World cities and peripheral development: The interplay of gateways and subordinate places in Argentina and Ghana’s upstream oil and gas sector

Serving as “gateways”, some world cities tie their wider hinterlands to global networks. The article revisits gateway–hinterland relations against the backdrop of assessments that lead to opposed conclusions on the benefits and shortcomings of integration into the world economy. Referring to the oil and gas sector in Argentina and Ghana, it answers the question of how gateways interact with subordinate places and also uncovers obstacles to peripheral development. The author finds that Accra and Buenos Aires concentrate corporate control. Argentina's capital serves as a gateway for knowledge generation and logistics too. Opportunities for peripheral development in both countries are considerable, albeit largely limited to generic services. Besides a certain concentration of business activities in the gateway cities, more important challenges to peripheral development are typical for small and medium enterprises (insufficient finance and management capabilities, unawareness of business opportunities, and the like). They include rent seeking and subcontracting. The latter leaves local companies in a particularly weak position vis‐à‐vis lead firms. The author argues that while integration into the world economy allows for peripheral development, the corresponding outcomes may not meet everyone's expectations. Related expectations must, therefore, be more down‐to‐earth than overly optimistic statements frequently made by politicians

Zootherapeutics utilized by residents of the community Poço Dantas, Crato-CE, Brazil

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Animals have been used as a source of medicine in Brazil since ancient times, and have played a significant role in healing practices. Specifically in Northeast Brazil, zootherapy is a very common practice, and together with medicinal plants, it plays an important role as a therapeutic alternative. In the state of Ceara, no works have been carried out on rural communities with regard to use of zootherapeutics, even though the practice of zootherapy is common in this region. Therefore, the aim of this study was to analyze the use of medicinal animals in a rural community (Poco Dantas) in the municipality of Crato, Ceara, Brazil.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The field survey was carried out from October 2008 to January 2009 by conducting interviews using structured questionnaires with 72 people (33 men and 39 women), who provided information on animal species used as remedies, body parts used to prepare the remedies, and ailments for which the remedies were prescribed. We calculated the informant consensus factor (ICF) to determine the consensus over which species are effective for particular ailments, as well as the species use value (UV) to determine the extent of utilization of each species.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A total of 29 species, distributed in 17 families were categorized as having some medicinal property. The taxa most represented were: mammals (9), insects (7), reptiles and birds (4). <it>Progne chalybea</it>, a species not previously recorded as being of medicinal use, was cited in the present work, where it is utilized in the treatment of alcoholism. The animals are used in the treatment of 34 diseases or symptoms, where sore throat, inflammations and cough are the ailments with the greatest number of citations.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The data show that zootherapy represents an important therapeutic alternative for the inhabitants of the community. New studies on medicinal fauna should be conducted with the aim of determining the exploitation level of the species utilized, promoting sustainable development of medicinal species that are eventually threatened, and preserving and disseminating the knowledge developed by traditional individuals of the community.</p

Segmentation Object Strategy on Digital Image

Рассмотрены особенности сегментации объекта на цифровом микроструктурном изображении. Проанализирована математическая постановка задачи сегментации и применение правила сегментации на практике. Отмечены основные недостатки сегментации, основанной на иконических признаках элементов изображения. Предложена стратегия сегментации свойств объекта на изображении, основанная на восходящих и нисходящих процессах формирования правила сегментации. В качестве примера применения стратегии сегментации использовались тестовые микроструктурные изображения деформируемого алюминиевого сплава АМr6. Синтаксис изображений позволил применить возможности стратегии при отсутствии случайных возмущений. Результаты экспериментов с правилом сегментации показали следующее: • выделены части изображения, представляющие дефект микроструктуры; • изменяя радиус однородности класса, можно проследить динамику развития дефекта микроструктуры, так же возможно проследить влияние ближайшего контекстаThe article presents peculiarities of segmentation of the object on the digital image of the macrostructure. Analyzed the mathematical formulation of the tasks segmentation and its application in various conditions. The considered basic drawbacks of segmentation based on the iconic signs of the image elements. The proposed segmentation strategy properties of the object in the image based on ascending and descending processes of formation of segmentation rules. Based on the evaluation of the homogeneity of the formed rule segmentation of the image representing object properties. As an example of application of the segmentation strategy used test microstructures image wrought aluminum alloy AMg6. The syntax of images allowed applying possible strategies in the absence of random noise. The results of the experiments with regulation of segmentation showed the following: • the highlighted part of the image representing cracks in macrostructure; • changing the uniformity may be traced in the growth of the cracks in macrostructure, it is possible to follow the dynamics of its immediate contex

Segmentation Object Strategy on Digital Image

Рассмотрены особенности сегментации объекта на цифровом микроструктурном изображении. Проанализирована математическая постановка задачи сегментации и применение правила сегментации на практике. Отмечены основные недостатки сегментации, основанной на иконических признаках элементов изображения. Предложена стратегия сегментации свойств объекта на изображении, основанная на восходящих и нисходящих процессах формирования правила сегментации. В качестве примера применения стратегии сегментации использовались тестовые микроструктурные изображения деформируемого алюминиевого сплава АМr6. Синтаксис изображений позволил применить возможности стратегии при отсутствии случайных возмущений. Результаты экспериментов с правилом сегментации показали следующее: • выделены части изображения, представляющие дефект микроструктуры; • изменяя радиус однородности класса, можно проследить динамику развития дефекта микроструктуры, так же возможно проследить влияние ближайшего контекстаThe article presents peculiarities of segmentation of the object on the digital image of the macrostructure. Analyzed the mathematical formulation of the tasks segmentation and its application in various conditions. The considered basic drawbacks of segmentation based on the iconic signs of the image elements. The proposed segmentation strategy properties of the object in the image based on ascending and descending processes of formation of segmentation rules. Based on the evaluation of the homogeneity of the formed rule segmentation of the image representing object properties. As an example of application of the segmentation strategy used test microstructures image wrought aluminum alloy AMg6. The syntax of images allowed applying possible strategies in the absence of random noise. The results of the experiments with regulation of segmentation showed the following: • the highlighted part of the image representing cracks in macrostructure; • changing the uniformity may be traced in the growth of the cracks in macrostructure, it is possible to follow the dynamics of its immediate contex