scholarly journals First Quarter Chronicle of COVID-19: An Attempt to Measure Governments’ Responses

Risks ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 115
Author(s):  
Şule Şahin ◽  
María del Carmen Boado-Penas ◽  
Corina Constantinescu ◽  
Julia Eisenberg ◽  
Kira Henshaw ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mathematical Model ◽  
Firm Conclusion ◽  
Universal Solution ◽  
Best Fitting ◽  
The Individual ◽  
The Impact

The crisis caused by the outbreak of COVID-19 revealed the global unpreparedness for handling the impact of a pandemic. In this paper, we present a first quarter chronicle of COVID-19 in Hubei China, Italy and Spain, particularly focusing on infection speed, death and fatality rates. By analysing the parameters of the best fitting distributions of the available data for the three rates in each of the three regions, we illustrate the pandemic’s evolution in relation to government measures. We compared the effectiveness of lockdown measures by observing the true situation in each dataset, without proposing a mathematical model. The feasibility of obtaining a firm conclusion in regard to the best solution for containing COVID-19 is limited, with a universal solution failing to exist due to globally varying culture, mentality and behaviours. Our method provides valid insights into the individual and national actions implemented and adhered to in order to slow the effect of the pandemic during the first-wave of COVID-19.

Understanding Protocol Performance: Impact of Test Performance

2013 ◽  
Vol 24 (10) ◽  
pp. 909-919
Author(s):  
Robert G. Turner
Keyword(s):  
Mathematical Model ◽  
Research Design ◽  
Test Performance ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Performance Impact ◽  
Advantages And Disadvantages ◽  
Protocol Performance ◽  
The Individual ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Test Correlation

Background: This is the second of two articles that examine the factors that determine protocol performance. The objective of these articles is to provide a general understanding of protocol performance that can be used to estimate performance, establish limits on performance, decide if a protocol is justified, and ultimately select a protocol. The first article was concerned with protocol criterion and test correlation. It demonstrated the advantages and disadvantages of different criterion when all tests had the same performance. It also examined the impact of increasing test correlation on protocol performance and the characteristics of the different criteria. Purpose: To examine the impact on protocol performance when individual tests in a protocol have different performance. This is evaluated for different criteria and test correlations. The results of the two articles are combined and summarized. Research Design: A mathematical model is used to calculate protocol performance for different protocol criteria and test correlations when there are small to large variations in the performance of individual tests in the protocol. Results: The performance of the individual tests that make up a protocol has a significant impact on the performance of the protocol. As expected, the better the performance of the individual tests, the better the performance of the protocol. Many of the characteristics of the different criteria are relatively independent of the variation in the performance of the individual tests. However, increasing test variation degrades some criteria advantages and causes a new disadvantage to appear. This negative impact increases as test variation increases and as more tests are added to the protocol. Conclusions: Best protocol performance is obtained when individual tests are uncorrelated and have the same performance. In general, the greater the variation in the performance of tests in the protocol, the more detrimental this variation is to protocol performance. Since this negative impact is increased as more tests are added to the protocol, greater test variation indicates using fewer tests in the protocol.

scholarly journals Predicting the External Corrosion Rate of X60 Pipeline Steel: A Mathematical Model

Metals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 583
Author(s):  
Min Xu ◽  
Hongxing Liang ◽  
Yu Liu ◽  
Edouard Asselin
Keyword(s):  
Mathematical Model ◽  
Corrosion Rate ◽  
Pipeline Steel ◽  
Soil Conditions ◽  
Salt Composition ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Soil Corrosivity ◽  
External Corrosion ◽  
The Individual ◽  
The Impact

The need for predicting pipeline service life and improving risk assessment relating to corrosion hazards requires establishing a correlation between the corrosion rate (CR) of pipeline steel and its coating condition, cathodic protection (CP) levels and surrounding soil conditions. This paper presents a systematic study of the CR of bare and coated—with and without a dent or holiday defect—X60 pipeline steel in simulated field environments. Three CP scenarios, i.e., no, optimized, and over-protection, were studied to cover a wide range of possible CP conditions that pipeline steel may encounter in the field. Two types of salt solutions (sodium chloride or sodium sulfate) with a variation of temperatures (10 °C, 40 °C, 65 °C) and pH values (2, 7, 12) were investigated to simulate different levels of soil corrosivity. A mathematical model was developed to reveal the impact of various parameters and their interactions on the CR of X60 steel. The coating condition was the most important factor. The individual effects of other factors including temperature, pH, salt composition and CP were not shown to be significant. Instead, the interactions between temperature and salt composition, and particularly the interaction between pH and CP appeared more important in determining the overall CR.

scholarly journals Using a Prediction Model to Manage Cyber Security Threats

2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Venkatesh Jaganathan ◽  
Priyesh Cherurveettil ◽  
Premapriya Muthu Sivashanmugam
Keyword(s):  
Mathematical Model ◽  
Cyber Security ◽  
Cyber Attacks ◽  
Security Threats ◽  
Malicious Software ◽  
Cost Impact ◽  
The Individual ◽  
The Cost ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Significant Factors

Cyber-attacks are an important issue faced by all organizations. Securing information systems is critical. Organizations should be able to understand the ecosystem and predict attacks. Predicting attacks quantitatively should be part of risk management. The cost impact due to worms, viruses, or other malicious software is significant. This paper proposes a mathematical model to predict the impact of an attack based on significant factors that influence cyber security. This model also considers the environmental information required. It is generalized and can be customized to the needs of the individual organization.

scholarly journals Development of granular-medium-based energy management system for automotive bumper applications

2009 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Maina Festus Mwangi
Keyword(s):  
Mathematical Model ◽  
Impact Energy ◽  
Granular Media ◽  
Prototype System ◽  
Impulse Wave ◽  
Human Arm ◽  
The Individual ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Non Destructive ◽  
Total Impact

Automotive bumpers are installed primarily to minimize damage and harm to both the automobile and passengers during minor and low speed collisions. The efficacy of the current bumper systems lies in absorbing the impact energy. The primary mechanism for energy absorption is damage. In this study an attempt is made to shift from this traditional design platform by exploring non-destructive energy dissipation mechanisms. In pursuit of this, an alternative bumper system that simulates human-arm ergonomic response to impact has been proposed. The system capitalizes on the characteristic dissipative mechanics of granular media. A mathematical model describing the dissipative mechanics of the system is presented. The model shows that granular media can be used effectively to re-direct the impulse wave away from its axis of incidence. The resulting effect is that the impulse wave is attenuated through the thickness. A second mathematical model, based on the Concept of Energy Balance has been developed. Here, the total impact energy is shown to be absorbed or dissipated by the individual components of the system. The largest component of this energy is taken up by sliding and rotation of the granular media. Both models are validated by experimentation. A prototype system has been built and tested. The system effectively manages impact energy with minimal or no damage to the constituent components. The system demonstrates an ability to recover dimensionally when loaded under FMVSS conditions.

Accent Policy and Accent Modification Enterprises as Potential Indicators of Intercultural Power Relations: A Call for an Updated Research Agenda

2013 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 22-33 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brynne D. Ovalle ◽  
Rahul Chakraborty
Keyword(s):  
International Relations ◽  
Identity Construction ◽  
Social Theory ◽  
Power Relations ◽  
Linguistic Diversity ◽  
Cultural Organization ◽  
Using Data ◽  
The Individual ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Relationship

This article has two purposes: (a) to examine the relationship between intercultural power relations and the widespread practice of accent discrimination and (b) to underscore the ramifications of accent discrimination both for the individual and for global society as a whole. First, authors review social theory regarding language and group identity construction, and then go on to integrate more current studies linking accent bias to sociocultural variables. Authors discuss three examples of intercultural accent discrimination in order to illustrate how this link manifests itself in the broader context of international relations (i.e., how accent discrimination is generated in situations of unequal power) and, using a review of current research, assess the consequences of accent discrimination for the individual. Finally, the article highlights the impact that linguistic discrimination is having on linguistic diversity globally, partially using data from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and partially by offering a potential context for interpreting the emergence of practices that seek to reduce or modify speaker accents.

Investigating the Relationship Between Self-Esteem and Stigma Among Young Adults With History of Suicide Attempts

Crisis ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 37 (4) ◽  
pp. 265-270 ◽  
Author(s):  
Meshan Lehmann ◽  
Matthew R. Hilimire ◽  
Lawrence H. Yang ◽  
Bruce G. Link ◽  
Jordan E. DeVylder
Keyword(s):  
Young Adults ◽  
Suicide Attempts ◽  
Self Esteem ◽  
High Risk Population ◽  
High Functioning ◽  
People With Mental Illness ◽  
History Of ◽  
The Individual ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Relationship

Abstract. Background: Self-esteem is a major contributor to risk for repeated suicide attempts. Prior research has shown that awareness of stigma is associated with reduced self-esteem among people with mental illness. No prior studies have examined the association between self-esteem and stereotype awareness among individuals with past suicide attempts. Aims: To understand the relationship between stereotype awareness and self-esteem among young adults who have and have not attempted suicide. Method: Computerized surveys were administered to college students (N = 637). Linear regression analyses were used to test associations between self-esteem and stereotype awareness, attempt history, and their interaction. Results: There was a significant stereotype awareness by attempt interaction (β = –.74, p = .006) in the regression analysis. The interaction was explained by a stronger negative association between stereotype awareness and self-esteem among individuals with past suicide attempts (β = –.50, p = .013) compared with those without attempts (β = –.09, p = .037). Conclusion: Stigma is associated with lower self-esteem within this high-functioning sample of young adults with histories of suicide attempts. Alleviating the impact of stigma at the individual (clinical) or community (public health) levels may improve self-esteem among this high-risk population, which could potentially influence subsequent suicide risk.

The Impact of Light Polarisation on Light Field of Scenes with Multiple Reflections

2020 ◽  
pp. 108-115 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vladimir P. Budak ◽  
Anton V. Grimaylo
Keyword(s):  
Mathematical Model ◽  
Light Field ◽  
Global Illumination ◽  
Multiple Reflections ◽  
Software Environment ◽  
The Monte Carlo Method ◽  
Mueller Matrices ◽  
Volume Integration ◽  
The Impact

The article describes the role of polarisation in calculation of multiple reflections. A mathematical model of multiple reflections based on the Stokes vector for beam description and Mueller matrices for description of surface properties is presented. On the basis of this model, the global illumination equation is generalised for the polarisation case and is resolved into volume integration. This allows us to obtain an expression for the Monte Carlo method local estimates and to use them for evaluation of light distribution in the scene with consideration of polarisation. The obtained mathematical model was implemented in the software environment using the example of a scene with its surfaces having both diffuse and regular components of reflection. The results presented in the article show that the calculation difference may reach 30 % when polarisation is taken into consideration as compared to standard modelling.

The Role of Threat and Economic Uncertainty in Support for Scottish Independence

2014 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 103-124 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Kopasker
Keyword(s):  
Economic Consequences ◽  
Perceived Threat ◽  
Constitutional Change ◽  
Lack Of Information ◽  
Economic Expectations ◽  
Scottish Independence ◽  
The Individual ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Levels Of Support

Existing research has consistently shown that perceptions of the potential economic consequences of Scottish independence are vital to levels of support for constitutional change. This paper attempts to investigate the mechanism by which expectations of the economic consequences of independence are formed. A hypothesised causal micro-level mechanism is tested that relates constitutional preferences to the existing skill investments of the individual. Evidence is presented that larger skill investments are associated with a greater likelihood of perceiving economic threats from independence. Additionally, greater perceived threat results in lower support for independence. The impact of uncertainty on both positive and negative economic expectations is also examined. While uncertainty has little effect on negative expectations, it significantly reduces the likelihood of those with positive expectations supporting independence. Overall, it appears that a general economy-wide threat is most significant, and it is conjectured that this stems a lack of information on macroeconomic governance credentials.

Analyzing the Impact of Healthy Behavior on Weight Change with a Provable Mathematical Model (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ayan Chatterjee ◽  
Ram Bajpai ◽  
Pankaj Khatiwada
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Mathematical Model ◽  
Health Behavior ◽  
Weight Change ◽  
Simulated Data ◽  
Negative Behavior ◽  
Healthy Behavior ◽  
Healthy Habits ◽  
Lifestyle Diseases ◽  
The Impact

BACKGROUND Lifestyle diseases are the primary cause of death worldwide. The gradual growth of negative behavior in humans due to physical inactivity, unhealthy habit, and improper nutrition expedites lifestyle diseases. In this study, we develop a mathematical model to analyze the impact of regular physical activity, healthy habits, and a proper diet on weight change, targeting obesity as a case study. Followed by, we design an algorithm for the verification of the proposed mathematical model with simulated data of artificial participants. OBJECTIVE This study intends to analyze the effect of healthy behavior (physical activity, healthy habits, and proper dietary pattern) on weight change with a proposed mathematical model and its verification with an algorithm where personalized habits are designed to change dynamically based on the rule. METHODS We developed a weight-change mathematical model as a function of activity, habit, and nutrition with the first law of thermodynamics, basal metabolic rate (BMR), total daily energy expenditure (TDEE), and body-mass-index (BMI) to establish a relationship between health behavior and weight change. Followed by, we verified the model with simulated data. RESULTS The proposed provable mathematical model showed a strong relationship between health behavior and weight change. We verified the mathematical model with the proposed algorithm using simulated data following the necessary constraints. The adoption of BMR and TDEE calculation following Harris-Benedict’s equation has increased the model's accuracy under defined settings. CONCLUSIONS This study helped us understand the impact of healthy behavior on obesity and overweight with numeric implications and the importance of adopting a healthy lifestyle abstaining from negative behavior change.

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