Growth Model Research Articles

Secular socialization vs. religious reactivity: effects of ethnic composition and discrimination on changing religiosity among Muslim youth

ABSTRACT Based on three waves of the Children of Immigrants Longitudinal Survey in Four European Countries (2010-2013), we test hypotheses of religious decline and religious reactivity among Muslim youth in England, Germany, the Netherlands, and Sweden. The religious decline hypotheses predict that the proportion of natives in schools and neighborhoods has a negative impact on the religiosity of Muslim youth. The religious reactivity hypothesis states that Muslim youth increase their religiosity when they experience discrimination in the host country. We assess three dimensions of religiosity – service attendance, frequency of prayer, and subjective importance of religion – using linear growth models. Our findings partially support the religious decline hypotheses, particularly regarding prayer frequency. Additionally, we find that perceived discrimination is not related to prayer frequency or subjective importance of religion and, at best, predicts a decrease in service attendance rather than an increase, contradicting the religious reactivity hypothesis.

A Weibo local network growth model constructed from the perspective of following-followed

Abstract In order to explore the evolution process of the Weibo local network, this study first defines four factors influencing the evolution of the Weibo network. On this basis, the BA scale-free network model was enhanced by incorporating these four factors and accounting for directionality, resulting in a Weibo local network evolution model based on user attributes and behavioral similarity. The model's validity was validated by comparing simulation results with real data. The findings indicate that the Weibo local network exhibits both small-world characteristics and distinctive features. The results show that the Weibo local network exhibits both small-world characteristics and distinctive properties. The in-degree distribution follows a mixed pattern of exponential and power-law distributions, the degree-degree shows isomatching, and both the in-degree centrality and eigenvector centrality values are relatively low. This research contributes to our understanding of user behaviour in the Weibo network, and provides a structural basis for exploring the impact of Weibo network structure on information dissemination.

Testing coverage based NHPP software reliability growth modeling with testing effort and change-point

This paper investigates a software reliability growth model based on non-homogeneous Poisson process that includes coverage testing and change-points. The model integrate effort spent into a model to evaluate software reliability based on testing coverage. The amount of testing effort spent follows the Weibull distribution, while the amount of coverage is modeled by logistic, delayed S-shaped and exponential functions. Additionally, we look into the cost requirement-based software release time for exponential functions with a reliability constraint. We introduce the genetic algorithm, which is a powerful tool for dealing with search and optimization issues. For the purpose of testing the model's goodness of fit, two real failure datasets are used, and the model’s performance is analyzed based on goodness-of-fit metrics. By comparing the proposed model to perfect debugging models that have been described in the literature, it is demonstrated that the proposed model demonstrates notable advancements in this regard. The results of our analysis indicate that a software reliability estimation model should include change-points in a testing process if they exist.

Natural Seawater Impact on Crack Propagation and Fatigue Behavior of Welded Nickel Aluminum Bronze

ABSTRACTNickel aluminum bronze (NAB) is a complex alloy used extensively in the marine environment. Fatigue strength of NAB is reduced by welding and prior seawater corrosion. This study investigated the combined effect of corrosion and plasma welding on the fatigue behavior of NAB. Natural seawater corroded samples were used in tension‐tension cyclic loading tests to observe fatigue crack initiation, propagation, and failure. Fatigue cracks initiated from corrosion pits at the weld toe. Stress corrosion and fatigue cracks propagated along the path of β′ and κIII phases. A short crack growth model (SCGM) predicted fatigue strength using experimentally obtained material properties and corrosion pit dimensions. Model predictions were used to develop S‐N curves and were within 30% of experimental results. The SCGM produced accurate and reliable fatigue life results that could be applied by industry to aid in revalidation decision making and inspection scheduling.

Disability trajectories individuals with spinal cord injury in mainland China: do psychosocial resources and diseases factors predict trajectories?

Observational cohort study. To identify classes of disability trajectories from 1 month post-injury (acute hospital) to 6 months post-injury (individuals with SCI individuals who stay in rehabilitation setting or back in the community), and to investigate whether psychosocial resources and disease factors can predict disability trajectory. Spinal surgery in three Class III hospitals. Hospitals in China are divided into three classes (Class I, II and III). All the participants were submitted to WHO Disability Assessment Schedule (WHO-DAS 2.0) at three times; and personal data anamnesis, level of hope, level of PTSD, level of social support were recorded at first time. All the data collected by the master's students who participated in this study. Two disability trajectories were identified using the latent class growth model: the continuous high disability group (N = 196, 93.3%) and the low starting point stabilization group (N = 14, 6.7%). Complete injury(ASIA-A) with SCI and more depression in the stable condition after SCI surgery were more likely to be classified as having higher disability than those with a lower disability trajectory. Occupation, annual family income, hope, social support, and Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) cannot predict individuals belonging to trajectory classes. These findings emphasize the importance of ASIA and depression in the early recovery stage after SCI and support the opinion that strengthening psychological nursing and rehabilitation management at an early stage after SCI will benefit individuals with a lower disability trajectory.

Individual differences in parasympathetic functioning across social stressor tasks: Relations with child and parent anxiety

AbstractChildren with elevated behavioural inhibition (BI) show context‐inappropriate fear and dysregulated RSA across stressor tasks. However, few studies have examined dynamic RSA within tasks and relations to parent and child anxiety. Using piecewise growth modelling and multimethod baseline data from an intervention study of 151 3.5–5‐year‐old children and their parents, we examined relations between child social anxiety (SA), parent anxiety and their interaction in predicting children's RSA across social stressor tasks (e.g. learning about unfamiliar peers, Trier Social Stress). Within the sample, 49.63% of children were reported to be White, non‐Hispanic/Latine (n = 67), 22% multiracial (n = 31), 14.81% Asian/Pacific Islander (n = 20) and 12.59% Black/African‐American (n = 17). Furthermore, 64.44% of the parents were reported to be White, non‐Hispanic/Latine (n = 87), 20% Asian/Pacific Islander (n = 27), 13.33% Black/African‐American (n = 18) and 2.22% multiracial (n = 3). Children showed differentiated RSA reactivity and recovery within an anticipatory social learning task based on their level of clinically appraised SA. Relations between child SA and RSA across tasks was moderated by parent anxiety, specifically for dyads matched in anxiety. Findings provide support for the potential influence of both child and parent anxiety on children's parasympathetic nervous system (PNS) responses across specific self‐regulatory tasks.

Aplikasi Model Pertumbuhan Logistik untuk Estimasi Jumlah Penduduk Kabupaten Ponorogo

Population growth is a critical issue for government planning, necessitating accurate projections for future years to inform long-term policy decisions. This study explores estimating the population of Ponorogo Regency through a logistic growth model. The model’s differential equation, structured as a separable differential equation, was solved and applied to real population data to derive a specific solution. The results indicate that, among five tested models, four logistic growth models are viable for projecting the population of Ponorogo Regency.

Calibration of stochastic, agent-based neuron growth models with approximate Bayesian computation.

Understanding how genetically encoded rules drive and guide complex neuronal growth processes is essential to comprehending the brain's architecture, and agent-based models (ABMs) offer a powerful simulation approach to further develop this understanding. However, accurately calibrating these models remains a challenge. Here, we present a novel application of Approximate Bayesian Computation (ABC) to address this issue. ABMs are based on parametrized stochastic rules that describe the time evolution of small components-the so-called agents-discretizing the system, leading to stochastic simulations that require appropriate treatment. Mathematically, the calibration defines a stochastic inverse problem. We propose to address it in a Bayesian setting using ABC. We facilitate the repeated comparison between data and simulations by quantifying the morphological information of single neurons with so-called morphometrics and resort to statistical distances to measure discrepancies between populations thereof. We conduct experiments on synthetic as well as experimental data. We find that ABC utilizing Sequential Monte Carlo sampling and the Wasserstein distance finds accurate posterior parameter distributions for representative ABMs. We further demonstrate that these ABMs capture specific features of pyramidal cells of the hippocampus (CA1). Overall, this work establishes a robust framework for calibrating agent-based neuronal growth models and opens the door for future investigations using Bayesian techniques for model building, verification, and adequacy assessment.

Influence of Health Insurance Financing on Economic Growth In Kenya

Economic growth positively impacts population health, providing access to quality healthcare, environmental protection, clean water, and better preventative behavior. However, Kenya's declining growth rate affects health financing, causing many citizens to struggle with access to care due to rising medical costs. This study sought to analyse the influence of health insurance financing on economic growth in kenya. The study was guided by the Solow-Swan Exogenous Growth Model. The study was conducted in Kenya. Data used in study was longitudinal data for twenty two years. The study period was from 2000 to 2022. A descriptive and inferential analysis performed where Auto-Regressive Distributive Lag (ARDL) model was used. Analyzed data were presented in the form of tables and discussions. The health insurance financing indicated a positive and statistically significant (b=0.2935; p = 0.0280.05), implying that one unit increase in health insurance financing could result in 0.2935 units in economic growth in Kenya. The study showed that adjusted R-squared was 0.9271, implying that the model explains approximately 92.71% of the variation in the economic growth in Kenya. The study concluded that, health insurance financing, is positively related to economic growth in the long run in Kenya. The study recommends that there is need for enhancing health insurance financing sources and gradually shifting towards sustainable domestic financing sources.

Supporting Satisfaction, Satisfying Support: Bidirectional Associations of Social Support and Life Satisfaction

Existing literature has explored the impact of social support (SS) on life satisfaction (LS). However, the reciprocal relationship—that is, the influence of LS on SS—remains understudied, despite extant theoretical support. In addressing this gap, the present study employed bivariate latent growth modeling to examine bidirectional associations between SS and LS trajectories among 8,449 middle-aged and older adults in Singapore, over seven waves spanning almost 6 years. Results provided evidence supporting the notion of bidirectional associations. Specifically, baseline SS positively predicted subsequent changes in LS, and baseline LS positively predicted subsequent changes in SS. Findings underscore the potential for interventions and policies aimed at enhancing well-being among older individuals to capitalize on this bidirectional relationship. By targeting either LS or SS, interventions could potentially trigger positive feedback loops, amplifying their collective impact on overall well-being.

Evaluation of Health Associations With Height-Normalised Abdominal Body Composition Indices: A Single-Centre Cross-Sectional Study.

Traditional metrics such as body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) fail to accurately assess the health outcomes associated with abdominal adiposity, because they neglect the intricacies of adipose tissue distribution. Notably, the variability in body composition scaled to height remains underexplored in Chinese demographics. This study introduces height-normalised indices of abdominal adiposity using computed tomography (CT) scans and further assesses their associations with various health outcomes. In a large, diverse Chinese population (n = 1054 healthy individuals; n = 1159 with dyslipidemia; n = 803 with diabetes; n = 1289 with cardio-cerebrovascular diseases; n = 1108 with cancers; and n = 509 with abnormal bone mas), abdominal CT scans were performed and allometric growth model analyses were used to derive height-normalised indices (body composition/heightβ). Logistic regression models assessed the associations between these indices and health outcomes. Distinct scaling powers were observed for visceral adipose tissue (VAT), subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) and total abdominal adipose tissue (TAT), as well as for sagittal diameter (SAD), with marked sex differences. Powers for VAT were 1.786 ± 1.270 for males and 1.274 ± 0.692 for females. Powers for SAT were 2.266 ± 0.856 for males and 1.656 ± 0.497 for females. Powers for TAT were 2.141 ± 0.967 for males and 1.438 ± 0.489 for females. Powers for SAD were 0.646 ± 0.217 for males and 0.678 ± 0.141 for females. After controlling for age, BMI and WC, VAT/heightβ, TAT/heightβ and SAD/heightβ retained their significantly positive associations with the odds of health outcomes, whereas SAT/heightβ did not. Our findings endorse the clinical utility of height-normalised indices, particularly VAT/heightβ, TAT/heightβ and SAD/heightβ, in health outcomes assessment. These indices, grounded in robust empirical data, underscore the necessity of a nuanced approach in obesity-related health evaluations, advocating for a departure from conventional methods like BMI.

Construction of a Growth Model and Screening of Growth-Related Genes for a Hybrid Puffer (Takifugu obscurus ♀ × Takifugu rubripes ♂)

The obscure puffer (Takifugu obscurus) is a popular cultured species and accounts for around 50% of the total pufferfish production in China. A hybrid puffer was generated by crossing a female obscure puffer with a male tiger puffer (T. rubripes). Its growth model has not been developed and the genetic basis underlying its growth superiority has not yet been fully investigated. In this study, the growth model and morphological traits of the hybrid puffer were explored. The results indicated that the hybrid puffer exhibited a significant growth advantage compared to the obscure puffer. There were also significant differences in their morphological traits. We conducted genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS) on hybrid and obscure puffer groups, identifying 215,288 high-quality single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) on 22 chromosomes. Subsequently, a total of 13 growth-related selection regions were identified via a combination of selection signatures and a genome-wide association study (GWAS); these regions were mainly located on chromosomes 10 and 22. Ultimately, the screened regions contained 13 growth-related genes, including itgav, ighv3-43, ighm, atp6v1b2, pld1, xmrk, inhba, dsp, dsg2, and dsc2, which regulate growth through a variety of pathways. Taken together, the growth models and candidate genes used in this study will aid our understanding of production characteristics and the genetic basis of growth rates. The hybrid will also be of great significance for the genome-assisted breeding of pufferfish in the future.

From process to property: multi-physics modeling of dislocation dynamics and microscale damage in metal additive manufacturing

AbstractMetal additive manufacturing (AM) has the potential to tailor the mechanical performance of materials. Due to the complex thermal history and unique microstructure, AM materials are reported to contain distinct dislocation networks with a high dislocation density, which affect the plastic deformation behavior and fracture. However, it is challenging to experimentally observe the formation of such dislocation structures. In this work, a multi-scale multi-physics crystal plasticity modeling framework that integrates the process-structure-property relationship in metal AM is developed. The temperature field obtained from thermal-fluid flow simulations of the AM process and the microstructure from the phase field model of grain growth are combined into thermo-mechanical crystal plasticity simulations to obtain grain-scale thermal stresses. These stresses are used as input to simulate the evolution of dislocation structures within individual grains. Taking AM 316L stainless steel as the material of interest, the effect of initial dislocation configuration on the slip plane and cross-slip mechanism on the dislocation structure formation are investigated. Furthermore, a phase field damage model is implemented to study the initiation of microscale damage and their relationship with dislocation structures, which is a main novelty of this work. This modeling framework provides comprehensive simulations of all aspects of metal AM and offers insights into the dislocation mechanisms and damage formation at microscale in AM materials, which could be used to guide the manipulation of the mechanical properties of AM materials.

Linking the BOPC growth model with foreign debt dynamics to goods and labour markets: A BOP-IXSM-Okun model

We link a BOPC growth model to the goods market, foreign debt dynamics, and Okun's law. A new condition for getting the Thirlwall effect of world GDP growth on domestic growth is that investment and export shares of GDP should react less to an increase in the domestic growth rate than savings and import shares. If this condition holds, the Thirlwall effect is present for the equilibrium point of stable and unstable debt/GDP dynamics and for positive or negative reactions of the current account to domestic growth. Okun's law translates the effect on the domestic GDP growth rate to a change of the unemployment rate. Under unstable debt/GDP dynamics, the change of world GDP growth may turn around the direction of the debt/GDP dynamics, a second important foreign growth effect. Estimations support the specification of the theoretical model and lead to simulations of the Thirlwall effect, terms of trade and interest rate shocks on output growth. Profit maximizing bank consortia set interest rates below growth rates ensuring stable debt dynamics in the presence of an interior maximum. Conditions for an interior maximum are empirically violated for Brazil indicating that banks would have to change the economy strongly. A crisis can be less likely through a jump into a steady state for the debt/GDP ratio; unstable, increasing debt/GDP processes through high interest rates cannot be ruled out though and may lead to crises unless the empirics of the stability conditions gets more favourable and leads the country-bank model into a stable steady state or out of indebtedness.

Serum uric acid trajectories and the risk of cardiovascular disease: a longitudinal association and pathway analysis.

Age-specifically longitudinal associations and potential pathways between serum uric acid (SUA) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) remained unclear. This study aimed to explore SUA trajectories in different age populations and to determine their associations and potential pathways with incident CVD. This prospective cohort included 41,367 participants from the Kailuan study, including 30,938 participants aged <55 years and 10,419 participants aged ≥55. The SUA trajectories during year 2006-2012 were identified by latent class growth models. Three SUA trajectories were identified in the overall, aged <55 and aged ≥55 years participants, as "low-stable" (51.9%, 54.4%, and 43.3%), "moderate-stable" (39.0%, 36.9%, and 45.6%), and "high-stable" (9.1%, 9.7%, and 11.1%), respectively. During a median follow-up of 6.75 years, incident CVD occurred in 2302 participants (5.56%). Overall, a high-stable trajectory was independently associated with a higher risk of CVD (hazard ratio [HR], 1.23; 95% [confidence interval], 1.06-1.42). Notably, the associations differed by age, a significant association was only observed in participants aged ≥55 years (HR, 1.29; 95% CI, 1.05-1.58), rather than those aged <55 years (HR, 1.08; 95% CI, 0.89-1.33). The addition of SUA trajectories to a baseline risk model for CVD improved the integrated discrimination improvement value (P < 0.05) and category-free net reclassification improvement value (P < 0.05). Bayesian network showed the conditional probability of high CVD risk associated with aging, elevated SUA trajectories, blood pressure, glucose, and inflammation was 15.5%. High-stable SUA trajectories were independently associated with an elevated risk of CVD, which is mainly induced by hypertension, diabetes, and inflammation, especially in participants aged ≥55 years.

Interactions of the CSF3R polymorphism and early stress on future orientation: evidence for the differential model of stress-related growth.

This study aims to explore the concept of future orientation, which encompasses individuals' thoughts about the future, goal-setting, planning, response to challenges and behavioural adjustments in evolving situations. Often viewed as a psychological resource, future orientation is believed to be developed from psychological resilience. The study investigates the curvilinear relationship between childhood maltreatment and future orientation while examining the moderating effects of genotype. A total of 14,675 Chinese adults self-reported their experiences of childhood maltreatment and their future orientation. The influence of genetic polymorphism was evaluated through genome-wide interaction studies (GWIS; genome-wide association study [GWAS] using gene × environment interaction) and a candidate genes approach. Both GWAS and candidate genes analyses consistently indicated that rs4498771 and its linked single-nucleotide polymorphisms, located in the intergenic area surrounding CSF3R, significantly interacted with early trauma to influence future orientation. Nonlinear regression analyses identified a quadratic or cubic association between future orientation and childhood maltreatment across some genotypes. Specifically, as levels of childhood maltreatment increased, future orientation declined for all genotypes. However, upon reaching a certain threshold, future orientation exhibited a rebound in individuals with specific genotypes. The findings suggest that individuals with certain genotypes exhibit greater resilience to childhood maltreatment. Based on these results, we propose a new threshold model of stress-related growth.

Phase-field modeling of facet growth of diamond using a modified anisotropic coefficient of interfacial energy

In the present work, a modified anisotropic coefficient of interfacial energy is used to simulate the anisotropic facet crystal growth along non-orthogonal directions by phase-field method. The modified anisotropic coefficient of interface anisotropy is simulated and evaluated against the theoretical prediction of equilibrium shape. The simulation results are compared between the modified form and classic form. Subsequently, the modified anisotropic coefficient is employed to simulate the Wulff construction of facet growth of diamond, encompassing both pristine diamond and diamond with reconstructed surfaces. The dynamics of diamond morphology and the reconstructed surface area and proportion are thoroughly evaluated, demonstrating agreement with experimental records. The effect of the reconstruction surface on the growth of diamond grain is analyzed in terms of the total energy reduction, and the range of interfacial energies for more stable diamond reconstructions is also summarized. By introducing the modified anisotropic coefficient, anisotropic facet growth can be described and the simulation results are verified both theoretically and experimentally.

Simultaneous removal of heavy metals and Escherichia coli from water using silver-doped hydroxyapatite-coated activated carbon nano composite-alginate beads

The scarcity of clean water due to heavy metal and microbial contamination is a global issue. In many parts of the world, heavy metals such as Pb, Cd, and U, along with bacteria like Escherichia coli, have been found to exceed permissible limits in groundwater and other water sources that the public depends on for daily drinking water. To address this, we have synthesized a novel composite material consisting of Ag-impregnated hydroxyapatite-coated activated carbon nanoparticles embedded in alginate beads, for the simultaneous removal of heavy metals (U, Pb, and Cd) and Escherichia coli from drinking water. The material's efficiency was evaluated through a series of batch and column experiments. Batch studies indicate 90 % sequestration of U within 5 hours and Pb and Cd within 7 hours, while Escherichia coli (107 cfu/mL) was eradicated instantly. The study confirms that sorption follows pseudo-second-order kinetics via chemisorption and ion-exchange mechanisms. Fixed-bed column studies, using a logistic growth model, showed strong agreement between theoretical and experimental parameters for the Bohart-Adams, Thomas, and Yoon-Nelson models. The beads demonstrated a high affinity for heavy metals, achieving complete removal and disinfection within an empty bed contact time of 1.12 minutes. Reusability studies indicate that even after the third regeneration and reuse cycle, removal efficiency remained about 95 % for U and Pb, and 85 % for Cd. Furthermore, the effects of variations in water quality parameters such as pH, dissolved carbonates, humic acid, and ionic strength (except for Cd) on removal efficiency were minimal. In summary, the study revealed that the Ag-impregnated hydroxyapatite-coated activated carbon nanoparticles embedded in alginate beads are an efficient, sustainable, and cost-effective material for the simultaneous removal of Pb, Cd, U, and Escherichia coli from water with diverse physicochemical properties.

Changes in electrical parameters of the heart in an experimental model of malignant tumor growth during of hyperthyroidism

Experimental and clinical studies demonstrate the possibility of modulating the development of malignant tumors in thyroid imbalance, in particular hyperthyroidism, which negatively affects the electrophysiology of the heart. In an experimental model of tumor growth during of hyperthyroidism, activation of the tumor was shown.Aim: To study electrophysiological parameters of the mouse heart at the initial stages of transplantable tumor growth during of hyperthyroidism.Material and Methods. In female mice of the C57BL/6 line (n = 20) was created a model of melanoma B16/F10 growth during of hyperthyroidism, which was induced by daily intraperitoneal administration of liothyronine sodium (T3) for a long time and confirmed by determining the content of thyroid-stimulating hormone and triiodothyronine in the blood using the radioimmune method. On the 5th day of T3 administration, the melanoma was transplanted. ECG was recorded non-invasively (ecgTUN- NEL, ecgAVG software, emka TECHNOLOGIES, France) on the 1st and 3rd days of T3 administration, in groups with a tumor – on the 6th day after its transplantation.Results. Pathological changes were revealed: in the group with hyperthyroidism – rhythm irregularity, decrease the amplitude of P and T below the isoline, widening of the QRS, on the 3rd day – the death of 1 mouse was noted due to large-focal myocardial infarction; in the group with melanoma – only sinus arrhythmia and decreased heart rate; in the group with a combination of pathologies – an almost normal ECG, with the exception of an increase in P amplitude and a slight increase in QRS.Conclusion. Already in the early stages of hyperthyroidism or tumor growth, there was a violation of myocardial depolarization/ repolarization processes, capable of causing even death of the animal. In case of comorbidity, the majority of ECG parameters normalized, indicating the inclusion of compensatory mechanisms in the interaction of pathologies. The results demonstrate the need for a deeper study of the mechanisms of interaction of several simultaneously existing pathologies in the body.

De Cervantes a Santander: La vía del desarrollo urbano en Manizales

This article seeks to contribute to the construction of urban stories from the introduction of infrastructures and equipment that represented the ideal of progress and modernization during the twentieth century. The case of the city of Manizales is representative, as it presents a model of growth along a structuring road axis, conditioned not only by the geography of the mountain, but by the inclusion of technical advances that favoured economic and social development. The urban expansion aimed at establishing habits related to hygiene, civism and comfort, led to an accelerated urbanization in the east of the city characterized by its high landscape qualities; an architecture framed in typologies of modernization; and the social expectation of achieving a new lifestyle. The socio-economic conditions linked to the passage of the avenue, have kept it as the main artery of the city from its appearance to the present day.