Impact of edge-removal on the centrality betweenness of the best spreaders

The control of epidemic spreading is essential to avoid potential fatal consequences and also, to lessen unforeseen socio-economic impact. The need for effective control is exemplified during the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in 2003, which has inflicted near to a thousand deaths as well as bankruptcies of airlines and related businesses. In this article, we examine the efficacy of control strategies on the propagation of infectious diseases based on removing connections within real world airline network with the associated economic and social costs taken into account through defining appropriate quantitative measures. We uncover the surprising results that removing less busy connections can be far more effective in hindering the spread of the disease than removing the more popular connections. Since disconnecting the less popular routes tend to incur less socio-economic cost, our finding suggests the possibility of trading minimal reduction in connectivity of an important hub with efficiencies in epidemic control. In particular, we demonstrate the performance of various local epidemic control strategies, and show how our approach can predict their cost effectiveness through the spreading control characteristics.Comment: 11 pages, 4 figure

Newton-sor iterative method for solving the two-dimensional porous medium equation

In this paper, we consider the application of the Newton-SOR iterative method in obtainingthe approximate solution of the two-dimensional porous medium equation (2D PME). Thenonlinear finite difference approximation equation to the 2D PME is derived by using theimplicit finite difference scheme. The developed nonlinear system is linearized by using theNewton method. At each temporal step, the corresponding linear systems are solved by usingSOR iteration. We investigate the efficiency of the Newton-SOR iterative method by solvingthree examples of 2D PME and the performance is compared with the Newton-GS iterativemethod. Numerical results show that the Newton-SOR iterative method is better than theNewton-GS iterative method in terms of a number of iterations, computer time and maximum absolute errors.Keywords: porous medium equation; finite difference scheme; Newton; Successive OverRelaxation, Gauss-Seidel

Reports on Payments to Governments: A critical review of early developments and experiences

We are concerned to review and discuss aspects of the Reports submitted in line with the Payments to Governments Regulations. We consider the process of transposition of this EU Accounting Law into UK law and the early implementation or operationalization of this law in the UK. Recommendations drawn from the study are intended to be of use to a variety of stakeholders who may input into the upcoming government consultation on these regulations. This version was published by Robert Gordon University

Accounting Law in Practice: Compliance, Consistency and Substance Focusing on the UK’s Implementation of EU Extractive Industry Country by Country Reporting of Government Payments to Governments

The passing into EU Law of a requirement that all companies domiciled in member states or listed on EU stock exchanges should publish a Report of Payments to Governments on the face of it is a victory for the civil society organizations long campaigning for the attendant increased transparency and accountability, a step towards better conditions and possibilities for many of the world’s poor. But it cannot be taken for granted. It was passed with a condition that it be reviewed (at both member state level, where a review can feed into the federal level review, and at the level of the EU), which is an opportunity to better it or a threat to reverse positive potentialities. The UK Brexit vote adds some uncertainty regarding the future of the law in the UK. And studies of manifestations of practices such as accounting and auditing (often intersecting with the law) caution against too much optimism as to their straightforward effectiveness. With a view to understanding this particular law in practice, so that it be strengthened and better function in line with its intended aims, we explore processes of its construction and early adoption in the UK. In a preliminary analysis, we elaborate how interpretations of the Law within the Extractives Industry run counter to the spirit or substance of the law and give rise to different and apparently problematic translations of the law into practice. Reflecting on our analysis, we make some recommendations as to ways forward

Reports on Payments to Governments: A report on early developments and experiences

We are concerned in this report to review and discuss aspects of the Reports submitted in line with the Payments to Governments Regulations. We consider the process of transposition of this Accounting Law into UK law and the early implementation or operationalization of this law in the UK. Recommendations drawn from the study will be useful for Publish What You Pay (PWYP) and other interested stakeholders in communications with government, regulators and standard setters and in general campaign activity

Frozen light in photonic crystals with degenerate band edge

Consider a plane monochromatic wave incident on a semi-infinite periodic structure. What happens if the normal component of the transmitted wave group velocity vanishes? At first sight, zero normal component of the transmitted wave group velocity simply implies total reflection of the incident wave. But we demonstrate that total reflection is not the only possible outcome. Instead, the transmitted wave can appear in the form of a frozen mode with very large diverging amplitude and either zero, or purely tangential energy flux. The field amplitude in the transmitted wave can exceed that of the incident wave by several orders of magnitude. There are two qualitatively different kinds of frozen mode regime. The first one is associated with a stationary inflection point of electromagnetic dispersion relation. This phenomenon has been analyzed in our previous publications. Now, our focus is on the frozen mode regime related to a degenerate photonic band edge. An advantage of this new phenomenon is that it can occur in much simpler periodic structures. This spectacular effect is extremely sensitive to the frequency and direction of propagation of the incident plane wave. These features can be very attractive in a variety practical applications, such as higher harmonic generation and wave mixing, light amplification and lasing, highly efficient superprizms, etc

\pi N scattering in relativistic baryon chiral perturbation theory revisited

We have analyzed pion-nucleon scattering using the manifestly relativistic covariant framework of Infrared Regularization up to {\cal O}(q^3) in the chiral expansion, where q is a generic small momentum. We describe the low-energy phase shifts with a similar quality as previously achieved with Heavy Baryon Chiral Perturbation Theory, \sqrt{s}\lesssim1.14 GeV. New values are provided for the {\cal O}(q^2) and {\cal O}(q^3) low-energy constants, which are compared with previous determinations. This is also the case for the scattering lengths and volumes. Finally, we have unitarized the previous amplitudes and as a result the energy range where data are reproduced increases significantly.Comment: 26 pages, 5 figures, 5 table

Corporate Brand Image: Antecedents, Mediating Role and Impact on Stakeholder Expectations

Corporate identity and image are shaped by the entirety of perceptions of a variety of stakeholders, both existing and potential ones, such as customers, suppliers, employees, general public, opinion makers, and government officials. Our study is an empirical investigation of corporate brand image and impact on one such stakeholder group made up of prospective employees. A large multinational, a technical and scientific research firm, a major recruiter of graduates from campuses of reputable universities across the nation was chosen as the subject. This paper develops and tests a path model of the antecedent factors affecting corporate brand image and specific expectations that stakeholders may have of a corporate brand. Based on a thorough literature review, a corporate brand image model that treated as antecedents the four constructs, awareness of organisation’s products, perceptions about culture, personality of the focal firm, and general expectations was proposed. Specific expectations that respondents may have about working with the firm was modeled to be influenced by the corporate brand image of the firm surveyed and also by the mentioned four antecedent constructs. The model is fitted to empirical data obtained from a national sample of 368 respondents using LISREL 8.5 methodology, and strong support was found for five, partial support for two of the nine hypotheses tested. Substantial evidence can be seen for the mediating role of corporate brand image in shaping specific expectations that stakeholders have from the corporate brand. Practical significance and managerial implications for marketing investments and organisational performance are detailed.

Slow wave resonance in periodic stacks of anisotropic layers

We consider transmission band edge resonance in periodic layered structures involving birefringent layers. Previously we have shown that the presence of birefringent layers with misaligned in-plane anisotropy can dramatically enhance the performance of the photonic-crystal Fabry-Perot resonator. It allows to reduce its size by an order of magnitude without compromising on its performance. The key characteristic of the enhanced photonic-crystal cavity is that its Bloch dispersion relation displays a degenerate photonic band edge, rather than only regular ones. This can be realized in specially arranged stacks of misaligned anisotropic layers. On the down side, the presence of birefringent layers results in the Fabry-Perot resonance being coupled only with one (elliptic) polarization component of the incident wave, while the other polarization component is reflected back to space. In this paper we show how a small modification of the periodic layered array can solve the above fundamental problem and provide a perfect impedance match regardless of the incident wave polarization, while preserving the giant transmission resonance, characteristic of a degenerate photonic band edge. Both features are of critical importance for a variety of practical applications, including antennas, light amplification, optical and microwave filters, etc.Comment: To be submitted to Phys. Rev.