The Soft Budget Constraint Problem in a Dynamic Central Leadership Model

The authors deal with a certain type of timing problem with the central government's allocation of subsidies to local governments, called a ``soft budget constraint (SBC) problem.'''' In fiscal science, it has been indicated that the interregional redistribution policy of the central government causes incentive problems such as excess expenditure or excess debt. However, as insignificant amount of the literature has applied a multi-period model to explain the SBC problem occuring despite the possibility of the existence of intertemporal distortion in an SBC situation. Therefore, the authors examine the problem in two-period models, which are the easiest multi-period models. The authors will demonstrate that the path of occurrence of the distortion caused by subsidization varies according to the timing of the subsidy offer.decentralized leadership

Modeling of Root-reinforced Soil Slope under Rainfall Condition

This paper presents the results of geotechnical centrifuge and numerical modeling study of root-reinforced systems on soil slopes. The centrifuge models were designed to simulate a soil slope reinforced by vetiver grass root system commonly grows in Southeast Asian countries. Unreinforced and root-reinforced soil slope models were subjected to heavy rainfall using a rainfall simulator designed for a geotechnical centrifuge. Results of the study show that the root system causes a reduction of rainwater infiltration rate, delay in the response of groundwater table, and increasing in soil shear strength. The results were validated by comparing centrifuge modeling test results with numerical modeling analyses based on limit equilibrium and finite element methods. The transient seepage analysis results were employed in the slope stability analysis. The numerical analysis shows a good agreement in failure mechanisms with the observations from centrifuge modeling tests.This paper presents the results of geotechnical centrifuge and numerical modeling study of root-reinforced systems on soil slopes. The centrifuge models were designed to simulate a soil slope reinforced by vetiver grass root system commonly grows in Southeast Asian countries. Unreinforced and root-reinforced soil slope models were subjected to heavy rainfall using a rainfall simulator designed for a geotechnical centrifuge. Results of the study show that the root system causes a reduction of rainwater infiltration rate, delay in the response of groundwater table, and increasing in soil shear strength. The results were validated by comparing centrifuge modeling test results with numerical modeling analyses based on limit equilibrium and finite element methods. The transient seepage analysis results were employed in the slope stability analysis. The numerical analysis shows a good agreement in failure mechanisms with the observations from centrifuge modeling tests

Modeling of Thermal Emission from ULX Pulsar Swift J0243.6+6124 with General Relativistic Radiation MHD simulations

We perform general relativistic radiation magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) simulations of super-Eddington accretion flows around a neutron star with a dipole magnetic field for modeling the galactic ultra-luminous X-ray source (ULX) exhibiting X-ray pulsations, Swift J0243.6+6124. Our simulations show the accretion columns near the magnetic poles, the accretion disk outside the magnetosphere, and the outflows from the disk. It is revealed that the effectively optically thick outflows, consistent with the observed thermal emission at $\sim10^7$ K, are generated if the mass accretion rate is much higher than the Eddington rate $\dot{M}_{\rm Edd}$ and the magnetospheric radius is smaller than the spherization radius. In order to explain the blackbody radius ($\sim 100-500$ km) without contradicting the reported spin period ($9.8~{\rm s}$) and spin-up rate ($\dot{P}=-2.22\times10^{-8}~{\rm s~s^{-1}}$), the mass accretion rate of $(200-1200)\dot{M}_{\rm Edd}$ is required. Since the thermal emission was detected in two observations with $\dot{P}$ of $-2.22\times10^{-8}~{\rm s~s^{-1}}$ and $-1.75\times10^{-8}~{\rm s~s^{-1}}$ but not in another with $\dot{P}=-6.8 \times10^{-9}~{\rm s~s^{-1}}$, the surface magnetic field strength of the neutron star in Swift J0243.6+6124 is estimated to be between $3\times10^{11}~{\rm G}$ and $4\times10^{12}~{\rm G}$. From this restricted range of magnetic field strength, the accretion rate would be $(200-500)\dot{M}_{\rm Edd}$ when the thermal emission appears and $(60-100)\dot{M}_{\rm Edd}$ when it is not detected. Our results support the hypothesis that the super-Eddington phase in the 2017-2018 giant outburst of Swift J0243.6+6124 is powered by highly super-Eddington accretion flows onto a magnetized neutron star.Comment: 24 pages, 9 figures, 2 tables, accepted for publication in Ap

Severe anterior uveitis associated with idiopathic dacryoadenitis in diabetes mellitus patient

A 38-year-old woman with diabetes mellitus complained of acute visual loss in the left eye (20/200) and swollen left upper eyelid. Slit lamp examination of the left eye revealed ciliary injection, posterior synechia iritis, numerous inflammatory cells, and fibrin exudates in the anterior chamber. T1-weighted enhanced magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated left lacrimal gland enhancement with inflammatory spread to the left anterior ocular segment. Blood examination showed increased blood sugar but the other components were within normal limits. The patient was treated with steroid pulse therapy (methylprednisolone 1 g/day × 3 days) under a blood sugar control regimen in consultation with an endocrinologist, after which additional peribulbar injection of triamcinolone acetonide (40 mg) was performed. Resolution of the anterior uveitis and the dacryoadenitis was obtained after 2 months and there was no recurrence 1 year after the therapy. This is a rare case of severe anterior uveitis caused by idiopathic dacryoadenitis in a patient with diabetes mellitus