Abstract: We develop a geometric framework in which an effective spacetime description and an Einstein--Friedmann–type structure emerge from the geometry of a universal wavefunction, without postulating gravitational field equations or introducing matter fields as independent degrees of freedom. Starting from a conserved current associated with the wavefunction, we define a flux hypersurface embedded in a higher-dimensional ambient space and show that, under minimal assumptions of homogeneity and isotropy, its induced Lorentzian geometry is necessarily of Friedmann--Robertson--Walker type. The intrinsic curvature of the induced metric is fixed by the embedding geometry itself. A maximally symmetric hyperboloid corresponds to exact de Sitter spacetime, while more general, physically admissible, and normalisable wavefunction envelopes give rise to a time-dependent curvature scale. In this case, the effective cosmological term is approximately constant only in a narrow intermediate regime, where the expansion is transientlyquasi–de Sitter, and evolves away from this limit at both early and late times. By identifying a conserved, potential-like geometric invariant inherited from the universal wavefunction, we obtain an effective Einstein--Friedmann structure on the hypersurface without invoking gravitational dynamics. This invariant fixes the scaling of the dominant effective density ρ ~ 1/a² and determines the effective gravitational coupling. For closed spatial slicing, this matter-like contribution cancels identically against the spatial curvature term in the Friedmann equation, leaving a purelygeometric constraint relating the Hubble rate to a residual, time-dependent vacuum-like sector. We show that the apparent tension between a de Sitter–like Friedmann constraint and a nonvanishing is resolved once the effective continuity equation is taken into account: the expansion rate is fixed algebraically at eachinstant, while its time evolution is governed by the slow variation of the effective cosmological term. As a result, the cosmological evolution exhibits three distinct regimes: a strongly non–de Sitter early-time phase, a transient quasi–de Sitter regime, and an asymptotically coasting late-time expansion with w→-1/3 emerging dynamically as an attractor. These results position general relativity as an effective geometric description arising from a deeper,wavefunction-based structure, in which spacetime curvature, expansion, and cosmological dynamics are emergent properties of the underlying quantum geometry.

Abstract: There has been an ongoing discussion regarding the significance of corpus-based methods in Stylistics. This study therefore investigates how corpus-based approach can enrich our understanding of themes and style of a literary writer, using one of Niyi Osundare’s collections, titled, The Eye of the Earth. While previous studies on Osundare have richly examined his poems individually through qualitative close reading, none of this scholarship has attempted a corpus-based quantitative method. Using Mahberg’s (2013) criteria, KWIC analysis show that content keywords (i.e. earth, like, sun, forest, and rain) in poems foreground the themes of nature and human ecosystem, which is further verified by the deliberate deployment of Yoruba lexical items like Olosunta and Iroko having the highest frequency of occurrence in the entire collection. These quantitative patterns corroborate submissions by earlier qualitative studies (Onyejizu & Obi, 2020; Amore & Amusan, 2016). The study also identified certain stylistic regularities in the poem that may not be easily recognized by close reading. This shows how a corpus-assisted discourse method amplifies detail that might be hidden to close reading especially the integration of relevant Yoruba words in strategic positions to invoke realities that are deeply rooted in Yoruba oral traditions. The smooth flow of Yoruba language as a means of complementing the thematic ideas already captured in English language depicts Osundare as not just a literary icon but a linguistic genius whose literary idiolect is a product of premeditation and perspiration to reflect cultural identity, cosmology, ecology.

Abstract: We introduce a theory in which gravity emerges as a thermodynamic phenomenon governed by a scalar field that sets the local rate of quantum evolution. Building on Jacobson’s thermodynamic derivation of Einstein’s equations and Verlinde’s entropic gravity, this framework extends these ideas into a unified theory of spacetime thermodynamics. In the strong-field limit it reproduces General Relativity, while in weak-field and low-density environments it predicts modified gravitational dynamics that account for galaxy rotation curves and galaxy cluster mass discrepancies without invoking particle dark matter. On cosmological scales, the theory predicts an early epoch of emergent inflation without an inflaton field and a late-time evolving accelerating expansion driven by the gradual depletion of vacuum thermodynamic capacity, implying cyclic cosmic evolution. From first principles, the framework yields parameter-free predictions for the Hubble constant and the present matter density consistent with observations. We confront the theory with Pantheon+, Cosmic Chronometers, DESI DR2 BAO, and the CMB angular scale \( \theta_\ast \), and find that it provides a statistically preferred description of the data relative to ΛCDM, with ΔBIC = -18.5, resolving the Hubble Tension as an artifact of thermodynamic evolution. These results indicate that a thermodynamic origin of gravity and spacetime offers a coherent explanation of gravitational and cosmological phenomena.

Abstract: This paper presents probabilistic wind energy forecasting using quantile regression averaging combined with a conformal prediction modelling framework. The study uses data from Eskom, South Africa's power utility company. The data is from April 2019 to November 2023. A partial linear additive quantile regression (PLQR) averaging method is used to combine forecasts from two competing forecasting models: eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost) and Principal Component Regression (PCR). To compare the predictive abilities of the models, two data splits are used: 80\%, 10\% and 10\% for the first set, and 85\%, 10\% and 5\% for the second set. Empirical results suggest that the combined predictions from PLAQR perform better than the individual models, significantly improving calibration and accuracy. The proposed combination has the smallest root mean square error (RMSE) and the highest probability of change in direction (POCID). The combination captures nonlinearities and produces well-calibrated probabilistic results. Probability integral transform histograms validate this. This performance gain reflected the importance of data volume. This is reinforced by the fact that the PLAQR model, which combines the benefits of tree-based approaches and linear models, is a robust modelling approach for reliable renewable energy forecasting. Future research directions should consider more varied ensembles.

Abstract: Background/Objectives: Sichuan Mandarin is often described as exhibiting overlap or merger between word-initial /n/ and /l/, but perceptual sensitivity across phonetic contexts remains underexplored. This study examines whether perception of the /n–l/ contrast varies by vowel context and listener experience. Methods: Thirty-two Sichuan Mandarin listeners completed categorical identification and same–different AX discrimination tasks using seven-step /n/→/l/ continua derived from native-speaker productions in /i/ and /a/ contexts. Sensitivity, response bias, accuracy, and response times were analyzed alongside individual differences. Acoustic properties of the stimuli were quantified using spectral and amplitude-based measures. Results: Listeners showed overall reduced sensitivity to the /n–l/ contrast, with substantially stronger perceptual differentiation in /i/ than /a/ context. Bias patterns were comparable across contexts, indicating sensitivity-driven effects. Acoustic analyses showed more robust cue structure in the /i/ continuum. Age, education, and Standard Mandarin experience modulated response efficiency but did not eliminate the vowel asymmetry. Conclusions: Results support a context-dependent near-merger of /n/ and /l/, shaped by acoustic cue availability and experience-based cue exploitation.

Abstract: Dental anxiety is a common experience and can be considered a public health issue. This qualitative evidence synthesis used a thematic synthesis approach, to identify and synthesise findings of qualitative studies exploring adults’ lived experiences of dental anxiety.Systematic searches of Embase, Medline, Scopus, PsycINFO, Web of Science, ProQuest, CINAHL and the Cochrane Library identified eleven qualitative studies (total N = 308; age range 18–75 years; 62% female) exploring adults’ dental anxiety experiences Data were extracted and critically appraised using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP, 2018) checklist for qualitative research, then synthesised with confidence in synthesised findings assessed using GRADE‑CERQual criteria.Eleven qualitative studies (308 adult participants) yielded 18 review findings, which were organised into nine descriptive themes and synthesised into four analytical themes. The constructed themes captured dental anxiety as a convergence of past and present experiences, shaped by the patient-clinician relationships and systemic factors in dental care. The role of shame contributed to avoidance behaviours, and the use of personal coping strategies was linked to regaining a sense of control which was perceived to be minimal whilst in the dental chair. Findings highlight the benefits of qualitative research methods for understanding the complexity of dental anxiety.

Abstract: Wave-particle duality remains one of the most striking and conceptually unresolved features of quantum mechanics. Here I present a dynamical mechanism for wave-particle duality based on spontaneous stochastic mass-energy interconversion at subatomic scales. By promoting particle mass to a fluctuating quantity consistent with Einstein’s mass-energy equivalence, I derive a Schrödinger equation with an additional stochastic kinetic-phase term. Applied to the canonical double-slit experiment, the framework shows that quantum interference arises from coherent, path-dependent phase accumulation driven by mass-energy fluctuations, while particle-like localization emerges naturally at detection. The formalism yields closed-form expressions for interference visibility, predicts a momentum- and mass-dependent decoherence rate, admits a path-integral interpretation, and enables direct experimental bounds using neutron, electron, and atom interferometry. The results provide a physically grounded account of wave-particle duality without modifying the axioms of quantum mechanics.

Abstract: The aim of this work is to base the estimation of probabilities associated with events on Bayes’ theorem, starting from Jeffreys’ non-informative prior.

Abstract: The present overview aims to illustrate the application of differential topology methods to some important problems in matrix analysis. In particular, it focuses on the use of smooth manifolds and smooth mappings to study fundamental issues such as the determination of matrix rank and the computation of the Jordan form in presence of uncertainties. Various aspects of numerical matrix analysis are discussed, including the genericity of matrix problems, characterization of singular sets in the parameter space, the distance to ill-posed problems and its relation to problem conditioning. The paper also addresses the conditioning of matrix problems in both deterministic and probabilistic settings and the regularization of ill--posed matrix problems. Several examples are provided to illustrate these concepts and their practical relevance.

Abstract: Fairness and minority exclusion have emerged as the central concerns of contemporary AI ethics. However, standard auditing practices often fail to capture harms affecting edge cases and marginalized groups. This article argues that this failure is structural: the act of "discretization"—converting continuous reality into discrete governance categories—inevitably produces a "residual." Drawing on German Idealism (Kant, Fichte, Schelling) and continental philosophy (Dilthey, Gadamer, Merleau-Ponty), we reconceptualize residuals not as mere noise but as "surprising facts" that should trigger abductive hypothesis revision. We critique current audit-by-checklist approaches as "rituals of verification" that obscure these residuals. This article makes three key contributions: (i) a structural diagnosis of residual production using systems theory and topology; (ii) a philosophical reconstruction of abductive revision as a hermeneutic necessity; and (iii) an institutional design proposal—specifically, the Residual Ledger and Category Revision Protocols—to operationalize "Open Schema" governance.

Abstract: Engineering education faces growing demands to prepare graduates capable of addressing complex sustainability challenges, public safety concerns, and ethical responsibilities. However, sustainability and ethical education are often delivered as supplementary content, limiting their integration with core engineering instruction. This study examines and evaluates a curriculum reform of a Building Water Supply and Drainage Engineering course that systematically integrates sustainability, ethical responsibility, and human-centered values into technical teaching through a CDIO-oriented approach. A quasi-experimental pre–post design was employed with a full cohort of 100 undergraduate engineering students. Data were collected using a sustainability-oriented questionnaire, project-based assessment rubrics, and student reflection reports. Quantitative data were analyzed using paired-sample t-tests and effect size calculations, while qualitative data were thematically coded to support interpretation of the results. The findings demonstrate statistically significant and practically meaningful improvements in students’ sustainability awareness, ethical responsibility, human-centered design thinking, and systems thinking. Project assessment results further reveal students’ ability to apply sustainability principles and ethical considerations in engineering design tasks. These results provide empirical evidence that value integration within core engineering courses enhances both technical competence and professional responsibility. This study contributes empirical evidence to Education for Sustainable Development in engineering education by demonstrating a transferable pedagogical model that embeds sustainability and ethics into discipline-specific engineering instruction without increasing curricular load.

Abstract: Total Quality Management (TQM) is increasingly adopted by higher education institutions (HEIs) to enhance institutional effectiveness under growing performance and accountability pressures. However, empirical evidence remains limited regarding the mechanisms through which TQM practices influence non-financial and financial performance outcomes. This study examines the mediating roles of Hard Quality Management practices and Non-Financial Performance in the relationship between Soft Quality Management practices and Financial Performance in higher education institutions. A quantitative research design was employed using survey data collected from academic and administrative staff across public and private HEIs. The hypothesised direct and indirect relationships were tested using mediation analysis implemented through Hayes’ PROCESS macro, enabling a robust examination of multiple mediation pathways. The results indicate that Soft Quality Management practices significantly enhance both Hard Quality Management practices and Non-Financial Performance. Hard Quality Management practices partially mediate the relationships between Soft Quality Management practices and both Non-Financial and Financial Performance, while Non-Financial Performance also serves as a significant mediator linking Soft Quality Management practices to Financial Performance. The persistence of significant direct effects suggests partial mediation, indicating that Soft Quality Management practices operate through both formalised systems and complementary behavioural and cultural mechanisms. Overall, the findings position TQM as a governance-oriented framework that strengthens institutional performance through interconnected quality pathways in higher education institutions.

Abstract: Adversaries can extend the communication distance of contactless systems with relays to make unauthorized transactions. Contactless payment systems are becoming increasingly vulnerable to relay attacks. We describe how attackers may use low-cost devices to conduct relay attacks and present a new application-layer software defense. Using Round Trip Time (RTT), our software defense detects relay attacks with 100% success in more than 10,000 trials; at the same time, it provides a false positive rate of less than 0.86%. Unlike many hardware-based defenses, our defense is easy to deploy and increases transaction time by no more than 0.22 seconds, so users will see little, if any, degradation in performance. Our results show there are serious vulnerabilities in the contactless payment systems and we provide a viable and practical way to prevent relay-based fraud.

Abstract: Effective space management remains a fundamental yet frequently underestimated determinant of construction project success, as inadequate spatial planning leads to reduced productivity, congested work areas, inefficient resource movements, and elevated safety risks. This paper addresses the limitations of traditional static space-planning approaches by introducing the Dynamic Location Breakdown Structure (DLBS), a flexible, layered methodology for systematically organizing and dynamically updating construction sectors throughout project execution. The DLBS enables project managers to use architectural drawings and construction schedules to create structured representations of both interior and exterior sectors, organized into sequential layers that correspond to major construction stages—including preparatory work, excavation, structural erection, MEP installations, space division, finishing, and closure. Unlike conventional location breakdown structures that remain fixed throughout construction, the DLBS adapts to the evolving spatial configuration of the site as new areas emerge and existing sectors transform in response to structural progress, temporary installations, and resource deployments. For each defined sector, the methodology establishes four essential parameters: accessibility status (open, restricted access, temporary closure, or not accessible), maximum available area, occupied area, and remaining area. These parameters provide the informational foundation necessary for dynamic spatiotemporal calculations of occupancy rates within the broader Dynamic Modeling of Occupancy Rate Scheduling (DMORS) framework. By integrating DLBS with Chronographic Modeling \citep{Francis2004,Francis2016a, Francis2019a} principles, this research establishes a comprehensive approach to construction space management that enables proactive decision-making, resource optimization, congestion identification, and improved coordination among work crews throughout the construction lifecycle.

Abstract: Microservice architectures amplify the volume and complexity of security vulnerabilities, making it increasingly difficult for security and SRE teams to decide which services to patch, when to patch them, and how to coordinate patches under strict cost and availability constraints. Traditional prioritization schemes based on CVSS scores or static business criticality heuristics ignore inter-service dependencies, deployment topologies, and operational costs such as downtime, rollback risk, and engineering effort. In this paper, we propose M-VP2a microservice-oriented vulnerability patch planning framework that formulates patch scheduling as a cost-aware multi-agent reinforcement learning (MARL) problem. Each microservice is modeled as an autonomous agent that selects patching actions over time (e.g. patch now, defer, or batch with other changes), while a joint reward function balances security risk reduction, patching and downtime cost, and compliance with service-level objectives. The environment captures call-graph dependencies, cascading failure modes, and temporal exploit likelihood, enabling agents to learn coordination strategies that avoid risky simultaneous updates on tightly coupled services. We design a hierarchical actor–critic architecture with centralized training and decentralized execution, augmented with a risk-aware reward shaping mechanism to penalize unsafe patch combinations and SLA violations. Extensive simulation experiments on synthetic and real-world–inspired microservice topologies show that M-VP2 reduces expected breach risk and aggregate patching cost by up to double-digit percentages compared with CVSS-based heuristics, greedy risk–cost ranking, and single-agent RL baselines, while producing patch plans that are more stable, interpretable, and aligned with operational constraints.

Abstract: Polymer-based insulation materials are widely used to enhance the energy efficiency of buildings; however, their growing application raises concerns related to resource use and end-of-life management. Rigid polyurethane (PUR) foams are key core materials in structural insulated panels due to their favorable thermal and mechanical performance, yet their life cycle environmental im-pacts—particularly at end-of-life—remain insufficiently quantified. In this study, a cradle-to-grave life cycle assessment (LCA) of PUR-based insulation used in structural insulated panel systems is conducted in accordance with ISO 14040/44 and EN 15804 standards. The assessment is performed using Sphera LCA software and the CML 2016 impact assessment method. Formulation-level variations of rigid PUR foams, including changes in methylene diphenyl diisocyanate content and pentane blowing agent ratio, are explicitly incorporated to evaluate their influence on key environmental impact categories. The results indicate that increasing pentane content leads to higher global warming potential, while this effect may be mitigated or intensified by concurrent changes in diisocyanate content and foam density in fully formulated systems. Three end-of-life scenari-os—landfilling, incineration with energy recovery, and mechanical recycling—are analyzed. The findings provide material-level, decision-relevant insights that support environmentally informed formulation strategies and contribute to the development of more circular polymer-based insulation solutions for the built environment.

Abstract: Objective: This systematic review aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of preoperative nutrition-based interventions on pre-, intra-, and postoperative outcomes in children undergoing cardiac surgical procedures. Methods: CENTRAL, MEDLINE, and EMBASE were systematically searched for interventional and observational studies comparing any nutritional preoperative intervention with a control or alternative strategy in pediatric patients undergoing cardiac surgery, up to July 2025. The main outcome was postoperative length of stay in the intensive care unit (ICU). The certainty of evidence was assessed using the GRADE approach. Results: Nineteen studies were included (8 randomized controlled trials [RCTs], 1 non-randomized trial, and 10 observational studies), evaluating heterogeneous interventions or exposures, including fatty acids, vitamin D supplementation, and structured preoperative nutritional protocols. Two RCTs demonstrated shorter ICU and hospital stays with extended preoperative nutritional support (2 weeks vs 1 week; n = 40; and 1 month vs no support; n = 80). Observational data indicated an association between preoperative nutritional support and reduced hospital length of stay (meta-analysis of 4 studies; n = 278) as well as fewer days to achieve full enteral feeding postoperatively (meta-analysis of 3 studies; n = 138). No significant difference in postoperative ICU stay was observed between groups (meta-analysis of 2 studies; n = 175). No intervention-related serious adverse events were reported. The overall certainty of evidence was very low. Conclusions: This systematic review provides very low–certainty evidence suggesting that preoperative nutrition-based interventions in children undergoing cardiac surgery are safe and may offer clinical benefits. Substantial heterogeneity across studies underscores the need for well-designed trials and standardized preoperative nutritional protocols.

Abstract: This study investigates the continuity, change and discontinuity of human settlements in the northern Stig Plain along the Danube River in Serbia, with the aim to explore how the natural environment, human–land interactions, and historical events shaped the establishment, duration, decline, and reconstruction of these settlements. Particular attention is given to the Roman city of Viminacium, now largely covered by fertile farmland. The research combines theoretical perspectives on landscape and human–land relations with a review of sources on Roman urban development, case studies of settlement formation, development, abandonment and transition, and an analysis of Viminacium’s environmental and historical context. It examines why Viminacium remained the landscape’s only major urban centre, with no subsequent settlement built directly above it. Findings show that the natural environment strongly influenced settlement patterns, providing both subsistence and strategic advantages. The plain’s urban potential was fully realised only in the Roman period, through the establishment of a legionary fortress, technological advances, organised labour, and military order that overcame environmental constraints. Viminacium’s heritage integrates remains from multiple historical periods into a unique, evolving cultural landscape that warrants preservation, though its management remains challenging.

Abstract: Large-scale vegetation disturbances can significantly affect evapotranspiration (ET) and groundwater dynamics in humid, shallow aquifer systems, but these impacts are difficult to isolate due to climatic variability. This study examines the effects of vegeta-tion loss on ET, groundwater recharge, and water table response in Bay County, Flori-da, following Hurricane Michael (2018). Historical analyses of precipitation, reference evapotranspiration (RET), and groundwater depth were integrated with physically based groundwater modeling using an enhanced ICPR4/ StormWise framework that explicitly incorporates ET and vegetation-dependent crop coefficients. Trend and cor-relation analyses show weak precipitation–groundwater relationships but a strong in-verse relationship between daily RET and groundwater depth (r = −0.74), indicating that ET exerts a dominant short-term control on groundwater fluctuations. Model simulations driven by observed precipitation reveal that interannual rainfall variabil-ity governs recharge and can mask vegetation-driven ET effects. When precipitation was held constant, reduced ET in the post-hurricane landscape increased groundwater recharge and elevated water tables, with a 4.5% reduction in ET producing a 7.8% in-crease in recharge and water-table rises of up to 1 ft (0.30 m). These results highlight the importance of ET-inclusive modeling for evaluating post-disturbance groundwater responses in coastal aquifer systems.

Abstract: This work defines an effective memory horizon \( T_{\rm mem} \) for a class of non-Markovian cosmologies based on the Infinite Transformation Principle (ITP), and shows how \( T_{\rm mem} \) can be inferred from late time expansion and growth data. The key ingredient is a causal kernel that ties the present Hubble rate to the integrated history of internal energy and structure. From this kernel one can extract a characteristic timescale over which past states remain dynamically relevant. A combination of \( H(z) \) measurements, large scale structure growth constraints, and two bin ITP fits is used to constrain the delay parameter that controls the memory kernel and to map it into \( T_{\rm mem} \). In representative fits the present universe behaves as if its dynamics retains memory over effective timescales of order \( T_{\rm mem}\sim 50 \)–\( 80 \)~Gyr, several times larger than the standard \( 13.8 \)~Gyr age, without implying a literal birth time at \( t=-T_{\rm mem} \). The memory horizon is best interpreted as an operational measure of how far back the present expansion is correlated with its own past, not as a revised estimate of the age of the universe. Robustness tests with different kernel families and priors on the delay parameter show that current \( H(z)+f\sigma_8(z) \) data strongly disfavour short delay, effectively Markovian behaviour and favour a long memory regime with a conservative lower bound corresponding to several Hubble times. The picture that emerges is compatible with cyclical cosmologies in which late-time observables can carry accumulated memory from earlier phases, while remaining consistent with the empirical success of \( \Lambda \)CDM at low redshift.