Time Behavior Research Articles

Ethanolysis of nitrogen mustards: A novel strategy for nitrogen mustard identification in environmental matrices by liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry.

Nitrogen mustards (NMs) are blistering chemical warfare agents. The ability to detect NMs in environmental samples is very important for obtaining forensic evidence. The most common analytical techniques for NM detection are gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, which detects NMs in their intact form but is disadvantaged by high limits of detection (LODs), and liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry (LC/ESI-MS/MS) of their hydrolysis products, which do not provide robust evidence to support NM use. We developed a novel approach to detect and identify NMs using LC/ESI-MS/MS after chemical derivatization. The method is based on ethoxide-promoted ethanolysis prior to analysis. The effects of reaction time, temperature, ethoxide concentration and chromatography behavior were studied and optimized. In the developed procedure, 0.1% (v/v) sodium ethoxide solution is added to the NMs in ethanol and agitated for 2h at 50°C, followed by LC/ESI-MS/MS, without any other pretreatment. The ethanolysis reaction efficiencies were evaluated in ethanolic extracts from soil, asphalt, and ethanol contaminated with 0.5% (v/v) diesel fortified with NMs at a five-point calibration curve. The calibration curves showed good linearity in the range of 0.05-1ng/mL, with an R2 value of 0.99, and were similar to those of LC/MS-grade ethanol, with almost no observable matrix effects. The derivatization products were stable at room temperature, with LODs of 10pg/mL, in all investigated extracts. Through this newly developed strategy, the derivatization of active NMs by ethanolysis was achieved for the first time, and these derivatization products can serve as specific indicators for the use and presence of NMs. The methodology can also verify trace levels of NM chemical warfare agents collected in war or terror scenarios in forensic investigations.

Physical activity, screen time and dietary behaviours in New Zealand adolescents prior to and following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic

BackgroundInsufficient physical activity, high screen time, and unhealthy dietary patterns among adolescents may have worsened during the pandemic, but data are lacking. This study compared physical activity, screen time and fruit and vegetable intake in adolescents from Dunedin, New Zealand, 5–6 years before (Study 1) and during (Study 2) the COVID-19 pandemic.MethodsAdolescents completed an online survey as part of the Built Environment and Active Transport to School (BEATS) studies in 2014/2015 (Study 1; n = 1,266; age: 15.3 ± 1.4 years; 54.6% female) and 2021/2022 (Study 2; n = 819; age: 15.2 ± 1.4 years; 47.4% female). The proportion of adolescents meeting guidelines for physical activity (≥ 60 min/day of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity), outside school screen time (≤ 2 h/day) and fruit and vegetable intake (> 1 serving/day for both fruit and vegetables) was calculated. Data were analysed using multivariable linear and logistic regression modelling.ResultsFew adolescents met recommended health behaviour guidelines. Compared to Study 1, significantly greater proportions of adolescents at Study 2 met guidelines for physical activity (16.7% vs. 23.1%; p < 0.001) and outside school screen time (13.3% vs. 18.3%; p < 0.001) while fruit and vegetable intake was not different (29.6% vs. 27.0%; p = 0.322). Compared to Study 1, average outside school screen time at Study 2 was lower on both weekdays (5.0 ± 2.9 vs. 4.6 ± 2.9; p < 0.001) and weekend days (6.9 ± 3.5 vs. 6.1 ± 3.6 h/day; p < 0.001). Reported frequency of consuming sweets was higher and soft drinks lower at Study 2 versus Study 1.ConclusionsDespite observed higher levels of physical activity and lower levels of outside school screen time during the pandemic compared to the pre-pandemic levels, few adolescents met health behaviour guidelines at both time points. Therefore, comprehensive health promotion that aims to improve physical activity levels, screen time and dietary patterns for adolescents is still necessary to prevent chronic health conditions adulthood.

Self-Extinguishing Faults in MV Cable Networks - Feasibility Study of Fault Prediction

The Dutch grid operator Alliander started an ongoing substation refurbishment in 2006 with SASensor, a measurement, protection and control system, including fault localization of persistent faults. Around 20 percent of the recorded measurements comprise the phenomena of 1-phase selfextinguishing faults. In order to assess the usability of these events to predict faults, the phenomena and their behaviour in time are described in MV networks with isolated neutral and lowimpedance earthing. Furthermore the feasibility of fault localization using the information included in those events is discussed.

Active and passive waiting in impulsive choice: Effects of fixed-interval and fixed-time delays.

Behavioral interventions to improve self-control, preference for a larger-later (LL) reward over a smaller-sooner (SS) reward, involve experience with delayed rewards. Whether they involve timing processes remains controversial. In rats, there have been inconsistent results on whether timing processes may be involved in intervention-induced improvements in self-control. Interventions that improved self-control with corresponding timing improvements used fixed-interval (FI) delays, whereas interventions that failed to find corresponding timing improvements used fixed-time (FT) delays. The FI schedule includes a response contingency (active waiting), whereas the FT schedule delivers reward automatically (passive waiting). The present study compared the effects of FI and FT schedules in interventions and impulsive choice tasks to evaluate effects on self-control and timing behavior. The impulsive choice task evaluated preference for an SS option (one pellet after 10-, 15-, 20-, 25-, and 30-s delays) versus an LL option (two pellets after a 30-s delay). The intervention task included forced-choice SS (one pellet after 10 s) and LL (two pellets after 30 s) sessions under FI or FT schedules. FI schedules produced greater sensitivity to SS delay in the impulsive choice task. Both FI and FT interventions increased LL choices. Following choice testing, temporal bisection and peak interval tasks revealed better timing precision for rats with an FI delay experience. Overall, the FI choice contingency was associated with improved temporal attention and timing precision.

Bilinear control and growth of Sobolev norms for the nonlinear Schrödinger equation

We consider the nonlinear Schrödinger equation (NLS) on a torus of arbitrary dimension. The equation is studied the in presence of an external potential field whose time-dependent amplitude is taken as control. Assuming that the potential satisfies a saturation property, we show that the NLS equation is approximately controllable between any pair of eigenstates in arbitrarily small time. The proof is obtained by developing a multiplicative version of a geometric control approach introduced by Agrachev and Sarychev. We give an application of this result to the study of the large time behaviour of the NLS equation with random potential. More precisely, we assume that the amplitude of the potential is a random process whose law is 1 -periodic in time and nondegenerate. Combining the controllability with a stopping time argument and the Markov property, we show that the trajectories of the random equation are almost surely unbounded in regular Sobolev spaces.

Analysis on fluid intake and urination behaviors among the elderly in five cities in China: a cross-sectional study.

Fluid intake in the elderly may influence urination behaviors and further influence their health status. This study investigated the behaviors of fluid intake, urination and their relationships among the elderly in China. Stratified random sampling was used to recruit the elderly participants who met the inclusion criteria from five cities in China. Participants' total fluid intake (TFI) level was investigated using a validated 7-day 24 h fluid intake questionnaire. Their urination behaviors in real time were also recorded using a validated 7-day 24 h urination behavior record. A total of 524 participants completed the study, including 233 males and 291 females. The average age was 69.7 years. The median daily TFI was 1,241 mL, with a frequency of 8.1 times per day. Approximately 73.3% of the participants did not reach the amount of adequate fluid intake (1.7 L for males and 1.5 L for females) recommended in China. Fluid intake in the morning, afternoon, and evening among participants was 594 mL, 305 mL and 342 mL, with a frequency of 3.0 times, 1.7 times, and 2.0 times, respectively. The median urination frequency was 7.4 times per day. The percentage of participants who urinated >7 times during the day was 44.3%. The percentage of participants who urinated ≥1 time at night was 77.5%. Age and BMI were not the main influence factors for fluid intake and urination behaviors. The preliminary analysis showed that higher TFI, plain water intake, dairy products intake, and fluid intake frequency were significantly associated with higher urination frequency (t = 6.553, p < 0.05; t = 5.291, p < 0.05; t = 4.667, p < 0.05; t = 13.413, p < 0.05). Higher fluid intake per time was significantly associated with lower urination frequency (t = -3.562, p < 0.05). Correlations between TFI, fluid intake frequency, fluid intake in night, fluid intake frequency in night and urination at night were also found (r = 0.114, p < 0.05; r = 0.091, p < 0.05; r = 0.146, p < 0.05; r = 0.331, p < 0.05). Fluid intake was inadequate in terms of the elderly participants. Participants with higher fluid intake and frequency in night had a greater incidence of nocturia. Thus, correcting fluid intake behaviors can improve urination behavior and promote health. https://www.chictr.org.cn/searchprojEN.html, identifier CTR1900023355.

Interfacial Rheological Study of β-Casein/Pectin Mixtures at the Air/Water Interface.

Colloidal food products, such as emulsions, foams, gels, and dispersions, are complex systems that need the presence of stabilizing agents to enable their formation and provide stability. Proteins are often used for food foams and emulsions because of their ability to lower interfacial tension and make viscoelastic interfaces. Generally, to improve the resistance against rupture, polysaccharides are used in association with the proteins. Pectin is a complex polysaccharide that can help to stabilize foams or emulsions. This work aims at studying the mechanical resistance of the interface formed by mixtures of β-casein and pectin at high and low methoxylation degrees at the air/water interface using dilatational and shear kinematics. Frequency sweep tests, in the linear region, were performed in shear at different aging times and in dilatational mode, and the rheological data were analyzed. The transient data of the surface tension were analyzed by kinetic models to obtain the characteristic rates of the interfacial phenomena. The kinetic mechanisms of the protein/pectin mixed systems are controlled by protein and show a weak gel behavior for short aging times. The interfaces obtained with both pectins in a mixture with β-casein evolved with time, gelling and showing a solid-like behavior at concentrations of 1 and 10 g/L and after 3.5 h of aging time. The interfacial shear trend obtained suggests a good stabilizing effect of the pectins from citrus with long aging times.

Heat transfer in drop-laden turbulence

Heat transfer by large deformable drops in a turbulent flow is a complex and rich-in-physics system, in which drop deformation, breakage and coalescence influence the transport of heat. We study this problem by coupling direct numerical simulation (DNS) of turbulence with a phase-field method for the interface description. Simulations are run at fixed-shear Reynolds and Weber numbers. To evaluate the influence of microscopic flow properties, like momentum/thermal diffusivity, on macroscopic flow properties, like mean temperature or heat transfer rates, we consider four different values of the Prandtl number, which is the momentum to thermal diffusivity ratio: $Pr=1$ , $Pr=2$ , $Pr=4$ and $Pr=8$ . The drop volume fraction is $\varPhi \simeq 5.4\,\%$ for all cases. Drops are initially warmer than the turbulent carrier fluid and release heat at different rates depending on the value of $Pr$ , but also on their size and on their own dynamics (topology, breakage, drop–drop interaction). Computing the time behaviour of the drops and carrier fluid average temperatures, we clearly show that an increase of $Pr$ slows down the heat transfer process. We explain our results by a simplified phenomenological model: we show that the time behaviour of the drop average temperature is self-similar, and a universal behaviour can be found upon rescaling by $t/Pr^{2/3}$ . Accordingly, the heat transfer coefficient $\mathcal {H}$ (respectively its dimensionless counterpart, the Nusselt number $Nu$ ) scales as $\mathcal {H}\sim Pr^{-2/3}$ (respectively $Nu\sim Pr^{1/3}$ ) at the beginning of the simulation, and tends to $\mathcal {H}\sim Pr^{-1/2}$ (respectively $Nu\sim Pr^{1/2}$ ) at later times. These different scalings can be explained via the boundary layer theory and are consistent with previous theoretical/numerical predictions.

Regularity and Long Time Behavior of One-Dimensional First-Order Mean Field Games and the Planning Problem

Regularity and Long Time Behavior of One-Dimensional First-Order Mean Field Games and the Planning Problem

The reuse of Song Thrush (Turdus philomelos) nests by the Red-backed Shrike (Lanius collurio) in an intensive agricultural landscape: a coincidence or a new solution?

Nest site availability plays an important role in the ecology of the birds inhabiting intensive agricultural landscapes. The removal of trees and snags due to logging is one of the main threats and the cause of the observed decline in many birds living in an agricultural landscape. When nests are lost, nesting passerines typically rebuild them for a new clutch. Additionally, relocating nests after a brood loss is a prevalent strategy used to avoid predators and brood parasites. Such a strategy is common to the Red-backed Shrike, which builds successive nests for each brood. Interestingly, clutch replacement may occur in unusual forms. This study describe three cases of Song Thrush nests reused by Red-backed Shrikes during one breeding season. The time and energy-saving behaviour or possible deterrence of nest parasitism could explain why the nests have been reused. However, due to the limited observations as compared to the total number of nests, further research is necessary to clarify this phenomenon.

CHANGING THE BEHAVIOR OF ECONOMIC ENTITIES IN THE CONTEXT OF WAR IN UKRAINE

Introduction. The war in Ukraine has led to a change in behavioral patterns of economic agents (population, business entities, civil society organizations, governing bodies), which can be observed in the mobilization of economic agents to accumulate material and human resources in the process of countering the enemy. In this context, there is a need to apply the scientific foundations of behavioral economics to the peculiarities of the conflict and the adaptation of people's behavior to these extreme conditions, as well as their resilience in such circumstances. The purpose of the article is to identify and justify the changes in behavioral patterns of economic agents in the conditions of war in Ukraine. Methods. The research utilizes dialectical analysis, synthesis, logical generalization, as well as comparison and formalization methods. Results. The model of public behavior in times of war is examined through the theoretical principles of behavioral economics, namely the economics of violent conflicts, which is grounded on the monopoly of state violence, the compromise between utility maximization and physical security in decision-making, and changes in the system of individual preferences. The analysis reveals certain similarities in the behavioral reactions of economic agents in times of war and in times of pandemic, which has ensured a certain level of readiness of the public administration system, business, and civil society to the challenges and threats of war. The following changes in economic behavior are emphasized and thoroughly examined: the change in the level of civil society activity and the role of altruism in the economic progress of the state, changes in consumer behavior, and new trends in employment and education.

Strongly coupled fermionic probe for nonequilibrium thermometry

We characterise the measurement sensitivity, quantified by the quantum Fisher information (QFI), of a single-fermionic thermometric probe strongly coupled to the sample of interest, a fermionic bath, at temperature T. For nonequilibrium protocols, in which the probe is measured before reaching equilibrium with the sample, we find new behaviour of the measurement sensitivity arising due to non-Markovian dynamics. First, we show that the QFI displays a highly non-monotonic behaviour in time, in contrast to the Markovian case where it grows monotonically until equilibrium, so that non-Markovian revivals can be exploited to reach a higher QFI. Second, the QFI rate is maximised at a finite interrogation time t∗ , which we characterize, in contrast to the solution t∗→0 known in the Markovian limit (Pavel Sekatski and Martí Perarnau-Llobet 2022 Quantum 6 869). Finally, we consider probes make up of few fermions and discuss different collective enhancements in the measurement precision.

Linear stability of the viscous liquid flow in a channel with corrugated walls

Using the complete Navier-Stokes equations, we investigate the linear stability of a viscous flow in a channel with various corrugated walls. We consider both the longitudinal corrugations when the main flow has two velocity components and the transversely corrugated wall when the basic flow has one velocity component. In frame of one approach and in a wide range of variations in the corrugation parameters and shapes, we analyze the neutral curves for the linear stability problem. We calculate the critical Reynolds number above which the main flow is unstable and there are disturbances growing in time. Perturbations of the velocity and pressure fields are, in general, three-dimensional with two wave numbers. We solve numerically the generalized eigenvalue problem. In the case of the transversely corrugated wall, we obtain two regions of parameters where the dependencies of the critical Reynolds number on the corrugation parameters are qualitatively different. The limits of these regions depend only on the ratio of the amplitude and period of corrugations. In the case of the longitudinal-corrugations, we find the corrugation parameters where the basic flow is unstable with respect to the periodic disturbances with the same wavelength as the corrugations wavelength and undergoes “the unavoidable transition” to a flow with more complicated behaviour in time.

Supervisor Behavior in Times of External Performance Pressure

Supervisor Behavior in Times of External Performance Pressure

Neurocomputational Models of Interval Timing: Seeing the Forest for the Trees.

Extracting temporal regularities and relations from experience/observation is critical for organisms' adaptiveness (communication, foraging, predation, prediction) in their ecological niches. Therefore, it is not surprising that the internal clock that enables the perception of seconds-to-minutes-long intervals (interval timing) is evolutionarily well-preserved across many species of animals. This comparative claim is primarily supported by the fact that the timing behavior of many vertebrates exhibits common statistical signatures (e.g., on-average accuracy, scalar variability, positive skew). These ubiquitous statistical features of timing behaviors serve as empirical benchmarks for modelers in their efforts to unravel the processing dynamics of the internal clock (namely answering how internal clock "ticks"). In this chapter, we introduce prominent (neuro)computational approaches to modeling interval timing at a level that can be understood by general audience. These models include Treisman's pacemaker accumulator model, the information processing variant of scalar expectancy theory, the striatal beat frequency model, behavioral expectancy theory, the learning to time model, the time-adaptive opponent Poisson drift-diffusion model, time cell models, and neural trajectory models. Crucially, we discuss these models within an overarching conceptual framework that categorizes different models as threshold vs. clock-adaptive models and as dedicated clock/ramping vs. emergent time/population code models.

From the binomial reshuffling model to Poisson distribution of money

&lt;abstract&gt;&lt;p&gt;We present a novel reshuffling exchange model and investigate its long time behavior. In this model, two individuals are picked randomly, and their wealth $ X_i $ and $ X_j $ are redistributed by flipping a sequence of fair coins leading to a binomial distribution denoted $ B\circ (X_i+X_j) $. This dynamics can be considered as a natural variant of the so-called uniform reshuffling model in econophysics. May refer to Cao, Jabin and Motsch (2023), Dragulescu and Yakovenko (2000). As the number of individuals goes to infinity, we derive its mean-field limit, which links the stochastic dynamics to a deterministic infinite system of ordinary differential equations. Our aim of this work is then to prove (using a coupling argument) that the distribution of wealth converges to the Poisson distribution in the $ 2 $-Wasserstein metric. Numerical simulations illustrate the main result and suggest that the polynomial convergence decay might be further improved.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/abstract&gt;

Stand up and be counted: Using traffic cameras to assess voting behavior in real time

Despite their ubiquity, few have used traffic camera networks for social science research. Using 1,312,977 images collected from 768 London-based cameras leading up to the 2015 UK general election, this study not only demonstrates how traffic camera data can be used to effectively measure same-day turnout, but we also provide ways such data can be used to assess political behavior more broadly. Such automated enumeration is especially important in countries where official results are only returned for the current election, making it difficult for those interested in assessing turnout at lower levels of aggregation, even when those elections are next on the calendar. Although we are not the first to suggest the value of images-as-data, this study hopes to underline the importance of video-as-data, while simultaneously offering an important foundation for future research.

The development of a generic IIOT framework for an industrial pneumatic system

The development of digital technologies, such as Cyber Physical Systems (CPS) and Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), under the umbrella of Industry 4.0, has increased rapidly within the manufacturing industry. Monitoring system behaviour in real time is becoming prevalent with manufacturing stakeholders to minimise downtime, maintain or improve equipment efficiency, and enhance production output. This paper proposes a generic IIoT framework for the online real time monitoring of system parameters. Such an approach has been implemented on the demand-side of a pneumatic setup, and a visualisation technique was developed for evaluation purposes. The developed framework paves the way towards further data analytics with the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) techniques.

Geoecological and geochemical assessment of the impact of NMMC mining enterprises on the environment

Study of the dynamics of natural and man-made processes and their impact on the environment in the hills of Uzbekistan; study of ecological and geochemical processes occurring in technogenic and natural landscapes of mining enterprises of the NMMC; Conducting geochemical and analytical studies to identify the contents and distribution of toxic and other associated elements in technogenic waste from NMMC mining enterprises, soils, and plants in connection with their impact on the ecology of the environment. Study of geochemical features of the productive valuable and toxic element`s behavior in space and time in industrial waste area Geological and geochemical mapping of soil, plants and water sources. Study of the chemical composition, behavior and forms of occurrence of toxic elements (in soils, water streams, dust, gases, smoke) in the water area and in the vicinity of the Navoi Mining and Metallurgical Combine - geochemical ecology. As a result of investigations of initial samples by using mass spectrometric analysis, the limits of fluctuations and average contents of not only toxic elements, but also other associated elements were revealed.

Analysis of MAP/PH(1), PH(2), PH(3)/1 queueing system with two modes of heterogeneous service, standby server, vacation, impatient behaviour of customers, additional service, start-up time, breakdown and phase type repairs

Analysis of MAP/PH(1), PH(2), PH(3)/1 queueing system with two modes of heterogeneous service, standby server, vacation, impatient behaviour of customers, additional service, start-up time, breakdown and phase type repairs