Suchergebnisse

Patterns of residential segregation by income are examined for a sample of incorporated suburban municipalities in 31 SMSAs. Using a variety of indicators of community fiscal wealth and government service levels, the observed patterns of residential segregation are linked to patterns of fiscal inequality. Evidence is presented documenting the extent of benefits of the present system of suburban fragmentation to the small number of the very richest communities and families in suburbs. The costs of this system are seen to fall more heavily on the poor and middle-income families.

Quantitative and qualitative analyses of ecological factors conducted on the distribution of the bonobos of the Lake Tumba Landscape did not fully explain the actual distribution of bonobos in that part of their range. Hence, the aim of this paper was to study the human cultural landscape of the region to shed light on questions raised by differentiated bonobo abundance. This was conducted using a combination of methods, including key word approach through focus group sessions, the Dempster combination rule to calculate the strength of belief and overlaying maps of ethnic groups and that of abundance of bonobos to see if the distribution of ethnic groups correlated with the density of the bonobos. Paired t-tests were used to assess difference in strength of belief between ethnic groups. Focal groups collected 113 stories, centered on six main themes, of which the most striking feature was the humanization of bonobos, with themes such as 'making of fire' (23.8%), 'crying by bonobos' (21.2%), 'bonobo as ancestors of human beings' (7.9%) and 'rescuing people from imminent danger' (6.1%). Calculated values for the strength of belief varied between ethnic groups; the Bateke held the highest (63%) strength of belief, while the weakest (14%) strength of belief was held in the cosmopolitan centers. Paired t-tests indicated that the strength of belief significantly differed (all p < 0.05, df = 29) between the Bateke and the two other ethnic groups. We concluded that strength of beliefs depicted the fact that Bateke, through their traditional taboos, had protected bonobos over centuries that they have been sharing the same forests.

The paper deals with auditing the technical condition of the Water Distribution Systems (WDS) and its individual elements. The paper presents the methodology of determining the operating and technical indicators (TI) for a preliminary assessment of the technical elements of WDS (pumping stations, water tanks, transmission mains, water distribution networks) and its implementation in two pumping stations, the necessary data and system of TI evaluation using the multi-objective optimisation and FMEA method. The proposed methodology allows the selection and ranking of WDS critical elements for more detailed analysis and suggestions for the type of renewal, including the expected financial costs. ; Článek pojednává o technickém auditu systémů pro zásobování pitnou vodou a jejich prvků. Jsou zde prezentovány legislativní požadavky v tomto oboru v České a Slovenské republice. V článku je prezentována metodika předběžného hodnocení vodovodních systémů (čerpacích stanic, vodojemů, přiváděcích řadů, rozvodných sítí). Navržená metodika umožňuje ohodnocení a selekci kritických prvků vodovodních systémů.

The MAPPE GIS based multimedia model is used to produce a quantitative description of the behaviour of γ-hexachlorocyclohexane (γ-HCH) in Europe, with emphasis on continental surface waters. The model is found to reasonably reproduce γ-HCH distributions and variations along the years in atmosphere and soil; for continental surface waters, concentrations were reasonably well predicted for year 1995, when lindane was still used in agriculture, while for 2005, assuming severe restrictions in use, yields to substantial underestimation. Much better results were yielded when same mode of release as in 1995 was considered, supporting the conjecture that for γ-HCH, emission data rather that model structure and parameterization can be responsible for wrong estimation of concentrations. Future research should be directed to improve the quality of emission data. Joint interpretation of monitoring and modelling results, highlights that lindane emissions in Europe, despite the marked decreasing trend, persist beyond the provisions of existing legislation. An spatially-explicit multimedia modelling strategy was applied to describe the historical distribution of γ-HCH in European soils and surface waters.

This article studies the party alignment bias in Poland. Relying on quasi-experimental regression discontinuity design and 2006–2019 data for over 2,400 municipalities, we aim to establish whether the impact of political alignment on the distribution of grants from the central to the local governments has increased under the rules of populist, authoritarian government. We report robust evidence that provides an affirmative answer to this question.

The present paper shows a numerical comparison by using the number of the following criteria: mean squared, root mean Square, mean absolute, and relative mean squared error values between the methods, namely maximum likelihood and Bayesian estimators for the two parameters of the exponentiated exponential distribution. In estimating the maximum likelihood, The equations cannot be solved directly, Then Newton-Raphson method is used. Because of Bayes estimators under scale invariant squared and weighted composite linear-exponential loss functions the ratios cannot be simplified in a closed form. So, we use Lindley approximation. MATLAB program is used to display the results.

Extant literature has explored the effects of foreign aid on armed conflicts and state repression, but not on public demonstrations. This article compares distribution patterns of Chinese and World Bank-funded projects and public demonstrations in Cameroon, receiving predominantly Chinese official finance, and Uganda, receiving predominantly traditional, Western aid. Distributive patterns suggest negative and positive associations between Chinese and traditional official finance on the one hand and public demonstrations on the other. However, with respect to anti-project demonstrations specifically, I find through fieldwork interviews in Cameroon that Chinese-funded projects are more prone to anti-project demonstrations owing to less stringent risk management standards.

This article compares the intelligence systems of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. Three questions drive the research: How are the national intelligence systems organized? How is power distributed among organizations in each country? What are the organizational risks? By employing Network Analysis to publicly-available data on intelligence agencies, collegiate bodies, and supervising organizations, authority relations and information flows were mapped. Regarding organizational configuration, similarities were found between India and Russia, as well as between China and South Africa. Brazil differs from the four countries. As for the power distribution, in Russia, Brazil, and India intelligence is subordinated to the government, and shows more centrality in the cases of China and South Africa. Finally, Russia runs the highest risk of having an intelligence system less able to adapt to strategic circumstances, at the same time being the most resilient among the five countries. Likewise, China has the highest risk of a single actor being able to retain information, acting as a gatekeeper. Network Analysis has proved to be a useful approach to promote a comparative research program in the Intelligence Studies field.

International audience ; The energy sector is undergoing a major transformation with an increasing share of power supply from variable renewable energy sources and an increasing variability in energy demand in a variable and changing climate. The European Climatic Energy Mixes (ECEM) project will develop a demonstrator to assess how well different energy supply mixes in Europe will meet demand, over seasonal to long-term decadal time horizons, focusing on the role climate has on the mixes. ECEM is funded under the Copernicus Climate Change Service, operated by ECMWF on behalf of the European Union. Many surface climate variables needed to develop energy profiles are provided by the ERA-Interim Reanalysis. Among these profiles, are wind power supply with wind speed at different heights as main inputs to determine periods when the wind power plants are expected to produce more or less than expected. In this view, a preliminary assessment of the monthly statistical distribution of wind speed at the standard height for wind power plants (80 m) has been performed. Time series of wind speed were obtained for the towers at Cabauw in The Netherlands and offshore at Docking Shoal in the North Sea. Reference statistical distributions were built for each month. Similarly, estimated statistical distributions were built using ERA-Interim estimates of wind speed at different levels. One series was built with a power approach and a second with a log approach. The estimated statistical distributions are then compared to the reference for each month. The log approach produces stronger winds than the power approach for both sites. At Cabauw, both approaches do not produce enough large wind speed for all months. At Docking Shoal, the power approach exhibits statistical distributions very close to the reference ones. Those from the log approach are biased towards higher wind speeds.