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This paper reports on research into co-creation labs as a tool for exploring environmental communication. Co-creation labs are novel spaces for experimentation, social learning, and trans-disciplinary as well as cross-sectoral collaboration for sustainability transformations. This paper examines the approach taken by researchers to theorising, via a repurposing of the 2×2 scenario matrix, a series of "labs" that represent diverse spaces in which to explore co-creative convergence through transformative learning processes. In addition, examples from work done to date are offered to illustrate progress in implementing these labs and testing the strengths and weaknesses of these co-creative spaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present paper, the expected-value (EV) reformulation of a class of stochastic vector variational inequalities (SVVI) is investigated. By using the regularized gap function, the EV reformulation of SVVI is transformed into a constrained optimization problem. Then a sample average approximation (SAA) method is proposed for solving the constrained optimization problem. Under suitable assumptions, the limiting behaviors of the optimal values and optimal solutions of the approximation problem are investigated. Finally, the rates of convergence in the different senses of optimal solutions for sample average approximation problem are discussed under the error bound condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are numerous phenomena in real world that their practical modeling in mathematics language deals with differential equations. Stochastic terms have significant roles in estimating behavior of these events such as machine tool vibrations, biology, traffic dynamics, neural networks and so on, it cannot be reasonable to consider an event without its past information, and it ends up with equations including time delays. The numerical solution of stochastic delay differential equations has always been of interest to researchers. In this paper, by using scaling function of the Daubechies wavelet, a collocation method is presented to solve a class of stochastic delay differential equations and it is tried to demonstrate the advantages of using this type of wavelet. Convergence of the method is provided and numerical experiments are reported to show application of the method in practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article aims at assessing whether party organizational profiles and policy issue saliency converged in 7 European democracies (Austria, Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, UK), from the 1970s to the 2010s. Building on the theoretical premises of the cartel party thesis and historical new-institutionalism, the paper argues that general tendencies in party policy issue saliency and organizational evolution driven by contextual factors have been taken for granted by party literature based on ideal-typical models. We maintain that party convergence is mainly associated to higher levels of socialization to government. Our empirical analysis shows that patterns of cross-country convergence among parties actually emerge concerning the saliency of the issues placed on the classical left-right divide, as well as party resources, while higher variance characterizes all the other organizational dimensions and post-materialist/value-based policy issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we develop a Jacobi-type algorithm for the approximate diagonalization of tensors of order $ d\geq 3 $ d ≥ 3 via tensor trace maximization. For a general tensor, this is an alternating least squares algorithm and the rotation matrices are chosen in each mode one-by-one to maximize the tensor trace. On the other hand, for symmetric tensors, we discuss a structure-preserving variant of this algorithm where in each iteration the same rotation is applied in all modes. We show that both versions of the algorithm converge to the stationary points of the corresponding objective functions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Globalisation, changes in technology and transportation, and isomorphic trends in the sector emphasise the need to identify the diversity of higher education institutions. As a response, classification mechanisms emerged in higher education in recent decades. While many studies on classification focus on the types and methodology, the examination of the utility of classifications is limited. Thus, this paper examines the perspectives of 14 people in critical positions on the Carnegie Basic Classification of Higher Education and is triangulated by institutional documents. The results revealed some important implications for policymakers and researchers. While the Carnegie Basic Classification seems to remain one of the significant sources in higher education, the availability of big data, along with varying new methodologies, began to threaten the usability of the classification system. Moreover, contrary to the role assigned to it earlier, Carnegie Basic Classification seems to contribute more to homogeneity in the system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It has become a new trend for the future development of Chinese agriculture to accelerate the transformation from increasing production to improving quality and realizing green growth. This paper uses the sequential DEA to measure the agricultural green total factor productivity (GTFP) of 306 Chinese cities from 1996 to 2017, then tests its convergence. The results show that the average growth rate of Chinese agricultural GTFP is 0.58%; the main driving force coming from technical progress. The convergence of agricultural GTFP has dual characteristics of stages and regions, and the significant σ convergence only exists in the central region during 1996–2003. There is significant β convergence at the national level, in the eastern and central regions, and neither convergence nor divergence in the western region. However, during 2004–2017, only the eastern region had β convergence. Finally, the conditional convergence speed is higher than the absolute convergence, and the eastern region is higher than the central. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the possibility of solving the one-dimensional Burgers' equation with a tailored finite point method (TFPM) based on an explicit stencil along with utilizing the Cole Hopf transformation. The proposed TFPM procedure operates on an explicit four-point stencil where the nodal solution at the advanced temporal level is written as a linear combination of the nodal solutions at the preceding temporal level. In order to bring the essence of the local exact solutions into the numerical approximations the scalar coefficients involved in the linear sum are determined by the application of the fundamental solutions into the stencil. The efficiency of the method is demonstrated through the comparisons of TFPM solutions for various examples with the exact solutions and solutions from well-established methodologies in the literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, several Kaczmarz-type numerical methods for solving the matrix equations AX = B and XA = C are proposed, where the coefficient matrix A may be full rank or deficient rank. These methods are iterative methods without matrix multiplication. Theoretically, the convergence of these methods is proved. The numerical results show that these methods are more efficient than iterative methods involving matrix multiplication for high-dimensional matrices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we consider the behaviour of solutions to a class of fully history-dependent variational-hemivariational inequalities with respect to the perturbation of the data. First, the existence and uniqueness of the solution to a class of fully history-dependent variational-hemivariational inequalities is obtained by using a fixed point theorem. Second, we obtain continuous dependence result of solutions with respect to all the data of variational-hemivariational inequalities. Meanwhile, the convergence results of the solutions for the special case of abstract variational inequalities are also given. Finally, to illustrate our main results, we consider a class of viscoelastic contact problem with a long memory. By using our abstract result, we get the continuous dependence of the solutions to frictional contact problem with respect to all the data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we extend SMSNS [Pourbagher M, Salkuyeh DK. On the solution of a class of complex symmetric linear systems. Appl Math Lett. 2018;76:14–20.] iteration method for solving a class of complex symmetric system of linear equations. We propose a successive-overrelaxation (SOR) acceleration scheme for SMSNS (SMSNSSOR), discuss the convergence conditions of it and give the optimal parameters which make the fast convergence. Numerical results demonstrate that SMSNSSOR iteration method is feasible and effective for solving complex symmetric systems, and performs better than some other usually used iteration methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nonlinear Kawarada equations have been used to model solid fuel combustion processes in the oil industry. An effective way to approximate solutions of such equations is to take advantage of the finite difference configurations. Traditionally, the nonlinear term of the equation is linearized while the numerical stability of a difference scheme is investigated. This leaves certain ambiguity and uncertainty in the analysis. Based on nonuniform grids generated through a quenching-seeking moving mesh method in space and adaptation in time, this paper introduces a completely new stability analysis of the approximation without freezing the nonlinearity involved. Pointwise orders of convergence are investigated numerically. Simulation experiments are carried out to accompany the mathematical analysis to strengthen our conclusions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, for solving the vertical linear complementarity problem (VLCP) effectively, a two-step new modulus-based matrix splitting (TNMMS) iteration method is introduced. Its convergence properties are discussed in depth. The efficiency of the proposed method is confirmed by some numerical experiments from the 2-D boundary problem. Numerical results show that the proposed method is superior to some existing methods, such as the two modulus-based matrix splitting (TMMS) iteration method (Numer. Algor., 2011, 57: 83–99) and the new modulus-based matrix splitting (NMMS) iteration method (Optim., 2023, 72: 2499–2516). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores whether there is convergence of bank profits in the US banking sector across the periods before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. For the first time in the literature, it provides empirical evidence from 86 largest banks in the sector by making use of certain convergence methods. The empirical (robust) findings document that over the pandemic crisis, bank profits illustrated a more convergence pattern, while certain explanatory determinants of bank profitability, such as non-performing loans and digital technology, seem to stronger impact on higher convergence during the pandemic crisis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we introduce the initial value problem of Caputo tempered fractional stochastic differential equations and then study the well-posedness of its solution. Further, a Euler–Maruyama (EM) method is derived for solving the considered problem. The strong convergence order of the derived EM method is proved to be $ \alpha -\frac {1}{2} $ α−12 with $ \frac {1}{2} \lt \alpha \lt 1 $ 12<α<1. Additionally, a fast EM method is also developed which is based on the sum-of-exponentials approximation. Finally, numerical experiments are given to support the theoretical findings of the above two methods and verify computational efficiency of the fast EM method. The fast EM method can greatly improve the computational performance of the original EM method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we investigate two-step Runge–Kutta methods to solve Volterra integro-differential equations. Two-step Runge–Kutta methods increase the order of convergence in comparing the classical Runge–Kutta method without extra computational cost. First, the local order conditions and convergence theorem are derived. Then, stability properties of two-step Runge–Kutta methods corresponding to the basic and convolution test equations are analysed. Furthermore, one-stage method with order four and two-stage method with order six are constructed and we plot the stability regions. Numerical examples are presented to confirm the theoretical analyses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oblique bifactor models, where group factors are allowed to correlate with one another, are commonly used. However, the lack of research on the statistical properties of oblique bifactor models renders the statistical validity of empirical findings questionable. Therefore, the present study took the first step to examine the statistical properties of oblique bifactor models through Monte Carlo simulations. Study 1 showed that the classic oblique bifactor measurement models had severe convergence issues in many conditions. Even for converged replications, both factor loading and group factor correlation estimates were severely biased. Study 2 further showed that the classic oblique bifactor predictive models still had serious convergence problems, and structural parameters suffered from issues of severe estimation bias and low power. Fortunately, the augmentation approach, where one or multiple indicators are specified to load onto only the general factor but not any of the group factors, was useful in ameliorating these issues in both oblique bifactor measurement and predictive models. Tentative recommendations regarding the selection between oblique and orthogonal bifactor models and the approaches to finding augmenting indicators were provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Farmers' use of agricultural technology is necessary for reducing poverty. However, women make up most poor smallholder farmers in India and are generally unable to access relevant opportunities. Tandem to supporting women farmers in technology adoption is increasing their empowerment. While women's empowerment has been on policy agendas in India for several years, progress has been slow and results are mixed. Using primary data from West Bengal, this study finds that female farmers with access to agricultural technologies will likely have social advantages over those without, but institutional and social support is necessary to facilitate real empowerment and overall development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using convergence estimations, the economies of the towns and districts of Rostov Oblast are shown to be resilient to four shocks to the economy – initial sanctions (2019), initial COVID and continuing sanctions (2020), continuing sanctions and worsening COVID (2021), war, harsher sanctions and declining COVID (2022). Agricultural output is resilient and represents an important growth sector for the Russian economy. Housing and floor area construction are resilient with even gross production being maintained. Labor indicators show a severe shock to unemployment and vacancies in 2020 followed by recovery in 2021 and a much tighter labor market in 2022. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]