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Valorisation of land is an important tool for countries around the world to help regulate land use planning and ensure sustainable development. Cemeteries are multifaceted spaces, providing a keystone community infrastructure. Poorly located cemeteries can generate adverse environmental, landscape and community outcomes. Identifying optimal sites for cemeteries will become an increasing concern for land use planners as population numbers and consequent death rates increase while the amount of available land decreases. This study was conducted with the aim of proposing multi-criteria analysis for identifying some optimal sites for cemeteries. This analysis was implemented in Białystok (297,585 inhabitants, in Podlaskie Voivodeship, Poland), where 11 potential areas for the location of a new cemetery were assessed. Through a comprehensive process of investigation, engagement, and analysis, four options in different locations were identified as suitable for further consideration. Two sites (options 7 and 11) had fatal flaws – high risk and effects associated with development and were not recommended to be taken forward.

In recent years, special attention is paid to increasing the regional role in training personnel for the economy and social sphere, to implementing the “Strategy for Scientific and Technological Development of the Russian Federation”, and to balanced development of the entire territory of Russia. The purpose of the article is to study the regional economic features of the Russian Federation members in relation with a personnel training structure with higher education. The sectoral specialisation of the Russian Federation members is assessed in the article on the example of the Siberian Federal District. The assessment is based on a comprehensive analysis of the sectoral structures of the Russian Federation members, economic activities localisation, population employment. It is emphasised that a degree of sector production concentration, which characterise the sectors importance in a national scale, must be taken into account. This will make it possible to optimise the personnel training structure with higher education. A comparison of specialists graduation in terms of specialties and areas enlarged groups with the population employment structure has shown that the regions specifics are not sufficiently taken into account by the training areas of higher education institutions. The results of the study can be useful to the top management of higher education institutions in the Russian regions.

Ukraine adopted its first National Action Plan (NAP) on UNSCR 1325 on Women, Peace and Security whilst facing an active military conflict on its territory. The country also invested in localising the Women, Peace and Security agenda through the development of regional and local action plans. Additionally, several ministries adopted sectoral action plans. This article looks at the context in which Ukraine developed its first NAP 1325 (post-Maidan) and assesses the NAP against global high impact NAP indicators. The authors then focus on connections between the national and regional/local-level plans and conclude that Ukraine's first NAP did 'trigger' localisation initiatives in the form of Regional Action Plans (RAP) on UNSCR 1325, with Local Action Plans having been initiated via a separate track. A certain level of synergy was realised between initiatives stemming from these plans. The authors do, however, conclude untapped potential remains to further nurture, facilitate and support bottom-up Women, Peace and Security initiatives in Ukraine.

Abstract Localisation, as it aims to shift power in the humanitarian system, will involve the increased inclusion of local faith actors, those national and local faith-affiliated groups and organisations that are often first, and last, responders in crises and have been responding in humanitarian contexts for many years, but often in parallel to humanitarian coordination mechanisms. In primary research in South Sudan with local faith actors and international humanitarian actors, this article aims to examine the inroads and barriers to local faith actor involvement in the humanitarian system and the realisation of localisation with local actors such as these. The research is based on an ethnographic study in which researchers were imbedded in a humanitarian project that aimed to help bridge divides between local faith actors and the international humanitarian system. The findings are based on one-on-one and group interviews with 89 participants from a range of international and local, and faith and secular, organisations. Findings indicate that local faith actors are active in responding to crises and want to be linked to the humanitarian system, but they feel distanced from it and pigeonholed as local faith actors. Formalisation through the appropriate registration systems and then training and networking with the humanitarian system helped them build legitimacy and feel confident to participate in humanitarian coordination. International humanitarian actors can help bridge barriers by understanding and connecting with the local faith actors and challenging their own assumptions about who local faith actors are.

A measurement setup for localising people in indoor environment based on a system characterized by acquisition of audio files and images implemented on a sensorised social robot is proposed. The audio signal processing for human voice identification applies the segmentation methodology for the direction of arrival (DOA) estimation. The audio signal analysis evaluates the performance of beamforming algorithms and of Covariance Matrix Fitting (CMF) when optimization in beamforming algorithm and alternative microphones’ configurations have been evaluated by simulations. Tests shows an accuracy in people detection of the optimized beamforming algorithm comparable to CMF method (96.5% and 96.6% respectively) with a lower computational cost. An image acquisition procedure has been then activated on the robot and the localisation of the people is performed using YOLO-v3 algorithm. Monte Carlo method applied to evaluate the propagation of uncertainty of the whole processing system presents a global accuracy of 98.2 ± 0.8%.

The article presents the most commonly used multi-criteria analysis methods for choosing the optimal location for future wind parks. The article makes a comparison of the criteria and restrictions of localisation and an overview of the main legal constraints and prospects in the development of renewable energy sources (RES). Financial assistance from the EU to accelerate the achievement of the required indicators was described. Moreover, restrictions considering environmental, social and noise factors that affect the life of the local population and the perception of the landscape visually are important. Additionally, it includes an option for developing wind energy in the absence of the necessary space for construction. In a new approach for the location of the wind farm, to the investors and another researcher related to the topic of wind turbine foundations, we indicate the most important aspects of wind energy control that should be taken into account in wind farm location proceedings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Policies in liberal democracies can never be fully sheltered from the influence of interest groups. This is especially true for the flawed or immature democracies that can be found also in the post-communist world. In this study, we argue that the progress of democratization in Czechia has been accompanied by a growing influence of interest groups (local/regional governments, political parties, industrial corporations) on national defence strategy. Focusing on the spatial policy of military base distribution, the study documents deviations from a rational strategy of restructuring and relocations of military bases declared by the General Staff in the 1990s, 2000s, and 2010s in response to a changing geopolitical situation. The content analysis of the interviews with former actors of the defence planning and media analysis showed that one-third of current Czech military bases experienced an influence of interested groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study compares the sensitivity of continuous ultrasonographic scanning and ultrasonographic inching in the localisation of ulnar neuropathy at the elbow to diagnose the two common entrapment sites: retroepicondylar groove and cubital tunnel. Methods: The charts of 30 patients who were diagnosed with ulnar neuropathy of the elbow and underwent ultrasonographic examinations using the inching and the continuous technique between April 2015 and September 2019 were reviewed. Sensitivities of ultrasonographic inching and continuous scanning were compared. Results: A total of 34 elbows from 30 patients were examined. The sensitivities of continuous ultrasonographic scanning method and ultrasonographic inching were 85% and 71%, respectively, but this was not significant (p = 0.06). The maximum cross-sectional areas (CSAs) in continuous scanning were mainly found within the area from the medial epicondyle to the 2-cm distal point in the cubital tunnel entrapment, while a majority of the largest CSAs in ultrasonographic inching was observed at the medial epicondyle level in both entrapment sites. The mean of the maximum CSAs in continuous scanning (17.04 ± 6.75 mm2) was higher than that in ultrasonographic inching (14.13 ± 6.63 mm2), although this difference remained non-significant (p = 0.08). However, continuous scanning differed more significantly (p < 0.0001) from the cut-off value than the ultrasonographic inching (p < 0.0066). Conclusions: Continuous scanning might be more suitable than ultrasonographic inching to localise ulnar neuropathy, which inherently has variations in the cubital tunnel anatomy and its entrapment points, when selecting optimal treatment based on the entrapment site. Level of Evidence: Level III (Diagnostic) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper is to deepen understanding of the relationship between sustainable development, localisation and the purchase of goods and services from the informal economy. This has not before been investigated. To do so, it reports a survey of 1,209 respondents conducted during October-December 2021 in Romania, a country with one of the largest informal economies in the European Union. The findings reveal a link between consumers' motives to purchase informal goods and services and the pursuit of sustainable development through localisation. The analysis shows that there is no purely sustainability-driven consumer in the informal economy, but this rationale is prevalent as one of several motives for a large proportion of consumers purchasing goods and services from the informal economy, who do so explicitly for the purposes of environmental protection and localisation. The implications for theorising and tackling the informal economy are then discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shared learning is imperative in the assessment and safe implementation of new healthcare interventions. Magnetic seeds (Magseed®) potentially offer logistical benefit over wire localisation for non-palpable breast lesions but few data exist on outcomes comparing these techniques. A national registration study (iBRA-NET) was conducted to collate device outcomes. In order to share learning, thematic analysis was conducted to ascertain early clinical experiences of Magseed® and wire guided localisation and explore how learning events may be applied to improve clinical outcomes. A qualitative study of 27 oncoplastic surgeons, radiologists and physicians was conducted in January 2020 to ascertain the feasibility and challenges associated with Magseed® versus wire breast localisation surgery. Four focus groups were asked to discuss experiences, concerns and shared learning outcomes which were tabulated and analysed thematically. Three key themes were identified comparing Magseed® and wire localisation of breast lesions relating to preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative learning outcomes. Percutaneous Magseed® detection, instrument interference and potential seed or wire dislodgement were the most common issues identified. Clinician experience suggested Magseed® index lesion identification was non-inferior to wire placement and improved the patient pathway in terms of scheduling and multi-site insertion. Prospective shared learning suggested Magseed® offered additional non-clinical benefits over wire localisation, improving the efficiency of the patient pathway. Recommendations for improving breast localisation technique, appropriate patient selection and clinical practice through shared learning are discussed that may aid other surgeons in the adoption of this relatively new technique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Canadian Journal of Development Studies is the property of Routledge and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Canadian Journal of Development Studies is the property of Routledge and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

We consider the torsion function for the Dirichlet Laplacian −Δ, and for the Schrödinger operator −Δ + V on an open set Ω ⊂ ℝ m of finite Lebesgue measure 0 < | Ω | < ∞ with a real-valued, non-negative, measurable potential V. We investigate the efficiency and the phenomenon of localisation for the torsion function, and their interplay with the geometry of the first Dirichlet eigenfunction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bridges are among the most important components of transportation systems. Timely damage detection of these structures not only ensures reliability but also prevents catastrophic failures. This paper addresses the damage assessment of bridges based on model updating techniques. Artificial damage was introduced to a beam that was a part of a real prestressed concrete bridge. The magnitude of the damage was increased stepwise, and static loading experiments were conducted in each step. A linear Finite-Element (FE) model with solid elements that were clustered into slices was utilised. A Gaussian bell-shaped curve was used as a damage function to describe the crack location using only three parameters. The experiments focused on sagging under dead load. Damage identification was performed in two steps using a coarse and a refined model. Initially, the FE model with a coarse mesh was updated to approximately localise the damage. Then, the FE model is refined in the vicinity of the approximately localised damage, and damage identification was accurately achieved. The results show that after the second step, the maximum error value of damage localisation is less than 0.5%. This approach could be later used to detect small damages that are not visible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The recent advancements in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) as well as increasing demand for vehicular safety has led to significant progressions in Autonomous Vehicle (AV) technology. Perception and Localisation are major operations that determine the success of AV development and usage. Therefore, significant research has been carried out to provide AVs with the capabilities to not only sense and understand their surroundings efficiently, but also provide detailed information of the environment in the form of 3D maps. Visual Simultaneous Localisation and Mapping (V-SLAM) has been utilised to enable a vehicle understand its surroundings, map the environment, and identify its position within the area. This paper presents a detailed review of V-SLAM techniques implemented for AV perception and localisation. An overview of SLAM techniques is presented. In addition, an in-depth review is conducted to highlight various V-SLAM schemes, their strengths, and limitations. Challenges associated with V-SLAM deployment and future research directions are also provided in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crossing literary evidence with archaeological data, we discuss the history of a site known as 'Marsa Djazira' by following the evolution of its toponym. During the Phoenician-Punic era, this site was described as a city/urban establishment with a harbour known as 'Gaphara'. In late Roman times its name was most likely changed to 'Minna Villa Marsi', as the Marsi family of the aristocracy of Leptis Magna probably built a luxury residence (villa) and exploited the port to export olive products from its estates in the hinterland of Leptis Magna. In the Middle Ages, the site underwent another toponymic change to 'Ras Cha c ra' and became an official maritime station (port) on the shipping lanes. In the late Middle Ages, the ancient toponym 'Gaphara' reappeared again with a slight distortion as 'Gasr Jafara/Djefara'. This last name was known when the site was already ruined and abandoned. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers information on the implementation of the project approach in Chinese preschools. It discusses the characteristics of the project approach and its educational benefits, as well as the challenges faced by teachers in adopting this pedagogical approach. The article highlights the sociocultural differences between Western and Chinese contexts and the need for further research on the implementation processes and influencing factors in Chinese preschools.

Recent deep learning frameworks draw strong research interest in application of ego-motion estimation as they demonstrate a superior result compared to geometric approaches. However, due to the lack of multimodal datasets, most of these studies primarily focused on single-sensor-based estimation. To overcome this challenge, we collect a unique multimodal dataset named LboroAV2 using multiple sensors, including camera, light detecting and ranging (LiDAR), ultrasound, e-compass and rotary encoder. We also propose an end-to-end deep learning architecture for fusion of RGB images and LiDAR laser scan data for odometry application. The proposed method contains a convolutional encoder, a compressed representation and a recurrent neural network. Besides feature extraction and outlier rejection, the convolutional encoder produces a compressed representation, which is used to visualise the network's learning process and to pass useful sequential information. The recurrent neural network uses this compressed sequential data to learn the relationship between consecutive time steps. We use the Loughborough autonomous vehicle (LboroAV2) and the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology and Toyota Institute (KITTI) Visual Odometry (VO) datasets to experiment and evaluate our results. In addition to visualising the network's learning process, our approach provides superior results compared to other similar methods. The code for the proposed architecture is released in GitHub and accessible publicly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We give an overview of five rationalization theories for spaces (Bousfield-Kan's ℚ-completion; Sullivan's rationalization; Bousfield's homology rationalization; Casacuberta-Peschke's Ω-rationalization; Gómez-Tato-Halperin-Tanré's π1-fiberwise rationalization) that extend the classical rationalization of simply connected spaces. We also give an overview of the corresponding rationalization theories for groups (ℚ-completion; Hℚ-localization; Baumslag rationalization) that extend the classical Malcev completion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Localisation is an important part of many applications. Our motivating scenarios are short-term construction work and emergency rescue. These scenarios also require rapid setup and robustness to environmental conditions additional to localisation accuracy. These requirements preclude the use of many traditional high-performance methods, e.g., vision-based, laser-based, Ultra-wide band (UWB) and Global Positioning System (GPS)-based localisation systems. To overcome these challenges, we introduce iMag+, an accurate and rapidly deployable inertial magneto-inductive (MI) mapping and localisation system, which only requires monitored workers to carry a single MI transmitter and an inertial measurement unit in order to localise themselves with minimal setup effort. However, one major challenge is to use distorted and ambiguous MI location estimates for localisation. To solve this challenge, we propose a novel method to use MI devices for sensing environmental distortions for accurate closing inertial loops. We also suggest a robust and efficient first quadrant estimator to sanitise the ambiguous MI estimates. By applying robust simultaneous localisation and mapping (SLAM), our proposed localisation method achieves excellent tracking accuracy and can improve performance significantly compared with only using a Magneto-inductive device or inertial measurement unit (IMU) for localisation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

How can societal circulations of medical oxygen be more just? Informed by disparities experienced and lessons learned from the global Covid pandemic, we use vital mobilities to describe and analyse the social lives of medical oxygen and explore opportunities for oxygen justice. Inspired by two distinct yet related theoretical spheres - breath studies and health justice - and contrasting the experiences of high- and low-and middle-income countries, we highlight disparities in medical oxygen availability as a basis to theorise oxygen justice. Engaging with health systems as complex social interactions spanning a range of actors and activities, we use a desk-based 'follow the thing' approach to trace medical oxygen. The key contribution of this paper is using a material entry point to illuminate the systemic patterning and perpetuating of injustices, underscoring how health as a fundamental human right remains an elusive principle, and building on this, to theorise oxygen justice. We define oxygen justice as the uninterrupted and transparent availability and accessibility of medical oxygen at the point of health service delivery, enabling patients to realise their fundamental right to health and well-being. Focusing on vision, localisation, and circulation, we propose avenues for research in preparation for future global respiratory emergencies., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

In this paper, we present an overview of Nearest neighbour (NN) methods, which are frequently employed for solving classification problems using supervised learning. The article concisely introduces the theoretical background, algorithmic, and implementation aspects along with the key applications. From an application standpoint, this article explores the challenges related to the 5G and beyond wireless networks which can be solved using NN classification techniques.

This paper focuses on the Hellenistic Middle East, especially the age of Ptolemaic Alexandrian and Syrian Seleucid influence. It investigates and clarifies some of the Hellenistic-age historical and archaeological material culture within the Hellenisation and globalisation conceptions. Furthermore, it suggests that by reviewing the context of the local socio-cultural identities in the Hellenistic Oikoumene, mainly based on the lingua franca about local identity and how the local identity was expressed on coinage during Hellenistic times, many related insights issues can be revealed. In addition, it also attempts to discuss and reveal aspects of the cultural sharing achievements in Hellenistic art, architecture, and urban built environment planning. Finally, how did Eastern Hellenistic cities manage to benefit from the process of Hellenistic globalisation and localisation/globalisation while minimising identity risks? The focus is on the transnational socio-cultural and economic area of Ptolemaic Alexandria, the centre of the post-Classical Greek world, and the Syrian Seleucid influence. As an investment, mass migration and the transfer of goods, culture, and ideas increasingly transformed these Middle Eastern cities and shaped their translocal culture conception, local socio-cultural identities, cultural sharing, art and architecture edifice forms, and spatial patterns in the Hellenistic period. One of the main contributions and significance of this study is to continue the dialogue of how non-Greek influence in Hellenistic times impacted an area that has been traditionally seen as unaffected or minimally affected by years under foreign rule. This also sheds new light on some Greco-Macedonian topics not sufficiently debated in the Oikoumene discussion dialogue. These two aspects would furthermore contribute to better understanding and accepting the neglected role of the contribution of non-Greek culture to Greek achievements, as well as how the local non-Greek customs of the indigenous peoples of the Ptolemy and Seleucid kingdoms would affect how they assimilated Greco-Macedonian practices, and how the vision of Alexander the Great and Hellenisation worked in the different territories of these two kingdoms.