Assessing the Role of Sampling Uncertainty When Predicting Behavioral Responses of Tagged Cetaceans Exposed to Naval Sonar

Concerns over cetacean mortality events coincident with maritime warfare exercises have motivated efforts to characterize the effects of anthropogenic noise on free-ranging whales and dolphins. By monitoring the movement, diving, and acoustic behaviors of individual whales before, during, and after sound exposure, behavioral response studies (BRSs) have supported significant progress in our understanding of the sensitivity of various cetacean species to high-powered naval sonar signals. However, differences in the designs and sampling capabilities of animal-borne tags typically used in BRS experiments prompt questions about the influence of data resolution in quantitative assessments of noise impacts. We conducted simulations to examine how uncertainty in the acoustic dose either measured on high-resolution multi-sensor biologging tags or modeled from position-transmitting satellite telemetry tags may affect predictions of behavioral responses in Cuvier’s beaked whales (Ziphius cavirostris) exposed to low- and mid-frequency active sonar. We considered an array of scenarios representative of real-world BRSs and used posterior estimates of dose-response functions obtained under an established Bayesian hierarchical modeling framework to explore the consequences of different tag choices for management decision-making. Our results indicate that (1) the zone of impact from a sonar source is under-estimated in most test conditions, (2) substantial reductions in the uncertainty surrounding dose-response relationships are possible at higher sample sizes, and (3) this largely holds true irrespective of tag choice under the scenarios considered, unless positional fixes from satellite tags are consistently poor. Strategic monitoring approaches that combine both archival biologging and satellite biotelemetry are essential for characterizing complex patterns of behavioral change in cetaceans exposed to increasing levels of acoustic disturbance. We suggest ways in which BRS protocols can be optimized to curtail the effects of uncertainty.

Assessment of prospective memory after stroke utilizing virtual reality

Prospective Memory (PM) is the ability to remember to do something in the future. It is often impaired after stroke and can impact on an individual’s level of independence and daily functioning. PM tasks have been criticized for their lack of ecological validity wherein test results may not be related to actual performance in daily life. With ecological validity in mind, the Virtual Reality Prospective Memory Shopping Task (VRPMST) was designed to assess two types of PM, time- and event-based. This study aimed to examine the ecological and convergent validity of the VRPMST in comparison to an experimental (Lexical Decision PM Task) and clinical measure of PM (Cambridge PM Test). Twelve individuals with stroke and 12 controls were administered three PM measures, three neuropsychological measures, and two user-friendliness questionnaires, one for the experimental PM measure and one for the VRPMST. Individuals with stroke showed impairments in PM compared to controls on all three PM measures, particularly time-based PM. Individuals with stroke were found to monitor time significantly less than controls on both the experimental PM measure and the VRPMST. The VRPMST was found to be sensitive in measuring PM, have better ecological validity when compared to the experimental PM measure, and good convergent validity. The findings of this study have helped to clarify that PM impairment does exist after stroke, possibly due to a problem in strategic monitoring. In addition, we have demonstrated how VR technology can be used to design a measure of cognitive function commonly impaired after stroke.

Principal directions for improving the mechanism for ensuring food security of the Republic of Belarus

Food security largely determines stability of the entire economic system. The Republic of Belarus overcame the deficiency and ensured food security, as well as formed a significant export potential in the agri-food sector of the economy. In this regard, outside views on the Belarusian model of ensuring food security are of particular interest. There is an objective need to ensure undeniable competitive advantages of domestic food products in terms of quality safety, expanding the marketing potential of Belarusian products in the domestic and foreign markets, and effectively integrating the national agro-industrial complex into the global market space. The paper presents conceptual directions for improving the mechanism for ensuring food security of the Republic of Belarus. Trends of physical and economic availability of food in the domestic market, some destructive factors and potential threats have been revealed. Feasibility of developing national plan for implementation of provisions of the Doctrine and the principles of its arrangement have been substantiated, including: consistency with the model of ensuring national food security and independence; compliance with the criteria for sustainable development of the social-and-economic system of the agri-food complex; stakeholder inclusiveness and accountability; operational and strategic monitoring of the efficiency of measures, etc. The main units of measures are proposed, which cover creation of an efficient monitoring and management system; ensuring quality and safety of food in the domestic market; promotion and implementation of principles of healthy diets among population; regulation of the domestic market balance; increasing the competitiveness of the domestic agri-food complex; creation of favorable competitive environment; development of scientific, innovation and investment potential. This development will increase the efficiency of the Doctrine of National Food Security as a strategic planning document, as well as substantiate and introduce the mechanisms required for solving the assigned tasks.

Strategic management accounting in the system of information space of the enterprise

The paper deals with the peculiarities of the formation of strategic management accounting as accounting and analytical support for adopting strategic managerial decisions. The change in economic realities naturally requires the introduction of modern management technologies that it is impossible without the development of relevant accounting and analytical provision, including focusing, processing and submission of accounting and analytical information to adopt strategic decisions. The purpose of the paper is to determine the role of strategic management accounting in the enterprise information space. The problems of the functioning of strategic management accounting in Ukrainian enterprises are determined: the delimitation of analytical and accounting functions, a one-sided vision of the problem of the methodology of strategic management accounting only as a set of accounting procedures, beyond the connection with analytical functions leads to a decrease in the effectiveness of strategic management accounting and separation from intra-production management. Expert analysis is carried out in questioning two groups of respondents (managers and stakeholders) on an existing system of strategic management accounting as an information platform of trading enterprises. The results of the study confirm that in most such companies, there is a lack of or insatiable use of strategic management accounting as an information platform for strategic management. The development of a strategic approach in accounting practice determines the expansion of the accounting, analytical and control instrument for the formation of information when making strategic management decisions. The components of the management function are analyzed: strategic analysis, strategic monitoring, strategic control. The prospects for further research are determined: the choice of methods and tools for strategic management accounting in the management system of a trading enterprise, especially for the needs of strategic analysis, strategic monitoring and control.

Rating assessment of the self-sufficiency level of economic entities in the agricultural sector

The purpose of the article – development of a rating assessment of the level of self-sufficiency of economic entities in the agricultural sector as a toolkit for strategic monitoring of sectors of the national economy. Research methods. It is based on the concept of an active policy for the implementation of entrepreneurial potential in the countryside, the components of which are measures for the development of farms and family farms, in particular, from the transformation mechanisms of formalizing personal peasant farms into a market economy environment. The following scientific methods were used: dialectical method of scientific knowledge of processes and phenomena; monographic (analysis of scientific achievements of Ukrainian and foreign scientists, analysis of the stages of business development); graphic (to obtain a synthesized representation of the object of research, identify its components, establish cause-and-effect relationships); empirical (based on a comprehensive assessment of the current state of the research object); abstract-logical (theoretical generalizations and formulation of conclusions). Research results. Assessment of the level of self-sufficiency of economic entities in the agricultural sector made it possible to establish that, first of all, it is necessary to increase competitive advantages in resource potential, namely, to increase the number of cattle, pigs, sheep and goats, to expand the sown area for vegetables, potatoes, grain and fodder crops. All this can be realized by injecting additional financial resources and appropriate state support for the agrarian sector of the economy. Scientific novelty. The methodological presentation and identification of the category of small agribusiness as structured and defined by law, institutional and economic criteria of the form of organization of farming in the countryside were further developed, with the appropriate definition of priority contours of possible organizational and economic performance of functioning due to employment in agricultural entrepreneurship. Practical significance. Analysis of the current economic situation and rating assessment of the level of self-sufficiency of economic entities in the agricultural sector made it possible to assess the prospects for the development of economic entities in the agricultural sector, as well as to carry out predictive calculations of their formation and development. Tabl.: 6. Figs.: 5. Refs.: 19.

INFORMATION AND ANALYTICAL PROVISION OF STRATEGIC MONITORING OF BUSINESS REPUTATION OF WATER SUPPLY AND SEWERAGE ENTERPRISES

The article is devoted to the formation of analytical support for strategic monitoring of the business reputation of water supply and sewerage companies. It is established that the current management models and methods, in particular analysis, control, planning, forecasting in modern business conditions are not able to respond quickly and adequately to changes in the internal and external environment of the enterprise. The imperfection of the systems of collecting, processing, and systematization of financial information does not allow to fully use the above methods and techniques, as well as to formulate objective conclusions. Based on the systematization of evaluation methods, the indicators of the level of business reputation (reputation indices) of the surveyed enterprises are calculated and interpreted. It is proved that the system of information-analytical support allows to form the general list of strategies of the enterprise taking into account its features – adaptation to the environment or formation of influence on it. A system of management decisions is proposed, which contains two blocks. The information-analytical block identifies the main subjects of interaction for each parameter of business reputation, identifies the available labor and financial resources to implement measures to improve business reputation. If these conditions are met, the implemented measures are implemented, if not – there is a return to the initial stage. Next, the effectiveness of the proposed measures is analyzed. If measures to improve business reputation have achieved their goal, those responsible for their implementation are selected. The implementation of measures to increase the level of business reputation of water supply and sewerage companies is also constantly monitored. If the selected measures are not effective enough or not effective at all, they direct the adjustment by changing the input data. Then the whole process is repeated again, starting from the first stage, but taking into account the adjustments. The second block contains the overall effect of the implementation of the measures proposed in the first block for certain groups of stakeholders. It is proved that taking into account the specifics of the water supply and sewerage companies, it should be noted that increasing the area of reputable radar will not lead to an immediate increase in profitability. However, the management of business reputation will achieve some stabilization through the formation of trusting and mutually beneficial relationships with stakeholder groups. Flexibility of interaction and feedback contribute to the achievement of the company's strategy. As a result of the study, a strategic monitoring of the business reputation of water supply and sewerage companies is proposed, the implementation of which will increase the importance of services provided, attract more qualified employees of all levels, – private partnerships, plan payments, effectively manage accounts payable and increase resilience to adverse impacts and crises.

MONITORING OF PERSONNEL DEVELOPMENT OF INNOVATIVE-ACTIVE ENTERPRISE

The article deals with the monitoring of personnel development of an innovatively active enterprise as an essential component of personnel management. The paper presents the principles of monitoring staff development such as comprehensiveness, relevance, timeliness, acceptability, dynamism, evidence, flexibility, systematicity, comprehensiveness, independence and objectivity. Under the monitoring of personnel development it is advisable to understand a specially organized, systematic monitoring of the state of personnel development of the enterprise in order to assess and adjust its quality characteristics. Any monitoring is characterized by its own parameters. Based on the classification of costs, the main parameters of personnel development monitoring are determined, which include the scope of the goal, the stage of implementation of management, frequency, form of organization, type of information used; implementation methods. When forming the strategy of the enterprise it is a question of strategic monitoring of personnel development. If it is necessary to assess the situation for a certain period of time, or at the end of some activities, we need to talk about tactical monitoring. When it comes to assessing the development of employees, it is worth talking about operational monitoring. All these parameters create the contours of monitoring the development of personnel development, but the content depends on the structure, ie on what exactly is embedded in the concept of personnel development and personnel development management. The key areas of monitoring are identified in accordance with the understanding of staff development as a combination of professional, social and personal. Professional development of staff takes place in the process of acquiring skills and abilities, as well as direct training and is to reveal his professional potential. It is worth noting that the purpose of professional development is the accumulation of potential, not just its disclosure, ie activation. In turn, professional potential consists of qualification, psychophysiological, personal. Thus for development of the personnel of the innovatively active enterprise development of all directions is important. Monitoring of personnel development should be carried out comprehensively, taking into account the need for development not only of qualification characteristics, but also of values, stability and adaptability of employees to environmental conditions.

Sustained and Transient Processes in Event-based Prospective Memory in Adolescence and Adulthood

Prospective memory (PM) refers to the cognitive processes associated with remembering to perform an intended action after a delay. Varying the salience of PM cues while keeping the intended response constant, we investigated the extent to which participants relied on strategic monitoring, through sustained, top–down control, or on spontaneous retrieval via transient bottom–up processes. There is mixed evidence regarding developmental improvements in event-based PM performance after the age of 13 years. We compared PM performance and associated sustained and transient neural correlates in 28 typically developing adolescents (12–17 years old) and 19 adults (23–30 years old). Lower PM cue salience associated with slower ongoing task (OT) RTs, reflected by increased μ ex-Gaussian parameter, and sustained increases in frontoparietal activation during OT blocks, both thought to reflect greater proactive control supporting cue monitoring. Behavioral and neural correlates of PM trials were not specifically modulated by cue salience, revealing little difference in reactive control between conditions. The effect of cue salience was similar across age groups, suggesting that adolescents are able to adapt proactive control engagement to PM task demands. Exploratory analyses showed that younger, but not older, adolescents were less accurate and slower in PM trials relative to OT trials than adults and showed greater transient activation in PM trials in an occipito-temporal cluster. These results provide evidence of both mature and still maturing aspects of cognitive processes associated with implementation of an intention after a delay during early adolescence.

Resilience Viewed through the Lens of Climate Change and Water Management

Resilience is not a new idea but there has been an upsurge in efforts to operationalize the concept within water management. This review begins with a synopsis of related themes around persistent and emerging pressures on freshwaters; environmental thresholds (or tipping points); ‘safe’ operating conditions; multiple stable states; regime shifts. A case is made for viewing and managing the resilience of water systems at nested scales. Indicators are needed to track evolving climate risks as well as to measure socio-ecological responses. Catchment properties can identify those river systems that are more or less likely to return to a pre-disturbance state; resilience further depends on institutional and social landscapes. Ideally, allied notions of resistance and reliability are applied alongside resilience to broaden the portfolio of adaptation measures. Water managers would also benefit from more consistent use of resilience terminology; incentives to build back better after catastrophes; strategic monitoring of incipient threats and tipping points; availability of long-term adaptation indicators; coordinated efforts to reduce non-climatic pressures on freshwaters (especially in headwaters); evidence-based, practical guidance on adaptation measures that build resilience.