Partial Integration Research Articles

Optimization of Market Behavior of a Transportation Company

The relevance of optimizing the interaction of participants in manufacture and transport systems is due to the growth of the scale of social production, the development of transnational companies and international trade at the present stage of market transformations, economic integration and development of transport corridors. In this paper we will optimize the market behavior of a transport enterprise in the manufacture and transportation chain. Objectives: To determine the best option for coordinating the actions of participants in the manufacture and transport chain and to optimize the mechanism for granting discounts on the tariff of the transport company. Research methods: economic and mathematical modeling, construction and mathematical analysis of models of manufacture and transport systems, optimization computer calculations, economic interpretation of the results. In this paper it will also be analyzed how full or partial integration of the participants of manufacture and transportation chains, such as coordination of actions, unification of interests can ensure not only a significant increase in the profits of each participant, but also an increase in production volumes and delivery of products to consumers with a corresponding decrease in prices. The paper also portrays how every participant in the manufacture and transportation chain can paradoxically benefit from the established mechanism that would provide discounts on the tariff of a transport company depending on the volume of cargo flow followed by principle the more cargo, the greater the discount. It will be shown how manufacturer benefits by reducing transportation costs, while the transport company earns less per container, but the outstripping growth in the number of these containers provides it with a higher profit. Consequently, the conditions for the feasibility of applying such a mechanism of tariff discounts will also be established.

Order of approximation by partial Hausdorff integrals

Approximation by partial integrals constructed on the base of Hausdorff operators is considered. Under some natural integrability conditions, these integrals reduce to usual convolutions. We give upper and lower estimates for the approximation error in terms of moduli of continuity in the spaces Lp on the real line and on the period. In some cases, upper and lower estimates coincide in a sense of order, and we obtain complete structural characterization of the approximation error.

Atomic number and isotopy before nuclear structure: multiple standards and evolving collaboration of chemistry and physics

We provide a detailed history of the concepts of atomic number and isotopy before the discovery of protons and neutrons that draws attention to the role of evolving interplays of multiple aims and criteria in chemical and physical research. Focusing on research by Frederick Soddy and Ernest Rutherford, we show that, in the context of differentiating disciplinary projects, the adoption of a complex and shifting concept of elemental identity and the ordering role of the periodic table led to a relatively coherent notion of atomic number. Subsequent attention to valency, still neglected in the secondary literature, and to nuclear charge led to a decoupling of the concepts of elemental identity and weight and allowed for a coherent concept of isotopy. This concept received motivation from empirical investigations on the decomposition series of radioelements and their unstable chemical identity. A new model of chemical order was the result of an ongoing collaboration between chemical and physical research projects with evolving aims and standards. After key concepts were considered resolved and their territories were clarified, chemistry and physics resumed autonomous projects, yet remained bound by newly accepted explanatory relations. It is an episode of scientific collaboration and partial integration without simple, wholesale gestalt switches or chemical revolutions.

Dielectric functions evolution and electronic bandgap manipulation by silicon doping for Sb2Te3 phase change films: Temperature dependent spectroscopic ellipsometry study

The dielectric function evolution and electronic bandgap manipulation by silicon (Si) doping for Sb2Te3 phase change films have been investigated by temperature dependent spectroscopic ellipsometry measurements. During the phase change from amorphous to rhombohedral structures, the significant contrast of electronic band structure for pure Sb2Te3 and Si-doped Sb2Te3 (SST) films as functions of temperature (210–620 K) and Si concentration (0%–12%) has been systematically studied by analyzing the dielectric functions, Tauc gap energy, and partial spectral weight integral. The distinct differences can be mainly attributed to the increment of structure order degree, originated from the change of local bonding arrangement. Based upon the evolutions of Tauc gap energy and partial spectral weight integral with increasing temperature for all four samples, it can be concluded that Si doping can inhibit the crystallization of amorphous films and accelerate the phase change process by serving as nanoscale heaters, which is helpful in improving the thermal stability of amorphous films. The elevated crystallization temperature and phase change rate by Si doping contribute to the dependability and endurance for SST-based phase change memory. The present data provide an important direction on the physical mechanism investigation of Si doping Sb2Te3 by optical techniques.

Perceived partial social integration, levels of distress and resilience, and COVID-19 vaccine rejection of Jewish and Arab citizens of Israel.

The present study examines the role of perceived partial social integration (PPSI) in determining the rejection of the COVID-19 vaccine of Jewish and Arab citizens of Israel. The research hypotheses are examined using a relatively large sample of the Israeli public, including 208 Arab and 600 Jewish adults, who have responded to an anonymous questionnaire pertaining, among other issues, to partial social integration and the individual level of vaccine uptake. Higher levels of PPSI were found to be associated with higher levels of vaccine rejection, in both Jewish and Arab samples. The Arab minority group regards themselves as less socially integrated into the Israeli society and therefore rejects the COVID-19 vaccine to a greater extent than the majority group. The Arab respondents expressed a higher level of psychological distress and a lower level of resilience compared with the Jewish participants. The perceived partial social integration score significantly predicted the levels of distress and resilience of the Jewish but not the Arab sample. The study indicates that increasing the vaccination rates depends more substantially on trust in the authorities than on leveraging greater pressure on individuals that reject the vaccine. Increased trust in the authorities and regarding oneself as an integral component of society are two vital conditions for vaccine acquiescence. Insufficient social integration is a major reason for vaccine rejection.

On the evaluation of electrostatic energy of volume charge distributions and the role of the Coulomb singularity

Methods for evaluating electrostatic interaction energy of volume distributions of charge of different shapes and densities are studied. In our numerical method, a cubic integration volume is divided into smaller sub-cubes, whereupon the pertinent double volume integral is turned into a six-fold sum from which all self-interaction terms exhibiting the Coulomb singularity are duly extracted. More precision is gained by optimising the values of the partial integrals corresponding to the nearest interacting sub-cubes obtained by different discretisation of a cube. Further insight is obtained by modelling a sphere, a cylinder and a cube with cubical elements, for which analytical results are available. We also consider spheres with different radially dependent charge density functions, whose interaction energy is known exactly.

Wheat and chaff: the degree to which strategic management principles are integrated within corporate social responsibility reporting among large Canadian firms

This empirical study examines the degree to which strategic principles are reflected in the corporate social responsibility (CSR) reporting practices among Canada’s largest corporations. In a two-phased approach, three time periods of corporate disclosure from 2016 to 2020 were studied. Using an organizational flowchart derived from the literature, CSR disclosures were organized according to six degrees of strategic integration. Analysis reveals a bimodal distribution of firms, with one mode representing firms with a fully integrated reporting framework, and another mode representing firms with the partial integration of strategic management principles. Inconsistent patterns of progress in reporting practices were discovered, with some firms demonstrating improved reporting practices while others stagnated or declined. Overall, a generalized improvement in strategic integration during our multi-year examination was observed. While this work has implications for corporate social responsibility theory, recommendations for CSR practitioners are also discussed.

From Old Regime to Industrial State: A History of German Industrialization from the Eighteenth Century to World War I

From Old Regime to Industrial State: A History of German Industrialization from the Eighteenth Century to World War I

Integrated Management of Type 2 Diabetes and Gestational Diabetes in the Context of Multi-Morbidity in Africa: A Systematic Review.

Introduction:Many adults diagnosed with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) also have other known or unknown comorbid conditions. The rising prevalence of GDM and T2DM within a broader context of multimorbidity can best be addressed through an integrated management response, instead of stand-alone programs targeting specific infectious and/or chronic diseases.Aim:To describe GDM and T2DM screening, care and cost-effectiveness outcomes in the context of multimorbidity through integrated interventions in Africa.Methods:A systematic review of all published studies was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Risk Of Bias in Non-randomised Studies of Interventions (ROBINS-I) was used to assess risk of bias. Data synthesis was conducted using narrative synthesis of included studies.Results:A total of 9 out of 13 included studies reported integrated diabetes mellitus (DM) screening, 7 included integrated care and 9 studies addressed cases of newly detected DM who were asymptomatic in pre-diabetes stage. Only 1 study clearly analysed cost-effectiveness in home-based care; another 5 did not evaluate cost-effectiveness but discussed potential cost benefits of an integrated approach to DM screening and care. Compared to partial integration, only 2 fully integrated interventions yielded tangible results regarding DM screening, care and early detection of cases despite many that reported barriers to its sustainability.Conclusion:Though few, integrated interventions for screening and/or care of DM in the context of multimorbidity within available resources in health systems throughout Africa exist and suggest that this approach is possible and could improve health outcomes.

Supporting student teachers to integrate theory, research, and practice: developing the Adaptive Subject Pedagogy Model

ABSTRACT Background Student teachers can find it difficult to inform their classroom practice with knowledge gained from education theory and research. Working with Design and Technology teacher education students, the authors have developed a model to support integration of knowledge-based thinking in lesson design for classroom practice. Purpose This study explores the use of the Adaptive Subject Pedagogy Model to scaffold knowledge integration across the elements of an undergraduate technology education programme. Sample Twenty-four Design and Technology students from three year-groups took part in the study. Design and methods The study used focus groups to explore student perceptions of using the model, and analysis of student assignments to explore evidence of knowledge integration. Focus group transcripts were analysed inductively using thematic network analysis. Assignments were analysed using a deductive coding framework. Results Students who understood the model as supporting planning for teaching in a broad sense were more likely to find the model helpful than those who saw the model as a lesson planning tool. Students valued the research element of the model for informing practice. Assignments gave mixed evidence of knowledge integration: some assignments showed convincing evidence of this, while others evidenced more partial integration. Conclusion The study indicates that the model can support evidential integration, but that this is a challenging area for student teachers. This may be due to the different forms of knowledge students encounter across the academic and practicum elements of the programme, and/or to programme design if the practicum is not integrated effectively with other programme elements.

Symmetry breaking yields chimeras in two small populations of Kuramoto-type oscillators.

Despite their simplicity, networks of coupled phase oscillators can give rise to intriguing collective dynamical phenomena. However, the symmetries of globally and identically coupled identical units do not allow solutions where distinct oscillators are frequency-unlocked-a necessary condition for the emergence of chimeras. Thus, forced symmetry breaking is necessary to observe chimera-type solutions. Here, we consider the bifurcations that arise when full permutational symmetry is broken for the network to consist of coupled populations. We consider the smallest possible network composed of four phase oscillators and elucidate the phase space structure, (partial) integrability for some parameter values, and how the bifurcations away from full symmetry lead to frequency-unlocked weak chimera solutions. Since such solutions wind around a torus they must arise in a global bifurcation scenario. Moreover, periodic weak chimeras undergo a period-doubling cascade leading to chaos. The resulting chaotic dynamics with distinct frequencies do not rely on amplitude variation and arise in the smallest networks that support chaos.

Rigorous energetic analysis of the pressure-swing distillation process

Pressure-swing distillation is an important separation method and does not require external agents to promote the separation, thus making it a good option to minimize environmental impact. However, pressure-swing distillation must be optimized and energetically integrated, partially or fully, aiming to be competitive with other separation methods. Therefore, this work aims to perform an energy analysis of the pressure-swing distillation process through a new optimization procedure. The case study was selected based on the industrial importance of acetone-methanol separation, according to the consulted literature. Using Aspen Plus™ software, the low-high pressure configuration was implemented for comparison purposes in different integration configurations: without thermal integration and with partial and full thermal integration. For both configurations, the proposed optimization procedure allows to obtain better results when compared to the literature used as reference. Due to the ease of simulation convergence for configurations with partial and full thermal integration, which were initially simulated disregarding mass balance, the proposed procedure can be used with evolutionary optimization techniques. Furthermore, the effect of high pressure on the vapor-liquid equilibrium of the high-pressure column was evaluated, and the results showed that it is essential to consider the non-ideality of the vapor phase in that column, due to its strong influence on the liquid-vapor equilibrium.

Multi-objective optimization and comparison of the entrainer-assisted pressure-swing distillation and extractive distillation separation sequences for separating a pressure-insensitive binary azeotrope

Pressure-insensitive azeotropes are often encountered in chemical production. Entrainer-assisted pressure-swing distillation (EAPSD) is a special pressure-swing distillation showing promising performance in separating pressure-insensitive azeotropes. However, few studies have been reported on this method. In this work, the comparison between the EAPSD with tetrahydrofuran as pressure-sensitive entrainer and extractive distillation (ED) with dimethyl sulfoxide as solvent in separating water/isopropanol azeotrope is performed to explore the performance of EAPSD. Different EAPSD sequences, low-high sequence (LHS) and high-low sequence (HLS), are designed with different product sequences. A strategy considering the possibility of both partial and full heat integration is used to reduce capital cost and energy consumption. Multi-objective genetic algorithm is applied to achieve the optimal performance. The results show that the heat-integrated HLS sequence has lower total annual cost (TAC) by 7.04% and lower CO2 emission (CDE) by 4.27% than LHS, while ED process has lower TAC and CDE by 51.80% and 36.96% than the optimal EAPSD process.

Linear Operators and Equations with Partial Integrals

We consider linear operators and equations with partial integrals in Banach ideal spaces, spaces of vector functions, and spaces of continuous functions. We study the action, regularity, duality, algebras, Fredholm properties, invertibility, and spectral properties of such operators. We describe principal properties of linear equations with partial integrals. We show that such equations are essentially different compared to usual integral equations. We obtain conditions for the Fredholm alternative, conditions for zero spectral radius of the Volterra operator with partial integrals, and construct resolvents of invertible equations. We discuss Volterra–Fredholm equations with partial integrals and consider problems leading to linear equations with partial integrals.

Partial Social Integration as a Predictor of COVID-19 Vaccine Rejection and Distress Indicators.

Partial social integration refers to the perceived exclusion of individuals or groups, from full participation in their society. The current study claims that perceived partial social integration (PPSI) constitutes a substantial predictor of the rejection of the COVID-19 vaccine, a significant mediator of the impact of demographic variables (such as age and level of income) on this vaccine rejection, and an important predictor of indices of psychological distress during pandemic times. Previous publications show that although vaccines constitute a very efficient means for countering pandemics, vaccine hesitancy is a prevalent public response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The present study is one of a few studies examining the impact of psychological variables on the actual behavior of vaccine rejection rather than on the cognitive element of vaccine hesitancy. A sample of 600 Israeli Jewish adults responded in February 2022 to an anonymous questionnaire exploring, among other issues, the (PPSI), the individual level of vaccine uptake, and the level of distress of these individuals. Path analyses of the variables predicted by PPSI indicated the following results: (a) PPSI score negatively predicted vaccine uptake level and significantly mediated the effects of age and family income on the level of vaccination. (b) PPSI levels significantly predicted higher levels of anxiety, depression, and a sense of danger and negatively predicted societal resilience. The discussion elaborates the contention that the PPSI is a substantial cause of psychological distress and in compliance with the pandemic vaccination guidelines, despite the potential health risk involved.

Endoscopic endonasal odontoidectomy: a long-term follow-up results for a cohort of 21 patients

BackgroundEndoscopic endonasal odontoidectomy (EEO) has been described as a potential approach for craniovertebral junction (CVJ) disease which could cause anterior bulbomedullary compression and encroaching. Due to the atlantoaxial junction’s uniqueness and complex biomechanics, treating CVJ pathologies uncovers the challenge of preventing C1–C2 instability. A large series of patients treated with endonasal odontoidectomy is reported, analyzing the feasibility and necessity of whether or not to perform posterior stabilization. Furthermore, the focus is on the long-term follow-up, especially those whom only underwent partial C1 arch preservation without posterior fixation.MethodsThis study is a retrospective analysis of patients with ventral spinal cord compression for non-reducible CVJ malformation, consecutively treated with EEO from July 2011 to March 2019. Postoperative dynamic X-ray and CT scans were obtained in each case in order to document CVJ decompression as well as to exclude instability. The anterior atlas‐dens interval, posterior atlas‐dens interval and C1–C2 total lateral overhang were measured as a morphological criteria to determine upper cervical spine stability.ResultsTwenty-one patients (11:10 F:M) with a mean age of 60.6 years old at the time of surgery (range 34–84 years) encountered the inclusion criteria. For all 21 patients, a successful decompression was achieved at the first surgery. In 11 patients, the partial C1 arch integrity did not require a posterior cervical instrumentation on the bases of postoperative and constant follow-up radiological examination. In 13 cases, an improvement of motor function was recorded at the time of discharge. Only one patient had further motor function improvement at follow-up. Among the patients that did not show any significant motor change at discharge, 4 patients showed an improvement at the last follow-up.ConclusionsThe outcomes, even in C1 arch preservation without posterior fixation, are promising, and it could be said that the endonasal route potentially represents a valid option to treat lesions above the nasopalatine line.

Self-Retrospect Periphery Gate Model and Its Applications

By not only relying on the initial state but also relying on states before, the principle of a self-retrospect dynamic system has been developed to represent the changes in a system since 1991. Afterward, the periphery theory was established, which studies the boundary of a system. We try to integrate the principle of the self-retrospect system and periphery theory in this study. Thus, a self-retrospect periphery gate model, a new expression of temporal-spatial concept, has been derived to investigate the change of a system and forecast it in physics. Firstly, for the equation with a time difference term that controls the motion of the system, a difference-integral equation can be derived by introducing a retrospect function and applying the inner product, partial integral, and mean value theorem. The principle of constructing and solving the difference-integral equation of the system is referred to as the principle of self-retrospect dynamic systems, and the corresponding mathematical model is called the self-retrospect model. The principle of system self-retrospect has been applied to modeling, calculating, and forecasting in many fields such as meteorology, oceanography, hydrology, market, agriculture, transportation, energy, and so on. Secondly, the periphery is defined as an intermediary that can protect the system and exchange with the environment. It is a part of the system and is adjacent to the environment. It has been applied in many fields since the periphery theory was put forward, such as physics, meteorology, water resources, economy, as well as sports. Thirdly, the concept of periphery gate is embedded into the self-retrospect equation, the self-retrospect gate model has been proposed, and the physical implication of the model is mentioned. The mathematical derivation of the model and its physical explanation are the main points of the study. The applications of the model in physics and meteorology are discussed, for example, the relationship between heavy snowfall and airflow passage in Beijing was studied using synoptic meteorology in detail.

Cross‐border and domestic minority acquisitions and financial constraints: Reaping big benefits from small shareholders

AbstractResearch Question/IssueDo the motivations of cross‐border minority acquisitions differ from those of domestic minority acquisitions? We examine and compare the underlying motivations for and consequences of domestic and cross‐border minority acquisitions by analyzing data from transactions that took place across 31 countries over a 13‐year period.Research Findings/InsightsUsing a sample of 11,926 domestic and cross‐border minority acquisitions, we show that the interplay of financing and country‐level governance motives is the main driver of such deals in both settings. We find that financially constrained firms are more likely to engage in both domestic and cross‐border minority acquisitions, even in the face of higher information asymmetry and transaction costs that international transactions entail. In the wake of either domestic or cross‐border deals, financially constrained firms' long‐term debt increases; their short‐term debt, cash holdings, and equity decrease. The greater likelihood of minority acquisitions of financially constrained firms is explained by the degree of corporate governance institutions in the country in which the targeted firm is based and by differences in levels of creditor and shareholder protections between the home countries of the targeted and acquiring firms involved. Our results remain robust after controlling for alternative explanations such as the contracting motive, the gravity model of foreign transactions, economic development levels, and differences in tax and exchange rates.Theoretical/Academic ImplicationsOur results extend prior literature on mergers and acquisitions that have focused solely on control transfers or domestic deals. We provide empirical evidence for the importance of jointly considering financing and governance motivations in seeking to explain domestic and cross‐border minority acquisitions and their consequences in alleviating financial constraints. We provide new evidence on how firm‐ and country‐level characteristics interact to affect minority acquisitions.Practitioner/Policy ImplicationsOur results offer valuable insights for business policy by highlighting how firms can circumvent financial constraints through partial integration, especially in cross‐border settings. The results also offer evidence of beneficial ex post outcomes for targeted firms' leverage and liquidity. In terms of public policy, the results show that minority shareholder protections improve the equity market and provide a positive externality to the debt market through a certification effect.

Design Methodology Based on Prebuilt Components for Modular Multilevel Converters with Partial Integration of Energy Storage Systems

To provide ancillary services in HVDC applications, modular multilevel converters (MMCs) with integration of energy storage systems are a promising solution as they take advantage of the modularity and the controllability of the stored energy. In these solutions, an energy storage system is connected to the DC capacitor of a submodule (SM) to make an energy storage submodule (ES-SM). An MMC with partial integration (MMC-PIES) is an MMC with each arm made of a mix of SMs and ES-SMs. In this paper, we propose a novel design methodology for these converters considering they are built based on existing prebuilt submodules, while design methodologies in the literature consider the SM and ES-SM characteristics to be degrees of freedom. Therefore, the proposed approach is closer to an industrial standpoint and computes the minimum number of ES-SMs to comply with requirements. We also include a new optimization method for the circulating currents needed to balance the energy in the SM and ES-SM capacitors. Design scenarios are presented. The results show that the value of the DC capacitance and the current limitation of the switches highly influence the design, restricting the possible operating points. In addition, half-bridge ES-SMs seem to be a more promising solution than full-bridge ES-SMs, reducing the number of ES-SMs.

Delay-Dependent Stability for Load Frequency Control System via Linear Operator Inequality

The stability analysis problem is considered for multiarea load frequency control (LFC) systems with electric vehicles (EVs) and time delays. The novel linear operator inequality approach is proposed and a less conservative delay-dependent stability condition is achieved. First, the model of the multiarea LFC system with EVs and delays is expressed by the partial integral equation (PIE) at the first time. Then, a complete quadratic Lyapunov-Krasovskii functional is built in the form of an inner product of the linear partial integral (PI) operator. The novel stability criteria with less conservatism are proposed in the form of linear operator inequality. Moreover, the relationships between the delay margins and the controller parameters are shown. Finally, the simulations are conducted on both one-area and two-area LFC systems to show the effectiveness of the proposed approach.