A comparison of multidimensional deprivation characteristics between natives and immigrants in Luxembourg

This paper applies a multidimensional approach to poverty measurement based on fuzzy set theory, and its decomposition properties, in order to measure the deprivation level in Luxembourg and to identify the different characteristics of poverty between natives and immigrants (knowing that almost 40% of the population in Luxembourg are immigrants). The database used in this study is the 2006 wave of the Panel Socio-Economique Liewen zu Lëtzebuerg (PSELL-3) survey.Decomposition ; Immigrants ; Luxembourg ; Multidimensional Poverty ; Fuzzy Set Theory

Some resonances between Eastern thought and Integral Biomathics in the framework of the WLIMES formalism for modelling living systems

Forty-two years ago, Capra published “The Tao of Physics” (Capra, 1975). In this book (page 17) he writes: “The exploration of the atomic and subatomic world in the twentieth century has …. necessitated a radical revision of many of our basic concepts” and that, unlike ‘classical’ physics, the sub-atomic and quantum “modern physics” shows resonances with Eastern thoughts and “leads us to a view of the world which is very similar to the views held by mystics of all ages and traditions.“ This article stresses an analogous situation in biology with respect to a new theoretical approach for studying living systems, Integral Biomathics (IB), which also exhibits some resonances with Eastern thought. Stepping on earlier research in cybernetics1 and theoretical biology,2 IB has been developed since 2011 by over 100 scientists from a number of disciplines who have been exploring a substantial set of theoretical frameworks. From that effort, the need for a robust core model utilizing advanced mathematics and computation adequate for understanding the behavior of organisms as dynamic wholes was identified. At this end, the authors of this article have proposed WLIMES (Ehresmann and Simeonov, 2012), a formal theory for modeling living systems integrating both the Memory Evolutive Systems (Ehresmann and Vanbremeersch, 2007) and the Wandering Logic Intelligence (Simeonov, 2002b). Its principles will be recalled here with respect to their resonances to Eastern thought

The impact of Argentina's social assistance program plan jefes y jefas de hogar on structural poverty

In this article, we analyze the impact of the Plan Jefes y Jefas de Hogar Desocupados on structural poverty. This social assistance program, introduced in 2002 as a response to the severe economic and political crisis that affected Argentina at the end of 2001, proposes a cash transfer to unemployed heads of households with dependents under the age of 18 or with disabled individuals of any age. We found that the impact of the JJH program on the monetary aspect of poverty is minor and its impact on employment is uncertain, because it is not clear whether it generated new jobs.Argentina, fuzzy set theory, multidimensional poverty, social policies, unemployment

A Hybrid Approach of Using Wavelets and Fuzzy Clustering for Classifying Multispectral Florescence In Situ Hybridization Images

Multicolor or multiplex fluorescence in situ hybridization (M-FISH) imaging is a recently developed molecular cytogenetic diagnosis technique for rapid visualization of genomic aberrations at the chromosomal level. By the simultaneous use of all 24 human chromosome painting probes, M-FISH imaging facilitates precise identification of complex chromosomal rearrangements that are responsible for cancers and genetic diseases. The current approaches, however, cannot have the precision sufficient for clinical use. The reliability of the technique depends primarily on the accurate pixel-wise classification, that is, assigning each pixel into one of the 24 classes of chromosomes based on its six-channel spectral representations. In the paper we introduce a novel approach to improve the accuracy of pixel-wise classification. The approach is based on the combination of fuzzy clustering and wavelet normalization. Two wavelet-based algorithms are used to reduce redundancies and to correct misalignments between multichannel FISH images. In comparison with conventional algorithms, the wavelet-based approaches offer more advantages such as the adaptive feature selection and accurate image registration. The algorithms have been tested on images from normal cells, showing the improvement in classification accuracy. The increased accuracy of pixel-wise classification will improve the reliability of the M-FISH imaging technique in identifying subtle and cryptic chromosomal abnormalities for cancer diagnosis and genetic disorder research

Simulation of the controlled movement based on the complexity principle for an automatic underwater vehicle

The paper deals with the mathematical modeling of the controlled motion of an automatic underwater vehicle under conditions of inaccuracy and uncertainty of information support. Methodological and theoretical approaches based on the application of the principle of complexity and fuzzy logic are proposed