Transmission Mechanism Research Articles

Multigenerational inequalities of opportunity in health outcomes

This paper studies multigenerational health transmission mechanisms in Australian panel data. Using inequality-of-opportunity (IOP) models, we demonstrate that grandparental socioeconomic status (SES) is an important determinant of personal health, even after controlling for health and SES at the parental level. Our findings hold over a range of health/biomarkers of individuals’ physical and mental well-being and appear to be especially sensitive to educational outcomes on the father’s side. Since ingrained socioeconomic (dis)advantages that persist over multiple generations may be indicative of social class, our results suggest that subtle attitudinal and behavioural characteristics associated with this variable may be a key factor driving health disparities.

Interpersonal population diversity in the bank boardroom and corporate misconduct

PurposeThis research empirically establishes that the interpersonal population diversity of executive board members partly explains the differences in financial misconduct across US banks. It advances the hypothesis that heterogeneity in the composition of an interpersonal population and diverse traits of board members, originating from the prehistoric course of the exodus of Homo sapiens from East Africa tens of thousands of years ago, is an important factor explaining the effectiveness of executive board monitoring with respect to a bank engaging in financial misconduct. The underlying intuition is that population-fragmented societies, characterized by mistrust, preference heterogeneity and corruption, find it difficult to sustain collective integrity action.Design/methodology/approachEmploying a panel of US banks from 1998 to 2019 we find that adding directors from countries with different levels of interpersonal population diversity is positively associated with financial misconduct as measured by enforcement and class action litigation against banks by the main regulatory agencies. Furthermore, we document that the more population-diverse bank boards are more likely to commit misconduct, consistent with a mechanism of inter-generational transmission of cultural norms of mistrust and non-cooperation.FindingsWe find that adding directors from countries with different levels of interpersonal population diversity is positively associated with financial misconduct as measured by enforcement and class action litigation against banks by the main regulatory agencies. These results are robust to controlling for bank-specific variables, including other board characteristics, and to the use of instrumental variables.Practical implicationsThe findings suggest that reducing financial misconduct by banks likely requires reducing the interpersonal population diversity of banks’ executive boards.Originality/valueWe show how bank boards with different interpersonal population diversity impact the likelihood of engaging in misconduct provides evidence of the microeconomic effects of interpersonal population diversity. We show the negative results of diversity that they can have on the management of a firm given that populated diverse boards are more likely to lead to higher levels of misconduct. Our evidence reveals that banks having interpersonal population fragmented boards are more likely to commit misconduct given the cultural norms of mistrust and the lack of societal cohesiveness.

Identifying Interest Rate Transmission Mechanism under a Bayesian Network

This study examines causal relationships among various short- and long-term interest rates in the Korean financial market to identify transmission channels. Monthly time series data from January 2015 to February 2024 were used, covering nine interest rates, including call rates, commercial paper (CP) rates, bank lending rates, and Treasury bond yields of different maturities. The study employs a Bayesian network to identify an acyclic causal structure between interest rates alongside a vector error correction model (VECM) to capture long-term equilibrium relationships and short-term dynamics. The findings reconfirm the traditional call rate transmission mechanism, aligning with conventional monetary policy views, demonstrating the call rate’s significant influence on bank lending rates, which affects corporate bond spreads and CP rates. Additionally, it reveals that 10-year Treasury bond yields form an independent interest rate transmission pathway, a finding not previously identified in the literature. These results underscore the need for coordinated monetary and fiscal policies due to the distinct transmission pathways of Treasury yields for sustainable macroeconomic management and growth.

Research on the Influence of Digital Economy on Technological Complexity of China's Manufacture Exports

This paper provides an empirical analysis of the relationship between China's digital economy and the improvement of technical complexity of China's manufacturing exports. First, the direct effect of digital economy on the enhancement of technical complexity of manufacturing exports is tested by constructing a fixed effect model; Second, the indirect effect of digital economy on the enhancement of technical complexity of manufacturing exports is tested by constructing a mediating effect model; Third, a heterogeneity model is constructed to test the differentiated impact of digital economy on the technical complexity of manufacturing exports. Empirical results suggest that: (1) the digital economy can effectively enhance the technological complexity of China's manufacturing exports; (2) product innovation is an important transmission mechanism for the digital economy to promote the enhancement of the technological complexity of manufacturing exports; (3) this enhancement effect is stronger in the economically developed regions.

An improved fractional-order transmission model of COVID-19 with vaccinated population in United States

In this paper, we propose a new fractional-order differential equation model with latent and vaccinated population to describe the dynamics of COVID-19. Firstly, the theoretical mathematical model is established based on the transmission mechanism of COVID-19 in the population. Then, the data of the infected, the recovered and the death are collected from big data report of Baidu’s epidemic situation, and the parameters are estimated by piecewise fitting and nonlinear least square method based on collected data. The correlation coefficients between the infected and model simulation, between the recovered and model simulation, between the death and model simulation are 0.9868, 0.9948 and 0.9994, respectively and the accuracy of prediction are 96.05%, 99.33% and 99.88%, respectively. Additionally, the accuracy of prediction is compared between fractional-order differential equation model and integer-order differential equation model, and the results show fractional-order differential equation model can better predict the development trend of COVID-19. Finally, we analyze the sensitivity of the parameters through numerical simulations, and put forward the corresponding strategies to control the epidemic development according to the screened sensitive parameters.

Assessment and Empirical Treatment of Chronic Abdominal Pain from Suspected Helicobacter Pylori Infection In a Remote Setting

The prevalence of Helicobacter Pylori (H. Pylori) remains globally high, with an estimated 50% of the words population believed to be infected. Despite the continually high incident rates of infection 90% of those infected remain asymptomatic. H.Pylori is a gram-negative, microaerophilic bacteria, mostly found in stomach of affected individuals that causes inflammation and ulceration. Definitive routes of transmission and subsequent infection are still debated. The most likely mechanism of transmission is thought to be intrafamilliar, this encapsulates fecal-oral, gastric-oral, oral-oral and sexual vectors. Contaminated foods and water sources are also highly likely mechanisms of transmission. Therefore in developing countries with poor sanitation, potentially contaminated water sources and regions with social-economic hardship experience increased symptomatic cases of H.Pylori.

Mathematical Models for the Large Spread of a Contact-Based Infection: A Statistical Mechanics Approach

In this work, we derive a system of Boltzmann-type equations to describe the spread of contact-based infections, such as SARS-CoV-2 virus, at the microscopic scale, that is, by modeling the human-to-human mechanisms of transmission. To this end, we consider two populations, characterized by specific distribution functions, made up of individuals without symptoms (population 1) and infected people with symptoms (population 2). The Boltzmann operators model the interactions between individuals within the same population and among different populations with a probability of transition from one to the other due to contagion or, vice versa, to recovery. In addition, the influence of innate and adaptive immune systems is taken into account. Then, starting from the Boltzmann microscopic description we derive a set of evolution equations for the size and mean state of each population considered. Mathematical properties of such macroscopic equations, as equilibria and their stability, are investigated, and some numerical simulations are performed in order to analyze the ability of our model to reproduce the characteristic features of Covid-19 type pandemics.

The Demand for Real Money Balances in Zimbabwe: An Error Correction Estimation

Purpose: The purpose of the study is to examine the stability of the money demand function in Zimbabwe. Understanding, the money demand function is a prerequisite for effective monetary policy formulation and understanding the monetary transmission process and shocks propagation in the economy. Materials and Methods: The study employs the error correction modeling methodology to investigate the money demand function for Zimbabwe using quarterly data from 2017q2 – 2023q2. The analysis is expanded to characterize the monetary transmission mechanism following a shock to the price level and how the demand for real money balances responds to both single period and multiple shocks. Findings: The findings confirm a stable long run money demand function that is subject to short run dynamics. In addition, real money demand responds positively to real GDP (Scale factor) and inversely related to the price level (inflation). Short term dynamics (particularly inflation expectations) compound real money demand collapse in response to rising inflation. Implications to Theory, Practice and Policy: Monetary Policy must aim to collapse inflation expectations through a tight monetary control program and a functioning interbank market for foreign exchange to avoid surging parallel market activity.

Alternative molecular mechanisms for force transmission at adherens junctions via β-catenin-vinculin interaction

Force transmission through adherens junctions (AJs) is crucial for multicellular organization, wound healing and tissue regeneration. Recent studies shed light on the molecular mechanisms of mechanotransduction at the AJs. However, the canonical model fails to explain force transmission when essential proteins of the mechanotransduction module are mutated or missing. Here, we demonstrate that, in absence of α-catenin, β-catenin can directly and functionally interact with vinculin in its open conformation, bearing physiological forces. Furthermore, we found that β-catenin can prevent vinculin autoinhibition in the presence of α-catenin by occupying vinculin´s head-tail interaction site, thus preserving force transmission capability. Taken together, our findings suggest a multi-step force transmission process at AJs, where α-catenin and β-catenin can alternatively and cooperatively interact with vinculin. This can explain the graded responses needed to maintain tissue mechanical homeostasis and, importantly, unveils a force-bearing mechanism involving β-catenin and extended vinculin that can potentially explain the underlying process enabling collective invasion of metastatic cells lacking α-catenin.

Haze Management Competition and Industrial Green Transformation

To clarify the relationship between haze management competition and industrial green transformation, this paper is based on the theoretical perspectives of local government competition and environmental federalism, the specific form of haze governance competition is analyzed by applying the two-region spatial Durbin model, and then the impact of haze governance competition on industrial green transformation and its transmission mechanism is explored by constructing a spatial panel linkage model and adopting the generalized spatial three-stage least squares method. The empirical results show that, with the profound changes in the performance appraisal system since the 18th National Congress, the interaction of environmental governance strategies between geographically adjacent provinces is imitative. In contrast, that which is between economically adjacent provinces is a “race to the top”, and haze governance is conducive to promoting the development of industrial green transformation. Further research found that the competition of haze governance is heterogeneous, and smog control in the eastern region contributes to the green transformation of local industries, while smog control in the central and western regions inhibits their industrial green transformation, and haze governance mainly enhances industrial green transformation through the innovation compensation effect, the human capital effect, and the industrial structure optimization effect. Therefore, the central government should carry out overall planning for the industry, and local governments should strengthen the joint prevention and control of haze and promote technological innovation, to improve environmental quality and realize high-quality economic development.

Design, computational analysis and experimental study of a high amplification piezoelectric actuated microgripper

Abstract Increasing applications of compliant microgripper demands flexibility in working with a wide range of micro-objects
which requires a large workspace, high precision motion, low parasitic motion, and satisfactory bandwidth control. To
meet the requirement of pick and place manipulation tasks, a high amplification piezoelectric actuated microgripper is
proposed and investigated in this paper. The high amplification of the microgripper is achieved using a compound amplifier.
The compound amplifier is assisted to magnify the embedded piezoelectric actuator’s displacement. Two cascaded
lever-type mechanisms are symmetrically connected with a bridge-type mechanism and form a three-stage amplification
mechanism-based compound amplifier. Further, the four-bar parallelogram mechanisms are integrated with the thirdstage
displacement amplification mechanisms to linearize the output motion of the microgripper jaws. The characteristics
of the microgripper were evaluated by computational analysis and validated using experimental investigations. Further,
the design parameters are identified from the geometrical model of the individual displacement transmission mechanisms
to perform a response surface optimization on the configured mechanism by the computational method. The design
optimization of the microgripper resulted in a high displacement amplification ratio with a large workspace. The experimental
investigations show that the designed microgripper is capable of achieving a high displacement amplification ratio
of 34.5 and a total output displacement of 529.4 μm. Further, the characteristics of the microgripper such as motion
resolution, and parasitic motion indicate that it will be able to perform high-precision micro-object grasping/releasing
tasks.

Analysis of the impact of COVID-19 variants and vaccination on the time-varying reproduction number: statistical methods

IntroductionThe COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly impacted global health systems, requiring the monitoring of infection waves and strategies to control transmission. Estimating the time-varying reproduction number is crucial for understanding the epidemic and guiding interventions.MethodsProbability distributions of serial interval are estimated for Pre-Delta and Delta periods. We conducted a comparative analysis of time-varying reproduction numbers, taking into account population immunity and variant differences. We incorporated the regional heterogeneity and age distribution of the population, as well as the evolving variants and vaccination rates over time. COVID-19 transmission dynamics were analyzed with variants and vaccination.ResultsThe reproduction number is computed with and without considering variant-based immunity. In addition, values of reproduction number significantly differed by variants, emphasizing immunity’s importance. Enhanced vaccination efforts and stringent control measures were effective in reducing the transmission of the Delta variant. Conversely, Pre-Delta variant appeared less influenced by immunity levels, due to lower vaccination rates. Furthermore, during the Pre-Delta period, there was a significant difference between the region-specific and the non-region-specific reproduction numbers, with particularly distinct pattern differences observed in Gangwon, Gyeongbuk, and Jeju in Korea.DiscussionThis research elucidates the dynamics of COVID-19 transmission concerning the dominance of the Delta variant, the efficacy of vaccinations, and the influence of immunity levels. It highlights the necessity for targeted interventions and extensive vaccination coverage. This study makes a significant contribution to the understanding of disease transmission mechanisms and informs public health strategies.

Simulation Analysis and Key Performance Index for Experimental Verification of a New Type of Press Transmission Mechanism

In this paper, the characteristics of special stamping process requirements and the shortcomings of existing application technology are studied. Through repeated motion simulation analysis and size optimization calculation, a kind of inertia-controlled molding press is proposed to make up for this technical vacancy. This paper first describes the working principle and structure scheme of the main transmission mechanism of the inertia-controlled molding press. With the help of Adams-View x64 2013, the main transmission mechanism is simulated and analyzed from the aspects of kinematics and dynamics, and a physical prototype is made to test the key reliability indexes of the main transmission mechanism. According to the test data, the static strength, stiffness, vibration characteristics, and dynamic characteristics of the 200 t inertia-controlled molding press are evaluated, which provides a reference for the design of this kind of machine tool.

Recovering energy from door opening and closing process using a parallel crank-slider harvester in buildings

Recovering kinetic energy from the environment is mostly focused on the natural environment, while there is also a huge energy in the human living environment. The swing door is an indispensable equipment in the human living environment. The bidirectional swing of the door opening and closing process is rich in energy generated by human motion and thus has a large potential for energy recovery. An energy harvester for recovering bidirectional kinetic energy of the door in buildings is proposed, fabricated, analyzed, and tested. The energy harvester consists of a parallel crank-slider mechanism, a transmission mechanism and a power generation module. The external linkage is used to connect the door and the energy harvester to transmit the bidirectional swing of the door. The parallel crank-slider mechanism is coupled with two one-way bearings. This can realize the conversion of the bidirectional swing of the door to the unidirectional rotation of the central shaft. The final mechanical rectification effect is achieved. Kinematic and dynamic analyses are performed to determine the factors affecting the power generation performance. A prototype is fabricated, and experiments are conducted on it by simulating the process of opening and closing the door. The experimental results are consistent with the simulation ones. At a normal opening velocity of 90° s−1, the maximum open-circuit voltage of the harvester is 7.06 V and the average output power is 1.03 W. The highest efficiency of the harvester can reach 69.65%. The recovered energy is capable of powering the smart door lock for at least 150 s, as well as powering devices such as door lights and doorbells. This can meet the power supply needs of most electronic devices on doors in human life.

Analysis and Experiment of Thermal Field Distribution and Thermal Deformation of Nut Rotary Ball Screw Transmission Mechanism

This study designs a differential dual-drive micro-feed mechanism, superposing the two “macro feed motions” (“motor drive screw” and “motor drive nut”) using the same transmission of “the nut rotary ball screw pair” structure. These two motions are almost equal in terms of speed and turning direction, thus the “micro feed” can be obtained. (1) Background: Thermal deformation is the primary factor that can restrict the high-precision micro-feed mechanism and the distribution of heat sources differs from that of the conventional screw single-drive system owing to the structure and motion features of the transmission components. (2) Discussion: This study explores the thermal field distribution and thermal deformation of the differentially driven micro-feed mechanism when two driving motors are combined at different speeds. (3) Methods: Based on the theory of heat transfer, the differential dual-drive system can be used as the research object. The thermal equilibrium equations of the micro-feed transmission system are established using the thermal resistance network method, and a thermal field distribution model is obtained. (4) Results: Combined with the mechanism of thermal deformation theory, the established thermal field model is used to predict the axial thermal deformation of the differential dual-drive ball screw. (5) Conclusions: Under the dual-drive condition, the steady-state thermal error of the nut-rotating ball screw transmission mechanism increases with the increase in nut speed and composite speed and is greater than the steady-state thermal error under the single screw drive condition. After reaching the thermal steady state, the measured thermal elongation at the end of the screw in the experiment is approximately 10.5 μm and the simulation result is 11.98 μm. The experimental measurement result demonstrates the accuracy of the theoretical analysis model for thermal error at the end of the screw.

How does urbanization impact China's carbon emissions: A regional heterogeneity perspective.

In the context of China's green development and "dual carbon" goal, urbanization, as a way to achieve Chinese modernization, has a particularly important effect on green and low-carbon economic development. Firstly, this paper empirically analyzed the influence of urbanization on per capita carbon emissions using Chinese city data and a panel fixed-effects model. Then, the impact mechanisms of urbanization on carbon emissions were examined from both the demand and supply sides. Finally, we analyzed the differences in the transmission mechanisms of urbanization affecting carbon emissions in the eastern, central, and western regions. The results show that (1) urbanization increases per capita carbon emissions. However, this effect shows inter-regional differences, with more significant promotion effects in the eastern and central regions; (2) on the demand side, the residents' consumption intensity can drive carbon emissions, while the rise of human capital agglomeration suppresses carbon emissions; on the supply side, industrial structure can drive carbon emissions, while the increase of green technological innovation suppresses carbon emissions; (3) the consumption effect and the industry effect play a major role in the eastern and central regions, while the intermediary effect is not obvious in the western region. This study can provide important insights for synergizing urbanization and achieving carbon reduction commitments.

Analysis of direct traffic at the transport protocol level in the WiMax-1/2 cluster oriented to offload the smart city's wireless ecosystem

Rerouting of direct information traffic under the WiMax-1/2 technology control in the case of licensed frequency spectrum overload ensures communication continuity in the smart city's critical infrastructure. The support of such a process in the WiMax-1/2 cluster has its specificity, worthy of analytical formalization. The article presents a mathematical apparatus that allows the average service duration of an information message during its transfer from the terminal to the WiMax-1/2 base station to be estimated. Unlike analogues, the presented concept adequately describes the investigated process for any number of terminals, taking into account both the queuing effect on their side and the functioning of the cumulative query transmission mechanism inherent in WiMax-1/2 technology. Therefore, the proposed mathematical apparatus, describing the process of servicing an information message, takes into account both the average duration accompanied by potential collisions in the process of sending a request for the allocation of communication resources for its transmission to the base station, and the average duration of the information message's stay in the terminal queue. Experimental studies demonstrated the adequacy of the proposed mathematical apparatus for describing the investigated process. The experimental section also formulates the optimization problem of the investigated process resulting from the management of competitive access parameters.

How do market volatility and risk aversion sentiment inter-influence over time? Evidence from Chinese SSE 50 ETF options

We propose to implement the TVP-VAR-SV model and the spillover index approach to investigate the dynamics of mutual influences between market volatility and risk aversion sentiment (represented by variance risk premium), from aspects of realized variance (RV) and implied variance (IV). We innovatively study the evolution of volatility information transmission mechanisms by analyzing time-varying impulse response and dynamic connectedness in the Chinese market. Upon inspecting shock effects from investor sentiment to RV and IV, we discover that investor sentiment can cause sudden shocks on realized volatility but produce expansive shocks on expected volatility. As we compare spillover effects in call and put options, we find that (i) sentiments in put option contain more volatility information and can affect market volatility, while sentiments in call option primarily perceive volatility spillovers from market volatility, and (ii) investor sentiments in call (put) option become to present more volatility information in a bullish (bearish) market. Our study provides valuable insights on behavioral finance theory and portfolio risk management.

Numerical study of anisotropic scattering and solar radiation impact on liquid droplet radiator performance

The Liquid Droplet Radiator (LDR), a lightweight frameless radiant heat rejection system, is widely regarded as the optimal heat rejection solution for megawatt-scale space nuclear power systems. The LDR dissipates heat to space through its droplet layer, which plays a crucial role in determining its radiative rejection capacity. Radiation beams undergo a series of emission, scattering, and absorption processes within the layer before being emitted into space. Prior studies typically assume isotropic scattering in this process. However, this study develops a three-dimensional model for the LDR’s droplet layer based on Mie theory and Monte-Carlo methods to investigate the impact of anisotropic scattering and solar radiation. Our calculations reveal that the working fluid exhibits strong forward anisotropic scattering characteristics. Under the anisotropic assumption, the heat rejection capability of the LDR is 27–33 % higher compared to the isotropic assumption. Regarding the temperature distribution within the LDR, under the anisotropic assumption, the layer’s temperature is 6 K lower at the XY boundary surface and 3 K higher at the layer median, as opposed to the isotropic assumption. We introduce the concept of the probability of a light beam escape to elucidate the distinct beam transmission mechanisms and temperature distribution. When the distance between the LDR and the sun is in the vicinity of 1 AU, the impact of solar radiation on the LDR’s ability to operate is on the scale of 1E-5, which is almost negligible. This study lays down a theoretical groundwork for calculating the heat rejection capacity during the LDR design phase.

Dual-Wheel Drive of Government Subsidies and Technical Support: A Study on the Mechanism of Promoting Rural Residents’ Green Production

It is of great significance to explore the effect of government subsidies and technical support on rural residents’ green production for improving the level of agricultural green development in the context of the green and high-quality development. Based on the theory of rural residents’ behavior, this paper empirically examined the impact of government subsidies and technical support on rural residents’ green production by using the ordered logit model and household survey data of CLES2022. Additionally, it applied the mediating effects model to explore the transmission mechanism. The results indicate that: (1) Government subsidies and technical support have a significant positive influence on rural residents’ green production. After controlling the characteristics of individuals, families, and cultivated land, the path coefficient is determined to be 0.032, which is significant at the 0.01 level; technical support significantly affects rural residents’ green production, and the path coefficient is 0.390, which is statistically significant at the 0.05 level. The above results are still valid after a robustness test. (2) In terms of the mechanism, government subsidies and technical support promote rural residents’ green production through service outsourcing and productive assets. On this basis, the paper proposed some policy suggestions, such as giving full play to the guiding role of government subsidies, increasing government technical support, establishing a service outsourcing platform, as well as strengthening supervision and evaluation.