Effect Of Asymmetry Research Articles

Magnetic enhancement of the electrical asymmetry effect in capacitively coupled plasmas

The development of real-time control strategies for key discharge parameters, such as densities, fluxes, and energy distributions, is of fundamental interest to many plasma sources. Over the last decade, multi-harmonic ‘tailored’ voltage waveforms have been successfully employed to achieve enhanced control of key parameters in a wide range of radio-frequency (RF) plasma sources through application of the electrical asymmetry effect (EAE). More recently, the analogous magnetic asymmetry effect (MAE) has been numerically and experimentally demonstrated to achieve a notable degree of control in parallel plate RF plasma sources. The MAE is achieved via selectively magnetising the charged species adjacent to one electrode, altering the charge flux to the surface and enforcing a DC self-bias to maintain quasineutrality. This study addresses the degree of control achieved by the MAE in a non-planar geometry via 2D fluid/kinetic simulations of a magnetised RF capacitively coupled plasma source employing two different magnetic topologies. The simultaneous application of the EAE and MAE is then presented for the same geometry, demonstrating a degree of non-linear behaviour dependant upon the applied magnetic topology. Control of the DC self-bias voltage ηdc is demonstrated for a single 600 Vpp , 13.56 MHz discharge in both ‘convergent’ (maximum on-axis field strength) and ‘divergent’ (minimum on-axis field strength) magnetic topolgies. MAE induced modulations of ηdc = 0.13 Vpp and ηdc = 0.03 Vpp are achieved for each magnetic topology, respectively, for magnetic field strengths between 50 and 1000 G. Simultaneous application of an EAE and MAE is achieved through a multi-harmonic ‘peak’-type tailored voltage waveform employing varying harmonic phase offsets between 0∘ ⩽ θ ⩽ 360∘ . The degree to which the DC self-bias voltage is modulated by the applied EAE is mediated by the orientation and magnitude of the applied magnetic field. The EAE induced DC self-bias modulations exhibit non-linear behaviour in response to a superimposed MAE, such that the resulting DC self-bias differs from an additive combination of the two effects alone Simultaneous application of the electrical and MAEs offers the possibility of further decoupling ion and electron dynamics in RF plasma sources, and represents an improvement over each approach in isolation.

Constitutive modelling and systematic evaluation of asphalt concrete’s viscoelastic tension-compression asymmetry effect on pavement performance

ABSTRACT Asphalt concrete (AC) exhibits significant tension-compression (TC) asymmetry, which is currently not considered in pavement design. This study develops a novel temperature-dependent dual viscoelastic model to quantitatively capture the viscoelastic behaviour of AC. Unlike the conventional viscoelastic constitutive model, the proposed model decomposes strain into tensile and compressive components to characterise AC’s TC asymmetry. Additionally, a systematic modelling framework with intrinsic TC asymmetry is developed for the first time to predict the response of pavement under moving tire load. The results illustrate that implementing the proposed dual viscoelastic model enlarges both the vertical deformation of pavements and the tensile and shear strains in the AC layers, bringing it closer to the realistic scenario compared to the conventional model that only considers compression properties. Furthermore, high temperatures and low vehicular speeds exacerbate the substantial effects of AC’s TC asymmetry on asphalt pavement. This study provides a valuable method to capture AC’s TC asymmetry and predict pavement response more accurately, giving better insight into pavement response and enhancing pavement design and maintenance.

Quantitative analysis of asphalt concrete’s tension-compression asymmetry effects on pavement response through 3D numerical modeling with dual viscoelastic model

Asphalt concrete (AC) exhibits noticeable tension-compression (TC) asymmetry, but it is typically considered isotropic in pavement design. This study aims to quantitatively evaluate the effect of AC’s TC asymmetry on pavement response under loading through numerical modeling. To achieve this objective, a temperature-dependent dual viscoelastic constitutive model was applied to incorporate AC’s TC asymmetry into pavement modeling. Besides, three pavement structure models, including one with thick AC layers, one with thin AC layers, and one with a Portland cement concrete (PCC) base, were developed. The responses of the three pavement structures under traffic and environmental loading conditions were simulated. Modeling results showed that AC’s TC asymmetry can significantly increase the vertical strain in AC, leading to higher stress concentration and larger deformation in AC layers. Unlike the conventional understanding that tensile strain concentrates at the bottom of AC layers, high tensile strains were observed in the top AC layers, especially for the pavement with thick AC layers or a PCC base, which may lead to top-down cracking. High tensile strains were observed on the granular subbase for the pavement with thin AC layers, which may induce bottom-up cracking. Besides, AC’s TC asymmetry also significantly increases the shear strains, especially the horizontal shear strain in AC layers, which may result in debonding and shoving distresses in AC layers. It was also noticed that the pavement response highly depends on its temperature and vehicular speed. A higher temperature or lower vehicular speed leads to more significant AC’s TC asymmetry as well as its effects on asphalt pavement’s response. The outcomes of this study are expected to help enhance the design and maintenance of more durable asphalt pavement.

The Effect of Knee Height Asymmetry on Gait Biomechanics.

Though the primary goal for limb length discrepancy (LLD) management is to equalize the leg lengths, symmetry between corresponding long bones is usually not achieved, leading to knee height asymmetry (KHA). To date, there is minimal information on what effect KHA has on gait biomechanics and joint loading. Thus, the purpose of this study is to determine the impact of KHA on gait biomechanics. Seventeen subjects with KHA after limb equalizing surgery and 10 healthy controls were enrolled. Subjects participated in 3D gait analysis collected using self-selected speed. Lower extremity kinematics, kinetics, work generated/absorbed, and total work were calculated. Standing lower limb x-rays and scanograms were used to measure LLD and calculate the tibia-to-femur (TF) ratio for each limb. Two sample t tests were used to compare differences in standing LLD, TF ratio, and work between groups. Bivariate correlation using Pearson correlation coefficients was conducted between TF ratio and total mechanical work, as well as between knee height asymmetry indices and total work asymmetry (α=0.05). Among participants, there were no differences between LLD; however, there were differences between TF ratio and knee height asymmetry. We found a nonsignificant relationship between TF ratio and total mechanical work for individual lower extremities. Therefore, the length of individual bones (TF ratio) relative to each other within the individual lower extremity was not associated with the amount of work produced. However, when a difference exists between sides (asymmetry, ie, TF ratio asymmetry), there were associated differences in work (work asymmetry) produced between sides (r=0.54, P=0.003). In other words, greater knee height asymmetry between limbs resulted in more asymmetrical mechanical work during walking. These findings may have implications for the management of LLD. Asymmetrical total mechanical work could lead to atypical joint loading during gait. Surgeons may want to consider prioritizing achieving knee height symmetry as a postoperative goal when correcting limb length discrepancy. Level III, Case Control Study.

Effects of Vertical and Horizontal Jumping Asymmetries on Linear and Change-of-Direction Speed Performance of Female Soccer Players

In recent years, along with the remarkable development of women’s soccer, significant attention has been given to the study of asymmetry in lower limbs. However, there is uncertainty about whether and to what extent jumping asymmetries affect the performance of female soccer players. The aims of this study were to examine (a) possible asymmetries in jumping ability and (b) the correlations between asymmetries and performance of female soccer players in 10 m and 30 m speed tests, as well as in change-of-direction speed tests. The study involved 12 adolescent (age: 15.8 ± 0.8 years, body mass: 59.4 ± 7 kg and height: 160.5 ± 5.1 cm) and 10 adult female soccer players (age: 22.3 ± 4.4 years, body mass: 62.2 ± 7.5 kg and height: 165.7 ± 6.1 cm). Pearson’s correlations showed no statistically significant relationships between vertical and horizontal asymmetries and time in 10 m, 30 m and 505 change-of-direction speed tests for adolescent players. In adult players, a significantly high correlation was found between asymmetries in single-leg hop tests (for distance) and time in 505 change-of-direction speed tests (r = 0.68, p < 0.05). Adult players showed higher asymmetry values in vertical and horizontal jump tests, but these asymmetries were not significant (p > 0.05). Practitioners are recommended to implement strength and power training programs, as well as injury prevention protocols, aiming to reduce asymmetries, in order to minimize the risk of injuries, and potentially improve performance of female soccer players in certain fitness tests.

One way or another: Combined effect of dispersal and asymmetry on total realized asymptotic population abundance

Understanding the consequences on population dynamics of the variability in dispersal over a fragmented habitat remains a major focus of ecological and environmental inquiry. Dispersal is often asymmetric: wind, marine currents, rivers, or human activities produce a preferential direction of dispersal between connected patches. Here, we study how this asymmetry affects population dynamics by considering a discrete-time two-patch model with asymmetric dispersal. We conduct a rigorous analysis of the model and describe all the possible response scenarios of the total realized asymptotic population abundance to a change in the dispersal rate for a fixed symmetry level. In addition, we discuss which of these scenarios can be achieved just by restricting mobility in one specific direction. Moreover, we also report that changing the order of events does not alter the population dynamics in our model, contrary to other situations discussed in the literature.

Dynamic spillover between crude oil, gold, and Chinese stock market sectors –analysis of spillovers during financial crisis data during the last two decades

The present study investigates the presence of asymmetric return spillovers among crude oil futures, gold futures, and ten Chinese stock sector markets. Time-varying asymmetric spillovers between commodities and the 10 sectors are shown by utilizing the spillover index developed by Diebold and Yilmaz (2012, 2014). Our findings indicate that the industrial and discretionary consumer sectors generate and benefit the most from spillovers. Furthermore, it has been established that the basic materials sector exhibits a net positive impact on spillovers. In contrast, oil futures, gold futures, and other sectors demonstrate a net negative impact as recipients of spillovers. Moreover, the negative return spillovers outweigh the positive return spillovers. Our analysis spans from 2000 to 2023 to include various financial crises. The spillover effects of asymmetry are impacted by various factors, including the global financial crisis (GFC), the European sovereign debt crisis (ESDC), the decline in oil prices, and the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Including gold and oil in individual equity markets can benefit equity investors. Furthermore, implementing hedging strategies is susceptible to the global financial crisis, economic slowdown, oil price decline, and the recent COVID-19 pandemic. The oil futures exhibit the greatest hedging effectiveness during the COVID-19 spread. The findings indicate that gold exhibits comparable outcomes solely in the presence of positive spillover effects. At the same time, its performance reaches its peak during the recovery phase in the context of negative spillover effects.

Asymmetric thermal optofluidics based on plasmonic multilayered nanostructures

Manipulating thermo-convective fluid flow induced by plasmonic nanostructures under light illumination has garnered significant attention in various fields, such as biomedical sensing, particle trapping, and drug delivery. However, achieving symmetric optical manipulation of fluid flow encounters challenges in certain applications due to the inherent temporal and spatial symmetry in the energy transfer process. Here, a design of plasmonic nanostructures is proposed to achieve a platform for the asymmetric manipulation of thermally induced fluid flow in an optofluidic environment. The difference in fluid flow rate between forward and backward directions is due to the combined effect of the local asymmetry of the heat transfer in multilayer plasmonic nanostructure and nonreciprocity. The nonreciprocity originates from the violation of time-symmetry due to the temperature gradient-induced convection. We show that the asymmetric convective flow can also be achieved when the size of the plasmonic structure enlarges from nanometer to micrometer, and it can be used for efficient particle separation or transportation in microfluidic systems. Our findings expand the scope of optofluidic applications and stimulate the exploration of design approaches for optical devices.

Financial technology and firm productivity: Evidence from Chinese listed enterprises

Recent data show that the number of fintech investment deals is increasing, implying that fintech is gradually penetrating various industries and may have far-reaching impacts on industrial production and operations. This paper studies the impact of fintech on firm productivity and the mediating effects of financing constraints, information asymmetry and technological innovation. This paper collects data from 1662 samples of Chinese listed firms from 2011 to 2022 and screens the number of firms that meet the fintech criteria to construct the regional fintech development level. Our analysis shows that fintech has a positive effect on enhancing firm productivity. Path analysis reveals that digital transformation indirectly enhances firm productivity by reducing information asymmetry, easing financing constraints, and improving technological innovation. Our research introduces innovative approaches for developing indicators in financial technology. The insights generated from this study hold potential value for both entrepreneurs and governmental bodies.

The three-species problem: Incorporating competitive asymmetry and intransitivity in modern coexistence theory.

While natural communities can contain hundreds of species, modern coexistence theory focuses primarily on species pairs. Alternatively, the structural stability approach considers the feasibility of equilibria, gaining scalability to larger communities but sacrificing information about dynamic stability. Three-species competitive communities are a bridge to more-diverse communities. They display novel phenomena while remaining amenable to mathematical analysis, but remain incompletely understood. Here, we combine these approaches to identify the key quantities that determine three-species competition outcomes. We show that pairwise niche overlap and fitness differences are insufficient to completely characterize competitive outcomes, which requires a strictly triplet-wise quantity: cyclic asymmetry, which underlies intransitivity. Low pairwise niche overlap stabilizes the triplet, while high fitness differences promote competitive exclusion. The effect of cyclic asymmetry on stability is complex and depends on pairwise niche overlap. In summary, we elucidate how pairwise niche overlap, fitness differences and cyclic asymmetry determine three-species competition outcomes.

The Role of an Art Object in the Formation of Characteristic Features of Interior Space

The aim of the article is to study the role of different types of art objects in the formation of characteristic features of interior space. Research methods included bibliographic, typological and comparative analysis, field survey, compositional method, systematization and generalization. The scientific novelty lies in the research, analysis and systematization of the functional and aesthetic role of art objects in the formation of characteristic features of interior space. Conclusions. As a result of the study, the main features of the interior space, which can be achieved by placing an art object in it, were determined: intensification, assimilation, hyperbolization and transformation. Thus, the intensification of the interior is achieved through the dominant position of the art object, its compositional coherence with other elements, the subordination of rhythmic structures to it, and the creation of space for the effects of dynamism and expressiveness. Assimilation is achieved by subtly combining the geometric shapes of the interior space and the art object, creating a sense of balance, homogeneity, and compositional completeness. Hyperbolization relies on a pronounced semantic and stylistic contrast between the art object and the interior elements, resulting in the effect of compositional dissonance, revitalization, and at times, irony, sarcasm, and satire. Transformation involves visually altering the geometric form, size, or shape of both the interior space and the art object. This is achieved through methods such as dismemberment, emphasis, and the reconfiguration of spatial elements, leading to the effect of compositional asymmetry, dissymmetry, and dynamism. The study tested specific results in the design work of design students. The prospect for further research is to analyze the role of art objects in the qualitative transformation of modern interiors, to identify and systematize modern trends in the relationship between fine art and the object and spatial environment.

Effects of radiant asymmetry on the thermal comfort conditions: Experiments in a test room

Occupants' well-being in buildings is related to the thermal comfort conditions in indoor spaces. Radiant asymmetry is a parameter of localised discomfort and its evaluation is rather challenging. It should be considered when dealing with radiant systems since they could produce unacceptable asymmetric temperature fields. In this paper, the issue of radiant asymmetry in winter is experimentally investigated in a test room equipped with radiant panels. A first round of testing is carried out to study the limits in terms of supply water temperature of the heated surface in relation to the discomfort curves proposed in the current standards. Configurations with a heated wall or ceiling and the contemporary presence of one or more heat-dissipating surfaces are considered. Twelve scenarios representing real building situations are analysed, each involving three consecutive heating phases with increasing supply temperatures of 30, 35 and 40 °C. The most critical configuration is imposed in a second testing round with 8 participants checking the actual subjects' perceptions through questionnaires, with conditions of global thermal neutrality (PMV = 0). The scenario with a heated ceiling and heat-dissipating floor is the most adverse, generating a vertical asymmetry exceeding the standard limit of 4 °C when the supply temperature is above 35 °C. The survey campaign shows that uncomfortable cold sensations are prevalent with lower radiant asymmetry levels, whereas the highest ceiling temperature improves comfort perception. The results suggest that participants could not feel the asymmetry increment and analysis of radiant asymmetry discomfort should also consider surface temperatures along with plane radiant temperature difference.

A Self‐Consistent Model of Radial Transport in the Magnetodisks of Gas Giants Including Interhemispheric Asymmetries

AbstractOutward transport of plasma in the inner and middle magnetospheres of gas giants results from an interplay between mass loading from the inner dominant mass sources (volcanic moons), flux tube interchange in the centrifugally unstable magnetospheric plasma disk, turbulent heating of the plasma, and coupling between the equatorial plasma and the planetary upper atmosphere through magnetic field‐aligned current loops and/or Alfvén waves. We present a new analytical formalism describing large scale transport in gas giant systems, combining two historical approaches: radial diffusion of mass and energy through flux tube interchange, and angular momentum transport through corotation enforcement. Under the hypotheses of axisymmetry, steady‐state, and multi‐fluid plasma, we provide transport equations for total contents of flux tubes. They feature new transport parameters accounting for the latitudinal extent of the disk, and self‐consistently include field‐aligned potential drops in the magnetosphere‐ionosphere coupling. Our general formalism has a wealth of applications, two of which are presented, corresponding to the cases of the two gas giants: the effect of interhemispheric asymmetries in the resistive and magnetic properties between the northern and southern ionospheres on the transport of angular momentum at Jupiter, and the influence of the plasma disk thickness on transport at Saturn. We apply our formalism to derive ionospheric parameters and reproduce the Juno and Cassini data. Further work will allow for more complete numerical solutions of our equations, with the aim of capturing the broad complexity of fast rotating magnetospheric systems which can be found inside and outside the Solar System.

Factors mitigate the effect of widowhood's mental health impact: A longitudinal test from individual, familial, and social perspectives.

Although widowhood has been considered a significant risk factor for mental health, the duration of its effects and the potential mitigating factors involved in this relationship remain inadequately understood among Chinese older adults. This study investigates the longitudinal relationship between widowhood and depression and examines the interaction effects of health asymmetry, the number of children, and urban-rural differences from individual, familial, and social perspectives. A sample of 9,563 individuals for the four rounds period (from 2011 to 2018) is obtained from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study. Results demonstrate that (a) the depression associated with widowhood is expected to revert to prewidowhood level after 3 years, (b) the relationship between widowhood and depression is stronger for older adults who are health pessimists compared to those who are health optimists, (c) the relationship between widowhood and depression is stronger for older adults with fewer children compared to those with more children, and (d) the relationship between widowhood and depression is stronger for older adults living in rural areas than those living in urban areas. These findings are essential for policymakers and practitioners working with widowed older adults. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Effect of word order asymmetry on the cognitive load of English–Chinese sight translation

Abstract This article examines word order asymmetry as one prominent obstacle in the cognitive process of English–Chinese sight translation. A within-subject experiment was designed for 23 MA translation students who sight translated sentences with different degrees of structural asymmetry from English into Chinese in both single sentence and discourse contexts. To measure cognitive load, participants’ eye movements during translation were recorded using an eye tracker. Three major findings were generated: (1) The effect of word order asymmetry was confirmed on both sentence-based and word-based processing; (2) Contextual information did not contribute to less effortful processing in the discourse context (as indicated by more fixations and longer regressions); (3) Segmentation was used far more frequently than restructuring to address asymmetric structures. We expect these findings will enrich our understanding of the cognitive mechanisms involved in interpreting between languages that are structurally very different and help inform training practices.

Estimating Compressive and Shear Forces at L5-S1: Exploring the Effects of Load Weight, Asymmetry, and Height Using Optical and Inertial Motion Capture Systems.

This study assesses the agreement of compressive and shear force estimates at the L5-S1 joint using inertial motion capture (IMC) within a musculoskeletal simulation model during manual lifting tasks, compared against a top-down optical motion capture (OMC)-based model. Thirty-six participants completed lifting and lowering tasks while wearing a modified Plug-in Gait marker set for the OMC and a full-body IMC set-up consisting of 17 sensors. The study focused on tasks with variable load weights, lifting heights, and trunk rotation angles. It was found that the IMC system consistently underestimated the compressive forces by an average of 34% (975.16 N) and the shear forces by 30% (291.77 N) compared with the OMC system. A critical observation was the discrepancy in joint angle measurements, particularly in trunk flexion, where the IMC-based model underestimated the angles by 10.92-11.19 degrees on average, with the extremes reaching up to 28 degrees. This underestimation was more pronounced in tasks involving greater flexion, notably impacting the force estimates. Additionally, this study highlights significant differences in the distance from the spine to the box during these tasks. On average, the IMC system showed an 8 cm shorter distance on the X axis and a 12-13 cm shorter distance on the Z axis during lifting and lowering, respectively, indicating a consistent underestimation of the segment length compared with the OMC system. These discrepancies in the joint angles and distances suggest potential limitations of the IMC system's sensor placement and model scaling. The load weight emerged as the most significant factor affecting force estimates, particularly at lower lifting heights, which involved more pronounced flexion movements. This study concludes that while the IMC system offers utility in ergonomic assessments, sensor placement and anthropometric modeling accuracy enhancements are imperative for more reliable force and kinematic estimations in occupational settings.

Can the global financial cycle and economic conditions predict real estate market volatility?

ABSTRACT This study examines the predictive power of the newly proposed global financial cycle (GFC) and global economic conditions (GECON) indicators for real estate market volatility. To this end, we extend the GARCH-MIDAS model by simultaneously incorporating realized volatility and macro indicators along with the asymmetry effect. The empirical results reveal that both GFC and GECON provide significant predictive information on real estate market volatility. The predictive performance of GFC is superior to that of GECON, implying the important role of finance in the real estate market. The relationship between GFC/GECON and the future volatility of the real estate market is positive, and the short- and long-run asymmetry effects are evidenced.

A numerical study on the effect of asymmetry on underwater noise emission in offshore monopile installation

Offshore wind energy holds significant promise as a solution in the energy transition. However, installing offshore pile foundations can generate substantial levels of underwater noise, posing potential risks to marine life. This paper examines the influence of asymmetric impact forces and pile inclination on producing underwater noise and seabed vibrations based on cases of a small- and large-diameter monopile. The study focuses on scenarios involving inclined and eccentric forces and tilted piles. The analysis reveals that non-symmetrical conditions significantly impact the sound pressure levels around the ring frequency of the pile due to various noise generation mechanisms. However, it is observed that the vertical component of the impact force predominantly contributes to the generation of underwater noise, primarily due to its considerably higher amplitude.

Driven electron g-factor anisotropy in layered III–V semiconductors: Interfacing, tunnel coupling, and structure inversion asymmetry effects

A key piece for spintronic applications, the so-called electron g-factor engineering is still predominantly based on the semiconductor bulk g factor and its dependence on the bandgap energy. In nanostructures, however, the mesoscopic confinement introduces exclusive anisotropies, transforming scalar g factors into tensors, enabling different renormalization mechanisms as routes for fine-tuning the electron g factor. These questions we address in this comparative theoretical analysis between the obtained electron g-factor (tensor) anisotropies for realistic InAs|AlSb- and In0.53Ga0.47As|InP-based multilayers. The electron g-factor anisotropy, i.e., the difference between g factors for magnetic fields parallel and perpendicular to the interfaces, is analytically calculated via perturbation theory using the envelope-function approach based on the eight-band Kane model. Effects from bulk, interfacing, tunnel coupling, and structure inversion asymmetry are systematically introduced within a transparent comparative view; differences between obtained anisotropies, such as in the magnitude, sign, and other fine details, are analyzed in terms of the heterostructure parameters, mapped over different confining and tunnel-coupling regimes without requiring elaborated numerical computations.

Emission abatement in low-carbon supply chains with government subsidy and information asymmetry

Governmental subsidy policy and channel information structure have substantial effects on supply chain emission reduction, operations and marketing decisions. In this paper, we use game theory to study the interplay of government subsidizing arrangement and information asymmetry on manufacturers' emission reduction and retailers' low-carbon promotion. Suppose realistically that the investment coefficients for manufacturers' emission reduction levels and retailer' low-carbon promotion levels are their respective private information. Among diverse governmental subsidy schemes, we find dual subsidizing are the best choice for the defined level of total subsidy under information asymmetry, while it is not always the best choice if the total subsidy level is uncertain. Under information asymmetry, the results show that manufacturer have no incentive to lie under any subsidy policy. However, the retailer has incentive to misrepresent individual information and its misreporting behaviour is related to the coefficient and allocation ratio of governmental subsidies. On this basis, we illustrate that a screening model can be deployed to reduce the negative effects of information asymmetry on supply chain operations. We therefore propose the method of improving the performance of low-carbon supply chains under various situations of information asymmetry and governmental subsidizing schemes to achieve system-wide Pareto improvement.