bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Camera trapping reveals trends in forest duiker populations in African National Parks
Authors: O'Brien Timothy G. , Ahumada Jorge , Akampurila Emmanuel , Beaudrot Lydia , Boekee Kelly , Brncic Terry , Hickey Jena , Jansen Patrick A. , Kayijamahe Charles , Moore Jennifer , Mugerwa Badru , Mulindahabi Felix , Ndoundou‐Hockemba Mireille , Niyigaba Protais , Nyiratuza Madeleine , Opepa Cisquet K. , Rovero Francesco , Uzabaho Eustrate , Strindberg Samantha
Published: November 2019

Bushmeat hunting is widely cited as cause for declines of wildlife populations throughout Africa. Forest duikers (Bovidae, Cephalophinae) are among the most exploited species. Whether current harvest rates imperil duikers is debated because of the difficulty of accurately assessing population trends. To assess population trends, we first reviewed literature for historical duiker population estimates. Second, we used systematic camera‐trap monitoring to assess population trends for 15 populations of nine duiker species in six national parks in Central and East Africa. We analysed annual monitoring data using Royle‐Nichols heterogeneity‐induced occupancy models to estimate abundance/sample point and derive occupancy estimates. Published density estimates indicate that duiker populations declined significantly throughout Africa between 1973 and 2013. There was a wide range of densities depending on species ( range: 0.26–20.6 km−1) and whether populations were hunted ( =6.3 km−1) or unhunted ( = 16.3 km−1). More recent analysis of camera‐trap monitoring produced different results. Estimated mean point abundance over time was between 0 and 0.99 individuals/point for four populations, between 1.0 and 1.99 for six populations, and greater than 2.0 for five populations. We observed five populations of duikers with negative trends in point abundances, although only one trend was significant and point abundance estimates for three populations were above 2.0 in the final survey year. Six populations showed positive trends in point abundance (three significant), and the remaining populations displayed no trends. Average occupancy was high (Ψ > 0.60) except for three populations. While literature indicates that historical population declines have occurred, most duiker populations appear relatively healthy in monitored parks. Our results indicate that these parks are effective in protecting most duikers despite hunting pressure. We recommend that systematic, standardized camera‐trap monitoring be initiated in other African parks in combination with point‐abundance models to objectively assess forest ungulate population trends.
Impact of mobile technology‐based physics curriculum on preservice elementary teachers' technology self‐efficacy
Authors: Menon Deepika , Chandrasekhar Meera , Kosztin Dorina , Steinhoff Douglas C.
Published: November 2019

The growing popularity of mobile technologies in educational settings, from grade schools through college, has prompted science educators to prepare preservice teachers to successfully integrate technology into science teaching. This mixed‐methods study explores the effectiveness of a mobile technology‐based physics curriculum, Exploring Physics, on preservice elementary teachers' technology self‐efficacy. Participants included 67 preservice elementary teachers enrolled in a specialized physics content course at a large public university in the United States. The experimental group (N = 34) used the Exploring Physics curriculum on iPads, and the comparison group (N = 33) used a hard‐copy version of a similar curriculum. Data sources included a technology self‐efficacy survey administered as pre‐ and posttests, focus group and individual interviews with 24 participants at two time points, weekly classroom observations, and artifacts. Data analyses included repeated measures analysis of variance and posthoc t tests with Bonferroni adjustments and grounded theory techniques. The results showed significant positive changes in the experimental group participants' technology self‐efficacy. In contrast, there was a significant decrease in the comparison group participants' technology self‐efficacy. Several affordances of the curriculum assisted the experimental group participants in developing an appreciation for using mobile technologies in science teaching. Implications for preservice teacher preparation for technology integration in science teaching are discussed.
Hybridization of Defective Tin Disulfide Nanosheets and Silver Nanowires Enables Efficient Electrochemical Reduction of CO2 into Formate and Syngas
Authors: He Rong , Yuan Xin , Shao Pengfei , Duan Tao , Zhu Wenkun
Published: November 2019

Integrating the defect engineering and conductivity promotion represents a promising way to improve the performance of CO2 electrochemical reduction. Herein, the hybridized composite of defective SnS2 nanosheets and Ag nanowires is developed as an efficient catalyst for the production of formate and syngas toward CO2 electrochemical reduction. The Schottky barrier in Ag‐SnS2 hybrid nanosheets is negligible due to the similar Fermi level of SnS2 nanosheets and Ag nanowires. Accordingly, the free electrons of Ag nanowires participate in the electronic transport of SnS2 nanosheets, and thus give rise to a 5.5‐fold larger carrier density of Ag‐SnS2 hybrid nanosheets than that of SnS2 nanosheets. In CO2 electrochemical reduction, the Ag‐SnS2 hybrid nanosheets display 38.8 mA cm−2 of geometrical current density at –1.0 V vs reversible hydrogen electrode, including 23.3 mA cm−2 for formate and 15.5 mA cm−2 for syngas with the CO/H2 ratio of 1:1. A mechanistic study reveals that the abundant defect sites and carrier density not only promote the conductivity of the electrocatalyst, but also increase the binding strength for CO2, which account for the efficient CO2 reduction.
Architecting exogenous software‐intensive systems‐of‐systems on the internet‐of‐vehicles with SosADL
Authors: Oquendo Flavio
Published: November 2019

The pervasiveness of the communication networks increasingly has made possible to interconnect software‐intensive systems that were independently developed, operated, managed, and evolved, yielding a new kind of complex system, that is, a system that is itself composed of systems, the so‐called System‐of‐Systems (SoS). Nowadays, the Internet‐of‐Things (IoT) enables the engineering of software‐intensive SoS, which are opportunistically constructed for achieving specified missions in specific operational environments. In particular, in the subset of IoT where “things” are predominantly connected vehicles, the so‐called Internet‐of‐Vehicles (IoV), the challenge is to exogenously coordinate different vehicles for performing together, through emergent behavior, traffic‐related missions, especially platooning. In platooning, two or more vehicles are connected together in convoy using wireless connectivity and automated driving support. The corresponding challenge in the architectural design of SoSs on IoV is to conceive concepts and mechanisms for describing how an SoS architecture is able to create, on the fly, and maintain emergent behaviors from elementary connected vehicles, where the actual vehicles are not known at design time. To address this challenge, this paper investigates the principle of supervenience for describing architecture‐driven emergent behavior following an exogenous approach. In particular, it describes the concepts and mechanisms underlying SosADL, a formal SoS Architecture Description Language (ADL), based on the novel π‐Calculus for SoS, to support the architectural description of self‐organizing SoSs, upwardly causing the required SoS emergent behaviors at run time. Especially, it demonstrates how architectural mediators expressed with SosADL in exogenous SoS architectures support vehicle platooning through an excerpt of a real application on the IoV.
Effects of soil–structure cluster interactions on ground motions
Authors: Ge Qi , Xiong Feng , Chen Jiang , Yao Ziyu
Published: November 2019

The effects of soil–structure cluster interaction (SSCI) on ground motion are presented through shaking table tests and parametric numerical simulation using the finite element method. The superstructure is simplified as a concrete column at a 1/20 scale, with a total mass of 60 kg installed on top of the structures. The Davidenkov foundation model is used to simulate soil nonlinearity. The results of the shaking table test are then compared with the results of the numerical simulation. It is found that the spectral amplification and fundamental resonance frequency are reduced because of the SSCI effects. Further, the structure amount, spacing, height, and distribution play a significant role in the SSCI effects on the ground motion. It is also inferred that having more structures, less spacing, and higher structures may result in a reduction in the acceleration response.
Very‐short‐term load forecasting based on empirical mode decomposition and deep neural network
Authors: Cheng Li‐Min , Bao Yu‐Qing , Tang Lai , Di Hui‐Fang
Published: November 2019

Very‐short‐term load forecasting (VSTLF) predicts the load from minutes to 1‐hour timescale. Effective forecasting is important for in‐day scheduling of the power systems. In this paper, a VSTLF method based on empirical mode decomposition and deep neural network is proposed. The extreme point span is used to determine a proper empirical modal number, so as to successfully decompose the load data into different timescales, based on which the deep‐neural‐network‐based forecasting model is established. The accuracy of the proposed method is verified by the testing results in this paper. © 2019 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Using Children's Picturebooks to Facilitate Restorative Justice Discussion
Authors: Koltz Jessica , Kersten‐Parrish Sara
Published: November 2019

To positively influence students’ behavior and social relationships in the school and community settings, teachers can support students during early interventions and active conversations. Conversations held during class time that use picturebooks and restorative practice activities can be an appropriate way to support student learning and engagement. Lessons and activities can be implemented through any subject and integrated into classroom discussions to support students’ relationships, personal growth, well‐being, and behaviors. Incorporating discussions surrounding picturebooks with specific messages relating to social skills or situations in the classroom or community can support a restorative justice framework. The authors present ideas and activities relating to using picturebooks while upholding a restorative environment.
Removal of total dissolved solids from wastewater using a revolving algal biofilm reactor
Authors: Peng Juan , Kumar Kuldip , Gross Martin , Kunetz Thomas , Wen Zhiyou
Published: November 2019

Total dissolved solids (TDS) comprising inorganic salts and organic matters are pollutants of concern to aquatic systems and water for human use. This work aimed to investigate the use of revolving algal biofilm (RAB) reactors as a sustainable and environmental friendly method to remove TDS from industrial effluents and municipal wastewaters. The wastewaters contained chloride, sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and sulfate as the major components. The RAB reactors fed with synthetic industrial effluent with high TDS level demonstrated the best algal growth, with the highest TDS removal efficiency (27%) and removal rate (2,783 mg/L‐day and 19,530 mg/m2‐day). A suspended algal culture system only removed 3% TDS from the same wastewater. The TDS removal by the RAB reactors was considered due to several mechanisms such as absorption by the algae cells, adsorption by extracellular polymeric substance of the biofilm, and/or precipitation. Collectively, this research shows that the RAB reactors can serve as an efficient system in wastewater remediation for TDS removal.

Practitioner points

Total dissolved solids (TDS) in wastewater are pollutants of concern.

The RAB reactors can remove TDS from various types of wastewater.

The RAB reactors removed TDS by adsorbing ions elements such as Cl, Na, K, Ca, Mg, and S.

The algal biomass absorbs ions through extracellular polymeric substance.
Agricultural Output: From Crop Specialization to Livestocking, 1900–2008
Authors: González de Molina Manuel , Soto Fernández David , Guzmán Casado Gloria , Infante-Amate Juan , Aguilera Fernández Eduardo , Vila Traver Jaime , García Ruiz Roberto
Published: November 2019

This chapter is focused in the assessment of the changes and performance of biophysical, land and livestock fund elements throughout the twentieth century to meet society’s biomass requirements. First section of the chapter provides a historiographic review of the main transformations in Spanish agriculture since 1900s. In the second section, we reveal the changes in land use since 1900 and we discuss whether Spain’s evolution followed the so-called forest transition and its associated theory of production intensification. The production of biomass of plant and animal origin and into categories of different uses and fates, including domestic extraction, is analyzed in the following sections. The last part of the chapter provides a holistic understanding of the biophysical implications of the sector’s industrialization. We found that over the last century, Spanish agriculture evolved towards increasing production commodification and significant changes in the patterns of biomass use. At national scale, production efforts were mainly focused on cultivated lands, thus perpetuating the process of “agricolization.” In addition, the spectacular livestock growth was mainly based on intensive landless farms, without any food ties to the land. At a farm scale, production specialization entailed a strong tendency to suppress crop and polyculture associations, the simplification of rotations, and their later suppression; the substantial reduction of fallows and the fostering of crop alternations were governed by market demands Agriculture shifted from crop and plant heterogeneity and their layout adjustments to monocultures, entailing significant reductions of genetic, structural, and functional diversity.
Environmental Impacts of Spanish Agriculture’s Industrialization
Authors: González de Molina Manuel , Soto Fernández David , Guzmán Casado Gloria , Infante-Amate Juan , Aguilera Fernández Eduardo , Vila Traver Jaime , García Ruiz Roberto
Published: November 2019

This chapter is focused in the environmental consequences of the industrialization of the Spain’s agriculture. The changes in the quantity and quality of energy and material flows described in the previous chapters have contributed to the deterioration of the quality of the land fund element, which supports the provision of ecosystems services, including the production of biomass. Contribution of recycled N, P, and K to total nutrient inputs in Spanish agroecosystems declined along the twentieth century with a clear surplus of N, P, and K, resulting in a lower nutrient efficiency use and a generalized environmental pollution (e.g. nitrate leaching, NH3,and N2O emissions). Soil organic carbon in Spanish agroecosystems is relatively low, indicating that these soils are at a degradation threshold. The increase in NPP resulting from intensification, together with massive feed imports do not compensate the lost of soil organic carbon due to an increased mineralization predicted under a scenario of climate change and the spread of irrigation, because of the breakdown of the balance between the uses of biomass and the preferential use of feed to nourish poultry and pigs. Agriculture intensification not only has resulted in a progressive decline of energy returns in the form of biomass, but also in the externalization of the environmental impact due to the outsourcing of the land cost of food through massive imports of biomass from other regions, mainly South America.
Thermodynamic evolution of secluded vector dark matter: conventional WIMPs and nonconventional WIMPs
Authors: Yang Kwei-Chou
Published: November 2019

Abstract

The secluded dark matter resides within a hidden sector and self-annihilates into lighter mediators which subsequently decay to the Standard Model (SM) particles. Depending on the coupling strength of the mediator to the SM, the hidden sector can be kinetically decoupled from the SM bath when the temperature drops below the mediator’s mass, and the dark matter annihilation cross section at freeze-out is thus possible to be boosted above the conventional value of weak interacting massive particles. We present a comprehensive study on thermodynamic evolution of the hidden sector from the first principle, using the simplest secluded vector dark matter model. Motivated by the observation of Galactic center gamma-ray excess, we take two mass sets ∼$$ \mathcal{O} $$
O
(80 GeV) for the dark matter and mediator as examples to illustrate the thermodynamics. The coupled Boltzmann moment equations for number densities and temperature evolutions of the hidden sector are numerically solved. The formalism can be easily extended to a general secluded dark matter model. We show that a long-lived mediator can result in a boosted dark matter annihilation cross section to account for the relic abundance. We further show the parameter space which provides a good fit to the Galactic center excess data and is compatible with the current bounds and LUX-ZEPLIN projected sensitivity. We find that the future observations of dwarf spheroidal galaxies offer promising reach to probe the most relic allowed parameter space relevant to the boosted dark matter annihilation cross section.
Effects of patents on the transition from stagnation to growth
Authors: Chu Angus C. , Kou Zonglai , Wang Xilin
Published: November 2019

This study provides a growth-theoretic analysis of the effects of intellectual property rights on the take-off of an economy from an era of stagnation to a state of sustained economic growth. We incorporate patent protection into a Schumpeterian growth model in which take-off occurs when the population size crosses an endogenous threshold. We find that strengthening patent protection has contrasting effects on economic growth at different stages of development. Specifically, it leads to an earlier take-off but also reduces economic growth in the long run.
The manufacturability and compression properties of the Schwarz Diamond type Ti6Al4V cellular lattice fabricated by selective laser melting
Authors: Maszybrocka Joanna , Gapiński Bartosz , Dworak Michał , Skrabalak Grzegorz , Stwora Andrzej
Published: November 2019

Selective laser melting technology makes it possible to produce 3D cellular lattice structures with controlled porosity. The paper reflects to machining and examination of structures with predefined distribution, shape and size of the pores. In the study, the porous structures of Ti6Al4V were investigated. The tests were carried out using structures of spatial architecture of Schwarz D TPMS geometry with a total porosity of 60% and 80% and various pore sizes. Dimensional accuracy of additively manufactured structures was measured in relation to the 3D model. Geometry of the final structure differed from the CAD model in the range ± 0.3 mm. The surface morphology and porosity of the solid struts were also checked. The mechanical properties of the structures were determined in a static compression test.
The cell–cell junctions of mammalian testes. III. Absence of an endothelial cell layer covering the peritubular wall of the seminiferous tubules—an immunocytochemical correction of a 50-year-old error in the literature
Authors: Franke Werner W. , Domke Lisa M. , Dörflinger Yvette , Zimbelmann Ralf
Published: November 2019

In the molecular biological and ultrastructural studies of the peritubular wall cells encasing the seminiferous tubules of mammalian testes, we found it necessary to characterize the outermost cell layer bordering on the interstitial space in detail. For half a century, the extremely thin cells of this monolayer have in the literature been regarded as part of a lymphatic endothelium, in particular in rodents. However, our double-label immunofluorescence microscopical results have shown that in all six mammalian species examined, including three rodent ones (rat, mouse, guinea pig), this classification is not correct: the very attenuated cells of this monolayer are not of lymphatic endothelial nature as they do not contain established endothelial marker molecules. In particular, they do not contain claudin-5-positive tight junctions, VE-cadherin-positive adherens junctions, “lymph vessel endothelium hyaluronan receptor 1” (LYVE-1), podoplanin, protein myozap and “von Willebrand Factor” (vWF). By contrast and as controls, all these established marker molecules for the lymphatic endothelial cell type are found in the endothelia of the lymph and—partly also—blood vessels located nearby in the interstitial space. Thus, our results provide evidence that the monolayer cells covering the peritubular wall do not contain endothelial marker molecules and hence are not endothelial cells. We discuss possible methodological reasons for the maintenance of this incorrect cell type classification in the literature and emphasize the value of molecular analyses using multiple cell type–specific markers, also with respect to physiology and medical sciences.
Exploring differences in spatial patterns and temporal trends of phenological models at continental scale using gridded temperature time-series
Authors: Mehdipoor Hamed , Zurita-Milla Raul , Augustijn Ellen-Wien , Izquierdo-Verdiguier Emma
Published: November 2019

Phenological models are widely used to estimate the influence of weather and climate on plant development. The goodness of fit of phenological models often is assessed by considering the root-mean-square error (RMSE) between observed and predicted dates. However, the spatial patterns and temporal trends derived from models with similar RMSE may vary considerably. In this paper, we analyse and compare patterns and trends from a suite of temperature-based phenological models, namely extended spring indices, thermal time and photothermal time models. These models were first calibrated using lilac leaf onset observations for the period 1961–1994. Next, volunteered phenological observations and daily gridded temperature data were used to validate the models. After that, the two most accurate models were used to evaluate the patterns and trends of leaf onset for the conterminous US over the period 2000–2014. Our results show that the RMSEs of extended spring indices and thermal time models are similar and about 2 days lower than those produced by the other models. Yet the dates of leaf out produced by each of the models differ by up to 11 days, and the trends differ by up to a week per decade. The results from the histograms and difference maps show that the statistical significance of these trends strongly depends on the type of model applied. Therefore, further work should focus on the development of metrics that can quantify the difference between patterns and trends derived from spatially explicit phenological models. Such metrics could subsequently be used to validate phenological models in both space and time. Also, such metrics could be used to validate phenological models in both space and time.
Feasibility of a novel exercise prehabilitation programme in patients scheduled for elective colorectal surgery: a feasibility randomised controlled trial
Authors: Northgraves Matthew J. , Arunachalam Lakshmanan , Madden Leigh A. , Marshall Philip , Hartley John E. , MacFie John , Vince Rebecca V.
Published: November 2019

Background and objectives

To investigate the feasibility of delivering a functional exercise-based prehabilitation intervention and its effects on postoperative length of hospital stay, preoperative physical functioning and health-related quality of life in elective colorectal surgery.

Materials and methods

In this randomised controlled feasibility trial, 22 elective colorectal surgery patients were randomly assigned to exercise prehabilitation (n = 11) or standard care (n = 11). Feasibility of delivering the intervention was assessed based on recruitment and compliance to the intervention. Impact on postoperative length of hospital stay and complications, preoperative physical functioning (timed up and go test, five times sit to stand, stair climb test, handgrip dynamometry and 6-min walk test) and health-related quality of life were also assessed.

Results

Over 42% of patients (84/198) screened were deemed ineligible for prehabilitation due to insufficient time existing prior to scheduled surgery. Of those who were eligible, approximately 18% consented to the trial. Median length of hospital stay was 8 [range 6–27] and 10 [range 5–12] days respectively for the standard care and prehabilitation groups. Patterns towards preoperative improvements for the timed up and go test, stair climb test and 6-min walk test were observed for all participants receiving prehabilitation but not standard care.

Conclusions

Despite prehabilitation appearing to convey positive benefits on physical functioning, short surgical wait times and patient engagement represent major obstacles to implementing exercise prehabilitation programmes in colorectal cancer patients.
Prächirurgische Epilepsiediagnostik – öfter ein Thema als viele denken
Authors: Schwarz Gabriele , Puttinger Gertraud , von Oertzen Tim J.
Published: November 2019

Epilepsiechirurgie ist eine hochwirksame Therapie mit kurativem Anspruch. Dies belegen inzwischen 3 Studien mit Klasse-1-Evidenz. Bei pharmakoresistenter fokaler Epilepsie mit einer Krankheitsdauer von fast 20 Jahren, mit kürzerer Krankheitsdauer von durchschnittlich 5 Jahren sowie bei Kindern wurde jeweils unabhängig voneinander gezeigt, dass Epilepsiechirurgie dem „best medical treatment“ hochsignifikant überlegen ist.

Mithilfe multimodaler Untersuchungsmethoden (z. B. Langzeit-Video-EEG, hochauflösendes cMRT nach Epilepsieprotokoll, FDG-PET, neuropsychologische Testung, fMRT, ev. iktale SPECT-Untersuchung und Verrechnung mittels SISCOM, Postprocessing des cMRTs, „electric source imaging“ [ESI], Magnetenzephalographie [MEG], invasive Abklärung mittels Stereo-EEG-Elektroden oder subduralen Elektroden und WADA-Test) ist es in der prächirurgischen Epilepsiediagnostik nun möglich, Patienten einen epilepsiechirurgischen Eingriff anzubieten, die früher als schlechte oder aussichtslose Kandidaten für eine Epilepsiechirurgie eingeschätzt wurden.
Tumor microenvironment and breast cancer survival: combined effects of breast fat, M2 macrophages and hyaluronan create a dismal prognosis
Authors: Tiainen Satu , Masarwah Amro , Oikari Sanna , Rilla Kirsi , Hämäläinen Kirsi , Sudah Mazen , Sutela Anna , Vanninen Ritva , Ikonen Juho , Tammi Raija , Tammi Markku , Auvinen Päivi
Published: November 2019

Purpose

Tumor microenvironment, including inflammatory cells, adipocytes and extracellular matrix constituents such as hyaluronan (HA), impacts on cancer progression. Systemic metabolism also influences tumor growth e.g. obesity and type 2 diabetes (T2D) are risk factors for breast cancer. Here, in 262 breast cancer cases, we explored the combined impacts on survival of M2-like tumor associated macrophages (TAMs), the abundance of breast fat visualized as low density in mammograms, and tumor HA, and their associations with T2D.

Methods

Mammographic densities were assessed visually from the diagnostic images and dichotomized into very low density (VLD, density ≤ 10%, “fatty breast”) and mixed density (MID, density > 10%). The amounts of TAMs (CD163+ and CD68+) and tumor HA were determined by immunohistochemistry. The data of T2D was collected from the patient records. Statistical differences between the parameters were calculated with Chi square or Mann–Whitney test and survival analyses with Cox’s model.

Results

A combination of fatty breasts (VLD), abundance of M2-like TAMs (CD163+) and tumor HA associated with poor survival, as survival was 88–89% in the absence of these factors but only 40–47% when all three factors were present (p < 0.001). Also, an association between T2D and fatty breasts was found (p < 0.01). Furthermore, tumors in fatty breasts contained more frequently high levels of M2-like TAMs than tumors in MID breasts (p = 0.01).

Conclusions

Our results demonstrate a dramatic effect of the tumor microenvironment on breast cancer progression. We hypothesize that T2D as well as obesity increase the fat content of the breasts, subsequently enhancing local pro-tumoral inflammation.
Corporate Political Strategies in Weak Institutional Environments: A Break from Conventions
Authors: Liedong Tahiru Azaaviele , Aghanya Daniel , Rajwani Tazeeb
Published: November 2019

There is a lack of research about the political strategies used by firms in emerging countries, mainly because the literature often assumes that Western-oriented corporate political activity (CPA) has universal application. Drawing on resource-dependency logics, we explorewhyandhowfirms orchestrate CPA in the institutionally challenging context of Nigeria. Our findings show that firms deploy four context-fitting but ethically suspect political strategies: affective, financial, pseudo-attribution and kinship strategies. We leverage this understanding to contribute to CPA in emerging countries by arguing that corporate political strategies are shaped by thereciprocityanddualityof dependency relationships between firms and politicians, and also by advancing that these strategies reflect institutional weaknesses and unique industry-level opportunities. Importantly, we shed light on the muttered dark side of CPA. We develop a CPA framework and discuss the research, practical and policy implications of our findings.
Protecting against disaster risks: Why insurance and prevention may be complements
Authors: Botzen W. J. Wouter , Kunreuther Howard , Michel-Kerjan Erwann
Published: November 2019

We examine mechanisms as to why insurance and individual risk reduction activities are complements instead of substitutes. We use data on flood risk reduction activities and flood insurance purchases by surveying more than 1000 homeowners in New York City after they experienced Hurricane Sandy. Insurance is a complement to loss reduction measures undertaken well before the threat of suffering a loss, which is the opposite of a moral hazard effect of insurance coverage. In contrast, insurance acts as a substitute for emergency preparedness measures that can be taken when a loss is imminent, which implies that financial incentives or regulations are needed to encourage insured people to take these measures. We find that mechanisms leading to preferred risk selection are related to past flood damage and a crowding out effect of federal disaster assistance as well as behavioral motivations to reduce risk.
Appraising Hydro-dynamics of Alluvial Aquifers from Indo-Gangetic Plains
Authors: Sonkamble Sahebrao , Rangarajan R. , Rajkumar R. , Warsi T. , Sambasivarao T. , Ahmed S.
Published: November 2019

Aquifer behaviour in alluvial plains is a complex phenomenon owing to the discrete lithological units, hydro-dynamics and erratic rainfall patterns. Therefore, the aquifer geometry, recharge and rainfall which define the hydro-dynamics of alluvial aquifers are important to understand in view of sustainable groundwater management. This study appraises the time series hydro-climatic data on daily basis during July-2008 to March-2011 in Indo- Gangetic plains, India. It includes field site monitoring of six piezometric wells installed with borehole data loggers and daily rainfall events. The temporal variations recorded for hydro-climatic (i.e. piezometric surface and rainfall) data sets are examined applying classical statistical tools. Results showed, a) the linear regression value R2 = 0.81−0.98 (mean: 0.94) calculated for consecutive three monsoons indicated the rise of static WL by 1.59 m/monsoon, b) the linear trend for three hydrological cycles denotes, rainfall deficit of 9.83 % and 14.10 % corresponds to WL decline by 0.914 m and 1.478 m, c) for an individual hydrological year, a negative response of rainfall to WL decline with correlation coefficient r=-0.921 indicates multiple variables of aquifer discharge. The derived negative linearity y=−1.196x+223.35 has assisted to simulate the declining mode of WL by 1.196 m/year. It assists to draw the similar results for alluvial aquifers in other regions of Indo-Gangetic plains.
A New Record of Acanthomorphic Acritarch Tappania Yin from the Early Mesoproterozoic Saraipali Formation, Singhora Group, Chhattisgarh Supergroup, India and its Biostratigraphic Significance
Authors: Singh Veeru Kant , Sharma Mukund , Sergeev Vladimir N.
Published: November 2019

In the present paper, well-preserved specimens of taxonomically distinctive Proterozoic eukaryotic fossil Tappania Yin are recorded for the first time from the rocks of the Saraipali Formation of the Singhora Group, Chhattisgarh Supergroup, India. In the global context, among the various species of this genus, Tappania plana is widely distributed in the latest Palaeoproterozoic (Statherian) to the early Mesoproterozoic (Calymmian) organic-walled microfossil assemblages. Tappania plana of the Saraipali is subjected to transmitted light microscopy, confocal laser scanning microscopy and laser Raman spectroscopy and these results are presented. Collectively, the occurrence of remarkable microfossil Tappania and other associated microfossils in the Saraipalli Formation of rocks demonstrate the Calymmian age for the lower sediments of the Chhattisgarh Supergroup.
An Exclusive Schizoneura Forest: An Emblematic Late Permian Marsh Ecosystem
Authors: Tripathy Geetika , Goswami Shreerup , Patel Roshni
Published: November 2019

Altogether eighty one (81) impressions of slender leafy axes of Schizoneura gondwanensis were reported in ferruginous shales from Lower Kamthi sediments exposed in a very remote locality near Korbahal Village, Sundargarh District, Ib River Lower Gondwana basin, Odisha, India. Different aspects of Schizoneura, one of the imperative equisetalean genera of the Indian Lower Gondwana flora, have been discussed in this article. The speciation and morphology of this genus are also described. Further, a review of previous work on this genus is summarized for a clear understanding of its form, habit, diversity, origin, evolution and extinction. An attempt has also been made to reconstruct the plant of Schizoneura. Palaeoclimate during Late Permian is also summarized. The climate was comparatively warm and highly humid and thus quite suitable for luxuriant plant growth. However, the red bed facies of the ferruginous sandstones indicate seasonal variability of dry spells and semi-arid conditions. An attempt has also been made to reconstruct palaeovegetation of the investigated locality. A forest of hydrophytic plants, dominated by Schizoneura gondwanensis developed luxuriantly under warm and highly humid conditions in a marsh ecosystem in general and possibly around a large pond in particular.
Seasonal Variations of Streams Hydrochemistry and Relationships with Morphometric/Landcover Parameters in the Bhagirathi Watersheds, Garhwal Himalaya, India
Authors: Ansari Zabiullah , Ahmad Sarfaraz , Khan Mohd. Abdullah
Published: November 2019

The Bhagirathi streams are a major source of fresh water in the form of glaciers meltwater streams and monsoonal phenomena. The watersheds of the Bhagirathi basin is trending towards water chemistry as well as changing morphological and land cover features due to the climatic and anthropogenic activity. To understand seasonal hydrochemistry and the impact of watershed morphology a total of 32 stream water samples collected during post and pre-monsoon seasons. The bicarbonate is the most dominant ion in the streams water followed by Na+, Ca+2, SO4-2, Cl-, SiO2, K+, and Mg+2. The results were found that HCO3- is in very good correlation with the base cations Ca+2, Mg+2 and Na+ in both pre and post-monsoon seasons. The higher concentration of HCO3- in Bhagirathi stream water and its positive correlation with Ca+2 and Mg+2 indicates that their main source comes from the dissolution of carbonates. Most of the hydro-chemical parameters (EC, pH) and ions (Ca+2, Mg+2, Na+, K+, HCOf-, SO4-2, Cl-, and F-) indicated a relationship with morphometric and land cover and these parameters vary with the season. It is observed that elevation, relief, basin length, area, and perimeter impact on stream water chemistry. Due to the processes of chemical weathering, mixing of the groundwater, snow/glacier meltwater, and surface water components responsible for the seasonal variation in the hydrochemistry of streams. Impact of agriculture land is more dominant than any land cover followed by barren land and glacier cover that influence the hydrochemistry of streams.
Evaluation of the Sources of Yozgat Fountain Water in Terms of Seasonal Distribution, Turkey
Authors: Turksoy Vugar Ali , Deniz Serdar , Tutkun Lutfiye , Kirat Gullu
Published: November 2019

This study was carried out to compare the seasonal variation in the concentration of elements in 147 fountain water samples, collected from Yozgat province and its surroundings. The study area comprises of lower Eocene Topcu Formation and the upper Cretaceous - Paleocene Yozgat batholith Formation. A study of the physical and chemical properties of the water samples show that average pH values may be classified as I and II as per Water Pollution Control Regulation. The concentrations of As, B, Ba, Cd, Cr, Cu, F, Pb, Ni, Sb, Se and U were lower than the WHO (2011) fountain water guide limits.

The techniques of principle factor analysis and cluster analysis were used to assess and examine the results obtained from the study area. The data values consisting of 29 elements were divided into groups of similar parameters, forming 8 sets. Using principle factor analyses, large part of the variation in the data were determined (77.71% of the variance).

According to World Health Organization (WHO) safe drinking water is necessary for human health and 80% diseases are water borne. The heavy metals are of major concern, mainly due to their presence at relatively high concentrations in fountain water and their toxic effects on human health. The aim of this study is to evaluate the sources of fountain water in the Yozgat region in terms of seasonal toxicity in line with WHO limits.
Car usage, $${\text {CO}}_{2}$$ emissions and fuel taxes in Europe
Authors: Marrero Gustavo A. , Rodríguez-López Jesús , González Rosa Marina
Published: November 2019

The number of diesel cars in Europe has grown significantly over the last three decades, a process usually known as dieselization, and they now account for nearly 40% of the cars on the road. We build on a dynamic general equilibrium model that makes a distinction between diesel motor and gasoline motor vehicles and calibrate it for main European countries. Firstly, we find that the dieselization can be explained by a change in consumer preferences paired with the productivity gains from the specialization of the European automotive industry. Secondly, the lenient tax policies in favor of diesel fuel help to explain the rebound effect in road traffic. Finally, from a normative standpoint, the model suggests that a tax discrimination based on the carbon content of each fuel (higher for diesel relative to gasoline) would actually be more effective in curbing$${\text {CO}}_{2}$$CO2emissions rather than a tax based on fuel efficiency. Based on the existing studies, we also document that other external costs of diesel are always higher than those of gasoline, and the Pigouvian tax rates should reflect this aspect. This recommendation is radically different to the existing fuel tax design in most European countries.
Influence of different stakeholders on first-tier suppliers’ sustainable supplier selection: insights from a multiple case study in the automotive first-tier industry
Authors: Lechler Sabrina , Canzaniello Angelo , Wetzstein Anton , Hartmann Evi
Published: November 2019

Public and academic attention towards sustainably managing companies and corresponding supply chains has been gaining significant momentum in recent years. While extensive literature is available on corporate sustainability and the original equipment manufacturers’ (OEMs) downstream supply chains, there is little empirical knowledge concerning why first-tier (FT) suppliers in the upstream supply chain implement sustainability into their supplier selection (SS) processes. However, FT suppliers have a crucial role in ensuring sustainability in upstream supply chains, as they are a key transmitter and often accountable for their OEMs’ sub-supplier portfolios. Grounded on a cross-case study approach of five FT suppliers, two associations and three non-governmental organizations (NGOs) as well as stakeholder theory, this paper investigates how different stakeholder groups are influencing the integration of sustainability aspects into FT suppliers’ SS processes. Therefore, government, NGOs, OEMs and employees are investigated as stakeholder groups. Characteristics, such as FT suppliers’ size, legal structure, material criticality, employees’ distance to the supply chain function, company culture and industry culture, could be identified as factors that influence the urgency of stakeholders’ sustainability claims and thus FT suppliers’ perceived sustainability pressure. Moreover, with regard to the OEM stakeholder group, it was found that, depending on the urgency of OEMs’ sustainability claims, FT suppliers align their sustainable SS processes to the actions and expectations of different stakeholder groups and thus fulfill the OEM’s sustainability expectations to varying degrees. Thus, our study contributes empirical knowledge to this so far underrepresented research field and is moreover beneficial for decision makers.
Estimation of three-dimensional aerodynamic damping using CFD
Authors: Higgins R.J. , Barakos G.N. , Jinks E.
Published: November 2019

Aeroelastic phenomena of stall flutter are the result of the negative aerodynamic damping associated with separated flow. From this basis, an investigation has been conducted to estimate the aerodynamic damping from a time-marching aeroelastic computation. An initial investigation is conducted on the NACA 0012 aerofoil section, before transition to 3D propellers and full aeroelastic calculations. Estimates of aerodynamic damping are presented, with a comparison made betweenURANSandSAS. Use of a suitable turbulence closure to allow for shedding of flow structures during stall is seen as critical in predicting negative damping estimations. From this investigation, it has been found that theSASmethod is able to capture this for both the aerofoil and 3D test cases.
Vision Loss from Metastatic Colon Cancer to the Planum Sphenoidale and Optic Nerves
Authors: Wong Jovi C.Y. , Micieli Jonathan A.
Published: November 2019

An 80-year-old man was seen in urgent neuro-ophthalmology consultation for bilateral vision loss. He had a past medical history of hypertension and metastatic stage IV colorectal adenocarcinoma. Four months prior to presentation, he developed gradual onset, painless blurred vision in his right eye. He underwent cataract surgery in that eye, but his vision continued to decline to the point of no light perception. He developed new onset, painless, blurred vision in his left eye 3 weeks prior to presentation and woke up with no light perception in his left eye one day prior to presentation.
How Labor Market Inequality Transforms Mass Politics
Authors: Häusermann Silja , Kemmerling Achim , Rueda David
Published: November 2019

Why do left parties lose vote shares in times of economic crisis and hardship? Why do right-wing governments implement seemingly left-wing policies, such as labor market activation? Why is representation becoming more and more unequal? And why do workers vote for right-wing populist parties? Several political science theories propose meaningful and important answers to these key questions for comparative politics, focusing on identity politics, programmatic convergence of parties or exogenous constraints. However, there is an additional and distinct approach to all of the questions above, which emphasizes socio-structural transformations in the labor market: most of the processes above can be understood with reference to increasing labor market inequality and its political implications. The relevance and explanatory power of labor market inequality for mass politics have not been fully acknowledged in comparative political science and this is the reason for this symposium. Labor market inequality affects political preferences and behavior, electoral politics, representation, and government strategies. The main purpose of our symposium is to make broader comparative politics research aware of the crucial structural changes that labor markets have undergone in the advanced capitalist democracies of the OECD, and of the tremendous implications these changes have had for politics.
CVCVTA AB RATIONIBVS NERONIS AVGVSTI: A JOKE AT NERO'S EXPENSE?
Authors: Malik Shushma
Published: November 2019

On the outside wall and in the vestibule of the ‘House of Publius Paquius Proculus’ in Pompeii (building I.7.1) three graffiti containing the name Cucuta can be found. The first simply readsCucuta(CIL4.8065 [outside wall]). The second tells us that Cucuta was an attendant of the Emperor Nero (CIL4.8066 [outside wall]):Cu(cuta) | Cucuta Ner(onis).From the third we learn that Cucuta was a financial secretary (a rationibus) of Nero (CIL4.8075 [vestibule]):Cucuta ab ra[t]ioni[b]us | Neronis Augusti. While the meaning and significance of these graffiti may seem apparent—that one of Nero's attendants scratched his name on the wall and vestibule pillar as he waited for the emperor to return from a meeting—the closeness betweenCucuta(an otherwise unattested name) andcicuta(hemlock) raises a key question: should we readCucutaasCicutaand therefore understand the third graffito in particular as a joke about Nero's rumoured fondness for killing family, friends and his senatorial enemies with poison? In other words, is it Poison, and not a person, that keeps Nero's finances in order? And, if so, can theCucutagraffiti give us an alternative insight into the plethora of wall inscriptions found outside building I.7.1 greeting Publius Paquius Proculus and recommending him for office?
What's Left of the Right: Nabeyama Sadachika and Anti-communism in Transwar Japan, 1930–1960
Authors: Hofmann Reto
Published: November 2019

This article examines the thought and career of Nabeyama Sadachika (1901–79) from communist militant in 1920s Japan to his conversion to the emperor system in the 1930s and, finally, to his role in shaping the postwar anti-communist movement. Using Nabeyama's recently released private papers, the article shows how he brokered his anti-communist expertise to a range of postwar actors and institutions—the police, the Self-Defense Forces, business circles, politicians—as well as to foreign states, especially the Republic of China (Taiwan). These networks indicate that important sections of Japan's postwar establishment rallied behind anti-communism in the face of reforms that threatened their power at home and their vision for Japan in the world order after 1945. As a transwar history, this article adds to our understanding of Japan's transition from the age of empire to that of liberal democracy by qualifying narratives about the “progressive” nature of postwar Japanese politics. It argues that the vitality of anti-communism is symptomatic of the durability of particular political traditions, and reveals that, despite the significant reforms that Japan underwent after 1945, the Right was able to claim a space in the country's political culture that has been neglected by historians.