Applying the aggregated indices randomization method to prioritize cluster development

Subject. This article discusses the innovation activities of companies participating in clusters. Objectives. The article aims to justify a choice of State support facilities for the innovation activities of enterprises participating in clusters. Methods. For the study, we used the hierarchical aggregated indices randomization method and Monte Carlo method. Results. During the study of cluster construction in St. Petersburg, an array of data was obtained. Based on calculations, we show the choice of two enterprises, the best ones in terms of assessing the probability of dominance. We justify the possibility of using such a characteristic of randomized aggregated indices as the value of mathematical expectation, as a choice criterion. Conclusions. The algorithm developed to apply the aggregated indices randomization method develops an institutional approach to the analysis of regional clusters.

Formulación lineal de extensiones del problema de localización competitiva del líder- seguidor

The leader-follower problem is a sequential decision problem where, in a market initially without service centers, a firm, the leader, opens its centers and another competing firm, the follower, will enter later the market opening its centers. The leader chooses the locations taking into account that the follower will enter the market opening its centers and capturing part of the market share. The objective of each competing firm is to maximize its market share. We consider that the clients will behave making a binary choice using the distance as basis for her/his choice criterion. We extend the basic model by considering a threshold in the client choice rule and opening costs depending on the location. We get formulations of the problem extensions as linear programs from the basic linear model.

The Concept of ‘Truth’ in Historiographical Discourse from the Standpoint of the Socio-Communicative Approach: Categorial Meaning, Functions and Correlation with the Concept of ‘Verity’

The relevance of the research is caused by the growing trends of post-truth and post-journalism in the global communication context and the need to investigate the problem of truth as a social communication category of journalism. The study considers the concept of ‘truth’ and its correlation with the concept of ‘verity’, which is necessary for the relevant categorization of truth in social communication contexts (SCC). The object of the research is truth as a category, the subject is the semantic and functional field of the concept ‘truth’ which forms the category of truth and its social communication functions. The objective of the study is to identify the essential characteristics and functional properties of truth for its categorization and determination of the place and role in SCC and journalism. The source base consists of lexicographic sources and scientific researches. Methodologically, the research relies on the sociocommunicative approach, in the framework of which the method of historiographical analysis (with elements of semantic, conceptual and comparative analysis) was applied to explore the concepts of ‘truth’ and ‘verity’ in Ukrainian and Russian lexicographic sources and to compare them with relevant interpretations in English. Additionally, the method of synthesis was applied to identify the categorial characteristics and communicative functions of truth. The paper concludes that the concept of ‘truth’ primarily reveals natural ontological, axiological, and communicative characteristics that correlate with its metaphysical nature and has a broader variety of semantic and functional characteristics than the concept of ‘verity’. The evolutional transformation of the concepts ‘truth’ and ‘verity’ has been traced within ideological, historical, and social paradigms applaying the synchronic and diachronic analysis. The study emphasizes on the necessity to distinguish between Truth and different kinds of truths in social communication and journalism. It reveals that due to the loss of primary meanings and the priori functions, Truth has ceased to be an effective moral and value criterion as well as a choice criterion in social communication. The paper notes, however, that Truth continues maintaining its priori categorial meaning, which establishes its fundamental value as a basic category of social communication and a metacategory of journalism. Several hypothetical statements have also been made that require additional scientific researches; among them there is the assumption about the crucial role of spiritual communication in the self-discovery of Truth and its place in social communication.

Anterior and posterior subareas of the dorsolateral frontal cortex in socially relevant decisions based on masked affect expressions

Socially-relevant decisions are based on clearly recognizable but also not consciously accessible affective stimuli. We studied the role of the dorsolateral frontal cortex (DLFC) in decision-making on masked affect expressions using functional magnetic resonance imaging. Our paradigm permitted us to capture brain activity during a pre-decision phase when the subjects viewed emotional expressions below the threshold of subjective awareness, and during the decision phase, which was based on verbal descriptions as the choice criterion. Using meta-analytic connectivity modeling, we found that the preparatory phase of the decision was associated with activity in a right-posterior portion of the DLFC featuring co-activations in the left-inferior frontal cortex. During the subsequent decision a right-anterior and more dorsal portion of the DLFC became activated, exhibiting a different co-activation pattern. These results provide evidence for partially independent sub-regions within the DLFC, supporting the notion of dual associative processes in intuitive judgments.

Anterior and posterior subareas of the dorsolateral frontal cortex in socially relevant decisions based on masked affect expressions

Socially-relevant decisions are based on clearly recognizable but also not consciously accessible affective stimuli. We studied the role of the dorsolateral frontal cortex (DLFC) in decision-making on masked affect expressions using functional magnetic resonance imaging. Our paradigm permitted us to capture brain activity during a pre-decision phase when the subjects viewed emotional expressions below the threshold of subjective awareness, and during the decision phase, which was based on verbal descriptions as the choice criterion. Using meta-analytic connectivity modeling, we found that the preparatory phase of the decision was associated with activity in a right-posterior portion of the DLFC featuring co-activations in the left-inferior frontal cortex. During the subsequent decision a right-anterior and more dorsal portion of the DLFC became activated, exhibiting a different co-activation pattern. These results provide evidence for partially independent sub-regions within the DLFC, supporting the notion of dual associative processes in intuitive judgments.

Parental Preferences for Primary School Characteristics

Free school choice has often been argued to be a tide that lifts school quality through increased competition. This paper analyzes the underlying assumption that school quality is an important choice criterion for parents. Using a large and representative data set of over 15,000 Dutch primary school starters, we estimate models of school demand that incorporate heterogeneity in school preferences. Our results show that traditional measures for school quality matter, but other characteristics, such as school denomination and educational philosophy, are more important predictors of choice. Preferences for these school characteristics are strongly heterogeneous across parents.