Elastocaloric cooling, which leverages stress-induced phase transformation in shape memory materials, represents a sustainable and energy-efficient alternative to conventional vapor-compression cooling systems. Central to optimizing these materials is understanding how thermal processing history dictates phase formation, microstructure, and thermal properties. In this study, we investigated the (Ni50Mn31.5Ti18)(99.8)B-0.2 compound synthesized via vacuum induction melting and arc melting, followed by water quenching. Induction melting results in needle-like, boron-rich precipitates within the martensite lattice. In contrast, vacuum arc melting promoted precipitate growth at the grain boundaries. The vacuum arc melting sample exhibits similar to 82% martensite phase fraction, a near-ambient transformation temperature of not approximate to 277 K, a large transition entropy change of similar to 75 J.kg(-1).K-1, and moderate thermal hysteresis of similar to 24 K. These results underscore the pivotal role of thermal history in tailoring phase stability and transformation thermodynamics, providing essential design guidelines for subsequent mechanical performance optimization in elastocaloric shape memory alloys for energy-efficient and sustainable thermal management applications.
Utah has a unique religious subculture that emerges from the historical and demographic prominence of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the LDS, or Mormon church). Scholars argue that in recent decades this subculture is eroding as disaffiliation from Mormonism rises. This paper examines the demography, social attitudes and religiosity of current and former Mormons to understand the dynamics of Utah's shifting religious landscape. We find that current Mormons are better educated and more affluent than former Mormons. They are also more religious and politically conservative. By contrast, disaffiliating from Mormonism is concentrated among young people, and associated with progressive politics, especially on matters of sex and gender. Unlike studies conducted in previous decades, we find that women now leave the LDS Church at least as frequently as men. Mormons who exit are more likely to abandon religion altogether than switch to another faith. We discuss the implication of these findings for the sociology of religion.
Advances in high-performance computing have expanded the use of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) for reacting-flow analysis; however, simulations involving detailed flame kinetics remain computationally intensive for many practical systems. Efficient modeling approaches are therefore essential for predicting flame behavior in swirl-stabilized combustors. This study examines the influence of main-stage swirl intensity on near-lean blow-off characteristics in a multistage swirl combustor using a hybrid RANS-LES framework. The Stress Blended Eddy Simulation (SBES) model, coupled with a Flamelet Generated Manifold (FGM) combustion formulation, is employed to capture key turbulence-chemistry interactions. Results indicate that reducing swirl intensity suppresses the formation of a swirl-stabilized flame, while excessive swirl negatively affects emission performance. For the baseline (S2) and high-swirl (S3) configurations, flame lift-off height increases by 21.0% and 11.96%, respectively, for every 0.1 reduction in equivalence ratio. The S3 case also demonstrates reduced combustion efficiency, with CO emissions rising by 156.4% relative to S2. Local flame extinction is observed in regions of strong droplet-flame interaction, highlighting enhanced quenching susceptibility under near-blow-off conditions. The present study investigates the flame dynamics in a multi-stage swirl combustor using high-fidelity CFD simulations. This study has yet to be validated through experimental analysis and the results presented in this work are entirely computational. Further experimental validation is necessary to verify the results.
ObjectivesSexual debut is an important milestone in sexual development and is often used as an indicator of adolescent sexual health. Early sexual debut, defined as first penile-vaginal intercourse between the ages of 11 and 14, has been linked to a range of psychosocial, behavioral, and reproductive health outcomes and reflects broader inequities in access to safe, consensual, and informed sexual experiences. Guided by life course theory, this cross-sectional study examined how individual, familial, and socioeconomic factors shape age at sexual debut and assessed whether these associations differ by sex.MethodsData from the 2011-2013, 2013-2015, 2015-2017, and 2017-2019 waves of the National Survey of Family Growth (NSFG) were pooled, yielding an analytic sample of 32,670 participants aged 15-49 years. Age at sexual debut was categorized as early (11-14 years), normative (15-17 years), or later (>= 18 years; reference). Descriptive statistics and polytomous logistic regression models estimated associations between exposures and age at sexual debut, adjusting for all covariates. Interaction terms evaluated sex differences.ResultsBeing male, living in a childhood home without two parents, having a mother with a low education, having a mother who gave birth at a young age, and the absence of a mother figure were risk factors for early sexual debut. Interaction analyses revealed that Black and Hispanic males had elevated odds of early sexual debut, while these racial/ethnic associations were not observed among females.ConclusionFindings demonstrate how timing of events, linked lives, and socioeconomic context, core pillars of life course theory, contribute to unequal pathways toward sexual debut. Although some determinants are not modifiable, factors such as parental monitoring, family communication, and access to comprehensive sexuality education represent actionable opportunities to support equitable sexual development and improve sexual health outcomes.
PurposeThis study aims to introduce accountability acceptance, defined as the extent to which employees embrace versus resist being held accountable, and examines its individual-level antecedents. Unlike felt accountability, which reflects perceived external evaluation pressure, accountability acceptance captures an internalized, identity-consistent orientation toward responsibility itself.Design/methodology/approachThe authors used structural equation modeling to test the research model across two independent and diverse samples of full-time US workers. The first sample used a paid professional surveying agency and the second used a snowball sampling technique from multiple universities.FindingsEmployees higher in trait anger and entitlement were less likely to accept accountability whereas those with an internal work locus of control were more likely to embrace it. These relationships were consistent across samples, supporting the robustness and generalizability of the findings.Originality/valueThis research advances accountability theory by reframing it from a top-down control mechanism to an employee-driven orientation grounded in identity processes. By conceptualizing accountability acceptance as a self-definitional stance toward responsibility, this study offers a novel identity-theoretic explanation for why employees differ in their responses to being held accountable.
