The Prelimit Generator Comparison Approach of Stein’s Method

This paper uses the generator comparison approach of Stein’s method to analyze the gap between steady-state distributions of Markov chains and diffusion processes. The “standard” generator comparison approach starts with the Poisson equation for the diffusion, and the main technical difficulty is to obtain bounds on the derivatives of the solution to the Poisson equation, also known as Stein factor bounds. In this paper we propose starting with the Poisson equation of the Markov chain; we term this the prelimit approach. Although one still needs Stein factor bounds, they now correspond to finite differences of the Markov chain Poisson equation solution rather than the derivatives of the solution to the diffusion Poisson equation. In certain cases, the former are easier to obtain. We use the [Formula: see text] model as a simple working example to illustrate our approach.

Conventional Versus Sharia Money Market Mutual Funds: Which Performs Better During the Covid-19 Pandemic?

This study aims to determine whether conventional money market mutual funds perform better than sharia money market mutual funds or vice versa during the COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia. This research method is descriptive with a quantitative comparison approach. This study employed secondary data obtained from IDX, Indonesian Bank, and Pasar Dana website. The research employed the money market mutual funds data, Net Asset Value, BI 7 Days Repo rate during year 2020. Sharpe ratio utilized in this research to determine the money market mutual funds performance. Then, the result compared by using Independent sample T-test on SPSS. The result uncovers that in general the performance of conventional money market mutual funds performance superior the sharia money market mutual funds performance during covid-19 in Indonesia. However, both mutual funds average Sharpe ratio show the negative number during 2020. Moreover, there are no significant difference between conventional and sharia money market mutual funds returns during the period 2020. The high different return on the maximum return due to some conventional mutual fund perform exceptional during 2020.

Shared patterns in body size declines among crinoids during the Palaeozoic extinction events

Crinoids were among the most abundant marine benthic animals throughout the Palaeozoic, but their body size evolution has received little attention. Here, we compiled a comprehensive database on crinoid calyx biovolumes throughout the Palaeozoic. A model comparison approach revealed contrasting and complex patterns in body size dynamics between the two major crinoid clades (Camerata and Pentacrinoidea). Interestingly, two major drops in mean body size at around two mass extinction events (during the late Ordovician and the late Devonian respectively) are observed, which is reminiscent of current patterns of shrinking body size of a wide range of organisms as a result of climate change. The context of some trends (marked declines during extinctions) suggests the cardinal role of abiotic factors (dramatic climate change associated with extinctions) on crinoid body size evolution; however, other patterns (two intervals with either relative stability or steady size increase in periods between mass extinctions) are more consistent with biotic drivers.

Anxiety and spatial navigation in Williams syndrome and Down syndrome

Individuals with Down Syndrome (DS) and individuals with Williams syndrome (WS) present with poor navigation and elevated anxiety. This study is the first to investigate the relationship between these two characteristics, using a cross-syndrome comparison approach. Parent report questionnaires were employed to measure navigation competence and anxiety in N=55 individuals with WS and N=42 individuals with DS. Anxiety was measured using the Spence Children’s Anxiety Scale (SCAS) and a novel measure of navigation anxiety. Navigation was measured using the Santa Barbara Sense of Direction Scale (SBSOD) and a novel measure of navigation competence. Categorical questions were also asked regarding navigation behaviours and difficulties, independent travel and travel training received. Finally respondents answered open-ended questions regarding travel training needs and travel training received. The majority of individuals were not permitted to travel independently. A relationship between navigation anxiety and SBSOD scores (but not navigation competence) was observed for both groups. For the DS group only, separation anxiety was related to SBSOD and navigation scores. Additional impacts on independent navigating related to difficulties specific to road crossing situations, a higher tendency to ask for help in WS than in DS, as well as a strong impact of parental confidence for both groups. This first step to understanding the complex relationship between anxiety and navigation in WS and DS suggests that navigation training should take into account elevated anxiety in these groups, and thus should include training in dealing with unforeseen changes and anxiety management.

Belief in God and Psychological Distress: Is It the Belief or Certainty of the Belief?

Research on the relationship between belief in God and mental health is scarce and often limited to comparing group differences in mental health across various self-reported religious identities (e.g., atheists, agnostics, believers). To advance this work, we focused on how the extent of belief in God related to three indices of psychological distress (depression, anxiety, and stress) in a sample of undergraduate students (N = 632) with a variety of religious identities. We used a model comparison approach to evaluate both linear and curvilinear relationships between belief in God and psychological distress and tested potential mediating pathways for linear relationships. The findings revealed that belief in God was negatively linearly related to depression; this relationship was fully mediated by meaning in life, feeling comforted by God, positive religious coping, positive reappraisal, and substance use coping. In contrast, belief in God was curvilinearly related to anxiety but unrelated to stress. These results suggest that both strength and certainty of the belief in God may be important in understanding religion’s relationship with psychological distress.

A Different Approach to the Evaluation of Smart Cities’ Indicators

The article aims to propose a different approach to assessing smart cities which combines some commonly used indicators with several new ones in line with the concept of sustainability. The aspect of sustainable development as an essential driver for the smart city and the combination of indicators for sustainable and smart city concepts have been analysed fragmentarily so far. There are many different approaches to evaluate the indicators of city smartness; however, very little attention is paid to the analysis of the reciprocal importance of the indicators. Ten indicators representing a smart city were selected that would be keep in line all the three pillars of sustainability—environmental, social, and economic. An expert survey was conducted to assign the weights of indicators using the pairwise comparison approach. The results were processed by utilising the fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (AHP), which reduces the subjectivity in the experts’ answers. The presented approach differs from the ones commonly used and while it does not cover a wide range of usual indicators, it proposes some new ideas for further research. Some represent cities to attract young and intelligent citizens, others relate to comfortable and safe living conditions and the environmental situation. The results revealed that the most vital smartness indicators are foreign direct investments, pollutant emission, and the share of people registered as unemployed among the working-age population. These indicators cannot be easily identified as ones representing a smart city, but rather as indicators representing investment and environmental, sustainable aspects. Hence, finding a balance between the indicators related to sustainable and smart city is what highlights the need for further research.

High degree of conservation of the enzymes synthesizing the laminin-binding glycoepitope of α-dystroglycan

The dystroglycan (DG) complex plays a pivotal role for the stabilization of muscles in Metazoa. It is formed by two subunits, extracellular α-DG and transmembrane β-DG, originating from a unique precursor via a complex post-translational maturation process. The α-DG subunit is extensively glycosylated in sequential steps by several specific enzymes and employs such glycan scaffold to tightly bind basement membrane molecules. Mutations of several of these enzymes cause an alteration of the carbohydrate structure of α-DG, resulting in severe neuromuscular disorders collectively named dystroglycanopathies. Given the fundamental role played by DG in muscle stability, it is biochemically and clinically relevant to investigate these post-translational modifying enzymes from an evolutionary perspective. A first phylogenetic history of the thirteen enzymes involved in the fabrication of the so-called ‘M3 core’ laminin-binding epitope has been traced by an overall sequence comparison approach, and interesting details on the primordial enzyme set have emerged, as well as substantial conservation in Metazoa. The optimization along with the evolution of a well-conserved enzymatic set responsible for the glycosylation of α-DG indicate the importance of the glycosylation shell in modulating the connection between sarcolemma and surrounding basement membranes to increase skeletal muscle stability, and eventually support movement and locomotion.