ANALYSIS OF INDICES OF ECONOMIC INEQUALITY FROM A MATHEMATICAL POINT OF VIEW

A number of indices of economic inequality have been proposed in the literature. Their constructions are based on various econometric motives and justifications such as axioms of fairness. In this paper we analize the indices stepping slightly aside from their econometric meanings and adopting a mathematical approach that treats the indices as distances – in some functional spaces – between the egalitarian and actual Lorenz curves. More specifically, starting with, and being guided by, the econometric definitions of various indices, we modify the indices in such a way that the resulting ones become natural from the mathematical point of view. It turns out that some of the new “mathematical” indices coincide with the corresponding well known “econometric” ones, some appear to be only asymptotically equivalent, and some turn out to have different asymptotic behaviour when the sample size indefinitely increases.Dominance; Lagrangian Multiplier; Likelihood Ratio Test; MSE; Non-central Chisquare and F; Ridge Regression; Superiority; Wald Test.

Adaptive capacity in the multi-level management system of migratory waterbirds: a case study of participatory goose management in Sweden

Adaptive management (AM) is one approach to manage migratory waterbirds, but obstacles to the implementation of AM require adaptive capacities in the management system (rules, institutions, action situations). This study aims to examine the adaptive capacity of participatory goose management in Sweden. Considering the biophysical and institutional context, we analyzed how tangible, individual, and governance assets were associated with technical and social learning. Interviews with informants in the national council for geese, swans, and cranes, and local management groups (LMGs) were conducted, and documentation reviewed. Results revealed evidence of a local preparedness in areas with an LMG. Nevertheless, the study highlighted a need to formalize the evolving system, to consider a more systematic implementation of AM (including regulations allowing for adaptive responses), and to ensure stakeholder acceptance for management tools and visions. The study illustrates the need for a broad set of assets to ensure learning in participatory management

Symmetry-based pulse sequences in solid-state NMR and applications to biological systems

We present some applications of solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance to model compounds and biological systems. We highlight a class of pulse sequences that are designed based on symmetry properties of the internal spin interactions. Examples are given showing resonance assignments, determination of internuclear distances, and torsion angle determinations in representative model systems as well as true biological systems

Millennial Variability in an Idealized Ocean Model: Predicting the AMOC Regime Shifts

A salient feature of paleorecords of the last glacial interval in the North Atlantic is pronounced millennial variability, commonly known as Dansgaard–Oeschger events. It is believed that these events are related to variations in the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation and heat transport. Here, the authors formulate a new low-order model, based on the Howard–Malkus loop representation of ocean circulation, capable of reproducing millennial variability and its chaotic dynamics realistically. It is shown that even in this chaotic model changes in the state of the meridional overturning circulation are predictable. Accordingly, the authors define two predictive indices which give accurate predictions for the time the circulation should remain in the on phase and then stay in the subsequent off phase. These indices depend mainly on ocean stratification and describe the linear growth of small perturbations in the system. Thus, monitoring particular indices of the ocean state could help predict a potential shutdown of the overturning circulation

Coastal fish indicators response to natural and anthropogenic drivers–variability at temporal and different spatial scales

AbstractEcological indicators are increasingly used in marine and freshwater management but only few are developed towards full operationalization with known patterns of variability and documented responses to natural and anthropogenic environmental drivers. Here, we evaluate potential sources of indicator variability at two different spatial scales in three coastal fish-based indicators of environmental status in the Baltic Sea; abundance of cyprinids, abundance of perch and the proportion of larger perch. The study was performed on a data set covering 41 monitoring areas subject to different levels of anthropogenic impact, at a latitudinal range of 56–66°N and a salinity range of 2–8. Interannual variation was clearly minor relative to spatial variation. Small-scale spatial variation was related to water depth, wave exposure and water temperature. The remaining variation was assessed in relation to differences in natural and anthropogenic drivers between monitoring areas. Cyprinids showed a clear inverse relationship to water transparency, which was used as a proxy for eutrophication, indicating increased abundances in nutrient enriched areas. None of the indicators showed an expected negative relationship to the level of coastal commercial fisheries catches. Rather, a positive relationship for Perch suggested that the coastal fisheries were concentrated to areas with strong perch populations in the studied areas. The effect of salinity and climate (temperature during the growth season) among monitoring areas were small. The results emphasize the importance of assigning area-specific boundary levels to define good environmental status in the coastal fish indicators, in order to account for natural sources of variability. Further, although long-term monitoring in reference areas is crucial for obtaining a historical baseline, our results suggest that the status assessment of coastal fish would generally gain precision by increasingly including spatially based assessments. We propose that similar analytical approaches could be applied to other ecosystem components, especially in naturally heterogenic environments, in order to separate indicator variability attributed to potential anthropogenic impact

Eksplorasi Konsep Diri para Pengguna TikTok dalam Memenuhi Social Needs pada Uses and Gratification Theory

This qualitative study focuses on self-exploration of TikTok users in finding and creating educational content with fellow social network users. Researchers see the role of human needs psychologically and socially, which raises certain expectations from using TikTok and leads to fulfillment of needs. Researchers also saw the comparison of Gratification Sought (GS) with Gratification Obtained (GO) as the fulfillment of the needs sought to achieve the satisfaction desired by individuals in using TikTok. Researchers found that there were internal and external factors in self-exploration that influenced the fulfillment of the needs of using TikTok

Eksplorasi Konsep Diri para Pengguna TikTok dalam Memenuhi Social Needs pada Uses and Gratification Theory

This qualitative study focuses on self-exploration of TikTok users in finding and creating educational content with fellow social network users. Researchers see the role of human needs psychologically and socially, which raises certain expectations from using TikTok and leads to fulfillment of needs. Researchers also saw the comparison of Gratification Sought (GS) with Gratification Obtained (GO) as the fulfillment of the needs sought to achieve the satisfaction desired by individuals in using TikTok. Researchers found that there were internal and external factors in self-exploration that influenced the fulfillment of the needs of using TikTok

Individuals and Multilevel Management: A Study of the Perceived Adaptive Capacity of the Goose Management System among Farmers in Sweden

Agricultural damage by geese is a growing problem in Europe and farmers play a key role in the emerging multilevel adaptive management system. This study explored how characteristics associated with the farmer and the farm, along with experience of damage, cognitive appraisals, emotions, and management beliefs were associated with the perceived adaptive capacity of the goose management system among farmers in the south of Sweden (n = 1,067). Survey results revealed that owning a larger farm, a farm closer to water or formally protected areas, along with cultivating cereal and root crops, were associated with geese evoking stronger negative emotions. Further, more previous experience of damage was related to stronger negative emotions and lower levels of perceived adaptive capacity. However, even more important determinants of perceived adaptive capacity were cognitive appraisals, emotions, and management beliefs. Bridging the ties between individual farmers and the system is important for improved multilevel management

Glorifying and scapegoating narratives underlying activity-based workspaces in higher education

Purpose: Our study centered on activity-based workspaces (ABWs), unassigned open-plan configurations where users’ activities determine the workplace. These workspaces are conceived and shaped by accommodation professionals (APs) like managers and architects and are loaded with their ideas, ideals, norms and values; therefore, they are normative and hegemonic. Previous research has largely failed to consider how APs’ spatial conceptions materialize in the workplace. To address this omission, we adopted a narrative approach to study APs’ impact during the conceptualization stage. Design/methodology/approach: The data were collected via a 10-year at-home ethnographic study at a Dutch university, including observations, interviews, documents and reports. Studying the researchers’ organization allowed for a longitudinal research approach and participative observations. The data focused on the narrative techniques of APs when establishing an ABW. Findings: In introducing ABWs, APs resorted to two principal narrative strategies. Firstly, the ABW concept was lauded as a solution to a host of existing problems. Yet, in the face of shortcomings, lecturers were often blamed. Originality/value: Despite the considerable influence of APs on both the physical layout of workspaces and the nature of academic labor, there is little insight into their conceptions of the academic workspace. Our research contributes a novel perspective by revealing how APs’ workspace conceptions drive the narratives that underpin the roll-out of ABWs and how they construct narratives of success and failure.</p