New neighborhood based rough sets

Neighborhood based rough sets are important generalizations of the classical rough sets of Pawlak, as neighborhood operators generalize equivalence classes. In this article, we introduce nine neighborhood based operators and we study the partial order relations between twenty-two different neighborhood operators obtained from one covering. Seven neighborhood operators result in new rough set approximation operators. We study how these operators are related to the other fifteen neighborhood based approximation operators in terms of partial order relations, as well as to seven non-neighborhood-based rough set approximation operators

#Nationalism: the ethno-nationalist populism of Donald Trump’s Twitter communication

In this article, we explore the ethno-nationalist populism of Donald Trump’s Twitter communication during the 2016 presidential campaign. We draw on insights from ethno-symbolism – a perspective within nationalism studies – to analyse all 5,515 tweets sent by Trump during the campaign. We find that ethno-nationalist and populist themes were by far the most important component of Trump’s tweets, and that these themes built upon long-standing myths and symbols of an ethnic conception of American identity. In sum, Trump’s tweets depicted a virtuous white majority being threatened by several groups of immoral outsiders, who were identified by their foreignness, their religion, and their self-interestedness. The struggle against these groups was framed as a mission to restore America to a mythical golden age – to “Make America Great Again.

Bridging Alone: Religious Conservatism, Marital Homogamy, and Voluntary Association Membership

This study characterizes social insularity of religiously conservative American married couples by examining patterns of voluntary associationmembership. Constructing a dataset of 3938 marital dyads from the second wave of the National Survey of Families and Households, the author investigates whether conservative religious homogamy encourages membership in religious voluntary groups and discourages membership in secular voluntary groups. Results indicate that couples’ shared affiliation with conservative denominations, paired with beliefs in biblical authority and inerrancy, increases the likelihood of religious group membership for husbands and wives and reduces the likelihood of secular group membership for wives, but not for husbands. The social insularity of conservative religious groups appears to be reinforced by homogamy—particularly by wives who share faith with husbands

When global norms meet local politics : localising transparency in extractive industries governance

Processes of norm localisation play a crucial role in shaping the extent to which global governance norms are institutionalised at national and sub‐national levels. This article explores the politics of norm localisation through an empirical investigation of how global norms of “transparency” were localised in sub‐national processes of extractive industry governance in Bojonegoro, Indonesia. Previous theories of localisation have emphasised “constructivist” dynamics through which patterns of norm localisation are shaped decisively by efforts to build normative or cognitive congruence with local ideas and identities. In contrast, the mix of a newly democratised environment, the persistent power of corporatist elite networks and a populist style of local politics prevailing in Bojonegoro have diminished the significance of such constructivist dynamics as a basis for explaining varied patterns of norm localisation. Instead, patterns of norm localisation have depended crucially on the capacity of local political leaders to harness global governance norms instrumentally as a basis for consolidating and strengthening their own local power base. These findings have important implications for both theoretical and practical understandings of how global norm localisation processes vary in response to the contrasting political contexts in which global governance norms targeting the extractive sector are implemented

Botulinum toxin treatment of spasticity in diplegic cerebral palsy : a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, dose-ranging study

This study evaluated the efficacy and safety of three doses of botulinum toxin A (BTX-A; Dysport®) in 125 patients (meanage 5.2 years, SD 2; 54% male)with dynamic equinusspasticity during walking. Participants were randomized toreceive Dysport (10, 20, or 30 units/kg) or placebo to thegastrocnemius muscle of both legs. Muscle length wascalculated from electrogoniometric measurements and thechange in the dynamic component of gastrocnemiusshortening at four weeks was prospectively identified as theprimary outcome measure. All treatment groups showedstatistically significant decreases in dynamic componentcompared with placebo at 4 weeks. Mean improvement indynamic component was most pronounced in the 20 units/kggroup, being equivalent to an increase in dorsiflexion with the knee extended at 19°, and was still present at 16 weeks. The safety profile of the toxin appears satisfactory

Modern American populism: Analyzing the economics behind the Silent Majority, the Tea Party and Trumpism

This article researches populism, more specifically, Modern American Populism (MAP), constructed of white, rural, and economically oppressed reactionarianism, which was borne out of the political upheaval of the 1960’s Civil Rights movement. The research looks to explain the causes of populism and what leads voters to support populist movements and politicians. The research focuses on economic anxiety as the main cause but also examines an alternative theory of racial resentment. In an effort to answer the question, what causes populist movements and motivations, I apply a research approach that utilizes qualitative and quantitative methods. There is an examination of literature that defines populism, its causes and a detailed discussion of the case studies, including the 1972 election of Richard Nixon; the Tea Party election of 2010; and the 2016 election of Donald Trump. In addition, statistical data analysis was run using American National Election Studies (ANES) surveys associated with each specific case study. These case studies were chosen because they most represent forms of populist movements in modern American history. While ample qualitative evidence suggested support for the hypothesis that economic anxiety is a necessary condition for populist voting patterns that elected Nixon, the Tea Party and Trump, the statistical data only supported the hypothesis in two cases, 2010 and 2016, with 1972 coming back inconclusive. The data also suggested that both economic anxiety and racial resentment played a role in 2010 and 2016, while having no significant effect in 1972 in either case. This suggests that further research needs to be conducted into additional populist case studies, as well as an examination into the role economic anxiety and economic crises play on racial resentment and racially motivated voting behavior

Radical Right Populist Politics in Hungary: Reinventing the Magyars through Sport

Given the contemporary growth of ‘populist’ political parties and movements in a number of highly-developed democratic states in Europe and North America, there has been a resurgence in academic interest around the various causes for the groundswell of support for political populism. Given this broader political context, this paper explores the interconnection between sport and populist politics in Hungary, with a particular emphasis on the appropriation of sport by ‘right-wing’ populist political actors. In particular, this paper will examine the politics – sport interconnection by discussing Victor Orbán’s, Hungary’s Prime Minister, use of football, and sport more broadly, and the ways in which the Hungarian government have attempted to reinvent a strong nation and national identity through sport and related political populism. These attempts have been influenced by the interaction between forces of Westernisation and the country’s continuing post-communist transition, with the view to (re)inventing the Hungarian nation

NEOTROPICAL XENARTHRANS: a data set of occurrence of xenarthran species in the Neotropics

Xenarthrans – anteaters, sloths, and armadillos – have essential functions for ecosystem maintenance, such as insect control and nutrient cycling, playing key roles as ecosystem engineers. Because of habitat loss and fragmentation, hunting pressure, and conflicts with 24 domestic dogs, these species have been threatened locally, regionally, or even across their full distribution ranges. The Neotropics harbor 21 species of armadillos, ten anteaters, and six sloths. Our dataset includes the families Chlamyphoridae (13), Dasypodidae (7), Myrmecophagidae (3), Bradypodidae (4), and Megalonychidae (2). We have no occurrence data on Dasypus pilosus (Dasypodidae). Regarding Cyclopedidae, until recently, only one species was recognized, but new genetic studies have revealed that the group is represented by seven species. In this data-paper, we compiled a total of 42,528 records of 31 species, represented by occurrence and quantitative data, totaling 24,847 unique georeferenced records. The geographic range is from the south of the USA, Mexico, and Caribbean countries at the northern portion of the Neotropics, to its austral distribution in Argentina, Paraguay, Chile, and Uruguay. Regarding anteaters, Myrmecophaga tridactyla has the most records (n=5,941), and Cyclopes sp. has the fewest (n=240). The armadillo species with the most data is Dasypus novemcinctus (n=11,588), and the least recorded for Calyptophractus retusus (n=33). With regards to sloth species, Bradypus variegatus has the most records (n=962), and Bradypus pygmaeus has the fewest (n=12). Our main objective with Neotropical Xenarthrans is to make occurrence and quantitative data available to facilitate more ecological research, particularly if we integrate the xenarthran data with other datasets of Neotropical Series which will become available very soon (i.e. Neotropical Carnivores, Neotropical Invasive Mammals, and Neotropical Hunters and Dogs). Therefore, studies on trophic cascades, hunting pressure, habitat loss, fragmentation effects, species invasion, and climate change effects will be possible with the Neotropical Xenarthrans dataset

The influence of the use of lower limbs orthoses on postural stability of children with cerebral palsy

Celem pracy była ocena stabilności ciała i jej mechanicznej kontroli przy staniu swobodnym na boso i staniu w ortozach kończyn dolnych u dzieci z mózgowym porażeniem dziecięcym. Badaniami objęto 40 dzieci z mózgowym porażeniem dziecięcym (MPDz) - pacjentów Mazowieckiego Centrum Neuropsychiartii w Zagórzu koło Warszawy. Grupę badawczą podzielono na dwie podgrupy ze względu na postać kliniczną MPDz: 20 osób z niedowładem połowiczym i 20 osób z niedowładem obustronnym. Wiek badanych mieścił się w przedziale 2-15 lat. Do oceny stabilności ciała i jej mechanicznej kontroli wykorzystano metodę stabilograficzną przy użyciu sprzętu AMTI NetForce OR6-7-1000. Pomiar równowagi przeprowadzono w dwóch pozycjach: stojącej swobodnie na boso i stojącej swobodnie w ortozach kończyn dolnych. Wyniki badań wskazują, że do poprawy stabilności ciała w pozycji stojącej po założeniu ortoz kończyn dolnych dochodzi w obu grupach badawczych, co objawia się zmniejszeniem wartości parametrów stabilograficznych. Istotne zmiany wykazano jedynie w grupie dzieci z niedowładem połowiczym, w zakresie: przemieszczenia COP lewo-prawo, średniej prędkości oraz długości całkowitej stabilogramu.The aim of the work was the evaluation of differences in the postural stability and its mechanical control between free bare feet standing position and standing position in lower limbs’ orthoses of children suffering from cerebral palsy. The examination included 40 children with cerebral palsy from Mazowieckie Centre of Neuropsychiatry in Zagórze, near Warsaw. The research group was divided into two subgroups: 20 persons with hemiparesis and 20 with diparesis. The examined children were aged between 2-15. The examination of body stability and its mechanical control was carried on with the help of the stabilographic method by means of AMTI NetForce OR6-7-1000 equipment. Balance was measured in these two tests: free standing, bare feet and standing with orthotics of lower limbs. An improvement in terms of lowering the values of stabilographic parameters of the body stability in both research groups after using lower limbs’ orthotics, was stated. Significant changes were observed only in the group of children with hemiparesis in the range of: left-right COP movement, mean speed and length of stabilogram