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This study introduces Multi-dimensional Disparity Index (MDI) to measure multi-form of disparity in different level of governments referencing Nepal. The measurement scale of MDI was developed by adopting Santos and Alkire's (2011) approaches. A wide range of thematic experts was consulted, employing the Semi-Delphi approach to determine its dimensions and indicators. The MDI in this study includes six dimensions and 34 indicators composited with dimension-wise indices like Economy Disparity Index [ECODI], Educational Disparity Index [EDUDI], Health Disparity Index [HDI], Geography and Climatic Vulnerability Index [GCVI], Living Standard Disparity Index [LSDI], and Demography Disparity Index [DDI]. Overall, the study revealed the extent of multi-dimensional disparity across three tiers of government in Nepal. More specifically, Nepal scored 0.388 MDI value. Karnali and Bagmati provinces are accounted as the highest and least deprived. This study contributes essential knowledge, particularly in exploring the dimensions and their indicators and develops an approach to measure multi-dimensional disparities. Most existing approaches for assessing disparities are mono-dimensional and measure the disparities in a single aspect. In this context, MDI provides a broader approach to consider multiple dimensions and measures multiple aspects in a country like Nepal, where disparity manifests at multiple levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A theoretical method for predicting the acoustic impedance of rectangular micro-perforated membranes with membrane vibration. • Numerical modeling implements the linearized Navier-Stokes equations for coupled vibrations in the frequency domain. • The effects of membrane geometry parameters on the absorption performance of micro-perforated absorbers are investigated. A theoretical method base on the zero-slip boundary and a finite element model with thermoviscous membrane-acoustic interaction are proposed for investigating a viscously damped micro-perforated rectangular membrane. Both the theoretical and finite element methods well predicted the sound absorption performance of a dielectric elastomer micro-perforated membrane, and the results agree with those from experiments. The thermoviscous membrane-acoustic interaction is further explored. The properties which lead to better acoustic performance are studied using the developed numerical model. With the optimized parameters, a duct silencer with high transmission loss (>10 dB) and broad noise attenuation band (from 300 Hz to 1700 Hz) is designed, fabricated, and tested. The potential engineering application and the background physical mechanism are also addressed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most membrane-type acoustic absorbers for low-frequency sound attenuation are applicable only at a fixed resonant frequency for a narrow bandwidth. Tuning of the acoustic absorption spectrum is desired to match the varying noises. This letter presents a micro-perforated dielectric elastomer actuator (MPDEA) to make a broader-band acoustic absorber electrically tunable. Voltage activation of the MPDEA reduces the membrane tension and hole size and thus enables the active shifting of the acoustic absorption spectrum. Such a membrane tuning method does not require discrete mechanical parts as for the cavity tuning method. Also presented are the analytical models to predict the voltage-induced hole size change and acoustic characteristics of MPDEA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Indium-tin-oxide (ITO) thin films are perceived to be stiff and brittle. This letter reports that crumpled ITO thin films on adhesive poly-acrylate dielectric elastomer can make compliant electrodes, sustaining compression of up to 25%25% equi-biaxial strain and unfolding. Its optical transmittance reduces with crumpling, but restored with unfolding. A dielectric elastomer actuator (DEA) using the 14.2%14.2% initially crumpled ITO thin-film electrodes is electrically activated to produce a 37% areal strain. Such electric unfolding turns the translucent DEA to be transparent, with transmittance increased from 39.14% to 52.08%. This transmittance tunability promises to make a low-cost smart privacy window. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Rapid urbanization of the Phoenix Metropolitan Area exemplifies the dominant US Southwest urban growth pattern of the past six decades. Using a combination of multitemporal land cover data, gradient analysis, and landscape metrics, we quantify and characterize spatiotemporal patterns of land fragmentation observed in Phoenix. We analyze historical, qualitative data to identify five major socio-ecological drivers critical to understanding the urbanization processes and fragmentation patterns: population dynamics, water provisioning, technology and transportation, institutional factors, and topography. A second objective is to assess the applicability and accuracy of National Land cover Database (NLCD)-—a widely used land cover dataset—-to detect and measure urban growth and land fragmentation patterns in the relatively treeless desert biome of the US Southwest. In contrast to studies in the temperate eastern USA where NLCD has proved inaccurate for detection of exurban development, our study demonstrates that NLCD is a reliable data source for measuring land use in the southwest, even in low-density environments. By combining qualitative analyses of social-ecological drivers with fragmentation analyses, we move toward an improved understanding of urbanization and insights on the human modification framework used widely in land change science. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

• Hygroscopic PEDOT:PSS electrodes and acrylic dielectric elastomer make a 'hygromophic' actuator • The current leaked via this constant-voltage activated capacitor surges with increasing humidity Many capacitive or resistive humidity sensors cannot accurately measure high humidity because of surface water condensation and saturation of hygrosopic material in the sensors. Here, we propose a novel method of high humidity measurement using a 'hydromorphic' dielectric elastomer actuator (DEA). This novel humidity sensor consists of a 'relatively water-inert' acrylic dielectric elastomer layer (3M VHB 4910) sandwiched by a pair of hygroscopic polymer electrodes. The hygroscopic polymer electrodes are made of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS); they become softer upon moisture absorption while enabling moisture permeation into the dielectric elastomer substrate during electrical activation and read-out. While the dielectric elastomeric actuation (under constant voltage) enlarged with increasing humidity, the current leaked through it rose more significantly. This suggests a strong humidity dependence of dielectric resistivity. Experimental correlation showed the dielectric resistance be a piecewise linear function of humidity. Further, this DEA-based humidity sensor remained working when both its electrodes were sprayed with a mist of water droplets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Road noise varies with the vehicles' load and speed, ranging from low to medium frequencies. The existing absorbers, including acoustic metamaterials, cannot fully mitigate the variable noise due to limited bandwidth. To target the variable noise but not occupy much space, this paper presents a tunable acoustic absorber that can transform from Helmholtz resonance to membrane resonance. This tunable absorber consist of double micro‐slit layers, namely an electro‐adhesive membrane and a flexible plate spaced closely in front of a shallow cavity. The boundary‐layer thick gap between the two forms a network of lateral orifices to enhance the acoustic damping at medium frequencies. When the gap closes under electrostatic attraction force, the membrane and plate zipped together and resonated like a drum at a much lower frequency. This transformation can shift the resonant frequency down by 1.6 octaves from 898 hetz (Hz) to 281 Hz, thanks to the structural resonance of the zipped parts. Interestingly, the peak absorption coefficient at the lowest tuned 281 Hz was as high as 0.93. Such distributed tunability based on a fault‐tolerant electro‐adhesive membrane will also be applicable to other acoustic meta‐materials that embody the components of micro‐perforated or micro‐slit panels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Early marriage is one of the major traditional practices that affects the life of both boys and girls in many different ways. In this context, this research assessed the prevalence of early marriage and derived its underlying causes. Adopting a mixed methods approach, first, the study surveyed a sample of 1350 households of Nepal in which at least a marriage took place within the five years before the survey. Following a survey, secondly, the study explored 30 unique cases of early marriage, and ten among them were studied in more depth through face-to-face interviews. Logistic regression was applied to determine the factors that could influence the prevalence of early marriage. It was then followed by an analysis of the qualitative data. The research findings demonstrate that there is a high prevalence of early marriage (49.6%) among households within Nepal; nevertheless, the overall trend of early marriage is noted at a decreasing trend over the years. Undoubtedly, factors such as the level of education of the family members, the gender of the head of the household, and religion, influence the predisposition to early marriage within Nepal. Early marriage is undeniably a subjective phenomenon; however, such subjectivity is shaped by the socio-economic situation, as well as individual and family values. Thus, among others, the study implied that improving the strategies that promote higher formal schooling could reduce the prevalence of early marriage and thereby result in associated beneficial welfare effects in Nepal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acoustic absorbers, acoustic metamaterials, electro-adhesion, electrostatics, Helmholtz resonators, Helmholtz resonators, membrane resonators, self clearing, sound absorbers Transformation from Helmholtz to Membrane Resonance by Electro-Adhesive Zip of a Double-Layer Micro-Slit Acoustic Absorber (Adv. A transformable absorber that switches from the Helmholtz resonance at a medium frequency to the membrane resonance at a low frequency is developed. [Extracted from the article]

Boneless soft robotic fingers cannot apply concentrated forces to pinch a delicate object. This letter reports a three-dimensional design of dielectric elastomer fingers with higher flexural stiffness and close to 90° voltage-controllable bending for object gripping and pinching. It makes use of tension arch flexures to elevate a pre-stretched dielectric elastomer actuator (DEA) into a roof shape and thus magnifies the tension-induced moment, 40 times higher than a flat DEA does, to bend a stiff base frame. Such fingers make normally close-grippers to lift a payload 8-9 times their weight. They also make normally open grippers that pinch a highly deformable raw egg yolk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article evaluates the effect of moving window (MW) size on observed fragmentation spatial patterns and proposes a method to identify an effective MW size using Simpson's diversity index. To test the robustness of the proposed method, we demonstrate its use in six cities in the Phoenix metropolitan area that have substantial variation in land composition and configuration. Next we explore the effects of gradient observation scale and the role of scale in removing noise. We compare and discuss two popular approaches to measuring urban-to-rural fragmentation gradients—concentric ring- and transect-based approaches—highlighting the usefulness of each approach in an extensive and rapidly urbanizing region. This study provides a new method for selecting window size, offers insights on scale effects, and provides guidance on gradient scale selection to achieve the best representation of land fragmentation patterns for urban analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]