Challenging Questions Research Articles

Plateau's Problem as a Singular Limit of Capillarity Problems

AbstractSoap films at equilibrium are modeled, rather than as surfaces, as regions of small total volume through the introduction of a capillarity problem with a homotopic spanning condition. This point of view introduces a length scale in the classical Plateau's problem, which is in turn recovered in the vanishing volume limit. This approximation of area minimizing hypersurfaces leads to an energy based selection principle for Plateau's problem, points at physical features of soap films that are unaccessible by simply looking at minimal surfaces, and opens several challenging questions. © 2022 Wiley Periodicals LLC.

Robust Watermarking Algorithm against the Geometric Attacks based on Non-Subsampled Shearlet Transform and Harris-Laplace Detector

With the rapid spread of network information, the information maintenance has become the focus of information security on networks. Digital watermarking is one of the effective methods to protect information security, achieve anticounterfeiting traceability, and protect copyright, and it is an important branch of information hiding technology. However, one of the most challenging questions of digital watermarking is how to present strong robustness in geometric attacks. Nowadays, most watermarking algorithms are relatively weak robustness against geometric attacks. A robust watermarking algorithm against geometric attacks based on the non-subsampled shearlet transform and the Harris-Laplace detector is proposed. The host image is decomposed into subbands with different directions by the shearlet transform, and the Harris-Laplace detector is utilized to obtain the feature regions. Then, the nonoverlapping regions with strong robustness are selected to embed watermark by the fuzzy c-means cluster algorithm. The experimental results indicate that the proposed watermarking scheme can well resist geometric attacks.

Topological superconductivity on the honeycomb lattice: Effect of normal state topology

The search for topological superconductors is one of the most pressing and challenging questions in condensed-matter and material research. Despite some early suggestions that doping a topological insulator might be a successful recipe to find topological superconductors, to date there is no general understanding of the relationship of the topology of the superconductor and the topology of its underlying normal state system. One of the major obstacles is the strong effect of the Fermi surface and its subsequent pairing tendencies within the Hubbard model framework, which usually prevents a detailed comparison between different topological superconducting systems. Here we present an analysis of doped insulators---topological and trivial---where the dominant Fermi surface effects have been equalized. Our approach allows us to study and compare superconducting instabilities of different normal state systems and present rigorous results about the influence of the normal state system's topology.

Ask Athena: Editorial Disclosures and Editor Authors

Athena was the Greek goddess of wisdom. Ancient Greeks would visit her temple in Athens to seek answers to their most troubling issues. Modern times are no less complicated, and lacking pilgrimage to a temple as an option, we turn to other sources for advice. This may mean a friend, a therapist, or perhaps… an advice column. Ask Athena is Science Editor’s advice column where you can bring your most challenging questions. Have a problem managing staff? Ask Athena! Struggling with your own performance rut? Ask Athena! Need ideas to make your publication the best it can be? Athena can help with that too. This column will address all questions related to publishing, whether they be about internal office issues or external journal wide challenges. Submit your questions to scienceeditor@councilscienceeditors.org. All questions can remain anonymous, so you need not reveal your identity for sensitive issues. We will attempt to answer them as quickly as we can, and post answers online ahead of print so that time sensitive questions are not delayed. Ask Athena: Should disclosures be listed for editorials? Dear Athena, For guest editorials, what language do you use/suggest for a disclosure statement, or is a disclosure not necessary? Would the following be appropriate (as an example) or does some of the wording not apply to opinion pieces (funding, etc.)? The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose. None of the authors received outside funding for the production of this original manuscript and no part of this article has been […]

Leveraging Parameter Dependencies in High-Field Asymmetric Waveform Ion-Mobility Spectrometry and Size Exclusion Chromatography for Proteome-wide Cross-Linking Mass Spectrometry.

Ion-mobility spectrometry shows great promise to tackle analytically challenging research questions by adding another separation dimension to liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry. The understanding of how analyte properties influence ion mobility has increased through recent studies, but no clear rationale for the design of customized experimental settings has emerged. Here, we leverage machine learning to deepen our understanding of field asymmetric waveform ion-mobility spectrometry for the analysis of cross-linked peptides. Knowing that predominantly m/z and then the size and charge state of an analyte influence the separation, we found ideal compensation voltages correlating with the size exclusion chromatography fraction number. The effect of this relationship on the analytical depth can be substantial as exploiting it allowed us to almost double unique residue pair detections in a proteome-wide cross-linking experiment. Other applications involving liquid- and gas-phase separation may also benefit from considering such parameter dependencies.

A Multi-Perspective Assessment of the Introduction of E-Scooter Sharing in Germany

Electric scooter sharing (e-scooter sharing) is a new urban micro-mobility service that is expected to shape individual urban mobility. The introduction of e-scooter sharing systems poses challenging questions for cities and transportation planners regarding their effects on their transportation system. This study addresses the question concerning the strategies which are applied for the introduction of e-scooter sharing systems in different operation areas in Germany. An interview study with 21 stakeholders with different backgrounds (local transport authorities, public transport providers, e-scooter sharing operators, municipalities, associations, planning offices and consulting companies, and other mobility providers) was conducted to reflect upon the introduction of e-scooter sharing systems in Germany and stakeholders’ involvement in planning. The qualitative content analysis provides insights into the stakeholders’ assessment of the introduction process and thus contributes to a multi-perspective understanding on the topic. Derived hypotheses and recommendations further contribute to knowledge sharing and learning from experience. The paper concludes with a description of three introduction styles: protective, pro-active, and laissez-faire.

Free-Hand versus Surgical Guide Implant Placement

One of the most key areas of dentistry is dental implant surgery. The use of digital equipment and software in dentistry has developed considerably in recent years compared to other fields of medicine. Since examining the advantages and disadvantages of each approach, along with case studies, can help physicians make informed decisions, this review study aims to raise the awareness of dentists to make easier decisions about using guided or free-hand surgery. When planning for a dental implant, one of the most challenging questions that doctors face is which method to use (guided surgery or free-hand). Choosing the right method, such as other clinical considerations, will depend on the individual circumstances of each patient and the preference of the treating physician. Free-hand surgery is a cost-effective method in which the flap is reflected, and, according to the doctor's diagnostic information, an implant is placed, which in many cases is a useful method. Guided surgery has the highest level of accuracy and control, in which osteotomy is designed and printed through a digital surgery guide, and depending on the complexity of the case and the patient's anatomy, it has a higher level of value than free surgery. The surgical guide helps the surgeon make the implant surgery more accurate, safer, simpler, at a lower cost, and in less time. In fact, there are patterns that convey information about the position of the tooth to the dentist before the implant is placed.

Beyond Western Shores: A Dialogue

Integrating musical and sonic forms and materials from world music into music theory classes steeped in Western musical concepts raises challenging questions and pedagogical conundrums: How might instructors engender interest in students with no training or background in non-Western musical materials? Could non-Western music (NWM) stimulate deeper thinking and understanding about the broader contexts of music production, such as its culture, religion, politics, and history, as well as indigenous musical terms and concepts? To what extent should critical contextual consideration be given prior to the study of non-Western sounds, musics, or performances? How might students and instructors alike engage NWM without extending the troubling histories of colonialism, western hegemony, and privileged, white perspectives? To address these and other questions from multiple viewpoints, this article takes the form of a dialogue between two students and two music professors, the latter representing the disciplines of music theory and ethnomusicology. As these four interlocutors explore the questions above, they also consider and revise a "Pin Drop" assignment, in which music theory students explore the musical culture found at various locations selected around the globe. Rather than offer any final conclusions, the dialogue itself demonstrates how the productive tensions that arise when studying and teaching NWM in Western music classrooms, when examined from multiple disciplinary angles, can be mutually beneficial and enriching, making possible new musical insights, methodological syntheses, and pedagogical priorities.

Assessing the impact of the pandemic in children and adolescents: SARS-CoV-2 infection and beyond

Acute SARS-CoV-2 infection in children and young people is usually asymptomatic (65% of cases)1 or mild.2 Whether children develop post-COVID-19 syndrome3 (also known as long COVID4) and, if so, its clinical features and natural history, are challenging questions.

Correlated orientations of the axes of large quasar groups on Gpc scales

ABSTRACT Correlated orientations of quasar optical and radio polarization, and of radio jets, have been reported on Gpc scales, possibly arising from intrinsic alignment of spin axes. Optical quasar polarization appears to be preferentially either aligned or orthogonal to the host large-scale structure, specifically large quasar groups (LQGs). Using a sample of 71 LQGs at redshifts 1.0 ≤ z ≤ 1.8, we investigate whether LQGs themselves exhibit correlated orientation. We find that LQG position angles (PAs) are unlikely to be drawn from a uniform distribution (p-values 0.008 ≲ p ≲ 0.07). The LQG PA distribution is bimodal, with median modes at $\bar{\theta }\sim 45\pm 2^{\circ }, 136\pm 2^{\circ }$, remarkably close to the mean angles of quasar radio polarization reported in two regions coincident with our LQG sample. We quantify the degree of alignment in the PA data, and find that LQGs are aligned and orthogonal across very large scales. The maximum significance is $\simeq 0.8{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$ (2.4σ) at typical angular (proper) separations of ∼30° (1.6 Gpc). If the LQG orientation correlation is real, it represents large-scale structure alignment over scales larger than those predicted by cosmological simulations and at least an order of magnitude larger than any so far observed, with the exception of quasar-polarization/radio-jet alignment. We conclude that LQG alignment helps explain quasar-polarization/radio-jet alignment, but raises challenging questions about the origin of the LQG correlation and the assumptions of the concordance cosmological model.

Multidimensional Phylogenetic Metrics Identify Class I Aminoacyl-tRNA Synthetase Evolutionary Mosaicity and Inter-Modular Coupling.

The role of aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (aaRS) in the emergence and evolution of genetic coding poses challenging questions concerning their provenance. We seek evidence about their ancestry from curated structure-based multiple sequence alignments of a structurally invariant “scaffold” shared by all 10 canonical Class I aaRS. Three uncorrelated phylogenetic metrics—mutation frequency, its uniformity, and row-by-row cladistic congruence—imply that the Class I scaffold is a mosaic assembled from successive genetic sources. Metrics for different modules vary in accordance with their presumed functionality. Sequences derived from the ATP– and amino acid– binding sites exhibit specific two-way coupling to those derived from Connecting Peptide 1, a third module whose metrics suggest later acquisition. The data help validate: (i) experimental fragmentations of the canonical Class I structure into three partitions that retain catalytic activities in proportion to their length; and (ii) evidence that the ancestral Class I aaRS gene also encoded a Class II ancestor in frame on the opposite strand. A 46-residue Class I “protozyme” roots the Class I tree prior to the adaptive radiation of the Rossmann dinucleotide binding fold that refined substrate discrimination. Such rooting implies near simultaneous emergence of genetic coding and the origin of the proteome, resolving a conundrum posed by previous inferences that Class I aaRS evolved after the genetic code had been implemented in an RNA world. Further, pinpointing discontinuous enhancements of aaRS fidelity establishes a timeline for the growth of coding from a binary amino acid alphabet.

Introducing Ask Athena

Athena was the Greek goddess of wisdom. Ancient Greeks would visit her temple in Athens to seek answers to their most troubling issues. Modern times are no less complicated, and lacking pilgrimage to a temple as an option, we turn to other sources for advice. This may mean a friend, a therapist, or perhaps… an advice column. Science Editor is pleased to introduce Ask Athena, an advice column where you can bring your most challenging questions. Have a problem managing staff? Ask Athena! Struggling with your own performance rut? Ask Athena! Need ideas to make your publication the best it can be? Athena can help with that too. This column will address all questions related to publishing, whether they be about internal office issues or external journal wide challenges. So bring us your questions. Let Science Editor be your temple of wisdom. All questions can remain anonymous, so you need not reveal your identity for sensitive issues. Submit your questions to scienceeditor@councilscienceeditors.org. We will attempt to answer them as quickly as we can, and post answers online ahead of print so that time sensitive questions are not delayed. Ask Athena: How can I improve publication speed at my journal? Dear Athena, How can my journal improve its turnaround time: from date of submission to print and online publication? Our current process takes about 12–15 months. Once a manuscript has been provisionally accepted following peer review, a scientific editor will substantively edit the manuscript and review with the author, a copy […]

The strategy of Science Learning in Curriculum 2013 to Increase the Value of Science’s Program for International Student Assessment (PISA)

Natural Science subjects consisting of Physics, Chemistry and Biology are given to all students starting from elementary school to equip students with logical, analytical, systematic, critical, and creative thinking skills, as well as the ability to work together. According to the Organization for Economics Cooperation and Development (OECD) in 2013, the conception of Science literacy in the PISA (Program for International Student Assessment) supports the importance of students developing a solid understanding of the concepts of pure science and science education and the benefits involved in exploration in the abstract world that exists. on the universe. This study resulted in an analysis of science learning strategies for students of the Department of Science Education that support higher order thinking skills in Science. Two (2) parts of the material will be discussed more focused, namely (a) learning materials and (b) learning strategies. With the learning syllabus that supports the High Order Thinking Skills (HOTS) questions, the opportunity to increase the value of Science education (Physics, Chemistry, Biology) is greater, one of which is the preparation of challenging questions. Challenging science questions will meet the criteria for high-level questions (PISA has question levels from level 1 to level 6). HOTS questions support the development of a solid understanding of pure Science and Science Education concepts. The data sources used in the preparation of this research are the results of the 2000, 2003, 2006, 2009, 2012, 2015 and 2018. PISA surveys and the 2013 curriculum book sourced from the Ministry of Education and Culture.

A How to Guide and Template for Designing a Puzzle Based Escape Room Game

Educational games are one active and effective way of engaging students with material while also providing additional motivation to tackle challenging concepts. A particularly popular game concept is the escape room, where students need to work in groups to solve a series of puzzles to prevent disaster from occurring in an imaginary universe, all within a specified amount of time. This paper presents a general guide to constructing an escape room for undergraduate classrooms. Unlike many recently published educational escape rooms, this template does not use any laboratory-based components, making it widely applicable to any class and any level, although it will be most easily adapted to classes that do include analytical components. The puzzles in the game escalate from remembering and understanding concepts to applying and evaluating techniques and data. Unlike many other games and puzzles, an escape room does not reveal the final answers until the allocated time is up, which forces students to work through challenging questions and find solutions within their group to advance in the game. The game provides students many instances for formative assessment and encourages helpful discussions surrounding misconceptions and core course content while they escalate through the challenges.

DEVELOPMENT OF CREATIVITY OF FUTURE SPECIALISTS AT FOREIGN LANGUAGE CLASSES: CONDITIONS AND OPPORTUNITIES. SUBJECTIVE WELL-BEING

The article deals with the importance of development of future specialists’ creativity at foreign language classes. The concept of creativity has been disclosed; the conditions and opportunities for its development have been revealed. The problem of subjective well-being has been considered. The vision of creativity by researchers from different countries of the world has been represented: as the ability to create original and adaptive products; applicability and usefulness in resolving problems at hand; changeability over time and due to cultural and socio-economic realities; as a source of new technologies, methods and techniques of social work and productive ways of their application. Methods and techniques for development of creativity at foreign language classes have been suggested: asking open-ended or challenging questions; encouraging students to talk freely on various topics; finishing unfinished stories; creative writing in the form of self-invented stories, poems, plans, inventions; development of projects, etc. The methods and tools for improving and promoting future specialists’ creativity have been represented. The impact of creativity on subjective well-being at foreign language classes has been stated and considered. The effect of creativity on subjective well-being has been disclosed. The concept of well-being has been revealed as the state of being or doing well in life; happy, healthy, or prosperous condition; moral or physical welfare of a person or community. The connection of these aspects of well-being with the acquisition of a foreign language have been stated, which, apart from the cognitive gains, can contribute to person's social and emotional well-being.

COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF FOREIGN LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY DESCRIPTORS IN THE ENGLISH, RUSSIAN, CHINESE AND JAPANESE LANGUAGES

The estimation of foreign language proficiency level is one of the most challenging questions in methodology. The ar- ticle examines a competency-based approach and its place in the creation of a system to determine foreign language proficiency level. The paper provides a comparison between descriptors of English, Russian, Chinese and Japanese language proficiency.

Buried points in complex dynamical systems and glassy transitions

<p indent=0mm>A new interdisciplinary research direction is addressed across the fields of statistical mechanics and complex dynamical systems together with specific research topics, such as the connection between buried points and glassy transitions. First, pertinent results on complex dynamical systems are delivered. Let<italic> f</italic> be a complex analytical mapping from the Riemann sphere (or the complex plane) to itself, i.e., <italic>f</italic> is rational or entire. The stable set <italic>F</italic>(<italic>f</italic>) of this dynamical system is called the Fatou set of <italic>f</italic>, and the unstable set <italic>J</italic>(<italic>f</italic>) the Julia set. Every component of <italic>F</italic>(<italic>f</italic>) is called a Fatou component. Obviously, the boundary of each Fatou component belongs to <italic>J</italic>(<italic>f</italic>). If a point in <italic>J</italic>(<italic>f</italic>) does not belong to the boundary of any Fatou component, then it is a buried point of <italic>f</italic>, which is often used to describe the topological complexity of the Julia set. In this quest, Makienko’s conjecture is undoubtedly one of the most important problems which is stated as follows: Let <italic>R</italic> be a rational mapping and <italic>F</italic>(<italic>R</italic>) contain infinitely many components. If every Fatou component is not completely invariant, then <italic>R</italic> has buried points. The known result is the following: If <italic>J</italic>(<italic>R</italic>) is disconnected, or connected and locally connected, then Makienko’s conjecture is true; if <italic>J</italic>(<italic>R</italic>) is disconnected and <italic>R</italic> has a buried point, then it must have buried components. Concerning entire functions, we have: If <italic>F</italic>(<italic>f</italic>) is not empty, then <italic>f</italic> has a buried point if and only if <italic>F</italic>(<italic>f</italic>) is disconnected. Following the above results, interesting topological properties on the sets of buried points are deduced. However, many open problems remain unsolved in regard to these special points. In the second part, we explained the topological complexity of the set of Yang-Lee zeros. In 1952, Yang C.N. and Lee T.D. established an analytic theory in statistical mechanics, summarized as the circle theorem: For statistical models like 2-dimensional lattice gas, the zeros of the partition function condense to the unit circle. Henceforth, the importance of the distribution of Yang-Lee zeros in the complex plane is emphasized for general models. In 1983, researchers including B. Derrida, L. De Seze and C. Itzykson found that the distribution of Yang-Lee zeros can be cast into a problem on Julia sets of renormalization transformations. In the third part, we describe the connection between buried points and glass transitions. Concerning the Potts model on a generalized diamond hierarchical lattice, we present a new type of distribution of Julia sets of renormalization transformations, which is called the real Feigenbaum-type distribution of buried points. Physically, this means that the limiting set of Yang-Lee zeros could contain an interval of the real axis, all of which are singularities of the free energy function. This important observation indicates that the exploration of renormalization transformation dynamics is essential to the understanding of the phenomenon of glassy transitions. Finally, we discussed the theoretical value and practical significance of the above research topics and directions. It is well known that <italic>Science</italic> published 125 most challenging scientific questions in 2005 to celebrate the Journal’s 125th anniversary, among which Question 47 is “What is the essence of the glassy substance?”. There are many theoretical models for glassy transitions, but up to now, a complete theory remains illusive. Perhaps, the connection between complex dynamics and glassy transition established above could shed new light on this old problem with the help of powerful tools from mathematics, as ever before.

Perspectives on Pandemic: Pedagogies, Prejudice and a Paradigm Shift

"Cities have the capability of providing something for everybody, only because, and only when, they are created by everybody." (Jacobs, 1961) Urban planning, particularly for historic cities, requires extensive community involvement, given a large number of public and private stakeholders. Unilateral top-down decisions of the early 20th century made it clear that community involvement was essential to planning. Understandably, this has been difficult with the ongoing global pandemic. Lockdowns, confinement, quarantine, limited travel, and outright bans on gatherings have made public participation in urban decisions nearly impossible – yet planning for the future has not ceased. Of course, technology is aiding communication, including multiple channels of video conferencing, instant messaging, VoIP or internet phone systems, relay chat, social media, and even email. But these means of communication are no substitute for in-person face-to- face interaction and have raised new and challenging questions – How can community involvement be accommodated? And what other relationships or forms of communication are impacted? Successful planning also requires forming pedagogical relationships, another problem created by the pandemic. Most often, pedagogy refers to an academic setting or teacher-student relationship. But pedagogy also relates to other relationships necessary for auspicious planning, including the planner-stakeholder and professional- client associations. Frequently, architects, urban planners, and conservators must explain the problems, technical details, results of surveys, and other studies to clients, decision-makers, and stakeholders. Often people are involved in making decisions and are not well versed with urban planning, architecture, or the conservation of historic cities. Another relationship that is has been impacted by the pandemic is peer-to-peer exchange, essential for complex urban planning. This paper will explore various issues and challenges of this new mode of work inter-pandemic. First, there will be an examination of three types of pedagogical relationships: planner-stakeholders, professional-client, and between professionals or peer-to-peer. Second, three examples are included to illustrate the drawbacks and benefits of this new mode of work, specifically related to planning and conservation projects in historic cities. These examples are all drawn from projects executed by various firms during the pandemic and led by the author. Finally, the presentation discusses the disadvantages and advantages of new forms of pedagogy, including removing prejudices. Pre-pandemic, there were many objections to holding virtual meetings or relying extensively on digital communications from stakeholders, clients, and team partners. The pandemic has effectively removed this prejudice against online encounters and subsequently pedagogical relationships, thus accelerating the paradigm shift related to virtual communications Keywords: Pandemic, Urban Planning, Heritage, Conservation

Audiovisual Translation and Accessibility: Addressing Challenging Questions

Audiovisual Translation and Accessibility: Addressing Challenging Questions

Water surface photovoltaic along long-distance water diversion projects and its co-benefits

As the world encounters insufficient fossil energy and worsening environmental pollution, the significant potential of water surface photovoltaic (WSPV) systems and the remarkable benefits are crucial to promoting cleaner production and sustainable development. This paper proposes installing overhead WSPVs along the open channels of long-distance water diversion projects (WDPs), creating new opportunities for the adaptive traceability and utilization of energy–water resources. A multi-objective decision model for the feasibility evaluation of WSPVs is presented and applied to typical WDPs in China to demonstrate the effects of this modeling framework and explore the co-benefits of WSPV systems. The results indicate that: (1) it is economically and technically feasible to install WSPVs over MLSNWDP with a suggested tilt angle range of 10°–12°; (2) the proposed WSPVs in the eight typical projects evaluated using the decision model with a capacity of 29,486 MW can convert 37,263 GWh of electricity at a 12° tilt angle while saving 3.19 × 108 m3 of water annually; (3) the adaptive utilization of the saved water and electricity can increase the ecological water level guarantee rate of Baiyang Lake by 12.64%, alleviating potential eco-environmental problems. Moreover, a recommended coverage rate of 50% is proposed to inhibit algae outbreaks. Overall, this research demonstrates the technical and economic feasibility of the construction of WSPVs along WDPs and the co-benefits to address challenging research questions on the sustainable development of energy–water resources.