Physical Context Research Articles

Modulational Instability of Nonlinear Wave Packets within (2+4) Korteweg–de Vries Equation

The higher-order nonlinear Schrödinger equation with combined nonlinearities is derived by an asymptotic reduction from the (2+4) Korteweg–de Vries model for weakly nonlinear wave packets for the context of interfacial waves in a three-layer symmetric media. Focusing properties and modulation instability effects are discussed for the considered physical context. Instability growth rate, maximum of the increment and the boundaries of the instability interval are derived in terms of three-layer density stratification, their structure on the parameter planes of relative layer depth, carrier wavenumber and envelope amplitude, are considered in detail.

Variation in social media sensitivity across people and contexts

Social media impacts people’s wellbeing in different ways, but relatively little is known about why this is the case. Here we introduce the construct of “social media sensitivity” to understand how social media and wellbeing associations differ across people and the contexts in which these platforms are used. In a month-long large-scale intensive longitudinal study (total n = 1632; total number of observations = 120,599), we examined for whom and under which circumstances social media was associated with positive and negative changes in social and affective wellbeing. Applying a combination of frequentist and Bayesian multilevel models, we found a small negative average association between social media use AND subsequent wellbeing, but the associations were heterogenous across people. People with psychologically vulnerable dispositions (e.g., those who were depressed, lonely, not satisfied with life) tended to experience heightened negative social media sensitivity in comparison to people who were not psychologically vulnerable. People also experienced heightened negative social media sensitivity when in certain types of places (e.g., in social places, in nature) and while around certain types of people (e.g., around family members, close ties), as compared to using social media in other contexts. Our results suggest that an understanding of the effects of social media on wellbeing should account for the psychological dispositions of social media users, and the physical and social contexts surrounding their use. We discuss theoretical and practical implications of social media sensitivity for scholars, policymakers, and those in the technology industry.

On the Breaking of the U(1) Peccei–Quinn Symmetry and Its Implications for Neutrino and Dark Matter Physics

The Standard Model of electroweak interactions is based on the fundamental SU(2)weak × U(1)elect representation. It assumes massless neutrinos and purely left-handed massive W± and Z0 bosons to which one should add the massless photon. The existence, verified experimentally, of neutrino oscillations poses a challenge to this scheme, since the oscillations take place between at least three massive neutrinos belonging to a mass hierarchy still to be determined. One should also take into account the possible existence of sterile neutrino species. In a somehow different context, the fundamental nature of the strong interaction component of the forces in nature is described by the, until now, extremely successful representation based on the SU(3)strong group which, together with the confining rule, give a description of massive hadrons in terms of quarks and gluons. To this is added the minimal U(1) Higgs group to give mass to the otherwise massless generators. This representation may also be challenged by the existence of both dark matter and dark energy, of still unknown composition. In this note, we shall discuss a possible connection between these questions, namely the need to extend the SU(3)strong × SU(2)weak × U(1)elect to account for massive neutrinos and dark matter. The main point of it is related to the role of axions, as postulated by Roberto Peccei and Helen Quinn. The existence of neutral pseudo-scalar bosons, that is, the axions, has been proposed long ago by Peccei and Quinn to explain the suppression of the electric dipole moment of the neutron. The associated U(1)PQ symmetry breaks at very high energy, and it guarantees that the interaction of other particles with axions is very weak. We shall review the axion properties in connection with the apparently different contexts of neutrino and dark matter physics.

The Direct Method in English Language Instruction for Primary School Students in Santarém-PA: An Experience of TESOL Undergraduates

The Direct Method, a pedagogical approach for teaching additional languages through immersion, emphasizes oral interaction and everyday language usage to facilitate language acquisition. This method discourages reliance on translation and minimizes emphasis on grammatical rules. However, a fundamental question arises about the effectiveness of TESOL programmes in non-English dominant countries in equipping prospective teachers to adopt a monolingual approach. This paper explores the results of a case study aimed at understanding the experiences of two TESOL degree candidates from a university in Northern Brazil. They participated in an outreach project employing the Direct Method to teach English to Year 1 students on the outskirts of Santarém-PA. Data, gathered through proficiency assessments, interviews, and video recordings, were analysed using Content Analysis and video analysis principles in qualitative research. The results revealed challenges faced by the participants due to limited pedagogical knowledge but also unveiled adaptive strategies, collaborative work practices, introspection, and an acknowledgment of the importance of integrating elements from students’ physical and social contexts into lessons. Despite challenges, the study underscores the beneficial potential and viability of the Direct Method in non-English dominant contexts, advocating for its critical consideration and adaptation within TESOL programmes.

Monge–Ampère geometry and vortices

We introduce a new approach to Monge–Ampère geometry based on techniques from higher symplectic geometry. Our work is motivated by the application of Monge–Ampère geometry to the Poisson equation for the pressure that arises for incompressible Navier–Stokes flows. Whilst this equation constitutes an elliptic problem for the pressure, it can also be viewed as a non-linear partial differential equation connecting the pressure, the vorticity, and the rate-of-strain. As such, it is a key diagnostic relation in the quest to understand the formation of vortices in turbulent flows. We study this equation via an associated (higher) Lagrangian submanifold in the cotangent bundle to the configuration space of the fluid. Using our definition of a (higher) Monge–Ampère structure, we study an associated metric on the cotangent bundle together with its pull-back to the (higher) Lagrangian submanifold. The signatures of these metrics are dictated by the relationship between vorticity and rate-of-strain, and their scalar curvatures can be interpreted in a physical context in terms of the accumulation of vorticity, strain, and their gradients. We show explicity, in the case of two-dimensional flows, how topological information can be derived from the Monge–Ampère geometry of the Lagrangian submanifold. We also demonstrate how certain solutions to the three-dimensional incompressible Navier–Stokes equations, such as Hill’s spherical vortex and an integrable case of Arnol’d–Beltrami–Childress flow, have symmetries that facilitate a formulation of these solutions from the perspective of (higher) symplectic reduction.

Plasma-infused solitary waves: Unraveling novel dynamics with the Camassa–Holm equation

This investigation employs advanced computational techniques to ascertain novel and precise solitary wave solutions of the Camassa–Holm ([Formula: see text]) equation, a partial differential equation governing wave phenomena in one-dimensional media. Originally designed for the representation of shallow water waves, the [Formula: see text] equation has exhibited versatility across various disciplines, including nonlinear optics and elasticity theory. It intricately delineates the interplay between nonlinear and dispersive effects in wave systems, with nonlinearity arising from component interactions and dispersion rooted in the temporal spreading of waves. Furthermore, the [Formula: see text] equation governs the spatiotemporal evolution of wave profiles, encompassing both nonlinear and dispersive influences. Notably, the equation allows for soliton solutions — localized wave packets sustaining their form over extended distances. The identification of precise solitary wave solutions holds paramount significance for comprehending the [Formula: see text] equation’s behavior in diverse physical contexts, such as fluid dynamics and nonlinear optics. Moreover, this study establishes a correlation between the investigated model and plasma physics, demonstrating the efficacy and efficiency of the employed computational techniques through benchmarking against alternative computational methods. This augmentation underscores the broader relevance of the [Formula: see text] equation, extending its applicability to provide insights into wave phenomena analogous to those encountered in plasma physics.

On the Painlevé integrability and nonlinear structures to a (3 + 1)-dimensional Boussinesq-type equation in fluid mediums: Lumps and multiple soliton/shock solutions

This work examines the Painlevé integrability of a (3 + 1)-dimensional Boussinesq-type equation. Using the Mathematica program, we rigorously establish Painlevé's integrability for the suggested problem. By utilizing Hirota's bilinear technique, we obtain the dispersion relations and phase shifts, which enable us to derive multiple soliton solutions. In addition, we systematically derive a wide range of lump solutions using the Maple symbolic computation. The investigation extends to encompass a variety of exact solutions with distinct structural features, including kink, periodic, singular, and rational solutions. This comprehensive analysis illustrates the profound richness of the model's dynamics and its potential to elucidate diverse nonlinear wave phenomena across various physical contexts. Therefore, the results that we will obtain play a vital role in understanding the mechanism of generation and propagation of many mysterious phenomena that arise in various scientific fields, including plasma physics, fluid mechanics, and the propagation of waves on the surfaces of seas and oceans to optical fibers.

System software architecture for advancing human robot interaction by cloud services and multi-robot cooperation

Human-like interactions with robots based on Conversational AI facilitate assistance and teamwork in various contexts. Those interactions are further enhanced by utilizing physical presence and context from the robot's hardware. Robot cooperation is also especially useful, when software or hardware resources have to be shared in a multi-robot system. Therefore, we propose a modular software architecture for multi-robot cooperation that extends the integration of Conversational AI into Socially Assistive Robots, previously suggested by authors. It utilizes a flow-based approach that involves shared repositories and direct or message-driven communication to convey natural language transcriptions among robots in order to support their cooperation. By experiments we evaluated the cooperation between NAOqi based robots and Furhat robot. Our experimental results demonstrate architecture's modularity and adaptability to different cloud services, along with its effectiveness for interactions involving multiple robots.

Analytic structure of the associated Legendre functions of the second kind

We consider the complex ν plane structure of the associated Legendre functions of the second kind Qν−1/2−K(cosh⁡ρ). We find that for any noninteger value of K the Qν−1/2−K(cosh⁡ρ) have an infinite number of poles in the complex ν plane, but for any negative integer K there are no poles at all. For K = 0 or any positive integer K there is only a finite number of poles, with there only being one single pole (at ν = 0) when K = 0. This pattern is analogous to the pattern of exceptional points that appear in a wide variety of physical contexts. However, while theories with exceptional points usually lose a finite number of degrees of freedom at the exceptional points, the Qν−1/2−K(cosh⁡ρ) lose an infinite number of poles whenever K is integer. Moreover, while theories with exceptional points usually have a finite number of such exceptional points, the Qν−1/2−K(cosh⁡ρ) possess an infinite number of points (all integer K) at which they lose degrees of freedom. Other than in the PT-symmetry Jordan-block case, exceptional points usually occur at complex values of parameters. While not being Jordan-block exceptional points themselves, the poles associated with the Qν−1/2−K(cosh⁡ρ) nonetheless occur at real values of K.

Physical and Social Drinking Contexts Changes Due to the Lockdown During the COVID-19 Pandemic Modified Alcohol Consumption in a Sample of Argentine College Students

Alcohol consumption is highly prevalent in college students, being important to identify risk factors for alcohol consumption. Thus, this work explored students' alcohol consumption and the influence of drinking contexts and how the lockdown modified drinking contexts and its influence on alcohol consumption. Argentinean college students ( N = 1762; 74.8% women; Mean age = 23.25 ± 2.64) completed a survey that assessed alcohol consumption and related contexts before and during the lockdown. Latent Class Analysis identified 5 context-classes that showed different alcohol consumption patterns. A high percent of students drink alcohol in various contexts, but especially those related with social encounters with peers. Moreover, students who consume alcohol at social events with peers tend to have higher consumption rates per occasion and on a monthly basis. The confinement measures could have an effect on reducing alcohol use in college students, probably by modifying the drinking context of some students. college students consume alcohol extensively, which is worrying considering the health disturbances that it produces. Moreover, it is important to consider special situations such as the lockdown -that could modify contexts and its influence on consumption-to devise intervention strategies to reduce alcohol consumption.

Shortcuts to adiabatic soliton compression in active nonlinear Kerr media.

We implement variational shortcuts to adiabaticity for optical pulse compression in an active nonlinear Kerr medium with distributed amplification and spatially varying dispersion and nonlinearity. Starting with the hyperbolic secant ansatz, we employ a variational approximation to systematically derive dynamical equations, establishing analytical relationships linking the amplitude, width, and chirp of the pulse. Through the inverse engineering approach, we manipulate the distributed gain/loss, nonlinearity and dispersion profiles to efficiently compress the optical pulse over a reduced distance with high fidelity. In addition, we explore the dynamical stability of the system to illustrate the advantage of our protocol over conventional adiabatic approaches. Finally, we analyze the impact of tailored higher-order dispersion on soliton self-compression and derive physical constraints on the final soliton width for the complementary case of soliton expansion. The broader implications of our findings extend beyond optical systems, encompassing areas such as cold-atom and magnetic systems highlighting the versatility and relevance of our approach in various physical contexts.

Over two decades of research on choice overload: An overview and research agenda

AbstractSince Alwin Toffler coined the term choice overload in 1970, no systematic literature review has been conducted on this subject. At the same time, the three meta‐analytic studies available on the topic does not provide a comprehensive picture of the same. This systematic literature review seeks to critically evaluate the extant research on choice overload for 22 years using insights from 92 articles. After locating the major articles in the choice overload literature, we identified the theories used by researchers to explain the various aspects of choice overload, based on the TCCM framework. We then enlisted the contexts where the studies had been conducted, the characteristics (themes) of the studies, and the methodologies used in these articles. We further identified the relationships between the themes, the variables studied so far, the sampling types and sampling sizes and the statistical tools employed in these studies. Future researchers could investigate the impact of a variety of cognitive and affective factors that impact consumer psychological states and the likelihood of choice saturation. They could also focus on unexplored areas in the field of choice overload, such as comparing the effects of choice overload in physical and online contexts.

Technology-Mediated Hindustani Dhrupad Music Education: An Ethnographic Contribution to the 4E Cognition Perspective

Embodiment lies at the core of music cognition, prompting recent pedagogical shifts towards a multi-sensory, whole-body approach. However, the education of oral music genres that rely exclusively on direct teacher–disciple transmission through live demonstration and imitation is now undergoing a transformation by rapidly adapting to technology-mediated platforms. This paper examines challenges in embodied facets of video-mediated synchronous distance Hindustani music pedagogy. For this, it takes an ethnomusicological stance and showcases a thematic analysis of interviews featuring Dhrupad music practitioners. The analysis is driven and organized by the 4E Cognition principles, which stress the intimate relationship between body, mind, and environment. Findings indicate that while this adaptation aims to make music content more widely accessible, it comes at the cost of reducing opportunities for multi-modal engagement and interaction among participants. Results reveal limitations in transmitting non-verbal, embodied, multi-sensory cues, along with visual and acoustic disruptions of a sense of shared spatial and physical context, that hinder effective interaction and a sense of immersion, elements that are deemed vital in music education. They prompt concerns about the suitability of conventional videoconferencing platforms and offer key insights for the development of alternative technologies that can better assist embodied demands of the pedagogical practices involved.

Context Integration and Inclusivity in Contemporary Public Spaces of Major City From Global South—Case of Karachi, Pakistan

The emerging role of private sector in neoliberal city development is creating disconnect of contemporary public space with physical and social context. The following paper uses four case studies of public spaces within Karachi, mega city of Pakistan, to highlight the developing trends creating lack of context integration to place. The main research question for this study is, how well do the contemporary public spaces cater to inclusivity and integration with social and physical context? The research methodology used is mixed methods and qualitative research. Surveys and interviews conducted evaluate success factors and limitations in design approach to public spaces.

Joint Effects of Perceived Hazard Risk and Contextual Situation on Responses

This study examined the relationship between risk perception and evacuation behavior, and the sociospatial contexts that affect evacuation. It is argued that risk perception and contextual conditions have a joint effect on evacuation. Data were collected from 3,756 evacuees in sixteen cities and towns affected by the 2011 Tohoku earthquake off the Pacific coast. Using geographic information systems (GIS), data from questionnaires on risk perception and activity diary surveys on behavioral response were combined with geospatial data. The main finding was that high risk perception leads to evacuation behavior, but that the difference between immediate and delayed evacuation depends on the sociospatial context. Delayed evacuation, compared with immediate evacuation, tends to occur in the following contexts: (1) the physical context (e.g., being inland at the time of the disaster impact); (2) the household context (e.g., the need to confirm the safety of household members); and (3) the social context (e.g., the need for assistance with mobility). This study extends the literature on disaster science and cognitive-behavioral geography by considering the relationship between perception and behavior in urban spaces in emergencies. The findings are relevant to the development of disaster preparedness planning to minimize human losses.

Recharging Retail: Estimating Consumer Demand Spillovers from Electric Vehicle Charging Stations

Problem definition: We estimate the impact of electric vehicle (EV) charging stations on volumes of consumer foot traffic received by nearby retail establishments. We also explore the conditions under which any effects manifest. Methodology/results: We use a differences-in-differences design, exploiting the staggered introduction of Tesla Supercharger stations across the United States. We combine data on Supercharger installations with mobile phone–based estimates of retailer foot traffic. We explore heterogeneity in the treatment effect, in terms of EV charger characteristics, visitor characteristics, establishment type, and local physical context. We estimate that establishments experience an average 4% increase in monthly visits following the installation of a Tesla Supercharger. These effects arise primarily for retailers that offer relatively quick services (e.g., fast food) and for those located very near to the charger (within 150 meters). The effects are also more pronounced when the Supercharger is one of the first EV chargers introduced into the local area. Managerial implications: We document evidence of the positive retail demand spillovers arising from EV charging station infrastructure. We also document the conditions under which the benefits manifest. Insights for EV network operators, retailers, and policymakers are included. Supplemental Material: The online appendix is available at https://doi.org/10.1287/msom.2022.0519 .

Perceptions and Expectations of Youth Regarding the Respect for Their Rights in the Hospital.

Information obtained from children themselves regarding the characteristics of the ideal hospital that ensure well-being during a hospital stay is scarce. Here, we report the opinions, perceptions, and expectations of 700 children and adolescents about their experiences, assessed through a mixed-method research approach with age-appropriate questionnaires, three open-ended questions, and an analysis of optional pictorial and textual narratives. Most children indicated that, while they acknowledged the expertise of hospital staff, they also noted several shortcomings, e.g., insufficiently understandable medical information as well as emotional and cognitive support. The continuity of schooling and the right to suffer as little as possible were also critical issues. Adolescents valued in particular the quality of care and services provided, the hospital's adherence to equality and non-discrimination rights, and protection systems but negatively perceived several aspects related to play and participation. Significant differences in the co-occurrences of the most frequently used text terms with the keywords "hospital" and "child/adolescent" between age groups highlight variations in the way patients perceive and articulate their experiences within the hospital setting depending on the cognitive processes linked to age. In drawings, prevailing attention was placed on the physical context of the hospital room, with figures expressing mostly negative emotions. Specifically, in this regard, the main emotion in children was sadness, and, in adolescents, it was fear. Overall, these insights are pivotal in the context of our research objectives as they shed light on the nuanced preferences, needs, and perspectives of children and adolescents during their hospital stays. Recognizing the identified shortcomings, we propose recommendations emphasizing the improvement of medical communication clarity, enhancement of emotional and cognitive support, and the improvement of programs to avoid instructional gaps during hospital stays. Addressing these specific needs is critical for a more comprehensive approach to pediatric healthcare provision.

Physics-Embedded Deep Learning to Predict Real-Time Flow Parameters in Complex Thermodynamic Machinery

Flow through complex thermodynamic machinery is intricate, incorporating turbulence, compressibility effects, combustion, and solid–fluid interactions, posing a challenge to classical physics. For example, it is not currently possible to simulate a three-dimensional full-field gas flow through the propulsion of an aircraft. In this study, a new approach is presented for predicting the real-time fluid properties of complex flow. This perspective is obtained from deep learning, but it is significant in that the physical context is embedded within the deep learning architecture. Cases of excessive working states are analyzed to validate the effectiveness of the given architecture, and the results align with the experimental data. This study introduces a new and appealing method for predicting real-time fluid properties using complex thermomechanical systems.

Digital Twin Learning Ecosystem: A cyber–physical framework to integrate human-machine knowledge in traditional manufacturing

As Industry 4.0 enablers, digital twins of manufacturing systems have led to multiple interaction levels among processes, systems, and workers across the factory. However, open issues still exist when addressing cyber–physical convergence in traditional manufacturing small and medium-sized enterprises. The problem for both traditional operators and the existing infrastructure is how to adapt knowledge to the increasing business needs of manufacturing plants that demand high efficiency, while reducing production costs. In this paper, a framework that implements the novel concept of Digital Twin Learning Ecosystem in traditional manufacturing is presented. The objective is to facilitate the integration of human-machine knowledge in different industrial cyber–physical contexts and eliminate existing technological and workforce barriers. This adaptive approach is particularly important in meeting the requirements to help small and medium-sized enterprises build their own interconnected Digital Twin Learning Ecosystem. The contribution of this work lies in a single digital twin learning framework for different traditional manufacturing scenarios that can work from scratch using a light infrastructure, reusing the knowledge and common condition-based methods well-known by skilled workers to rapidly and flexibly integrate existing legacy resources in a non-intrusive manner. The solution was tested using real data from a milling machine and a currently operating induction furnace with a maximum power of 12 MW in a foundry plant. In both cases, the proposed solution proved its benefits: first, by providing augmented methods for maintenance operations on the milling machine and second, by improving the power efficiency of the induction furnace by approximately 9 percent.

Likelihood of Young Adult Engagement in Protective Behavioral Strategies for Alcohol Use across Drinking Contexts: Implications for Adaptive Interventions

Objective This study examined how young adults’ likelihood to engage in protective behavioral strategies (PBS) to reduce alcohol harms varies across physical and social contexts for drinking. Method We conducted an online survey with 514 heavy drinking young adults (Mage = 22.4 years, 52% women, 30% Hispanic/Latin(x), 40% non-White). Participants were asked to rate their likelihood to engage in 26 PBS generally, and specifically in six physical contexts (e.g., bar/club), and six social contexts (e.g., in a large group). We conducted regression analyses to examine the overall effect of context on the likelihood to engage in each PBS and post-hoc Tukey tests to assess pairwise comparisons of the differences in likelihood to engage in each PBS across response options for physical and social context. Analyses were conducted using the full sample, and for men and women separately. Results There were significant differences in six strategies across physical contexts; likelihood to engage in PBS varied across public and private spaces for different strategies. We also found significant differences in five strategies across social contexts; participants were more likely to engage in PBS among larger numbers of people and those who are intoxicated. There were numerous differences in pairwise comparisons of PBS engagement across physical and social contexts for women, while men demonstrated only two differences in PBS across physical context. Conclusions Results suggest that alcohol interventions for young adults that include PBS should consider tailoring strategies to the individual and the specific context of the drinking event.