scholarly journals Entropic measure unveils country competitiveness and product specialization in the World trade web

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gianluca Teza ◽  
Michele Caraglio ◽  
Attilio L. Stella

AbstractWe show how the Shannon entropy function can be used as a basis to set up complexity measures weighting the economic efficiency of countries and the specialization of products beyond bare diversification. This entropy function guarantees the existence of a fixed point which is rapidly reached by an iterative scheme converging to our self-consistent measures. Our approach naturally allows to decompose into inter-sectorial and intra-sectorial contributions the country competitivity measure if products are partitioned into larger categories. Besides outlining the technical features and advantages of the method, we describe a wide range of results arising from the analysis of the obtained rankings and we benchmark these observations against those established with other economical parameters. These comparisons allow to partition countries and products into various main typologies, with well-revealed characterizing features. Our methods have wide applicability to general problems of ranking in bipartite networks.

Author(s):  
Jozefien De Bock

Historically, those societies that have the longest tradition in multicultural policies are settler societies. The question of how to deal with temporary migrants has only recently aroused their interest. In Europe, temporary migration programmes have a much longer history. In the period after WWII, a wide range of legal frameworks were set up to import temporary workers, who came to be known as guest workers. In the end, many of these ‘guests’ settled in Europe permanently. Their presence lay at the basis of European multicultural policies. However, when these policies were drafted, the former mobility of guest workers had been forgotten. This chapter will focus on this mobility of initially temporary workers, comparing the period of economic growth 1945-1974 with the years after the 1974 economic crisis. Further, it will look at the kind of policies that were developed towards guest workers in the era before multiculturalism. This way, it shows how their consideration as temporary residents had far-reaching consequences for the immigrants, their descendants and the receiving societies involved. The chapter will finish by suggesting a number of lessons from the past. If the mobility-gap between guest workers and present-day migrants is not as big as generally assumed, then the consequences of previous neglect should serve as a warning for future policy making.


2016 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 82-93
Author(s):  
Gugulethu Shamaine Nkala ◽  
Rodreck David

Knowledge presented by Oral History (OH) is unique in that it shares the tacit perspective, thoughts, opinions and understanding of the interviewee in its primary form. While teachers, lecturers and other education specialists have at their disposal a wide range of primary, secondary and tertiary sources upon which to relate and share or impart knowledge, OH presents a rich source of information that can improve the learning and knowledge impartation experience. The uniqueness of OH is presented in the following advantages of its use: it allows one to learn about the perspectives of individuals who might not otherwise appear in the historical record; it allows one to compensate for the digital age; one can learn different kinds of information; it provides historical actors with an opportunity to tell their own stories in their own words; and it offers a rich opportunity for human interaction. This article discusses the placement of oral history in the classroom set-up by investigating its use as a source of learning material presented by the National Archives of Zimbabwe to students in the Department of Records and Archives Management at the National University of Science and Technology (NUST). Interviews and a group discussion were used to gather data from an archivist at the National Archives of Zimbabwe, lecturers and students in the Department of Records and Archives Management at NUST, respectively. These groups were approached on the usability, uniqueness and other characteristics that support this type of knowledge about OH in a tertiary learning experience. The findings indicate several qualities that reflect the richness of OH as a teaching source material in a classroom set-up. It further points to weak areas that may be addressed where the source is considered a viable strategy for knowledge sharing and learning. The researchers present a possible model that can be used to champion the use of this rich knowledge source in classroom education at this university and in similar set-ups. 


2003 ◽  
Vol 3 (5-6) ◽  
pp. 321-327 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Gallenkemper ◽  
T. Wintgens ◽  
T. Melin

Endocrine disrupting compounds can affect the hormone system in organisms. A wide range of endocrine disrupters were found in sewage and effluents of municipal wastewater treatment plants. Toxicological evaluations indicate that conventional wastewater treatment plants are not able to remove these substances sufficiently before disposing effluent into the environment. Membrane technology, which is proving to be an effective barrier to these substances, is the subject of this research. Nanofiltration provides high quality permeates in water and wastewater treatment. Eleven different nanofiltration membranes were tested in the laboratory set-up. The observed retention for nonylphenol (NP) and bisphenol A (BPA) ranged between 70% and 100%. The contact angle is an indicator for the hydrophobicity of a membrane, whose influence on the permeability and retention of NP was evident. The retention of BPA was found to be inversely proportional to the membrane permeability.


Tomography ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 39-54
Author(s):  
Veerle Kersemans ◽  
Stuart Gilchrist ◽  
Philip Danny Allen ◽  
Sheena Wallington ◽  
Paul Kinchesh ◽  
...  

Standardisation of animal handling procedures for a wide range of preclinical imaging scanners will improve imaging performance and reproducibility of scientific data. Whilst there has been significant effort in defining how well scanners should operate and how in vivo experimentation should be practised, there is little detail on how to achieve optimal scanner performance with best practices in animal welfare. Here, we describe a system-agnostic, adaptable and extensible animal support cradle system for cardio-respiratory-synchronised, and other, multi-modal imaging of small animals. The animal support cradle can be adapted on a per application basis and features integrated tubing for anaesthetic and tracer delivery, an electrically driven rectal temperature maintenance system and respiratory and cardiac monitoring. Through a combination of careful material and device selection, we have described an approach that allows animals to be transferred whilst under general anaesthesia between any of the tomographic scanners we currently or have previously operated. The set-up is minimally invasive, cheap and easy to implement and for multi-modal, multi-vendor imaging of small animals.


Electronics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 1291
Author(s):  
Giuseppe Schirripa Schirripa Spagnolo ◽  
Fabio Leccese

Nowadays, signal lights are made using light-emitting diode arrays (LEDs). These devices are extremely energy efficient and have a very long lifetime. Unfortunately, especially for yellow/amber LEDs, the intensity of the light is closely related to the junction temperature. This makes it difficult to design signal lights to be used in naval, road, railway, and aeronautical sectors, capable of fully respecting national and international regulations. Furthermore, the limitations prescribed by the standards must be respected in a wide range of temperature variations. In other words, in the signaling apparatuses, a system that varies the light intensity emitted according to the operating temperature is useful/necessary. In this paper, we propose a simple and effective solution. In order to adjust the intensity of the light emitted by the LEDs, we use an LED identical to those used to emit light as a temperature sensor. The proposed system was created and tested in the laboratory. As the same device as the ones to be controlled is used as the temperature sensor, the system is very stable and easy to set up.


Geophysics ◽  
1986 ◽  
Vol 51 (1) ◽  
pp. 12-19 ◽  
Author(s):  
James F. Mitchell ◽  
Richard J. Bolander

Subsurface structure can be mapped using refraction information from marine multichannel seismic data. The method uses velocities and thicknesses of shallow sedimentary rock layers computed from refraction first arrivals recorded along the streamer. A two‐step exploration scheme is described which can be set up on a personal computer and used routinely in any office. It is straightforward and requires only a basic understanding of refraction principles. Two case histories from offshore Peru exploration demonstrate the scheme. The basic scheme is: step (1) shallow sedimentary rock velocities are computed and mapped over an area. Step (2) structure is interpreted from the contoured velocity patterns. Structural highs, for instance, exhibit relatively high velocities, “retained” by buried, compacted, sedimentary rocks that are uplifted to the near‐surface. This method requires that subsurface structure be relatively shallow because the refracted waves probe to depths of one hundred to over one thousand meters, depending upon the seismic energy source, streamer length, and the subsurface velocity distribution. With this one requirement met, we used the refraction method over a wide range of sedimentary rock velocities, water depths, and seismic survey types. The method is particularly valuable because it works well in areas with poor seismic reflection data.


2010 ◽  
Vol 35 (3) ◽  
pp. 291-292
Author(s):  
B. ANANTHAKRISHNAN

Modern academic training for theatre in India has a history of just over fifty years (since independence). The National School of Drama (NSD) was set up in 1957, but the prime objective of the institution at that time was to generate professionals to develop children's theatre and rural theatre. Although India possessed a wide range of traditional performance cultures throughout the country, from rituals to folk performances and classical performances, the NSD was modelled on the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts (RADA) since the new institution was led by a graduate of RADA, Professor Ebrahim Alkazi, who put the institution on a functional track. Thus the toolkit used during the initial days was primarily based on Western models conducive to realism rather than growing organically out of the actual practices of the different forms of Indian performance. This early orientation remains today, emphasizing the creation of referential meanings on the stage through conventional methods and devices, taken as the unshakable organizing principle of theatre practice.


2011 ◽  
Vol 688 ◽  
pp. 66-87 ◽  
Author(s):  
Efrath Barta

AbstractThe flow regime in the vicinity of oscillatory slender bodies, either an isolated one or a row of many bodies, immersed in viscous fluid (i.e. under creeping flow conditions) is studied. Applying the slender-body theory by distributing proper singularities on the bodies’ major axes yields reasonably accurate and easily computed solutions. The effect of the oscillations is revealed by comparisons with known Stokes flow solutions and is found to be most significant for motion along the normal direction. Streamline patterns associated with motion of a single body are characterized by formation and evolution of eddies. The motion of adjacent bodies results, with a reduction or an increase of the drag force exerted by each body depending on the direction of motion and the specific geometrical set-up. This dependence is demonstrated by parametric results for frequency of oscillations, number of bodies, their slenderness ratio and the spacing between them. Our method, being valid for a wide range of parameter values and for densely packed arrays of rods, enables simulation of realistic flapping of bristled wings of some tiny insects and of locomotion of flagella and ciliated micro-organisms, and might serve as an efficient tool in the design of minuscule vehicles. Its potency is demonstrated by a solution for the flapping of thrips.


Author(s):  
Suppanunta Romprasert ◽  
Korakot Kataboonyaruk ◽  
Natthacha Tangnititham ◽  
Tanyaluk Suwanthaijaroen ◽  
Maytavee Soonthornwattanachai ◽  
...  

Paper focuses on the renewable energy in Thailand. Objective is to compare risk on renewable energy and transportation consumption on biodiesel. It is using SWOT analysis and sustainable development theory as the tools. Besides, collecting data via questionnaire to investigate behaviors of people in having the ideas relating to biodiesel. The 52 responses from survey launching have returned. According to the results, the current consumption of biodiesel is still low because insufficient is on awareness of the consumers' trusts about biodiesel. Moreover, government's policy is not in good quality control. Biodiesel price has not been confirmed or set up in a clear standard that shows confidence in biodiesel to consumers. Remains adherence to diesel as it has been used for a longer period of time. Therefore, the risk of renewable energy in biodiesel is a relatively high risk. At the same time, in terms of environmental sustainability development, research results show that the use of biodiesel can help reducing air pollution at either PM 2.5 or global warming. Also, it would distribute an income to palm farmers. The results can be implemented for making improvements and suggesting recommendations to the government. A strengthening policy on renewable energy security and implement strategies is for solving various energy problems. With the concept of supporting research and development, it can create a wide range of knowledges, and the production of biodiesel as renewable energy. There should control the price structure, and the well quality practices to be fairly suitable in the nearly future. Keywords: Biodiesel, Consumption, Renewable Energy, Risk, Transportation


Author(s):  
Charbel Y. Seif ◽  
Ilige S. Hage ◽  
Ahmad M. R. Baydoun ◽  
Ramsey F. Hamade

Abstract Controlling drilling temperature and thrust forces play a significant role in reducing tool wear and improving machining efficiency. In this work, drilling experiments are set up to measure flank surface temperature via thermocouple sensor wires passed through the coolant holes of 10mm twist drill and brazed to the drill flank surface. The testing setup is an inverted drilling jig where the workpiece (Aluminum 6061-T6 rod) is chucked into the spindle of a vertical machining center. Thrust forces are co-measured using Kistler type 3-component plate dynamometer attached to the table. A design of experiment (DOE) using JMP-SAS/STAT® was adopted for selecting combinations of cutting speed and feed values that cover a wide range. Drilling temperature rise and thrust forces are found to correlate with cutting conditions of feed (f), maximum cutting speed (V), and drilling depth (Dp). Nonlinear regression analysis produced correlating equations of flank temperature rise and thrust forces to conditions and follow a mechanistic power law of the form a1fa2Va3Dpa4 where a1, a2, a3 and a4 are identified via regression fitting.


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