Matrix of “Cultural Disadvantage”

The article analyzes the matrix as a special form of understanding and describing the phenomena of a foreign culture. The principles of the formation of ideas about the "cultural disadvantage" of Russians are analyzed. Over time, the "Western" discourse about Russia becomes more sophisticated and harsher; it can take the form of economic sanctions, political pressure, recommendations, and clothe itself in the form of "soft" and "hard" power. But its structure remains unchanged, which allows us to see the matrix basis of this kind of representations. The matrix construction is used as a set of initial assessments in the attitude of "cultural disadvantage". To analyze the matrix construction as an organization of ideas about a different culture, the authors of the 19th century Germaine de Stael and Astolphe de Custine are involved, who, to varying degrees, expressed their ideas about the "cultural disadvantage" of Russians. In modern discourse, this practice has found expression in the Eurocentric theoretical constructions of S. Huntington and L. Harrison. The contradiction between the Eurocentric thesis about the uniqueness of Western culture and tactical, pragmatic, applied programs of reforming and reformatting non-European cultures according to the European model is shown. The article analyzes the main points of criticism of Eurocentrism by E. Said in his concept of "orientalism". The concept of the "east", in a broad sense, is formed in the European tradition not as an alternative to the West, but as its invention, its quasi-object. "East" is a special tactic of opposing the "center" and the periphery, of historical progress beyond historical immobility. The East does not correlate with the usual scale of periodization of European culture. It always remains backward by definition, due to the absence of Western stages of development (the Enlightenment, as an option – the Renaissance, modernity, imperialism and similar historical periods).

Defining scale thresholds for geomagnetic storms through statistics

Geomagnetic storms, as part of the Sun-Earth relations, are continuously monitored with different indices and scales. These indices usually have some associated scale thresholds to quantify the severity or risk of geomagnetic disturbances. However, the most usual scale thresholds are arbitrarily chosen. In this work we aim to quantify the range of the thresholds through a new method. These new thresholds are based on statistical distribution fitting. We used different geomagnetic indices, as Dst, SYM-H, and Kp, since they are relevant for space weather purposes. The first two indices have been discriminated between their negative values and the whole dataset. We considered two periods: a short-term one, comprising data from 1997 to 2012; and long-term ones, which are from 1957–2012 for Dst and 1932–2012 for Kp. We look for the best fit for different statistical continuous distributions applied to these indices. The best fits and the data distribution functions yield to intersects that can be used to define thresholds. The best fit distribution functions are more coincidental between them when considering determined similar datasets, as non-central f-distribution for negative values, meaningful for geomagnetic disturbances; or non-central Student's-t, when the whole dataset is taken. The method yields different values for thresholds depending on the index. Thresholds for geomagnetic storms can be chosen by common values of SYM-H and Dst, as −75 nT for moderate storms; −150 nT for intense storms, and −330 nT for extreme storms. For the case of Kp, the value equal to 5 may mark the departure from quiet time to stormy time. The obtained values are close to those usually considered as thresholds for, typically, Dst and Kp; therefore the thresholds defined here may provide criteria to assess the vulnerability to geomagnetic activity on design or mitigation purposes.

On homogeneous and isotropic universe

We give a simple example of spacetime metric, illustrating that homogeneity and isotropy of space slices at all moments of time is not obligatory lifted to a full system of six Killing vector fields in spacetime, thus it cannot be interpreted as a symmetry of a four-dimensional metric. The metric depends on two arbitrary and independent functions of time. One of these functions is the usual scale factor. The second function cannot be removed by coordinate transformations. We prove that it must be equal to zero, if the metric satisfies Einstein’s equations and the matter energy–momentum tensor is homogeneous and isotropic. A new, equivalent, definition of homogeneous and isotropic spacetime is given.

NONUNIVERSALITY IN SEMI-DIRECTED BARABÁSI–ALBERT NETWORKS

In usual scale-free networks of Barabási–Albert type, a newly added node selects randomly m neighbors from the already existing network nodes, proportionally to the number of links these had before. Then the number n(k) of nodes with k links each decays as 1/kγ where γ = 3 is universal, i.e. independent of m. Now we use a limited directedness in building the network, as a result of which the exponent γ decreases from 3 to 2 for increasing m.

The Phase Stability of Micropulses from PSR 1133+16

As is very well known, there are two different kinds of time structure of the individual pulses of pulsars. There are microstructures with time scales less than 1 ms and subpulse structures, the usual scale of which is of the order of 10 ms. Subpulses are a result of the radiation beam rotation and in many cases demonstrate some regularity of arrival phases. In contrast, microstructure looks rather like a short pulse of noise with random phases of micropulse appearance in the radio emission window of the pulsar. Because the appearance phases of micropulses are random in the pulsar period, it is very difficult to establish what the fundamental character of these micropulses is: are they a temporal variation of radio emission intensity or the result of narrow beam rotation?

Snow-Avalanche Maps for use by the Norwegian Army

Mapping of areas exposed to avalanche hazard for the Norwegian Army was started by the Norwegian Geotechnical Institute in 1986. The background to this mapping is that large-scale military exercises are held annually in northern Norway, in terrain where there is a high danger of avalanche activity. Avalanche areas are divided into two zones: potential starting zones, and potential run-out zones. All potential avalanche areas are indicated on maps, and mapping is carried out by computer using a terrain model and digital maps. An interactive graphic work station is used to outline danger areas. Starting and run-out zones are identified by using terrain parameters which may be extracted from digital maps. The usual scale of the avalanche maps is 1 : 50 000, with 20 m contour intervals.

Snow-Avalanche Maps for use by the Norwegian Army

Mapping of areas exposed to avalanche hazard for the Norwegian Army was started by the Norwegian Geotechnical Institute in 1986. The background to this mapping is that large-scale military exercises are held annually in northern Norway, in terrain where there is a high danger of avalanche activity. Avalanche areas are divided into two zones: potential starting zones, and potential run-out zones. All potential avalanche areas are indicated on maps, and mapping is carried out by computer using a terrain model and digital maps. An interactive graphic work station is used to outline danger areas. Starting and run-out zones are identified by using terrain parameters which may be extracted from digital maps. The usual scale of the avalanche maps is 1 : 50 000, with 20 m contour intervals.

Description of a new barometer, recently fixed up in the apart­ments of the Royal Society; with remarks on the mode hitherto pursued at various periods, and an account of that which is now adopted, for correcting the observed height of the mercury in the society’s barometer

The barometer, here alluded to, may in some measure be consi­dered as two separate and independent barometers, inasmuch as it is formed of two distinct tubes dipping into one and the same cistern of mercury. One of these tubes is made of flint glass, and the other of crown glass, with a view to ascertain whether, at the end of any given period, the one may have had any greater chemical effect on the mercury than the other, and thus affected the results. A brass rod, to which the scale is attached, passes through the framework, between the two tubes, and is thus common to both : one end of which is furnished with a fine agate point, which, by means of a rack and pinion moving the whole rod, may be brought just to touch the surface of the mercury in the cistern, the slightest contact with which is immediately discernible; and the other end of which bears the usual scale of inches, tenths, &c.; and there is a separate vernier for each tube. A small thermometer, the bulb of which dips into the mercury in the cistern, is inserted at the bottom : and an eye­piece is also there fixed, so that the agate point can be viewed with more distinctness and accuracy. The whole instrument is made to turn round in azimuth, in order to verify the perpendicularity of the tubes and the scale. It is evident that there are many advantages attending this mode of construction, which are not to be found in the barometers as usu­ally formed for general use in this country. The absolute heights are more correctly and more satisfactorily determined ; and the per­manency of true action is more effectually noticed and secured. For, every part is under the inspection and control of the observer; and any derangement or imperfection in either of the tubes is imme­diately detected on comparison with the other. And, considering the care that has been taken in filling the tubes, and setting off the scale, it may justly be considered as a standard barometer . The pre­sent volume of the Philosophical Transactions will contain the first register of the observations that have been made with this instru­ment.