bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A retórica visual da pós-modernidade
Authors: Cauduro Flávio V. , Perurena Pedro
Published: August 2021

Em um trabalho anterior,(Cauduro 2005b), apresentamos uma possível classificação das imagens contemporâneas (pós-modernas) em dez categorias, buscando mostrar traços típicos que as diferenciavam daquelas consideradas modernas. Salientamos como as representações visuais ditas pós-modernas podem ampliar a liberdade de criação dos comunicadores visuais. Na análise abaixo, verificamos a presença efetiva de tais características visuais nas campanhas publicitárias mundiais contemporâneas, utilizando os exemplos selecionados pela revista bimestral Lürzer's Archive, como representativos dos anúncios mais criativos no mundo. A seleção abrangeu os exemplos publicados na revista a partir do segundo bimestre de 2005 até o final do primeiro bimestre de 2006, período que compreendeu 6 edições consecutivas dessa publicação.
A mídia, o sagrado e as imposturas da imagem: implicações semióticas das charges de Maomé
Authors: Klein Alberto , Miani Rozinaldo Antônio
Published: August 2021

Este trabalho dedica-se a analisar as implicações semióticas da publicação das charges de Maomé em um jornal dinamarquês em setembro de 2005. Além de descrever os impactos da publicação, que se estenderam até o ano de 2006, são consideradas aqui as dimensões políticas e religiosas da imagem, destacando também aspectos de linguagem próprios da charge. Tomando como aporte teórico os estudos empreendidos pela Escola de Tártu-Moscou, entre outras perspectivas, o artigo se debruça para estudar uma das charges, relacionando-a às posturas iconoclastas próprias da parte Protestante do Ocidente. Assim, a charge é compreendida como um dos elementos simbólicos demarcadores das tensões culturais entre Ocidente Cristão e Oriente Islâmico.
Cells and building structures. Part II. The loadbearing units in cells of the building – The cells in the loadbearing elements of the building
Authors: Lámer Géza
Published: August 2021

In this study, the relationship between the structure of the supporting frame and cells is addressed.

The possible arrangements of the four primary structural elements – foundation, walls and pillars, slabs, roof – in global form as well as in a single cell are looked at. The types of connections of each support member to the support elements below are examined. In line with this, the layout and possible structure of the foundation, and the possible layout of walls and pillars as well as slab is reviewed. The main possibilities for structural design of the roof structure are outlined.

Using the concepts of cells, and arrangement and division of cells there is given some applications. The different building types that can be interpreted using arrangement of cells as well as some applications are shown.
Evaluation the impact of the personal income tax reform in the Czech Republic in 2021 on effective tax rate and tax progressivity
Authors:   VŠB-Technical University of Ostrava, Ostrava, Czech Republic, Krajňák M.
Published: August 2021

Legislation governing personal income taxation is often subject to changes. A significant personal income tax reform was carried out in the Czech Republic in 2021. The reform implements a progressive tax rate, changes the way the tax base is determined, and increases the tax relief for the taxpayer. The aim of the article is to evaluate the impact of the personal income tax reform on the effective tax rate and tax progressivity. To that end, methods of regression analysis have been used. The source of information for analysis was the data published by the Czech Statistical Office. It was found that in 2021, in comparison with 2020, the tax burden represented in this study by the effective tax rate, in all cases became lower, approximately by 5%. The main reason for this decline is the adjustment of the method of construction of the tax base, which, for the first time in the history of the Income Tax Act, is gross wages. Until the end of 2020, the tax base was a super-gross wage, or the gross wage increased by social security contribution borne by the employer at his costs. The second factor that reduces the tax burden is a CZK 3,000 increase in the deduction per taxpayer per year. This fact increases the degree of tax progressivity, as confirmed by the results of the progressivity analysis and the regression analysis. The changes that have taken place in the personal income tax this year have a positive impact on the taxpayer, but from the point of view of the state, this reform has reduced the state budget revenues.
Fiscal policy and economic growth: Evidence from Central and Eastern Europe
Authors:   South-West University “Neofit Rilski”, Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria, Stoilova D. , Todorov I. ,   South-West University “Neofit Rilski”, Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria
Published: August 2021

This study aims to estimate the impact of three fiscal instruments (direct tax revenue, indirect tax revenue and government consumption expenditure) on the economic growth of ten new European Union member states from Central and Eastern Europe– Bulgaria, Czechia, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia. We examine the hypothesis about the effect of expansionary fiscal policy on economic growth. The study employs a vector autoregression and annual Eurostat data for the period 2007–2019. Four control variables (the shares of gross capital formation, household consumption, exports in GDP, and the economic growth in the euro area) are included in the model to account for the influence of non-fiscal factors on economic growth. The empirical results indicate that the real output growth rate in the ten new member states of the European Union is negatively affected by direct tax revenue, while economic growth in the euro area, exports and gross capital formation are positively related to economic growth. The results also imply that government consumption and indirect tax revenue have no significant impact on the growth rate of real output of the ten studied countries from Central and Eastern Europe. It may be inferred that policymakers in the new European Union member states can raise economic growth by encouraging exports and investment and by lowering the share of direct tax revenue in GDP. From the three analyzed fiscal instruments (direct taxes, indirect taxes and government consumption expenditure), only one has proven to be effective in the case of the new member countries.
Modelling of a relative income tax bracket-based progression with the effect of a slower tax burden growth
Authors:   Novosibirsk State University of Economics and Management (NSUEM), Novosibirsk, Russian Federation, Lapov D. E. , Mayburov I. A. ,   Ural Federal University, Ekaterinburg, Russian Federation
Published: August 2021

This study aims to model the distribution of the tax burden in schedular progressive taxation and to describe the key characteristics of such models, in particular their differences from the models based on continuously increasing smooth functions of the relationship between the tax burden and the taxpayer's income. Our hypothesis is that the use of the Gompertz function to model the main indicators of tax burden distribution of the schedular progressive income tax will help us approximate and formalize the distribution of the tax burden in a relative income tax bracket-based progression. Our research relies on the hypothetico-deductive model, more specifically, on mathematical hypothesis testing. The methodological framework comprises models of progressive taxation and mathematical methods, including data approximation based on the use of the Gompertz function, analysis of the antiderivative and convexity of functions and their properties. The resulting model can be used to describe the dynamic characteristics of the relationship between the tax burden and certain parameters of schedular taxation. This model can help identify the level of income beyond which the progression of the tax burden becomes formal and does not generate commensurately high revenue growth. The existence of such income level results in what can be considered the key drawback of the relative progression in question – the impossibility to provide a significant difference (step) of the tax burden progression in the whole interval of the taxpayer's income. What makes this research practically significant is that the proposed methodology allows us to take into account the actual tax burden in modelling the parameters of the relative progression.
Adopting off-site construction into the Saudi Arabian construction industry
Authors: Trigunarsyah Bambang , Santoso Try Puji , Hassanain Mohammad A , Tuffaha Firas
Published: August 2021

This study examined the relationship and hierarchy among the factors that enable the adoption of off-site construction into the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) construction industry. This study used interviews with the industry’s key stakeholders to identify enablers for adopting off-site construction. A questionnaire survey of construction practitioners then verified the results. It was then followed by pairwise comparison questionnaires distributed to the interviewees to develop a model using the interpretive structural model (ISM). Ten enablers were identified from interviews, which were then verified by a questionnaire survey of construction practitioners. From the ten enablers, a hierarchical framework was formed for its implementation. The results culminated in developing an ISM for a strategy in off-site construction in the KSA. The model provides a practical framework for the relevant government authorities and other key stakeholders to focus on those factors that must be prioritised to adopt off-site construction successfully.
Lessons learned during Covid-19 from engineering asset management of dams
Authors: Aalirezaei Armin , Alzahrany Abdullah , Kabir Golam
Published: August 2021

Public and private owners of critical infrastructures all over the world are taking high-quality standards to face the consequences of pandemics, particularly critical infrastructure such as dams that needs more attention to maintain and operate during coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemics. In this study, critical strategies have been identified through literature review and with the support of experts’ opinions. The rough Decision-making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory and interpretive structural modelling methods were integrated to determine the most important strategies that were identified by literature review and experts’ opinions. Moreover, the methodology was used to find the relationships, cause and effect between the critical strategies. Interviews were completed with professional managers and experts in the field of dam operation and maintenance to help in finding the influence degree between these critical strategies. Among 11 initial strategies, six critical strategies were selected for this study from the experts’ points of view. By applying Matriced Impacts Croisés Multiplication Appliquée á un Classement analysis, driving and dependence powers were also determined and classified for these strategies. The outcomes indicate that the strategy of reviewing emergency action plans and planning for how routine and unplanned work will be implemented during pandemic staffing restrictions is the most driving among these strategies in dam asset management in Canada during pandemics.
Educación Musical para la Paz: Proyectos musicales con fines sociales
Authors: Cobo Dorado Karina
Published: August 2021

Los programas musicales con vocación social, muy difundidos actualmente a nivel mundial, constituyen verdaderos espacios profesionales en donde los profesores y profesoras de música cumplen un rol de mediadores/as de paz. La música se convierte allí en una herramienta de construcción de paz no solamente gracias a su dimensión expresiva y artística, sino también a la adecuada gestión de las situaciones pedagógicas en las que se aprende. Este artículo es un ensayo reflexivo basado en una investigación exploratoria sobre los programas músico-sociales de la Fundación Batuta de Colombia y Démos de Francia. En estos casos se puede considerar la educación musical para la paz como un proceso de democratización cultural, en el que se desarrollan la creatividad, las dinámicas de grupo y la inclusión social territorial, y en donde la planificación y la innovación pedagógica son esenciales. La formación docente debe por lo tanto adaptarse a estos nuevos retos y necesidades de la sociedad contemporánea.
HyDrop-RNA v1.0 v1
Authors: De Rop Florian , Poovathingal Suresh , Aerts Stein
Published: August 2021

Step-by-step protocol for performing HyDrop-RNA. The duration of each step assumes an experienced protocol user. For a first-time user, we recommend doubling the expected time for each step.
PBMC surface flow staining v1
Authors: not provided cecilia , Sette Alessandro
Published: August 2021

This protocol is about Flow staining.
Hybrid Vector Autoregression Feedforward Neural Network with Genetic Algorithm Model for Forecasting Space-Time Pollution Data
Authors: Caraka Rezzy Eko , Chen Rung Ching , Yasin Hasbi , Suhartono Suhartono , Lee Youngjo , Pardamean Bens
Published: August 2021

The exposure rate to air pollution in most urban cities is really a major concern because it results to a life-threatening consequence for human health and wellbeing. Furthermore, the accurate estimation and continuous forecasting of pollution levels is a very complicated task.  In this paper, one of the space-temporal models, a vector autoregressive (VAR) with neural network (NN) and genetic algorithm (GA) was proposed and enhanced. The VAR could tackle the issue of multivariate time series, NN for nonlinearity, and GA for parameter estimation determination. Therefore, the model could be used to make predictions, such as the information of series and location data. The applied methods were on the pollution data, including NOX, PM2.5, PM10, and SO2 in Taipei, Hsinchu, Taichung, and Kaohsiung. The metaheuristics genetic algorithm was used to enhance the proposed methods during the experiments. In conclusion, the VAR-NN-GA gives a good accuracy when metric evaluation is used. Furthermore, the methods can be used to determine the phenomena of 10 years air pollution in Taiwan.
How to Read and Interpret 1H-NMR and 13C-NMR Spectrums
Authors: Gunawan Ramdhan , Nandiyanto Asep Bayu Dani
Published: August 2021

Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy or NMR is a chemical instrument that can be used to evaluate the structure of a chemical compound other than FTIR, GC-MS, and HPLC. NMR spectroscopy commonly used for compound analysis is 1H-NMR and 13C-NMR. Techniques can be used to determine the structure conformation, the number of protons, and the number of carbons in the structure of a chemical compound. So far, there have been many publications related to the use of this spectroscopic technique. However, the steps in reading and interpreting the spectra of both 1H-NMR and 13C-NMR are not described in detail. Thus, in this paper, we described the steps in reading and interpreting the 1H-NMR and 13C-NMR spectra based on the level of difficulties: (1) simple compounds, (2) fairly complex compounds, (3) more complex compounds, and (4) very complex compounds.
Forest Cover Change and Legal Pluralism in Forest Management: A Review and Evidence from West Sumatra, Indonesia
Authors: Rudy R. , Yonariza Y. , Yanfika Helvi , Rahmat Ali , Ramadhani Winih Sekaringtyas , Mutolib Abdul
Published: August 2021

This study analyzed the functions of shifting (phenomenon of legal pluralism) and identified forest conversion at Production Forest Management Unit of Dharmasraya (PFMU Dharmasraya), West Sumatra, Indonesia from March 2018 to December 2019 using a qualitative research design with a case study approach. The identification of changes in forest cover analyzed by satellite images using the NDVI method to obtain the distribution of forest cover. Discussion on legal pluralism were examined using a non-ethnographic qualitative research approach through interviews with local communities, companies/permit holders, and related institutions (government). From 2000 to 2019, the PFMU Dharmasraya forest area reduced from 86 to 12%, and plantations increased from 10 to 81% of the total area of 33,539 ha. The legal pluralism of forest ownership occurs because local communities use traditional law, claiming the PFMU Dharmasraya area as Ulayat land. In contrast, the government claims the forest belongs to the state. The motives for the conversion of forest functions are the expansion of oil palm and rubber plantations, forest clearing to mark forest ownership rights, and illegal logging.
Relationship between Shear Velocities Recorded by Microtremor Observations and Seismic Cone Penetration Test Results
Authors: Putra Rusnardi Rahmat , Kiyono J. , Vanapalli Sai K. , Ono Y.
Published: August 2021

This research proposes a relationship between two methods such as a numerical approach by conducting a microtremor array observation and field survey by using the seismic cone penetration test unit (SCPTu). A database of shear-wave velocity (Vs) measurements was established using the microtremor array technique and seismic cone penetration test unit (SCPTu) on high-quality samples of rock and soft soil in Padang city, Indonesia. The study also demonstrates that the Vs values obtained from the different methods are consistent with the microtremor array technique. This technique may thus be deemed a valuable tool, as it can be used in engineering practice with confidence. Comparison of the Vs for different soils at the first layer between the microtremor array observation results and the SCPTu results exhibited the microtremor array method is unable to determine the Vs  at the layer where its Vs changes dramatically, such as at the same layer as station UNP at 2 to 3.5m deep.
The Expansion and Spatial Pattern of Shopping and Tourism Services Facilities in North Bandung Region, Indonesia
Authors: Warlina Lia , Damayanty Lusia Elsa Dika
Published: August 2021

This study aims to identify the expansion and spatial patterns of shopping and tourism services facilities and evaluate whether the locations are aligned with the spatial plan map of the North Bandung region. The research was conducted by taking inventory of shopping and tourism services facilities in 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016, and 2018. The locations were plotted into maps to calculate each point's spatial pattern for each period using the nearest neighbor analysis method. The 2018 map was overlaid with a spatial plan map to identify whether the existing location aligns with the regional plan. The first results were the expansion and spatial pattern maps of shopping North Bandung area for 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016, and 2018; that show the broadest expansion of shopping facility in 2018 with a clustered pattern. The second results were expansion, and spatial pattern maps of tourism service facilities in the same period show that since 2014 the expansion started with clustered patterns. The evaluation results show that only convenience stores were located in protected areas, but all tourist service facilities were located in these locations. This finding is essential for local governments in monitoring spatial use.
Crowdsourcing applications addressing diseases and public health: a perspective on COVID-19 infestation
Authors:   Researcher and Academician, Department of Computer Science and Engineering, The University of Calcutta (CU), Kolkata, West Bengal, India, Mallick Mr. Debangshu , Datta Dr. Upasana ,   Advisory board member, Department of Research and Development, Uttoran Foundation, Kolkata, West Bengal, India
Published: August 2021

The spread of the COVID-19 disease with an unprecedented speed into humans, and the global scaleof its occurrence over multiple geographic locations, since December 2019, in Wuhan, China, hassparked off extensive confusion and debate in public health, giving it the status of a pandemic. Theinability of restraining the outbreak in the early stages, has multiplied the disease risk to fatalcomplications. Crowdsourcing technique can conglomerate crowd knowledge for solving problemsrevolutionizing health care by use of internet sources, data mining, e-health trackers, etc. to collectand assess data faster to the rate of spread of infection, directly from a point source (individual-level). The present study provides perspectives on crowdsourcing in alignment with health care andpublic health services by critically comparing strengths and challenges with traditional methods. Forthe same 3 models have been designed by the authors, for improvement in public health care, in thewake of the COVID-19 infestation.
Reliability modeling for dependent competing failure processes with phase-type distribution considering changing degradation rate
Authors: Lyu Hao , Wang Shuai , Zhang Xiaowen , Yang Zaiyou , Pecht Michael
Published: August 2021

In this paper, a system reliability model subject to Dependent Competing Failure Processes (DCFP) with phase-type (PH) distribution considering changing degradation rate is proposed. When the sum of continuous degradation and sudden degradation exceeds the soft
failure threshold, soft failure occurs. The interarrival time between two successive shocks and total number of shocks before hard failure occurring follow the continuous PH distribution and discrete PH distribution, respectively. The hard failure reliability is calculated using the PH distribution survival function. Due to the shock on soft failure process, the degradation rate of soft failure will increase. When the number of shocks reaches a specific value, degradation rate changes. The hard failure is calculated by the extreme shock model, cumulative shock model, and run shock model, respectively. The closed-form reliability function is derived combining with the hard and soft failure reliability model. Finally, a Micro-Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) demonstrates the effectiveness of the proposed model
Agro-ecological Characterization of Vermicomposted Sewage Sludge from Municipal and Poultry Enterprise Wastewater Treatment Plants
Authors: Dermendzhieva Diyana , Dinev Toncho , Kostadinova Gergana , Petkov Georgi , Beev Georgi
Published: August 2021

The purpose of this study was to make an agro-ecological characterization of vermicompost (VC) produced from sewage sludge (SS). As a substrate, SS from municipal and poultry meat processing enterprise wastewater treatment plants (MTP and PTP, respectively) was utilized. The substrates were vermicomposted by Red Californian earthworm (Lumbricus rubellus) for 120 days. For VC quality assessment, 19 physicochemical and 6 microbiological parameters were used. The evaluation of physicochemical parameters was done according to ISO standard methods and microbiological analysis-by plating 1 mL of sample dilutions on selective, chromogenic culture medium sheets. It was found that the vermicompost from MTP (VC-M) had higher levels of EC, mineral elements (N, P and K compounds in forms available to plants), heavy metals (Mn, Cu, Zn, Cr, Ni, Pb, Cd) and coliforms, and lower levels of pH, TOC, C/N ratio, Fe, total plate count (TPC), Enterobacteriaceae and Salmonella spp. counts compared to VC from PTP (VC-P). During the vermicomposting process, the substrates from both wastewater treatment plants (TPs) showed similar trends towards decrease in pH, TOC, N-NH4+, C/N ratio, TPC, coliforms, E. coli, Enterobacteriaceae and Salmonella spp. counts, whereas the opposite trends were established for EC, TKN, N-NO3-, TP, P2O5, TK, and K2O values. The vermicomposting had a negligible effect on heavy metal concentrations. In the final substrates E. coli were not detected, while the bacterial spore forms (Clostridium perfringens) were not eliminated. The final substrates cannot be used as fertilizers or soil amendments because of the presence of Salmonella spp. and C. perfringens over the permissible limits according to EU and Bulgarian regulations.
Different Maturities and Varieties of Coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) Flesh as Fat Replacers in Reduced-Fat Meatballs
Authors: Khalid Siti Khadijah , Ismail-Fitry Mohammad Rashedi , Mat Yusoff Masni , Halim Hani Hafeeza , Jaafar Ahmad Haniff , Zarul Anuar Nur Izzah Arifah
Published: August 2021

Meatball is a popular meat product in Malaysia but it has high-fat content that could often bring health problems such as non-communicable diseases. This study aimed to produce replaced-fat meatballs using coconut flesh with three different varieties (i.e. MAWA, MYD, and Pandan) at two levels of maturities (young and matured). Meatballs with animal fat were used as control. All samples were analysed for the proximate composition, cooking yield, water holding capacity (WHC), texture and sensory properties. Two-way ANOVA was conducted to determine the interaction between the maturity and variety of the coconut for all parameters with post-hoc analysis to observe the significant difference (p<0.05). The maturity and variety of coconuts showed significant interactions (p<0.05) in affecting most of the meatball properties. Young coconuts were superior to mature coconut with better cooking yield (p<0.05), texture and sensory properties. Meatballs with young Pandan had the highest moisture content (p<0.05) (71.78%), low fat (3.56%) (p<0.05), and overall sensory acceptance. Meatballs with young MYD had low fat content (3.50%) (p<0.05), high WHC (52.11) (p<0.05), high redness (6.09) (p<0.05) with a high score of the colour (7.13) taste (7.17), texture (7.30) and overall acceptability (7.03) for the sensory properties. Since both young Pandan and young MYD managed to reduce the fat content in the meatballs as compared to the control sample and other treatments while maintaining the quality characteristics of the meatballs, both can be concluded to have potential as the fat replacers in the production of reduced-fat meatballs.
Preliminary Phytochemical Analysis and Biological Evaluation of Some Medicinal Chinese Plant Extracts against Tribolium castaneum
Authors: Mokhtar Mokhtar Mohamedalamin , Li Jianfeng , Du Zhiping , Cheng Fangqin
Published: August 2021

Application of botanical pesticides is a new trend in pest control nowadays as an environmentally safe alternative measures for synthetic chemicals. Hence, this study was aimed to analyze the phytochemical constituents of four medicinal Chinese plants, namely Lonicera maackii, Platycladus orientalis, Viburnum opulus, and Crataegus pinnatifida, and to investigate the insecticidal potentialities of leaves extracts of these plants against Tribolium castaneum. The research was carried out under laboratory conditions, at the Institute of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Shanxi University, China. Ethyl acetate, methanol and water extracts of the plant leaves were tested at different concentrations (5, 2.5, and 1.25% w/v). Yields of extracting materials, mortality and repellent effects were the important parameters evaluated. The phytochemical screening showed the presence of alkaloids, saponins, tannins, flavonoid, and terpenoids in C. pinnatifida, but the other plants contain some of these compounds. The highest ethyl acetate extract concentration (5%) of V. opulus and C. pinnatifida obtained the best mortality means (5.00±0.41 and 4.75±0.25a, respectively), compared to the other treatments, but without significant differences from the middle concentration (2.5%) of both extracts. In repellency test, L. maackii methanol achieved the highest repellency percentage (91.38%). The findings proved that ethyl acetate extract of V. opulus and C. pinnatifida are the best insecticidal treatment, whereas methanol extract of L. maackii is the best repellent effect, against T. castaneum. These three plants require additional studies to be assessed as a component in pest management of store pests.
Recovery of Latent Fingermarks on Metal Part of Motorcycle Submerged in Different Aquatic Environments
Authors: Said Nur Fatin Nabihah , Abd Rahman Nur Sharida , Othman Puwira Jaya , Zakaria Yusmazura , Nik Hassan Nik Fakhuruddin
Published: August 2021

Motorcycle theft cases in Malaysia have increased quite significantly with more motorcycles were reported stolen every day. In many cases, criminals had removed the components they only required and disposed the remaining parts into various sources of water. Unfortunately, the evidence recovered underwater was thought not to have forensic value with regards to fingermark recovery. This study aimed to determine the survivability of the latent fingermarks submerged in various water environments. Latent fingermarks were deposited on metal parts of motorcycle and submerged into four aquatic environments; river, lake, mine, and tap water for two weeks with time intervals for collection of 1, 8, 24, 48, 96, 168, and 336 h. Upon recovery, the fingermark samples were developed using Small Particle Reagent (SPR). The developed fingermarks were assessed using Biometric Fingerprint Identification System (BIOFIS). The persistence of fingermarks immersed in tap water was found to last up to more than two weeks. Contrarily, fingermark in other water environments can only survive up to 96 h after being submerged. The fingermarks submerged in the lake appeared to be better preserved as compared to those submerged in the river and mine. The development of underwater fingermarks is still feasible, and identifiable fingermarks can still be recovered at the early submersion period.
Pemegunan Bahan Radioaktif dalam Enap Cemar Minyak menggunakan Kaca sebagai Kaedah Alternatif
Authors: Ruzali Nur Syuhada Izzati , Alwi Nurshahirah , Idris Mohd Idzat , Mohd Fadzil Syazwani , Ba’an Rohyiza
Published: August 2021

Enap cemar minyak dikategorikan sebagai bahan radioaktif peringkat rendah dan pelupusan sisa ini menjadi isu penting dalam pengurusan sisa. Oleh itu, kajian ini bertujuan untuk menguruskan bahan radioaktif tabii (NORM) yang terkandung dalam sisa enap cemar minyak melalui kaedah pengacaan dan mengkaji kadar larut lesap bahan dipegun sebelum dilupuskan. Kajian mendapati bahawa sisa muatan yang optimum bagi bentuk sisa kaca adalah pada julat 20-25% bt. sisa enap cemar dan 75-80% bt. sisa kaca CRT yang dibakar pada suhu 1200°C. Ujian XRD menunjukkan kesemua bentuk sisa kaca adalah kebanyakannya amorfus dan unsur-unsur bertabur dengan sekata melalui analisis FESEM-EDX. Tambahan pula, pembebasan ternormal adalah rendah dan tidak melebihi nilai penunjuk yang dijadikan rujukan. Bentuk sisa kaca yang terhasil dalam kajian ini menunjukkan kaedah pengacaan boleh menjadi alternatif bagi pelupusan sisa enap cemar minyak yang mengandungi bahan radioaktif.
Physical Properties of Newly Developed Resin Modified Glass Ionomer Cement with Synthesised Coumarin Derivatives
Authors: Abdul Rahman Fatimah Suhaily , Mohamad Dasmawati , Hasan Habsah , Osman Hasnah
Published: August 2021

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of two types of coumarin derivatives, namely, 3-acetylcoumarin (AC) and coumarin thiosemicarbazone (CT) on surface characteristics such as the roughness, hardness, and morphology of resin-modified glass-ionomer cement (RMGIC). The release of coumarin from the fabricated RMGIC was also investigated. AC and CT at 1.0% (w/w) concentration were added into 0.3 g of RMGIC powder and mixed with 0.1 g of polyacrylic acid. The fabricated RMGIC-AC and RMGIC-CT were evaluated for surface characteristics such as roughness, hardness and topography. The coumarin release of AC and CT from RMGIC was also determined. The RMGIC-CT demonstrated a decreased roughness value among the materials. The surface roughness exhibited by the RMGIC was statistically higher (p < 0.05) than that of fabricated materials. The RMGIC-AC was observed to have the highest hardness value compared to the RMGIC-CT and RMGIC, and this value was significantly higher (p < 0.05). The surface morphologies of the RMGIC-AC and RMGIC-CT showed a number of pores and irregular surfaces. Meanwhile, the surface roughness value of the RMGIC was statistically higher (p < 0.05) than both RMGIC-AC and RMGIC-CT. In conclusion, the large-sized AC particles significantly increased the surface hardness of the fabricated RMGIC. Conversely, the particle size of both coumarins were not influenced the surface roughness value and the coumarin release profile of fabricated RMGICs.
Efficiency Assessment of Transport Manufacturing Firms using a Stochastic Frontier Analysis Approach
Authors: Mohamed Jofree Ammar Fikree , Hashim Norayati , Mohd Fahmy-Abdullah , Lai Wei Sieng , Ridzuan Sulhi
Published: August 2021

This paper aims to analyze the level of technical efficiency and determinants of technical inefficiency of transport manufacturing firms in Malaysia using Stochastic Frontier Analysis (SFA) approach from 2005 to 2010. Through SFA approach, hypothesis test is conducted in order to select Cobb-Douglas or Translog production function and testing the effects of technical inefficiencies. While the determining factors that been taken into account include the capital-labor ratio, training expenses, education level ratio, wage rate, information and communication technology expenditure, and firm size. Hypothesis test results show that the Cobb-Douglas production function is rejected. While the test for the effect of technical inefficiency shows its existence. Training expenses, secondary and tertiary education level ratios, wage rates and information and communication technology expenses are significant determinants for transportation manufacturing firms. However, the capital-labor ratio was found that it has reduced the level of technical efficiency. The implications of these results show that firms need to focus on investing in human capital, information technology and increase motivation among employees such as rising wage rates and reducing the use of capital appropriate to the technology.
Feeling Left Behind by Political Decisionmakers: Anti-Establishment Sentiment in Contemporary Democracies
Authors: Droste Luigi
Published: August 2021

According to much of the extant literature, feelings and beliefs among many citizens of being left behind and unheard by unresponsive political decisionmakers, who lack moral integrity represent the epicenter of recent protest and populist discontent in democratic society. Based on survey data for 20 contemporary democracies from two ISSP waves, we found that anti-establishment attitudes are not shared among the majority of respondents. Although there are differences between country contexts. Such sentiment is associated with macrostructural dynamics, since unfavorable attitudes toward politicians are more widespread among publics in countries which are exposed to higher levels of public corruption and witnessed increasing levels of income inequality. Besides, such sentiment is also restricted to particular social groups of society, because hostile feelings toward political decisionmakers are stronger among citizens in the lower ranks of society and among younger birth cohorts. Since the beginning of the century and throughout the Great Recession, unfavorable attitudes toward politicians have not increased among the public in advanced democracies. However, our analysis indicates that respondents with such attitudes have increasingly turned toward voting for anti-elite parties to raise their voice and now make use of online options to express their political views more frequently than in the past. Overall, the analysis contributes to recent research on populist and reactionist dynamics in contemporary democracies by addressing dynamics and structures of the feeling of being left behind by political decisionmakers and its implications for political (in)activity.
Resentment and Coping With the Democratic Dilemma
Authors: Celis Karen , Knops Louise , Van Ingelgom Virginie , Verhaegen Soetkin
Published: August 2021

Resentment is a complex, multi-layered emotion, within which perceptions of unfairness and feelings of anger are central. When linked to politics, it has predominantly been associated with the alleged “crisis of representative democracy” and populism. However, recent studies have shown that resentment can intervene positively in people’s relations to politics and political institutions by facilitating certain types of political participation (Capelos & Demertzis, 2018). Despite this, the concept of resentment, and hence its role in contemporary representative democracy, is often poorly defined, with empirical investigations of its manifestation(s) remaining scarce. Borrowing a conceptualization of resentment as “resentful affectivity,” our article draws on the analysis of focus groups carried out in Belgium (2019–2020) with individuals where resentful affectivity is likely to be observed (i.e., contemporary movements of contestation such as the Yellow Vests, Youth for Climate, and individuals who occupy a socially disadvantaged position). We find that experiences of intense anger, fear, disappointment, and the unfairness of representative democracy, i.e., of how representative democracy works on the ground, coexist simultaneously with remaining hopes in the democratic system. We show how this complex blend of emotions confronts citizens with what we call a “democratic dilemma.” We document the different ways in which citizens cope with this dilemma and conclude by highlighting both the positive and negative ways in which resentment intervenes in the contemporary “crisis of representative democracy.”
Reactionary Politics and Resentful Affect in Populist Times
Authors: Capelos Tereza , Chrona Stavroula , Salmela Mikko , Bee Cristiano
Published: August 2021

This thematic issue brings together ten articles from political psychology, political sociology, philosophy, history, public policy, media studies, and electoral studies, which examine reactionary politics and resentful affect in populist times.
Simultaneous inversion for earthquake location and velocity structure beneath central Costa Rica
Authors: Protti Marino , Schwartz Susan Y. , Zandt George
Published: August 2021

We have imaged the complex crustal and upper mantle structure beneath central Costa Rica using P-wave arrival times from locally recorded earthquakes. Thurber's (1983) iterative inversion method is used to simultaneously estimate velocities along a three-dimensional grid and hypocentral parameters of local earthquakes. Our data consist of over 12,000 arrival times from more than 1300 earthquakes recorded by stations of a permanent seismographic network in Costa Rica. Our resulting velocity model correlates well with mapped geologic units at very shallow depth and with tectonic features at greater depth. We find low velocities (4.0 to 4.8 km/sec) in the shallow crust (above 10 km) near the active volcanoes and associated with a NW-SE trending late Cretaceous to late Tertiary sedimentary basin southeast of Herradura peninsula. High velocities (5.4 to 5.7 km/sec) in the shallow crust correlate with outcrops of late Jurassic to early Tertiary ultramafic ophiolitic units and with basic Tertiary volcanic units. At depths between 20 and 30 km, high velocities (6.8 to 7.2 km/sec) are associated with the subducting Cocos plate under Costa Rica and two prominent low-velocity bodies (6.3 to 6.5 km/sec) are present about 30 km trenchward of the volcanic arc and along the projection of the aseismic Cocos Ridge as it subducts beneath Costa Rica. The thickened oceanic crust of the Cocos Ridge is most likely responsible for its low velocities. The deep low-velocity anomaly located trenchward of the axis of the volcanoes may indicate the presence of a low-density intrusive resulting from an earlier phase of magmatism, possibly the late Miocene episode that produced the Talamanca intrusive complex.
Precariously balanced rocks and ground-motion maps for Southern California
Authors: Brune James N.
Published: August 2021

Groups of precariously balanced rocks are effectively low-resolution strong-motion seismoscopes that have been operating on solid rock outcrops for thousands of years and, once the methodology has been developed, can provide important information about seismic risk. In one zone, near Victorville, only 30 km from the nearest point on the San Andreas fault, more than 50 precarious rocks have been documented. Widespread rock varnish suggests that many of these rocks have been in their current unstable positions for thousands of years. We have established the mechanical basis for rough estimates of the horizontal accelerations necessary to topple these rocks, using field observations and numerical and physical modeling. To verify that zones of precarious rocks do not occur near historic earthquakes, searches using binoculars were made along roads, with occasional foot surveys, near large earthquakes. Based on these reconnaissance searches, we conclude that no precarious rock zones are found within 15 km of zones of high-energy release of historic large earthquakes. To document the occurrence of precarious rocks in southern California, road surveys were carried out along major roads. Four zones of precarious rocks and seven other zones of somewhat less precarious rocks have been documented.

Published probabilistic ground-motion maps for southern California are compared with the occurrence of zones of precarious and semi-precarious rocks. The results are encouraging and suggest that eventually, studies of precarious rocks will provide important constraints on the assumptions on which the maps are based. Results from studies of precarious rocks may eventually provide important information for siting and design of sensitive structures such as hospitals and power plants. Precarious rocks give a direct indication of past ground shaking, in contrast to the indirect inference provided by fault-trenching studies, which may be subject to uncertainties in the actual time history of slip due to the fault (e.g., fault creep, “slow” earthquakes, or unknown dynamic stress drop). It is concluded that precarious rocks warrant further study and quantitative analysis.
Seismic response of a hill: The example of Tarzana, California
Authors: Bouchon Michel , Barker Jeffrey S.
Published: August 2021

The Northridge, California, earthquake that strongly shook the city of Los Angeles in January 1994, produced one of the highest ground accelerations ever recorded in an earthquake, at a site located on top of a small hill in Tarzana, about 6 km south of the epicenter. The subsequent study of aftershock recordings obtained by a dense seismic array deployed on the hill a few days after the earthquake showed the existence of a strong amplification at stations located at the top of the hill, relative to stations near the base (Spudich et al., 1996). Resonances and polarization rotations were also observed. We investigate in this study the role that the topography of the site played on the observed ground motions and accelerations. To this aim, we perform numerical simulations and study the response of the three-dimensional topography of the site to incident shear waves polarized in different directions. The method used is a boundary integral equation scheme in which the Green's functions are calculated by the discrete wavenumber method. The results obtained show that the topography of the site, though quite gentle (the hill is less than 20-m high), strongly affects the ground motions in the frequency range between 2 and 15 Hz. Many of the observed characteristics of the seismic response at Tarzana are explained in part by its topography: the consistent amplification of ground motion at and near the top of the hill, the directional seismic response of the hill that results in a strong amplification of the ground motion transverse to the direction of elongation of the hill, the existence of a fundamental transverse oscillatory resonance mode of the hill at 3 to 5 Hz, the rotation of the polarization of ground motion, and the spatial variation of amplification over the hill at the fundamental resonance mode. The seismic response of the topography, however, does not fully explain the amplitude of the effects observed. The three-dimensional geological structure of the site must in some way amplify the effect of the topography to produce the observed seismic response. In spite of not being as strong as the observed effect, the topographic effect of the site is considerable. The ground motion is amplified by factors ranging from 30% to 100% at some locations in the frequency range from 2 to 15 Hz. Rapid spatial variations of ground-shaking intensities can take place over distance scales of a few tens of meters at high frequency. Finally, the results of the simulation indicate that the topography of the site amplified the large east-west accelerations recorded there during the Northridge mainshock by 30% to 40%.
Disaggregation of seismic hazard
Authors: Bazzurro Paolo , Allin Cornell C.
Published: August 2021

Probabilistic seismic hazard analysis (PSHA) integrates over all potential earthquake occurrences and ground motions to estimate the mean frequency of exceedance of any given spectral acceleration at the site. For improved communication and insights, it is becoming common practice to display the relative contributions to that hazard from the range of values of magnitude, M, distance, R, and epsilon, ɛ, the number of standard deviations from the median ground motion as predicted by an attenuation equation.

The proposed disaggregation procedures, while conceptually similar, differ in several important points that are often not reported by the researchers and not appreciated by the users. We discuss here such issues, for example, definition of the probability distribution to be disaggregated, different disaggregation techniques, disaggregation of R versus ln R, and the effects of different binning strategies on the results. Misconception of these details may lead to unintended interpretations of the relative contributions to hazard.

Finally, we propose to improve the disaggregation process by displaying hazard contributions in terms of not R, but latitude, longitude, as well as M and ɛ. This permits a display directly on a typical map of the faults of the surrounding area and hence enables one to identify hazard-dominating scenario events and to associate them with one or more specific faults, rather than a given distance. This information makes it possible to account for other seismic source characteristics, such as rupture mechanism and near-source effects, during selection of scenario-based ground-motion time histories for structural analysis.
Inferred seismic fault associated with the 1998 M = 6.2 Zhangbei-Shanyi earthquake, Hebei Province, China
Authors: Lin Aiming , Zhao Guochun , Zhao Guozhe , Xu Xiwei
Published: August 2021

The shallow, Ms = 6.2, 1998 Zhangbei-Shanyi earthquake that affected the northwest region of Beijing, China, occurred at the intersection of two active fault zones, located on the north and east edges of the Ordos tableland. A detailed map of the intensity distribution of damaged building shows that the most damaged area was centered 8 to 10 km away from the epicenter, including an ellipsoidal region with a strike of NNE, where more than 70 to 90% of buildings were destroyed. Many chimneys and gate pillars were broken and fell toward the SSE-SSW direction in the western side of the most damaged area and to the NNE-NNW direction in the eastern side. Aftershocks were also concentrated in the most damaged area. It is inferred that the boundary of the downfallen direction change is the surface trace of the seismic fault. Based on the seismic data, the distribution of damaged buildings, and the downfallen directions of 70 chimneys and gate pillars, it is identified that the seismic fault is a thrust fault striking NNE and dipping 40° to 50° northwest with a large right-lateral displacement component.