bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Esoteric Symbolism in Animated Film Storytelling
Authors: Ko Fuji
Published: August 2018

Esoteric symbolism of various kinds is dispersed in media for mass communication, and from the semiotic perspective, films, historically the primary medium for motion pictures, are the most powerful weapons for worldwide attraction. In this paper, two famous cartoon animated movies by Disney, Moana and Zootopia, are under analysis. For one thing, they use profound symbols in conveying a message to the audience, especially to children, and for another, their impact on society is wide due to the breadth and diversity of Disney-branded products. Thus, the present paper discusses these two movies using semiotic theories of signs, codes, and symbols, weaving them together to trace the system of communication between the text (here referring to the cinematic texts) and its audience, and especially how a heroine frame is built in the adventure genre. Interpreting the hidden meaning or occult symbolism requires a special kind of knowledge if we aim to convey the essence of the story to our children beyond merely knowing the plot of the film. The films Moana and Zootopia feature a number of interior or hidden elements such as metaphors and allegories, and illuminati or esoteric symbolism, even though they are animated ones.
Perceiving Humor in Traditional Chinese Peking Opera
Authors: Zhang Zhiyi , Jin Xiaobing
Published: August 2018

Peking opera epitomizes the traditional Chinese performing arts, and all six factors concerning the story and performance of Peking opera, namely plot, role type, song, speech, acting, and combat, can produce humorous effects among the audience. The present paper is a tentative study on humor and sensing humor in Peking opera. The scale study testified that all six factors were able to produce humorous effects and that they had different degrees of comprehension difficulty and humor for different contributing factors. The degree of comprehension difficulty can assert negative influence upon the degree of humor. Different from the traditionally held nonmonotonic (inverted-U) correlation between the two, a monotonic inverse proportion between the two has been detected. The interview analyses revealed that the humorous effects had something to do with incongruity but that resolution might not necessarily be involved. The scale study and the interview analysis both support this finding.
Late Antique Dalmatia and Pannonia in Cassiodorus’ Variae
Authors: Gračanin Hrvoje
Published: August 2018

As the title suggests, the present paper offers an analysis of selected letters from Cassiodorus’ Variae, which are important for late antique history of Dalmatia and Pannonia. The study is intended to be twofold: on the one part, it examines the information that can be derived from the letters about both provinces’ political, administrative, economic, social and ethnic picture in the time of Ostrogothic rule over the Eastern Adriatic and Middle Danube regions; on the other part, it explores literary and political contexts and underlying ideologies that are present in the selected letters.
Marienbilder im Blachernenheiligtum
Authors: Effenberger Arne
Published: August 2018

Only written sources from the 10th and 11th centuries inform us about the existence of images of the Mother of God in the three buildings of the Blachernae shrine at Constantinople (Great Church, Chapel of the Soros and Holy Bath). The first part of my study deals with the question of the localization of these images as well as their date and iconographical details. Furthermore, their possible material and technical features (wall paintings, mosaics or stone carvings) are discussed. In the case of the icon of the „usual miracle“ the Mother of God was doubtless represented with the Christ child on her arm. The second part of the paper investigates an icon in the Sinai Monastery with images of the Blachernitissa, Hodegetria, Hagiosoritissa and Cheimeute. The Hagiosoritissa can be identified as the icon of the Mother of God in the Chalkoprateia, probably linked with the icon of the Christos Antiphonetes. In an excursus, the returning date of the garment of the Virgin into the Blachernae sanctuary is examined.
Der καιρός bei Prokop von Kaisareia
Authors: Andres Hansjoachim
Published: August 2018

Procopius’ view on history and the nature of his Weltanschauung have been amatter of debate for a long time. Especially the relation between the influence of God and the influence of fate is a central problem in the interpretation of the Corpus Procopianum. In contrast, the concept of καιρός has been disregarded almost universally. Starting with the two fundamental meanings of the term in Greek literature and thought, the right measure and the right time, this paper gives a first glance at Procopius’ use of this concept. It is shown that both of these meanings can have an ontological and practical aspect, in Greek literature as well as in Procopius and even beyond that,while the typical Greek understanding and use of the term is a synthesis of both. To understand how Procopius uses καιρός, one needs to expound the problems of this synthesis, that culminate in three major questions:Who is the originator of the καιρός? How frequently does the καιρός appear and does every human action have its καιρός? How does one know the presence of the καιρός and whence does one know how to act during it? After a careful study of the works of Procopius, using mainly the philosophy of Plato and the assumptions of Dariusz Brodka, the answers are: 1) The originator of the καιρός is God, who not only gives the opportunity, but at the same time implements the task to use this opportunity, so the καιρός becomes a part of Salvation History. This concept is shown to be similar to Old Testament views on time and opportunity. 2) Contrary to ancient thought, not every human action in Procopius has its καιρός. The moment only arises when God wants it to arise. 3) The human ability to know the presence of a καιρός and to know the right action during this moment Procopius understands according to Plato: it is possible through the application of experience and reason. In the Anecdota, the καιρός is used to further discredit and demonise Justinianus. The rule of the Emperor changes the basic conditions of the world in such a way that man is no longer able to recognise the godly καιρός through application of experience and therefore is unable to use this moment given by God. The amount of knowledge one needs to manipulate the world in such away is an impossibility foramere human, but a given for the demon Justinianus. The terror of Justinianus therefore gains a metaphysical dimension, just like the Emperor himself thanks to his presentation as a demon. Justinianus’ relation to the καιρός is horrible, for God neither presents him with such a moment nor is he able to do anything but act against the godly καιρός of others, for it is the nature of a demon to act against God. Finally it is shown that the καιρός of Procopius is very different from the καιρός of Thucydides. In Procopius it is a basic principle of God’s operations in the world, whereas in Thucydides it is a somewhat vague everyday term.
Die Taronitai. Eine prosopographisch-sigillographische Studie
Authors: Nikolaros Stratos
Published: August 2018

This paper is a systematic prosopographical study of all members of the Taronites family in Byzantium from the tenth until thirteenth century. It takes into account contemporary narrative sources and both published and unpublished lead seals. Two annexes of lead seals and the stemmata of the family are provided at the end. The aim of this study is to reexamine and offer a fresh insight on the biographical data as well as the history of this aristocratic house.
Foreign Ownership and Financial Disclosure in Central and Eastern Europe
Authors: Taran Alina , Ammar Zahid R. M. , Mironiuc Marilena
Published: August 2018

It is recognized that multinational corporations (MNC) have played a significant role in the recent worldwide accounting reform. This study analyses the influence of foreign ownership, and MNC on financial disclosure practices of listed companies from Central and Eastern European countries (CEE). The possible reverse effect is also considered, and thus, the role of disclosure in attracting foreign investments is investigated. Fixed effects panel analysis has been conducted for 2005-2015 period, in the context of partial IFRS adoption in CEE. Contrary to hypothesized expectations, the influence of foreign ownership on the extent of disclosure is negative. As foreign investors in CEE are dominantly corporations, it seems they impose their own reporting policies or report detailed group information, which may diminish the disclosure of foreign subsidiaries. Moreover, it was found that foreign investors are not sensitive to changes of items in reported information. This evidence raises questions regarding the purpose, and the impact of disclosure on financial markets. Overall, this study gives a signal to standard-setters about reporting practices at regional level, and adds an original empirical contribution to reporting behavior and corporate transparency literature. Moreover, it invites to further research on reporting practices of companies with foreign ownership.
The Bankers’ New Clothes – What’s Wrong with Banking and What to Do about It
Authors: Moreira Fernando
Published: August 2018

Sometimes inaccurate arguments are repeated so often and with impressive (apparent) authority that most people take them for granted. Anat Admati and Martin Hellwig illustrate one of these situations in their book The Bankers’ New Clothes: What’s Wrong with Banking and What to Do about It. By using a pun inspired by the classic tale The Emperor’s New Clothes by Hans Andersen, Admati and Hellwig guide us around the world of the “bankers’ new clothes”, that is,  “flawed and misleading claims that are made in discussions about banking regulation” (p. 9). In the tale, everybody initially pretends to see the emperor’s invisible clothes in order not to appear stupid given that the invisible clothes were made by two (allegedly) highly skilled weavers.
Rhythm and Synchrony in a Cortical Network Model
Authors: Chariker Logan , Shapley Robert , Young Lai-Sang
Published: August 2018

We studied mechanisms for cortical gamma-band activity in the cerebral cortex and identified neurobiological factors that affect such activity. This was done by analyzing the behavior of a previously developed, data-driven, large-scale network model that simulated many visual functions of monkey V1 cortex (Chariker et al., 2016). Gamma activity was an emergent property of the model. The model's gamma activity, like that of the real cortex, was (1) episodic, (2) variable in frequency and phase, and (3) graded in power with stimulus variables like orientation. The spike firing of the model's neuronal population was only partially synchronous during multiple firing events (MFEs) that occurred at gamma rates. Detailed analysis of the model's MFEs showed that gamma-band activity was multidimensional in its sources. Most spikes were evoked by excitatory inputs. A large fraction of these inputs came from recurrent excitation within the local circuit, but feedforward and feedback excitation also contributed, either through direct pulsing or by raising the overall baseline. Inhibition was responsible for ending MFEs, but disinhibition led directly to only a small minority of the synchronized spikes. As a potential explanation for the wide range of gamma characteristics observed in different parts of cortex, we found that the relative rise times of AMPA and GABA synaptic conductances have a strong effect on the degree of synchrony in gamma.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTCanonical computations used throughout the cerebral cortex are performed in primary visual cortex (V1). Providing theoretical mechanisms for these computations will advance understanding of computation throughout cortex. We studied one dynamical feature, gamma-band rhythms, in a large-scale, data-driven, computational model of monkey V1. Our most significant conclusion is that the sources of gamma band activity are multidimensional. A second major finding is that the relative rise times of excitatory and inhibitory synaptic potentials have strong effects on spike synchrony and peak gamma band power. Insight gained from studying our V1 model can shed light on the functions of other cortical regions.
Feedback-Based Learning in Aging: Contributions and Trajectories of Change in Striatal and Hippocampal Systems
Authors: Lighthall Nichole R. , Pearson John M. , Huettel Scott A. , Cabeza Roberto
Published: August 2018

The striatum supports learning from immediate feedback by coding prediction errors (PEs), whereas the hippocampus (HC) plays a parallel role in learning from delayed feedback. Both regions show evidence of decline in human aging, but behavioral research suggests greater decline in HC versus striatal functions. The present study included male and female humans and used fMRI to examine younger and older adults' brain activation patterns during a learning task with choice feedback presented immediately or after a brief delay. Participants then completed a surprise memory task that tested their recognition of trial-unique feedback stimuli, followed by assessments of postlearning cue preference, outcome probability awareness, and willingness to pay. The study yielded three main findings. First, behavioral measures indicated similar rates of learning in younger and older adults across conditions, but postlearning measures indicated impairment in older adults' ability to subsequently apply learning to discriminate between cues. Second, PE signals in the striatum were greater for immediate versus delayed feedback in both age groups, but PE signals in the HC were greater for delayed versus immediate feedback only in younger adults. Third, unlike younger adults, older adults failed to exhibit enhanced episodic memory for outcome stimuli in the delayed-feedback condition. Together, these findings indicate that HC circuits supporting learning and memory decline more than striatal circuits in healthy aging, which suggests that declines in HC learning signals may be an important predictor of deficits in learning-dependent economic decisions among older adults.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTThe hippocampus (HC) and striatum play distinct and critical roles in learning. Substantial research suggests that age-related decline in learning supported by the HC outpaces decline in learning supported by the striatum; however, such inferences have been drawn by comparing performance in tasks with fundamentally different structures. The present study overcomes this obstacle by implementing a single fMRI-learning paradigm with a subtle variation in feedback timing to examine differential age effects on memory supported by the HC and striatum. Our results provide converging behavioral and brain-imaging evidence showing that HC circuits supporting learning and memory decline more than striatal circuits in healthy aging and that declines in HC learning signals may predict early deficits in learning-dependent decisions among older adults.
Mass distribution descriptors in modelling of sorption properties
Authors: Tulegenov Akyl , Kenzhaliev Bagdaulet , Seilkhanova Zhansaya , Sartayeva Madina
Published: August 2018

The objective of present work is to construct structure-property models for the prediction of applied thermochemical properties of polyatomic molecules based on the mass distribution descriptors. The performance of the model was assessed based on the values of coefficients of determination and root mean square deviations. The results were compared with existing literature values, and it was observed that the mass distribution descriptors not relying on quantum-chemical information exhibit a similar performance compared to quantum-chemical QSPR models and can at least form the reliable foundation for the construction of the quantitative structure-property models. Conclusions were made about the possible applicability of the model.
Alkaline hydrolysis of wool fat (lanolin) in a medium of proton and aprotic solvents
Authors: Konuspayev Saparkali , Kassenova Batiha , Akhatova Zauresh , Nurbaeva Roza
Published: August 2018

The raw material being studied is the woolen fat of the sheep of the Edilbay fine-fleece and Kazakh arkharomeric fine-fleece, which is excreted when washing wool in primary wool processing plants (PWP) in the regions of Kazakhstan, such as Semipalatinsk, Aktyubinsk, Zhambyl and Tokmak. Earlier we obtained anhydrous lanolin from the fat of various factories of the PWP. In both cases, positive results were obtained and a certificate of compliance of anhydrous lanolin FS RK was obtained. In terms of its chemical composition, wool fat is a mixture of C10-C16 carboxylic acid esters with aliphatic, terpenic, triterpene and sterol alcohols. It also contains vitamins, proteins, sterols and other physiologically active compounds. In the hydrolysis of wool fat, a mixture of sterol alcohols, triterpene alcohols and fatty acid salts are assumed. Valuable among them are sterol alcohols, which constitute up to 29% of the sum of all alcohols. Cholesterol and its derivatives are the raw materials for the synthesis of steroid drugs. Salts of fatty acids are used as an emulsifier in pharmacy and cosmetology. The aim of this paper is to complete the saponification of wool fat and the separation of a mixture of sterol alcohols. We show the patterns of alkaline hydrolysis of wool fat in the liquid phase in the presence of mixtures of various solvents. As a solvent, the ethanol-water, isopropanol-water system in which wool fat is only partially dissolved has been studied. In the wool fat-alcohol-water-NaOH system, a stable emulsion is formed. Ways that prevent the formation of an emulsion are proposed.
A Reforma de 1º e 2º Graus de 1970 à luz da proposta filosófico-educacional em Nietzsche
Authors: Barbosa Renê Da Silva
Published: August 2018

O objetivo deste artigo é discutir o relatório do Grupo de Trabalho (GT), elaborado na ditadura militar (1964-1985), à luz da proposta filosófico-educacional em Friedrich Nietzsche. Num contexto em que os militares acreditavam no desenvolvimento do país, a educação foi alvo das políticas pequenas que fomentaram o ensino técnico-industrial. O filósofo alemão vem a marteladas quebrar as instituições que pretendem aprisionar, massificar, padronizar as pessoas. Além disso, não apresenta uma proposta fechada, uma vez que na sua filosofia tudo está em movimento, em criação, em autossuperação. A problemática discute se a filosofia de Nietzsche pode contribuir para alternativas de melhoria na educação. Assim, constatou-se a importância da reflexão nietzschiana no sentido de iluminar e aprofundar as leis educacionais autoritárias.
A construção das identidades sexuais nas práticas discursivas: o discurso escrito nos textos escolares
Authors: Carvalho Bárbara Angélica Aparecida , Campos Elisabete Ferreira Esteves
Published: August 2018

Este trabalho problematiza o discurso de masculinidade hegemônica veiculado nos livros didáticos e, por consequência, no contexto escolar, através dos textos e gêneros discursivos que os compõem. Nesta pesquisa, realizamos um levantamento bibliográfico e selecionamos quatro estudos acadêmicos que analisam questões de gênero e sexualidade nos livros usados em aulas. Concluímos que essas obras didáticas analisadas pelos pesquisadores apresentam textos cujas cargas ideológicas manisfestam o poder simbólico do discurso dominante de construção das masculinidades, sobretudo da masculinidade hegemônica. Tal discurso assegura as relações de poder que pautam a construção de outras identidades, provocando sanções, através da violência de gênero, ao que dele difere, podendo resultar em exclusão e violação dos direitos de acesso e permanência na escola.
Prognostic Factors in Patients with Metastatic Breast Cancer with Bone-Only Metastases
Authors: Parkes Amanda , Warneke Carla L. , Clifton Katherine , Al-Awadhi Aydah , Oke Oluchi , Pestana Roberto Carmagnani , Alhalabi Omar , Litton Jennifer K. , Hortobagyi Gabriel N.
Published: August 2018

Background

Patients with metastatic breast cancer with bone-only metastases (BOM) are a unique patient population without consensus regarding high-risk characteristics, which we sought to establish.

Methods

We identified 1,445 patients with BOM followed for at least 6 months at MD Anderson Cancer Center from January 1, 1997, to December 31, 2015.

Results

Seventy-one percent (n = 936) of the 1,325 patients with BOM with available pain characterization were symptomatic at time of BOM diagnosis. Pain was more common in patients with lytic compared with blastic or sclerotic metastases (odds ratio [OR], 1.79; 95% confidence interval [CI,] 1.26–2.53) and multiple versus single bone metastases (OR, 1.37; 95% CI, 1.03–1.83). Poorer overall survival (OS) was also noted in patients with multiple bone metastases (median OS, 4.80 years; 95% CI, 4.49–5.07) compared with single bone metastasis (median OS, 7.54 years; 95% CI, 6.28–10.10) and in patients with metastases in both the axial and appendicular skeleton (median OS, 4.58 years; 95% CI, 4.23–4.96) compared with appendicular-only (median OS, 6.78 years; 95% CI, 5.26–7.96) or axial-only metastases (median OS, 5.62 years; 95% CI, 4.81–6.69). Black/non-Hispanic patients had poorer outcomes, and patients aged 40–49 years at time of breast cancer diagnosis had significantly better OS compared with both younger and older patient groups.

Conclusion

Overall, several risk features for decreased OS were identified, including multiple bone metastases and both axial and appendicular skeleton involvement. Multiple bone metastases and lytic bone metastases were associated with increased pain.

Implications for Practice

Patients with metastatic breast cancer and bone-only metastases (BOM) represent a poorly characterized patient subset. The ability to identify unique patient characteristics at time of BOM diagnosis associated with increased morbidity or mortality would allow for recognition of patients who would benefit from more aggressive therapy. In this study, the largest sample of patients with BOM thus far reported is characterized, highlighting several higher-risk BOM groups, including those with multiple bone metastases and bone metastases in both the axial and appendicular skeleton at time of BOM diagnosis. In addition to tailoring current practices for these high-risk patients, ongoing studies of these patients are indicated.
Probability-dependent failure modes of slopes and cuts in heterogeneous cohesive soils
Authors: van den Eijnden A. P. , Hicks M. A.
Published: August 2018

Improbable slope failure is addressed in the framework of reliability analysis of slopes in heterogeneous cohesive soils, as the small subset of realisations that fail without additional measures to trigger failure. The mode of these slope failures, located at the weak tail of the reliability curve, is demonstrated to differ significantly from the deterministic solution as well as the stochastic average solution found when shear strength reduction is applied to trigger slope failure. Subset simulation is applied to compute the probability-dependent difference in failure mode for a range of slopes down to very low levels of probability, which is required to properly account for the actual failure in predominantly safe slopes. The results demonstrate possible differences in the mode of failure when properly accounting for the uncertainty in spatial variability in a full probabilistic slope stability analysis, and highlight that caution may be needed when using the strength reduction method.
A microscale-based model for small-strain stiffness in unsaturated granular geomaterials
Authors: Pagano Arianna Gea , Tarantino Alessandro , Magnanimo Vanessa
Published: August 2018

Stiffness at very small strains G0 is commonly assessed by way of laboratory and field methods, and used to design a wide range of infrastructure. When stiffness is inferred from field measurements, its value depends on the soil suction and state of saturation at the time of the measurement, and models are needed to infer G0 at varying suction and degree of saturation. When stiffness is measured on saturated specimens in the laboratory, models are needed to extrapolate the laboratory ‘saturated’ stiffness to the field ‘unsaturated’ stiffness. This paper presents an experimental investigation of G0 of unsaturated sand using the hanging water column method and the bender element technique. Experimental results revealed that wave propagation velocity and, hence, stiffness is not controlled by the product ‘suction times the degree of saturation’. A microscale-based model was formulated to interpret the experimental results, and to elucidate the mechanisms underlying different patterns of G0 in unsaturated materials observed in the literature. According to the proposed model, the evolution of G0 is controlled by the evolution of the suction/degree of saturation-induced intergranular stress during drying–wetting cycles. The breadth of the water retention curve and the magnitude of the intergranular stress due to the presence of the menisci were found to be responsible for the different patterns of G0.
Antalya doğal florasından toplanan düğmeli yoncanın moleküler karakterizasyonu
Authors: ERDURMUŞ Cengiz
Published: August 2018

Bu çalışma, Antalya doğal florasından
toplanan ve özellikle mera alanları için önem teşkil eden tek yıllık yonca
türlerinden Düğmeli yonca (Medicago
orbicularis L.)`nın moleküler karakterizasyonunu yapmak amacıyla
yürütülmüştür. Çalışmada 45 adet düğmeli yonca genotipi arasındaki genetik
çeşitlilik mikrosatellite (SSR) markırları kullanılarak araştırılmıştır.
Yapılan ön çalışmada, toplam 35 adet mikrosatellite primer çifti
kullanılmıştır. Yapılan ikinci çalışmada ise 15 adet mikrosatellite primer
çifti kullanılmıştır. Araştırmada genetik benzerlik katsayıları 0.75-1.00
değerleri arasında bulunmuştur. En yakın genetik benzerlik 3-4-5 ve 42 nolu
genotipler; 37 ve 38 nolu genotipler; 32 ve 31 nolu genotipler; 25 ve 26 nolu
genotipler; 7-9-16-18-22 ve 33 nolu genotipler; 40 ve 11 nolu genotipler; 29 ve
30 nolu genotipler; 13-14 nolu genotipler ile 6-10-12-15-17-19-20-21-23-24-28-3443-44
ve 45 nolu genotipler arasında belirlenmiştir. En uzak benzerlik ise 2 nolu
genotip ile 25 ve 26 nolu genotipler arasında belirlenmiştir. UPGMA yöntemine
göre yapılan dendogramda genotipler 0.87 benzerlik seviyesinde 2 ana gruba
ayrılmıştır. Birinci ana grupta 12, ikinci ana grupta 33 genotip yer almıştır.
Variaciones en el campo visual del espacio de trabajo del artista forense, durante la realización de retratos hablados mediante video llamadas: proyecciones para Chile y América Latina
Authors: Faúndez-Salinas Gustavo
Published: August 2018

Introducción: este artículo expone los resultados de un estudio ya finalizado, cuyo objetivo consistió en determinar si, durante la realización de retratos hablados a través de videollamadas, es posible evidenciar una correlación entre la amplitud del campo visual que tiene el testigo o víctima respecto del espacio de trabajo del artista forense, y el parecido resultante entre el retrato y el rostro de la persona a identificar.

Enfoque: el énfasis está puesto en la aplicabilidad de estos nuevos medios tecnológicos en el contexto latinoamericano, particularmente hacia la superación de las distancias físicas existentes entre las víctimas y autoridades judiciales de algunos países de la región.

Metodología: un primer grupo de 24 personas voluntarias situadas en Santiago de Chile tomó parte de entrevistas cognitivas individuales con un artista forense instalado en Dundee (Reino Unido) mediante videollamadas, 24 horas después de haber observado brevemente la fotografía de uno de los personajes de una serie de TV británica no transmitida en Chile. Durante las entrevistas, 12 de ellas tuvieron acceso visual a la imagen del tronco superior del artista y su espacio de trabajo, mientras que las otras 12 solo observaron en la pantalla una muralla blanca. Posteriormente, un segundo grupo de 24 personas, también ubicadas en Chile, evaluó el parecido de los retratos con respecto a las imágenes originales mediante una escala Likert.

Resultados: los datos obtenidos sugieren que no existe correlación directa entre las variables consideradas, lo cual implica que los cambios en el entorno de realización de las entrevistas no tendrían un efecto significativo en la composición de los retratos.

Conclusión: la ilusión de copresencia parece no ser imperativa para la creación de rapport entre el entrevistado y el artista forense.
A menekülttábor: politikai megoldás és/vagy társadalmi probléma?
Authors: Lehoczki Bernadett , Paragi Beáta
Published: August 2018

A nemzetközi menekültügyi rezsim alapja, hogy a menekült a legkedvezményezettebb külföldi. Jogai és kötelezettségei jó esetben közelítenek az állampolgáréhoz, legalábbis azon országokban, amelyek részesei az ENSZ 1951-es menekültek helyzetére vonatkozó egyezményének. Az otthonukat elhagyni kényszerülők – sokszor alternatív megoldás hiányában – világszerte menekülttáborokban élnek. E táborok társadalmi szerepe azonban nem mentes az ellentmondásoktól. Kiindulópontként fontos hangsúlyozni, hogy a menekültek elhelyezése, ellátása minden körülmények között komplex társadalmi, politikai, gazdasági, infrastrukturális, igazgatási-adminisztrációs kihívást jelent a befogadó ország számára. A 2015 óta kibontakozó menekültválság egyik fő gócpontja a Közel-Kelet, amelynek országai eltérő válaszokat adtak a szíriai háború okozta menekültáradat kezelésére; Jordánia az egyetlen ország a térségben, amelyben olyan UNHCR-fenntartású menekülttáborokat hoztak létre a szíriai háború kitörését követően (2012–2013 folyamán), amelyben százezres nagyságrendben fordultak meg menekültek. Jelen tanulmány célja egyrészt annak bemutatása, hogy a nemzetközi közösség milyen megfontolásokból hoz létre menekülttáborokat, másrészt annak áttekintése, hogy ezek a terek mint a megoldás részei mennyiben egészítik ki a helyi, informális intézményeket-szokásokat „menekültprobléma” esetén.
Szuburbanizáció a határon át: társadalmi, etnikai és arculati változások Rajkán
Authors: Balizs Dániel , Bajmócy Péter
Published: August 2018

A Magyarország északnyugati peremén található Rajka földrajzi helyzete speciális, mivel alig húsz kilométerre található a szlovák fővárostól, Pozsonytól. A település mintapéldája a határon átívelő szuburbanizációnak, melynek folyamán az urbánus népesség célterülete nem csupán a nem túl távoli vidéki térség, hanem – ingatlanpiaci, elérhetőségi stb. okokból – annak a szomszédos országban fekvő része. Rajkán az egy évtizede tartó folyamat révén napjainkban 2000 „őshonos” és 3000 bevándorló él. Utóbbiak magyar állampolgárságot nem igényelnek, és döntő részben a község társadalmi életéből sem veszik ki részüket. A két közösség között – életmódbeli különbségeik következtében – alig van kapcsolat, annak ellenére, hogy a betelepülők egy része magyar anyanyelvű. Új lakónegyedek és felújított ingatlanok révén Rajka építészeti arculata fokozatosan átformálódik. A régi lakóházak felújítása és átalakítása a község régi településrészén jellemző, ahol gyorsan nő a pozsonyi hátterűek lélekszáma. Míg az új építésű utcákban csaknem kizárólag betelepülők élnek, Rajka régebbi utcáiban élő népesség vegyes. A tanulmány bemutatja a társadalmi változásokat, az új lakosok etnikai és származási hátterét, valamint a településarculat átformálódásának leginkább szembetűnő elemeit.
A magyarországi határkutatás három évtizede. Szakirodalmi áttekintés
Authors: Pete Márton
Published: August 2018

Az 1980-as évek végétől a határok kutatása mind a magyar, mind a nyugati (nyugat-európai és észak-amerikai) területi kutatások jelentős vizsgálati területe lett. Ugyanakkor magyar szempontból számos térségi sajátosság emelhető ki, amely megkülönbözteti az itteni tudományos termést az angolszász dominanciájú nyugati szakirodalomtól.

A tanulmány célja annak feltárása, milyen sajátosságok jellemezték a határkutatások magyar nyelvű szakirodalmát a 19. század végétől napjainkig, különös tekintettel a rendszerváltozás utáni időszakra. Ennek keretében bemutatom, hogyan vált az országhatár a társadalomföldrajz, illetve más rokon diszciplínák számára releváns kutatási problémává. A határt olyan társadalmi konstrukcióként azonosítom, ahol a külső, földrajzi térbeli közelség a belső, társadalmi térben bizonyos mértékű eltávolodottsággal párosul. Ezen alapproblémán túlmenően más, aktuális szempontok is meghatározók voltak a határkutatás egyes korszakaiban. A tanulmány áttekinti a határkutatás kezdetei óta a különböző korszakok főbb kérdéseit, problémáit, összekötve mindezt a tematikai és módszertani hangsúlyokkal.

A tanulmány ezután a közelmúlt nemzetközi és magyar tudományos eredményeinek összehasonlíthatóvá tétele érdekében főbb irányzatok szerint csoportosítja a szakirodalmat. Henk van Houtum hármas felosztásának a magyar nyelvű szakirodalomra alkalmazásával, valamint egyéb források feldolgozásával a tanulmány következtetése, hogy a magyar határkutatás alapvetően a nyugatit követi, ám mindezt jelentős időbeli késéssel teszi. Ugyanakkor a legújabb időszakok hazai kutatásai mögül hiányzik a politikai földrajz elméleti háttere, s a vizsgálatok sok esetben nem is a határt kutatják, hanem bizonyos tematikákat a határ mentén. Ezért a jövőben jobban kellene támaszkodni a múlt magyar, valamint napjaink nemzetközi politikai földrajzi tudáskészletére.
A telephelyválasztás lehetőségei a szállodaiparban
Authors: Albert Tóth Attila , Rechnitzer János
Published: August 2018

A szálláshelyek telepítési helyének megválasztása a kezdetektől fogva tudatos döntések következménye volt, még akkor is, ha sokáig ez spontán módon ment végbe. Később, a szállodaipar fejlődése során létrejöttek azok a legfontosabb szállodatípusok, amelyek már nagymértékben meg is határozták a telepítési helyüket.

A tanulmány bemutatja a telephelyválasztás modelljeit, a monocentrikus, az agglomerációs és az empirikus modellek, valamint a szállodai gyakorlathoz közel álló működési modellek sajátosságait, abból a célból, hogy elemzési módszereket nyújtson új szállodák létesítéséhez. A budapesti esettanulmány felvázolja a fővárosi szállodaipar 2016-ra kialakult térbeli koncentrációját, valamint vizsgálja a 2008 és 2016 között megnyílt új szállodák telephelyválasztását. Az elemzés kerületi bontásban értékeli a közelmúlt legsikeresebb szállodai beruházásait. A telephelyválasztást és a befektetési döntést befolyásoló tényezők értékelése a gyakorlatban is segítséget nyújthat a szállodai beruházások során. Kockázatos döntéseket kell hozni, amelyek később már nehezen vagy egyáltalán nem korrigálhatók. Nem kétséges, hogy a jó telehelyválasztás a szálloda jövőbeni sikerességét alapvetően meghatározza.
Methods for detection of crises in the economy in the early stages
Authors: Ivaniuk V. A. , Abdikeev N. M.
Published: August 2018

The article presents the results of a research of the principles, methods and models for discovery of crises in the economy in the early stages. The increase in the intensity of interaction of economic agents and increase the speed of information exchange and transactions frequency create preconditions not only for accelerating growth but also for the overheating of the economy with subsequent state of crisis. The relevance and importance of the work justifies increasing frequency, as global economic crises and crises of assets, and in opportunities of a statistically sound forecasting of development of crisis processes in the securities market. The object of the study was the crisis situation of the individual assets, as well as methods of detecting the crisis at an early stage.
New tariff regulation for natural monopolies: what should it be?
Authors: Dolmatov I. A. , Zolotova I. YU. , Maskaev I. V.
Published: August 2018

For the last several years, the Russian Federation has been artificially restraining the growth of tariffs for the services of natural monopolies. A simple decision, which is taken hastily a few years ago as a short-term anti-crisis measure, has every chance of becoming a "solution" for many years to come. The authors attempt to analyze the short-term and long-term effects of the tariff regulation and present the results obtained in the framework of the basic research program of the Higher School of Economics on the impact of tariffs in the energy sector on the main macroeconomic indicators, most often used as arguments in favor of tariff restraint. It is shown that tariffs, including the ones for electricity networks, should cover all efficient costs of regulated companies in full which enables reliable and safe power supply for sustainable and efficient development of industries and wellbeing of the population. The authors present for the first time the results of the estimations of the efficiency of the operational costs of electric networks in Russia obtained on the models developed by the Institute of Pricing and Regulation of Natural Monopolies. The models are based on the data envelopment analysis (DEA) technique, one of the most advanced and most common methods in contemporary tariff setting.
Parametric management of economic actor behaviour under bounded rationality
Authors: Obydenov A. YU.
Published: August 2018

The article explores parametric management of economic entity production volume within framework of weak and strong hypothesis of bounded rationality. The concept of parametric management with the example of economic entity behavior modeling under the conditions of bounded rationality is considered. The qualitative analysis of nonlinear kinetics differential equations is applied as the basic method of the investigation suggested. The investigation proves the possibility of parametric stimulation of economic entity production volume increasing by the means of: transfers, taxes, fixed prices depending on different conditions, such as the model of economic entity rationality, demand function, borrowing financial assets accessibility. The invariant instruments of parametric management for different models of economic actors strategic behavior are proposed. The managerial problems explored may be generalized for solving the coordination problem as a hole.
Adding Value together with Consumers at B2B Market
Authors: Arsenova E. V. , Sokolova T. YU.
Published: August 2018

Results of scientific research dedicated to consumer involvement in the joint value addition process have been generalized and systematized; peculiar features pertinent to the application of the concept at the Russia’s B2B market have been singled out; methods of consumer involvement in the joint value addition process have been analyzed. In addition, the relationship between the involvement of professional consumers in the value addition process and the consumer loyalty and the innovative business component has been analyzed.
Oil market financialisation and Russian Government budget hedging
Authors: Bushuev V. V. , Bushuev I. V. , Zamyatina D. P.
Published: August 2018

Market financialisation radically changes the process of oil pricing and results in increase of price volatility. Normal contango situation in financial markets is favorable for government risk hedging. Optimal hedging strategy depends on derivatives’ market conditions, but the recommended contract is put/spread option. Budget hedging may be beneficial for Government as it permits to include oil price in the process of budget planning more accurately.
Features of business models in the market of payment services
Authors: Krivoruchko S. V. , Lopatin V. A.
Published: August 2018

Features of business models of participants of the market of retail payment services are considered. An approach based on the allocation of nine elements of the business model is used: consumer segments, value propositions, sales channels, customer relationships, revenue streams, key resources, key activities, key partners, cost structure
Corporate governance: inside
Authors: Lutsenko S. I.
Published: August 2018

Features of corporate governance are considered. In modern realities quality of corporate governance is determined by the internal organization (accurate corporate strategy with determination of the purposes and interests of the company). The author offers corporate model which would consider interests not only shareholders, but also other interested participants.
Industry characteristic of bankruptcy prediction models appliance
Authors: Fedorova E. A. , Khrustova L. E. , Chekrizov D. V.
Published: August 2018

The aim of the research is to develop the methodology of bankruptcy prediction applying the specified statutory values of the existing models with a glance to company’s industry and developing the author’s prediction model. Initially authors estimated the forecast accuracy of the existing models for the enterprises of 8 industries. Using CART (Classification And Regression Tree) methodology the original statutory values of the models were specified for every industry under research. The calculated statutory values demonstrated the high level of prediction accuracy and balanced the indicators of accuracy for bankrupt and non-bankrupt companies. The indicators with the maximum level of significance for bankruptcy prediction were selected from all the models. They formed a basis for a new developed model, which has demonstrated the high level of prediction accuracy on a sample under research. The statutory values for the new model were also developed.The implementation of the research’s results will increase the efficiency of bankruptcy prediction and low the number of bankrupt companies.
Electrical energy demand management in Russia
Authors: Dzyuba A. P. , Soloveva L. A.
Published: August 2018

One of the modern and effective tools for energy efficiency improvement at the level of national economies is management of the demand for electrical energy consumption. The mechanism of management of the demand for electrical energy consumption has a significant potential for energy efficiency improvement for the Russian economy, but due to structural features of the Unified Energy System of Russia, the Electrical Energy Demand Management Program is at the stage of concept development. A model of management of the demand for electrical energy consumption for Unified Energy System of Russia has been developed taking into account structural features of the electric power system. Peculiarities of the economic structure of Russia, which influence the formation of the structure of the country’s electric power complex, have been revealed. They were taken into account when developing requirements for the electrical energy demand management system in the Unified Energy System of Russia. The basic features are the multilevel form and hierarchy of the structure; they have been investigated in the process of developing the demand management model. The classification of electric power industry entities, related to processes of electric energy circulation and the influence on the management of the demand for electrical energy consumption, has been developed with economic interests of each entity within the framework of the demand management model. The electrical energy demand management model, which is based on the hierarchical structure of demand management, has been developed and covers the whole complex of management functions and takes into account features of demand management at each management level. The model allows to significantly improve the efficiency of management of the demand for electrical energy consumption, to ensure the quality of management.
Technologies for Distributed Generation: key performance factors for industrial application
Authors: Nalbandyan G. G. , Zholnerchik S. S.
Published: August 2018

The reduction in the cost of technologies for distributed generation involves an increasing decentralization of power generation and large-scale development of distributed sources around the world. This trend is a key change in both the characteristics of electricity consumption: it is becoming increasingly flexible and mobile, and the patterns of consumer behavior in the electricity market. Electricity consumers are becoming at the same time its suppliers and require revision of traditional regulation standards of the electricity market. The purpose of the article is to assess the influence of distributed generation on the economy of both enterprises and the country as a whole. To identify the effects of the introduction of distributed generation technologies, the method of case study analysis is used. The empirical analysis was carried out on the basis of twelve Russian companies that use their own energy sources. The selected companies belong to the following industries: industrial production, housing and communal services, retail trade, construction, agriculture. Technological and economic effects are revealed. Technological ones include: improving consumer reliability, energy security, involving local energy resources, optimizing load management and redundancy, providing the flexibility of smart grids (in terms of generation), reducing the load on the environment, including CO2 emissions. Economic effects: optimization of the load schedule, reduction of losses in the process of transmission/distribution of energy, expansion of cogeneration, etc., providing the consumer with the electricity of a given quality, saving losses in networks, reducing the cost of energy. The identified effects of the introduction of distributed generation technologies make it possible to highlight the advantages of regeneration facilities: high efficiency and the possibility of cogeneration and trigeneration, individual maneuvering capacity loading, high reliability of equipment, low cost of transportation of electricity, fuel usage of the by-products and the main production waste. In conclusion, recommendations are formulated on a set of measures for the development of industrial distributed generation in Russia at the Federal level.
Potential of decentralized interbank settlements using blockchain
Authors: Dostov V. L. , Shust P. M. , Khorkova A. A.
Published: August 2018

Digital currency became a relevant topic lately, with the central banks contemplating the idea of issuing their own virtual currencies. Central banks may issue their virtual currencies to simplify interbank cross-border settlements and make them cheaper. In order to achieve this, both commercial and central banks recognize these virtual currencies as means of payments. In these projects blockchain could be used to store information about the digital currencies, instead of fiat money. We have identified the risks associated with the virtual currencies issued by the central banks: conversion and volatility risks. We have looked at different approaches to the distributed ledger, principles for decentralized virtual currencies, possibility of these technologies being used by the central banks, various risks and their mitigation strategies. We also formulated the technological and legal principles that may guide the issuance of the digital currency by the central banks. And reviewed the practicability of issuing virtual currencies by the central banks, based on exogenous and endogenous factors.