Unequal Resource Allocation Research Articles

Solving Multi-Objective Satellite Data Transmission Scheduling Problems via a Minimum Angle Particle Swarm Optimization

With the increasing number of satellites and rising user demands, the volume of satellite data transmissions is growing significantly. Existing scheduling systems suffer from unequal resource allocation and low transmission efficiency. Therefore, effectively addressing the large-scale multi-objective satellite data transmission scheduling problem (SDTSP) within a limited timeframe is crucial. Typically, swarm intelligence algorithms are used to address the SDTSP. While these methods perform well in simple task scenarios, they tend to become stuck in local optima when dealing with complex situations, failing to meet mission requirements. In this context, we propose an improved method based on the minimum angle particle swarm optimization (MAPSO) algorithm. The MAPSO algorithm is encoded as a discrete optimizer to solve discrete scheduling problems. The calculation equation of the sine function is improved according to the problem’s characteristics to deal with complex multi-objective problems. This algorithm employs a minimum angle strategy to select local and global optimal particles, enhancing solution efficiency and avoiding local optima. Additionally, the objective space and solution space exhibit symmetry, where the search within the solution space continuously improves the distribution of fitness values in the objective space. The evaluation of the objective space can guide the search within the solution space. This method can solve multi-objective SDTSPs, meeting the demands of complex scenarios, which our method significantly improves compared to the seven algorithms. Experimental results demonstrate that this algorithm effectively improves the allocation efficiency of satellite and ground station resources and shortens the transmission time of satellite data transmission tasks.

Evaluation on the Development of Education System and Unequal Distribution of Educational Resources

Education and the economy are mutually reinforcing. Education is a key way to cultivate human capital, through which people can acquire knowledge and skills, improve productivity, and thus promote economic growth. Economic growth can provide more educational opportunities, including higher education and vocational education, so that more people can receive further education. The relationship between education and the economy is dynamic and constantly changing with the development of society, economy and technology. Effective education policies and economic development strategies need to be coordinated with each other to achieve sustainable social progress and economic growth. The article focuses on analyzing the problem of unequal resource allocation and the misperception of education for most people. Students should have the same educational resources, and parents should reasonably accept a path that suits their children and change their perceptions on grassroot occupations. Along with the government creating a good and fair educational environment, students pressure can be released.

Multi-UAV trajectory planning for RIS-assisted SWIPT system under connectivity preservation

Effective information transmission and energy supply are essential for low-power Internet-of-things (IoT) devices, particularly in geographically constrained or disaster-affected areas. As an emerging technology, simultaneous wireless information and power transfer (SWIPT) ensures uninterrupted communication through supplying power, thereby eliminating issues related to battery depletion. Owing to the high maneuverability, unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) has enabled SWIPT a new paradigm by providing flexible and on-demand service. However, maintaining connectivity among UAVs while they execute tasks is a critical challenge, for their powerful online decision-making relies on information sharing. Unfortunately, this issue is often overlooked in existing literature on UAV-aided wireless communication. In this paper, a novel connectivity preserved multi-agent deep reinforcement learning algorithm (CP-MARL) is designed to solve the trajectory planning problem in complex environments, where multi UAVs cooperatively provide SWIPT service for ground users (GUs) while ensuring seamless information exchange. Moreover, fairness of service received among GUs is also considered, as unequal resource allocation can lead to suboptimal system performance. Besides, reconfigurable intelligent surface (RIS) is adopted to redirect signals to achieve line-of-sight (LoS) channel. Under this framework, the fair energy efficiency is maximized by jointly optimizing the UAVs’ trajectory, the phase shift of RIS, power splitting (PS) ratio and the association relationships between UAVs and GUs. The formulated problem is inherently non-convex but the proposed CP-MARL algorithm successfully delivers online near-optimal solutions. Numerical results demonstrate that compared with benchmark solutions, the designed CP-MARL algorithm significantly enhances the energy-efficiency performance of the system, achieving 40.22% performance improvement compared to scenarios where connectivity is not maintained, along with a more stable training process. Additionally, the superiority of incorporating RIS in this system is corroborated by the 27.31% improvement in energy-efficiency.

Research on the Development Dilemma and Countermeasures of Chinas Education Industry from the Perspective of Digital Transformation

Amidst the rapid evolution and broadening adoption of information technology in China, the education sector is undergoing unprecedented transformation. While the digitalization of Chinas education industry is advancing swiftly, it is encountering various challenges that require ongoing attention and solutions. Promoting educational equality between cities and villages to reduce the difference is a critical component of this transition. The urban-rural education disparity significantly impedes the pace and quality of digital transformation of the education industry in China. Rural regions encounter issues such as inadequate infrastructure, unequal allocation of educational resources, and insufficient digital literacy among teachers. Implementing tutorial systems, establishing Professional Learning Communities (PLCs), and adopting the three classrooms model can effectively address these challenges. Collaboration among schools, government entities, and broader society is essential to promote educational equity, advance educational modernization, and cultivate talents tailored for future societal needs. Studying the challenges faced by Chinas education industry during its digital transformation phase, along with corresponding strategies, is pivotal for developing innovative teaching models and approaches. This endeavor fosters the evolution of educational content and instructional methods, aligning them with the swiftly changing social and economic landscape.

Analysis of the Current Status and Development Strategies of Dance Education in Vocational Colleges

With the increasing demand for dance professionals in society, vocational colleges' dance education plays a crucial role in cultivating high-quality dance talent. This paper aims to analyze the current status of dance education in vocational colleges, highlight existing problems, and propose corresponding development strategies. By researching aspects such as curriculum design, faculty strength, teaching facilities, student quality, and employment orientation, the study finds that vocational colleges face challenges such as a disconnect between curriculum and industry demand, insufficient practical teaching, weak faculty teams, and unequal resource allocation. Therefore, the paper suggests strategies such as optimizing the curriculum system, strengthening practical teaching and industry-school collaboration, improving faculty development, and enhancing educational facilities and resource allocation. Through the implementation of these strategies, it is expected to improve the quality of dance education in vocational colleges and train dance professionals who meet societal demands.

Flexible Austerity: Negotiating the Unequal Effects of Resource Shortages in Racialized Organizations

Resource shortages unfold unequally, often affecting the most socially disadvantaged people and exacerbating preexisting inequalities. Given that most resources are obtained through organizations, what role do organizational processes play in amplifying inequalities during shortages? I argue that workers engage in a practice I term flexible austerity. Flexible austerity describes how resource shortages become opportunities for decision-makers to more readily rationalize unequal resource allocation. I develop this concept by drawing on an ethnography of an urban academic hospital and leveraging data from before and during a nationwide shortage of medical intravenous (IV) opioids. I show that prior to this shortage, clinicians disproportionately assessed Black patients’ pain as “undeserving” of IV opioids, but they allocated these resources liberally because they felt constrained by evidence-based clinical best practices guidelines. During the shortage, clinicians constructed resource scarcity as necessitating austerity practices when treating Black patients, yet they exercised flexibility with White patients. This widened care disparities in ways that may have been detrimental to Black patients’ health. Based on these findings, I argue that resource shortages amplify inequalities in organizations because they provide new “colorblind” justifications for withholding resources that allow workers to link ideas of deservingness to allocation decisions.

Has urban expansion alleviated working-residential spaces segregation across inner-outer cities? A multi-scale study with location-based social bigdata

Working-residential spaces segregation has become a pressing issue, exacerbated by the unequal allocation of spatial and social resources within contemporary metropolitans. However, limited research has delved into working-residential spaces segregation through the lens of urban space allocation, and few studies have investigated the interplay between policy and spatial segregation within urban expansion. To deepen our understanding of the triad relationship among government, residents, and spaces in the urbanization process, it is essential to promote the rational allocation of spatial resources, mitigate the conflict between working-residential spaces, and bolster the government's socialized governance and sustainable regulation. Therefore, this study takes Chengdu as a case to identify working-residential spaces, and categorize working-residential spaces segregation into nine types, analyzing the spatial functions and working-residential spaces segregation. Results show that spaces segregation varies considerably between inner-outer cities, and that urban expansion of outer cities has not alleviated working-residential spaces segregation. In terms of spatial distribution, the inner cities have a large number of residential spaces, while working spaces are located in the west and south sides of the outer cities. In terms of work-residential spaces segregation, the segregation is much more severe in the outer cities than inner cities, especially in the government-planned high-tech zone and new districts, which show extremely severe spatial segregation. Critically, the study challenges the efficacy of constructing new districts in resolving urban segregation. It contributes valuable insights into comprehending urban spatial equity and justice through the lens of urban spaces, offering a reference point for the enhancement of urban social governance.

The Impact of Low Fertility Rate on Education in China and Its Countermeasures

The change of China's population structure is bound to have a great impact on China's education field. This change has put forward higher requirements for the country's economic and social development. Research on the impact of China's low fertility rate on education and corresponding measures can provide a scientific and powerful basis for government decision-making. This research aims at discussing the influence of low birth rate on Chinese educational development. By analyzing the available documents and positive studies, many factors influence educational development, such as reducing the number of students enrolled, the stress of teachers' job, the unequal allocation of educational resources and the deterioration of educational quality. To address the education challenges of a low birth rate, the following measures are proposed: increase investment in basic education, rationally allocate educational resources, encourage the development of high-quality educational institutions, innovate the education system, and increase support for the education industry. Through these measures, China can provide a better educational environment for the next generation, cultivate outstanding talents, and promote equitable education development. China can overcome the educational challenges brought about by low fertility rates and promote the development of education.

The brother's penalty: Boy preference and girls' health in rural China.

This paper identifies the health penalty experienced by girls due to having a brother from endogenous sibling gender composition. We propose a girls-to-girls comparison strategy and rule out the confounding effect from the sibship size, birth interval, and birth order. Employing an instrumental variable approach and data from the Chinese Family Panel Studies, we find that girls with a brother are demonstrably shorter and report poorer health. This "brother's penalty" manifests even prenatally. Alternative explanations, such as birth order disadvantages, are carefully addressed and ruled out. The results hold even after excluding gender-neutral ethnic minorities. This observed penalty is likely attributed to unequal resource allocation within families and potential parental neglect. This penalty is amplified in families with lower income and maternal education, implying resource constraints contribute to gender discrimination. Our findings highlight the importance of addressing intrafamily gender bias for ensuring equal opportunities and health outcomes. Clinical trial registration: Not applicable.

Research on Educational Inequality among Students in Poverty-stricken Areas in China

Education in reality and the constant pursuit of equality of education, are both sides of the same problem. This article makes research on educational inequality in rural education and urban education. To sort out and explain the reasons for the existing inequality in the field of education, this article involves reasons for inequality in education in rural regions and available ways to alleviate it. The inequality in education is not that some students can attend schools and some cannot, problems in deep are much more worth being concerned about. In the study, the author finds that students in disadvantaged are mainly in different sorts of inequality, like curriculum, teacher quality, and educational investments. It leads to improper and unequal allocation of education resources, and then students in rural regions cannot have access to education in quality and generate their living environment for the next generation. Solutions to alleviate existing problems are listed in the following parts of the research, namely offering incentive pay for teachers, applying local resources in the curriculum, and offering educational programs on vocational training and guidance for disadvantaged juniors.

Distributive justice and equity in resource allocation: a temporal analysis of hospitalization costs in indigenous populations in Brazil

IntroductionIn Brazil, a country of continental dimensions, the health needs of each region have an impact. In this context and the name of the principle of equity, the SUS organizes actions especially aimed at social groups such as the elderly, children, pregnant women, and indigenous peoples. The concept of justice proposed by John Rawls is one of equity, which is essential to this country.MethodsThis is an ecological, descriptive study, which analyzed hospital spending on cardiovascular diseases in the Unified Health System (SUS) among the indigenous elderly population and other ethnicities/colors in Brazil, between 2010 and 2019.ResultsHospitalization costs and fatality rates for indigenous populations and other colors/ethnicities, between 2010 and 2019, were evaluated. A reduction in hospitalization costs for the indigenous population and an increase in other populations was observed throughout the historical series, while there was an increase in fatality rates for both groups. A comparison was made between hospitalization costs and the fatality rates of indigenous populations and other colors/ethnicities according to sex, between 2010 and 2019. It was observed that regardless of sex, there are significant differences (p<0.05) between hospitalization costs and fatality rates, with higher costs for patients of other colors/ethnicities and higher fatality rates for the indigenous population.ConclusionsHospitalization costs due to cardiovascular diseases in elderly people from indigenous populations were lower compared to other ethnicities in most federative units, which may suggest an unequal allocation of resources or access for this indigenous population to the SUS. Although there is no strong correlation between spending on hospital admissions and fatality rates, it was found that these rates increased between 2010 and 2019, while spending was reduced.

A framework for measuring the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goal 4.2 (Quality Preprimary Education) at the local scale: an empirical study in Nanjing, China

AbstractEqualizing preprimary education is vital for promoting social welfare and aligns with the UN's 2030 Agenda Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 4.2 which advocates equal and adequate access to quality preprimary education for all children. We developed an accessibility‐based analysis framework to assess the SDG 4.2 progress at local scale, providing improved policy recommendations for local governments by considering spatiality, equality, and adequacy across different spatial scales. The Huff–G2SFCA model was used at the grid scale to capture progress and spatial heterogeneity in preprimary education facilities and parental preferences. We used the Gini coefficient to measure the resource distribution equality at the subdistrict and district scales. The adequacy of resources across districts was evaluated using the supply–demand ratio. Our findings in Nanjing highlight challenges due to inadequate and unequal allocation of preprimary education resources, hindering SDG 4.2 advancement. Approximately 8% of children face difficulties accessing quality preprimary education, and a Gini coefficient of 0.52 indicating educational inequality. Despite positive progress in Nanjing's central urban area, suburban, and rural regions, especially the Gaochun and Lishui Districts, face significant challenges of preprimary education resource adequacy and equality in their pursuit of SDG 4.2.

Challenges in Ungoverned Spaces and the Crisis of Insecurity Across the Sahel

The paper tries to underscore the challenges associated with ungoverned spaces and the crisis of insecurity in the Sahel. It tries to look into the dominant narratives and perspectives on the immediate and remote causes of the crisis and how it has destabilized the region. It also looks at the various conterminous and contentions interpretation of the terms, ‘space’, and ‘ungoverned’ in a bid to ascertain the range, scope and borders of governance. The paper relied on existing materials as sources of data. It finds amongst other things that some domestic and external triggers have given rise to the prolonged and contracted crisis in the region, some of which include; political representation, marginalization, unequal allocation of resources and the gap in wealth distribution. It highlights the impact of the proliferation and spread of light and small weapons in the region and how this has further intensified and balkanized the crisis and instability. It concludes by demystifying claims that the conflict seeks to serve the interest of spreading the so-called concept of ‘Islamic Jihad’.

The Impact of Corporate Philanthropy on Optimising Unequal Allocation of Social Resources

The Impact of Corporate Philanthropy on Optimising Unequal Allocation of Social Resources

Research on Optimized Allocation and Use Effect of Music Education Resources Based on MOOC Platform

Abstract The equitable distribution of educational resources epitomizes the essence of establishing a robust educational nation. Yet, the issue of unequal allocation of music education resources has largely been overlooked. This study addresses this gap by examining the current status of music resource distribution across colleges and universities in Province C. An objective function was formulated based on four key indicators reflective of music education resources. The Non-dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm II (NSGA-II), a multi-objective optimization algorithm, was employed to optimize this function and develop a novel resource allocation strategy. Upon implementation of this strategy, the optimized resource quantities at the sampled institutions were observed as follows: 1,131 square meters of space, 809 books, 72 musical instruments, and 7 personnel. Subsequent evaluation of the changes in students’ musical performance, pre-and post-implementation, revealed significant improvements. Specifically, the average music performance score in the experimental group increased by 7.32 points, compared to a 6.63-point increase in the control group, with both enhancements statistically significant as per the t-test results. Further, a survey assessing the perceptions of teachers and students towards the newly implemented program indicated that 66.8% of respondents endorsed the revised allocation. Collectively, these findings suggest that the optimized allocation strategy not only facilitated the music education resource distribution but also garnered a positive reception and improved student outcomes in music, thereby contributing constructively to the overarching goal of strengthening the educational infrastructure.

The Pact: How a Seemingly Race-Neutral Behavioral Policy Reproduced Racial Inequality at a Predominantly White Liberal Arts College

How do seemingly nonracial organizational processes reproduce racial inequality? This study examines how “the Pact,” an ostensibly race-neutral COVID-19 behavioral policy implemented at a predominantly White U.S. liberal arts college, undermined social connection and belonging among students of color. Analyzing three waves of interviews with 30 undergraduates (N = 75 interviews), we document disparities in four domains of campus life: (1) social isolation in residence halls, (2) access to “safe” forms of rule breaking, (3) visibility and surveillance, and (4) stakes of violation. We identify three underlying mechanisms—unequal resource allocation, uneven rule enforcement, and color-blind decision-making—and demonstrate how distinct institutional conditions facilitated these processes. This analysis advances theoretical understandings of racialized organizational processes in higher education by connecting previously theorized mechanisms to specific university characteristics and practices.

Social-ecological vulnerability and risk of China's marine capture fisheries to climate change.

Climate change is a new disrupter to global fisheries systems and their governance frameworks. It poses a pressing management challenge, particularly in China, which is renowned as the world's largest fishing country and seafood producer. As climate change continues to intensify in the region and climate awareness grows within the country's national policy, the need to understand China's fisheries' resilience to the escalating climate crisis becomes paramount. In this study, we conduct an interdisciplinary analysis to assess the vulnerability and risk of China's marine capture fisheries in response to climate change. This study employs a spatially explicit, indicator-based approach with a coupled social-ecological framework, focusing on 67 species and 11 coastal regions. By integrating diverse sets of climatic, ecological, economic, societal, and governance indicators and information, we elucidate the factors that could hinder climate adaptation, including a limited understanding of fish early life stages, uncertainty in seafood production, unequal allocation and accessibility of resources, and inadequate consideration of inclusive governance and adaptive management. Our results show that species, which have managed to survive the stress of overfishing, demonstrate a remarkable ability to adapt to climate change. However, collapsing stocks such as large yellow croaker face a high risk due to the synergistic effects of inherent biological traits and external management interventions. We emphasize the imperative to build institutional, scientific, and social capacity to support fisheries adaptation. The scientific insights provided by this study can inform fisheries management decisions and promote the operationalization of climate-resilient fisheries in China and other regions.

Framing Theory Perspective of Identity and Narratives of Conflict in Nigerian Media

The first casualty in any conflict situation is often the nature of communication among the conflict actors. Perhaps, that is why conflict is commonly referred to as “breakdown in communication.” In this direction, this study examines framing theory perspectives of identity and narratives of conflict in Nigeria media. Conflict is naturally attractive and a source of news for the media. It is “the bread and butter” of journalism. Since independence in 1960, Nigeria has suffered some of the most obstinate conflicts, most of them constructed from differences in religious and ethnic identities. Religious and ethnic nationalism has led to conflicts about control of state power, unequal allocation of resources, economic decline, and religious clashes. In this context, the media have an important role to play in promoting honest, accurate, and timely information about the issues that will reduce tension, create the conditions for equitable development and reduce the level of ignorance and fear that contribute to misunderstanding and hostility in society. This presumption confers on the media the ability to either escalate or de-escalate conflict situations. This study, therefore, focuses on identity and media narratives of conflict, triangle and levels of conflict analysis, manifest and latent conflict management, including the role of the media in managing and resolving conflict.

Policy implementation strategies to address rural disparities in access to care for stroke patients.

Stroke systems of care (SSOC) promote access to stroke prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation and ensure patients receive evidence-based treatment. Stroke patients living in rural areas have disproportionately less access to emergency medical services (EMS). In the United States, rural counties have a 30% higher stroke mortality rate compared to urban counties. Many states have SSOC laws supported by evidence; however, there are knowledge gaps in how states implement these state laws to strengthen SSOC. This study identifies strategies and potential challenges to implementing state policy interventions that require or encourage evidence-supported pre-hospital interventions for stroke pre-notification, triage and transport, and inter-facility transfer of patients to the most appropriate stroke facility. Researchers interviewed representatives engaged in implementing SSOC across six states. Informants (n = 34) included state public health agency staff and other public health and clinical practitioners. This study examined implementation of pre-hospital SSOCs policies in terms of (1) development roles, processes, facilitators, and barriers; (2) implementation partners, challenges, and solutions; (3) EMS system structure, protocols, communication, and supervision; and (4) program improvement, outcomes, and sustainability. Challenges included unequal resource allocation and EMS and hospital services coverage, particularly in rural settings, lack of stroke registry usage, insufficient technologies, inconsistent use of standardized tools and protocols, collaboration gaps across SSOC, and lack of EMS stroke training. Strategies included addressing scarce resources, services, and facilities; disseminating, training on, and implementing standardized statewide SSOC protocols and tools; and utilizing SSOC quality and performance improvement systems and approaches. This paper identifies several strategies that can be incorporated to enhance the implementation of evidence-based stroke policies to improve access to timely stroke care for all patient populations, particularly those experiencing disparities in rural communities.

Race and Ethnicity and Emergency Department Discharge Against Medical Advice

Although discharges against medical advice (DAMA) are associated with greater morbidity and mortality, little is known about current racial and ethnic disparities in DAMA from the emergency department (ED) nationally. To characterize current patterns of racial and ethnic disparities in rates of ED DAMA. This cross-sectional study used data from the Nationwide Emergency Department Sample on all hospital ED visits made between January to December 2019 in the US. The main outcome was odds of ED DAMA for Black and Hispanic patients compared with White patients nationally and in analysis adjusted for sociodemographic factors. Secondary analysis examined hospital-level variation in DAMA rates for Black, Hispanic, and White patients. The study sample included 33 147 251 visits to 989 hospitals, representing the estimated 143 million ED visits in 2019. The median age of patients was 40 years (IQR, 22-61 years). Overall, 1.6% of ED visits resulted in DAMA. DAMA rates were higher for Black patients (2.1%) compared with Hispanic (1.6%) and White (1.4%) patients, males (1.7%) compared with females (1.5%), those with no insurance (2.8%), those with lower income (<$27 999; 1.9%), and those aged 35 to 49 years (2.2%). DAMA visits were highest at metropolitan teaching hospitals (1.8%) and hospitals that served greater proportions of racial and ethnic minoritized patients (serving ≥57.9%; 2.1%). Odds of DAMA were greater for Black patients (odds ratio [OR], 1.45; 95% CI, 1.31-1.57) and Hispanic patients (OR, 1.16; 95% CI, 1.04-1.29) compared with White patients. After adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics (age, sex, income, and insurance status), the adjusted OR (AOR) for DAMA was lower for Black patients compared with the unadjusted OR (AOR, 1.18; 95% CI, 1.09-1.28) and there was no difference in odds for Hispanic patients (AOR, 1.03; 95% CI, 0.92-1.15) compared with White patients. After additional adjustment for hospital random intercepts, DAMA disparities reversed, with Black and Hispanic patients having lower odds of DAMA compared with White patients (Black patients: AOR, 0.94 [95% CI, 0.90-0.98]; Hispanic patients: AOR, 0.68 [95% CI, 0.63-0.72]). The intraclass correlation in this secondary analysis model was 0.118 (95% CI, 0.104-0.133). This national cross-sectional study found that Black and Hispanic patients had greater odds of ED DAMA than White patients in unadjusted analysis. Disparities were reversed after patient-level and hospital-level risk adjustment, and greater between-hospital than within-hospital variation in DAMA was observed, suggesting that Black and Hispanic patients are more likely to receive care in hospitals with higher DAMA rates. Structural racism may contribute to ED DAMA disparities via unequal allocation of health care resources in hospitals that disproportionately treat racial and ethnic minoritized groups. Monitoring variation in DAMA by race and ethnicity and hospital suggests an opportunity to improve equitable access to health care.