bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Transitional periods in the history of the Austrian Constitutional Court
Authors: Hofstätter Christoph
Published: November 2020

The paper deals with the long and rich history of the Austrian Constitutional Court. It focuses on the role of the Austrian Constitutional Court in times of political transitions. As written version of a lecture held in Sousse (Tunisia) it tends to outline the impact a constitutional court could have on a young democracy’s political system.
Echocardiography in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation - What Should the Internist Doctor Know?
Authors: Toplicianu-Dimitriu Maria-Luiza , Nanea Ioan Tiberiu
Published: November 2020

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia, with an increasing prevalence and an enormous clinical impact due to the high stroke rate, left ventricular dysfunction and excess mortality. The occurrence and maintenance of AF is favored by both the degree of left atrial (LA) dilation and the association of fibrotic lesions of the myocardium. The LA is a marker of adverse cardiovascular events in patients with AF. Atrial remodeling can be electrical (shortening atrial refractory), structural (altering geometry and altering collagen content) and contractile (loss of contractility). Cardiac imaging plays a central role in the clinical management of this arrhythmia. Echocardiography represents the routine imaging technique used in patients with AF, with a role in detecting LA dysfunction and cardiac structural changes that predispose to this arrhythmia, also having the ability to predict the maintenance of sinus rhythm after cardioversion and after ablation.
Justice Development and Peace Commission (JDPC) on women empowerment
Authors: Ogunyemi Segilola Yewande , Adisa Ademola Lateef , Adenuga Ademolu Oluwaseun
Published: November 2020

The need to empower women seems to center on the fact that women have potentials to contribute to the development process but are constrained by some factors that render them powerless. For this reason, this study examined the impact of justice development and peace commission on women empowerment by assessing the empowerment initiatives, women participation and identifying factors that militate against full empowerment and participation of women. The theoretical background for this study is structural functionalism and the study is descriptive in nature. The study was conducted in JDPC, Ijebu-Ode and data was collected from primary and secondary sources. For primary data, IDI was conducted for 12 beneficiaries of the empowerment programmes and 6 employees of JDPC while secondary data were collected through extensive review of literature. The data collected were content analyzed. The findings revealed that not until recent empowerment programmes organized for women, women do not have the zeal for the programmes which has limited their consciousness and strength in the society. Also, awkward spending of women contributed to their failure from receiving further loans from JDPC. Equally, low level of education, tradition and belief that men are better than women affected the slow rate of empowerment of women.
Male homosexuality and homophobia in contemporary Slovakia: A qualitative inquiry into personal online narratives
Authors: Jovanović Srđan Mladenov
Published: November 2020

Homosexuality in Slovakia is covered in a veil of secrecy. With constant attacks by the Catholic Church and populist, traditionalist politicians, it is barely visible in society and politics, unless when discursively attacked. Similarly, homosexuality in Slovakia has failed to become a topic in the contemporary academia, with the exception of a few local works. This article, aiming to fill that gap, confronts a selection of online narratives of Slovak homosexuals via Qualitative Data Analysis through the qualitative tool, QDA Miner, including narrative analysis. Additionally, having in mind the strong propaganda of the Catholic Church against homosexuality, select homophobic narratives are analyzed via the same means.
Symbols in traditional dance: A study of Nkwanwite dance
Authors: Akas Nicholas C.
Published: November 2020

The use of iconic symbols during traditional performances (dance) has remained an indispensable tool. The major problem facing the use of signifying symbols during performances is because they are seen as mere performative enhancer. These assumptions might be generally accepted, but in core dance scholarship it can be argued for or against, but this paper stands against its wrong perceived nature as mere performative enhancer. The aim of this paper is to interpret some of the signifying symbols used in dance in order to understanding their socio-cultural essence. This paper would analyze the signifying symbols used in Nkwanwite traditional dance for the following reasons: (a) To acknowledge the use of cultural symbols as part of people’s mythology belief. (b) To interpret, analyze and document the signifying symbols as a socio-communicative tool. (c) To give each of the signifying symbols relevance and interpretation in dance. In order to achieve this Sense Making Theory would be used as theoretical frame work to interrogate the essence of the signifying symbols. Findings show that, due to lack of interpretation and documentation on the use of signifying symbols in dance. It is gradually going into extinction as mere props. The paper concludes that non dance scholars should cherish and appreciate the use of symbols in dance as communicative tool.
Long-term Development of National Human Capital. Evidence from China and Poland
Authors: Bryl Łukasz
Published: November 2020

Objective: The aim of this paper is to present the long-term development of the chosen human capital indices that uncovers and compares the outcome of the national efforts performed by the two culturally distant countries (China and Poland) over the decade. Additionally, paper indicates the areas of further HC progress in both nations.

Methodology: The study was based on measuring human capital with the help of deliberately chosen set of macroeconomic indices (28 items) referring to the nations’ capability to create innovations. Analysis was performed for the 2007–2017 years.

Findings: Positive phenomena in the case of human capital development outperform the negative ones in both countries, however, the extent is more remarkable in the case of China. China managed to: improve greatly the pupil-teacher ratio (both in primary and secondary schools), increase secondary and tertiary education enrolment rate along with the rise of the no. of students from abroad. In Poland, the greatest increase was observed in the case of the number of researchers what consequently contributed to the improvement of number of scientific and technical articles and citable documents (h-index).

Value Added: To the best Author’s knowledge this is the first paper that compares national human capital development in Poland and China with a set of indices focused on capability to create innovations and adopts longitudinal approach.

Recommendations: Policy-makers in the case of Poland should concentrate on: fostering university/industry research collaboration, improving rank in worldwide QS classification and performing more efforts to attract and retain talents. Moreover, the negative trends should be reversed with regard to: PISA scores and general quality of education system. In turn, Chinese authorities should facilitate better PISA scores and increase the presence of scientific and technical articles.
Reconstruction of the depositional sedimentary environment of Oligocene deposits (Qom Formation) in the Qom Basin (northern Tethyan seaway), Iran
Authors: Safari Amrollah , Ghanbarloo Hossein , Mansoury Parisa , Esfahani Mehran Mohammadian
Published: November 2020

During the Rupelian–Chattian, the Qom Basin (northern seaway basin) was located between the Paratethys in the north and the southern Tethyan seaway in the south. The Oligocene deposits (Qom Formation) in the Qom Basin have been interpreted for a reconstruction of environmental conditions during deposition, as well as of the influence of local fault activities and global sea level changes expressed within the basin. We have also investigated connections between the Qom Basin and adjacent basins. Seven microfacies types have been distinguished in the former. These microfacies formed within three major depositional environments, i.e., restricted lagoon, open lagoon and open marine. Strata of the Qom Formation are suggested to have been formed in an open-shelf system. In addition, the deepening and shallowing patterns noted within the microfacies suggest the presence of three third-order sequences in the Bijegan area and two third-order depositional sequences and an incomplete depositional sequence in the Naragh area. Our analysis suggests that, during the Rupelian and Chattian stages, the depositional sequences of the Qom Basin were influenced primarily by local tectonics, while global sea level changes had a greater impact on the southern Tethyan seaway and Paratethys basins. The depositional basins of the Tethyan seaway (southern Tethyan seaway, Paratethys Basin and Qom Basin) were probably related during the Burdigalian to Langhian and early Serravallian.
Is the Złoczew lignite deposit geologically suitable for the first underground gasification installation in Poland?
Authors: Urbański Paweł , Widera Marek
Published: November 2020

The present study focuses on alternative methods of exploiting lignite in comparison to conventional opencast mining and combustion in power plants for the generation of electricity. In Poland, opencast lignite pits cover large areas, creating social and environmental conflicts. In order to stabilise the production level of electricity and reduce the negative effects of opencast mining, alternative ways of exploiting lignite are suggested, one of these being underground gasification in situ. The Złoczew lignite deposit, which will most likely be exploited in the near future, provides an opportunity to discuss the unconventional method of underground coal gasification (UCG). On the basis of technological and geological criteria that have been established to determine the suitability of Polish lignite for underground gasification, resources to be used this way have been estimated. Through gasification, over 15 million tonnes of lignite can be utilised, which is about 2.5 per cent of resources of the Złoczew deposit intended for opencast mining. With this in mind, we suggest to take action by starting a pilot installation, to be followed by a commercial one for underground gasification after completion of superficial mining. Naturally, any future application of this method will be preceded by assessment of geological conditions at the Złoczew opencast pit.
A new generalization of two refined Young inequalities and applications
Authors: Ighachane M. A. , Akkouchi M.
Published: November 2020

In this paper, we prove that if a, b > 0 and 0 ≤ α ≤ 1, then for m = 1, 2, 3, . . . ,

r

0
m

(

a

m
2

-

b

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)

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≤

r

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m

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b

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+
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a

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+
1

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-
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-

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+
1

)

(

a
b

)

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)

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+

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1
-
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)

b

)

m

-

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a

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-
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)

m

,

\matrix{ {r_0^m{{\left( {{a^{{m \over 2}}} - {b^{{m \over 2}}}} \right)}^2}} & { \le r_0^m\left( {{{{b^{m + 1}} - {a^{m + 1}}} \over {b - a}} - \left( {m + 1} \right){{\left( {ab} \right)}^{{m \over 2}}}} \right)} \cr {} & { \le {{\left( {\alpha a + \left( {1 - \alpha } \right)b} \right)}^m} - {{\left( {{a^\alpha }{b^{1 - \alpha }}} \right)}^m},} \cr }

where r
0 = min{α, 1 – α }. This is a considerable new generalization of two refinements of the Young inequality due to Kittaneh and Manasrah, and Hirzallah and Kittaneh, which correspond to the cases m = 1 and m = 2, respectively. As applications we give some refined Young type inequalities for generalized euclidean operator radius and the numerical radius of some well-know f -connection of operators and refined some Young type inequalities for the traces, determinants, and norms of positive definite matrices.
Boundary Value Problem for Caputo–Fabrizio Random Fractional Differential Equations
Authors: Bekada Fouzia , Abbas Saïd , Benchohra Mouffak
Published: November 2020

This article deals with some existence of random solutions and Ulam stability results for a class of Caputo-Fabrizio random fractional differential equations with boundary conditions in Banach spaces. Our results are based on the fixed point theory and random operators. Two illustrative examples are presented in the last section.
Some class of nonlinear inequalities with gradient constraints in Orlicz spaces
Authors: Ajagjal S. , Meskine D.
Published: November 2020

In the present paper, we show the existence of solutions of some nonlinear inequalities of the form 〈Au + g(x, u,∇ u), v −u〉 ≥〈 f, v −u〉 with gradient constraint that depend on the solution itself, where A is a Leray-Lions operator defined on Orlicz spaces, g is a nonlinearity and f ∈ L
1.
Structural, optical, morphological and SHG studies on 8 MeV electron beam irradiated Sr(HCOO)2·2H2O crystal
Authors: Muthupoongodi S. , Manickam S. Theodore David , Mahadevan C.K. , Greena J. Angel Mary , Balakumar S. , Ananthapadmanabhan P.V. , Shajan X. Sahaya
Published: November 2020

Strontium formate dihydrate single crystals have been grown by the slow solvent evaporation method and subjected to 8 MeV electron beam (EB) irradiation at different doses, viz. 1 kGy, 10 kGy, 50 kGy and 100 kGy. The irradiated crystals have been studied by various techniques such as FT-IR, Raman, and UV-Vis-NIR spectral analyses, powder, and high resolution X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis (TG/DTA) and second harmonic generation (SHG) measurements. The morphological features of the non-irradiated and irradiated crystals were analyzed by SEM and optical microscopy studies. It has been noticed that the SHG efficiency increases while the crystalline perfection and thermal stability of the irradiated crystals decrease with the increase of EB irradiation dose. The results indicate a significant overall tuning of physical properties of strontium formate dihydrate crystals due to irradiation.
First-Principles Calculation of Cr/S Co-doped Rutile TiO2
Authors: Li Jianning , Wu Fang , Shi Jianying , Ma Lei , Yan Xiaobing , Yang Nan , Ding Bangfu , Zheng Shukai
Published: November 2020

The electronic structures and optical properties of pure, Cr, S single- and Cr/S co-doped rutile TiO2 were calculated by the first-principle plane wave pseudopotential method based on density functional theory. The calculated results indicate that the three different doping ways can lead to lattice distortion in the rutile TiO2 and introduce local electronic states in the forbidden band of TiO2. The local energy levels in the forbidden band of TiO2 are mainly contributed by Cr-3d and S-3p orbital. Compared with pure TiO2, the absorption edges (i.e. the edge of the main peak) of the doped TiO2 have different blue shifts; however, the light response ranges of the doped systems are extended, especially in the case of Cr single- and Cr/S co-doped TiO2. The extension of the visible light response range of the doped TiO2 may enhance its visible light photocatalytic performance. In addition, the co-doped TiO2 has a stronger oxidation ability, which may increase the catalytic efficiency of TiO2.
Building superior lighting properties for WLEDs utilizing two-layered remote phosphor configurations
Authors: Anh Nguyen Doan Quoc , Van Ngoc Hoang
Published: November 2020

The remote phosphor structure produces higher luminous flux but delivers poorer color quality than the conformal or in-cup phosphor structure. To eliminate this weakness, researchers have attempted to improve the chromatic properties of remote phosphor package. This study tends to enhance lighting features for WLEDs including color quality and luminous flux in general or color rendering index (CRI) and color quality scale (CQS) in particular by applying dual-layer remote phosphor structure. In the simulation section, we utilize two identical LEDs that only differ in correlated color temperature values which are 6600 K and 7700 K. The study offers an idea of placing a yellow-green phosphor layer SrBaSiO4:Eu2+ or a red phosphor layer SrwFxByOz:Eu2+,Sm2+ on the yellow phosphor layer YAG:Ce3+ and then modifying the concentrations of SrwFxByOz:Eu2+,Sm2+ and SrBaSiO4:Eu2+ to the suitable values to improve the color quality and lumen output of WLEDs. The results show that red phosphor layer SrwFxByOz:Eu2+,Sm2+ has a significant influence on CRI and CQS improvement. Particularly, the increase of SrwFxByOz:Eu2+,Sm2+ concentration leads to increased CRI and CQS because the red light component increases in WLEDs. On the other hand, the green phosphor layer SrBaSiO4:Eu2+ only brings benefit to the luminous flux. However, the WLEDs’ luminous flux and color quality drop sharply, when SrwFxByOz:Eu2+,Sm2+ and SrBaSiO4:Eu2+ concentrations rise extremely, which is verified based on the Mie-scattering theory and the Lambert-Beer law. In short, the article provides general knowledge and primary information for the production of higher-quality WLEDs.
Development of X-ray scanning system Sowa
Authors: Bogowicz Józef , Chabera Mariusz , Dziewiecki Wojciech , Kaźmierczak Kacper , Klimaszewski Jan , Kosiński Tymoteusz , Łubian Andrzej , Matusiak Michał , Wasilewski Adam , Wojciechowski Marcin , Wronka Sławomir , Zakrzewski Tomasz
Published: November 2020

The new vehicle scanning system Sowa has been developed in the National Centre for Nuclear Research. This innovative device is equipped with a 300 kV X-ray tube, U-shape imaging detector line, transport system, and fully shielded container. Sowa allows for a detailed inspection of the car and the detection of illegal transported items. This article presents the design, applied solutions, and achieved results of Sowa scanning system.
The Effect of External Attentional Focus and Self-Controlled Feedback on Motor Learning in Older Adults
Authors: Razaghi Sima , Saemi Esmaeel , Abedanzadeh Rasool
Published: November 2020

Introduction. External focus instruction and self-controlled feedback have beneficial effects on motor learning. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the benefits of combined effects of external focus instruction and self-controlled feedback on balance performance in older adults.

Material and Methods. Forty older adults (mean age: 63.21 ± 3.6 years; all female) were selected and randomly divided into 4 groups: self-controlled feedback, external attention, external attention/self-controlled feedback and control group. The task of standing on the platform of the stabilometer device and trying to keep the platform horizontally as much as possible was performed in each 30-sec. trial. The participants of self-controlled group received feedback on the timing of balance after the trials. In the external focus of attention, participants noticed the signs that were located horizontally ahead of their feet. The test was conducted in two sessions. In the acquisition phase, 10 trials of 30 seconds were performed and the retention test was completed 24 hours later as 5 trials of 30 seconds.

Results. The results of mixed ANOVA on time data as an indicator of balance in the acquisition phase showed that the mixed group of external focus of attention and self-controlled feedback had better performance than the other groups (p = 0.004). In the retention test, the results of mixed ANOVA showed that the participants in the combined group of external focus and self-controlled feedback had better performance than the other groups (p = 0.006). The external focus of attention and self-controlled feedback performed similarly, and both were superior to the control group (p < 0.05).

Conclusions. The results of this study, supporting the OPTIMAL theory of motor learning in the elderly, showed that the combination of two factors of external focus and self-controlled feedback has a double advantage over the presence of each of the factors. Therefore, it is suggested that the combinations of external focus instructions and self-controlled feedback should be used to improve performance and motor learning in the classes of practical and clinical rehabilitation fields.
Influence of Surface Texture Parameters on Friction Characteristics Under Starved Lubrication
Authors: Wu Shen , Zhang Pan , Wei Haijun , Chen Lei
Published: November 2020

A cylinder liner and piston ring running under starved lubrication near the top dead centre (TDC) and bottom dead centre (BDC) cause abnormal friction and wear during operation of a marine diesel engine. The method of laser texturing is proposed to improve the surface friction property under this condition. Spherical crown pits with different parameters were formed on the surface of samples by femtosecond laser processing. The BDC and TDC conditions of oil starvation were simulated in a reciprocating friction and wear experiment, and a numerical model of surface texture lubrication based on the Reynolds equation was established. The influence of the distribution density, diameter, and depth parameters of the texture on the surface properties was studied. In the BDC condition, compared with the untextured surface, the average coefficient of friction (COF) can be reduced by up to 24% and the average friction force can be reduced by up to 18%. In the TDC condition, the COF can be reduced by up to 19%, and the average friction force can be reduced by up to 18%. Therefore, the textures with various parameters should be arranged in different positions on the cylinder liner; more attention should be paid to the optimisation of diameter in the texture of the cylinder liner near the BDC, whereas more attention should be paid to the optimisation of distribution density in the texture of the cylinder liner near the TDC
The Influence of Water and Mineral Oil on Mechanical Losses in a Hydraulic Motor for Offshore and Marine Applications
Authors: Śliwiński Paweł
Published: November 2020

In this paper, mechanical losses in a hydraulic motor supplied with water and mineral oil (two liquids having significantly different viscosity and lubricating properties) are described and compared. The experimental tests were conducted using a special design (prototype) of a hydraulic satellite motor. The design of the satellite motor is presented. This motor was developed to supply both with water and mineral oil and features a non-circular tooth working mechanism. The paper also characterizes sources of mechanical losses in this motor. On this basis, a mathematical model of these losses has been developed and presented. The results of calculation of mechanical losses according to the model are compared with the experimental results. Experimental studies have shown that the mechanical losses in the motor supplied with water are 2.8 times greater than those in the motor supplied with oil. The work demonstrates that the mechanical losses in both the motor supplied with water and the one supplied with oil are described well by the mathematical model. It has been found that for the loaded motor working at high speed, the simulation results differ from experimental ones by no more than 3% for oil and 4% for water.
Continuous Improvement Challenges: Implementing PBL in One University in Romania
Authors: Mihaela Bârsan Raluca , Ştefania Kifor
Published: November 2020

What do business and education have in common when it comes to continuous improvements? The answer is Lean Principles. Case studies and implementation challenges from some pilot PBL projects in one university, in Romania, are analysed and described in depth, while comparing the educational experience in the university to the challenges and resistance to change that facilitators in the private sector face inside their own companies. Taking this into consideration and based on qualitative data retrieved from interviews carried out in the private sector and in the educational sector, the authors of this paper will present deep insights that are meant to serve as a basis for understanding the “wicked problem” of scalling continuous improvements like Problem Based Learning throughout the entire teaching organization.
Selectivity and Market Timing Skills in Emerging Greek Equity Mutual Funds During the Sovereign Debt Crisis
Authors: Nikolaos Kyriazis A. , Alexandros Koulis , Stephanos Papadamou , Christina Beneki
Published: November 2020

This paper evaluates the performance of seventeen Greek equity mutual funds before and after the sovereign debt crisis. By being based on the Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM), the selectivity and market timing skills of these funds are under scrutiny. This takes place by assigning a linear form to the Beta coefficient and transforming the traditional CAPM equation into a second order polynomial. Results provide evidence of an improvement in selectivity and market timing skills for the majority of these emerging funds after the outburst of the debt crisis and the adoption of measures by Troika. Thereby, the potential of excess profit-making possibilities for capable fund managers in the Greek fund market is enhanced during non-conventional periods in comparison to normal times, even though the Efficient Markets Hypothesis (EMH) still holds.
How Do Socially Responsible Human Resource Management and Voluntary Green Behavior Influence Organizational Competitiveness?
Authors: Uddin Md. Aftab , Akter Refa , Al-Amin Md. , Rahman Md. Sahidur , Ferdausy Shameema
Published: November 2020

Environmental sustainability, employees’ green behavior, and socially responsible human resource management (SRHRM) are now becoming the key focuses for many organizations all over the world because of the increasing pressures on them to reduce negative environmental impacts of their activities and to maintain environmental issues. Nowadays, organizational sustainability or competitiveness is also depending on how far an organization is responsible for environmental issues. Hence, the study is an attempt to explore the impact of SRHRM and voluntary green behavior (VGB) on organizational competitiveness (OC). We followed the deductive reasoning approach and applied the second generation regression model, such as a structural equation model (SEM) via AMOS. The result shows that SRHRM significantly explains VGB. Further both SRHRM and VGB are significantly predicting organizational competitiveness. One of the critical implications of the study is to use the SRHRM to stimulate the employees towards VGB for enriching their organizational sustainability leading to its competitiveness. The most important limitation of this study is its sample size (N<200), which prevents the generalizability of the results. Thus, the future studies are directed to use more replies for delimiting the causality of the study.
Reinforced evidence on partial compatibility between Pinus sylvestris and Pinus mugo and on maternal inheritance of chloroplast DNA in the Pinus mugo × Pinus sylvestris cross
Authors: Kormutak Andrej , Galgoci Martin , Bolecek Peter , Gőmőry Dusan , Libantova Jana
Published: November 2020

The crossability relationship between Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) and mountain dwarf pine (Pinus mugo Turra) was tested under field conditions using an artificial pollination approach. There was partial compatibility between the parental species, as evidenced by the amount of filled seeds in their reciprocal crossings and in control variants from self-pollination, controlled intraspecific outcrossing and open pollination of mother trees. The crossability degree in P. sylvestris × P. mugo was characterised by the index 0.15, and the reciprocal crossing by the index 0.18. Crossability of P. sylvestris and P. mugo with their putative hybrid individuals was much higher; the number of filled seeds was comparable with that of the control variants. The reciprocal crossings of P. sylvestris and P. mugo species were highlighted by the opposite inheritance of their chloroplast DNA (cpDNA). The paternal cpDNA inheritance in P. sylvestris × P. mugo and maternal cpDNA inheritance in P. mugo × P. sylvestris was repeatedly confirmed using the cpDNA trnV-trnH/HinfI marker as well as the newly developed partial cpDNA trnV-trnH/AseI marker. The nature of the latter is described in terms of the nucleotide sequence.
The Effect on Constant Heel on Circulation of a Vessel Calculated on the Basis of Investigations of M/S “Ziemia Zamojska” Model
Authors: Mironiuk Waldemar , Panasiuk Arkadiusz , Szymoński Marek
Published: November 2020

The article presents modeling research on the M/S “Ziemia Zamojska” reduced model, carried out in an open fresh water area by a team of employees of the Department of Operating of Floating Vessels, Polish Naval Academy, Gdynia. The research involved circulating the model with constant angle of heel on the selected side, and the main engine set to full speed ahead. Using a real ship to carry this type of investigations is risky. It may lead to some failures like e.g. rudder failure, steering gear malfunction, overload and in some circumstances even main engine seizure. For this reason, ships are not tested with the rudder put to starboard or to port at the full speed ahead setting, even during a “Crash Stop” maneuver. However, based on the analysis of accidents at sea, and practical experience, it appears that during real operating conditions of vessels, there may occur situations when, for the sake of safety, the maneuver mentioned above must be carried out. Therefore, the authors had to conduct model tests of a floating vessel for the described case of ship operation
Ice Drift in the Arctic Ocean
Authors: Dyrcz Czesław
Published: November 2020

The paper presents results of research based on analysis of historical and present studies of the Arctic ice drift. Current information about Arctic ice drift comes from the scientific expedition organized by the Alfred-Wrgener-Institut Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research (AWI) from Bremerhaven (Germany) in the Arctic Ocean, as a part of the Multidiscipli-nary drifting Observatory for the Study of Arctic Climate (MOSAiC), coming from the deck of the icebreaker RV “Polarstern”. The main purpose of the article was to collect and illustrate information on the phenomenon of ice drift in the Arctic Ocean, considering data from ongoing research during the MOSAiC expedition. The average movement speed of the icebreaker RV “Polarstern” frozen in Arctic ice during the first three legs of the expedition was over 5 Nm/day, which is characteristic of the current data relating to the speed of the Arctic ice drift in the place of research. On the other hand, the article is popular science, and presents the overall characteristics of Arctic ice drift with an indication of the general directions, and speed of its movement. Ice drift speeds in the Arctic can reach exceptionally high values under favorable conditions. The drift of sea ice reaching at its intensity/intensity values close to the limit (dangerous criterion) in these extreme cases is called the “ice river”. The speed of “ice rivers” can reach up to 1–2 knots, however, in extreme conditions up to 9 knots. Based on data from the AWI, correlation points were identified between the speed of Arctic ice drift and the speed of winds and atmospheric pressure values.
Is Church’s Thesis Still Relevant?
Authors: Mycka Jerzy , Olszewski Adam
Published: November 2020

The article analyses the role of Church’s Thesis (hereinafter CT) in the context of the development of hypercomputation research. The text begins by presenting various views on the essence of computer science and the limitations of its methods. Then CT and its importance in determining the limits of methods used by computer science is presented. Basing on the above explanations, the work goes on to characterize various proposals of hypercomputation showing their relative power in relation to the arithmetic hierarchy.

The general theme of the article is the analysis of mutual relations between the content of CT and the theories of hypercomputation. In the main part of the paper the arguments for abolition of CT caused by the introduction of hypercomputable methods in computer science are presented and critique of these views is presented. The role of the efficiency condition contained in the formulation of CT is stressed. The discussion ends with a summary defending the current status of Church’s thesis within the framework of philosophy and computer science as an important point of reference for determining what the notion of effective calculability really is. The considerations included in this article seem to be quite up-to-date relative to the current state of affairs in computer science.1
Heuristic Potential of Antoni Kępiński’s Information Metabolism Model and Data Smog
Authors: Stelmach Michał
Published: November 2020

In this paper I present the explanatory potential of Antoni Kępiński’s model of information metabolism in the question of data smog (data glut, information overload). Kępiński’s model is not well known and the bibliography concerning the model of information metabolism is still rather poor. In the article I present the model as a good heuristics for explaining information exchange between the system and the environment. The particular aim of my deliberations is to use the model of information metabolism to discuss the pathological, although common phenomenon of data smog. This allows for a holistic view of the problem and allows for new statements on data smog, ethical consequences and counteracting the negative consequences of information overload.
Two Entropy Theory Wings as a New Trend for the Modern Means of Air Transport Operational Reliability Measure
Authors: Goncharenko Andriy Viktorovich
Published: November 2020

The paper deals with the uncertainty of the operated system’s possible states hybrid combined optional functions. Traditionally, the probabilities of the system’s possible states are treated as the reliability measures. However, in the framework of the proposed doctrine, the optimality (for example, the maximal probability of the system’s state) is determined based upon a plausible assumption of the intrinsic objectively existing parameters. The two entropy theory wings consider on one hand the subjective preferences functions in subjective analysis, concerning the multi-alternativeness of the operational situation at an individual’s choice problems, and on the other hand the objectively existing characteristics used in theoretical physics. The discussed in the paper entropy paradigm proceeds with the objectively presented phenomena of the state’s probability and the probability’s maximum. The theoretical speculations and mathematical derivations are illustrated with the necessary plotted diagrams.
On Ideals Generated by Partitions into Meager and Null Sets
Authors: Nowik Andrzej
Published: November 2020

We examine the σ-ideal generated by complements of sums of sets from partitions into meager and null sets. We prove some characterizations of this σ-ideal.
Some Remark on Oscillation of Second Order Impulsive Delay Dynamic Equations on Time Scales
Authors: Chhatria Gokula Nanda
Published: November 2020

This article deals with the oscillation criteria for a very extensively studied second order impulsive delay dynamic equations on time scale by using the Riccati transformation technique. Some examples are given to show the effect of impulse and to illustrate our main results.
The Weyl Curvature Tensor of Hypersurfaces Under the Mean Curvature Flow
Authors: Moazzaf Ghodrat , Abedi Esmaiel
Published: November 2020

In this paper, we study the evolution of the Weyl curvature tensor W of hypersurfaces in 𝕉
n

+1 under the mean curvature flow. We find a bound for the Weyl curvature tensor of hypersurfaces during the evolution in terms of time. As a consequence, we suppose that the initial hypersurface is conformally flat, i.e., W =0 at t = 0 and then we find an upper estimate for W during the evolution in terms of time.
Rozwój przedmieść a globalizacja: zróżnicowanie przebiegu procesów suburbanizacji na świecie i w Polsce
Authors: Koj Jacek
Published: November 2020

Abstrakt

Procesy suburbanizacji, jak każde zjawisko o charakterze przestrzennym, wykazują zróżnicowanie w zależności od odmiennych systemów politycznych, prawno-instytucjonalnych, gospodarczych i społecznych. Z drugiej jednak strony globalizacja rynków, nasilanie powiązań międzynarodowych poprzez migracje oraz łatwy przepływ informacji mogą przyczyniać się do zacierania regionalnych i lokalnych odmienności tego zjawiska. Celem artykułu jest identyfikacja regionalnej i lokalnej specyfiki przebiegu suburbanizacji zarówno pod względem ilościowym, jak i jakościowym. Tekst oparty został na przeglądzie zagranicznej i krajowej literatury naukowej dokonanym metodą wyszukiwania według słów kluczowych. Aby zrealizować cel, dokonano analizy i porównania charakterystyki procesów suburbanizacji w Stanach Zjednoczonych, Europie Zachodniej oraz w krajach postsocjalistycznych, w tym w Polsce. Najłatwiej dostrzegalne różnice to czas trwania procesu – najdłuższy w Stanach Zjednoczonych, a najkrótszy w krajach postsocjalistycznych – oraz udział funkcji innych niż mieszkaniowa w rozwoju przedmieść – największy w USA. Spośród cech ilościowych zwrócono szczególną uwagę na zróżnicowanie zasięgu, skali i dynamiki procesu w omawianych obszarach, natomiast pod względem jakościowym istotne różnice zaobserwowano w zakresie struktury społecznej mieszkańców suburbiów i układów przestrzennych zabudowy. Jednak, co istotne, analizując przebieg zjawiska w Polsce pod kątem powyższych cech, nie zaobserwowano jednoznacznych wyróżników na tle innych państw Europy Środkowo-Wschodniej.
Dlaczego plany miejscowe nie są takie, jak chcielibyśmy?
Authors: Szlenk-Dziubek Dorota
Published: November 2020

Abstrakt

Od dłuższego czasu różne środowiska podnoszą kwestię jakości planowania przestrzennego, a w szczególności jakości miejscowych planów zagospodarowania przestrzennego. Analizując to zjawisko, należy postawić sobie następujące pytania: dlaczego plany miejscowe postrzegane są jako wadliwe, jakie są relacje pomiędzy ustawą o planowaniu i zagospodarowaniu przestrzennym a przepisami odrębnymi i jak wpływają one na konstruowanie zapisów planistycznych, jak znaczne jest regionalne zróżnicowania ustaleń planów miejscowych. Analiza wymienionych problemów ma na celu wskazanie, jakie są najistotniejsze problemy przy tworzeniu zapisów planów miejscowych i jak to wpływa na zagospodarowanie przestrzeni.
Model planowania urbanistycznego w warunkach spadku populacji: przypadek Bytomia
Authors: Krystek-Kucewicz Bogumiła
Published: November 2020

Abstrakt

Od kilkudziesięciu lat w wielu miastach nieprzerwanie spada liczba ludności. Spadek ten ma charakter trwały i prowadzi do kurczenia się miast. W odpowiedzi na to niepokojące zjawisko niektóre ośrodki zakładają „kontrolowaną depopulację” czy inteligentne kurczenie się za pomocą nieszablonowych rozwiązań. Wymaga to dopasowania środowiska zamieszkania i infrastruktury do bieżącej i prognozowanej liczby ludności. W Polsce przykładem kurczącego się miasta może być stare przemysłowe miasto Bytom, które od 1995 r. notuje spadek liczby ludności i które do 2050 r. według prognoz Instytutu Geografii i Przestrzennego Zagospodarowania PAN straci prawie połowę aktualnych mieszkańców. Celem artykułu jest przeanalizowanie podejścia planistycznego do przebudowy części śródmiejskiej Bytomia stanowiącego w założeniu odpowiedź na degradację i spadek populacji. Przeprowadzona analiza urbanistyczna obejmuje wskazanie i ocenę zapisów dopuszczających i ograniczających możliwość przebudowy. Analiza koncentruje się na kwestiach zmian wielkości zasobu mieszkaniowego, sposobu użytkowania terenu i zmian komunikacyjnych jako kluczowych elementów umożliwiających dopasowanie się miasta do mniejszej liczby ludności. Podsumowanie artykułu oprócz wniosków zawiera też propozycję kryteriów kwalifikacji gruntów/kwartałów do przebudowy.
From Third World to First World: Law and Policy in Singapore’s Urban Transformation & Integration
Authors: Tan Eugene Kb
Published: November 2020

The physical transformation of a colonial backwater city, Singapore, in one generation has been described as a feat of urban planning, renewal, and development. Less studied is the political will of the government to create a thriving city fit for purpose. Even less studied is the role of law that provides the powerful levers for the rapid and deep-seated changes to the urban landscape in Singapore. In this regard, the mindset shift that accompanied the massive urban transformation has facilitated a national psyche that embraces the material dimension of progress, for which urban renewal is not just a mere indicator but also a mantra for the fledgling nation-state desirous of change as a mark of progress. This essay examines the multi-faceted role of law in undergirding urban planning, policy, and development in Singapore. Rather than just providing a focus on specific laws that enables the government to shape the processes of urban redevelopment, the essay argues that these laws have to be understood within the context of “urban redevelopment pragmatism” in which pragmatism is as much a planning ideology as it is a driver of urban change and renewal. Furthermore, this planning pragmatism, very much mission-oriented towards national goals, has become a potent source of political and performance legitimacy for the ruling People’s Action Party. The legal regime that provided the wherewithal for urban renewal, economic activity, water quality management, and spatial integration of a polyglot society is now being reconfigured for the urgent aspiration of becoming a global city and a smart nation. The essay also considers the limitations to this planning and redevelopment pragmatism, and how the rapid urban change has somewhat enervated the urban heritage and contributed to a weakening of the collective memory of change amid continuity.
Beyond the Margins: Human Rights Against Undocumented Persons, Homosexuals, And Women in Inter-American Narrative
Authors:   University of Fribourg, Switzerland, Imoberdorf Sebastian
Published: November 2020

This study is greatly based on article 7 of the “Universal Declaration of Human Rights” that states: “All are equal before the law and are entitled without any discrimination to equal protection of the law.” Latin America is viewed as a place where injustices and atrocities tend to be the order of the day: violent processes of conquest and colonization, military dictatorships, drug trafficking, kidnappings, the increase in crime and insecurity, etc. Such violations have generated frequent waves of emigration (often irregular) to the United States where they seek protection and freedom but, too often, they find neither, thus producing a vicious cycle in the inter-American literature of US Latino authors. The focus is to examine three distinct groups: immigrants, homosexuals and women.
Hermeneutic Distanciations in Postmodern Chicanx Literature: Utopian and Dystopian Horizons in Ana Castillo’s So Far from God (1993) & Salvador Plascencia’s The People of Paper (2005)
Authors:   Florida International University (USA), Grafals Michael
Published: November 2020

This essay focuses on the concept of distanciation in hermeneutic phenomenology and its relevance to an understanding of the utopian and dystopian dimensions in Ana Castillo’s So Far From God (1993) and Salvador Plascencia’s The People of Paper (2005), two postmodern novels that perceive Chicanx history aslant. I analyze how distanciations in these novels open possible cultural worlds that aid readers in interpreting new and/or estranging historical traditions. Ultimately, the distanciations in Ana Castillo’s So Far From God pattern the hope for an emergent queer Chicanx spiritual-activist identity, while the distanciations in Salvador Plascencia’s The People of Paper pattern a dystopic neoliberal worldview hidden behind decontextualzed kitchy representations of Chicanx identity. Although seemingly opposed, both cultural worldviews emerge through ruptures that occur between actual and possible worlds afforded by the novels’ distanciations of Chicanx identities and histories. Keywords: Postmodern Chicanx Literature, Distanciation, Estrangement, Hermeneutic Phenomenology, Utopia
Queer Aztlán in Cherríe Moraga’s The Hungry Woman: A Mexican Medea
Authors:   Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Ramay Allison
Published: November 2020

Drawing on Cherríe Moraga’s semi-autobiographical writings and varied scholarly work, this article contends that in her play, The Hungry Woman: A Mexican Medea (2001), she not only critiques patriarchal heteronormativity, but she goes further by naming the necessary elements for a society in which her “Queer Aztlán” (1993), would be possible. Through a close reading of The Hungry Woman: A Mexican Medea (2001), this article demonstrates that the play not only focuses on the necessary deconstruction of patriarchal nationalism, but it also offers the unexpected seeds of change, found in the secondary character of Luna. By shifting our focus onto this character, we may better appreciate Moraga’s forward thinking and the kernels of “Queer Aztlán” expressed in this play.
Bridging Social Gaps in Gregory Nava’s My Family (1995)
Authors:   Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece, Papadimitriou Stylianos
Published: November 2020

The development and transmutation of Chicana/o identity in the American Southwest is a central theme in Gregory Nava’s film narrative My Family (1995). The parents of the titular family represent the traditional, immigrant identity, which entails a hesitation to embrace the American lifestyle while showing a close adherence to their Mexican roots. The children, however, born and/or bred in the ethno-racial ‘battlefield’ of the borderlands in the US, challenge the socio-cultural norms they have inherited from their parents, but also those of white America. This article examines the children’s cultural deviations as endeavors to confront socio-cultural conflicts in the borderlands and to carve a path towards a better individual and, symbolically, collective future for la raza.
A Xicanista (Re)Vision of a Contemporary Malinche in Ana Castillo’s The Mixquiahuala Letters (1986)
Authors:   Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Ntokli Maria
Published: November 2020

This article investigates how Ana Castillo revisits the archetype of La Malinche as a female traitor in her epistolary novel The Mixquiahuala Letters. Castillo unravels her feminist perspective in order to subvert the sexist connotations associated with La Malinche, and draws from this specific female figure in the creation of her Chicana protagonist, narrator and letter-writer. Teresa represents a contemporary reinvention of La Malinche, a character who exposes the sexist double standards Chicanas are subjected to. In this way, Castillo delves into the Chicana experience and proposes a Xicanista vision that emphasizes the understanding of the past in order to be able to envision a better future.
La Madre Tierra que nos mantiene y cuida: An Ecofeminist Reading of Sandra Cisneros’s “Eyes of Zapata”
Authors:   Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece, Miskaki Anastasia
Published: November 2020

This article offers an ecofeminist reading of Sandra Cisneros’s novella “Eyes of Zapata.” Inés, the female protagonist of Cisneros’s narrative, is perceived as the strange and dangerous Other by her community, much like nature has frequently been conceptualised as threatening non-human matter. However, as a curandera/bruja she forms an empowering relationship with the physical world through her visions. She achieves complete union with nature which alleviates the pain caused by reality and her visions. Inés’s special relationship with the Mexican landscape contrasts Emiliano Zapata’s, her lover’s, disrespectful approach to the elements of nature. By creating a dynamic female character in harmony with the physical world Cisneros crafts a narrative which prioritises those who have often been regulated to the position of the oppressed: woman and nature.