Special Case Research Articles

SPORTS IN AUSTRALIA’S SOFT POWER STRATEGY: OPPORTUNITIES FOR IMPLEMENTATION BY OTHER COUNTRIES

Australia, being a successful example of using sports for foreign policy, has significantly improved its international influence in the Pacific region. Yet, political, cultural, and economic peculiarities can doubt the similar application of sports by other countries. This article examines Australia’s use of sports and sports diplomacy as key instruments of its international strategy. The purpose of the article is to analyze Australia’s use of sports within soft power efforts, explore its methods, principles, and frameworks, and evaluate whether this framework can be applied by other countries to achieve similar soft power objectives. This study performs a comprehensive review of literature, official Australian government publications, and specific case studies to understand the outcomes and applicability of the approach. The novelty of the research lies in its detailed examination of the specific conditions and strategies that have made Australia’s sports diplomacy successful. Key research findings highlight that Australia’s effective use of sports diplomacy is rooted in its effect of sports on national identity, strong sports culture, advanced infrastructure, strategic partnerships, and connections with communities, particularly within the Pacific region. The article proves that the 2015-18 and 2030 Sports Diplomacy Strategies have successfully fostered cultural, sports, and people-to-people connections and enhanced Australia’s influence and presence globally. The article concludes that while Australia’s sports diplomacy model is highly effective, its application by other countries may be challenging. The reasons refer to varying levels of national perception of sports, sports culture, financial resources, and international influence. For actors with similar conditions, a comprehensive approach is applicable, whereas for emerging and developing nations it may be best to adopt specific elements of the strategies depending on the needs and resources.

The lion, the witch, and the wormhole: ensemble averaging the symmetric product orbifold

We consider the ensemble average of two dimensional symmetric product orbifold CFTs SymN(\U0001d54bD) over the Narain moduli space. We argue for a bulk dual given by N copies of an abelian Chern-Simons theory coupled to topological gravity, endowed with a discrete gauge symmetry exchanging the N copies. As a check of this proposal, we calculate the ensemble average of various partition and correlation functions of the symmetric product orbifold theory and compare the resulting expressions to gauge theory quantities in the bulk. We comment on the ensemble average of the tensionless string partition function on AdS3 × S3 × \U0001d54b4 by considering the specific case of D = 4 with the addition of supersymmetry.

Short-time Fourier transform and superoscillations

In this paper we investigate new results on the theory of superoscillations using time-frequency analysis tools and techniques such as the short-time Fourier transform (STFT) and the Zak transform. We start by studying how the short-time Fourier transform acts on superoscillation sequences. We then apply the supershift property to prove that the short-time Fourier transform preserves the superoscillatory behavior by taking the limit. It turns out that these computations lead to interesting connections with various features of time-frequency analysis such as Gabor spaces, Gabor kernels, Gabor frames, 2D-complex Hermite polynomials, and polyanalytic functions. We treat different cases depending on the choice of the window function moving from the general case to more specific cases involving the Gaussian and the Hermite windows. We consider also an evolution problem with an initial datum given by superoscillation multiplied by the time-frequency shifts of a generic window function. Finally, we compute the action of STFT on the approximating sequences with a given Hermite window.

Facilitating remote and virtual access provision by European research infrastructures – requirements, issues, and recommendations

Research Infrastructures (RIs) are strategic assets facilitating innovation and knowledge advancement across all scientific disciplines. They provide researchers with advanced tools and resources that go beyond individual or institutional capacities and promote collaboration, community-building and the application of scientific standards. Remote and virtual access to RIs enables scientists to use these essential resources without the necessity of being physically present. The COVID-19 pandemic restrictions where a catalyst for the expansion and further development of remote and virtual access models, particularly in fields where physical access had been the predominant model. The eRImote project explores pathways for digital and remote RI access through targeted surveys, stakeholder workshops, expert groups discussions, and the analysis of specific use cases. This paper provides a definition of remote and virtual access and remote training and explores their implementation across various RIs, highlighting the implications for their operational processes and the dynamics of interaction between RIs and their user communities. It presents the identified advantages, obstacles, and best-practices, alongside strategies and recommendations to navigate and mitigate challenges effectively. Key issues and recommendations are summed up separately for remote access, virtual access, and remote training, complemented by general recommendations for facilitating remote and virtual access to RIs. These relate to budgeting and funding, the balancing of RI access models, the need for regulatory frameworks for sample shipments, collaboration among RIs, impact assessment of remote and virtual access on user interactions, operational efficiency and the environment footprint of RIs, and the adaption of data sharing policies. Stakeholders are broadly invited to give their feedback on the paper’s findings and conclusions, which will be integrated into improved versions of this paper.

Advances in electrochemical biosensors employing carbon-based electrodes for detection of biomarkers in diabetes mellitus.

The increase in diabetes cases has become a major concern in the healthcare sector, necessitating the development of efficient and minimal diagnostic methods. This study aims to provide a comprehensive examination of electrochemical biosensors for detecting diabetes mellitus biomarkers, with a special focus on the utilization of carbon-based electrodes. A detailed analysis of electrochemical biosensors incorporating various carbon electrodes, including screen-printed carbon electrodes, glassy carbon electrodes, and carbon paste electrodes, is presented. The advantages of carbon-based electrodes in biosensor design are highlighted. The review covers the detection of several key diabetes biomarkers, such as glucose, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), glycated human serum albumin (GHSA), insulin, and novel biomarkers. Recent developments in electrochemical biosensor technology over the last decade are summarized, emphasizing their potential in clinical applications, particularly in point-of-care settings. The utilization of carbon-based electrodes in biosensors is shown to offer significant advantages, including enhanced sensitivity, selectivity, and cost-effectiveness. This review underscores the importance of carbon-based electrodes in the design of electrochemical biosensors and raises awareness for the detection of novel biomarkers for more specific and personalized diabetes mellitus cases. The advancements in this field highlight the potential of these biosensors in future clinical applications, especially in point-of-care diagnostics.

Normalistas-Teachers and Coloniality of Power in Mexico

This paper examines how the work of normalista-teachers in Mexico illuminates what Lucio Cabañas Barrientos termed the ‘new colonial system’ in 1972. There exists an ideological hegemony which asserts that colonialism ended in most Latin American nations, including Mexico, by the first decade of the nineteenth century. However, as this paper argues, the experiences of normalista-teachers demonstrate that colonialism is far from a relic of the past. Drawing upon the concepts of hegemony and coloniality of power, this study explores how normalista-teachers challenge the notion of ‘modernity’ and the myth of a bygone colonial era. It focuses primarily on the specific cases of teachers Margarita Chávez, Salvador Hernández, Antonio Gaytán, María Mendoza, José Lundez Martínez, Hernández, Ibarra, Elena Torres, Del Palacio, and Montiel. Additionally, it examines the social movements and guerrilla groups led by Genaro Vásquez Rojas and Lucio Cabañas Barrientos. This holds significant weight for critical pedagogy. If, through their lives and work, normalista-teachers are able to reveal how material and symbolic inequalities rooted in colonialism continue to shape Mexico, then this suggests they are not merely educators, but rather epistemic providers of critical pedagogy from a Latin American perspective.

System theory safety analysis of network malfunction in nuclear power plant distributed control systems

Abstract A secure and highly reliable communication network is a crucial component of the distributed control system (DCS) in nuclear power plants (NPPs), particularly for the protection system. However, there have been numerous reported cases of cyber-attacks in the field of nuclear power, and the cybersecurity threats faced by a DCS are increasing. Given that the DCS is a complex integrated system combining computers, communication, and control with a large number of interactions between components and external interferences, traditional linear safety analysis methods fail to meet its requirements. To minimize cybersecurity accidents caused by potential vulnerabilities, it is necessary to conduct systematic safety analysis on DCS cybersecurity accidents in NPPs. Therefore, this paper selected a specific case of cybersecurity accidents in a NPP for abstract modeling and reproduction. The causal analysis based on system theory (CAST) method was applied to conduct an analysis of the accident causes. It can identify existing vulnerabilities and potential factors impacting the safe operation of NPPs, and countermeasures and recommendations can be proposed. The reference for assessing potential risks and devising solutions can be provided for other DCS communication networks.

GDP growth in Brazil after the liberalising reforms

ABSTRACT The Brazilian economy implemented the trade and financial liberalisation reforms in the first half of the 1990s as a new development strategy. Since then, Brazilian GDP has been unstable and much lower compared to the previous period. Despite this, there was a short period of relatively higher economic growth rate from 2004 to 2008, but the Brazilian economic growth decelerated after 2011; the country entered a recession between 2014 and 2016, and then in a stagnation period from 2017 onwards. The aim of this article is to analyse the Brazilian economic performance after the liberalising reforms and evaluate the reasons the Brazilian economy decelerated after 2010. To do so, we consider the importance of manufacturing production to a country’s economic performance and analyse this relationship for the specific case of Brazil, checking the contribution of the manufacturing production growth to the country’s GDP growth in circumstances of increases and decreases in GDP growth. To complement this analysis, we also evaluate the existence of increasing returns to scale. The results show that manufacturing production growth is still important for the Brazilian economic performance, especially to explain the moments when the country’s GDP decreases.

Dutch multidisciplinary guideline on anterior knee pain: Patellofemoral pain and patellar tendinopathy.

The purpose of this study was to develop a multidisciplinary guideline for patellofemoral pain (PFP) and patellar tendinopathy (PT) to facilitate clinical decision-making in primary and secondary care. A multidisciplinary expert panel identified questions in clinical decision-making. Based on a systematic literature search, the strength of the scientific evidence was determined according to the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations (GRADE) method and the weight assigned to the considerations by the expert panel together determined the strength of the recommendations. After confirming PFP or PT as a clinical diagnosis, patients should start with exercise therapy. Additional conservative treatments are indicated only when exercise therapy does not result in clinically relevant changes after six (PFP) or 12 (PT) weeks. Pain medications should be reserved for cases of severe pain. The additional value of imaging assessments for PT is limited. Open surgery is reserved for very specific cases of nonresponders to exercise therapy and those requiring additional conservative treatments. Although the certainty of evidence regarding exercise therapy for PFP and PT had to be downgraded ('very low GRADE' and 'low GRADE'), the expert panel advocates its use as the primary treatment strategy. The panel further formulated weaker recommendations regarding additional conservative treatments, pain medications, imaging assessments and open surgery ('very low GRADE' to 'low GRADE' assessment or absence of scientific evidence). This guideline recommends starting with exercise therapy for PFP and PT. The recommendations facilitate clinical decision-making, and thereby optimizing treatment and preventing unnecessary burdens, risks and costs to patients and society. Level V, clinical practice guideline.

Experimental and analytical investigation of intensive cooling of local distributed heat sources by means of forced flow of liquid

In this work a two-phase forced flow in channels of small geometric dimensions is analyzed. The Navier-Stokes equation was used to create a theoretical model describing the phenomenon of a evaporation of a flowing vapor and the Maxwell equation was used to describe the flow of a thin liquid layer. Both equations are coupled and overall create an original theoretical model describing the phenomenon of the evaporation of a liquid layer. This model of a liquid forced convection cooling the flat element with distributed internal heat sources is theoretically and experimentally analyzed. A flow of the cooling and evaporating liquid is forced by a suction of the vacuum pump. The cooling process is investigated theoretically for two specific cases with both, a constant and a cyclic heat emission. The impact of the liquid layer thickness on the cooling intensity is analyzed for both cases.

Diagnostic study of mathematical reasoning in novice university students

This paper presents the results of a study aimed at diagnosing how newly enrolled mathematics majors reason from a mathematical standpoint when they are required to perform inductive and deductive processes and validate or refute claims of a general nature. The theoretical framework underpinning this research comprises studies and investigations related to mathematical reasoning. The results of this diagnostic reveal that students lack mathematical reasoning skills that would allow them to justify statements of a general nature. In addition, they face difficulties in the development of deductive reasoning, are prone to generalize based on specific cases and lack skills in mathematical argumentation. On the other hand, they lack basic algebra skills such as developing square binomials and factoring. These findings highlight the need to design and implement a didactic proposal that fosters the development of reasoning and argumentation in students.

Elementary Observations: Building Blocks of Physical Information Gain

In this paper, we are concerned with the process of experimental information gain. Building on previous work, we show that this is a discontinuous process in which the initiating quantum-mechanical matter–instrument interactions are being turned into macroscopically observable events (EOs). In the course of time, such EOs evolve into spatio-temporal patterns of EOs, which allow conceivable alternatives of physical explanation to be distinguished. Focusing on the specific case of photon detection, we show that during their lifetimes, EOs proceed through the four phases of initiation, detection, erasure and reset. Once generated, the observational value of EOs can be measured in units of the Planck quantum of physical action h=4.136×10−15eVs. Once terminated, each unit of entropy of size kB=8.617×10−5eV/K, which had been created in the instrument during the observational phase, needs to be removed from the instrument to ready it for a new round of photon detection. This withdrawal of entropy takes place at an energetic cost of at least two units of the Landauer minimum energy bound of ELa=ln⁡2kBTD for each unit of entropy of size kB.

Contentious Interation in Ultima Generazione (Last Generation). A Preliminary Analysis on Radicalization and Spin-off Movements

With this article, we attempted to analyze the radicalization process of the Italian environmental movement with a particular focus on the birth and the practices of the group called Ultima Generazione (Last Generation). Using a qualitative-quantitative approach that integrated PEA (Protest Event Analysis) and participant observation, we tried to understand how a new insurgent consciousness emerged from the experience of the mobilizations promoted by Extinction Rebellion. In this sense, Last Generation is analyzed as a specific case of spin-off movement.

Do All Paths Lead to Rome? How Reliable is Umbrella Sampling Along a Single Path?

Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations are widely applied to estimate absolute binding free energies of protein-ligand and protein-protein complexes. A routinely used method for binding free energy calculations with MD is umbrella sampling (US), which calculates the potential of mean force (PMF) along a single reaction coordinate. Surprisingly, in spite of its widespread use, few validation studies have focused on the convergence of the free energy computed along a single path for specific cases, not addressing the reproducibility of such calculations in general. In this work, we therefore investigate the reproducibility and convergence of US along a standard distance-based reaction coordinate for various protein-protein and protein-ligand complexes, following commonly used guidelines for the setup. We show that repeating the complete US workflow can lead to differences of 2-20 kcal/mol in computed binding free energies. We attribute those discrepancies to small differences in the binding pathways. While these differences are unavoidable in the established US protocol, the popularity of the latter could hint at a lack of awareness of such reproducibility problems. To test if the convergence of PMF profiles can be improved if multiple pathways are sampled simultaneously, we performed additional simulations with an adaptive-biasing method, here the accelerated weight histogram (AWH) approach. Indeed, the PMFs obtained from AHW simulations are consistent and reproducible for the systems tested. To the best of our knowledge, our work is the first to attempt a systematic assessment of the pitfalls in one the most widely used protocols for computing binding affinities. We anticipate therefore that our results will provide an incentive for a critical reassessment of the validity of PMFs computed with US, and make a strong case to further benchmark the performance of adaptive-biasing methods for computing binding affinities.

Review: The Economics Landscape for Building Decarbonization

As efforts to mitigate climate change become increasingly urgent, the need to address the environmental impact of the built environment has gained significant attention. Buildings, as major contributors to Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions, have a substantial embodied and operational carbon footprint resulting from their construction materials, practices, and lifetime operation. This paper examines the economic landscape of strategies and policies aimed at reducing the embodied and operational carbon footprint of buildings on a global scale, with specific case studies from various national contexts. It delves into various innovative approaches, including economic analysis techniques, market instruments, market demands, and the role of government incentives to reduce the carbon footprint of buildings. The study highlights the crucial role of government policies, financial incentives, and market forces in promoting sustainable practices and fostering the adoption of low-carbon alternatives. By shedding light on the economic dimensions of reducing the carbon footprint of buildings, this research aims to facilitate informed decision-making by policymakers, engineers, and other stakeholders, ultimately contributing to a more sustainable and climate-resilient built environment.

Parameter optimisation using Bayesian inference for spallation models

The accuracy and precision of high-energy spallation models are key issues for the design and development of new applications and experiments. We present a method to estimate model parameters and associated uncertainties by leveraging the Bayesian version of the Generalised Least Squares method, which enables us to incorporate prior knowledge on the parameter values. This approach is designed to adjust parameters based on experimental data, accounting for experimental uncertainty information, and providing uncertainties for all adjusted parameters. This approach is designed in order both to improve the accuracy of models through the modification of free parameters of these models, which results in a better reproduction of experimental data, and to estimate the uncertainties of these parameters and, by extension, their impacts on the model output. We aim at demonstrating the Generalised Least Square method can be applied in the case of Monte Carlo models. We present a proof-of-concept for Monte Carlo models in the specific case of nuclear physics with the model combination INCL/ABLA. We discuss the challenges in the application of this method to high-energy spallation models, notably the large runtime and the stochasticity of the models. Our results indicate this framework can also be applied to analogous situations where parameters of a computationally expensive Monte Carlo code should be inferred/improved.

Unveiling the impact of self-assembly on ultrafiltration: Insights from salvianolic acid B

This study explored the influence of self-assembly on the ultrafiltration (UF) rejection of salvianolic acid B (SaB), a model polyphenolic compound. Employing a combined approach of experimental analysis and molecular dynamics simulations (MDS), we demonstrated pH-dependent self-assembly of SaB at both macroscopic and microscopic levels. At lower pH, larger self-assemblies formed, exhibiting enhanced adsorption onto the membrane surface due to electrostatic attraction. This pH-dependent behavior significantly impacted rejection rates through size exclusion and adsorption mechanisms, leading to a decrease in SaB rejection from 100 % to 31 % as the solution pH increased from 2.4 to 5.6. These findings transcend the specific case of SaB, offering valuable insights into the broader role of self-assembly in UF processes. This knowledge holds potential applications in optimizing separation processes across diverse fields such as food, pharmaceuticals, and environmental science.

Co-design with parents and designers: developing packaging concepts for children

ABSTRACT Co-design enables relevant stakeholders to participate in the design process and has been employed to examine social issues. Although most previous studies have identified the benefits and characteristics of collaborative work with specific case studies, there is a dearth of research on the topic of how co-design can influence children’s snacking behaviour. Therefore, the aim of this study is to explore how co-design that involves parents and designers can be beneficial in the context of children’s unhealthy snack products. The primary data collection method involved a co-design workshop, followed by semi-structured interviews two months later. The findings show that one of the benefits of co-design is educating consumers on snack packaging that designers create to persuade them to buy unhealthy products. This study also suggests four packaging design strategies (information, affordance, fun and storytelling) that guide designers on how to make snack packaging for children. Furthermore, co-design with parents and designers has two characteristics: active consumer engagement and positive emotion creation. This study contributes to the co-design literature by providing insights into the benefits of collaboration between parents and designers and determining the attributes for healthy packaging for children.

Extinction of solid diffusion flame in microgravity: Details of quenching and blowoff processes

Long duration microgravity experiments aboard the International Space Station determine diffusion flame extinction limits of PMMA spheres. Upon ignition from an electrically-heated coil, the 4-cm-diameter samples are exposed to forced flows ranging from 0.2 to 80 cm/s and an oxygen ranging from 13 to 28 % in one atmosphere total pressure. Extinction is reached as oxygen concentration gradually decreases by natural depletion. Five extinction tests are presented at different flow velocities and oxygen concentrations. Quenching at low velocity is observed with the flame tip shrinking upstream and blowoff is observed when a hole forms in the flame at the forward flow stagnation point. However, these processes are not quasistatic. The quenching motion involves periodic flame tip pulsating toward downstream and shrinking upstream with a continually decreasing flame size at the end of each cycle. In blowoff, the flame base pulsates between the flame hole and the downstream location, although with far fewer cycles compared to quenching. The pulsations appear to be the result of a premixed flame front spreading into a combustible mixture. Two specific cases are discussed in more details. In the first, at very low flow velocity (∼ 0.4 cm/s) and elevated oxygen, self-sustained flame tip cyclic pulsations are observed for a lengthy period (∼15 min). In the second case with a higher flow velocity (50 cm/s), the diffusion flame is stabilized at the shoulder of the spherical sample after local stagnation point blowoff. With steady decrease in ambient oxygen due to depletion, spinning flamelets are formed. The long-duration microgravity environment makes it possible to observe these interesting and detailed extinction processes.

What is a migrant death? An operational definition for a more accurate enumeration of migrant mortality along the US-Mexico border

Over the last forty years an indeterminate number of persons, ranging from thousands to tens of thousands, have died along the US-Mexico border during migration, fleeing poverty, armed conflict, situations of violence, and disasters. An accurate accounting of migrant deaths along the southern US border is the first step toward an understanding of the extent and the contributing factors of these deaths. In this article, we describe a key aspect of our collaborative work aimed at developing a more representative account of migrant mortality along the southwestern US border: the determination of criteria for inclusion of specific forensic cases as “migrant.” Our intention is not to propose a definition of “what is a migrant death” applicable to all contexts and situations but rather one specific to the US-Mexico border region. Our main impetus is to build and launch a web portal to track and map migrant deaths at the US-Mexico border. The criteria we have identified are based on an examination of death data collected by various agencies in the four border states (California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas) and at the federal level by the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs). They include a) context of human remains discovery; b) identification media/documentation; c) geographic setting; and d) personal effects. Taken together, these criteria will facilitate our determination, case by case, of the probability that human remains found along the United States side of the border may be from a person in the context of migration.