{We use resonant photoemission spectroscopy (resPES) to study the electronic properties of amorphous ZnO (a-ZnO) layers. We report on the core levels, the valence band (VB) PES data, and the X-ray absorption (XAS) data which we use for the conduction band (CB) density of states. From these results we are able to derive the partial density of states (pDOS) of O2p and Zn4s4p states in the VB and CB, respectively as well as a band scheme. At the O1s resonance we observe a band of localized defect states which is located between the Fermi energy and the CBM. At the Zn2p edge the XAS data indicate that localized Zn4s4p states are involved in the DOS starting already at the Fermi energy. (C) 2014 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim}

Abstract One of the unresolved aspects of cellulose-based liquid crystalline phases is their chirality. Although cellulose is intrinsically chiral, both left-handed (LH) and right-handed (RH) chiral nematic phases are reported in cellulose derivatives under different conditions. The origin of these discrepancies?and whether LH and RH twisted structures coexist within a single material?has remained unclear. Here, the first direct evidence of hierarchical LH and RH twisted structures coexisting in a solvent-free, thermotropic cellulose derivative at room temperature is provided. Free-standing cholesteric films exhibit distinct LH and RH twisted domains, whose pitches respond oppositely to uniaxial mechanical strain: the LH pitch increases, while the RH pitch decreases with increasing strain. This contrasting response results from the coexistence of intertwined LH and RH twisted structures, whose optical axes are oriented differently relative to the strain direction. Notably, after stretching beyond their elastic limit, the films spontaneously recover their original shape within minutes. During this recovery, circular dichroism (CD) measurements reveal an increase in RH pitch and a decrease in LH pitch, evidencing reversible, strain-responsive behavior. Multiscale structural characterization confirms the hierarchical chiral organization and its mechanoresponsive nature, providing new insights into the origin of chirality in cellulose-based liquid crystalline materials.

Triassic to Lower Jurassic deposits known as the Silves Group in the Algarve, southern Portugal, have been studied for over 150 years. However, many of this unit’s sedimentological, stratigraphical, and palaeontological aspects remain poorly documented. Here, we present novel observations on sedimentology, stratigraphy, taphonomy, and fauna at the Rocha da Pena site, located in the central part of the Algarve Basin. The investigated sequence is established to correspond to the upper part of the Silves Group. The mudstone, calcrete, and palustrine carbonate facies comprise most of the sequence thickness and are interpreted as having been deposited within coastal alluvial mudflats to palustrine settings under semi-arid and seasonal climates. The overlying siltstone and sandstone facies indicate an environmental shift towards tidally influenced environments, subsequently covered by the latest Triassic to earliest Jurassic volcaniclastics and basaltic lava flows. Furthermore, novel faunal elements, including actinopterygian and unionoid bivalves, are described from mudstone layers. New fossiliferous beds are identified within palustrine facies that yield numerous but poorly preserved materials assigned to cyamodontoid placodonts, hybodont sharks, and actinopterygians. The poor preservation of the remains is attributed to the pedogenetic processes prevalent in the palustrine depositional setting. A distinct faunal composition between the mudstone and palustrine facies is observed. It is preliminarily hypothesized to be likely linked with salinity fluctuations, but sampling bias cannot currently be excluded. The recovered vertebrate fauna aligns most closely with the Carnian and, to a lesser extent, the Norian fossil record. Nonetheless, the precise age of the fossil-bearing levels remains uncertain and can currently be reliably constrained to the upper Carnian–Rhaetian interval. Consequently, this work provides new insights into the palaeoenvironmental evolution of the western Tethys margin during the Late Triassic and highlights the relevance of the Silves Group in reconstructing coastal-continental ecosystem dynamics in southwestern Iberia.Triassic to Lower Jurassic deposits known as the Silves Group in the Algarve, southern Portugal, have been studied for over 150 years. However, many of this unit’s sedimentological, stratigraphical, and palaeontological aspects remain poorly documented. Here, we present novel observations on sedimentology, stratigraphy, taphonomy, and fauna at the Rocha da Pena site, located in the central part of the Algarve Basin. The investigated sequence is established to correspond to the upper part of the Silves Group. The mudstone, calcrete, and palustrine carbonate facies comprise most of the sequence thickness and are interpreted as having been deposited within coastal alluvial mudflats to palustrine settings under semi-arid and seasonal climates. The overlying siltstone and sandstone facies indicate an environmental shift towards tidally influenced environments, subsequently covered by the latest Triassic to earliest Jurassic volcaniclastics and basaltic lava flows. Furthermore, novel faunal elements, including actinopterygian and unionoid bivalves, are described from mudstone layers. New fossiliferous beds are identified within palustrine facies that yield numerous but poorly preserved materials assigned to cyamodontoid placodonts, hybodont sharks, and actinopterygians. The poor preservation of the remains is attributed to the pedogenetic processes prevalent in the palustrine depositional setting. A distinct faunal composition between the mudstone and palustrine facies is observed. It is preliminarily hypothesized to be likely linked with salinity fluctuations, but sampling bias cannot currently be excluded. The recovered vertebrate fauna aligns most closely with the Carnian and, to a lesser extent, the Norian fossil record. Nonetheless, the precise age of the fossil-bearing levels remains uncertain and can currently be reliably constrained to the upper Carnian–Rhaetian interval. Consequently, this work provides new insights into the palaeoenvironmental evolution of the western Tethys margin during the Late Triassic and highlights the relevance of the Silves Group in reconstructing coastal-continental ecosystem dynamics in southwestern Iberia.

The study "Innovating Social Dialogue and Collective Bargaining Toward Artificial Intelligence in the MET Industries" explores the integration of AI in the metal, engineering, and technology-based (MET) sectors, emphasizing the role of social dialogue and collective bargaining in ensuring ethical, transparent, and worker-centric AI adoption. The research highlights the collaborative efforts of European social partners — Ceemet and IndustriAll Europe — to develop conclusions addressing AI’s impact on occupational health and safety (OHS), human resources management (HRM), data protection, and skills development. Key findings reveal that while AI offers benefits such as increased efficiency and automation of repetitive tasks, it also poses risks like job displacement, privacy concerns, and algorithmic bias. The study underscores the necessity of involving workers and trade unions in AI implementation to safeguard rights, autonomy, and well-being. Social partners from non EU countries advocate for a comparable regulatory frameworks as EU members, such as the EU AI Act, to balance productivity gains with fundamental labor rights. The research identifies the need for practices in collective agreements which address digital rights, the right to disconnect, and transparency in AI-based decision-making. Recommendations include establishing a European database on AI applications in the MET sector, conducting critical case studies, and fostering further social dialogue to ensure AI contributes positively to both workers and industry competitiveness. The study concludes that proactive collaboration among social partners is essential for harnessing AI’s potential while mitigating its risks.

This publication was developed as a result of national case studies and independent desk research within the European project Metallica and serves as a comprehensive guide and analysis for stakeholders in the metal sector. This document aims to outline challenges posed by the twin transition – the digitalization process of work and sustainability of production process - while emphasizing the role of workers' participation in preventing and resolving disputes. A conclusion may be considered as the need for clear national strategies to guide the transformation of the metal sector. There is strong agreement that employer strategies must prioritize employee inclusion, with structured opportunities for participation in planning and implementation. The role of trade unions is evolving. Unions are seen not only as defenders of workers' rights but increasingly as strategic actors in shaping the transition. All countries identify skill development — both technical and soft — as foundational for a just transition. Finally, all cases acknowledged the inevitability of workplace reorganization and call for pre-emptive and structured consultation mechanisms, especially regarding AI, data governance, and occupational safety.

Xylella fastidiosa is a xylem-limited, Gram-negative phytopathogenic bacterium responsible for severe diseases affecting a wide range of economically important crops worldwide. Its recent expansion into Europe has reinforced its status as a major quarantine pathogen. However, research on its physiology and antimicrobial susceptibility remains limited by its slow and fastidious growth under laboratory conditions, which typically requires 7–30 days for detectable development. We report a new laboratory-adapted culture medium, XFG; that supports robust growth of X. fastidiosa strain DSM 10026/PYCC 9740 in both liquid and solid formulations compatible with established physiological and antimicrobial testing protocols. In liquid culture, bacterial populations reached the stationary phase within three days, while visible and isolated colonies formed on solid medium within the same time frame. Growth kinetics were confirmed by optical density measurements, demonstrating a shortened lag phase and reproducible exponential growth. Proof-of-concept antimicrobial susceptibility testing revealed high sensitivity to rifampicin and tetracycline (MIC = 0.25 μg/mL), and to chloramphenicol and ampicillin (MIC = 0.99 μg/mL). These MIC values are consistent with those previously reported using conventional media, supporting the robustness and applicability of the proposed system. Overall, these results establish XFG as a system for reproducible X. fastidiosa growth under laboratory conditions, enabling high-throughput phenotyping of this important plant pathogen.