Spatial Market Integration: A Case Study of the Polish–Czech Milk Market

Analyses of spatial market integration contributes to the knowledge about market efficiency and provides information to policymakers, as the spatial integration of markets contributes to competitiveness and economic development. Although the integration of agri-food markets is widely discussed in the economic literature, research on the dairy sector is relatively limited. This paper fulfils the research gap with an in-depth investigation of spatial milk and dairy product market integration between two neighboring countries—Poland and Czechia—using regional data, and including both production and processing levels. The econometric analysis of time series covering the period 2001–2021 reveals that only long-run milk and skimmed milk powder (SMP) price relationships are between the Czech Republic and Poland. The results of the study confirm that the factors influencing spatial price relationships between the Czech Republic and Poland are: strong trade ties, the common moment of accession to the EU, a close distance between markets, and region specialization.

Characterization of Groundwater Zones and Salinity Assessment in Aquifers of the Campo District, South Cameroon Using the GIS, AHP and PCA Approach.

In the Campo region, groundwater is critical for human consumption and social activity. Groundwater potential is influenced by a region's geological, geophysical, and hydrogeological factors. The major goals of this research are to determine which regions are ideal for productive groundwater drilling and to assess the source of salinity in the study area's coastal aquifers. The groundwater potential map was created using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and the Hierarchical Analysis Process (AHP). The process of groundwater mineralization was studied using principal component analysis (PCA). Six variables were taken into account, and weights were assigned to them based on their impact on groundwater recharge. In a GIS environment, spatial integration and a combination of theme layers were conducted. Campo's groundwater potential map was divided into four zones: low 14.4% (389.6 km²), moderate 53.3% (1484.5 km²), high 28.3% (783.3 km²), and extremely high 4.1% (110.9 km²). The results of the PCA reveal a mechanism of water-rock interaction, as a result of geological alteration and a salinization process caused by the intrusion of seawater and human activity The source of salinity in groundwater is manmade (agricultural and residential activities) rather than seawater intrusion. Seawater infiltration is not greatly aided by the low lineament density found near the beaches.

A System for Real-Time, Online Mixed-Reality Visualization of Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Images

Image-guided cardiovascular interventions are rapidly evolving procedures that necessitate imaging systems capable of rapid data acquisition and low-latency image reconstruction and visualization. Compared to alternative modalities, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is attractive for guidance in complex interventional settings thanks to excellent soft tissue contrast and large fields-of-view without exposure to ionizing radiation. However, most clinically deployed MRI sequences and visualization pipelines exhibit poor latency characteristics, and spatial integration of complex anatomy and device orientation can be challenging on conventional 2D displays. This work demonstrates a proof-of-concept system linking real-time cardiac MR image acquisition, online low-latency reconstruction, and a stereoscopic display to support further development in real-time MR-guided intervention. Data are acquired using an undersampled, radial trajectory and reconstructed via parallelized through-time radial generalized autocalibrating partially parallel acquisition (GRAPPA) implemented on graphics processing units. Images are rendered for display in a stereoscopic mixed-reality head-mounted display. The system is successfully tested by imaging standard cardiac views in healthy volunteers. Datasets comprised of one slice (46 ms), two slices (92 ms), and three slices (138 ms) are collected, with the acquisition time of each listed in parentheses. Images are displayed with latencies of 42 ms/frame or less for all three conditions. Volumetric data are acquired at one volume per heartbeat with acquisition times of 467 ms and 588 ms when 8 and 12 partitions are acquired, respectively. Volumes are displayed with a latency of 286 ms or less. The faster-than-acquisition latencies for both planar and volumetric display enable real-time 3D visualization of the heart.

“We Go on Our Own Boats!”: Korean Migrants and the Politics of Transportation Infrastructure in the Japanese Empire

This paper examines transportation infrastructure in the Japanese empire and its role in positioning Korean migrants in the labor markets of the metropole. To do so, it focuses on the Pusan–Shimonoseki ferry which, between 1905 and 1945, transferred over 30 million people between Japan and Korea. During this time, the ships that comprised this ferry line helped articulate new borders between the metropole and its annexed colony. In this capacity, the vessels helped constitute and control the flow of a new class of colonial migrants as they entered the labor markets of Japan. Historically, transportation networks have been looked on as modes of conveyance or as symbols of political amalgamation. Colonial era descriptions of the Pusan-Shimonoseki ferry commonly maintained this view. However, rather than stress the spatial integration brought by the line, this paper highlights its function as a source of delineation. The ferries connecting Japan to its closest colony not only served as a conduit for Korean workers, but also introduced forms of constraint and contingency that shaped their ability to sell their labor in Japan. Transportation thus became an issue of political contestation and resistance. Korean workers and union activists employed an array of tactics to undermine the borders imposed through the regulation of transportation. Doing so was part of an attempt to assert greater control over the migrant's position in regional markets and mitigate the unevenness of the colonial system.

Streams’ and Springs’ Biophysical Dynamics as Structuring Elements of Future Urban Development: Systemic Strategies for Spatial Planning - A Case Study in Uberlândia, MG, Brazil

Historically, water bodies were gradually conditioned by unsustainable spatial planning practices, which led to conflicting and fragmented relationships between urban development and water dynamics. Streams and springs are more vulnerable to urban interventions and less identified as protagonists of urban structuring than rivers. However, they present the potential to guide urban development regarding their broad capillarity, easy manipulation and close relationship with urban fabrics, especially in developing country fast-urbanisation reality. Also, there is a demand for more holistic and practical approaches regarding water dynamics and urban development alternatives that can add value to water-centred initiatives focused on water management. This article proposes a methodological framework focused on formulating systemic spatial planning strategies (land-use and urban design guidelines) based on streams’ and springs’ spatially and functionally biophysical dynamics as structuring elements of future urban development towards composing one urban-eco system. The following principles guide the planning strategies: a) to guarantee water dynamics whole functioning as constraints to urban land-use definition; b) to promote potential functional and spatial integration between the urban fabric and water bodies that guide the configuration of urban fabrics according to the whole functioning of water dynamics. The spatial planning strategies show the potential to be systematically applied throughout a city, systemically addressing and integrating water dynamics and urban development issues towards a more sustainable and resilient reality, on a broader scale perspective and not only on-site symptoms.

A mixed u–p edge-based smoothed particle finite element formulation for viscous flow simulations

A mixed u–p edge-based smoothed particle finite element formulation is proposed for computational simulations of viscous flow. In order to improve the accuracy of the standard particle finite element method, edge-based and face-based smoothing operations on the displacement gradient are proposed for 2D and 3D analyses, respectively. Consequently, spatial integration involving the smoothing operator is performed on smoothing domains. The constitutive model is based on an elasto-viscoplastic formulation allowing for simulations of viscous fluid or fluid-like solid materials. The viscous response is modeled using an overstress function. The performance of the proposed edge-based smoothed particle finite element method (ES-PFEM) is demonstrated by several numerical benchmark studies, showing an excellent agreement with analytical and reference solutions and an improved accuracy and computational efficiency in comparison with results from the standard PFEM model. Finally, a numerical application of the ES-PFEM to the computational simulation of the extrusion process during 3D-concrete-printing is discussed.

Spatiotemporal characteristic of Biantun toponymical landscape for the evolution of Biantun culture in Yunnan, China

The geographical environment of Yunnan Province in China and Han migration during the Ming Dynasty contributed to the development of the Biantun culture. Biantun toponyms (BTT) record the integration process between the Central Plains and native Yunnan cultures. The GIS analysis method of toponyms was used in this study to reproduce the settlement characteristics of BTT and the spatial development of the Biantun culture in the Ming and Qing Dynasties. In addition, we have developed a toponymical landscape index to represent the degree of spatial integration between the BTT and ethnic minority toponyms in Yunnan and explore the spatial characteristics of the integration of Han immigrants and local ethnic minorities. The results show that the spatial distribution of the BTT is consistent with the sites selection of the Tuntian (屯田) in Yunnan during the Ming and Qing Dynasties, and the centroids of BTT spread to outskirts and intermontane area from central towns. In the Dali, Kunming, Qujing and other regions, the distribution characteristics of the integrated of BTT and ethnic minority toponyms reflect a higher degree of Sinicization in the central urban areas. Exploring the evolution of Biantun cultural development through the spatial characteristics of toponymical landscapes can help adjust policies for the development and protection of Biantun cultural resources.