Variations In Paths Research Articles

Time Varying Crustal Anisotropy at Whakaari/White Island Volcano

AbstractWhakaari/White Island has been the most active New Zealand volcano in the 21st century, producing small phreatic and phreatomagmatic eruptions, which are hard to predict. The most recent eruption occurred in 2019, tragically claiming the lives of 22 individuals and causing numerous injuries. We employed shear‐wave splitting analyses to investigate variations in anisotropy between 2018 and 2020, during quiescence, unrest, and the eruption. We examined spatial and temporal variations in 3,499 shear‐wave splitting and 2,656 Vp/Vs ratio measurements. Comparing shear‐wave splitting parameters from similar earthquake paths across different times indicates that the observed temporal changes are unlikely to result from variations in earthquake paths through media with spatial variability. Instead, these changes may stem from variations in anisotropy over time, likely caused by changes in crack alignment due to stress or varying fluid content.

Evaluating the effect of natural-artificial linear landscape elements on flow and sediment connectivity in a typical agricultural terraced catchment, China

Linear landscape elements, such as man-made ditches and road networks, play a pivotal role in the transport of water and eroded sediments. Yet very few studies have focused on the variations in drainage flow paths disturbed by artificial linear landscapes and their contribution to flow and sediment connectivity (FSC). This study utilized the index of connectivity (IC) to examine and distinguish the impact of natural and artificial linear landscape elements (i.e., natural streams, man-made ditches, and road networks) on the spatial distribution of FSC. The method was employed in a typical agricultural terraced catchment of the Honghe Hani Rice Terraces World Heritage Site of China, based on two weight factors - roughness index (RI) and Rndvic factor. The results indicate that the incorporation of the linear landscape elements for the IC calculation remarkably affected the spatial distribution of FSC. Specifically, FSC values notably increased by closing the distance to linear landscape elements within a specific threshold. Moreover, in the confluence between natural and artificial linear landscape elements, the mean value of FSC was higher compared to scenarios without any or only one linear landscape element. In comparison, the presence of road networks only improved lateral connectivity by modifying the surface flow along east-west directions, while man-made ditches significantly influenced both longitudinal and lateral connectivity to a larger degree, especially in the terraced area. This finding underscores the effectiveness of ditch constructions as management practices for the regulation of water resources and facilitating the downstream transfer of sediment. Field observations and validation confirmed that Rndvic, which incorporates vegetation variable as a weight factor in the calculation of IC, yields more accurate and reliable maps of FSC than that of RI. This study holds far-reaching significance for water resources management and landscape sustainability within terrace-protected areas, providing invaluable insights for decision-makers.

Quantitative variations in federal Executive Career Paths

Resumo Este trabalho pretende analisar mudanças quantitativas no número de servidores de algumas carreiras de Estado do Poder Executivo federal entre 2012 e 2022. Para tal, dividiram-se quatro grupos de carreiras civis da administração direta que exercem atividades afins e costumam ser classificadas como típicas de Estado: segurança pública, jurídicas, fiscalização e gestão pública. A escolha por esses grupos se deveu ao fato de que tais carreiras estratégicas com frequência se articulam em conjunto na defesa de seus interesses. Baseando-se em levantamentos realizados pelo Painel Estatístico de Pessoal do Governo Federal, concluiu-se que, durante o período, as carreiras do grupo de segurança pública selecionadas cresceram fortemente (+24%) e ultrapassaram, em número de servidores, as carreiras de fiscalização selecionadas (-27%), que foram reduzidas em proporção semelhante. Individualmente, as carreiras que mais cresceram foram a de policial rodoviário federal (34%) e de analista de comércio exterior (78%). Já as carreiras de auditor-fiscal da Receita Federal e de auditor-fiscal do trabalho foram as que mais diminuíram, perdendo quase um terço de seus servidores ativos cada uma (33% e 33%).

Attributes of Expert Anticipation Should Inform the Design of Virtual Reality Simulators to Accelerate Learning and Transfer of Skill

Expert sport performers cope with a multitude of visual information to achieve precise skill goals under time stress and pressure. For example, a major league baseball or cricket batter must read opponent variations in actions and ball flight paths to strike the ball in less than a second. Crowded playing schedules and training load restrictions to minimise injury have limited opportunity for field-based practice in sports. As a result, many sports organisations are exploring the use of virtual reality (VR) simulators. Whilst VR synthetic experiences can allow greater control of visual stimuli, immersion to create presence in an environment, and interaction with stimuli, compared to traditional video simulation, the underpinning mechanisms of how experts use visual information for anticipation have not been properly incorporated into its content design. In themes, this opinion article briefly explains the mechanisms underpinning expert visual anticipation, as well as its learning and transfer, with a view that this knowledge can better inform VR simulator content design. In each theme, examples are discussed for improved content design of VR simulators taking into consideration its advantages and limitations relative to video simulation techniques. Whilst sport is used as the exemplar, the points discussed have implications for skill learning in other domains, such as military and law enforcement. It is hoped that our paper will stimulate improved content design of VR simulators for future research and skill enhancement across several domains.

The category of play as philosophical and aesthetic factor in the works by Hermann Hesse

In the scientific work has been carried out an interpretation of Hermann Hesse’s novels «Steppenwolf» and «The Game of Beads» on the basis of the dialogue «author – hero – reader», built on the principles of intellectual play. It has been illustrated that the category of play – as an artistic, magical element of creativity, as a means of creating and functioning of cultural values, as an artistic communication – is conceptual for the artist. The purpose of this game is the reader endowed with rich imagination. The model of the ideal reader, who is able to co-create and agrees to accept all the rules of the proposed game, laid down in the literary texts by H. Hesse. Emphasis is placed on the fact that philosophy and aesthetics are the basic, integral principles of Hesse’s game concept. The artist proceeds from the standpoint of aesthetics (as a way of escape from reality), and thanks to this aesthetics seeks a philosophical understanding of the depths of his own subconscious and conscious, solving this problem by the act of creation. Hesse’s literary works were a kind of playful communication with his own depths, which the author was not afraid to make «on people». The constant duality of the characters, the study of variations in life paths, the formation of a spiritual personality, the search for truth – the problems that most concerned Hesse, and therefore were covered in his works. The author «played» in the construction of his own personality, not forgetting for a moment about the annoying reality that was the source of his real «I». The game helps him to overcome this reality, gives him the opportunity to be «who the soul wants to be» and «where» he aspires. Most of the writer’s works are based on the game of intellect, but Hesse needs the reader’s trust, he does not intend to deceive him, on the contrary – the author wants to make him his partner in creating the world of novels: he plays «beauty» and offers to do so to his readers. It is proved that the concept of the game for Hesse is the principle of organization of the literary text and the basis of literary communication. The game is the main basis of the dialogue «author – hero – reader». Keywords: Hermann Hesse, «Steppenwolf», «The Game of Beads», dialogue «author – hero – reader», intellectual game.

The Correlation Between the Sonographic Course of Transobturator Slings and Sling-Related Pain.

To determine whether transobturator slings follow a consistent path and whether there is an association between ultrasonographically visualized sling pattern or position with sling-related pain. This was a cross-sectional retrospective pilot study. We evaluated women who were presented to our clinic for pain or other urogynecologic symptoms following transobturator sling placement between 2009 and 2014. Patients had undergone a 3-dimensional endovaginal pelvic floor ultrasound, assessing minimal levator hiatus, antero-posterior diameter, left-right diameter, and the hiatal shape. The mesh patterns were categorized as seagull patterns (normal), lopsided, flat, and convoluted. A total of 68 cases were reviewed. Fifty patients reported pain, and 18 did not. There were wide variations in the course of the slings. The sling center- minimal levator hiatus position ranged 14.8 mm below and 17.9 mm above the minimal levator hiatus. The lateral arm insertion points ranged between 17.1 mm below and 16.6 mm above the minimal levator hiatus. The right arm insertion points ranged between 9.6 mm below and 18.8 mm above the minimal levator hiatus. Thirty-five of 68 (70%) patients with pain and 13 of 18 (72.2%) without had abnormal sling patterns. The abnormal sling shape was not correlated with pain (P=1). The levator shape trended toward a statistical significant correlation with sling shape abnormality (P=.084). This population of women with transobturator sling complications demonstrated wide variations in anatomic paths. Neither the abnormal sling shape nor the distance of the center of the tape from the minimal levator hiatus level were correlated with pain.

Digital holographic polarimeter using dual reference beam interferometry.

An off-axis digital holographic imaging polarimeter was developed to estimate the Jones matrices of an object. The Jones vector image of the electric field returned from the object is determined from a single holographic recording using the interference between the dual, nearly orthogonal, reference beams. The technique compensates for phase variations in the optical beam paths between the recorded holograms and relaxes the need to generate orthogonal illumination polarization states. A minimization algorithm was developed to compute an estimation of the Jones matrix image of an object based on a set of measured Jones vector images. A proof-of-concept demonstration was performed to compute an estimated Jones matrix image of a polarimetrically complex object using digital holograms recorded with 6 different illumination polarizations.

Scan path during change-detection visual search

When observing a particular image or object, one's perception depends upon prior expectations, memory, and cognitive abilities. It is hypothesized that cognitive processing in the form of top-down or bottom-up processing could be determined via analysis of the eye fixation scan path. To assess the variations in scan paths, 7 subjects underwent 5 change-detection trials. During each trial, they were presented with a specific set of images via a MATLAB program, in which the original image alternated with a modified image consisting of a single change. An open-source program called GazeRecorder was used to track the subject's eye movements and to record the eye fixations. The scan path was then analyzed through the use of a 4 by 4 grid pattern superimposed on the image to determine the subject's eye fixation distribution pattern in terms of Boxes Viewed and Concentration within a single area. It was determined that higher Concentration was positively correlated with faster Detection Speed (R = 0.84), while higher number of Boxes Viewed was negatively correlated with Detection Speed (R = −0.71). Among the subjects, the more optimal scan paths were found in those with a balance between Concentration and Boxes Viewed, as subjects with a more balanced approach had the greatest Accuracy (p = 0.02). This indicates an optimal scan path involves both top-down and bottom-up processing to more efficiently identify a change. Moreover, the methodology developed in this study could be used in the home or clinic for quantitative assessment of improvement following therapy in patients with neurological deficits.

Decoding pyroclastic density current flow direction and shear conditions in the flow boundary zone via particle-fabric analysis

One of the greatest challenges in volcanology is extracting information from volcanic deposits that inform the conditions at the time of emplacement. Here we explore particle-shape fabric within samples from the column-collapse pyroclastic density current (PDC) deposits generated by the 18 May 1980 eruption of Mt. Saint Helens (MSH). Particle shape-fabric is the mutual alignment of particles within a sample, which is dependent on shearing conditions at the time of deposition. Here, particle shape-fabric is used to address the following hypotheses: (1) particle shape-fabric will align with bulk flow direction estimates made by previous studies, while resolving fine scale flow direction variations; (2) samples extracted from PDC deposits immediately above a basal contact will show higher extents of fabric development (i.e. clast alignment) relative to samples extracted well above the contact; and (3) samples extracted from cross-stratified deposits will have higher extents of fabric development relative to samples extracted from the massive facies. We find that fabric orientations approximate previous flow direction interpretations of general flow, from south to north, and channelization due to paleo-topography. Furthermore, shape-fabric records flow interaction with the substrate, created by debris avalanche deposits, leading to fine scale variations in flow paths. These variations are recorded in samples extracted near the substrate-deposit contact. Moreover, these samples do not show a higher measure of clast alignment relative to samples taken well above flow contacts but do exhibit bimodal clast alignment. This suggests some degree of traction transport and thus higher shearing conditions relative to when the currents deposited massive lapilli tuffs. Samples extracted from the cross-stratified deposits do not show higher extents of fabric development relative to the massive deposits, supporting previous interpretations that these deposits formed from a rapidly sedimenting, concentrated flow boundary zone that was thin enough to be frequently interrupted or influenced by the overriding turbulent portion of the flow. Finally, observations of fine scale variability in measured fabric within a single outcrop indicates unsteady flow conditions and step-wise aggradation during deposition. This work demonstrates that particle shape-fabric analyses can aid in decoding PDC flow conditions. Future complementary experimental work may allow for the extraction of quantitative information regarding the magnitudes of shear and subsequent particle alignments within the flow boundary zone, providing further insight into PDC dynamics.

A Pilot Recommender System using K-Means Clustering to Find Desirable Paths in Aircraft Takeoffs

This paper aims to study the geometric patterns produced by aircrafts on different takeoff paths and to establish a correlation between the fuel consumption and the geometry of the path. Based on the findings of the study, pilots could be advised to change their flying styles and strategy during take-off on a path that maximizes fuel conservation. This is validated by grouping the similar takeoff paths using the k-means clustering technique and by verifying linear relationship between the parameters of different paths in the clusters and their corresponding braking patterns. In addition, various runways are classified in order to study the variations in the takeoff paths.

Career mobility of PhD holders in social sciences and humanities: evidences from the POCARIM project

The paper aims at investigating factors that could affect the likelihood of changing job of PhD holders in the fields of social sciences and humanities (SSH). We use data collected through a survey developed within the POCARIM project (funded by the EC under the EUFP7) in order to analyse variations in PhDs' career paths in a longitudinal dimension: we consider the career of each agent as a whole and investigate what elements related to individual features can influence career's entropy in terms of changes of sector and/or country.

Career mobility of PhD holders in social sciences and humanities: evidences from the POCARIM project

The paper aims at investigating factors that could affect the likelihood of changing job of PhD holders in the fields of social sciences and humanities (SSH). We use data collected through a survey developed within the POCARIM project (funded by the EC under the EUFP7) in order to analyse variations in PhDs' career paths in a longitudinal dimension: we consider the career of each agent as a whole and investigate what elements related to individual features can influence career's entropy in terms of changes of sector and/or country.

Anatomical variants of dorsal scapular nerve in relation to the middle scalene muscle in Japanese population.

Dorsal scapular nerve (DSN) block is often performed in Japanese pain clinics to treat neck pain and katakori (a unique symptom in Japanese population characterized by myofascial pain syndromes such as shoulder girdle pain). However, to the best of our knowledge, there are only a few studies regarding anatomical variations in DSN paths around the middle scalene muscle (MSM) in Japanese population. Thus, we conducted a cadaveric study to examine anatomical variations in DSN paths around the MSM in Japanese population.DSN anatomies of 70 adult Japanese cadavers used for research and gross anatomy practice at the Tokai University School of Medicine between 2015 and 2016 were examined.In all cadavers, DSNs originated from the brachial plexus (BP) and innervated the rhomboid major, rhomboid minor, and levator scapulae muscles via the MSM. Two types of DSN paths were observed: piercing-type (piercing the MSM) and anterior-type (running in front of the MSM). We surveyed all 140 sides in 70 Japanese cadavers; of these, 95 sides had piercing-type and 45 had anterior-type paths. Of the 70 cadavers, 42 had piercing-type and 17 had anterior-type paths on both the sides. In 9 cadavers, the left and right sides had piercing-type and anterior-type paths, respectively. In the other 2 cadavers, the right and left sides had piercing-type and anterior-type paths, respectively.We found 2 distinct anatomical variants for DSN paths around the MSM in this Japanese cohort. Our results suggest that the rate of anterior-type DSN path is higher in Japanese population. Therefore, it is necessary to maintain caution while injecting anesthetic agents during a DSN block and the type of DSN should be considered.

A Recognition Primed Decision Model for Public Consumption of Government Data

The U.S. Census Bureau (Census) collects and maintains data on the nation’s population, neighborhoods, and economy, and shares that information with the public digitally. To successfully provide value to the public, data platforms and the data itself must be constructed in a way that individuals can easily use and understand. However, like many data providers, Census introduces technical terminology that can complicate the user’s experience. This paper describes how such terms affect individuals’ ability to consume data, by applying a recognition primed decision making method. The data used come from 36 in-depth interviews and 1 focus group with data consumers. An empirical model of the recognition-primed decision process uncovered in the data is presented, also elucidating key variations in decision paths according to factors like technical training or experience. These findings illustrate that failing to present user-centered data can limit the ability of consumers to benefit from public information.

You Are What Your Parents Think: Height and Local Reference Points

Recent estimates are that about 150 million children under five years of age are stunted, with significant long-run negative consequences on their schooling, cognitive skills, health and economic productivity. Understanding what determines such growth retardation, therefore, is very important. We build a structural model for nutritional choices and health with reference-dependent preferences. Parents care about the relative health of their child compared to some reference population. In our empirical model, we use height as the health outcome parents target, and reference height is an equilibrium object determined by parental nutritional choices for earlier cohorts in the same village. Taking advantage of a protein-supplementation experiment in Guatemala, we use exogenous variations in differential height growth paths between treated and control villages to estimate the model. We conduct a number of counterfactual policy simulations. First, we find that reference-point changes account for up to 60\% of the 1.7cm in height difference between experimental and control villages at 24 months of age. Second, focusing on one-period effects, to obtain the same mean effects as an 1 cm increase in reference points would require a protein-price discount of 37 percent or an income increase of 60 percent. Third, endogenous reference-point changes lead to significant policy spillovers: under poor-targeted subsidy policies, richest households over time gain up to 50 percent of the height gains of poorest households; under an universal subsidy policy, poorest households' height gains increase from an initially small change by up to 4.8 times across periods as richest households, who also receive subsidies, help push-up height reference points.

The Role of Trauma-Related Injustice in Pathways to Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms Among Conjugal Couples: A Multilevel, Dyadic Analysis in Postconflict Timor-Leste

It is widely acknowledged that the survivor’s psychological response to the traumas of mass conflict can affect adversely other family members. Yet, the focus of past epidemiological studies in the field has been confined to the individual survivor’s posttraumatic stress symptom (PTSS) response. We report the first study of its kind in a postconflict country, in which we examine the effects of trauma exposure in one member of conjugal couples on the PTSS of the other. The study involved 677 conjugal couples drawn from a community survey ( n = 1,354) in postconflict Timor-Leste. We used culturally adapted and psychometrically tested measures of traumatic events (TEs), preoccupations with injustice, explosive anger, family conflict, and PTSS. A multilevel actor–partner interdependence model (ML-APIM) demonstrated individual pathways involving exposure to murder and atrocities, preoccupations with injustice, explosive anger, and family conflict, leading to PTSS in both men and women when examined separately, with minor variations in paths by gender. Preoccupations with injustice in male survivors contributed to PTSS in the female partner, but not vice versa. Women may have a gender-specific propensity to identify with the male partner’s preoccupations with injustice following exposure to murder and atrocities. Our findings offer novel clues to the possible factors contributing to the higher rates of PTSS among women.

A Five-Level Current-Source Inverter for Grid-Connected or High-Power Three-Phase Wound-Field Synchronous Motor Drives

Simple converter structure, inherent short-circuit protection and regenerative capability are the most important advantages of current-source inverters (CSI’s) which have made them suitable for medium-voltage high-power drives. Usually in grid-connected gas turbine generators or pumped storage hydro power plants, efficient and reliable current-source load-commutated inverters (LCI’s) with thyristor switches are employed. Also, this type of CSI is widely used in very large drives with power ratings of tens of megawatts to supply wound-field synchronous motors (WFSM’s). However, LCI’s suffer from some disadvantages such as large torque pulsations, poor power factor, and start-up criticalities. In this paper, a novel multilevel-based CSI is proposed. The proposed converter consists of one LCI and one CSI bridge with self-turn-off switches along with a voltage clamping circuit. The CSI switches are forced commutated; hence, a voltage clamping circuit is employed to limit voltage spikes caused by current variations in inductive paths during commutation transients. Drastic reduction in harmonic distortion of stator current and improved fundamental power factor are achieved by the proposed topology. In addition, torque pulsations are reduced remarkably for normal and starting operating conditions. Comprehensive analysis of the proposed structure is presented and the design of converter components is elaborated.

Dynamic Pricing and Risk Analytics Under Competition and Stochastic Reference Price Effects

This paper investigates the pricing strategy of firms in the context of uncertain demand. In particular, there are two factors that affect demand dynamics, the influence of reference prices and the price of the competition. In the monopoly case, pricing policy is affected by reference-price effects and in the duopoly case, both competitive pricing and reference-price effects are present. In each case, the optimal price paths are derived and simulated. The implications of uncertainty are analyzed by comparing the deterministic policy with the stochastic policy. The random variations in price paths are investigated to provide a risk analysis for firms that work in such market conditions. With the advent of the big data era, information about consumers and competitors gives firms a greater control over uncertainty than ever before. Simulations will demonstrate that firms can lower the volatility of their price path if they gather and process this information. Furthermore, the feedback forms of the optimal price path are derived in both the absence and the presence of both competition and reference-price effects. In general, the impact that demand uncertainty has over the firm’s pricing strategy is determined by a combination of the firm’s discount rate, demand uncertainty, and demand-side/cost-side dynamics.

Local failure behavior of a dissimilar metal interface region with mechanical heterogeneity

Failure analyses and assessments for dissimilar metal welded joints are usually conducted by simplified interface regions without considering actual mechanical heterogeneity and limited crack positions. In this work, the finite element simulations based on Gurson-Tvergaard-Needleman damage mechanics model are used to investigate local failure behavior of a dissimilar metal interface region with mechanical heterogeneity and a series of initial crack positions. The results show that the fracture resistance and crack growth paths of the cracks in different locations of the interface region are significantly affected by mechanical heterogeneity. The interactions of different local mechanical (strength and work hardening properties) mismatches and intrinsic toughness around cracks determine the distributions and evolution of plastic strain, stress triaxiality and damage ahead of crack tips, which cause larger variations in fracture resistance and crack growth paths. For accurate and reliable failure analyses and assessments for the cracks in dissimilar metal interface regions with mechanical heterogeneity, it is recommended to obtain and use local fracture resistance properties related to crack locations.

Direct simulation of single bubble motion under vertical magnetic field: Paths and wakes

Motion of single Ar bubbles rising in GaInSn under vertical magnetic fields is studied numerically using a volume-of-fluid method and adaptive mesh refinement technique for two-phase interface treatment; a consistent and conservative scheme calculates induced current density and Lorentz force. Numerical results are compared with published experimental data [C. Zhang, S. Eckert, and G. Gerbeth, “Experimental study of single bubble motion in a liquid metal column exposed to a DC magnetic field,” Int. J. Multiphase Flow 31, 824–842 (2005)], where bubble diameters range from 2.5 to 6.4 mm, producing Reynolds numbers that vary between 2000 and 4000. Maximum experimental magnetic field strength was set to 0.3 T because of experimental restrictions, although we increased it to 0.5 T for firm conclusions. Apart from terminal rising velocity comparisons, we focused on variations in bubble motion paths and wake structures under magnetic fields, which cannot be observed experimentally because liquid metal is opaque. Magnetic field effects on bubble trajectory are exerted through vortex structure modification, which reinforced the conjecture that path instability is mainly attributed to wake instability. In bubble motion without magnetic fields, vortex threads in the bubble wake wrap around each other while vortex filaments incline parallel to the field with increasing magnetic intensity. Additionally, high magnetic fields will induce secondary bubble path instabilities, which contribute to the high Reynolds number flow that instabilities develop around the bubble, producing an asymmetrical Lorentz force distribution. This instability vanishes under higher magnetic intensities because flow instability is suppressed. Rising bubble aspect ratios decrease considerably under magnetic fields and may also contribute to smaller vorticities at the bubble surface. A close relationship between fluctuations in rising velocity and shape variations is found.