Functional Regions as Bases for Provinces in Slovenia

Socio-economically based functional regions, which are partially self-contained economic areas, are often more suitable for various structural analyses, implementation of state and regional policies, development of state administration, planning and monitoring of spatial development, identification of spatial disparities and other analyses of socio-economic relations than the traditional historically and geographically based administrative regions. This article therefore examines the assumption that functional regions are a suitable basis for the formation of territorial provinces in Slovenia. We have modelled the functional regions of Slovenia according to the established and internationally accepted method CURDS and compared them with the current proposals for provinces and established statistical regions in Slovenia. The results show a very strong functional contiguity and a good economic balance of eight provinces and a very good population balance of the provinces with two special status urban municipalities.

A New Two-Stage Algorithm for Solving Optimization Problems

Optimization seeks to find inputs for an objective function that result in a maximum or minimum. Optimization methods are divided into exact and approximate (algorithms). Several optimization algorithms imitate natural phenomena, laws of physics, and behavior of living organisms. Optimization based on algorithms is the challenge that underlies machine learning, from logistic regression to training neural networks for artificial intelligence. In this paper, a new algorithm called two-stage optimization (TSO) is proposed. The TSO algorithm updates population members in two steps at each iteration. For this purpose, a group of good population members is selected and then two members of this group are randomly used to update the position of each of them. This update is based on the first selected good member at the first stage, and on the second selected good member at the second stage. We describe the stages of the TSO algorithm and model them mathematically. Performance of the TSO algorithm is evaluated for twenty-three standard objective functions. In order to compare the optimization results of the TSO algorithm, eight other competing algorithms are considered, including genetic, gravitational search, grey wolf, marine predators, particle swarm, teaching-learning-based, tunicate swarm, and whale approaches. The numerical results show that the new algorithm is superior and more competitive in solving optimization problems when compared with other algorithms.

Analisis Kebijakan Dinas Kependudukan dan Pencatatan Sipil dalam Layanan Administrasi Pendataan Penerima Bansos COVID-19 di Kota Malang

The increase in population in Malang City can encourage the implementation of good population data recording, this is because population data is very important in planning and development in the evaluation stage. The purpose of this research is to analyze the policies of the population service and civil registration in the administrative services for data collection on Covid-19 social assistance recipients in Malang City. This research is a descriptive research with a qualitative approach. The population administration policy in this study is focused on administrative services for the data collection of Covid-19 Social Assistance Receipts in Malang City. The results of this study indicate that there is a policy of centralizing the management of resident identification cards, the first step to progress in the city government of Malang, especially in the field of administrative services for data collection on Covid-19 Social Assistance Recipients in Malang City so that they try to make other policies that have concrete data.

An Improved Bat Algorithm Based on Lévy Flights and Adjustment Factors

This paper proposed an improved bat algorithm based on Lévy flights and adjustment factors (LAFBA). Dynamically decreasing inertia weight is added to the velocity update, which effectively balances the global and local search of the algorithm; the search strategy of Lévy flight is added to the position update, so that the algorithm maintains a good population diversity and the global search ability is improved; and the speed adjustment factor is added, which effectively improves the speed and accuracy of the algorithm. The proposed algorithm was then tested using 10 benchmark functions and 2 classical engineering design optimizations. The simulation results show that the LAFBA has stronger optimization performance and higher optimization efficiency than basic bat algorithm and other bio-inspired algorithms. Furthermore, the results of the real-world engineering problems demonstrate the superiority of LAFBA in solving challenging problems with constrained and unknown search spaces.

Efficiency and shrinking in evolving networks

Characterizing the spatio-temporal evolution of networks is a central topic in many disciplines. While network expansion has been studied thoroughly, less is known about how empirical networks behave when shrinking. For transportation networks, this is especially relevant on account of their connection with the socio-economical substrate, and we focus here on the evolution of the French railway network from its birth in 1840 to 2000, in relation to the country’s demographic dynamics. The network evolved in parallel with technology (e.g. faster trains) and under strong constraints, such as preserving a good population coverage and balancing cost and efficiency. We show that the shrinking phase that started in 1930 decreased the total length of the network while preserving efficiency and population coverage: efficiency and robustness remained remarkably constant while the total length of the network shrank by 50% between 1930 and 2000, and the total travel time and time-diameter decreased by more than 75% during the same period. Moreover, shrinking the network did not affect the overall accessibility with an average travel time that decreases steadily since its formation. This evolution leads naturally to an increase in transportation multimodality (such as a massive use of cars) and shows the importance of considering together transportation modes acting at different spatial scales. More generally, our results suggest that shrinking is not necessarily associated with a decay in performance and functions but can be beneficial in terms of design goals and can be part of the natural evolution of an adaptive network.

Freshwater fish fauna of Hiranyakeshi River, the northern Western Ghats, India

The freshwater fish fauna of Hiranyakeshi River, a tributary of the Krishna River System, originating in the Western Ghats of Maharashtra, was studied for a period of three years from 2013–2016. We reported 57 species belonging to seven orders, 17 families and 42 genera. Cypriniformes was the most species rich order followed by Siluriformes, while Cyprinidae was the most predominant family. At least 21 freshwater fish species found in Hiranyakeshi River are endemic to river systems originating from the Western Ghats, while nine species are endemic to the Krishna River system. The true diversity of freshwater fishes in this region, however, is still obscure because of lack of detailed taxonomic studies in this region. Of the total species, at least 11 are in the threatened and near threatened categories of the IUCN Red List and Hiranyakeshi River holds a good population of most of these species. The fish fauna in this region, however, is threatened by several stressors including invasive fishing practices, water impediment due to upcoming dams, invasive introduced species and water pollution due to agricultural runoffs and industrial effluents.

The effect of different diet on life history parameters and growth of Oppia denticulata (Acari: Oribatida: Oppiidae)

The effect of different diet on Oppia denticulata was studied during a 4-month laboratory experiment, based on daily observations. This species is known as microphytophagous (i.e. feeding on bacteria and/or fungal hyphae and/or algae), like other species of Oppiidae, but our observations show its wider diet. We tested 11 types of food, including homogenous diet [green algae, lichens, fungi (dry yeasts, Trichoderma viride, Penicillium chrysogenum), nematodes], and combined diet [green algae and nematodes, lichens and nematodes, dry yeasts and nematodes, T. viride and nematodes, P. chrysogenum and nematodes]. The basic population parameters (fertility, mortality, sex ratio), time of development, population growth in four months and body length were compared between all groups. Observations on biology of O. denticulata were also made. The most favourable diet for O. denticulata was a combination of T. viride and nematodes, which allowed the highest population growth (about 50 times higher than the least favourable food, a combination of P. chrysogenum and nematodes), due to highest fertility and shortest development. Good population parameters and largest size were obtained on yeasts (served alone or with nematodes). This species did not do well on P. chrysogenum, probably because it produces penicillin.

The effect of different diet on life history parameters and growth of Oppia denticulata (Acari: Oribatida: Oppiidae)

The effect of different diet on Oppia denticulata was studied during a 4-month laboratory experiment, based on daily observations. This species is known as microphytophagous (i.e. feeding on bacteria and/or fungal hyphae and/or algae), like other species of Oppiidae, but our observations show its wider diet. We tested 11 types of food, including homogenous diet [green algae, lichens, fungi (dry yeasts, Trichoderma viride, Penicillium chrysogenum), nematodes], and combined diet [green algae and nematodes, lichens and nematodes, dry yeasts and nematodes, T. viride and nematodes, P. chrysogenum and nematodes]. The basic population parameters (fertility, mortality, sex ratio), time of development, population growth in four months and body length were compared between all groups. Observations on biology of O. denticulata were also made. The most favourable diet for O. denticulata was a combination of T. viride and nematodes, which allowed the highest population growth (about 50 times higher than the least favourable food, a combination of P. chrysogenum and nematodes), due to highest fertility and shortest development. Good population parameters and largest size were obtained on yeasts (served alone or with nematodes). This species did not do well on P. chrysogenum, probably because it produces penicillin.

Non-palatable Medicinal Plants as a Solution to Crop Raiding by Wild Herbivores around Protected Areas

The Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR) is an important nature conservation area for the country having a good population of wild animals. However, on the fringes of this national park, there are issues of human-wildlife conflict such as crop raiding by wild animals, which is an underestimated problem. The constant threat of crop predators and perceived loss in crop produce has discouraged agriculture in close vicinity of the park. Farming is the main livelihood for the people living near TATR, therefore it is an urgent need to keep under review the alternative options that can contribute to farmers’ welfare. Considering the developing medicinal plant demand, there is potential in cultivating non-palatable traded medicinal plant species that are resistant to crop-raiding by wildlife. The paper suggests such a model for farmers. We focus on research, awareness, motivation, facilitation and establishing market linkages.

A preliminary study on the birds of Thane Creek, Maharashtra, India

Shorebirds also known as waders comprise several adaptations, which enable them to forage on exposed mudflats. The population of birds in any ecosystem shows the environmental quality of the area, pollution level, security and availability of food and habitat. Thane Creek located in Mumbai is one of the unique mangrove ecosystems, maintaining a good population of sediment-dwelling organisms that support a myriad of migratory and non-migratory bird populations. Bird surveys were carried out using the point count method across two different locations at Thane Creek. In total 95 species of birds were recorded during the study and distinguished as per the pattern of their foraging. A healthy diversity of bird species observed indicates the high productivity of the creek.