Error estimates of a bi-fidelity method for a multi-phase Navier-Stokes-Vlasov-Fokker-Planck system with random inputs

Uniform error estimates of a bi-fidelity method for a kinetic-fluid coupled model with random initial inputs in the fine particle regime are proved in this paper. Such a model is a system coupling the incompressible Navier-Stokes equations to the Vlasov-Fokker-Planck equations for a mixture of the flows with distinct particle sizes. The main analytic tool is the hypocoercivity analysis for the multi-phase Navier-Stokes-Vlasov-Fokker-Planck system with uncertainties, considering solutions in a perturbative setting near the global equilibrium. This allows us to obtain the error estimates in both kinetic and hydrodynamic regimes

The trend of de-politicization in the liberal studies curriculum in Hong Kong

Liberal Studies as a senior secondary subject in Hong Kong is now facing a dilemma between its educational aim of cultivating self-determined individuals and an appeal for its de-politicization. The aggravated dissonance regarding the subject’s future development arouses this study to find out whether signs of de-politicization can be detected in its curriculum and textbooks, which could fundamentally alter the essence of this subject. To investigate whether there the tendency of de-politicization is reflected in Liberal Studies, content analysis is conducted on the official curriculum documents and selected textbooks. A framework of four types of de-politicization is developed based on the conceptions of de-politicization from political science and schools of civic virtues from citizenship education. These four types, reduction, selection, deflection and neutrality, are identified with their characteristic and values promoted, and subdivided into more specific forms corresponding to various modalities of issue framing. The results of the content analysis indicate that a neutral approach to de-politicization with maximal presentation of values is found widely used to address issue enquiry. The inconsistency between the politicized orientation in the curriculum and the de-politicized interpretation in textbooks is believed to be the result of deficient guidelines and exemplification on how moral reasoning can be made in the curriculum and the textbooks.published_or_final_versionEducationBachelorBachelor of Education in Liberal Studie

Alpha-mangostin attenuates oxidative stress and inflammation in adjuvant-induced arthritic rats

Purpose: To examine the protective effect of α-mangostin on Freund’s adjuvant-induced rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in rats.Methods: Male Wistar rats were divided into four groups (n = 6). The rats were made arthritic using a single intradermal injection of 0.1 ml complete Freund's adjuvant. α-Mangostin (100 mg/kg, i.p.) was administered for 21 days. After the experimental period, the animals were sacrificed and various biochemical markers were assessed.Results: Arthritis-induced rats showed a significant (p < 0.05) increase in malondialdehyde (16.28 ± 1.43 vs 7.22 ± 1.03) and nitric oxide (3.82 ± 0.87 vs 6.12 ± 1.23) with a concomitant reduction of antioxidants in the paw tissue. α-Mangostin intervention significantly (p < 0.05) reduced malondialdehyde and nitric oxide levels and restored antioxidant levels to normalcy by mitigating oxidative stress. The arthritic rats exhibited elevated tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) serum concentrations, upregulated TNF-α and IL–6 protein levels, and upregulated nuclear factor αB (NF-αB) mRNA expression in paw tissues. Treatment with α-mangostin significantly (p < 0.05) reduced serum levels and downregulated inflammatory markers to normalcy.Conclusion: The results suggest that α-mangostin displayed a protective effect against adjuvantinduced arthritis in rats mediated through antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.Keywords: Rheumatoid arthritis, Freund’s adjuvant, α-Mangostin, Oxidative stress, Inflammatio

The role of social capital and community leadership in post-disaster recovery practices: an ethnography of Minami-Sanriku after the 2011 Tsunami

This research explores community post-disaster recovery practices in Minami-Sanriku, Japan after the 2011 tsunami by focusing on how various types of social capital have been developed and deployed in bottom up community-based tourism initiatives. In so doing, the research fills a gap in the existing disaster recovery literature by bringing to the fore the voices and experiences of the tsunami survivors as opposed to outsiders (Government, NGOs etc.) who have already received extensive attention in terms of their roles in the reconstruction efforts. The study adopts a social capital lens which is applied to the context of disaster recovery and illustrated via empirical cases which unpack the processes by which social innovation was facilitated by and in turn facilitated the development of bonding, bridging and linking social forms of capital. The research also demonstrates the dynamics of Kizuna as perceived by the local community which challenges the official meaning of Kizuna of social solidarity as espoused by the government in its reconstruction rhetoric. Finally, this research contributes new insights to the role of community leadership by highlighting its emergent and collective nature and its roots in a crisis situation. This alerts us to rethink power-sharing in decision-making and coordinating recovery activities at all levels to achieve the goal of “building back better”. The research is ethnographic and the data was collected via a mosaic of complementary methods. Classical American pragmatism was chosen due to its emphasis on problem-driven inquiry and to the view that theory is valid and rigorous only when it has consequences in the real world. The research findings can inform preparing for future disasters, thus being beneficial for other disaster-prone communities. It is hoped that the study will inspire other researchers to put community experiences at the heart of studying disaster recovery practices

Research on AR cultural and creative design of Yangming Culture under the background of the integration of culture and technology

The integration of science and technology and culture is a general trend in today’s society, which provides more ways for cultural exchange and interaction and promotes social development. This study analyzes the application value of AR technology in the design of cultural and creative products, and reconstructs the process of AR cultural and creative products through the double drill model, and designs Yangming cultural products based on AR technology. It can be seen from the research that AR technology is gradually integrated with culture, which can bring new breakthroughs in the transmission, preservation, creation and consumption of culture. This has played a better role in the dissemination and protection of other traditional Chinese culture and even intangible cultural heritage, further broadening the design space of cultural and creative products, and making new breakthroughs in the integration of science and technology and culture