Formal Basis Research Articles

THE INTERRACTION OF CHINA AND RUSSIA WITHIN THE SHANGHAI COOPERATION ORGANIZATION

The end of Cold War didn’t only put its mark on the international political system, but also it caused a great difference in the bilateral relations between the important actors of the system. The nature of the relations between Russia and China has changed significantly under these conditions, especially in response to the USA’s claims for a worldwide hegemony. In the last three decades, the cooperation has become the central feature of this relation. The Russian dream for revitalizing her lost hegemony in the Central Asia in the post-Cold War setting hasn’t seen as a threat by China primarily eager to utilise from the economic potential of the same region. By establishing the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in 2001, the parties gave a formal institutional basis to their cooperation in the Central Asia and enriched their cooperation efforts by integrating the regional actors into the play. This study aims to elaborate on the Russia-China relations in the post-Cold War setting by putting their cooperation under the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization to the centre. In this scope, the formation and development processes of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization are examined in the first part. The balance and interaction between the actors within the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization is elaborated in the second part. The study concludes that the future of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization will base on the success of Russia and China in mitigating the negative influences of their conflicting interests on their cooperation.

Logic Model of Governance Innovation and Public Policy in Public Service

This research aims to provide additional qualitative evidence of the logical relationship between governance innovation and public policy in public services in Indonesia with adopting the logic model. The logic model is often not adopting in the formulation of policies that resulted in the implementation of public sector innovation such as cannot show more significant results. Also this model is believed to contribute in planning and evaluation of government programs. Most of this article based on the literature study and direct observation. The study also refers to some cases were chosen deliberately and treated as evidence by using a descriptive qualitative approach for developing an argument and conceptual framework accordingly. This research resulted in some information. First, governance innovation will provide multi-benefits, not only for the government but will involve a range of other institutions. Second, public policy is treated as a formal legal basis to keep programs planning and evaluation. That way this article is expected to contribute to the knowledge development of logical relationships among governance innovation and public policy in the different local contexts Indonesia from countries which often becomes a reference in managing public service innovation.

Complex band structure calculations based on the overbridging boundary matching method without using Green's functions

A complex band structure describes the dispersion relation not only of propagating bulk states but also of evanescent ones, both of which are together referred to as generalized Bloch states and are important for understanding the electronic nature of solid surfaces and interfaces. On the basis of the real-space finite-difference formalism within the framework of the density functional theory, we formulate the Kohn-Sham equation for generalized Bloch wave functions as a generalized eigenvalue problem without using any Green's function matrix. By exploiting the sparseness of the coefficient matrices and using the Sakurai-Sugiura projection method, we efficiently solve the derived eigenvalue problem for the propagating and slowly decaying/growing evanescent waves, which are essential for describing the physics of surface/interface states. The accuracy of the generalized Bloch states and the computational efficiency of the present method in solving the eigenvalue problem obtained are compared with those by other methods using the Green's function matrix. In addition, we propose two computational techniques to be combined with the Sakurai-Sugiura projection method and achieve further improvement in the accuracy and efficiency. Complex band structures are calculated with the present method for single- and multiwall carbon nanotubes, and the interwall hybridization and branch points of evanescent electronic states observed in the imaginary parts of the band structures are also discussed.

BIODOSIMETRY AND BIODOSIMETRY NETWORKS FOR MANAGING RADIATION EMERGENCY.

Biological dosimetry enables individual dose reconstruction in the case of unclear or inconsistent radiation exposure situations, especially when a direct measurement of ionizing radiation is not or is no longer possible. To be prepared for large-scale radiological incidents, networking between well-trained laboratories has been identified as a useful approach for provision of the fast and trustworthy dose assessments needed in such circumstances. To this end, various biodosimetry laboratories worldwide have joined forces and set up regional and/or nationwide networks either on a formal or informal basis. Many of these laboratories are also a part of global networks such as those organized by World Health Organization, International Atomic Energy Agency or Global Health Security Initiative. In the present report, biodosimetry networks from different parts of the world are presented, and the partners, activities and cooperation actions are detailed. Moreover, guidance for situational application of tools used for individual dosimetry is given.

The Nexus of Public and Nonprofit Management

The fields of public administration and nonprofit management have experienced convergence over the past decades, particularly as academic programs, conferences, and journals in public administration have increasingly embraced nonprofit management. Given the significance of this development, the lack of a formal theoretical basis for convergence is surprising and potentially problematic. This article attempts to formalize such a basis by expositing the shared constitutive features of public and nonprofit management. These features include social goods provision, outcome ambiguity, delegation, and surplus nondistribution. Analysis of these features—and consideration of alternative explanations—demonstrates that a consolidated field of “public and nonprofit management” may be warranted by definite theoretical principles. The existence of this theoretical basis may provide stakeholders with opportunities to approach and manage the process of convergence more strategically.

A revised dosimetric characterization of 60Co BEBIG source: From single-source data to clinical dose distribution

PurposeAlthough the dosimetric characterization of 60Co BEBIG source can be found in several literature studies, the data sets show major discrepancies and the lack of uncertainty analyses. This study tried to determine an accurate dosimetric data set for this source using Monte Carlo (MC) simulations along with detailed uncertainty analysis. To explore how different dosimetric data sets can make changes in practical situations, clinical dose distributions based on our results were compared with the dose distributions derived from Granero et al. and consensus data sets. Methods and MaterialsThe MC simulations were performed with Monte Carlo N-Particle eXtended code (MCNPX) version 2.6.0 and the TG-43 parameters were estimated adhering to the American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM) and European SocieTy for Radiotherapy and Oncology (ESTRO) 229 report. The dose rate distributions for single-source and two typical clinical cases, including one intracavitary and one interstitial, were calculated using an in-house code on the basis of the TG-43 formalism. ResultsThe total uncertainties for water dose rate on source transverse axis at 1 cm and 5 cm, air kerma strength, and dose rate constant were evaluated to be 0.10%, 0.09%, 0.04%, and 0.11%, respectively. Meaningful differences were found for the interstitial case in which 22% of clinical target volume (CTV) showed differences from ±1% to ±10% or even larger. ConclusionsThe MC uncertainty was derived about 16 times smaller than the typical MC component stated in TG-138, partly because of large number of histories and partly because the spectra of 60Co and also its photons' attenuation coefficients are adequately accurate. The results showed that in the clinical situations, the applicator geometry and the superposition of single-source dose distributions can reduce the differences observed between several data sets.

Executing bigraphical reactive systems

In order to enable experimentations and simulations of bigraphs, we need an implementation of their dynamics. In this paper, we tackle the matching issue of this task. We present a solution based on an investigation on graph matching. We propose to simulate a bigraphical reactive system (i.e., bigraphs with a set of reaction rules that allow their rewriting) with a graph transformation system. First, we translate a bigraph to a ranked graph. This translation is ensured by defining a faithful functor that allows to move from the bigraph category to the ranked graph category. Then, we show that reaction rules can be simulated with graph rules. Hence, we provide a formal basis allowing to execute bigraph transformations by simulating their translation aiming to use well-established and efficient graph transformation tools.

Development of decision support in the structure of the information­analytical system of atmospheric air environmental monitoring

The main problem that determines the efficiency of environmental monitoring systems is the lack of validity of management decisions on correction of environmental situations. In such conditions, a formal versatile basis that describes the information-analytical system (IAS) of environmental monitoring is required.For the development and description of the IAS composition and structure, elements of the theory of fuzzy logic and fuzzy sets and methods of system analysis are used. Thus, the theoretical basis for the development of a versatile IAS structure of environmental monitoring is formed. The set-theoretical model of the information-analytical system of environmental monitoring of atmospheric air at the municipal level, which includes subsystems of the urban system parameter monitoring, decision support, the information system “parameter database - situation knowledge base” is proposed.The decision support subsystem is presented as the decision model that determines the allowable transformations of situations and a set of strategies for applying these transformations to solve the problem of eliminating an adverse situation. The adaptive fuzzy model of situation recognition in the process of environmental monitoring, which allows producing diagnostic conclusions is developed. The diagnostic process is represented by a sequence of actions, which involves three steps: determining the criticality for each situation feature; determining the degree of criticality; providing linguistic features. The advantage of the proposed IAS architecture is the possibility of fast scaling of the decision support system. This is achieved by simply expanding the feature and situation dictionary and the knowledge base, as well as the flexible configuration of the knowledge base by correction of weight ratios of elementary premises of the rules. The general description of the information technology of monitoring and support of operational decision-making on correction of environmentally hazardous situations is formed. The results of setting the fuzzy model of situation recognition by means of experimental learning of the system on the examples – specific results of observations of atmospheric air quality are obtained. The self-learning ability of the system is found, which ultimately will allow limiting the involvement of real individuals as experts in the assessment of environmental situations by automating the diagnostic process

Reducing inter- and intra-planner variability in radiotherapy plan output with a commercial knowledge-based planning solution

PurposeThis study measured to which extent RapidPlan can drive a reduction of the human-caused variability in prostate cancer treatment planning. MethodsSeventy clinical prostate plans were used to train a RapidPlan model. Seven planners, with different levels of planning experience, were asked to plan a VMAT treatment for fifteen prostate cancer patients with and without RapidPlan assistance. The plans were compared on the basis of target coverage, conformance and OAR sparing. Inter-planner and intra-planner variability were assessed on the basis of the Plan Quality Metric formalism. Differences in mean values and InterQuartile Ranges between patients and operators were assessed. ResultsRapidPlan-assisted plans matched manual planning in terms of target coverage, homogeneity, conformance and bladder sparing but outperformed it for rectum and femoral heads sparing. 8 out of 15 patients showed a statistically significant increase in overall quality. Inter-planner variability is reduced in RapidPlan-assisted planning for rectum and femoral heads while bladder variability was constant. The inter-planner variability of the overall plan quality, IQR of PQM%, was approximately halved for all patients. RapidPlan assistance induced a larger increase in plan quality for less experienced planners. At the same time, a reduction in intra-planner variability is measured with a significant overall reduction. ConclusionsThe assistance of RapidPlan during the optimization of treatments for prostate cancer induces a significant increase of plan quality and a contextual reduction of plan variability. RapidPlan is proven to be a valuable tool to leverage the planning skills of less experienced planners ensuring a better homogeneity of treatment plan quality.

Quantization of the Electromagnetic Field in Three-Dimensional Photonic Structures on the Basis of the Scattering Matrix Formalism (S Quantization)

A technique for quantization of the electromagnetic field in photonic nanostructures with three-dimensional modulation of the dielectric constant is developed on the basis of the scattering matrix formalism (S quantization in the three-dimensional case). Quantization is based on equating the eigenvalues of the scattering matrix to unity, which is equivalent to equating each other the sets of Fourier expansions for the fields of the waves incident on the structure and propagating away from the structure. The spatial distribution of electromagnetic fields of the modes in a photonic nanostructure is calculated on the basis of the R and T matrices describing the reflection and transmission of the Fourier components by the structure. To calculate the reflection and transmission coefficients of individual real-space and Fourier-space components, the structure is divided into parallel layers within which the dielectric constant varies as a function of two-dimensional coordinates. Using the Fourier transform, Maxwell’s equations are written in the form of a matrix connecting the Fourier components of the electric field at the boundaries of neighboring layers. Based on the calculated reflection and transmission vectors for all polarizations and Fourier components, the scattering matrix for the entire structure is formed and quantization is carried out by equating the eigenvalues of the scattering matrix to unity. The developed method makes it possible to obtain the spatial profiles of eigenmodes without solving a system of nonlinear integro-differential equations and significantly reduces the computational resources required for calculating the probability of spontaneous emission in three-dimensional systems.

Hierarchical Schrödinger equations of motion for open quantum dynamics

We rigorously investigate the quantum non-Markovian dissipative dynamics of a system coupled to a harmonic oscillator bath by deriving hierarchical Schrodinger equations of motion (HSEOM) and studying their dynamics. The HSEOM are the equations for wave functions derived on the basis of the Feynman-Vernon influence functional formalism for the density operator, $\langle q|\rho(t)|q' \rangle$, where $\langle q|$ and $|q' \rangle$ are the left- and right-hand elements. The time evolution of $\langle q|$ is computed from time $0$ to $t$, and subsequently, the time evolution of $|q' \rangle$ is computed from time $t$ to $0$ along a contour in the complex time plane. By appropriately choosing functions for the bath correlation function and the spectral density, we can take advantage of an HSEOM method to carry out simulations without the need for a great amount of computational memory. As a demonstration, quantum annealing simulation for a ferromagnetic $p$-spin model is studied.

Test of the formal basis of Arrhenius law with heat capacities

The exponential factor of Arrhenius satisfactorily quantifies the energetic restriction of chemical reactions but is still awaiting a rigorous basis. By assuming that the Arrhenius equation should be grounded on statistical mechanics and is probabilistic in nature, two structures are compared for this equation, depending on whether reactant energies are envisioned as the mean values of specific energy distributions, or as particular levels in a global energy distribution. In the first version, the Arrhenius exponential factor would be a probability depending once on temperature while in the second one it is a ratio of probabilities, depending twice on temperature. These concurrent equations are tested using experimental data for the isomerization of 2-butene. This comparison reveals the fundamental structure of the Arrhenius law in isothermal systems and overlooked properties resulting from the introduction of reactant energies in the equation.

Guarded Cubical Type Theory

This paper improves the treatment of equality in guarded dependent type theory ( $$\mathsf {GDTT}$$ ), by combining it with cubical type theory ( $$\mathsf {CTT}$$ ). $$\mathsf {GDTT}$$ is an extensional type theory with guarded recursive types, which are useful for building models of program logics, and for programming and reasoning with coinductive types. We wish to implement $$\mathsf {GDTT}$$ with decidable type checking, while still supporting non-trivial equality proofs that reason about the extensions of guarded recursive constructions. $$\mathsf {CTT}$$ is a variation of Martin–Lof type theory in which the identity type is replaced by abstract paths between terms. $$\mathsf {CTT}$$ provides a computational interpretation of functional extensionality, enjoys canonicity for the natural numbers type, and is conjectured to support decidable type-checking. Our new type theory, guarded cubical type theory ( $$\mathsf {GCTT}$$ ), provides a computational interpretation of extensionality for guarded recursive types. This further expands the foundations of $$\mathsf {CTT}$$ as a basis for formalisation in mathematics and computer science. We present examples to demonstrate the expressivity of our type theory, all of which have been checked using a prototype type-checker implementation. We show that $$\mathsf {CTT}$$ can be given semantics in presheaves on $$\mathcal {C}\times \mathbb {D}$$ , where $$\mathcal {C}$$ is the cube category, and $$\mathbb {D}$$ is any small category with an initial object. We then show that the category of presheaves on $$\mathcal {C}\times \omega $$ provides semantics for $$\mathsf {GCTT}$$ .

IFC Monitor – An IFC schema extension for modeling structural health monitoring systems

The pervasive emergence of sensing technologies for structural health monitoring (SHM) and the digitalization ubiquitous in engineering (“Industry 4.0”) pose increasing demands on information modeling concepts in civil engineering. While in building information modeling (BIM) conventional building information (such as geometry, material, or cost) can precisely be described using current modeling standards, information about SHM systems, referred to as “monitoring-related information”, cannot be fully described on a well-defined, formal basis. In this paper, a BIM-based approach towards describing monitoring-related information is proposed, using the Industry Foundation Classes (IFC), an open BIM standard facilitating the interoperability of BIM models, as a formal basis. First, possibilities and constraints of describing monitoring-related information with the IFC schema are discussed. Then, information necessary to describe SHM systems is integrated into a semantic model serving as a technology-independent metamodel. Next, the IFC schema is extended to enable BIM-based descriptions of SHM systems in compliance with IFC modeling capabilities, which is referred to as “IFC Monitor” schema. The IFC Monitor schema is verified with test software used in the official IFC certification program. For validation, a prototype SHM system is formally described using the IFC Monitor schema. The validation aims at checking if the IFC Monitor schema is capable of precisely describing monitoring-related information. As will be shown in this paper, the description of the prototype SHM system meets the requirements of a well-defined IFC model as specified in the official IFC certification program. As a result, the IFC Monitor schema proposed in this study advances BIM-based descriptions of SHM systems in association with structural systems being monitored on a well-defined, formal basis.

THE IMPACTS OF CODE-MIXING FOR MALAY NATIVE SPEAKER

The use of code-mixing, especially for English Code-Mixing, by Malay Kuala Lumpur Native Speaker, becomes the main issue in this research. Thus through this research, it will be found out the reasons for this language error happens, the impacts for using the code-mixing, in terms of sociolinguistic view. The sample limitation is only 10 (ten) people of Malay Kuala Lumpur native speaker, who are randomly selected. The research is a case study and descriptive qualitative research, which arises the issue of the use of code-mixing among the Malay Kuala Lumpur native speaker who are taking their study in Indonesia. Data are collected through observation to samples which are also as the population. Through the brief observation it can be concluded that the use of code-mixing because of usual habit of using English among the respondents, added by the fact that English is also their second language which is widely spoken in daily bases or in formal bases. The use of English Code-mixing is also for the need to highlight the speaker in terms of they will be looked as an intellectual and elite people. The impact of using code-mixing cannot be confirmed that it brings a negative effect, but it is not possible that the existence and even the use of Malay language can be slowly moved among their own native speaker.

Missed opportunities: The rhetoric and reality of social justice in education and the elision of social class and community in South African Education Policy.

This article examines the paradox of post-apartheid education policies which established the formal basis for social justice and equity through legislation while in reality these laudable goals remain unattainable and elusive. The article is informed by and builds on the conceptualisation and analysis of the barriers to social justice and equality in education by global and local critical, post-colonial and political economy of education scholars. It critically outlines the key arguments and studies around these concepts and attempts to show the strengths and limitations of their analyses. Conceptual coherence was achieved through a theoretical framework which focuses on social class, community and critical education policy. An original contribution is made by extending and adapting some of these views, beyond their initial application, to support the education initiatives of South African social movements in poor communities. In concert with the latter, local education policy analyses will be critiqued for not paying sufficient attention to issues of social class, context and community voices in education.

Методологія досліджень та навчання в аеронавігаційній соціотехнічній системі

Мета: на основі формалізації професійних і непрофесійних факторів, конструювання моделей прийняття рішень людиною-оператором аеронавігаційної системи та розвитку польотної ситуації розробити методологію досліджень та навчання в аеронавігаційній соціотехнічній системі. Методи: системний аналіз, рефлексивна теорія, мережеве планування, дерево рішень, мережа Маркова, мережа GERT, нейронна мережа, експертний метод. Результати: Аеронавігаційна система представлена як складна соціотехнічна система. Визначено вплив професійних факторів (знань, навичок, вмінь, досвіду), а також факторів непрофесійного характеру (індивідуально-психологічних, психофізіологічних та соціально-психологічних) на прийняття рішень людиною-оператором аеронавігаційної системи. Отримано графічно-аналітичні, детерміновані, стохастичні, рефлекторні, нейромережеві моделі прийняття рішень людиною-оператором аеронавігаційної системи, та розвитку ситуаціях, які потребують польотної ситуації. Створено програмний комплекс "Підказка", який оперативно та своєчасно підбирає оптимальну стратегію завершення польоту в позаштатних виконання вимушеної посадки повітряного корабля. Розроблено методологію досліджень та навчання в аеронавігаційній соціотехнічній системі. Обговорення: результатом оцінки непрофесійних факторів є визначення соціально-психологічного впливу на прийняття рішень людиною-оператором шляхом виявлення переваг, діагностика індивідуально-психологічних якостей людини-оператора при розвитку польотної ситуації, моніторинг психофізіологічних показників людини-оператора (емоційного стану). Запропоновані моделі дозволять своєчасно діагностувати та прогнозувати можливі дії людини-оператора в очікуваних та неочікуваних умовах експлуатації повітряного корабля. Алгоритми та методологія аналізу розвитку ситуації під впливом прийняття рішень людиною-оператором можуть використовуватись в інших техногенних виробництвах.

Casimir Energy in Contact-Interaction Models

The problem of Casimir interaction between two δ d -like (d = 1, 2, and 3) sources in Minkowski space is examined on the basis of the ln det formalism. The result obtained for the case of two semitransparent plates (d = 1) coincides with the earlier result based on an alternative approach. The earlier assertion that there is no vacuum interaction between linear (d = 2) sources is disproved. An expression for the Casimir energy for two pointlike (d = 3) sources is obtained.

Administrative Discourse: Structure, Volume, Production Practices and Legitimation of Texts

The article is devoted to study of the basic characteristics of the administrative discourse of modern Russia: its structure, volume and basic discursive practices. Methods of research were documentary analysis and ethnographic observation. The empirical basis for the analysis of documents was the database of Russian legislation at the federal, regional and municipal levels. The included unstructured observation was carried out in the federal executive body in the period from 2013 to 2016 in Moscow. As a theoretical and methodological basis for the study, the concept of critical discourse analysis by N. Fairclough was adopted. The author’s definition of administrative discourse, as well as an understanding of the logic of the institution and autonomization of the bureaucratic space of modern Russia, is proposed. Along with autonomization, two other trends of administrative discourse have also been revealed: standardization and self-reproduction. The structure and volume of the formal basis of administrative discourse are shown, statistical data are provided on the number of federal, regional and municipal regulatory legal acts, of which there are more than 8 million units. Structural coeffi cients that reflect the elaboration and variability of the legal field have been developed. It is shown that the most stable and elaborated legal field is formed at the municipal level; least - at the regional level. The federal level of thoroughness and stability of laws and operational regulation occupies an intermediate position between the municipal and regional levels. The example of four basic discursive practices of administrative life: institution, control, assignment (resolution), reconciliation (visa) - shows how the production and legitimation of texts are carried out within departments, as a result of which they are enriched with history, gain administrative weight, acquire a conventional form, force and scale of action; and, in the end, become the influential actors of the administrative space. The role of discourse in the broader context of the struggle for power and resources within the bureaucratic environment is presented.

Bolzano’s Infinite Quantities

In his Foundations of a General Theory of Manifolds, Georg Cantor praised Bernard Bolzano as a clear defender of actual infinity who had the courage to work with infinite numbers. At the same time, he sharply criticized the way Bolzano dealt with them. Cantor’s concept was based on the existence of a one-to-one correspondence, while Bolzano insisted on Euclid’s Axiom of the whole being greater than a part. Cantor’s set theory has eventually prevailed, and became a formal basis of contemporary mathematics, while Bolzano’s approach is generally considered a step in the wrong direction. In the present paper, we demonstrate that a fragment of Bolzano’s theory of infinite quantities retaining the part-whole principle can be extended to a consistent mathematical structure. It can be interpreted in several possible ways. We obtain either a linearly ordered ring of finite and infinitely great quantities, or a partially ordered ring containing infinitely small, finite and infinitely great quantities. These structures can be used as a basis of the infinitesimal calculus similarly as in non-standard analysis, whether in its full version employing ultrafilters due to Abraham Robinson, or in the recent “cheap version” avoiding ultrafilters due to Terence Tao.