Suchergebnisse

This book explores the issues and challenges of gender and development in Africa. The current needs of women in Africa are connected with the possible future emancipation of women from institutions and processes that perpetuate poverty to overcome gendered development processes and patriarchal economic policies at work. The role of legal, political, cultural, religious, and economic institutions in development are examined to highlight marginalisation within uneven development processes embedded with capitalism. Broader development issues, such as property rights, food security, accessibility of resources, and environmental change, are also discussed. This book aims to reimagine African development from an issue-based perspective that moves beyond gender stereotypes and narrow silo of patriarchal development. The volume is relevant to students and researchers interested in the political economy, development and feminist economics. Bhabani Shankar Nayak is a political economist and works as Professor of Business Management and Programme Director of Strategic Business and Management at the University for the Creative Arts, UK.

This article is a comprehensive empirical overview of environmental protection and conservation nonprofits' discourse on social media. To what extent have these nonprofits framed climate change in their public discourse and how has it evolved over time? How do organizational characteristics and resources affect their social media behavior? To address our research questions, we use machine learning with texts—specifically topic modeling—to track the activity of 120 environmental nonprofits during a 14-year time span on X, formerly known as Twitter. Our analysis of more than 1.3 million tweets shows that climate change, although not closely aligned with the missions for more than half of the top tweeting organizations included in our sample, has consistently been a prevalent priority issue on their social media agendas for more than a decade. This heightened attention to climate change discourse by the environmental nonprofit sector denotes their uniform efforts to inspire government for climate action.

In the field of global environmental governance, a plethora of international regimes have emerged over the past decades. In some issue areas, multiple regimes aim to govern the issue, sometimes reinforcing, oftentimes conflicting with each other. Consequently, international regime complexes are an empirical phenomenon, which are inherently characterized by specific degrees of fragmentation. For any given issue area, one of the key questions is whether the institutional fragmentation encountered in such regime complexes is synergistic or conflictive in nature. Scrutinizing this question poses methodological challenges of how to delineate a regime complex and how to assess its fragmentation. Drawing on the highly fragmented case of the international forest regime complex, this paper aims to map its institutional fragmentation and to analyse the degrees to which it is conflictive or synergistic. For this we conceptualize the notion of institutional elements and develop a novel method for mapping regime complexes based on their core institutional elements. We then employ tools from the sub-discipline of policy analysis on the complex's institutional elements for analysing in detail, which of the elements are mutually synergistic and conflictive with other elements of the regime complex. Our results indicate that synergistic relations mostly exist among rather vague elements, often built around sustainability as a core principle. On the contrary, conflictive relations prevail as soon as the elements are designed in more concrete and substantial ways. We conclude that the forest regime complex displays only degree of seemingly synergistic fragmentation through a number of non-decisions and the use of "sustainability" as an empty formula. De facto, conflictive fragmentation prevails among elements of concrete subject matter. This raises questions on whether vast parts of regime complexes merely serve symbolic functions, while conflicts on substance are being camouflaged.

SummaryAs the law moves inexorably to a digital publication model in which books no longer play a role, the problem of how to continue to make the law available to all becomes more acute. Open access initiatives already exist, and more are on the way, but all are limited by their inability to provide more than self-indexed search options for their users. Self-indexing, although a powerful alternative to the traditional pre-indexed searching made possible by systems like West's "Key Number" digests, has inherent limitations which make it a poor choice as the sole means of researching the law. But developing a new pre-indexed legal digest would be a prohibitively expensive and complex undertaking, making it unlikely that open access legal information sites can develop and maintain a fully-implemented digesting approach to legal research. This article proposes a reconceptualization of the information already contained within most American judicial opinions in order to permit open access sites to offer a form of pre-indexed research to their users. By mapping a case's location in a graphical representation of the doctrinal development of an issue under consideration, this approach allows the court's citations to prior authority to act as a pre-indexing tool, allows the researcher to update the law by showing more recent cases that have cited to the target case, and gives the researcher the opportunity to trace network links in order to uncover connections between cases that might otherwise have been difficult to discern.

У статті розглянуто застосування методу стискаючих відображень та методу послідовних наближень на прикладі фрактального стиску зображень, вказано загальний алгоритм фрактального кодування зображень і його переваги та обґрунтовано важливість вивчення даного питання студентами закладів вищої освіти, зокрема студентами фізико-математичних факультетів педагогічних університетів. У обчислювальній математиці виникає багато задач, що можна звести до відшукання нерухомої точки відображення. Для цього використовують метод послідовних наближень (метод ітерацій), в основу якого покладено принцип стискаючих відображень. Цей принцип застосовують до доведення теорем про існування та єдиність розв'язків деяких типів диференціальних і інтегральних рівнянь; він також дозволяє розв'язувати наукові проблеми в алгебрі, геометрії, фізиці, медицині, інформатиці, у теорії фракталів тощо. Серед переваг фрактального методу стиснення зображення можна виділити такі: він здатний забезпечити найкраще співвідношення ступеня стиснення та якості відновленого зображення; має короткий час розпакування; надає можливість відновлювати лише частину зображення і будь-якого розміру; має широкі можливості у виборі параметрів стиску. На сучасному етапі стиск даних є важливим як для швидкості передачі, так і ефективності зберігання. Він застосовується у медицині для реконструкції зображень у комп'ютерній томографії, до того ж крім багатьох видів комерційного використання, технології стиску є важливими й для військових потреб. Отже, метод стискаючих відображень має досить широке коло використання та відіграє велику роль у нашому житті. Одним із прикладів його застосування є фрактальне кодування зображень. Знання даного методу дозволить спеціалістам з фізико-математичних спеціальностей застосовувати його при розв'язуванні прикладних задач, а майбутні вчителі зможуть пояснити учням математичний апарат на якому побудовані сучасні технології в багатьох галузях життя. ; The article considered application of the method of compression mappings and the method of successive approximation on the example fractal compression of images, a general algorithm for fractal coding of images is indicated and its advantages and the importance of studying this issue by students of higher educational institutions, in particular students of the physics and mathematics faculties of pedagogical universities, is substantiated. There are many problems in computational mathematics that can be reduced to finding a fixed point of reflection. To do this, use the method of sequential approximations (method of iterations), which is based on the principle of compression mappings. This principle is applied to the proof of the theorems on the existence and uniqueness of solutions of certain types of differential and integral equations; it also allows you to solve scientific problems in algebra, geometry, physics, medicine, computer science, fractal theory, and more. Among the advantages of the fractal image compression method are the following: it is able to provide the best ratio of compression ratio and quality of the reconstructed image; has a short unpacking time; provides the ability to restore only part of the image and any size; has a wide range of compression options. At the current stage, data compression is important for both transfer speed and storage efficiency. It is used in medicine for the reconstruction of images in computed tomography, and in addition to many commercial uses, compression technology is also important for military use. So, compression mapping has a wide range of uses and plays a big role in our lives. One example of its application is fractal image encoding. Knowledge of this method will allow specialists in physical and mathematical specialties to apply it when solving applied problems, and future teachers will be able to explain to students the mathematical apparatus on which modern technologies in many branches of life are built.

ABSTRACTIn a recent issue of this journal, Watkins [13] presented an approach for discovery of decision‐maker perceptions of the complexity (dimensionality) of information items that might be supplied by a decision support system. Through use of multidimensional scaling and cluster analysis, relatively homogeneous groups of decision makers, sharing common perceptions of various information items, were formed. This prior research was referred to as a first step in suggesting that information reports could be tailored to groups of decision makers classified on the basis of common perceptions of information. The current research extends the prior study by evaluating decision maker preferences for information in a variety of decision‐making scenarios in relation to the previously identified perceptions of the information. Based on the results of the study, conclusions are made which suggest that the tailoring of information to groups of decision makers should be based on both perceptions and preferences for information. Even so, it is demonstrated that the decision tasks have an impact on the preferences for information which may affect the attempt to tailor information to groups of decision makers.

The period between colonialism and the twenty-first century gives horrible glimpses of temple entry and the violence attached with that. Keeping temple entry as an important issue in mind, here, the article reveals the social exclusion and the cultural subjugation of the Dalits since the colonial period to the present day. Dalits in the colonial period and also in present day are denied their social and religious rights in Hindu religion. The right to enter the temple is a fundamental right of a citizen in a religion like Hinduism. Among the various issues that Dalits have voiced since the colonial period, the issue of temple entry along with untouchability is one of the most important. It is not only a matter of excuse that Dalits till the present day (after seven decades of India's independence) are not allowed to enter inside the temple in some rural areas of the country. The temple entry bill and the legislations have also been adopted by the princely states and the Parliament of India in different times, but still, Dalits are not allowed to enter the Hindu temples even in various parts of India, for instance, in the Kendrapara district of Odisha. As temple entry is an important issue for Dalits as well as for upper caste Hindus in social and religious life, it is pertinent to revisit the historiography of temple entry movements including the contemporary movements which remain important in religious, social and academic spheres. With the aforementioned backdrop, the article first provides a synoptic view on the historiography of Dalit movements in India and on 'the Gandhi–Ambedkar debate on caste, untouchability and the issue of temple entry' as a background for the study, and the latter sections thoroughly explores the historicity of temple entry movements and the social exclusion and cultural subjugation inherited with it since the colonial period to the present day. The article also provides a particular section on the temple entry movement in Odisha (2005–2006) which is based on the empirical works of the author and examines the issue in a critical lens with observations and findings.

Looking at the issue of child mental health and drawing on theory and methods from anthropology and cognitive linguistics, this study explores the role of cultural models in science translation. In-depth interviews with members of the American public reveal the cultural assumptions that Americans employ in thinking about child mental health, which differ dramatically from the ways scientists explain this topic. The study finds that public understandings of causation shape perceptions of effective solutions on this issue. Findings suggest strategies to translate the science of child mental health and encourage productive thinking of policy solutions to this issue.

The automotive industry is known to increase exports since 2015 and is predicted to continue to grow. To develop the industry, the government is known to issue several schemes, and one of them is in the form of mandatory rules for partnerships with the small and medium industrial sectors. However, there is no industrial, institutional map seen from various aspects, including technology, human resources, information, and organization. This map is essential and useful for stakeholders to develop the industry because it provides more directed assistance.In this study, the small and medium industries for processing metal automotive components in Tegal City are used as mapping objects. The technometric method is used to calculate the level of technology contribution they have. The results of this study indicate that the four aspects covering Technoware, Humanware, Infoware, and Orgaware for small and medium-sized automotive component processing industries in Tegal City are in a reasonable range. For improvement or guidance, production facility technology is the priority. Then proceed to employee competencies, information systems, and organizational management. Mapping should be done regularly every five years or less than five years as an evaluation.

How research can feed into the policy process in developing countries in general, and in Nigeria more specifically, is not very well understood. Yet, this understanding is a critical part of doing effective policy research. This has become especially critical for the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), which has set up a country office for policy research in Nigeria. A key challenge for IFPRI, and other research organizations in the country, is how to better integrate research results into policy and communicate research results to Nigerian policymakers. To gain some useful insights into how research does, or does not, influence policy in Nigeria, we examined a case involving the process leading up to the adoption of the National Fertilizer Policy for Nigeria in 2006. Rather than focusing on how research influences policy in general, examining a particular policy allowed us to trace the actual policy process that took place, the actors involved, and the type of links and interactions between them. A diverse group of stakeholders (government, donors, research community, farmer organizations, and the private sector) undoubtedly debated the content of the fertilizer policy. Thus, its successful formulation and adoption offered a useful opportunity to examine how it came about in spite of competing vested interests (for or against it), and what role, if any, research-based information played in developing it. The policy covered some highly contentious political issues, most prominently the issue of privatization of the fertilizer sector in place of the large-scale and long-standing subsidy program. How the actors engaged and appeased people with vested interests who would normally oppose the policy, and the degree to which research-based information played a role in policy development, is of interest to IFPRI and others engaged in policy research. ; Non-PR ; IFPRI1; GRP37; GRP32; NSSP ; DSGD

In December 2011, UNGGIM initiated a cooperative project with ISPRS to resume the former UN Secretariat studies on the status of topographic mapping in the world, conducted between 1968 and 1986. After the design of a questionnaire with 27 questions, the UNGGIM Secretariat sent the questionnaires to the UN member states. 115 replies were received from the 193 member states and regions thereof. Regarding the global data coverage and age, the UN questionnaire survey was supplemented by data from the Eastview database. For each of the 27 questions, an interactive viewer was programmed permitting the analysis of the results. The authoritative data coverage at the various scale ranges has greatly increased between 1986 and 2012. Now, a 30 % 1 : 25 000 map data coverage and a 75 % 1 : 50 000 map data coverage has been completed. Nevertheless, there is still an updating problem, as data for some countries is 10 to 30 years old. Private Industry, with Google, Microsoft and Navigation system providers, have undertaken huge efforts to supplement authoritative mapping. For critical areas on the globe, MGCP committed to military mapping at 1 : 50 000. ISPRS has decided to make such surveys a sustainable issue by establishing a working group.

In December 2011, UNGGIM initiated a cooperative project with ISPRS to resume the former UN Secretariat studies on the status of topographic mapping in the world, conducted between 1968 and 1986. After the design of a questionnaire with 27 questions, the UNGGIM Secretariat sent the questionnaires to the UN member states. 115 replies were received from the 193 member states and regions thereof. Regarding the global data coverage and age, the UN questionnaire survey was supplemented by data from the Eastview database. For each of the 27 questions, an interactive viewer was programmed permitting the analysis of the results. The authoritative data coverage at the various scale ranges has greatly increased between 1986 and 2012. Now, a 30 % 1 : 25 000 map data coverage and a 75 % 1 : 50 000 map data coverage has been completed. Nevertheless, there is still an updating problem, as data for some countries is 10 to 30 years old. Private Industry, with Google, Microsoft and Navigation system providers, have undertaken huge efforts to supplement authoritative mapping. For critical areas on the globe, MGCP committed to military mapping at 1 : 50 000. ISPRS has decided to make such surveys a sustainable issue by establishing a working group.

Celebrity endorsement used to promote energy-dense and nutrient-poor (EDNP) food and beverage products may contribute to poor dietary habits. This study examined celebrity endorsement of branded food and beverage products and marketing campaigns in the United States (US) from 1990 to 2017. Celebrity endorsement data were collected from peer-reviewed and grey literature. Interactive data visualizations were created for the endorsement relationships between celebrities, companies and products whose nutritional profiles were compared with the US Department of Agriculture&rsquo ; s (USDA&rsquo ; s) Smart Snacks Standards. Logistic regression was used to explore associations between celebrities&rsquo ; demographic profiles and the nutritional profiles of products. Results showed 542 celebrities were associated with 732 endorsements representing 120 brands of 59 companies across 10 food and beverage categories. Two thirds (67.2% ; n = 80) of the brands represented EDNP products that did not align with the USDA&rsquo ; s Smart Snacks Standards. Logistic regression analysis indicated that Millennial (p = 0.008) and male celebrities (p = 0.041) were more likely to endorse EDNP products than Generation Z teen and female celebrities, respectively. No statistical significance was observed for celebrities of other demographic profiles. This study may inform future policies and actions of the US government, industry, researchers and consumer advocacy organizations to use celebrity endorsement to promote healthy food environments for Americans.