Cyclic Repetition Research Articles

Tax reforms and elections in modern Russia

The article is devoted to the study of the tax reforms in modern Russia. Tax reforms carried out since the beginning of the 1990s are analyzed in connection with the cyclical repetition of the stages of the electoral process, or the so-called electoral cycle. The research methodology includes the calculation of indicators characterizing the change in the tax system and the analysis of their dynamics at various stages of the electoral cycle. The main quantitative and qualitative indicators are: the tax burden on the economy as a whole (nominal and real); the tax burden on individual elements of GDP (on wages, on gross profit, on actual final consumption); the number of changes made to tax legislation; terms and procedure of tax amnesty. Three stages of tax reforms have been identified (1993–1996, 1997–2000, 2001–present) for research in modern history of Russia. The first two stages of tax reforms directly coincided with the electoral cycles. The third modern stage of tax reforms is implemented during several electoral cycles. The revealed influence of elections on the tax system of Russia results in a cyclical increase of the tax burden on the main elements of GDP in the first years of cycles and lowering of the tax burden in the final years of electoral cycles. In the elective period for elections to the State Duma, the nominal tax burden on the economy is always reduced. In the election year and next year of the electoral cycle, there is an increase in effective rates for profit, consumption and labor. In the final years of the electoral cycle, there is a decrease in effective rates for profit, consumption and labor. Thus, the results of the study confirmed the assumption on the existence of a relationship between tax reforms and elections in Russia and the possibility of increasing the tax burden in the short term Highlights 1. The relationship between tax reforms and electoral cycles in Russia is unambiguously present. The intensity of the relationship is determined by the degree of competition in the elections 2. The electoral cycles for the elections to the State Duma of the Russian Federation have a stronger impact on tax reforms in Russia 3. Legislative activity on reforming the tax system of the Russian Federation is associated with the stages of the electoral cycle (declining in the election year in the State Duma and increasing in the pre-election period) 4. Tax amnesties are unambiguously connected with the electoral process and their conduct is confined to the elective period For citation Mayburov I. A., Kireenko A. P. Tax reforms and elections in modern Russia. Journal of Tax Reform, 2018, vol. 4, no. 1, pp. 73–94. DOI: 10.15826/jtr.2018.4.1.046 Article info Received March 12, 2018; accepted April 15, 2018

(Invited) Thermal Cyclic Atomic-Level Etching of Nitride Films: A Novel Way for Atomic-Scale Nanofabrication

Because the structure of semiconductor devices has changed to miniaturized three-dimensional (3D) structures, etching technologies that enable 3D atomic-scale control have received increasing interest. Therefore, atomic level/layer etching (ALEt), which is a counterpart of atomic layer deposition (ALD), has attracted much attention due to its potential in atomic-scale 3D nanofabrication. ALEt typically involves a cyclic repetition of self-limiting formation and desorption of surface modified layers. Thus, geometric loading effects are mitigated when using ALEt because of the self-limiting behavior. The authors have developed a novel isotropic ALEt process for SiN using cyclic repetitions of hydrofluorocarbon-based plasma exposure and thermal annealing [1]. The first step of the etching cycle for SiN is exposing the sample surface at room temperature to hydrofluorocarbon-based radicals that form ammonium hexafluorosilicate ((NH4)2SiF6) on SiN. The second step is thermal annealing above 100°C to sublimate the ammonium hexafluorosilicate. SiN film with an atomically thin layer can be etched away by repeating the cycle of forming and by removing the ammonium hexafluorosilicate. This cyclic etching shows self-limiting behavior because the formation of the ammonium hexafluorosilicate saturates as the plasma exposure time increases. This technology is applicable to other nitride films besides SiN. The authors have demonstrated selective isotropic ALEt of TiN [2], which is widely used as a gate electrode and barrier metal in semiconductor devices. In this paper, we present our results with the isotropic ALEt process for SiN and TiN. This method features a variety of promising characteristics, such as high selectivity with respect to SiO2and poly Si, atomic-level control of the etching amount, and isotropic etched profiles. The authors developed a novel etching apparatus as an ALEt tool for 300-mm wafers. This apparatus utilizes an infrared (IR) lamp for thermal annealing to achieve rapid temperature cycles. Particular attention is devoted to the surface reaction mechanism in the novel isotropic ALEt process for SiN. The results of in situ X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and thermal desorption spectroscopy (TDS) are described; they reveal the formation and decomposition of ammonium hexafluorosilicate on SiN during the cycle of plasma exposure and annealing. The potential industrial applications of these two processes are also described. [1] K. Shinoda et al., Appl. Phys. Express 9, 106201 (2016). [2] K. Shinoda et al., AVS Symposium and Exhibition, PS+TF-WeM10 (2016).

Quantification and visualization of coordination during non-cyclic upper extremity motion.

There are many design challenges in creating at-home tele-monitoring systems that enable quantification and visualization of complex biomechanical behavior. One such challenge is robustly quantifying joint coordination in a way that is intuitive and supports clinical decision-making. This work defines a new measure of coordination called the relative coordination metric (RCM) and its accompanying normalization schemes. RCM enables quantification of coordination during non-constrained discrete motions. Here RCM is applied to a grasping task. Fifteen healthy participants performed a reach, grasp, transport, and release task with a cup and a pen. The measured joint angles were then time-normalized and the RCM time-series were calculated between the shoulder-elbow, shoulder-wrist, and elbow-wrist. RCM was normalized using four differing criteria: the selected joint degree of freedom, angular velocity, angular magnitude, and range of motion. Percent time spent in specified RCM ranges was used asa composite metric and was evaluated for each trial. RCM was found to vary based on: (1) chosen normalization scheme, (2) the stage within the task, (3) the object grasped, and (4) the trajectory of the motion. The RCM addresses some of the limitations of current measures of coordination because it is applicable to discrete motions, does not rely on cyclic repetition, and uses velocity-based measures. Future work will explore clinically relevant differences in the RCM as it is expanded to evaluate different tasks and patient populations.

(Invited) Molecular Layer Deposition from Dissolved Precursors

We present a procedure for growing thin films of an organic polyamid material based on a cyclic repetition of two consecutive, complementary, self-limiting surface reactions. The molecular compounds that react with the surface are dissolved in an organic solvent. This new method exemplifies how atomic layer deposition (ALD) and molecular layer deposition (MLD) can benefit from being transferred from the gas phase to the liquid phase, given that a broad variety of advantageous reagents are only available in dissolved form.

Velopharyngeal Structural and Functional Assessment of Speech in Young Children Using Dynamic Magnetic Resonance Imaging.

The purpose of this study was to demonstrate a novel method for examining the velopharyngeal mechanism using static and dynamic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at the sentence-level production in young children with normal anatomy. This study examined whether velopharyngeal events occurring in the midsagittal plane are correlated to muscle events occurring along the plane of velopharyngeal closure. Adenoid involvement in velopharyngeal function was also explored. A high-resolution, T2-weighted turbo-spin-echo three-dimensional anatomical scan was used to acquire static velopharyngeal data and a fast-gradient echo fast low angle shot multishot spiral technique (15.8 frames per second) was used to acquire dynamic data on 11 children between 4 and 9 years old. Changes in velar knee height from rest to the bilabial /p/ production was strongly correlated with changes in the velar configuration (r = 0.680, P = .021) and levator muscle contraction (r = 0.703, P = .016). Velar configuration was highly correlated to levator muscle changes (r = 0.685, P = .020). Mean alpha angle during bilabial /p/ production was 176°, which demonstrated that subjects achieve velopharyngeal closure at or just below the palatal plane. Subjects with a larger adenoid pad used significantly less (r = -0.660, P = .027) levator muscle contraction compared with individuals with smaller adenoids. This study demonstrates a potentially useful technique in dynamic MRI that does not rely on cyclic repetitions or sustained phonation. This study lends support to the clinical potential of dynamic MRI methods for cleft palate management.

New trends in visualizing speech production

Most dynamic magnetic resonance imaging of the levator veli palatini (levator) muscle has been limited to studies using sustained phonation (Yamawaki et al. 1996; Ettema et al. 2002; Tian et al., 2010a, 2010b; Kollara and Perry, 2013). Dynamic MRI sequences at faster imaging speeds using word-level productions have been described along the midsagittal image plane (Sutton et al., 2009; Bae et al., 2011; Scott et al., 2013) and oblique coronal image plane (Perry et al., 2013b, 2013c; Scott et al., 2013). The purpose of this presentation is to describe methods for analyzing the velopharyngeal mechanism and velar muscles during rest and speech production using MRI. This presentation will demonstrate a potentially useful technique in dynamic MRI that does not rely on cyclic repetitions or sustained phonation and can provide dynamic information related to muscle function. Innovative techniques in imaging and interpreting dynamic MRI of velopharyngeal function during speech will be described. It is expected these developments will provide insights that will improve clinical methods in resonance assessments among children born with cleft lip and palate.

Thermo‐cryogenic controls of fracture kinematics in permafrost rockwalls

AbstractThermo‐cryogenic processes prepare and trigger rockfalls and rockslides in alpine environments. Temporal occurrence, controls, and applied stresses of Thermo‐cryogenic processes on rock masses are poorly understood. This paper reports annual crackmeter measurements with 3 h resolution across perennially ice‐filled fractures in an unstable rock permafrost crestline. Thermo‐cryogenic processes are controlled by snow cover onset and duration. Thermal changes in snow‐free periods control expansion and contraction coincident temperature gradients on a daily to seasonal scale. We can show how snow cover promotes sustained temperatures from −9 to −1°C and boosts ice segregation‐related fracture opening up to 1 cm in 8 months. During snowmelt, meltwater induces ice erosion and ice relaxation, which occur in the freeze‐thaw window close to the thawing point. We hypothesize that Thermo‐cryogenic processes and their cyclic repetition can lead to Thermo‐cryogenic fatigue preparing rock slope failure and can control type and location of rockfalls in a changing climate.

Selective atomic-level etching using two heating procedures, infrared irradiation and ion bombardment, for next-generation semiconductor device manufacturing

The demand for precisely controlled etching is increasing as semiconductor device geometries continue to shrink. To fulfill this demand, cyclic atomic level/layer etching will become one of the key technologies in semiconductor device manufacturing at nanometer dimensions. This review describes recent trends in semiconductor devices and some of the latest results on cyclic atomic-level etching. In particular, it focuses on two types of cyclic etching that use different heating procedures: infrared irradiation for isotropic etching and Ar+ ion bombardment for anisotropic etching. It describes how an inductively-coupled-plasma down-flow etching apparatus with infrared lamps can be used for isotropic cyclic etching. The isotropic cyclic etching of SiN involves the formation and thermal desorption of ammonium hexafluorosilicate-based surface modified layers. This method features high selectivity with respect to SiO2, atomic-level control of the amount of SiN etching, and isotropic etched features. On the other hand, the anisotropic cyclic etching with Ar+ ion bombardment uses a microwave electron-cyclotron-resonance plasma etching apparatus. The anisotropic process for poly Si is composed of cyclic repetitions of chlorine adsorption and Ar+ ion bombardment. The anisotropic process for SiN is composed of cyclic repetitions involving an adsorption step using hydrofluorocarbon chemistry and a desorption step using Ar+ ion bombardment. Potential applications of these isotropic/anisotropic cyclic etching processes are described.

Cyclical conception of history in Carlos Fuentes's The Orange Tree

This paper aims at presenting one of Fuentes's ideas about history, which he developed in the novel The Orange Tree. The said idea refers to the cyclical nature of history as well as time. The paper begins with a claim that Fuentes uses the technique of cyclic repetition, which is typical for the so-called new historical novel, with the aim of questioning the official version of history and showing which constants have been repeating themselves throughout the history of mankind. The representation of historical constants is essential in order to avoid the repetition of mistakes from the past. It transpires that, in this way, Fuentes seeks to refute the linear conception of time and with it closely related positivist idea of progress, which emerged in the Enlightenment era, so that he could show that the passage of time brings no real change in man's position. The paper aims at presenting the way in which Fuentes demonstrates that past events repeat themselves in the present and simultaneously represent the prophecy of the future. The conclusion is that Fuentes questions the past in order to illuminate his own present and build a national (Mexican) identity, which is sustained solely by the memory of the past.

Molecular Layer Deposition from Dissolved Precursors

We present a procedure for growing thin films of an organic polyamid material based on a cyclic repetition of two consecutive, complementary, self-limiting surface reactions. The molecular compounds that react with the surface are dissolved in an organic solvent. This new method exemplifies how atomic layer deposition (ALD) and molecular layer deposition (MLD) can benefit from being transferred from the gas phase to the liquid phase, given that a broad variety of advantageous reagents are only available in dissolved form.

Discovering partial periodic-frequent patterns in a transactional database

Proposed a novel model to find partial periodic-frequent patterns in a database.Introduced a measure to find partial periodic-frequent patterns in a database.An efficient pruning technique has been proposed to reduce the computational cost.Described a pattern-growth algorithm to find all partial periodic-frequent patternsExperimental results show that our model is efficient. Time and frequency are two important dimensions to determine the interestingness of a pattern in a database. Periodic-frequent patterns are an important class of regularities that exist in a database with respect to these two dimensions. Current studies on periodic-frequent pattern mining have focused on discovering full periodic-frequent patterns, i.e., finding all frequent patterns that have exhibited complete cyclic repetitions in a database. However, partial periodic-frequent patterns are more common due to the imperfect nature of real-world. This paper proposes a flexible and generic model to find partial periodic-frequent patterns. A new interesting measure, periodic-ratio, has been introduced to determine the periodic interestingness of a frequent pattern by taking into account its proportion of cyclic repetitions in a database. The proposed patterns do not satisfy the anti-monotonic property. A novel pruning technique has been introduced to reduce the search space effectively. A pattern-growth algorithm to find all partial periodic-frequent patterns has also been presented in this paper. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed model can discover useful information, and the algorithm is efficient.

Fast blind channel estimation for space–time block coded MIMO–OFDM systems

Fast blind subspace channel estimation using circular property of the channel matrix is investigated for space–time block coded (STBC) multiple-input multiple-output orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (MIMO–OFDM) systems in this paper. The noise subspace computed from the correlation matrix of received signals requires a large number of symbols to converge in the subspace channel estimation. Using the circular property of the channel matrix, we propose both the cyclic repetition method (CRM) and the forward–backward method (FBM) to generate N times of equivalent signals for each STBC–OFDM symbol, respectively, where N is the size of FFT operation. With these equivalent symbols, the proposed CRM, FBM and CRM–FBM (CFBM) channel estimations can perform very well within a few OFDM symbols. The CRM, FBM and CFBM schemes are applicable to the CP-OFDM, ZP-OFDM and VC-OFDM systems, respectively. The identifiability of the subspace channel estimation is investigated that the channel matrix is determined up to two ambiguity matrices. Computer simulations demonstrate that the CRM-based, FBM-based and CFBM-based channel estimations have better performances than the conventional ones.

Atomistic modeling of different loading paths in single crystal copper and aluminum

Utilizing molecular dynamics (MD) integration model we have investigated some of the relevant physical processes caused by different loading paths at the atomic level in Cu and Al monocrystal specimen. Interactions among the atoms in the bulk are modeled with the standard realistic Embedded Atom Method (EAM) potentials. MD simulation gives us the detailed information about non-equilibrium dynamics including crystal structure defects, vacancies and dislocations. In particular, we have obtained result that indicate increase in the total energy of the crystal during loading (especially cyclic) that provides us direct quantitative evidence of the metal weakening. For the basic response, we have deformed copper and aluminum single crystal according to the simple loading path and a series of multiaxial loading-paths including cyclic repetition. We compute equivalent stress-strain diagrams as well as dislocation total length vs time graphs to describe signatures of the anisotropic response of the crystal.

Is synergistic organisation of muscle coordination altered in people with lateral epicondylalgia? A case–control study

BackgroundLateral epicondylalgia is a common musculoskeletal disorder and is associated with deficits in the motor system including painful grip. This study compared coordination of forearm muscles (muscle synergies) during repeated gripping between individuals with and without lateral epicondylalgia. MethodsTwelve participants with lateral epicondylalgia and 14 controls performed 15 cyclical repetitions of sub-maximal (20% maximum grip force of asymptomatic arm), pain free dynamic gripping in four arm positions: shoulder neutral with elbow flexed to 90° and shoulder flexed to 90° with elbow extended both with forearm pronated and neutral. Muscle activity was recorded from extensor carpi radialis brevis/longus, extensor digitorum, flexor digitorum superficialis/profundus, and flexor carpi radialis, with intramuscular electrodes. Muscle synergies were extracted using non-negative matrix factorisation. FindingsAnalysis of each position and participant, demonstrated that two muscle synergies accounted for >97% of the variance for both groups. Between-group differences were identified after electromyography patterns of the control group were used to reconstruct the patterns of the lateral epicondylalgia group. A greater variance accounted for was identified for the controls than lateral epicondylalgia (p=0.009). This difference might be explained by an additional burst of flexor digitorum superficialis electromyography during grip release in many lateral epicondylalgia participants. InterpretationThese data provide evidence of some differences in synergistic organisation of activation of forearm muscles between individuals with and without lateral epicondylalgia. Due to study design it is not possible to elucidate whether changes in the coordination of muscle activity during gripping are associated with the cause or effect of lateral epicondylalgia.

Symbolic Aspects in the Literature of Ştefan Augustin Doinaş

Symbolic Aspects in the Literature of Ştefan Augustin Doinaş

Research on Robust Adaptive and Efficient Control System: A Theoretical Approach

In this paper, a robust adaptive repetitive control algorithm is presented for periodically time-varying systems. Periodic time-varying parameter estimation through periodic learning algorithm, and the uncertainty of aperiodic was robust adaptive method. Different from the existing repetitive control, this paper introduces the design of a new variable cycle number control. Convergence error when the number increase will gradually decrease due to the cyclical repetition character system, in order to ensure the global asymptotic stability. Further, this method is applied to a class of nonlinearly parameterized systems with non-parametric disturbances, and the tracking error converges asymptotically. The results verify the simulation model of the inverse pendulum. In addition, it is proved that the proposed design method is applied to eliminate the influence of approximation error of neural network. Theoretical analysis shows that the system output is convergent to the desired one and all signals in the network based robust adaptive repetitive control system are bounded. The experimental result illustrates the effectiveness of our proposed methodology.

Origin of banded structure and coal lithotype cycles in Kargali coal seam of East Bokaro sub-basin, Jharkhand, India: Environmental implications

The Kargali seam of Early Permian Barakar cyclothems of East Bokaro sub-basin of Jharkhand, India is 12–30 m thick, splits into two parts, and extends throughout the length of the basin. It is made up of interbedded sequences and variable proportions of Vitrain, Clarain, Durain and Fusain. Application of embedded Markov chain model rejects the phenomenon of randomness in the repetition of coal lithotypes. The preferential upward transition path for coal lithotypes that can be derived for the Kargali top coal seam is: Vitrain → Clarain → Durain ↔ Fusain → Vitrain, and for the Kargali bottom coal seam is: Clarain ↔ Vitrain → Fusain → Durain → Clarain. By and large, the cyclic repetition of coal lithotypes is similar in the Kargali bottom and top seams. Among the noteworthy features are two-way transitions between Durain and Fusian in Kargali top and between Clarain and Vitrain in the case of Kargali bottom coal seam. Entropy analysis corroborates Markov chain and indicates the presence of type A-4 asymmetrical cycles of coal lithotypes. It is suggested that the banded structure of a coal seam is not a random feature and follows a definite cyclic pattern in the occurrence of coal lithotypes in vertical order and is similar to that described in Australian and European coal seams. Asymmetrical cyclic sequences are a normal, rather than an unusual condition, within coal seams. It is visualized that a gradual decline of toxic environment and ground water level resulted in the coal lithotype cycles in the Kargali seam of East Bokaro sub-basin. The close interbedding of Vitrain and Clarain is suggestive of seasonal fluctuation in anaerobic and aerobic conditions during peat formation.

Optimal control of the signal-to-noise ratio per unit time of a spin 1/2 particle: The crusher gradient and the radiation damping cases

We show to which extent the signal to noise ratio per unit time of a spin 1/2 particle can be maximized. We consider a cyclic repetition of experiments made of a measurement followed by a radio-frequency magnetic field excitation of the system, in the case of unbounded amplitude. In the periodic regime, the objective of the control problem is to design the initial state of the system and the pulse sequence which leads to the best signal to noise performance. We focus on two specific issues relevant in nuclear magnetic resonance, the crusher gradient and the radiation damping cases. Optimal control techniques are used to solve this non-standard control problem. We discuss the optimality of the Ernst angle solution, which is commonly applied in spectroscopic and medical imaging applications. In the radiation damping situation, we show that in some cases, the optimal solution differs from the Ernst one.

David Mitchell in the Labyrinth of Time

To date, David Mitchell’s fiction comprises six adventurously heterogeneous novels. Three are “cosmopolitan”1 in scope and structure, composed of sections that skip freely around in time and space: Ghostwritten (2001), Cloud Atlas (2004), and The Bone Clocks (2014). There are two very different coming-of-age tales of teenage boys: Number9dream (2003), set in Tokyo, reads like a Haruki Murakami novel unfolding inside a video game; and the semi-autobiographical Black Swan Green (2007), narrated by a 13-year old in the English Midlands. The historical novel The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet (2011) faithfully evokes Dutch contact with Japan in Nagasaki Harbor at the turn into the 19th century, before turning into a romance-thriller. Both within each text and across his corpus, Mitchell creates a complex dynamical tension by developing disparate stand-alone storylines and weaving these narrative threads into tapestries by turns intricate and fragile. His narratives combine linear and cyclical structures and temporalities in different ways, including having texts begin and end with sections told by the same narrator (Ghostwritten, Bone Clocks), bearing the same title (Black Swan Green), or returning to the same time period (Cloud Atlas). Mitchell’s narrative time oscillates between discrete succession and cyclic repetition: time may be broken into episodes causally connected in complete story arcs, or bent into concentric circles like the “infinite matryoshka doll of painted moments” (Cloud 393) that Isaac Sachs imagines in Cloud Atlas. Because his plotting is iterative and recursive, Mitchell’s

Dynamic Scheduling for High Throughput Satellites Employing Priority Code Scheme

Based on the use of multi-beams, high throughput satellites (HTSs) provide high data rates to a large number of users. In this context, the distribution of frequency resources among multi-beams plays an important role. This is because unsuitable distributions might cause the wastage or the starvation of frequencies and bring about low throughput rates. This paper proposes a solution to mitigate the unsuitable allocations of frequency resources in an HTS. The solution is the priority code scheme (PCS), which seeks to respond to users’ demands by dynamically scheduling frequency resources for precise satellite footprint areas. The key is to assign a priority code and an efficiency indicator to every multi-beam deployed on the system. The PCS algorithm involves the association of the efficiency indicator with the bandwidth utilization per beam to detect and correct arbitrary bandwidth allocations among the beams. Due to the PCS’s cyclical repetition of its algorithm, the concurrence time of the scheme and the tardiness of the algorithm form part of the evaluation of the PCS. Furthermore, we support the implementation of the frequency-reuse process to enhance the exploitation of frequency resources. To evaluate the PCS performance, the analysis delves into the study of the bandwidth utilization, the interference among beams, the concurrence time, and the algorithm tardiness.