Macro Regions Research Articles

Communicational ties between the Republic of Bashkortostan and other Russian regions based on voice cell phone data

The article aims to present social ties of the Republic of Bashkortostan based on voice cell phone data, which covers 12 million calls from and to the region during the first five days of March 2020. About 96% of calls are made within the republic and only 4% of them are interregional. The people of the Republic of Bashkortostan have close connections with those who live in neighboring regions (Orenburg, Sverdlovsk oblast, the Republic of Tatarstan and especially Chelyabinsk oblast). Being a part of the Ural Economic Region, the Volga Federal District and Volga-Ural Macro Region, the republic has turned mostly towards Ural regions. We also found that the republic has close social ties with Moscow and Moscow region, St. Petersburg and Leningrad oblast, as well as Krasnodar kray, Samara oblast and two Autonomous Districts: Khanty-Mansi and Yamalo-Nenets. We estimated the number of persons who possessed Bashkir SIM-card and were outside the republic during the research period – 183 thousand; the most of them were in the abovementioned regions. While conversation between residents lasts 50 seconds, which is among the smallest values, the calls to and from republics of Altai, Tyva, Khakassia, Sakha and Magadan oblast are 5-8 times longer. Overall, the communication pattern reflects migration flows and economic relations between regions. The results of this study can be utilized by researchers and Bashkir government to explore spatial interaction patterns between regions and may help to guide transportation planning and other potential applications, e.g. infrastructure construction projects. In conclusion, we postulate that cell phone data can be exploited as a source of social ties data, however, the strengthening communication shift into Internet space is diminishing information on the directional features of the ties.

A concurrent multiscale approach for modeling recycled aggregate concrete

The use of recycled concrete aggregates in new concrete is an alternative that can provide economical and environmental benefits. However, the influence of the inert particles on the mechanical behavior of concrete needs to be better understood. To provide a comprehensive simulator to predict the failure mechanism of this material taking into account its heterogeneity in mesoscale, a mesh fragmentation technique composed of interface solid finite elements equipped with a tensile damage model is employed. To minimize computational costs, a concurrent multiscale strategy based on the use of coupling finite elements to connect the macro and mesoscale regions is adopted. In mesoscale, the different phases of the recycled aggregate concrete (RAC) are explicitly represented, consisting of: (i) new mortar matrix; (ii) recycled aggregate composed of old matrix and crushed rock (natural aggregate); and (iii) interfacial transition zones in between all of them. For the regions where cracks are not expected, homogenized elastic parameters are assumed for the RAC. Three-point bending beams experimentally tested by Casuccio et al. [4] are numerically analyzed for concrete with compressive strength targets of 18, 37 and 48 MPa. These concrete beams were produced with coarse aggregates derived from natural crushed stone and another two coming from recycled concrete with high and normal strengths. The numerical results obtained show that the concurrent multiscale model is able to represent the tensile failure mechanism of the RAC, taking into account explicitly the effects of the recycled components on crack patterns and structural predictions.

Impact of the tetra viral vaccine introduction on varicella morbidity and mortality in the Brazilian macro regions

ObjectiveTo describe the impact of the introduction of the viral tetra vaccine in the National Immunization Program in 2013 for 15‐month‐old children in mortality rates and hospitalization associated with varicella in Brazil. MethodsMortality rates and hospitalizations rates associated with varicella were evaluated between 2010 and 2016 and described according to Brazilian macro regions and age. The population was stratified into age groups: < 1 year, 1‐4 years, and 5‐14 years. Data were collected from the Informatics Department of the Unified Health System. A percentage difference was calculated between rates of hospitalizations and mortality in the pre (2010‐2012) and post‐vaccination periods (2014‐2016) to estimate the approximate effectiveness of the vaccine. Data synthesisAt the national level, vaccination significantly reduced the mortality rates and hospitalizations rates in all age groups analyzed. Among those under 5 years of age, mortality rates and hospitalizations rates decreased 57‐49% and 40‐47%, respectively. There was a national decrease of up to 57% in the mortality rates due to the disease, with smaller decreases seen in the North and Northeast regions and the largest in the South and Southeast regions. The hospitalizations rates for varicella reached a maximum national decline of 47%. In children aged 1–4 years, with higher vaccination coverage, the highest reduction was observed in both mortality rates and hospitalizations rates, which decreased from 2.6 to 0.4/100,000/year. ConclusionsThe tetra vaccine proved to be effective in reducing both mortality and hospitalizations of children and adolescents up to 15 years of age in the 2014‐2016 triennium.

Освещение евразийской интеграции в американском научно-академическом дискурсе

The article discusses modern Eurasian integration - regional processes of unification in the post-Soviet space, in which Russia plays a guiding role. Despite the declaration by the American establishment of the importance of the Eurasian macro region and the deep involvement of the United States in the region’s affairs, the American foreign policy discourse clearly shows a lack of interest on the part of the expert community in integration in the post-Soviet space against the backdrop of Washington’s assistance in integration processes in other regions of the world. In this regard, the purpose of the article is to analyze the current practice of coverage in the American scientific and academic discourse of Eurasian integration processes with the active role of Russia. Based on the opinion of American experts from centrist, liberal and conservative think tanks, it is planned to determine the place of Eurasian integration issues in the American foreign policy discourse, to determine the dynamics of changes in the process of coverage of Eurasian integration by the American expert community, and to outline the nature of the assessments of American experts on Eurasian integration projects.

Un nuevo sistema mundo desde el Sur Global: gran convergencia y desplazamiento geográfico acelerado

Desde inicios del nuevo siglo y bajo las transformaciones desplegadas en los últimos 50 años a partir de la crisis cíclica del capitalismo, tiene lugar un creciente desplazamiento espacial del proceso de acumulación hacia el Sur Global (SG). Tomando este último como unidad de análisis (y observando en su interior la interrelación de las macro regiones que lo componen), dicho desplazamiento es analizado a través de variables asociados a su dinámica, dinamismo y creciente capacidad de control sobre las cadenas de producción global. Inserto todo ello en el marco de la explosión demográfica del SG, los resultados dan cuenta de una inédita alteración de la estructura jerárquica del capitalismo desde su nacimiento, al tiempo que abre un nuevo mapa para el examen de las jerarquías y su funcionamiento respecto del habitual esquema analítico (centro – semi-periferia – periferia) difundido por la teoría del sistema mundo. Una redefinición de la agenda analítico y estratégica se despende de ello a nivel geopolítico y geoeconómico global.

Temporal variation in food consumption of Brazilian adolescents (2009-2015).

Worldwide population has been increasingly exposed to ultra-processed foods, which are associated with obesity. Adolescence is a transition period of life and WHO recommends the surveillance of risk factors to the adolescents' health, such as diet, because experiences in this phase can result in health risks. To assess the trends in food consumption of adolescents from Brazilian capitals according to sociodemographic variables, based on data from the National Survey of School Health (PeNSE). Data from in 2009, 2012 and 2015 of a total of 173,310 9th graders enrolled in public and private schools in Brazilian capitals and in the Federal District were assessed. Food consumption was assessed from regular consumption (five or more times a week) of healthy eating markers (beans; vegetables; fruit) and unhealthy eating markers (sweets; soft drinks; fried salty snacks). For sociodemographic variables, we considered macro regions; age; race/ skin color; gender; school administrative status. We assessed these markers trends for the population and, additionally, the analyses were stratified by gender, race/ skin color, and school administrative status. Statistical significance of the temporal trends was assessed by linear regression model. Over six years, three types of change in Brazilian adolescents' diet were observed: decreasing regular consumption of beans, sweets and soft drinks, increasing regular consumption of vegetables, and stable consumption of fruit and fried salty snacks. Brazilian adolescents' diet composition has changed in a short period, and therefore it is necessary to monitor it to propose actions aimed at this public.

Analysis of the Effect of Separate Collection on the Composition of Mixed Municipal Solid Waste in Italy

Separate collection of municipal solid waste (MSW) is mandatory in Italy, and an increasingly higher standard of efficiency is applied; in fact, the target value set by regulation is 65%. In the last 20 years, separate collection efficiency increased from 9.4% with 80% national MSW landfilled, and only one region was over 25% separate collection to 58.1% with 22% national MSW landfilled and 12 of 20 regions over 55% separate collection. However, significant differences are present in the three Italian macro regions (North, Center and South). This paper analyzes the composition of waste carried in most Italian regions to evaluate the effect of separate collection on the composition of mixed municipal solid waste (unsorted). Moreover, a regression analysis on the same data allows to assess this latter as a function of separate collection efficiency.

The spillover effects of China’s regional environmental markets to local listed firms: a risk Granger causality approach

Using the quantile GARCH model estimators to gauge the bidirectional risk magnitude and the Granger causality test in risk distributions to detect the existence of risk spillovers, this paper explores the extreme risk spillovers of China's regional carbon markets to local listed firm's stock returns. From the perspectives of macro region level and micro firm level, the findings are outlined as follows. First, among the top three active carbon trading pilots (Hubei, Guangdong, and Shenzhen), Hubei pilot exhibits significant "low risk and high profit" features. Second, the predominant risk spillover effects to local listed firms are heterogeneous across pilots. Specifically, Hubei pilot is dominated by "up-to-down" effect, and Guangdong pilot is dominated by "down-to-down" effect, while Shenzhen pilot has no predominant effect. The heterogeneous risk spillover performance may be caused by the regional divergence in economic development, industry structure, and cap setting concerning each pilot. Third, the risk transmission performance from carbon allowance price to local listed firm's stock returns depends on the firm's belonging sector. That is, environment-related firms, either environment-friendly firms or pollution-intensive firms, are more susceptible to carbon markets' risks compared with environment-unrelated firms. This paper supplies novel information on the risk transmission from carbon markets to local economic entities, which proves valuable not only for firms to improve risk aversion ability but also for policy-makers to perfect carbon markets' mechanism.

Solid Organ Transplantation Activities Evolution in Brazil: Analysis of 20 Years

BackgroundFrom 1968 until 1997, transplantation-related activities were not properly regulated and were informally practiced. During 20 years, many legal and political changes influenced it. ObjectiveTo provide a historical overview of the 20 years with a descriptive data analysis of a 20-year data set. MethodologyWe investigated information from Brazilian Transplantation Reports between 1997 and 2017. In this way, we classified all data into 5 Brazilian macro regions: Center-West, Northeast, North, Southeast, and South. In total, we included 27 states (including Capital District) and limited study to the heart, liver, and kidney. ResultsWe analyzed 2835 data entries and associated population information from the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics. We observed 2 distinct groups, one uniquely formed by the North region, with figures significantly lower than the remaining regions. After 2003, Southeast, South, and Northeast regions indicated a growing movement, whereas Center-West indicated certain stability in 50 and ranging between 50 and 100 cases (yearly basis) after 2011. Recently (2016 and 2017), the South region indicates another crescendo movement suggesting another detachment from the other regions, but it is something not clearly observed and, if true, should be figured in new reports of Brazilian Association of Organ Transplantation. ConclusionThis study identified and observed the time-spatial progress of organ transplantation in Brazil. In conclusion, after analysis of this 20-year data consolidation related to organ transplantation in Brazil, we observed a public investment in implementing quality evaluation and safety to provide figures that deliver visibility to the numbers reported in this article.

Secondary Cities and Their Development Challenges: The Case of Central Chile Macro Region

The performance of national and regional economies is dependent on a well-functioning system of secondary cities, but they face many development challenges and still receive proportionally lower levels of investment than primary cities. The case study of the Santiago and Central Chile Macro Region (SCCMR) provides interesting insights into a particular spatial typology of secondary cities, the metropolitan cluster, in a middle-income growing regional economy. Fresh thinking by all levels of government and stakeholders in the SCCMR is necessary to identify and formulate policies to address this macro region’s challenges and to support the development of its secondary cities. However, it is still unclear what the spatial structure and functions of this macro region are, and what type of governance arrangement is required. This short paper aims to discuss two general questions in relation to the above: i) what is the main spatial structure of SCCMR? and, ii) is the current administrative arrangement appropriate to manage that spatial structure? To answer these questions, we briefly review some recent and empirical approaches for defining spatial structures based on functional economic units (FEUs), as proposed by the OECD. We then compare that with the actual administrative areas, including also a recent official proposal for creating a metropolitan governance scheme. The FEUs approach shows that the spatial structure of the SCCMR is a combination of three metropolitan systems of cities, led by Santiago. This conclusion needs to be discussed further due to a lack of updated Travel-To-Work (TTW) flow data. Moreover, a more comprehensive system approach should be used to assess the macro region spatial integration, including employment, housing, infrastructure, social service and industry. We conclude this short paper with a critical assessment of the SCCMR governance arrangement and propose a fresh approach to address the governance of this important macro region.

Key locations for soybean genotype assessment in South Brazil region

Mitigating the high costs of soybean breeding programs requires constant improvement of all the involved processes. Identifying representative and discriminating test locations, as well as excluding redundant and/or non-representative locations, makes it possible to select genotypes with more accuracy while reducing the costs of the multi-environment trials (MET). Therefore, this study had three objectives: to evaluate the representativeness and discriminating power of test locations; to identify similar test locations for each Edaphoclimatic Region (ECR) and locations that did not contribute to genotype evaluation; and to recommend the best locations for evaluating MET in order to reduce breeding program costs in the soybean macro regions 1 (M1) and 2 (M2). Grain yield (GY) data from ‘Value-for-Cultivation-and-Use’ (VCU) trials obtained during the 2012-2016 crop seasons were used, totaling 132 environments (location x year) and 43 genotypes. The experiments were arranged in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Representative and discriminant locations were identified by GGL (genotype main effects plus genotype × location interaction) + GGE (genotype main effects plus genotype × environment interaction) analysis, using GGEbiplot software. Representative and discriminant locations were identified for each ECR and can be used as core locations for breeding programs. Similarly, locations that were not representative and discriminant, or that present redundancy in the results, should be excluded from or replaced in MET. The most recommended locations for conducting VCU trials in M1 are: Cachoeira do Sul (ECR 101); Ronda Alta, Passo Fundo, Santa Bárbara do Sul, and Ciríaco (ECR 102); and Castro (ECR 103). For M2, the most suitable locations are Rolândia, Marechal Cândido Rondon, Campo Mourão, Santa Terezinha de Itaipu, Palotina, Floresta, and Londrina (ECR 201); Naviraí (ECR 202); and Ponta Porã and Maracajú (ECR 204).

Evaluation of escape room competitive position in Polish macro regions with 2d and 1d strategic group maps

For the purpose of this article a strategic analysis of the escape room sector in Poland has been carried out for the first time, using new variants of strategic group maps. The aim of the paper is to test the technique of multi-sector 2D (two-dimensional) strategic group maps and a new version of 1D (one-dimensional) strategic group maps for the analysis and evaluation of the competitive position of selected escape rooms in Polish macro regions in 2018. In addition, the paper proposes procedures for the development of new variants of strategic group maps, as well as recommendations to escape room owners and investors in particular parts of Poland. The main scientific problem of the article is to investigate to what extent new variants of strategic group maps can be applied in strategic analysis. The hypothesis assumes that 2D (two-dimensional) and 1D (one-dimensional) strategic group maps can have various applications in strategic analysis. The conclusions of the research conducted with the use of multi-sector 2D strategic group maps contain a partial evaluation, both horizontal and vertical, of the competitive position of escape rooms. Elements of differentiation strategy of an escape room, such as the minimum price for a room, its ranking in Lockme.pl, and the game difficulty level is taken into account. Using 1D strategic group maps the research makes it possible to evaluate the situation in escape rooms in Poland by their key stakeholders, i.e. owners and clients. 1D strategic group maps included in this paper present differences and similarities between the owners’ and clients’ opinions about the difficulty level of escape rooms. The recognition of the existence of those differences or similarities, whether the views converge or diverge, helps in the decision-making concerning future strategies.

Energy poverty and health: Trends in the European Union before and during the economic crisis, 2007-2016.

The aim of this study is to analyse the time trends in the European Union (EU) before and during the economic crisis in 1) the energy poverty (EP) prevalence; 2) the association between EP and health and 3) the impact of EP on health. We analyse trends among women and men in two EU macro regions, defined by a novel index of structural vulnerability to EP. The study shows how EP and its impact on health worsened during the economic crisis and identifies groups at higher risk such as women and people living in Mediterranean and Eastern European countries, which have been found to be countries with higher structural vulnerability to EP.

Morbimortalidade hospitalar por envenenamento acidental por exposição a pesticidas no Brasil (2010 - 2014)

Objetivo: Descrever o perfil de morbimortalidade hospitalar por intoxicação acidental por pesticidas nas macrorregiões brasileiras entre 2010 e 2014. Método: Trata-se de uma pesquisa descritiva, retrospectiva, epidemiológica de série temporal. Como fonte de dados adotou-se o Sistema de Informações Hospitalares do Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS). Resultados: O número de casos foi maior na região Sudeste. No cenário nacional, a média anual de hospitalizações por região apresentou redução. No Centro-Oeste houve a maior taxa de internamentos. Pacientes do sexo masculino, cor branca, entre 20 e 29 anos, foram os mais hospitalizados. O Sudeste apresentou a maior taxa de mortalidade hospitalar.

Regional funding and regional inequalities in the Brazilian Northeast

This paper investigates the impacts of a very important credit policy in Brazil called Northeast Financing Constitutional Fund (FNE in Portuguese) using a dynamic and inter‐regional computable general equilibrium model calibrated for 2013. Simulations were carried out based on FNE investment data for 2014 and 2015, allowing for isolation of the effect of the funding on macro regions. Results indicate that FNE expenditures between 2014 and 2015 would increase Northeast GDP by 3.51% by 2025. Estimates show a 0.46% decrease in regional inequality among Northeastern states measured by regional GINI. Results are compatible with the objectives of the fund, although the total effects, mainly on regional inequality, are quite modest.

Economic Transformation of Regions of the Arctic Zone of the Russian Federation

Post-crisis development of national economy substantially is defined by global trends on restoration of growth rates. It is necessary to use the capacity of macro regions of the country among which the important place is taken by the Arctic Zone of the Russian Federation (AZRF). There is a need for a research of ability of structure of economy of the territorial subjects of the federation entering it in whole or in part to adapta tion to the changing managing conditions. It is important to reveal effectiveness of efforts of large and small business, the regional and federal bodies of authority and management, the available market institutes in general directed to activation of economic factors of AZRF. In article the hypothesis of a possibility of assessment of dynamics of change of this structure with the indicators characterizing structure of the gross regional product (GRP) of the territorial subjects of the Russian Federation included in AZRF is made and considered. The research of structure of this indicator is conducted during 2005–2016 with application of the index of structure offered by the author. It is revealed that during the analyzed period of fluctuation of the sizes of shares in structures of GRP of subjects of AZRF significantly differ among themselves. Entry into AZRF into the analyzed period had no significant effect on change of structure of GRP of the entering territorial subjects of the Russian Federation yet. It says about prevalence of the economic practice which developed under the influence of a geographical factor. In subjects of AZRF the trend on reduction of a share of agriculture, hunting and forestry, the processing productions, transport and communication and financial activity with simultaneous increase in a share of mining proceeds. Significant growth in a share of public administration and ensuring military safety is observed; obligatory social insurance at stagnation of the size of a contribution of education, health care and providing social services. Fluctuations of the sizes of shares in structures of GRP of subjects of AZRF are uneven that speaks about preservation of a trend on a variety of structures of regional economies. The insignificant tendency to more balanced participation of subjects of the district in creation of total amount of GRP due to high dynamics of the extracting sector is revealed. In the Arctic in the analyzed years the industrial logic of development assuming large-scale industrial exploitation of natural resources amplified.

3D concurrent multiscale model for crack propagation in concrete

A new approach for concurrent multiscale modeling of three-dimensional crack propagation in concrete is proposed. A macroscopic model with homogenized elastic parameters is adopted in the regions where the material behaves elastically. For regions where cracks are expected to occur, a mesoscopic model based on a mesh fragmentation technique is used to represent the concrete as a heterogeneous three-phase material composed of mortar matrix, coarse aggregates and interfacial transition zone. In this technique, standard finite elements with high aspect ratio are inserted in between all regular finite elements of the mortar matrix and in between the mortar matrix and aggregate elements in order to describe the crack initiation and propagation process by using an appropriate tensile damage constitutive model. Coarse aggregates with regular shapes are generated from a grading curve and placed into the mortar matrix randomly, using the “take-and-place” method. Coupling finite elements are used for connecting the non-matching meshes corresponding to the macro and mesoscale regions, without increasing the total number of degrees of freedom of the problem. Realistic predictions of crack formation and propagation were obtained for different tests, replicating accurately the observed experimental patterns.

Дальний Восток как макрорегион: инфраструктурный аспект

‘Strategy for Spatial Development of Russian Federation as far as 2030’ states that the classification of the country’s macro regions is carried out by categorizing certain groups of Russian Federation constituent member territories under these spatial entities following the economic and geographical, physiographic, economic and infrastructure criteria. Among economists the approach to the formation of the macro-regional structure of the country is based mainly on economic criteria and this approach relies on the analysis of the functioning regional, interregional and international markets of products and services in the examined spatial entities. At the same time, all other criteria go into the background. The article addresses the need to observe also other criteria in the spatial organization of the country, the infrastructure ones in particular. These criteria make it sometimes possible to drastically adjust the conclusions made in the course of assessment relying only on economic criteria. The article provides a brief survey of foreign experience with the so-called ‘infrastructural regionalism’ to identify methodological approaches to the infrastructural regional classification. It is concluded that at present there are no sufficiently scientifically proven practical methods. The author confines himself to the rationale that Far Eastern Russia is yet a macro region if its formation processes are assessed following the infrastructure criteria. This standpoint contradicts the assertions of experts who substantiate their argument on the basis of economic criteria for the Far-Eastern Russia macro region

China in Global Governance: Ideology, Theory, and Instrumentation

Over the past few years, the global political landscape has changed dramatically. Trump’s aggressive foreign policy has broken the precarious balance between the centers of world politics established in the past two decades. The U.S. trade war with China and accusations of creating COVID-19 have added a significant imbalance to the distribution of power in global governance. The current political global space is characterized by a tough struggle between the main centers of power for spheres of influence in macro regions, global power and redistribution of world incomes. In fact, it is a struggle for competition in setting the principles, norms and models of the future world order. Most of the developing countries in Asia, Africa, and Latin America are distancing themselves from the West on many international issues, and advocating the creation of national concepts of world order (in “non-West,” “post-West,” “outside the West” formats), which would take into account the political and cultural traditions of their countries, and the specific experience of their interaction with neighboring states and the world as a whole. Thus, the competition in global governance between the United States and China is for a new global order, including influence on the vast Global South. This article offers an analysis of China’s strategy of global governance and Chinese academic discourse on this issue. The paper also examines China’s instrumentation for formatting its own structure of global governance and forms of strategic rivalry with the United States.

A 2019 STUDY ON TOTAL AFLATOXINS IN ROMANIAN MAIZE (ZEA MAYS L.) SAMPLES

Mycotoxin contamination represents a clear public health concern. In this context, a maize survey was conducted in Romania, to monitor the occurrence of total aflatoxins in maize samples collected during the 2019 growing season from fields located in all counties. A total of 95 maize samples were collected along with information regarding the specific location of fields, the applied agronomic practices and cropping systems. ELISA method was used for the quantification of AFs. The results showed 88 contaminated samples. Only one sample registered aflatoxin levels higher than the limit of 10.00 μg/kg, settled by the Commission Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006 for maize to be subjected to soring or other physical treatment before human consumption or use as an ingredient in foodstuffs. The highest AFs level was 77.59 μg/kg, noted by a maize sample from Argeș County (the South-Muntenia development region, macro region 3). When referring to the analysed samples, the total aflatoxin contamination was independent of the type of hybrid, but strongly influenced by the pedo-climatic differences between counties. The southern counties proved to represent critical risk areas for aflatoxin contamination when referring to maize crops. These results highlight the importance of an effective and sustainable mycotoxin management along the food and feed chain, as well as the need of mapping the mycotoxin risk areas.