The effects of transparency on perceived and actual competence of a content-based recommender.

Perceptions of a system’s competence influence acceptance of that system [31]. Ideally, users’ perception of competence matches the actual competence of a system. This paper investigates the relation between actual and perceived competence of transparent Semantic Web recommender systems that explain recommendations in terms of shared item concepts. We report an experiment comparing non-transparent and transparent versions of a content-based recommender. Results indicate that in the transparent condition, perceived competence and actual competence (in specific recall) were related, while in the non-transparent condition they were not. Providing insight in what aspects of items triggered their recommendation, by showing the concepts that were the basis for a recommendation, gave users a better assessment of how well the system worked

Социальные программы в структуре расходов консолидированного бюджета субъекта федерации

The purpose of the study is to examine the role of social programs in the structure of expenditures of the consolidated budgets of the Russian Federation and the Volgograd region, to identify the main directions for improving the content of targeted programs aimed at implementing specific measures in the field of social policy.Materials and methods: the methodology includes structural and statistical analysis, methods of economic forecasting and modeling. The analysis uses official statistical data, as well as re-ports on the performance of the consolidated budgets of the Russian Federation and the Volgograd region in the period 2014-2018. The paper contains an analysis of both scientific periodicals and non-periodical publications devoted to the topic of this study.Results: the paper discusses the features of spending budget funds for the implementation of social programs at both the federal and regional levels, reflects the model of the impact of the volume of budget financing of the social sphere on the state of the regional economy. In the course of the work, recommendations were developed to improve the mechanism for allocating financial resources, including elements of public-private partnership, as well as to stimulate the development of socially-oriented non-profit organizations that can become effective intermediaries between government agencies and the population in the implementation of social policy measures. The study revealed an upward trend in the volume of budget funds allocated for the implementation of activities within the framework of social environment development programs. At the same time, it was noted that this growth is partially offset by the dynamics of inflation, which indicates the need to optimize expenditure items taking into account data on changes in the consumer price index and the level of real incomes of citizens.Conclusion: centralizing the management of socio-economic development processes seems to be the most rational course of action in an unstable economic system. Improving the quality of life of the population of the regions occurs in the conditions of transformation of economic systems, during which the regional economy joins allRussian course. In the course of the work, the need to improve the effectiveness of the implemented social policy was justified, which becomes especially necessary in the conditions of increasing rates of population outflow from the Volgograd region. The developed social sphere of the region makes it possible to form effective civil society institutions, in which the population independently participates in the process of improving the social environment. To ensure control over timely and complete budget execution, state audit methods can be used (we are talking about regional and municipal control and accounting bodies), including strategic audit, which allows proactive control of the effectiveness of upcoming events. The results of this study can be used to track the dynamics of budget spending in the implementation of socially-oriented programs, as well as to determine the most promising areas of budget financing of the social environment.Цель исследования – рассмотреть роль социальных программ в структуре расходов консолидированных бюджетов РФ и Волгоградской области, выявить основные направления совершенствования содержания целевых программ, направленных на реализацию конкретных мероприятий в области социальной политики.Материалы и методы: методология включает в себя структурный и статистический анализ, методы экономического прогнозирования и моделирования. Для анализа используются официальные статистические данные, а также материалы отчетов об исполнении консолидированных бюджетов Российской Федерации и Волгоградской области в период 2014–2018 гг. В работе содержится анализ как периодических, так и монографических изданий, посвященных теме настоящего исследования.Результаты: в статье рассмотрены особенности расходования бюджетных средств на реализацию социальных программ как на федеральном, так и на региональном уровне, отражена модель воздействия объемов бюджетного финансирования социальной сферы на состояние региональной экономики. В ходе работы выработаны рекомендации по совершенствованию механизма распределения финансовых ресурсов, включающие в себя элементы государственно-частного партнерства, а также стимулирование развития социально-ориентированных некоммерческих организаций, способных стать эффективными посредниками между государственными органами и населением в области реализации мероприятий социальной политики. В результате исследования была выявлена восходящая динамика объемов бюджетных средств, выделяемых на реализацию мероприятий в рамках программ развития социальной среды. При этом было отмечено, что указанный рост частично нивелируется динамикой инфляции, что свидетельствует о необходимости оптимизации расходных статей с учетом данных об изменении индекса потребительских цен и уровня реальных доходов граждан.Заключение: централизация управления процессами социально-экономического развития представляется наиболее рациональным сценарием действий в условиях нестабильной экономической системы. Совершенствование качества жизни населения регионов происходит в условиях трансформации экономических систем, в ходе которой региональная экономика вливается в общероссийский курс. В ходе работы была обоснована необходимость повышения эффективности реализуемой социальной политики, которая становится особенно необходимой в условиях повышения темпов оттока населения из Волгоградской области. Развитая социальная сфера региона позволяет формировать эффективные институты гражданского общества, в рамках которых население самостоятельно принимает участие в процессе совершенствования общественной среды. Для обеспечения контроля своевременного и полного исполнения бюджета могут применяться методы государственного аудита (речь идет о региональных и муниципальных контрольно-счетных органах), в том числе – стратегического аудита, позволяющего осуществлять проактивный контроль эффективности предстоящих мероприятий. Результаты данного исследования могут быть применены для отслеживания динамики расходования бюджетных средств при реализации социально-ориентированных программ, а также в целях определения наиболее перспективных направлений бюджетного финансирования социальной среды

C, Cl and H compound-specific isotope analysis to assess natural versus Fe(0) barrier-induced degradation of chlorinated ethenes at a contaminated site

Compound-specific isotopic analysis of multiple elements (C, Cl, H) was tested to better assess the effect of a zero-valent iron-permeable reactive barrier (ZVI-PRB) installation at a site contaminated with tetrachloroethene (PCE) and trichloroethene (TCE). The focus was on (1) using 13C to evaluate natural chlorinated ethene biodegradation and the ZVI-PRB efficiency; (2) using dual element 13C-37Cl isotopic analysis to distinguish biotic from abiotic degradation of cis-dichloroethene (cis-DCE); and (3) using 13C-37Cl-2H isotopic analysis of cis-DCE and TCE to elucidate different contaminant sources. Both biodegradation and degradation by ZVI-PRB were indicated by the metabolites that were detected and the 13C data, with a quantitative estimate of the ZVI-PRB efficiency of less than 10% for PCE. Dual ele- ment 13C-37Cl isotopic plots confirmed that biodegradation was the main process at the site including the ZVI-PRB area. Based on the carbon isotope data, approximately 45% and 71% of PCE and TCE, respec- tively, were estimated to be removed by biodegradation. 2H combined with 13C and 37Cl seems to have identified two discrete sources contributing to the contaminant plume, indicating the potential of 2 H to discriminate whether a compound is of industrial origin, or whether a compound is formed as a daughter product during degradation

Hydrogen isotope fractionation during biodegradation of 1,2-dichloroethane: potential for pathway identification using a multi-element (C, Cl and H) isotope approach

Even though multi-element isotope fractionation patterns provide crucial information to identify contaminant degradation pathways in the field, those involving hydrogen are still lacking for many halogenated groundwater contaminants and degradation pathways. This study investigates for the first time hydrogen isotope fractionation during both aerobic and anaerobic biodegradation of 1,2-dichloroethane (1,2-DCA) using five microbial cultures. Transformation-associated isotope fractionation values (ε_bulk^H) were: -115 ± 18¿ (aerobic C-H bond oxidation), -34 ± 4¿ and -38 ± 4¿ (aerobic C-Cl bond cleavage via hydrolytic dehalogenation), -57 ± 3¿ and -77 ± 9¿ (anaerobic C-Cl bond cleavage via reductive dihaloelimination). The dual element C-H isotope approach (ΛC-H = Δδ2H/Δδ13C ≈ ε_bulk^H/ε_bulk^C, where Δδ2H and Δδ13C are changes in isotope ratios during degradation) resulted in clearly different ΛC-H values: 28 ± 4 (oxidation), 0.7 ± 0.1 and 0.9 ± 0.1 (hydrolytic dehalogenation), 1.76 ± 0.05 and 3.5 ± 0.1 (dihaloelimination). This result highlights the potential of this approach to identify 1,2-DCA degradation pathways in the field. In addition, distinct trends were also observed in a multi (i.e., Δδ2H vs Δδ37Cl vs Δδ13C) isotope plot, which opens further possibilities for pathway identification in future field studies. This is crucial information to understand the mechanisms controlling natural attenuation of 1,2-DCA and to design appropriate strategies to enhance biodegradation

Distinct dual C-Cl isotope fractionation patterns during anaerobic biodegradation of 1,2-dichloroethane: potential to characterize microbial degradation in the field

This study investigates, for the first time, dual C-Cl isotope fractionation during anaerobic biodegradation of 1,2-dichloroethane (1,2-DCA) via dihaloelimination by Dehalococcoides and Dehalogenimonas-containing enrichment cultures. Isotopic fractionation of 1,2-DCA (εbulkC and εbulkCl) for Dehalococcoides (−33.0 ± 0.4¿ and −5.1 ± 0.1¿) and Dehalogenimonas-containing microcosms (−23 ± 2¿ and −12.0 ± 0.8¿) resulted in distinctly different dual element C-Cl isotope correlations (Λ = Δδ13C/Δδ37Cl ≈ εbulkC/εbulkCl), 6.8 ± 0.2 and 1.89 ± 0.02, respectively. Determined isotope effects and detected products suggest that the difference on the obtained Λ values for biodihaloelimination could be associated with a different mode of concerted bond cleavage rather than two different reaction pathways (i.e., stepwise vs concerted). Λ values of 1,2-DCA were, for the first time, determined in two field sites under reducing conditions (2.1 ± 0.1 and 2.2 ± 2.9). They were similar to the one obtained for the Dehalogenimonas-containing microcosms (1.89 ± 0.02) and very different from those reported for aerobic degradation pathways in a previous laboratory study (7.6 ± 0.1 and 0.78 ± 0.03). Thus, this study illustrates the potential of a dual isotope analysis to differentiate between aerobic and anaerobic biodegradation pathways of 1,2-DCA in the field and suggests that this approach might also be used to characterize dihaloelimination of 1,2-DCA by different bacteria, which needs to be confirmed in future studies