After the Virus: Disaster Capitalism, Digital Inequity, and Transformative Education for the Future of Schooling

The 2020 COVID-19 disaster triggered an educational crisis in the United States, deeply exacerbating the inequities present in education as schools went online. This primary impact may not be the only one, however: literature describes a secondary impact of such disasters through “disaster capitalism,” in which the private sector captures the public resources of disaster-struck communities for profit. In response to these warnings, we ask how schools, families, and communities can counteract disaster capitalism for educational equity. To address this question, we first synthesize a critical framework for analyzing digital inequity in education. We then dissect the strategies disaster capitalism uses to attack the school-family-community relationship and exacerbate digital inequity in “normal” times as well as during crises. Employing the notion of community funds of knowledge, we next examine the resources schools, families, and communities can mobilize against disaster capitalism and digital inequity. Finally, guided by the concepts of generative change and transformative learning, we consider actionable practices of countering disaster capitalism for a transformative education.

The Use of Econometric Analysis in Forecasting Macroeconomic Processes

The article discusses the issues related to the influence of various price categories of goods on the level of inflation. The possibility of using econometric analysis for predictive purposes is considered. An econometric model of multiple regression of the influence of consumer prices on the level of inflation is formed. A linear multiple regression equation is constructed. The selection of factors for the construction of an econometric model is made. The main groups of goods are identified, the prices of which form the level of inflation and can have a primary impact. The viability of the model and the possibility of forecasting macroeconomic indicators based on econometric analysis are proved.

Legal enlightenment in Russia: modern problems of theory and practice

The article examines the history of the development of legal enlightenment in Russia, its modern legal regulation, as well as the theoretical basis associated with its implementation. Revealing the paramount importance of legal enlightenment for the formation of civil society and state of law, the authors point out the need to create a unified system of normative legal acts regulating this activity. Currently, the legal regulation of the activities of various subjects of legal enlightenment is unsystematic, since at different levels there are a large number of unrelated legal acts, which makes it difficult to achieve the goals of legal enlightenment. Among other things, the study carried out a comprehensive theoretical analysis of activities in legal enlightenment, on the basis of which the authors, on the one hand, conclude about the unity of rational and irrational moments in this activity, on the other, about the primary impact on the emotional-volitional side of a person in the process of legal enlightenment. Linking the structure of legal enlightenment with elements of legal awareness legal ideology and legal psychology, the authors point to the unity of legal training and legal literacy with in the framework of legal enlightenment, offering their definition of the concept of legal enlightenment.

Advances in the Whipple Shield Design and Development:

Safety of satellites as well as spacecrafts during space missions is a primary objective to preserve the physical and virtual assets onboard. Whipple shields belong to the class of protective equipment provided on the surface of the spacecrafts and satellites, to sustain impacts from the ultra-high speed debris, which can otherwise cause considerable damage to the corresponding structures. Recent works on whipple shields are focussed on determining the response of different geometrical arrangements and material properties under hyper-velocity impact at projectile speeds of 3-18 km/s. Advances in the whipple shield design include integrated and mechanised models employing high performance materials like fiber-metal laminates ensuring better operational capability. The forward bumper of the whipple shield is the first line of defence as it regulates the state of projectile after the primary impact. Use of aluminium alloys for front bumpers is popular, owing to their lightweight and strength characteristics. The advances for the front bumper have seen usage of ceramic, metallic foams, and super composite mixtures, which resulted in enhanced performance, durability and safety of the whipple shields. This work is a comprehensive coverage of the latest materials used for whipple shields, their performance characterization—both experimental and theoretical, and applications.

Trends of Shipping Impact to Particulate Matter in Two Adriatic Port-Cities

Shipping contributions to atmospheric particulate matter were estimated by an approach based on high temporal resolution measurements of mass and number size distribution, correlated with meteorological and ship movements data, in two Adriatic harbours. Trends of contributions are discussed. Contribution to particle number concentrations (PNC) was 3–4 times larger than that to PM2.5. In Venice, strategies for reduction of shipping emissions were effective in lowering the PM2.5 primary impact, while PNC contribution was significant in Brindisi. The maximum contribution was found to ultrafine particles (UFP), followed by a minimum at diameters between 1 and 1.5 µm and a growth in the coarse range.

Integrative Post-event Impact Assessment Framework for Volcanic Eruptions: A Disaster Forensic Investigation of the 2011–2012 Eruption of the Cordón Caulle Volcano (Chile)

Understanding the complexity of future volcanic impacts that can be potentially induced by the large variability of volcanic hazards and the multiple dimensions of vulnerability of the increasingly interdependent and interconnected societies, requires an in-depth analysis of past events. A structured and inclusive post-event impact assessment framework is proposed and applied for the evaluation of damage and disruption on critical infrastructures caused by the eruption of the Cordón Caulle volcano (Chile) in 2011–2012. This framework is built on the forensic analysis of disasters combined with the techniques of the root cause analysis that converge in a bow-tie tool. It consists of a fault tree connected to subsequent event trees to describe the causal order of impacts. Considering the physical and systemic dimensions of vulnerability, four orders of impact have been identified: i) the first order refers to the physical damage or the primary impact on a component of the critical infrastructure; ii) the second order refers to the loss of functionality in the system due to a physical damage on key components of the system; iii) the third order refers to the systemic impact due to the interdependency and connectivity among different critical infrastructures; and iv) a higher order is related to the consequences on the main economic sectors and to social disruption that can activate an overall damage to the economy of the country or countries affected. Our study in the Argentinian Patagonia shows that the long-lasting impact of the 2011–2012 Cordón Caulle eruption is mostly due to a secondary hazard (i.e., wind remobilisation of ash), which exacerbated the primary impact affecting significantly larger areas and for longer time with respect to primary tephra deposition. In addition, systemic vulnerability, particularly the intrinsic dependencies within and among systems, played a major role in the cascading impact of the analysed communities.

Meshing Contact Impact Properties of Circular Arc Tooth Trace Cylindrical Gear Based on Rotating Knife Dish Milling Process

Taking the circular arc tooth trace (CATT) cylindrical gear as a research object, in order to obtain the CATT cylindrical gear’s meshing contact impact properties, the meshing contact impact hypothesis of the CATT cylindrical gear was put forward based on the contact dynamics theory and gear transmission physical model, and the gear mesh contact impact model was set up further. The finite element solution algorithm for solving the impact problem was given. Then, the accurate 3D model was set up based on the gear tooth surface equation, and the finite element analysis models of the meshing contact impact with different impact positions were established further. The model was to study the distribution rule of the gear surface meshing contact impact stress and relationship between the impact velocity, impact position, and the impact stress. Moreover, the reason for the maximum impact stresses distribution rule of primary and secondary impact tooth surface was discussed. Research result shows the driven wheel dangerous areas of gear root impact are the gear top of the primary impact tooth surface and the gear root of the secondary impact tooth surface; the driven wheel dangerous areas of gear top impact are the gear root of the primary impact tooth surface and gear top of the secondary impact tooth surface; the driven wheel dangerous areas of pitch circle are the gear root and pitch circle of secondary impact tooth surface; and impact velocity and impact position have a major influence on the impact stress. The study results provide a theoretical basis for the dynamic design and industrial application of CATT cylindrical gears.

Current aspects of managing the bank’s cash liquidity in terms of minimizing cash circulation

The article is devoted to the problem of the banks’ participation in improving the efficiency of the organization of cash circulation, which does not lose its relevance in the modern economy. In the current situation, despite the growth in the volume and share of non-cash payments, the demand for cash is characterized by stability. The article focuses on the features, advantages and disadvantages of the reducing cash circulation process. It is noted that the primary impact on cash circulation is made by settlements made by individuals. In this regard, the study focuses on the fundamental changes in this direction that are taking place in the banking sector. This is, first of all, the reduction of cash withdrawals from plastic cards and the growth of non-cash payments with their use, the lack of growth of the card market; increase in electronic terminals and reduce the number of ATMs installed. At the same time, it is emphasized that one of the main areas that determine both the liquidity and profitability of the bank is the regulation of cash balances. With the number of banks operating in the economy shrinking, the struggle for customers is becoming more acute. The satisfaction of the latter with the quality of the bank’s services, including in terms of settlement liquidity, should be considered as one of the primary factors that ensure the effectiveness of a significant number of banking operations. In this context, special attention is paid to the specifics of the bank’s actions to optimize cash flows, which requires the use of specialized automatic systems that allow processing data on cash balances and turnover to form forecasts that optimize the collection schedule and reduce ATM downtime due to lack of funds

Histo-Neuro-Behavioral Effects of a Single, Very Mild Trauma on Senescent Rodent Brains: A Systematic Review

Post-concussion syndrome, recently recognized as a complication of mild traumatic brain injury, is considered a consequence of the summative effect of multiple concussions received over lifetime. In elderlies, the main mild brain trauma mechanism is fall (low impact force). Many falls are often not reported or noticed but may generate serious medical and medico-legal consequences. Our research question was to find if a single, very mild brain trauma can induce neuro-behavioral consequences in elderlies. One database was queried (PubMed – MeSH terminology) looking for histopathological, neuro-cognitive and behavioral changes that can be generated by sub-concussional trauma in senescent rodents, in comparison with young animals. 41 published research articles were selected. 17 of them used very mild brain trauma in young and senescent animals, in the same experiment (6 rats and 11 mice). 24 articles evaluated the effect of sub-threshold brain trauma in adult animals (no control group). Five trauma models were used (blast models were excluded). Neuro-inflammatory changes were detected immediate after very mild primary impact. In young animals, observed pathology disappeared fast (after 3 to 7 days). Increased apoptosis, mild axonal injury in white matter tracts plus maladaptive astrogliosis and microglial activation was stronger in aged animals, persisted over time (8 months) and significantly altered animals’ cognition and behavior. Associated preexisting pathology (hypertension, tau protein deposits, microbleeds, reactive inflammation) was often responsible for amplification of the primary impact results. As translation of observation is the weak spot of pathology and behavior animal research, further investigation is needed before to conclude that even a single, very mild brain trauma may have medical consequences on human senescent brain.

The Mesoproterozoic Stac Fada Member, NW Scotland: an impact origin confirmed but refined

The origin of the Stac Fada Member has been debated for decades with several early hypotheses being proposed, but all invoking some connection to volcanic activity. In 2008, the discovery of shocked quartz led to the hypothesis that the Stac Fada Member represents part the continuous ejecta blanket of a meteorite impact crater, the location of which was, and remains, unknown. In this paper, we confirm the presence of shock-metamorphosed and -melted material in the Stac Fada Member; however, we also show that its properties are unlike any other confirmed and well documented proximal impact ejecta deposits on Earth. Instead, the properties of the Stac Fada Member are most similar to the Onaping Formation of the Sudbury impact structure (Canada) and impact melt-bearing breccias from the Chicxulub impact structure (Mexico). We thus propose that, like the Sudbury and Chicxulub deposits, Melt Fuel Coolant Interactions – akin to what occur during phreatomagmatic volcanic eruptions – played a fundamental role in the origin of the Stac Fada Member. We conclude that these rocks are not primary impact ejecta but instead were deposited beyond the extent of the continuous ejecta blanket as high-energy ground-hugging sediment gravity flows.