In this paper, we study a numerical method for the Caputo time fractional wave equation with nonsmooth data. We first introduce a class of third-order approximations, known as weighted and shifted Grünwald-Letnikov approximations, to approximate the Caputo fractional derivative. Based on this, we develop a new time stepping method for solving the time fractional wave equation. After applying corrections to several initial steps, the proposed time stepping method achieves a convergence order of O(k3)$$O(k^3)$$ for nonsmooth data, where k denotes the time step size. We also analyze the stability regions of the proposed time stepping method, which show that the scheme is unconditionally stable for α∈(1,1.94)$$ \alpha \in (1, 1.94) $$, and conditionally stable for α∈[1.94,2)$$ \alpha \in [1.94, 2) $$. Numerical experiments are presented to validate the theoretical findings.

In this paper, we propose and analyze an efficient numerical method for solving the stochastic Allen-Cahn equation with additive noise. The method combines a stabilized semi-implicit time discretization scheme with a reduced-order finite element spatial discretization method. The core idea is to approximate the original high-dimensional solution space via a low-dimensional subspace, constructed by the Proper Orthogonal Decomposition (POD) method based on an ensemble of snapshots from the full-order model at selected time instances. First, we rigorously establish the spatio-temporal strong convergence rates between the mild solution and the reduced-order solution. Second, in large-sample simulations, the reduced-order basis exhibits a certain generalization capability in capturing the average behavior of the numerical solutions. Numerical experiments are provided to verify the theoretical error estimates and to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.

In order to maximize residential energy use and reduce electricity costs, home energy management systems (HEMS), are crucial. A distinct dynamic pricing-driven load optimization technique for HEMS running in islanded mode where grid access is either limited or nonexistent is presented in this paper. Incorporating important distributed energy resources like photovoltaic (PV) systems, electric vehicles (EVs), battery energy storage systems (BESS), and limited grid access, the optimal schedule is also used for real-time dynamic pricing analysis. A planned short-duration outage and a full 24-hour islanding scenario are the two different outage scenarios that are assessed. In short-duration outages, grid dependency decreases to roughly 10% in the spring and approximately 50% in the summer and winter, according to a thorough seasonal analysis conducted in the spring, summer, and winter. The suggested approach guarantees total self-sufficiency in the 24-hour outage scenario, with local resources satisfying load demands in full.

In this work, we investigate a class of nonlinear stochastic Volterra-type evolution equations, which can be regarded as an extension of the results reported in Qiao et al. (Fract Calc Appl Anal 27:1136–1161, 2024). For such equations, we propose an Euler scheme and rigorously establish the existence, uniqueness, and regularity of the solution. Moreover, we present the detailed numerical implementation of the scheme and derive the corresponding error estimates.

An efficient numerical method is proposed to address a stochastic time-fractional cable equation driven by fractionally integrated additive noise. Under the reasonable assumptions, we rigorously establish for the first time, the existence, uniqueness, and regularity of the mild solution for this equation. For spatial discretization, a semi-discrete scheme is constructed employing the Galerkin FEM, and the optimal spatial error estimate is derived based on the semigroup approach. In temporal discretization, a piecewise constant function is introduced to approximate the noise, leading to the formulation of a regularized stochastic time-fractional cable equation. A detailed proof of the temporal error estimates is provided via the semigroup approach. Numerical experiments demonstrate that the temporal convergence order attains O ( τ 1 / 2 ) for initial data of either smooth or non-smooth type. The order is independent of the parameters α 1 ∈ ( 0 , 1 ) , α 2 ∈ ( 0 , 1 ) , and β ∈ ( 0 , 1 ) in the equation. These results perfectly align with the theoretical predictions.

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The number of people choosing to study computing in higher education remains low. Previous research has developed a research instrument to identify factors underlying student participation grounded in Bourdieu’s sociocultural theory. This study replicates and extends the original study, which identified key social, cultural, and psychological factors linked to computing education participation in Sweden. Using the validated research instrument, we distributed a survey across 11 UK universities, gathering responses from 131 students. Through Confirmatory Factor Analysis, we assessed the robustness of the original study’s constructs — career interest, subject-specific interest, influence from family and friends, confidence, and sense of belonging — and their relationship to subject choice in computing. After model refinements, the replication confirmed and validated the factor structure, supporting the stability of these constructs and their relationship to computing subject choice across cultural contexts. In addition, the current study adds additional open-ended questions to the research instrument to help explain the quantitative results. A thematic analysis further explains the correlation between previous experience, social influence, confidence, and gender, and how that relates to participation in the field. By replicating and extending the original study’s methodology, this research evaluates the reliability and generalisability of its conclusions, contributing to the evidence base needed to design interventions that broaden participation in computing education.

Chemical plant strengtheners find increasing use in agriculture to enhance resistance against pathogens. In an earlier study, it was found that treatment with one such resistance elicitor, BTH (benzo-(1, 2, 3)-thiadiazole-7-carbothioic acid S-methyl ester), increases the attractiveness of maize plants to a parasitic wasp. This surprising additional benefit of treating plants with BTH prompted us to conduct a series of olfactometer tests to find out if BTH and another commercially available plant strengthener, Laminarin, increase the attractiveness of maize to three important parasitic wasps, Cotesia marginventris, Campoletis sonorensis, and Microplitis rufiventris. In each case, plants that were sprayed with the plant strengtheners and subsequently induced to release volatiles by real or mimicked attack by Spodoptera littoralis caterpillars became more attractive to the parasitoids than water treated plants. The elicitors alone or in combination with plants that were not induced by herbivory were not attractive to the wasps. Interestingly, plants treated with the plant strengtheners did not show any consistent increase in volatile emissions. On the contrary, treated plants released less herbivore-induced volatiles, most notably indole, which has been reported to interfere with parasitoid attraction. The emission of the sesquiterpenes (E)-β-caryophyllene, β-bergamotene, and (E)-β-farnesene was similarly reduced by the treatment. Expression profiles of marker genes showed that BTH and Laminarin induced several pathogenesis related (PR) genes. The results support the notion that, as yet undetectable and unidentified compounds, are of major importance for parasitoid attraction, and that these attractants may be masked by some of the major compounds in the volatile blends. This study confirms that elicitors of pathogen resistance are compatible with the biological control of insect pests and may even help to improve it.

The predatory bug Orius albidipennis (Reuter) (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae) has tremendous potential as a biological control agent, especially in its native range around the Mediterranean Basin and East Africa. The need to exploit native biological control agents is growing in importance as concerns over the introduction of non-native species continue to increase. However, little is known of the effects of different prey on development and reproduction of O. albidipennis compared with other species of Orius. Therefore, we compared the development, survival, reproductive biology, and prey consumption of O. albidipennis when fed eggs of Ephestia kuehniella Zeller, Tetranychus urticae Koch, and Trialeurodes vaporariorum (Westwood), and larvae of Gynaikothrips ficorum (Marchal), under laboratory of 26 ± 1°C, 60 ± 10% RH and 16L:8D photoperiod. Individuals were reared from the neonate stage until death on one of the four prey types. The type of prey had profound effects on all measured performance traits. The highest survival rate was recorded for nymphs that were fed on E. kuehniella eggs, while the lowest survival rate was observed for those fed on T. vaporariorum eggs. The shortest nymphal period was recorded for nymphs fed on E. kuehniella eggs, while the longest was measured for those fed on T. urticae eggs. During the nymphal period, O. albidipennis consumed significantly more eggs of T. urticae than other prey types, whereas the lowest number of consumed prey were eggs of E. kuehniella. Adult females and males consumed significantly more T. urticae eggs than other types of prey. However, Orius albidipennis females showed the highest fecundity when fed on E. kuehniella eggs, and the lowest when fed on T. vaporariorum eggs. Adult females and males that fed on G. ficorum larvae had significantly longer life spans compared with those fed other prey. Because of their relatively rapid development and high fecundity, O. albidipennis fed E. kuehniella eggs had a significantly higher net reproductive rate (Ro) and intrinsic rate of increase (rm) than O. albidipennis fed other prey types. Overall, eggs of E. kuehniella were the most suitable diet for nymphs and adults of O. albidipennis. Although less suitable, O. albidipennis could survive and reproduce on the other prey types, which is a favourable attribute in biological control agents. These results on the effect of different prey types on development and reproduction of O. albidipennis will also contribute to the development of mass rearing programs for biological control agents in developing countries, such as Egypt.

Determining links between plant defence strategies is important to understand plant evolution and to optimize crop breeding strategies. Although several examples of synergies and trade-offs between defence traits are known for plants that are under attack by multiple organisms, few studies have attempted to measure correlations of defensive strategies using specific single attackers. Such links are hard to detect in natural populations because they are inherently confounded by the evolutionary history of different ecotypes. We therefore used a range of 20 maize inbred lines with considerable differences in resistance traits to determine if correlations exist between leaf and root resistance against pathogens and insects. Aboveground resistance against insects was positively correlated with the plant's capacity to produce volatiles in response to insect attack. Resistance to herbivores and resistance to a pathogen, on the other hand, were negatively correlated. Our results also give first insights into the intraspecific variability of root volatiles release in maize and its positive correlation with leaf volatile production. We show that the breeding history of the different genotypes (dent versus flint) has influenced several defensive parameters. Taken together, our study demonstrates the importance of genetically determined synergies and trade-offs for plant resistance against insects and pathogens.