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Since the discovery and the development of many technological instruments such as modern communication and communication technologies, digital media has served widely from the technology, and thus intersected quasi all life's domains, by providing news, information, and also discussions of quasi all subjects. In social sciences, for example, a major part of digital media sites discusses the well-being of both individuals, and societies, especially with the presence of many challenging phenomena like pandemics, wars, and financial crises. A major concern for QoL index for example resides in whether it is a uniform stable index or on the contrary a non-uniform index depending strongly and point-wisely on the time scale. This motivates the consideration of a non-uniform QoL index based on non-uniform wavelets to take into account the influence of many factors issued from political, social, environmental, economic effects according to the time scale. The model developed is tested on Saudi Arabia QoL index case. Recall that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has fixed many aims in its 2030-vision plan including the quality of life as a major goal. For example, the KSA worldwide NEOM project necessitates surely a supportive environment to be realized. The second purpose of our paper is also to study the impact of digital media such as social one on the QoL. Therefore, the data collected is basically issued from a set of conversations on social media platforms. To obtain a suitable time series, we developed a backward-forward non-uniform wavelet forecasting model to extend the data sample suitably. The whole time series is by the next applied for the QoL index dynamics and interpretations. The findings showed that effectively, the QoL index is never a stable single index on the whole year, but on the contrary, the dependence on the time scale is non-uniform. Moreover, to interpret suitably and for a correct policy, the non-uniform behavior should be considered adequately. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a variety of systems, in particular in a financial system, entities hold liabilities on each other. The reimbursement abilities are intertwined, thereby potentially generating coordination failures and cascades of defaults calling for orderly resolution. With a single indebted firm, a bankruptcy law organizes such an orderly resolution. With cross-liabilities, a resolution rule should be defined at the system level to account for all those affected, directly or indirectly. This paper investigates such rules assuming their primary goal is to avoid defaults on creditors external to the system, say banks' defaults on customers' deposits. I define and characterize the constrained-proportional rule building on two approaches: the minimization of an inequality measure on the reimbursements (made and received) and the axiomatization through desirable properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Discursive reading ability is an important component of English proficiency and an important measure of the level of language proficiency; to a large extent, the development of reading ability can contribute to the improvement of a student’s language ability, and the development of English reading ability in English teaching is one of the important requirements of English teaching under the new curriculum reform. The development of science and technology and multiculturalism in today’s society has led to the multimodality of most information transmission activities, which requires people to have corresponding multimodal reading abilities. The traditional English teaching mode is largely unable to meet the needs of the times, which makes it necessary to further explore the application of multimodal teaching mode in the English classroom. This paper focuses on the use of modality in English reading classrooms. The hypothesis of “multimodal reading classrooms can improve students’ learning interest and reading ability” is used as the theoretical support, and systemic functional linguistics, multimodal discourse analysis theory, and constructivist theory are used as the theoretical support. We used questionnaires and interviews to explore the multimodal teaching model of English reading. The experimental results show that the multimodal teaching model helps to improve students’ English performance, reading ability, and interest in English reading. To a certain extent, the multimodal teaching model can promote the development of English teaching, guarantee the quality of the course teaching, and make the English course less boring.

Indscal models consider symmetric matrices B k = X W k X ′ for k = 1 , ... , K , where X : n × R is a compromise matrix termed the group-average and W k is a diagonal matrix of weights given by the kth individual to the R, specified in advance, columns of X ; non-negative weights are preferred and usually R < n . We propose a new two-phase alternating least squares (ALS) algorithm, which emphasizes the two main components (group average and weighting parameters) of the Indscal model and specifically helps with the interpretation of the model. Furthermore, it has thrown new light on the properties of the converged solution, that would be satisfied by any algorithm that minimizes the basic Indscal criterion: m i n ∑ k = 1 K ‖ B k - X W k X ′ ‖ 2 where the minimization is over X and the W k . The new algorithm has also proved to be a useful tool in unravelling the algebraic understanding of the role played by parameter constraints and their interpretation in variants of the Indscal model. The proposed analysis focusses on Indscal but the approach may be of more widespread interest, especially in the field of multidimensional data analysis. A major issue is that simultaneous least-squares estimates of the parameters may be found without imposing constraints. However, group average and individual weighting parameters may not be estimated uniquely, without imposing some subjective constraint that could encourage misleading interpretations. We encourage the use of linear constraints ∑ k = 1 K 1 ′ W k = 1 ′ , as it enables a comparison of the weights obtained (i) within group k and (ii) between the same item drawn from two or more groups. However, it is easy to exchange one system of constraints to another in a post- or pre-analysis. The new two-phase ALS algorithm (i) computes for fixed X : n × R the weights W k subject to ∑ k = 1 K 1 ′ W k = 1 ′ , and then (ii) keeping W k fixed, it updates X . At convergence, the estimates of X : n × R and the W k will apply to all algorithms that minimize the Indscal criterion. Furthermore, we show that only at convergence an analysis-of-variance property holds on the demarcation region between over- and under-fitting. When the analysis-of-variance is valid, its validity extends over the whole matrix domain, over trace operations, and to individual matrix elements. The optimization process is unusual in that optima and local optima occur on the edges of what seem to be closely related to Heywood cases in Factor analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study a model of binary decisions in a fully connected network of interacting agents. Individual decisions are determined by social influence, coming from direct interactions with neighbours, and a group level pressure that accounts for social environment. In a competitive environment, the interplay of these two aspects results in the presence of a persistent disordered phase where no majority is formed. We show how the introduction of a delay mechanism in the agent’s detection of the global average choice may drastically change this scenario, giving rise to a coordinated self sustained periodic behaviour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The problem of identification of coefficients and initial conditions for a boundary value problem for parabolic equations that reduces to a minimization problem of a misfit function is investigated. Firstly, the tensor train decomposition approach is presented as a global convergence algorithm. The idea of the proposed method is to extract the tensor structure of the optimized functional and use it for multidimensional optimization problems. Secondly, for the refinement of the unknown parameters, three local optimization approaches are implemented and compared: Nelder–Mead simplex method, gradient method of minimum errors, adaptive gradient method. For gradient methods, the evident formula for the continuous gradient of the misfit function is obtained. The identification problem for the diffusive logistic mathematical model which can be applied to social sciences (online social networks), economy (spatial Solow model) and epidemiology (coronavirus COVID-19, HIV, etc.) is considered. The numerical results for information propagation in online social network are presented and discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global university rankings have become a critical factor in the higher education sector, engendering increasing interest and exerting a notable influence over a wide variety of stakeholders. They are presented to different audiences as tools that evaluate and rank universities according to quality. However, some authors are of the opinion that rankings express reputational factors to a large extent. This article presents a model of the intra- and inter-ranking relationships from the perspective of reputation along with an empirical study on two of the most influential rankings: the Academic Ranking of World Universities and the Times Higher Education World University Rankings. Data from these two rankings between 2010 and 2018, and the application of ordinal regressions, provide evidence that both rankings are mutually influential, generating intra and reciprocal reputational effects over time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Some effects of cubic tensors in divergences, which characterize dually flat spaces, are investigated. Focusing on the small area around a specific point, how tangent space approximation is corrected by the cubic tensor at the point, is described. The cubic tensor in divergence is treated as a perturbation, supposing that the coordinates in tangent space are unperturbed solutions. A first order perturbation solution is presented as a main result. On the other hand, the unperturbed solution is yet another coordinate different from the usual affine coordinate. The divergences are shown to be written in a simple form if it is written in terms of the unperturbed solution. Furthermore, a relation which transforms similarities to the divergences is shown. Consequently, the asymmetry in the divergences between the tangent point and the other point is shown to be attributed to the difference between the squared norms of the two kinds of coordinates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The properties of divergences in dually flat spaces are investigated beyond the local perspective. First, an approximative representation of divergence is shown on the basis of the expansion with respect to relative coordinates. A consideration concerning triangular relation is done from similar perspective and an equation which extends classical multidimensional scaling to incorporate Riemannian metric and affine connection coefficients is obtained. Furthermore, a consideration from a viewpoint of probability distribution is done. The representation of divergence can be regarded as Kullback-Leibler divergence between normal distributions with a common covariance matrix. Especially, it is shown that the asymmetry of divergence arises from the spatial change in differential entropy in those distributions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Formulations of multidimensional scaling (MDS) in dually flat spaces are proposed. First the space supposed in the classical MDS is extended to a tangent space around a specific point in a dually flat space. We see that Riemannian metric of the tangent point plays a key role in the extension. Next, in order to remove the restriction of symmetry in dissimilarities, the affine connection is incorporated. We pay attention to the fact that it is an affine connection term that causes an asymmetry in dissimilarities in infinitesimal space. To mitigate the difficulty in treating the affine connection term, an approximation is shown and we can see the effect of the affine connection term to modify the effective Riemannian metric. Finally a numerical example is shown. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Formulations that specify the coordinates of multiple objects in multidimensional space, where the dissimilarities among objects do not satisfy the axioms of distance, are presented in this study. It is shown that dissimilarities not satisfying triangle inequality can be treated by extending classical multidimensional scaling (MDS) to indefinite metric space. It is also shown that asymmetric dissimilarities can be treated by extending classical MDS to complex vector space. Finally, the above two formulations are unified by introducing indefinite metric complex vector space. For numerical calculations, the problem reduces to a matrix completion and is described as semidefinite programming. Graphical representations are also proposed to visualize the numerical results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most academic rankings attempt to measure the quality of university education and research. However, previous studies that examine the most influential rankings conclude that the variables they use could be an epiphenomenon of an X factor that has little to do with quality. The aim of this study is to investigate the existence of this hidden factor or profile in the two most influential global university rankings in the world: the Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU) of the University of Shanghai Jiao Tong, and the Times Higher Education (THE) ranking. Results support the existence of an underlying entity profile, characterized by institutions normally from the US that enjoy a high reputation. Results also support the idea that rankings lack the capacity to assess university quality in all its complexity, and two strategies are suggested in relation to the vicious circle created between institutional reputation and rankings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Knowledge management has attracted an increasing number of researchers since the concept was born. Its research scope is expanding constantly and its research depth is strengthening. Also, in our country, there are experts and scholars in different fields carrying out researches into knowledge management theory and practice from their own point of view. In order to understand the present situation and the trend of knowledge management, this paper collected degree theses about knowledge management from 2006 to 2010 from Chinese Selected Doctoral Dissertations and Master's Theses Full-Text Databases (CDMD) to analyze. A total of 173 Ph.D. theses and 1,243 Master theses were found by retrieving 'knowledge management' with title or keywords. Statistical analysis data shows: the number of the knowledge management degree theses has decreased since 2008; disciplines of degree theses distribute widely and they mainly concentrate on management science, technology and education field; the number of the research institutions has increased, however, the main research institutions are still prominent relatively; knowledge management research hot spots based on the lexical frequency distribution are wide and deep; knowledge management research hot spots based on the analysis of the key words are clear. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper is to identify the research paradigms on digital libraries in China while compared with that of international digital libraries research via scientometric analysis. Co-word network constructed by keywords in documents and their co-occurrence relationships is a kind of mapping knowledge domains, which represents the cognitive and intellectual structure of science. A total of 6068 and 1250 papers published between 1994 and 2010 were, respectively retrieved from the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) and ScienceDirect databases with a topic search of digital libraries or digital library in abstracts of papers. This paper uses methods of co-word analysis, social network analysis and mapping knowledge domains as theory basis, with assistance of softwares of UCINET and Netdraw, to construct the co-word network of digital libraries/library research in China, present the study status quo and evolution on digital libraries/library in China and analyze the research paradigm structure of digital libraries/library in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a new computational method for identifying regulated pathway components in transcript profiling (TP) experiments by evaluating transcriptional activity in the context of known biological pathways. We construct a graph representing thousands of protein functional relationships by integrating knowledge from public databases and review articles. We use the notion of distance in a graph to define pathway neighborhoods. The pathways perturbed in an experiment are then identified as the subgraph induced by the genes, referred to as activity centers, having significant density of transcriptional activity in their functional neighborhoods. We illustrate the predictive power of this approach by performing and analyzing an experiment of TP53 overexpression in NCI-H125 cells. The detected activity centers are in agreement with the known TP53 activation effects and our independent experimental results. We also apply the method to a serum starvation experiment using HEY cells and investigate the predicted activity of the transcription factor MYC. Finally, we discuss interesting properties of the activity center approach and its possible applications beyond the comparison of two experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]