Local Point Of View Research Articles

Unified Picture of (Non)Hysteretic Oxygen Capacity in O3‐Type Sodium 3d Layered Oxides

AbstractA unified picture of the generalized mechanism that elucidates the (non)hysteretic oxygen capacities of O3‐type Na1−x[Li2/6Mn3/6M1/6]O2 (M = Mn4+, Ni4+, and Ti4+) layered oxides is suggested to provide a critical factor in inducing ideal reversibility for an oxygen redox (OR) reaction using the new concept, the “potential‐pillar” effect. Considering that there is no formation of interlayer oxygen–oxygen (OO) dimers at x = 1.0 in Na1−x[Li2/6Mn3/6Ti1/6]O2, the phase stabilities reveal that the biphasic reaction occurs in Na1−x[Li2/6Mn3/6Ni1/6]O2 (0.5 ≤ x ≤ 1.0), and the monophasic reaction takes place in Na1−x[Li2/6Mn3/6Ti1/6]O2 during desodiation. The electronic structures of cations and anions unambiguously show OR reactions over the full vacancy range, and the oxygen ions comprising TiO6 are relatively deactivated compared with those of NiO6 upon electrochemical OR reaction. This is deemed as an intriguing “potential‐pillar” effect, in which the chemically stiff Ti4+(3d)O(2p) bond locally retains a strong electrostatic repulsion between the mixed layers. This unified concept based on an in‐depth understanding of the three cathode models not only accounts for the origin of the (non)hysteretic oxygen capacities, but also provides an exciting local structure viewpoint for harnessing the full potential of OR reactions for high energy‐density sodium‐ion batteries.

Evaluation of Contribution and Distribution of Special Allocation Fund (DAK) Physical Assignment Thematic of Sustainable Economic Infrastructure Provision

Field implementation of the Special Allocation Fund (DAK) Assignment, especially the thematic of Sustainable Economic Infrastructure Provision in 2021 from the local government's point of view, is a significant matter because it is related to development priorities achievement, especially during the COVID-19. Concerning the need for information on the spatial distribution of the DAK allocation for Physical Assignment, especially the Thematic of Sustainable Economic Infrastructure Provision (PIEB) for the 2021 fiscal year, it is necessary to carry out a series of spatial analyzes showing the distribution of the DAK Physical allocation and its contribution to regional development using a budget comparison approach. Spatial analysis was carried out for mapping: 1) The contribution and role of the DAK Physical allocation to the local government budget in 2021; 2) Contribution of DAK Physical Assignment allocation of PIEB to the local government budget in 2021; 3) Contribution of DAK Physical Assignment allocation of PIEB (Small and Medium Industries (IKM), Roads, Tourism, and the Environment) to the local government budget in the fiscal year of 2021. In general, regions with a high category of DAK Physical contributions are dominated by provinces in the Eastern Region of Indonesia. On average, the DAK Physical Assignment allocation of Sustainable Economic Infrastructure Provision contributes 0.5% to the Provincial Budget. It is necessary to monitor and evaluate the implementation of DAK Physical for the Sustainable Economic Infrastructure Provision and improve coordination between institutions, both at the central and regional levels.

Thermal expansion of FeNi Invar and zinc-blende CdTe from the view point of local structure

Thermal expansion of FeNi Invar and zinc-blende CdTe was investigated from the view point of local structure using the extended x-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectroscopic data and the path-integral effective classical potential (PIECP) Monte Carlo computational simulations. In this Review article, first the quantum statistical perturbation theory is intuitively described to see different character concerning thermal expansion between the quantum and classical theories. The diatomic Br2 molecule is employed as a simple example. Second, the PIECP theory is briefly described to note advantages and disadvantages of this simulation technique. Historical background is also discussed for the EXAFS investigation of thermal expansion based on the quantum statistical theories. The results of the FeNi Invar alloy are then summarized. The origin of zero thermal expansion in the FeNi alloy is ascribed to the so-called Invar effect that implies the variation of the electronic structure of Fe atoms depending on temperature. Zero thermal expansion at low temperature is however found to originate from the vibrational quantum effect. It is also noted that the interatomic distances of Fe-Fe, Fe-Ni, and Ni-Ni pairs are slightly but meaningfully different from each other, although the alloy exhibit a simple fcc crystal. Such a pair- dependent difference is also true for thermal expansion and we will discuss thermal expansion from the local point of view, which is interestingly different from the lattice thermal expansion significantly. Finally, the results of the zinc blende (or diamond) structure are presented. Although the origin of negative thermal expansion in these tetrahedral crystals is known as a result of classical vibrational anomaly within the Newton dynamics theory, the quantum statistical simulation is found to be essential to reproduce the negative thermal expansion of CdTe. It is emphasized that the vibrational quantum effect and classical anharmonicity are of great importance for the understanding of low-temperature thermal expansion as well as the elastic constants.

Afterコロナの国土政策

Since the present National Spatial Strategies were established in August 2015, we have seen rapid changes in various aspects, which even may jeopardize the sustainability of our country. Given these changes, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism （MLIT） of Japan estalished the “Long-Term Spatial Vision Expert Committee” in October 2019 in order to analyze the current situation and changes surrounding our spatial land and to illustrate a future image of it in 2050, as well as to discuss the long-term issues and solutions in this field. The discussions in the Committee are summarized in the final report published in June 2021. Among the three view points presented in the final report, namely 1.Local, 2.Global and 3.Network, this article mainly introduces the Local viewpoint ─ a perspective that is essential in order to create a vast number of sustianable local communities by linking the physical world and the digital world.

Tourismification narratives and the ‘Transformative turn’ in tourism. An analysis derived from the Spanish press debate on the Barcelona tourism model

This article analyses the content of 2742 news items on tourismification and tourism-phobia in Barcelona published in the Spanish press between 2008 and 2020. Based on Foucault’s theoretical approach to the study of discourse and applying a content analysis method, the social construction of a tourism model is critically analysed through the examination of tourismification narratives. The dominant discourse on tourismification expressed by the Spanish press is organised into the following three narrative axes: the use of a local community point of view to highlight mass tourism as a contested social issue, governance as a solution for tourismification within the framework of the debate about the city’s tourist identity and the use of tourism-phobia as a formula for politicisation of the discourse on tourism, to influence public opinion and develop power relations. The press discourse proposes a narrative that incorporates a critical reading of tourism in place of the previous growth-based discourse. However, while this discourse advocates for tourism as an invariable, necessary and strategic element of the city, even during episodes of extreme tourism crisis, it fights shy of alternative approaches that call for a ‘transformative turn’ in tourism.

Interpretable machine-learning model with a collaborative game approach to predict yields and higher heating value of torrefied biomass

Torrefaction is a treatment process for converting biomass to high-quality solid fuels. The investigation and interpretation of this process on highly dimensional, non-linear relationships as large datasets are limited. In this work, machine learning (ML) in combination with collaborative game theory (Shapley additive explanation, SHAP) was applied to develop an interpretable model in predicting solid yields (SY) and higher heating values (HHV) of solid products from biomass torrefaction using 18 independent input features from operating conditions, feedstock characteristics and torrefaction reactor properties. Three novel ML algorithms were evaluated, based on 10-fold cross-validation, with 5 different sets of input features. A gradient tree boosting (GTB) model was found to have the highest prediction accuracy R2 of 0.93 with root mean square error (RMSE) of 0.06 for SY while about 0.91 R2 with 0.79 RMSE for HHV. With the powerful SHAP algorithm, a new framework was proposed to interpret/explain the GTB model performance and highlight the highly influential features for the system of biomass torrefaction in both local and global points of view. Interactions for any pair of the features on the GTB model can be achieved. This application of ML with SHAP is a useful tool for researchers on biomass conversion.

Giuliana Sorce (Ed.). Global perspectives on NGO communication for social change

Nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) face an increasingly challenging and complicated context in which to achieve social change. Current trends toward illiberal populism and rising authoritarianism combine with the challenges of fake news and the protracted difficulties caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. In these circumstances, the critical role played by NGOs in civil society has only been heightened. Global Perspectives on NGO Communication for Social Change provides us with a timely and comprehensive examination of the key role that communication plays in enabling NGOs for social change to engage with their stakeholders and to impact society. This edited volume examines how NGOs strive to achieve this. Structured in two parts, the book first focuses on thematic perspectives before then devoting the second half to case studies, which provide the reader with a rich array of initiatives used to communicate and engage audiences. It presents clear global perspectives, as well as giving us nuanced national and local viewpoints from a broad range of countries, including cases from Brazil, Bangladesh, Nigeria, South Africa and China.

Short-range order controlling atomic dynamics in Y-based metallic glasses

Secondary \ensuremath{\beta} relaxation is considered a key issue in glassy materials, while its structural origin is still not well understood. In this paper, we report pronounced and unpronounced \ensuremath{\beta}-relaxation behaviors in ${\mathrm{Y}}_{60}{\mathrm{Ni}}_{16}{\mathrm{Al}}_{24}$ and ${\mathrm{Y}}_{60}{\mathrm{Fe}}_{16}{\mathrm{Al}}_{24}$ metallic glasses (MGs) obtained from dynamical mechanical analyses, respectively, despite the same composition and similar atomic sizes of Ni and Fe atoms. We elucidate that the \ensuremath{\beta} relaxation in ${\mathrm{Y}}_{60}{\mathrm{Ni}}_{16}{\mathrm{Al}}_{24}$ and ${\mathrm{Y}}_{60}{\mathrm{Fe}}_{16}{\mathrm{Al}}_{24}$ MGs mainly depends on the vibration of small Ni and Fe atoms using synchrotron x-ray techniques and theoretical calculations, respectively. From the x-ray absorption fine structure and Voronoi tessellation statistics, it is found that the dominant local structure of mobile atoms changes from $\ensuremath{\langle}0,3,6,0\ensuremath{\rangle}$ centered by Ni atoms into $\ensuremath{\langle}0,2,8,0\ensuremath{\rangle}$ centered by Fe atoms. More large Y atoms in shells promote the local vibration of center Ni atoms. In contrast, with more Y atoms replaced by Fe atoms, the vibration of center Fe atoms gets significantly slowed down, thus leading to an unpronounced \ensuremath{\beta} relaxation. Our results indicate that the atomic dynamics of mobile atoms in MGs are not only related to their surrounding local geometry but also chemical constitutions, i.e., the short-range order. In this paper, we provide an idea for understanding the structural origin of \ensuremath{\beta}-relaxation behaviors in MGs and other glassy materials from their local atomic environments and dynamics point of view.

Between the music of the city and the urban noise

Starting from the overvaluation of visual culture in the modes of representation of society, this article draws a time line that goes from the marginalization of sounds promoted by disciplines such as geography, architecture and urban planning, until reaching to the acoustic definition of the landscape. In this way we demonstrate how the landscape is reincorporated in the agenda of these disciplines, not only as something visible, but as a cultural construction of our sensory activity, which is also made of sounds. This explains the anthropocentric nature of the soundscape, using the concepts of “sonorous image” and “sonorous identity” to reveal how sound attributes character to space and humanizes it, that can be seen from a global or local point of view. This in order to conclude how the patrimonial identity of sound is capable of characterizing specific urban contexts, its space, its habits and customs, while the ordinary identity contains a trait of "detachment" that transforms the "music of the city" into an urban noise.

The Roles of Grammar in English Language Teaching: Local Viewpoints

The Roles of Grammar in English Language Teaching: Local Viewpoints

IASSIST gone glocal

Welcome to the special double issue of IASSIST Quarterly 2021 (IQ vol. 45(3-4) 2021). IASSIST is an acronym. You may think that the word is the contraction of the two words 'I assist'. In my mind, you are right! Whether the word IASSIST or the long explanation of seven words came first is the problem of the chicken and the egg. However, it is undisputed that when it is spelled out, the first I in IASSIST is for International. That has been so from its founding in 1974. Having IASSIST members in USA, Canada, and some (west) European countries was for a long time what we myopic westerners considered to be international. It is with great pleasure that IASSIST Quarterly now presents a double issue from a regional workshop in Africa. Even in 2021, it is only a small number of IASSIST's members who are from regions not part of the western world. However, having a special issue from the African region is an important contribution to making IASSIST truly international. The phrase 'think globally, act locally' is a good framing of the compressed word 'glocal'. This special issue was compiled by guest editors Winny Nekesa Akullo and Robert Stalone Buwule, and they were also behind the Africa Regional Workshop that took place at Makerere University (Kampala, Uganda) on January 11 to 13, 2021. Winny Nekesa Akullo works as Head, Library and Documentation Centre at Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Authority in Uganda, and is the IASSIST Africa Regional Secretary. Robert Stalone Buwule is Senior Assistant Librarian at Kyambogo University, also in Uganda. The themes of the workshop addressed a world issue: 'Data Literacy as a catalyst for achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)'. Thus, global problems were addressed from a local viewpoint. Great thanks to Winny and Robert for their lead in the arrangement of the workshop and extra thanks to them for collecting, editing, and making the papers of the regional workshop available to us all, and for making the regional international and the local global. Enjoy the reading! Karsten Boye Rasmussen - December 2021

A numerical and experimental investigation of non-linear deformation behaviours in light-frame timber walls

In recent decades, there is a trend in Scandinavian countries to build multi-storey residential houses using prefabricated timber modules. It is a highly efficient construction process with less environmental impact and less material waste. A significant building element in the timber modules is the light-frame timber wall, which has to be carefully analysed and optimized in this process. This paper presents a new parametric Finite Element (FE) model that can simulate both in-plane and out-of-plane deformations in the light-frame walls. A new and flexible (Eurocode based) approach to define the properties of the mechanical connections is introduced. A numerical model is presented through simulations of several walls that were verified with full-scale experiments. The results indicate that the numerical model could achieve fairly reasonable accuracy with the new approach. Furthermore, several parametric studies are presented and discussed from global and local points of view, to investigate the effects of certain parameters that are not considered in the design method according to Eurocode 5.

Higher spin de Sitter quasinormal modes

We construct higher spin quasinormal modes algebraically in D-dimensional de Sitter spacetime using the ambient space formalism. The quasinormal modes fall into two nonunitary lowest-weight representations of mathfrak{so} (1, D). From a local QFT point of view, the lowest-weight quasinormal modes of massless higher spin fields are produced by gauge-invariant boundary conserved currents and boundary higher-spin Weyl tensors inserted at the southern pole of the past boundary. We also show that the quasinormal spectrum of a massless/massive spin-s field is precisely encoded in the Harish-Chandra character corresponding to the unitary massless/massive spin-s SO(1, D) representation.

Exploring the nonlinear impact of urbanization on pollutant emissions: A spatial approach

Whether urbanization can effectively mitigate pollutant emissions has attracted intense scholarly attention. However, few studies have taken into consideration the spatial effects. This paper analyzes the effect of urbanization on pollutant emissions by utilizing panel data of 30 provinces between the years 2005–2017. Further, to clarify the underlying mechanisms of spatial spillover effects of pollutant emissions, this paper employs the spatial econometric model to empirically tests the influence of urbanization on pollutant emissions from both direct impacts and spatial spillover effects perspectives. The findings indicate that China's pollutant emissions have a significant positive autocorrelation from both global and local points of view, demonstrating the features of high- and low-value agglomeration. Moreover, we find that whereas the relationship of urbanization with pollutant emissions presents a U-shaped curve, that of economic development is an inverted U-shaped. Furthermore, urbanization, technology progress, foreign direct investment, economic development, and population show spatial spillover effects on pollutant emissions, but their influencing mechanisms vary substantially. Thus, some corresponding countermeasures and policy suggestions are proposed.

Rotating spacetimes generalizing Lifshitz black holes

We present a spinning black hole solution in d dimensions with a maximal number of rotation parameters in the context of the Einstein–Maxwell-Dilaton theory. An interesting feature of such a solution is that it accommodates Lifshitz black holes when the rotation parameters are set to zero. We verify the rotating nature of the black hole solution by performing the quasi-local analysis of conserved charges and defining the corresponding angular momenta. In addition, we perform the thermodynamical analysis of the black hole configuration, show that the first law of thermodynamics is completely consistent, and obtain a Smarr-like formula. We further study the thermodynamic stability of the constructed solution from a local viewpoint, by computing the associated specific heats, and from a global perspective, by using the so-called new thermodynamic geometry. We finally make some comments related to a pathology found in the causal structure of the obtained rotating black hole spacetime and compute some of its curvature invariants.

Sociocultural and gastronomic revaluation of local products: trumfa in the Vall de Camprodon (Catalonia, Spain)

Food products are used to protect and promote the local identity as a source of knowledge. In the Vall de Camprodon, trumfa (a variety of Kennebec potato) has been grown from ancient times as a subsistence product. In recent years, and thanks to the combined efforts of public and private stakeholders in the region, the trumfa has become one of the most iconic products of food tourism in the Vall de Camprodon. Using a qualitative design and from a local point of view, the article aims to analyse the revaluation processes of the trumfa in order to describe its role within the cultural and social development of a community. The results show that from a bottom-up strategy, trumfa does not only form part of the valley local identity, but has also become a factor that attracts tourism.

Facilitators and barriers for the implementation of telemedicine from a local government point of view - a cross-sectional survey in Germany

BackgroundTelemedicine offers additional ways of delivering medical care, e.g., in primary care in rural areas. During the last decades, projects including telemedicine are being implemented worldwide. However, implementation of telemedicine is in some countries, e.g., Germany somewhat slower compared to northern European countries. One important part of successful implementation is to include the citizen perspective. The aims of this study were to explore the perception of representatives of the local government regarding telemedicine in the context of a perceived GP shortage and to tailor future telemedicine offers according to these perceived needs.MethodsConsidering the multidisciplinary assessment suggested by the Model for Assessment of Telemedicine a questionnaire with 19 questions was developed by identifying determinants of telemedicine out the literature. After pre-testing, the questionnaire was sent to all 2199 mayors from the federal states of Schleswig-Holstein (North Germany) and Baden-Württemberg (South Germany) as representatives of the citizens (cross- sectional study; full population survey). The final questionnaire contained sections for socio-demographic data, telemedicine and perceived GP shortage. All responses from November 2018 until 2019 were included and analyzed descriptively.ResultsThe response rate was 32% (N = 699), of which 605 were included in the analysis. A majority of the participants stated they live in a rural area and 46% were in the office for up to 8 years. The mayors had predominantly a positive perception about telemedicine (60%) and 76% of them stated, their community would benefit from telemedicine. A GP shortage was reported by 39% of the participants. The highest risk of telemedicine was seen in misdiagnosing. In case of an emergency situation 291 (45%) of the participants considered data privacy as not as relevant. Mayors from a community with a perceived GP shortage had a more negative perception regarding telemedicine.ConclusionThe acceptance of telemedicine is rapidly rising compared to former studies. Communities with a perceived GP shortage had a more negative perception. Barriers like data security concerns were seen as less important in case of an emergency. The highest risk of telemedicine was seen in misdiagnosing. These findings need to be considered in designing future telemedicine offers.

A group theoretical approach to quantum gravity in (A)dS

This thesis is devoted to developing a group-theoretical approach towards quantum gravity in (Anti)-de Sitter spacetime. We start with a comprehensive review of the representation theory of de Sitter (dS) isometry group, focusing on the construction of unitary irreducible representations and the computation of characters. The three chapters that follow present the results of novel research conducted as a graduate student. Chapter 4 is based on [1]. We provide a general algebraic construction of higher spin quasinormal modes of de Sitter horizon and identify the boundary operator insertions that source the quasinormal modes from a local QFT point of view. Quasinormal modes of a single higher spin field in dSD furnish two nonunitary lowest-weight representations of the dS isometry group SO(1,D). We also show that quasinormal mode spectrums of higher spin fields are precisely encoded in the Harish-Chandra characters of the corresponding SO(1,D) unitary irreducible representations. Chapter 5 is based on work with D. Anninos, F. Denef and A. Law [2]. With potential application to constraining UV-complete microscopic models of de Sitter quantum gravity, we compute de Sitter entropy as the logarithm of the sphere path integral, for any possible low energy effective field theory containing a massless graviton, in arbitrary dimensions. The path integral is performed exactly at the one-loop level. The one-loop correction to the dS entropy is found to take a universal “bulk−edge” form, with the bulk part being an integral transformation of a Harish-Chandra character encoding quasinormal modes spectrum in a static patch of dS and the edge part being the same integral transformation of an edge character encoding degrees of freedom frozen on the dS horizon. In 3D de Sitter spacetime, the one-loop exact entropy is promoted to an all-loop exact result for truncated higher spin gravity, the latter admitting an SL(n,C) Chern-Simons formulation with n being the spin cut-off. Chapter 6 is based on [3]. Inspired by [2], we revisit the one-loop partition function of any higher spin field in (d + 1)-dimensional Anti-de Sitter spacetime and show that it can be universally expressed as an integral transform of an SO(2, d) bulk character and an SO(2, d − 2) edge character. We apply this character integral formula to various higherspin Vasiliev gravities and find miraculous (almost) cancellations between bulk and edge characters, leading to striking agreement with the predictions of higher spin holography. We also comment on the relation between our character integral formula and Rindler-AdS [4] thermal partition functions.

Applying explicit symplectic integrator to study chaos of charged particles around magnetized Kerr black hole

In a recent work of Wu, Wang, Sun and Liu, a second-order explicit symplectic integrator was proposed for the integrable Kerr spacetime geometry. It is still suited for simulating the nonintegrable dynamics of charged particles moving around the Kerr black hole embedded in an external magnetic field. Its successful construction is due to the contribution of a time transformation. The algorithm exhibits a good long-term numerical performance in stable Hamiltonian errors and computational efficiency. As its application, the dynamics of order and chaos of charged particles is surveyed. In some circumstances, an increase of the dragging effects of the spacetime seems to weaken the extent of chaos from the global phase-space structure on Poincaré sections. However, an increase of the magnetic parameter strengthens the chaotic properties. On the other hand, fast Lyapunov indicators show that there is no universal rule for the dependence of the transition between different dynamical regimes on the black hole spin. The dragging effects of the spacetime do not always weaken the extent of chaos from a local point of view.

Investigating the second phase of implementation in curriculum development process at primary level: a case study of a private school in Karachi

The purpose of this study was to investigate how policy ambition of the curriculum was received and practiced by teachers and to assess the impact of the implementation process. The study examined an implementation process of an Outcomes-Based English Education curriculum in a private school at primary level of Karachi. The exact target of implementation was on: the initial introduction process, teachers’ beliefs and attitudes, and classroom practices. This research was a descriptive and focused the implementation of curriculum at primary level. A case study method was used; two qualitative points: first to seek qualitative information and second point implementation in a curriculum development process at primary level of education. Class practices were focused to analyses and evaluate the research. Data was collected from the teachers of primary level of the school. Findings revealed that the curriculum implementation was demanding as policy to regulate with practices. The data will help to understand teachers’ beliefs about the concept of the curriculum implementation process, and classroom practices of primary grades English lessons. The data will help to understand the concepts of teachers about curriculum implementation and shows that how curriculum is being implement in primary level results from this study , contributes to the broad topic of educational change in the Single National Curriculum (SNC) concerning curriculum implementation processes from a local context or point of view. At the same time, it contributes to the debate about curriculum change, and highlights factors that are context specific which may assist in local implementation processes