Familiar Solutions Research Articles

Not in‐sourced here! When does external technology sourcing yield familiar versus novel solutions?

Not in‐sourced here! When does external technology sourcing yield familiar versus novel solutions?

Adapting to climate change: the ultimate challenge for the next half-century of local government?

ABSTRACT Climate change will have a disproportionate and asymmetric impact on cities and urban areas, and some of their most vulnerable residents will be at particular risk. Studies have found that some municipalities have done far more to adapt to it than others, but there has been a general lack of funding, implementation and engagement with marginalised groups to help them prepare. We suggest that the unpredictable and evolving nature of climate impacts means that adaptation represents a defining public policy challenge for local governments in the coming decades. We set out the broad epistemological, practical and justice issues that this challenge presents for the practice and study of local government, and argue that addressing it will require new approaches that go beyond discrete and familiar solutions.

Community Initiatives and the Use of Welfare Technologies in Super-Aged Areas: A Case Study from Japan

Abstract Background Community initiatives are seen as a solution to issues such as social isolation of older people and the lack of formal care. The study examines the use of welfare technologies in two municipalities in southern Japan to enhance their community-based care systems amidst challenges like underfunding and coordination. One case, an agriculture-led town with a handful of administrators, and the other, a manufacturing-led 'Tokku' (national strategic special zone) with active central and local government involvement, provide contrasting approaches. Methods Using a case study approach, the initiatives taken by the two municipalities were identified from ’grey’ literature and examined to see what types of welfare technologies have been introduced and how, and what impacts the overall projects had on older people’s lives, well-being and care delivery. Results The current average ageing rate in Japan is 29.2%. Town A, with a population of 13,878 and a significant ageing population of 43.3%, has initiated various ICT projects since 2011. For example, recognising the difficulties older people have in accessing information, adopting a familiar ICT solution and taking time to explore new applications together contributed to the overall wellbeing during the initiation process. In contrast, ‘Tokku’ B, with a population of 916,003 and an ageing rate of 31.5%, the highest among 25 ‘Tokku’, prioritises Digital Transformation from cradle to grave. They are committed to sustainable development and improving the well-being of their residents (all ages) through collaborative strategies and a forward-looking perspective. The overall impact remains uncertain, however. Conclusion These findings shed light on Japan's technology-driven strategies to address age-related challenges, which resonate with age-friendly city initiatives worldwide. However, challenges remain, particularly in depopulated areas with limited resources and skilled care professionals. Further research, including comparative studies between Japan, Ireland and beyond, is essential to understand the impact of welfare technology integration in supporting ageing in place.

Comparison of the effect of chewing gum with routine method on ileus after burns: a randomized clinical trial

BackgroundChewing gum is a healthy, cheap, and familiar solution for patients with premature irritation of the stomach and intestines. This study compared the effect of chewing gum and the routine method on ileus after burns.MethodsThis study is a randomized clinical trial conducted in Valiasr Hospital in Arak, Markazi Province, in the center of Iran, from December 2021 to February 2023. After the diagnosis of intestinal ileus in 83 patients hospitalized in the burn department by a general surgeon, with the available sampling method, these patients were evaluated based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria of the study. As a result, 66 patients were selected and divided into groups A (33 patients in the intervention group: routine care + gum chewing) and B (33 patients in the control group: routine care) by random allocation method. For the intervention group, from entering the ward until the beginning of oral feeding, gum (without sugar) was chewed four times a day for 15 min, while control groups received the routine diet of the department. Both groups’ condition of the bowel sounds, time of passing gas, and stool were recorded. The statistical analyses were performed using SPSS version 16. The chi-squared, Fisher’s exact, Independent t-test, and Mann-Whitney U tests were utilized.ResultsThe results showed that the median bowel sound return time, time of the first gas discharge, earliest defecation time, and time to start the diet were significantly shorter in the intervention group than in the control group (P < 0.001).ConclusionThis study showed the effect of chewing gum without sugar in shortening the symptoms of intestinal ileus after burns. However, it was not effective in reducing the hospitalization period of patients. According to these results, it is recommended to add chewing gum to the routine care of people hospitalized due to burns.Trial registrationIranian Registry of Clinical Trials IRCT20180715040478N1, 2021-07-27.

A virtual reality experiment to study pedestrian perception of future street scenarios.

The current allocation of street space is based on expected vehicular peak-hour flows. Flexible and adaptive use of this space can respond to changing needs. To evaluate the acceptability of flexible street layouts, several urban environments were designed and implemented in virtual reality. Participants explored these designs in immersive virtual reality in a [Formula: see text] mixed factorial experiment, in which we analysed self-reported, behavioural and physiological responses from participants. Distinct communication strategies were varied between subjects. Participants' responses reveal a preference for familiar solutions. Unconventional street layouts are less preferred, perceived as unsafe and cause a measurably greater stress response. Furthermore, information provision focusing on comparisons lead participants to focus primarily on the drawbacks, instead of the advantages of novel scenarios. When being able to freely express thoughts and opinions, participants are focused more on the impact of space design on behaviour rather than the objective physical features themselves. Especially, this last finding suggests that it is vital to develop new street scenarios in an inclusive and democratic way: the success of innovating urban spaces depends on how well the vast diversity of citizens' needs is considered and met.

Technical note: The Graetz problem at small Peclet number and its application to sizing condensation particle counters

We extend to small Peclet number Pe the familiar high-Pe solution to the Graetz problem of heat/mass transfer in a tube with parabolic flow with a wall temperature discontinuity at an axial position z = 0. Retaining diffusion in the axial direction results only in slight shifts in the eigenfunctions describing the problem. This enables the characterization of the saturation field S by separation of variables, which we implement for Pe = 0, 0.1, 0.25. Calculations based on discretization of the transport partial differential equations are also used to analyze the problem at Pe up to 5. As Pe tends to 0, the heat and mass transfer problems are both described by the same dimensionless function θ(z,r) of the axial and radial coordinates z and r. S then depends on the single quantity θ, and its maximum value Smax is exactly the same along all streamlines. This would result in sharp activation curves in a hypothetical low-Pe condensation particle counter, similarly as in the special circumstance when the ratio Le between heat and mass diffusivities is unity. Calculations are run to determine how the radial uniformity of Smax is degraded at increasing Pe. When accounting for axial diffusion, Smax at the wall is independent of Pe or Le. The commonly considered high Pe limit fails to satisfy this requirement, and therefore predicts an incorrect Smax at distances from the wall discontinuity small compared to Pe−1/2.

Increased basolateral amygdala metabolic activity during flavor familiarization: an experimental study

BackgroundNovel flavors elicit a cautious neophobic response which is attenuated as the flavor becomes familiar and safe. The attenuation of neophobia reveals the formation of a safe memory. Previous lesion studies in rats have reported that basolateral amygdala integrity is required for taste neophobia, but not neophobia to flavor, i.e., taste linked to an odorous component. Accordingly, immunohistochemical analyses show that novel tastes induced higher basolateral amygdala activity when compared to familiar ones. However, a different role of basolateral amygdala in flavor attenuation of neophobia is suggested by lesion studies using a vinegar solution. Studies assessing basolateral amygdala activity during flavor attenuation of neophobia are lacking. Thus, we quantified cytochrome oxidase as an index of basolateral amygdala activity along the first and second vinegar exposures in order to assess flavor neophobia and attenuation of neophobia.MethodsWe exposed adult male Wistar rats either once or twice to a 3% cider vinegar solution or water, and compared the basolateral amygdala, piriform cortex and caudate putamen brain metabolic activity using cytochrome c-oxidase histochemistry.ResultsWe found increased flavor intake and cytochrome c-oxidase histochemistry activity during the second exposure in basolateral amygdala, but not in the piriform cortex and caudate/putamen.ConclusionsThe main finding of the study is that BLA metabolic activity was higher in the group exposed to a familiar vinegar solution than in the groups exposed to either water or a novel vinegar solution.

Experience of localized flooding predicts urban flood risk perception and perceived safety of nature-based solutions

Understanding community members' flood risk perceptions is critical for developing new approaches to managing flood risks for climate resilience. “Risk as feelings” has informed research on how people perceive flood risks based on intuition and personal experiences, complementing experts' technical assessment. However, attention has been primarily on riverine and coastal flooding. We expand the “risk as feelings” concept to investigate community members' risk perceptions of urban pluvial flooding as well as perceived safety of novel vs. familiar nature-based solutions (NBS). For the novel practice, we focus on floodable sites that temporarily inundate urban open spaces under storm conditions. For the familiar practice, we focus on retention ponds that store excessive runoff under storm conditions. Data were collected through visualization-assisted surveys of residents from high and low flood hazard areas in three US cities (N = 884). We found that over half of respondents indicated some degree of worry about stormwater-related damage, and overall, respondents perceived floodable as less safe than retention ponds under storm conditions. Further, respondents who had more frequently experienced localized flooding near their homes were more worried about potential property damage caused by flooding. They also perceived floodable sites as less safe under storm conditions. However, more frequent experience of localized flooding was not associated with perceived safety of retention ponds under storm conditions. Some other contextual and socio-demographic factors (e.g., prior stormwater-related property damage, knowledge of and involvement in stormwater management issues, gender, age, race, and having children) also had notable effects on flood risk perception and perceived safety of NBS. We discuss the implications of these findings for urban flood risk management and NBS development.

Delayed rebounds in the two-ball bounce problem

In the classroom demonstration of a tennis ball dropped on top of a basketball, the surprisingly high bounce of the tennis ball is typically explained using momentum conservation for elastic collisions, with the basketball-floor collision treated as independent from the collision between the two balls. This textbook explanation is extended to inelastic collisions by including a coefficient of restitution. This independent contact model (ICM), as reviewed in this paper, is accurate for a wide variety of cases, even when the collisions are not truly independent. However, it is easy to explore situations that are not explained by the ICM, such as swapping the tennis ball for a ping-pong ball. In this paper, we study the conditions that lead to a ‘delayed rebound effect,’ a small first bounce followed by a higher second bounce, using techniques accessible to an undergraduate student. The dynamical model is based on the familiar solution of the damped harmonic oscillator. We focus on making the equations of motion dimensionless for numerical simulation, and reducing the number of parameters and initial conditions to emphasize universal behavior. The delayed rebound effect is found for a range of parameters, most commonly in cases where the first bounce is lower than the ICM prediction.

Exact wave solutions of the nonlinear Rosenau equation using an analytical method

Abstract The purpose of the current study is to find exact travelling wave solutions of the Rosenau equation. By the use of the extended auxiliary equation method, various exact solutions are obtained in terms of Jacobi elliptic functions and exponential functions. Moreover, several solitary and periodic wave solutions are given as special cases. When the parameters take some values, some graphical illustrations are shown in order to understand the behaviour of these new solutions. Furthermore, we compare our solutions with some familiar solutions, which can be considered as special cases.

On the role of key players in rural social innovation processes

Social innovation (SI) research tends to understand rural SI processes as collective initiatives of equally engaged, supportive, and like-minded people. However, recent research has indicated that SI projects often benefit from dedicated key players who find support in their communities but also must deal with resistance and barriers. Against this backdrop, this article explores the figure of the key player in SI research and exposes the patterns of rural SI processes with the empirical cases of two small communities in Germany that jointly created rural infrastructure systems, thus seeking emancipation from remote political and economic control and marginalization. Using the empirical cases, we tested and specified a heuristic framework of key players that combines analytical dimensions at the micro-, meso-, and macro-levels. According to our findings, the heuristic framework is appropriate for analyzing key players in rural SI processes. Notably, we show that SI processes benefit from assertive key players and strong communities capable of joint action. Both are crucial for dealing with internal opposition and overcoming external hurdles that appear when novel approaches irritate familiar solutions and routines.

Onset of the broad-ranging general stable soliton solutions of nonlinear equations in physics and gas dynamics

Stable soliton solutions for the nonlinear Klein–Gordon equation in condensed matter physics, particle physics, nonlinear optics, solid state physics and the gas dynamics equation ensuing in shock fronts have been established by putting use of the sine-Gordon expansion procedure. We establish the broad-ranging familiar stable wave solutions related with some free parameters, for particular values of which some of the subsisting solutions in the literature are re-established and several fresh solutions are formulated. The contour and 3D shapes are depicted to describe the physical phenomena of the established solutions. Scores of solitary wave solutions are obtained such as, compacton, smooth soliton, anti-bell type solitary wave, bell-type solitary wave, kink and some other new types of solitary wave solutions. The obtained results might play important role in optics, quantum mechanics, mathematical physics and engineering. It is noticeable to inspect that the sine-Gordon expansion procedure is an efficient, competent and straightforward mathematical tool to ascertain exact solitary wave solutions.

Facilitating of knowledge transfer in a software development company

In an organization, knowledge transfer between its members is vital. Most studies conducted up to this date have focused on knowledge transfer in the field of industrial production. If in this branch of knowledge, where operations and processes have a certain degree of standardization and repeatability, this is done through initial and possibly periodic training, in the matter of software development things are more complicated. Tasks do not resemble with each other, most are unique and often require documentation before being resolved. Obtaining documentation from external environments often involves work on adapting to the organization’s requirements and to the project’s requirements also. In an organization without a constant direct interaction between the members, the transfer of knowledge requires much labor. In this paper, we propose the design and implementation of a software solution that will facilitate the transfer of knowledge between the developers of a software development company. This internal database will include the solutions identified, adapted, and used by programmers to solve non-familiar tasks. Also, a collection will be created with the errors encountered throughout the development and implementation process and their resolution, useful for all members of the organization. Every time a team will meet an unfamiliar functionality in an assigned task, it will consult the internal database. In this way, the solution will be easier reached and adapted from the source. External sources of documentation and research will only be used if the internal search has not returned a solution to the problem. In this case, following the solving steps, the familiar solution will be added to the internal database for future use. Finally, we will measure the benefits of the proposed and implemented solution. Ultimately, the rate of use of a solution stored in the database over a period of time will be measured, along with the average time of solving a task in the development process, when making use of the internal knowledge and solutions base.

A constraint-separation principle in model predictive control

In this brief, we consider the constrained optimization problem underpinning model predictive control (MPC). We show that this problem can be decomposed into an unconstrained optimization problem with the same cost function as the original problem and a constrained optimization problem with a modified cost function and dynamics that have been precompensated according to the solution of the unconstrained problem. In the case of linear systems subject to a quadratic cost, the unconstrained problem has the familiar LQR solution and the constrained problem reduces to a minimum-norm projection. This implies that solving linear MPC problems is equivalent to precompensating a system using LQR and applying MPC to penalize only the control input. We propose to call this a constraint-separation principle and discuss the utility of both constraint separation and general decomposition in the design of MPC schemes and the development of numerical solvers for MPC problems.

Analysis of nonlinear vibrations of CNT- /fiberglass-reinforced multi-scale truncated conical shell segments

The truncated conical shell segments made from multi-scale epoxy/carbon nanotube/fiberglass material are studied in this research in the view of evaluating nonlinear free vibration behavior. Incorporating random dispersion of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and parallel alignment of glass fibers, a three-dimensional (3D) Mori–Tanaka micro-mechanic method has been utilized for defining the hybrid material properties. For defining the configuration of truncated conical shell segments, a semi-vertex angle and also an open angle are used in the thin shell formulation. With the usage of Jacobi elliptic functions, exact values of nonlinear vibration frequencies have been derived which are more accurate compared to familiar approximate solutions. A specific attention is drawn to the impacts of fiber volume, fiber directions, semi-vertex angle, CNT weight fraction, and CNT aspect ratio on nonlinear free vibrations of multi-scale truncated conical shell segments. Communicated by Jie Yang

Consequences of analytic boundary conditions in AdS

We investigate the effects of an analytic boundary metric for smooth asymptotically anti-de Sitter gravitational solutions. The boundary dynamics is then completely determined by the initial data due to corner conditions that all smooth solutions must obey. We perturb a number of familiar static solutions and explore the boundary dynamics that results. We find evidence for a nonlinear asymptotic instability of the planar black hole in four and six dimensions. In four dimensions we find indications of at least exponential growth, while in six dimensions, it appears that a singularity may form in finite time on the boundary. This instability extends to pure AdS (at least in the Poincare patch). For the class of perturbations we consider, there is no sign of this instability in five dimensions.

Circular Wilson loops in defect mathcal{N} = 4 SYM: phase transitions, double-scaling limits and OPE expansions

We consider circular Wilson loops in a defect version of mathcal{N} = 4 super-Yang- Mills theory which is dual to the D3-D5 brane system with k units of flux. When the loops are parallel to the defect, we can construct both BPS and non-BPS operators, depending on the orientation of the scalar couplings in the R-symmetry directions. At strong ’t Hooft coupling we observe, in the non supersymmetric case, a Gross-Ooguri-like phase transition in the dual gravitational theory: the familiar disk solution dominates, as expected, when the operator is far from the defect while a cylindrical string worldsheet, connecting the boundary loop with the probe D5-brane, is favourite below a certain distance (or equivalently for large radii of the circles). In the BPS case, instead, the cylindrical solution does not exist for any choice of the physical parameters, suggesting that the exchange of light supergravity modes always saturate the expectation value at strong coupling. We study the double-scaling limit for large k and large ’t Hooft coupling, finding full consistency in the non-BPS case between the string solution and the one-loop perturbative result. Finally we discuss, in the BPS case, the failure of the double-scaling limit and the OPE expansion of the Wilson loop, finding consistency with the known results for the one-point functions of scalar composite operators.

Impact of resistive switching parameters on resistive random access memory crossbar arrays

Sneak current issue of RRAM-based crossbar array is one of the biggest hindrances for high-density memory application. The integration of an addition selector to each cell is one of the most familiar solutions to avoid this undesired cross-talk issue, and resistive switching parameters would affect on the storage density. This paper investigates the potential impact of different resistive switching parameters on crossbar arrays with one-diode one-resistor (1D1R) and one-selector one-resistor (1S1R) architectures. Results indicate that 1S1R architecture is a more scalable technology for high-density crossbar array than 1D1R, and the storage density of 1D1R- and 1S1R-based crossbar array shows little dependence on resistance values of high-resistance state and low-resistance state, which gives a guideline for choosing appropriate selectors for RRAM crossbar array with specific parameters.

Либерализм против этатизма (на пути к либерализму ХХI в.)

In the 20th century, liberalism stood up in a fight against two authoritarian (totalitarian) regimes – the nazi one and the communist one. This lead to conclusion on the “end of history” – the end of the world competition in common forms. It took little time to make sure that sharp turns of historical processes are unpredictable, etatist (authoritarian, statist) regimes are diverse, and liberalism has to argue for its historically superior role in a dispute with them over and over again. In some cases, and in some ways, authoritarian regimes have proven to be more effective than liberal ones. This was discussed by qualified experts at international workshops held in Moscow in 2017–2018. Following these discussions, a book was published in 2019. The proceeding of the dispute is represented in this article. The liberal strategy has been searching for a synthesis of freedom and equality for more than a century. However, in practice, their organic convergence is problematic. It is difficult to balance the aims of liberals and socialists, and therefore, to define possibilities and limits of a dialogue between them. Social state is one of the main ideas that liberal parties bring to elections. But it is hard to compile with material and administrative resources concentration in state hands. Nations are a reality of the modern world. Building and developing civil nations within the borders of one state (and particularly of interstate formations) is the task that has no vivid and familiar solutions. The same as the problem of nation-state sovereignty (the apologetic attitude to which has become widespread) has no simple and unambiguous solution. The apparent success of illiberal (and in some countries – anti-liberal) methods of partial modernization is one of the most сruel surprises sprung on the liberal doctrine and policy by modern world processes. All this makes the promotion of liberal values in Europe and Russia very challenging.

Optimisation-driven conceptual design: case study of a large transfer truss

This article describes the use of structural optimisation at the conceptual design stage to identify materially efficient solutions that incorporate buildability considerations. In the proposed approach, a minimum-weight solution is first identified, providing a benchmark against which other designs can be judged. However, as this solution will often be complex in form (and effectively impossible to construct in practice), additional constraints are then gradually introduced to rationalise it, and to explore the regions of the solution space which separate it from simpler, more familiar solutions. This enables the designer to balance material efficiency and complexity in a more informed manner. The efficacy of the approach is demonstrated via application to a case study of a transfer truss design.