N.M. AMOSOV, A.M. KASATKIN, L.M. KASATKINA, E.M. KUSSUL, S.A. TALAEV and V.D. FOMENKO
This paper develops a hypothesis concerning the structure and interaction principles of main psychological programs in form of semantic networks. Models for the brain information…
Abstract
This paper develops a hypothesis concerning the structure and interaction principles of main psychological programs in form of semantic networks. Models for the brain information mechanisms are proposed, including planning, decision making, complex concept forming and situation evaluation. Some experimental studies are described.
L. Marce, M. Julliere, H. Place and H. Perrichot
Mobile robots offer more flexibility and scope than the fixed single arm type. French researchers are putting considerable effort into developing such devices and here results of…
Abstract
Mobile robots offer more flexibility and scope than the fixed single arm type. French researchers are putting considerable effort into developing such devices and here results of their efforts are described.
Mustafa Saroar and Jayant K. Routray
The paper aims to identify and assess quantitatively the influences of a few dimensions of climate awareness on people's preference for adaptation against sea level rise (SLR).
Abstract
Purpose
The paper aims to identify and assess quantitatively the influences of a few dimensions of climate awareness on people's preference for adaptation against sea level rise (SLR).
Design/methodology/approach
From the literature survey “familiarity with”, “perception about” and “intuitive knowledge about” climate change‐sea level rise (CC‐SLR) have been identified as dimensions of “climate awareness”. Empirical research was done through administering questionnaires among 285 respondents selected randomly from three coastal villages in Bangladesh. After principal component analysis, data sufficiency and colinearity test, a total of 18 variables were entered into a multinomial logistic regression model. The reference category “evacuation” was compared with other two choices, i.e. in situ adaptation with “same occupation” and “changed occupation”.
Findings
For the SLR scenario of 2050‐2075 occupational engagement, use of radio for climate information, exposure to rainfall, salinity and perception about CC‐SLR appeared as the most significant predictors of people's preference for evacuation or in situ adaptation (LR χ2=183.38, pseudo R2=0.54, p<.001). Similarly, for the SLR scenario of 2080‐2100, in addition to the factors cited above, some other factors such as educational attainment, exposure to flood, climate perception and familiarity appeared as the most significant predictor of respondent's preference (LR χ2=202.08, pseudo R2=0.60, p<0.001).
Originality/value
Two dimensions of climate awareness, i.e. familiarity with and perception about CC‐SLR may significantly influence the people's preference for adaptation choice. Launching a programme to enhance climate awareness without further delay may help people planning for anticipatory in situ adaptation against CC‐SLR.
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The high Tc superconductors (HTS) are characterized by magneto electric anisotropy due to their pronounced material anisotropy. It is expected to observe also some mechanical…
Abstract
The high Tc superconductors (HTS) are characterized by magneto electric anisotropy due to their pronounced material anisotropy. It is expected to observe also some mechanical anisotropy. The mechanical properties of c-axis oriented and <110>-axis oriented films are reported. The two differently orientated films comprise an ideal case for comparative studies on mechanical anisotropy. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) and atomic force microscope (AFM) were used to study the films' surface. Nanoindentation and nanoscratch techniques were used to test the elastic behaviors and hardness of the films. Mechanical anisotropies was found, analyzed and discussed.
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Purpose: After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Belarus began to develop a national policy on reproductive health, influenced by late Soviet policy, market relations, and…
Abstract
Purpose: After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Belarus began to develop a national policy on reproductive health, influenced by late Soviet policy, market relations, and international actors. The central question of this research is how the issues of reproduction and woman’s health are reconsidered in post-Soviet Belarus, in light of the influence of various social and political factors.
Methodology/approach: This chapter critically examines discourses of legal regulations of reproduction and how they promote certain understandings of national security and traditional values through reproduction. In particular, the study is based on the discourse-analysis of the official legislative documents on reproduction in Belarus between 1991 and 2015.
Findings: The transformation of the post-Soviet social protection system, reproductive health care, family policy, as well as specific configuration of public discourse legitimize one model (unified and homogenized normative body that is heterosexual, fertile, healthy, prosperous) and exclude others (non-normative bodies that are non-heterosexual, infertile, unhealthy, poor, and thus precarious for the nation) in favor of the interests of biopolitical governance, nation-building, and neoliberal ideology. Moreover, legal documents legalize new principles of social stratification and produce new ideas about responsible parenthood.
Social implications: Although there is some scholarship on reproduction in Belarus, a thorough analysis of the public discourse and the legal regulations of reproduction has yet to be conducted. Contributing to the debate about post-Soviet reproductive politics, this chapter explores the influence of the biopolitical dialogue and the panic around depopulation on social policies. In particular, this chapter offers more critical perspective toward the economic and social dynamics in Belarus, taking into account the variety of processes and configurations of discourses that influence official policy.
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Kseniia Puzyreva and Nikita Basov
Owing to the climate change, the number of flood hazards and communities at risk is expected to rise. The increasing flood risk exposure is paralleled with an understanding that…
Abstract
Owing to the climate change, the number of flood hazards and communities at risk is expected to rise. The increasing flood risk exposure is paralleled with an understanding that hard flood defense measures should be complemented with soft sociotechnical approaches to flood management. Among other things, this involves development of a dialogue between professionals and flood-prone communities to ensure that the decisions made correspond to the peculiarities of local socioenvironmental contexts. However, in practice, establishment of such a dialogue proves to be challenging. Flood-prone communities are often treated as mere recipients of professional knowledge and their local knowledge remains underrated. Building on an illustrative case study of one rural settlement in North-West Russia, we examine how at-risk communities develop their local knowledge and put it to use as they struggle with adverse impacts of flooding, when the existing flood protection means are insufficient. Our findings showcase that local knowledge of Russian flood-prone communities is axiomatic and tacit, acquired performatively through daily interaction of local residents with their natural and sociotechnical environments. Even if unacknowledged by both the local residents and flood management professionals as a valuable asset for long-term flood management, it is local knowledge that informs local communities' practices and enables their coexistence with the treacherous waters.
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Hongyan Tian, Jianbing Sang, Rihan Ao and Shujun Hou
As a good absorbing material candidate, a functionally graded wave absorber can be tailored to satisfy the impedance match principle by gradually changing material property. The…
Abstract
Purpose
As a good absorbing material candidate, a functionally graded wave absorber can be tailored to satisfy the impedance match principle by gradually changing material property. The paper aims to discuss these issues.
Design/methodology/approach
The electromagnetic wave absorption properties are discussed. An analysis model is proposed to provide an insight into its mechanical characteristics during wave absorption. Considering the energy-converting and thermal deformation properties, the thermoelastic behaviors of an absorber are analyzed by numerical method. The effects of material and geometrical properties are discussed in detail.
Findings
The results demonstrate that absorbing effect of graded composite is enhanced. Good performance of low reflectance and high absorption with gentle thermal stress distribution can be obtained by proper designing of the gradient absorber.
Originality/value
Functionally graded materials exhibit a progressive compositional gradient change along certain dimension of structures, which can be used as absorbing materials for the gradual change of material property tailored to satisfy the principle of impedance match. The design of functionally graded absorbing materials usually should consider not only the electromagnetic performance, but also the mechanical properties simultaneously. Therefore, few investigations have addressed the mechanical characteristics of absorbers. This paper presents some studies on the electromagnetic, especially mechanical behaviors during electromagnetic wave absorption. It is helpful to provide mechanical reference for designing an absorber.
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Deepti Jamwal, Priyanka Saini, Pushpa C. Tomar and Arpita Ghosh
The aim of this study is to provide a review of the research studies that took place in the previous years regarding Mangiferin and its potential use in the treatment of various…
Abstract
Purpose
The aim of this study is to provide a review of the research studies that took place in the previous years regarding Mangiferin and its potential use in the treatment of various disorders such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, cancer and human immunodeficiency virus.
Design/methodology/Approach
Mangiferin can be easily extracted from the plant at a very low cost to treat some common as well as deadly diseases, which will be a miracle in herbal treatment. In support of this, the recent related articles were considered to understand the bioactive compound “Mangiferin” to treat lifestyle diseases. Various review articles and research papers were collected from international and national journals, and internet sources were also being used to compile the current manuscript.
Findings
Mangiferin has been shown to have the potential to mitigate many life style diseases such as diabetes, obesity, hypertension, fatty liver, atherosclerosis, dyslipidemia and diabetes-related end-organ complications such as retinopathy, neuropathy and nephropathy.
Originality/value
In this comprehensive review, this study evaluates Mangiferin and its lifestyle disease-modifying properties for nutraceuticals purposes.
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Lilia Alanís-López, Martha-Selene Casas-Ramírez and José-Fernando Camacho-Vallejo
The aim of the study is to show that merging two areas of mathematics – topology and discrete optimization – could result in a viable option to solve classical or specialized…
Abstract
Purpose
The aim of the study is to show that merging two areas of mathematics – topology and discrete optimization – could result in a viable option to solve classical or specialized integer problems.
Design/methodology/approach
In the paper, discrete topology concepts are applied to propose a metaheuristic algorithm that is capable to solve binary programming problems. Particularly, some of the homotopy for paths principles are used to explore the solution space associated with four well-known NP-hard problems herein considered as follows: knapsack, set covering, bi-level single plant location with order and one-max.
Findings
Computational experimentation confirms that the proposed algorithm performs in an effective manner, and it is able to efficiently solve the sets of instances used for the benchmark. Moreover, the performance of the proposed algorithm is compared with a standard genetic algorithm (GA), a scatter search (SS) method and a memetic algorithm (MA). Acceptable results are obtained for all four implemented metaheuristics, but the path homotopy algorithm stands out.
Originality/value
A novel metaheuristic is proposed for the first time. It uses topology concepts to design an algorithmic framework to solve binary programming problems in an effective and efficient manner.
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Kamal Kant Tyagi, Chakir Aziza and Vinay Pal Singh
India has a serious poverty issue that needs to be addressed immediately. The elimination of poverty should be one of the primary goals of economic policy. The elimination of…
Abstract
India has a serious poverty issue that needs to be addressed immediately. The elimination of poverty should be one of the primary goals of economic policy. The elimination of poverty is one of the greatest obstacles to economic development as it is now envisioned. It is difficult to provide a blanket recommendation for achieving economic growth and reducing poverty because each state's experience has been distinct. The states of Punjab and Haryana are two examples of how a strong emphasis on agricultural expansion can help alleviate poverty. Human resource development has been successful in Kerala; thus, it has been replicated in other states. While India's social safety programmes have helped to alleviate poverty, they aren't perfect. COVID-19 reversed the progress made and harmed migrant workers and others in the informal economy. There are now millions more people living in extreme poverty than before. To tackle unemployment, governments and underprivileged communities are appealing to programmes like MGNREGA.
The purpose of this article is to investigate the measures taken by the state to combat poverty.