this literature meets the evidence threshold recommended for diagnostic panel inclusion, and the largest contemporary cohort studies are negative. WES retains a narrow diagnostic role in atypical presentations but is not supported as a population-level test in typical MS.

Abstract: Magnesium has been of interest to researchers as a potential biodegradable alternative to metal orthopedic implants due to its biocompatibility and mechanical properties similar to those of bone. However, magnesium implants corrode more quickly than would be beneficial. This study focused on the influence of calcium modification on the microstructure, mechanical and electrochemical degradation (in simulated body fluids at 25°C and 40°C) of selected Mg-Zn alloys. Four alloys, Mg1Zn, Mg2Zn, Mg1Ca1Zn and Mg1Ca2Zn, were fabricated by levitation induction melting under argon atmosphere. Microstructural characterization was performed using optical microscopy and SEM/EDS analysis, mechanical behavior was evaluated by microhardness testing and Gaussian mixture modeling while corrosion performance was assessed in Ringer lactate solution. The results indicated that calcium addition modified the microstructural morphology. Moderate Ca addition modified the distribution of secondary phases and altered the local mechanical response of the Mg matrix. Among the investigated composition, Mg1Ca1Zn exhibited the best balance between microstructural characteristic, mechanical properties and corrosion resistance These results provide key criteria for the development of future resorbable orthopedic implants that improve patients’ quality of life.

Abstract: Nucleosomes integrate diverse histone variants to organize chromatin and coordinate genome maintenance. In plants, the structural interplay between replication-associated histones and DNA damage -responsive histone variants remain poorly understood. Here, we determine cryogenic electron microscopy structures of an Arabidopsis thaliana nucleosome containing the replication-associated histones H2B.6 and H3.1 together with the DNA damage-responsive variant H2AXa.The mononucleosome structure, resolved at 2.73 Å preserves the canonical nucleosome architecture. Unexpectedly, the reconstituted mononucleosomes formed defined higher-order assemblies in the absence of linker DNA or chemical crosslinking. Two distinct nucleosome-nucleosome arrangements, parallel and right offset, were identified. The right offset closely resembles the human counterpart, whereas the parallel arrangement exhibits slight displacement of H2B structural elements at the inter-nucleosomal interface. Together these structures reveal how a distinct histone composition preserves canonical nucleosome architecture while supporting multiple defined modes of nucleosome packing, providing structural insights into conserved and divergent features of H2AX containing chromatin organization across plants and animals.

Abstract: This study examines dynamic volatility transmission among WTI crude oil, gold, the U.S. Dollar Index (DXY), and the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) using a Bayesian TVP-VAR-SV framework. Using 4,206 daily observations from 2008 to 2025, the study combines generalized forecast-error variance decomposition, dynamic connectedness, directional measures, generalized impulse responses, and crisis-regime analysis. Volatility connectedness intensifies markedly during financial stress, with the Global Financial Crisis (GFC) recording the highest mean TCI (3.0522), compared with 1.6598 during Normal periods. Gold emerges as the dominant net transmitter during the GFC, while the USD becomes the strongest receiver, with Gold-to-Oil, Gold-to-USD, and Gold-to-SET transmission also increasing substantially. GIRF results further show that Gold shocks generate immediate responses across markets but attenuate rapidly, indicating strong yet short-lived transmission. Importantly, market roles are state dependent: during the GFC, gold becomes a major transmitter within a financial-system crisis, whereas during the Russia–Ukraine episode, gold becomes a receiver and the USD a transmitter amid geopolitical and real-economy shocks. These findings highlight that both the direction and persistence of volatility transmission depend on the nature of the underlying shock.

Abstract: The care for the disabled is a societal concern for many nations. This study documents a simulation to support the discussion related to the financial sustainability of this care. The simulation relies on Eurostat data and 1,120 observations provided by 769 unique respondents who participated in the Survey of Health, Ageing, and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) in 2020 and 2022. A Poisson panel estimator is used to obtain the effects of gender, age, income, and nationality on the amount of disability benefits and pensions. The simulation procedure integrates these coefficients as well as accounts for the forecasted population change, income growth, and disability prevalence change occurring in the period 2026 up to 2036. The results suggest the occurrence of a notable increase in the annual total amount of disability benefits and pensions in the upcoming decade for women 85+ in the Baltic States. For men, a remarkable increase is suggested for the 55-to-64-year-olds in Latvia and Lithuania. To conclude, the results may provide some valuable insight to policymakers and institutions to ensure the long-term care for the disabled in the Baltic States.

Abstract: Area postrema syndrome (APS), intractable nausea, vomiting, and/or hiccups persisting beyond 48 hours, is a recognized presenting feature of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) and, less commonly, of MOGAD and GFAP astrocytopathy. APS is still frequently misattributed to primary gastrointestinal disease, delaying immunotherapy by weeks to months. For years its pathophysiology was inferred largely from lesion topography rather than demonstrated at the level of neuronal signaling. A study presented at the 2025 American Neurological Association annual meeting, and subsequently posted as a preprint, proposes a mechanistic account: elevated glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and its receptor (GLP-1R) correlate with APS presence and severity in AQP4-IgG-positive NMOSD, and receptor blockade normalizes neuronal hyperexcitability in animal models. This finding comes from a single center and has not yet completed independent replication or full peer review; throughout this review we treat it as hypothesis-generating rather than established. Using that hypothesis as an organizing frame, this narrative review summarizes the anatomical and clinical basis of APS; expands the biological and clinical comparison of APS across NMOSD, MOGAD, and GFAP-astrocytopathy, including the mechanistic reasons the three disorders diverge; and characterizes the diagnostic pathway that routes patients through gastroenterology before neurology. It closes with the clinical implications, and the explicit limitations, of a putatively hormone-modulated area postrema circuit.

Abstract: Accurate measurement of ultra-fine dust concentration is crucial for effective dust control and safe mining. However, the precise detection of dust concentration during mining has not been fully addressed. This study established a controllable laboratory system to investigate the relative errors of two dust monitoring methods based on different measurement principles, and to analyze the relationship between particle attachment and measurement errors. Using a laser dust monitor and a double-head sampler, three concentration levels were tested on three representative dust samples (coal dust, carbon powder, and SiO₂). The relative errors of the two sampling methods were evaluated by the system, and the relationship between the actual values and the measured values was determined through fitting analysis. Additionally, the causes of particle attachment were further explored using characterization methods. The results showed that the relative error was larger at high concentrations. For the laser dust monitor, the relative error ranged from 85.30% to 97.39%, while for the double-head sampler, the relative error was between 46.18% and 82.05%. Particle size, dust characteristics, and attachment behavior significantly affect the accuracy of dust concentration measurement, providing a reference basis for subsequent mining operations and research.

Abstract: Wi-Fi 7 (IEEE 802.11be) introduces key physical and MAC layer advancements including wider channel bandwidths up to 320 MHz, 4096-QAM modulation, preamble puncturing, and tri-band operation across 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz to support high bandwidth and low latency wireless applications. Despite these advances, the application-level streaming behavior of Wi-Fi 7 networks under realistic multi-factor conditions remains insufficiently characterized in the literature. This paper presents an empirical and simulation-based evaluation of Wi-Fi 7 streaming stability, assessing the combined effect of received signal strength (RSS), codec bitrate, frequency band, network layer protocol, media type, and network contention on playback delay for MP3 audio and MP4 video streams. A physical testbed comprising a Wi-Fi 7 access point and client devices is used to conduct controlled experiments across varying signal and network conditions, complemented by OMNeT++ simulation to assess MAC layer scalability under higher client densities. Results show that RSS degradation non-linearly increases playback delay and reduces link stability, particularly in the 5 GHz and 6 GHz bands. The 6 GHz band achieves the lowest average playback delay under strong signal conditions, while the 2.4 GHz band offers greater reliability at extended range. Higher codec bitrates are found to reduce playback delay due to improved protocol efficiency and more effective buffer utilization. Network layer protocol (IPv4 vs. IPv6) has negligible impact on streaming performance. Network contention, modelled through increasing concurrent client counts, introduces substantial AP side airtime partitioning effects that degrade per-client streaming quality. These findings establish a reproducible, multi-parameter performance baseline for Wi-Fi 7 audio and video streaming, providing practical guidance for network deployment and serving as a reference for future benchmarking of next-generation Wi-Fi 8 (IEEE 802.11bn) networks.

Abstract: In July 2026, an outbreak of a cattle illness characterized by high fever, diarrhoea and reduced milk production, often affecting whole herds, was detected across several regions of northern Switzerland. To investigate the cause of the outbreak a broad range of diagnostic methods was applied, including pathogen specific RT-qPCRs, ELISA, serum neutralization test, virus isolation and metagenomic next generation sequencing. A Shamonda virus (SHAV) was detected in samples from affected cattle, followed by successful virus isolation and complete genome sequencing of all three segments. Viral RNA was also detected in tissue samples from aborted calves, including brain and spleen, supporting the need for further investigation of the virus in the context of reproductive disease. These findings document the first detection and molecular characterization of a SHAV in Switzerland and demonstrate its widespread circulation in cattle during the 2026 outbreak.

Abstract: We propose a novel hypothesis for the physical nature and existence of dark matter, derived from Hawking’s cosmology. It retains the standard gravitational field equations, but attributes the additional gravitational contribution to a different projected mass distribution. It does not introduce new physical parameters or concepts nor ad-hoc assumptions about the nature of dark matter that lead to an NFW-halo in galaxies and yet explains the observations. Instead, this article argues it is the effect of a superposition of all 165 possible 3-dimensional universes in 11-dimensional space, of which zero to two dimensions overlap with our universe. The conjectural premise is that nothing that could disturb this superposition exists. This, with the dimensions of strings in String theory and in intersecting brane-worlds concepts, explains why dark matter causes flat rotation curves at large radii in galaxies. To support this, the matter distribution in the disks and bulges, calculated by the SPARC team, and the observed rotation velocities are used. Lelli and Mistele showed that the common way to project dark matter halos around galaxies cannot be valid. An alternative is to model dark matter as an emergent result of the compactified dimensions in String theory and the way gravity from superposed universes acts through them. This as well explains the rapid development of large galaxies in the early universe as reported by Labbé. We propose a prediction method for rotation velocities as accurate as MOND. It shows considerable improvement of the predicted velocity dispersions compared with MOND in galaxy clusters.

Abstract: Nuclear power is almost universally treated in the empirical literature as a determinant of emissions rather than as an outcome to be explained. This study reverses the direction of analysis and asks which environmental, social and governance conditions sustain nuclear generation within a national electricity mix. Using a balanced panel of the twenty-nine countries operating civil nuclear capacity between 2004 and 2020, comprising 466 observations, we estimate a single equation in which all three ESG pillars enter jointly rather than the pillar-by-pillar specifications common in this field, and we document that separate estimation reverses the sign of three of nine coefficients. Six estimators are compared: Pooled OLS, weighted least squares, random effects, two-way fixed effects, Between and correlated random effects. Fossil dependence is negative and significant at the one per cent level in every specification, consistent with technological lock-in. Water stress carries a positive coefficient, reflecting industrial concentration rather than resource abundance. Population ageing displays an inverted-U profile with a turning point at 14.3 per cent, and female parliamentary representation is negatively associated with the nuclear share, providing the first aggregate evidence consistent with the gender gap in nuclear risk perception. Electoral democracy reverses sign across dimensions, positive between countries and negative within them. All three pillars are jointly significant in five of six estimators. An unsupervised classification identifies four national configurations accounting for half of the cross-country variance, and country-blocked cross-validation shows that the linear specification outperforms every flexible algorithm, whose apparent superiority under random partitioning is an artefact of panel leakage.