bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
VALORAÇÃO AMBIENTAL DO PARQUE ESTADUAL MARINHO DA PEDRA DA RISCA DO MEIO, CEARÁ, BRASIL
Authors: Carneiro Pedro Bastos de Macedo , Sátiro Inah , Coe Clara De Melo , De Mendonça Kamila Vieira
Published: August 2018

O estabelecimento de unidades de conservação é estratégia eficiente para a conservação da natureza, porém muitas dessas áreas são geridas sem critérios objetivos de alocação de recursos, o que muitas vezes resulta em aportes insuficientes. Buscando contribuir para a gestão de unidades de conservação marinhas do Brasil, o presente trabalho visa aplicar o método de valoração contingente para estimar valores de uso e não uso do Parque Estadual Marinho da Pedra da Risca do Meio, localizado no Ceará. Foram realizadas 105 entrevistas com moradores de Fortaleza, Ceará, e a influência de variáveis sociológicas (sintetizadas em estatísticas descritivas) sobre a disposição a pagar (DAP) pela manutenção do Parque foi estudada via modelos lineares. A disposição a pagar total foi calculada multiplicando a DAP pela população envolvida. Em média, os entrevistados se dispuseram a pagar R$ 21,50/mês para a manutenção do Parque, valor que foi maior no caso de frequentadores e de pessoas de maiores rendas. Considerando apenas frequentadores, o valor de uso equivale a R$ 964.080/ano. Esses resultados evidenciam a importância dessa unidade de conservação e ressaltam a necessidade de novas estratégias de financiamento para a sua manutenção. Maiores incentivos à visitação, cobrança de taxas e o pagamento por serviços ambientais prestados parecem ser mecanismos bem aceitos pela população local, além de poderem ser igualmente aplicados em outras unidades de conservação marinhas do Brasil, e portanto podem contribuir para a conservação da zona costeira do país.
Celso Furtado (1920-2004)
Authors: Dos Santos Theotonio
Published: August 2018

Ein Nachruf von Theotonio dos Santos
Transnationale Konsumgüterunternehmen in Ägypten
Authors: Kehrer Michaela
Published: August 2018

The marketing strategies of transnational corporations operating in the field of consumer goods in contemporary Egypt are analyzed and the interrelations between rural marketing and consumer intifada are explored. The question is raised whether the homogenization scenario of local consumer cultures in the sense of a coca-colaization process is coming into shape. On the contrary to the mainstream assumption, it is stated that since the last decade corporate communication and product policies in their effort to conquer the Egyptian mass market have been increasingly taking cultural spheres of meaning into account. Different indicators show that the relevance of producing and marketing standardized goods has been diminishing as compared to the centrality of adapting global products to the local setting with its various cultural and political components.
Strukturwandel und internationale Beschaffung im Einzelhandel mit Bekleidung
Authors: Blöcker Antje , Wortmann Michael
Published: August 2018

The article relates the structural change in German apparel retailing with different patterns of international sourcing. While vertically integrated multiples are sourcing most of their specialised products directly, discounters prefer German agents as intermediaries. Traditional high-end manufacturers also increasingly outsource their manufacturing, becoming more and more similar to retailers. Different sourcing strategies produce losers and winners in German retailing.
Kritik der herrschenden ökonomischen Lehre
Authors: Büttner Hans-Peter
Published: August 2018

Hans-Peter Büttner: Critique of ruling economics. The discourse of Piero Sraffa. Neoclassicaleconomic theory and its apparatus of methodological individualism, subjectivism andmarginalism is the dominant paradigm within the field of economic science. Nevertheless theresearch program of Piero Sraffa and the neo-Ricardian school has shown that neoclassicaltheory is internally inconsistent and faced with serious problems with respect to its empiricalrelevance – as a concrete and well investigated example for empirical observation, I presentneoclassical cost theory, the fundament of standard neoclassical supply function. The textdiscusses three historical debates initiated by the neo-Ricardian school against neoclassicalecomomics and shows the importance of these results for critical economic approaches.
Europe’s next model
Authors: Redak Julia
Published: August 2018

Vanessa Redak: Europe’s next model: The impact of risk measurement on finance theory,regulatory practice and industry behaviour. The importance of Finance theory and riskmodelling has dramatically increased over the past decades in academic life, banks and thefinance industry, and in regulatory and supervisory bodies. This increase not only nurturedthe somewhat illusory belief that risk is measurable but also changed the lending behaviourof banks and the funding function of financial intermediaries with potential ample effectson the accumulation process.
Religiöser metropolitaner Mainstream.
Authors: Lanz Stephan
Published: August 2018

Contrary to assumptions in traditional urban theory that understand religion as external or peripheral to urban modernity, cities have by no means been secularized over the course of the rapid global urbanization processes of recent decades. Instead, the much discussed return of religion in the public sphere is primarily an urban phenomenon. At a global level, metropolises have become laboratories and arenas for new religious phenomena exercising a huge influence on urban spaces, cultures and societies. Current research in various world regions shows that religion does not represent some exotic reminiscence. Rather, its agency unfolds at the heart of contemporary metropolitan modernization. Based on the results of case studies that the transregional research project “Global Prayers – Redemption and Liberation in the City” has conducted in cities like Berlin, Istanbul, Lagos and Rio de Janeiro, the paper argues that the religious appears to be expanding in all other areas of the production of the urban in such a manner that it is increasingly difficult to say where religion stops, and where it begins. It shows how urban religions, generally interpreted as reactions to social relocations caused by global neoliberalism, can as well be understood as driving forces of contemporary urban capitalism itself.
Die Ökonomie des Zwischenlandes.
Authors: Schweizer Angela
Published: August 2018

The following article is based on my fieldwork in Morocco and represents anthropological data collected amongst undocumented sub-Saharan migrants in Morocco. They want to enter Europe in search for a better life for themselves and to provide financial support for their families. Due to heavy border security control and repression, they find themselves trapped at the gates of Europe, where they are trying to survive by engaging in various economic activities in the informal sector. The article begins with an overview of the European migration politics in Africa and the geopolitical and historical context of Morocco, in light of the externalization of European border control. I will then analyze the various economic sectors, in which sub-Saharan migrations are active, as well as smuggling networks, informal camps and remittances, on which they largely depend due to the exclusion from the national job market.
Der Tigersprung.
Authors: Demirović Alex
Published: August 2018

Modernity establishes an orientation towards the future and is expecting all solutions from forthcoming times. Arguing against Hegel and referring to Walter Benjamin’s concept of now-time the article argues for a radical immanence and defends a re-orientation (also in left politics) towards the presence.
Sozial-räumliche Dynamiken der Agrartreibstoffe.
Authors: Dietz Kristina , Engels Bettina , Pye Oliver
Published: August 2018

This article explores the spatial dynamics of agrofuels. Building on categories from the field of critical spatial theory, it shows how these categories enable a comprehensive analysis of the spatial dynamics of agrofuels that links the macro-structures of the global political economy to concrete, place-based struggles. Four core socio-spatial dynamics of agrofuel politics are highlighted and applied to empirical findings: territorialization, the financial sector as a new scale of regulation, place-based struggles and transnational spaces of resources and capital flows.
Europa und Frankreich im Ausnahmezustand.
Authors: Oberndorfer Lukas
Published: August 2018

In France, the state of emergency (declared in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks of November 2015) has been used against the Nuit-Debout- and the strike movement: fundamental rights were set aside in order to push through the deregulation of the labour market. An approach informed by hegemony theory can demonstrate that these developments and their point in time are articulated with the political and economic position of France within the European ensemble of state apparatuses. Because of its Eurocentric and liberal set-up, mainstream state theory tends to identify authoritarianism only in the periphery or as a threat connected with right wing populism. But an authoritarian turn is already happening within Western liberal institutions. The crisis has pushed the neoliberal mode of integration into a crisis of hegemony. The status quo can no longer be maintained through consensus and is instead upheld through coercion and racism.
Entsteht der Postkapitalismus im Kapitalismus?
Authors: Butollo Florian , Kalff Yannick
Published: August 2018

Paul Mason has delivered a compelling analysis in which he argues that digital technologies, knowledge work and the corresponding failure of mechanisms of capital valorisation would undermine capitalism while implying a gradual emergence of social relations beyond capitalism. In our view, however, this proposal for a new transformation strategy is flawed because Mason underestimates tendencies of marketisation that grasp new forms of labour and overestimates the possibilities. In particular, we first criticize Mason’s understanding that valorisation in a knowledge-based, digitized capitalism is impossible. Second, we reject the idea that digital commons and valorisation are mutually exclusive by tracing processes of commodification in this field. Third, we offer a critique of Mason’s strategy for transformation, which we deem one-sided. He does not undertake a sober account of societal power relations and overstretches post-capitalistic potentials. Subjectivities are perceived as inherently capable of being emancipated and universally educated, which neglects the mutual dependence of structure and subjectivities and the way in which class relations and class struggle affect their constitution.
Editorial: Gesellschaftskritik und 150 Jahre Kritik der politischen Ökonomie
Authors: Redaktion PROKLA
Published: August 2018

Editorial: Gesellschaftskritik und 150 Jahre Kritik der politischen Ökonomie
Der „schreckliche erste Abschnitt“
Authors: Egger Lukas
Published: August 2018

This paper reconstructs Louis Althusser’s criticism of the first section of Capital and the notion of fetishism. It argues that Marx’s theory of value is not properly conceivable on the basis of Althusser’s theory of science. Therefore, his rejection of value form analysis and the concept of economic mystification is a logical consequence of his epistemological positions.
Das Ende der Postdemokratie, den Pessimismus überwinden.
Authors: Mullis Daniel
Published: August 2018

In recent years, political and social conditions have changed dramatically. Many analyses help to capture these dynamics. However, they produce political pessimism: on the one hand there is the image of regression and on the other, a direct link is made between socio-economic decline and the rise of the far-right. To counter these aspects, this article argues that current political events are to be understood less as ‘regression’ but rather as a moment of movement and the return of deep political struggles. Referring to Jacques Ranciere’s political thought, the current conditions can be captured as the ‘end of post-democracy’. This approach changes the perspective on current social dynamics in a productive way. It allows for an emphasis on movement and the recognition of the windows of opportunity for emancipatory struggles.
Kritik der Verhältnisse und Kritik der Kategorien
Authors: Redaktion PROKLA , Wissen Markus
Published: August 2018

Zum Tod von Elmar Altvater (1938–2018)
Droht ein neuer Substandard?
Authors: Mattern Philipp
Published: August 2018

The growing lack of housing supply includes the risk that a new type of substandard housing emerges in Germany. The decrease of flats’ size and quality as well as architectural standard is a threatening way to build „affordable“ future homes for those, who fall through the cracks of the current housing market. Due to the limited welfare states engagement on the one hand and private capitalist activity on the other hand, we are currently witnessing a trend to develop second class houses, mostly for students and refugee accomodations. If the housing supply crisis will not be solved, this new substandard will extend to larger parts of the housing market.
Determination of the Genetic Component of Fur-Chewing in Chinchillas (Chinchilla lanigera) and Its Economic Impact
Authors: González Catalina , Yáñez José , Tadich Tamara
Published: August 2018

Fur-chewing is a common behavioral disorder developed by chinchillas kept in confinement that can indicate a past or present welfare problem. It also has a negative productive impact associated. The aim of this study was to determine the genetic component of fur-chewing, and the effect of this undesired behavior on fur price in a commercial fur-farming system of chinchillas (Chinchilla lanigera). The data for the analysis was derived from a commercial population of 10,196 chinchillas, recorded between the years 1990 and 2011. For determining differences in fur price according to presence of fur-chewing behavior, analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used, considering 3007 animals. For estimation of variance components of fur-chewing a sire-dam threshold (probit) mixed model was used, using data of 9, 033 individuals, and then heritability on the underlying liability scale was calculated. The analysis revealed a significant negative impact on fur price from fur-chewing chinchillas (p-value < 0.05). In addition, the study showed that fur-chewing presents significant genetic variation, with an estimated heritability of 0.16. The presentation of fur-chewing should be taken into account when selecting broodstock in these systems, in order to reduce the number of affected individuals.
Thermography as a Non-Invasive Measure of Stress and Fear of Humans in Sheep
Authors: Cannas Simona , Palestrini Clara , Canali Elisabetta , Cozzi Bruno , Ferri Nicola , Heinzl Eugenio , Minero Michela , Chincarini Matteo , Vignola Giorgio , Dalla Costa Emanuela
Published: August 2018

No data have been published on the use of infrared thermography (IRT) to evaluate sheep emotions. We assessed whether this technique can be used as a non-invasive measure of negative emotions. Two voluntary animal approach (VAA) tests were conducted (and filmed) on five ewes before and after being restrained. The restraining process was performed by a handler for five minutes. IRT was used during restraint and the VAA tests. The lacrimal caruncle temperature was significantly higher during restraint and in the VAA test after the restraint compared with the VAA test before the restraint (Wilcoxon’s test; p = 0.04). The latency period until first contact was longer in the second VAA test (132 s) than in the first one (60 s). Our preliminary results suggest that IRT, combined with behavioral data, is a non-invasive technique that can be useful to assess stress and infer about negative emotions in sheep.
Expeller Barrel Dry Heat and Moist Heat Pressure Duration Induce Changes in Canola Meal Protein for Ruminant Utilisation
Authors: Heim Rebecca , Krebs Gaye
Published: August 2018

To improve the protein nutritional quality of canola (Brassica napus L.) meal, further investigation of the effects of processing conditions and post-production treatments is desirable. The impact of barrel dry heat temperature (20 °C (cold press) and 100 °C (expeller)) and moist heat pressure (MHP) duration time on general nutritional properties, Maillard reaction product (MRP) formation, in vitro protein degradability, and molecular and microscopic structural characteristics of canola meals were investigated. Increased MHP duration reduced (p < 0.05) dry matter, soluble protein, rapidly degradable protein, yellowness (early MRP), whiteness (late MRPs), absorbance at 294 nm (intermediate MRPs), and amide I; and increased (p < 0.05) non-protein N, neutral detergent fibre, neutral detergent insoluble crude protein (CP), intermediately and slowly degradable protein, in vitro effective CP degradability, redness, degree of colour change, and browning. Increased dry heat temperature reduced (p < 0.01) CP and rapidly degradable protein, constricted amide II, reduced (p < 0.05) protein solubility in 0.5% KOH and increased (p < 0.05) acid-detergent fibre and intermediate MRPs. Browning index and redness exhibited potential as rapid indicators of effective CP degradability and soluble protein, respectively. Dry heat and MHP altered (p < 0.05) lipid-related functional groups. Dry heat affected napin solubility, and MHP altered cruciferin and napin solubility. Application of MHP induced the formation of proteolysis-resistant protein aggregates with crevices containing oil bodies. Induced changes may impact the supply of proteins and amino acids and subsequently the yield and composition (protein and lipid) of milk produced by dairy cows.
Gaussian Quantum Trajectories for the Variational Simulation of Open Quantum-Optical Systems
Authors: Verstraelen Wouter , Wouters Michiel
Published: August 2018

We construct a class of variational methods for the study of open quantum systems based on Gaussian ansatzes for the quantum trajectory formalism. Gaussianity in the conjugate position and momentum quadratures is distinguished from Gaussianity in density and phase. We apply these methods to a driven-dissipative Kerr cavity where we study dephasing and the stationary states throughout the bistability regime. Computational cost proves to be similar to the Truncated Wigner Approximation (TWA) method, with at most quadratic scaling in system size. Meanwhile, strong correspondence with the numerically-exact trajectory description is maintained so that these methods contain more information on the ensemble constitution than TWA and can be more robust.
Targeting Focal Adhesion Kinase Using Inhibitors of Protein-Protein Interactions
Authors: Mousson Antoine , Sick Emilie , Carl Philippe , Dujardin Denis , De Mey Jan , Rondé Philippe
Published: August 2018

Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) is a cytoplasmic non-receptor protein tyrosine kinase that is overexpressed and activated in many human cancers. FAK transmits signals to a wide range of targets through both kinase-dependant and independent mechanism thereby playing essential roles in cell survival, proliferation, migration and invasion. In the past years, small molecules that inhibit FAK kinase function have been developed and show reduced cancer progression and metastasis in several preclinical models. Clinical trials have been conducted and these molecules display limited adverse effect in patients. FAK contain multiple functional domains and thus exhibit both important scaffolding functions. In this review, we describe the major FAK interactions relevant in cancer signalling and discuss how such knowledge provide rational for the development of Protein-Protein Interactions (PPI) inhibitors.
An Information-Theoretic Framework for Evaluating Edge Bundling Visualization
Authors: Wu Jieting , Zhu Feiyu , Liu Xin , Yu Hongfeng
Published: August 2018

Edge bundling is a promising graph visualization approach to simplifying the visual result of a graph drawing. Plenty of edge bundling methods have been developed to generate diverse graph layouts. However, it is difficult to defend an edge bundling method with its resulting layout against other edge bundling methods as a clear theoretic evaluation framework is absent in the literature. In this paper, we propose an information-theoretic framework to evaluate the visual results of edge bundling techniques. We first illustrate the advantage of edge bundling visualizations for large graphs, and pinpoint the ambiguity resulting from drawing results. Second, we define and quantify the amount of information delivered by edge bundling visualization from the underlying network using information theory. Third, we propose a new algorithm to evaluate the resulting layouts of edge bundling using the amount of the mutual information between a raw network dataset and its edge bundling visualization. Comparison examples based on the proposed framework between different edge bundling techniques are presented.
Selection for Protein Stability Enriches for Epistatic Interactions
Authors: Posfai Anna , Zhou Juannan , Plotkin Joshua B. , Kinney Justin B. , McCandlish David M.
Published: August 2018

A now classical argument for the marginal thermodynamic stability of proteins explains the distribution of observed protein stabilities as a consequence of an entropic pull in protein sequence space. In particular, most sequences that are sufficiently stable to fold will have stabilities near the folding threshold. Here, we extend this argument to consider its predictions for epistatic interactions for the effects of mutations on the free energy of folding. Although there is abundant evidence to indicate that the effects of mutations on the free energy of folding are nearly additive and conserved over evolutionary time, we show that these observations are compatible with the hypothesis that a non-additive contribution to the folding free energy is essential for observed proteins to maintain their native structure. In particular, through both simulations and analytical results, we show that even very small departures from additivity are sufficient to drive this effect.
Removal of Barium, Cobalt, Strontium, and Zinc from Solution by Natural and Synthetic Allophane Adsorbents
Authors: Baldermann Andre , Grießbacher Andrea , Baldermann Claudia , Purgstaller Bettina , Letofsky-Papst Ilse , Kaufhold Stephan , Dietzel Martin
Published: August 2018

The capacity and mechanism of the adsorption of aqueous barium (Ba), cobalt (Co), strontium (Sr), and zinc (Zn) by Ecuadorian (NatAllo) and synthetic (SynAllo-1 and SynAllo-2) allophanes were studied as a function of contact time, pH, and metal ion concentration using kinetic and equilibrium experiments. The mineralogy, nano-structure, and chemical composition of the allophanes were characterized by X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and specific surface area analyses. The evolution of adsorption fitted to a pseudo-first-order reaction kinetics, where equilibrium between aqueous metal ions and allophane was reached within <10 min. The metal ion removal efficiencies varied from 0.7 to 99.7% at pH 4.0 to 8.5. At equilibrium, the adsorption behavior is better described by the Langmuir model than by the Dubinin–Radushkevich model, yielding sorption capacities of 10.6, 17.2, and 38.6 mg/g for Ba 2 + , 12.4, 19.3, and 29.0 mg/g for HCoO 2 − ; 7.2, 15.9, and 34.4 mg/g for Sr 2 + ; and 20.9, 26.9, and 36.9 mg/g for Zn 2 + , by NatAllo, SynAllo-2, and SynAllo-1, respectively. The uptake mechanism is based on a physical adsorption process rather than chemical ion exchange. Allophane holds great potential to effectively remove aqueous metal ions over a wide pH range and could be used instead of other commercially available sorbent materials such as zeolites, montmorillonite, carbonates, and phosphates for special wastewater treatment applications.
Distribution Characteristics and Ecological Risk Assessment of Tetracyclines Pollution in the Weihe River, China
Authors: Li Ying , Fang Jie , Yuan Xiaoyu , Chen Yangyang , Yang Hongbin , Fei Xiaohua
Published: August 2018

To examine the residual and distributions of tetracycline antibiotics in the Weihe River, SPE-UPLC (solid phase extraction-ultra performance liquid chromatography with UV-Vis detection) was employed to analyze the oxytetracycline (OTC), chlortetracycline (CTC), and minocycline (MC) of 41 surface water and 35 sediment samples collected from main streams, tributaries, and main sewage outlets. The results showed that: (1) The order of residual levels of tetracycline antibiotics in water and sediment from high to low was the following: OTC > CTC > MC., considering the water solubilities are 313 mg/L, 630 mg/L, and 50200mg/L and octanol water partition coefficients (Kow) are 7.94, 4.16, and 1.12 for OTC, CTC, and MC, respectively. Thus, the distribution of antibiotics was not only related to the basic properties of antibiotics, but also some environmental factors. The concentrations of OTC in water and sediment were in the range of 1.56–87.89 ng/L and 6.13–45.38 ng/g (mean value of 16.13 ng/L and 20.60 ng/g), respectively; while CTC was 1.07–26.78 ng/L and 6.17–32.29 ng/g (mean value of 4.96 ng/L and 14.48 ng/g), respectively; and MC was 0.28–12.35 ng/L and 4.80–29.74 ng/g (mean value of 1.70 ng/L and 12.96 ng/g), respectively. There were maximum concentrations in all sewage outlets. Compared with other areas in China, tetracyclines residual in the Weihe river were at a medium level; (2) in spatial distribution, the levels of tetracyclines in water and sediment from the middle and upper reaches were higher than the lower reaches. Meanwhile, the sewage outfalls and livestock farm waste water discharge appeared to be the main sources of tetracycline antibiotics in the Weihe River; (3) ecological risk assessment revealed that in main streams and tributaries, OTC and CTC may be at a low ecological risk level; while in sewage outfalls, they may represent a medium ecological risk level.
Pap Testing in a High-Income Country with Suboptimal Compliance Levels: A Survey on Acceptance Factors among Sicilian Women
Authors: Restivo Vincenzo , Costantino Claudio , Marras Antonello , Napoli Giuseppe , Scelfo Sabrina , Scuderi Tiziana , Casuccio Alessandra , Cernigliaro Achille , Giusti Angela , Spila Alegiani Stefania
Published: August 2018

Cervical cancer screening is uncommon, especially in low-income countries and among lower socioeconomic status people in high-income countries. The aims of this study were to examine the adherence of Sicilian women to Pap testing and to identify the determinants of this in a population with a secondary prevention attitude lower than high-income countries and the national average. A cross-sectional study called “Save Eva in Sicily” was conducted among all women aged 25–64 years, with a sample drawn by the list of general practitioners (GPs), using a proportional sampling scheme, stratified by age and resident population. The study outcome was performing a Pap test within the past three years. The association between the outcome and Pap test determinants was analyzed through a multivariable logistic regression. Among the 365 interviewed women, 66% (n = 243) had a Pap test during the last 3 years. On the other hand, 18% of the other women (n = 66) had performed at least one Pap test previously and 16% (n = 56) had never had a Pap test. In a multivariable model, GPs’ advice (adjusted OR 2.55; 95% CI 1.57–4.14) and perceived susceptibility (adjusted OR 3.24; 95% CI 1.92–5.48) increased the likelihood of the execution of a Pap test. The “Save Eva in Sicily” study identified GP advice and perceived cancer severity as the main correlates of Pap testing among Sicilian women, producing evidence regarding how policy makers can increase compliance. Interventions to increase Pap test adhesion should focus on stimulating GPs to identify patients who regularly do not undergo it and to recommend testing on a regular basis to their patients.
Representative Band Selection for Hyperspectral Image Classification
Authors: Xie Fuding , Li Fangfei , Lei Cunkuan , Ke Lina
Published: August 2018

The high dimensionality of hyperspectral images (HSIs) brings great difficulty for their later data processing. Band selection, as a commonly used dimension reduction technique, is the selection of optimal band combinations from the original bands, while attempting to remove the redundancy between bands and maintain a good classification ability. In this study, a novel hybrid filter-wrapper band selection method is proposed by a three-step strategy, i.e., band subset decomposition, band selection and band optimization. Based on the information gain (IG) and the spectral curve of the hyperspectral dataset, the band subset decomposition technique is improved, and a random selection strategy is suggested. The implementation of the first two steps addresses the problem of reducing inter-band redundancy. An optimization strategy based on a gray wolf optimizer (GWO) ensures that the selected band combination has a good classification ability. The classification performance of the selected band combination is verified on the Indian Pines, Pavia University and Salinas hyperspectral datasets with the aid of support vector machine (SVM) with a five-fold cross-validation. By comparing the proposed IG-GWO method with five state-of-the-art band selection approaches, the superiority of the proposed method for HSIs classification is experimentally demonstrated on three well-known hyperspectral datasets.
Study on the Effect of Demulsification Speed of Emulsified Asphalt based on Surface Characteristics of Aggregates
Authors: Tang Fanlong , Xu Guangji , Ma Tao , Kong Lingyun
Published: August 2018

Aggregate is an indispensable raw material for emulsified asphalt construction. For the purpose of explaining the influence of aggregate characteristics on the demulsification speed of emulsified asphalt, the surface energy and specific surface area (SSA) characteristics of aggregates were calculated based on the capillary rise method and the BET (Brunauer-Emmett-Teller) adsorption test. Afterwards, the effect of the surface energy and specific surface area of the aggregate on the emulsified asphalt demulsification speed was systematically studied by using ultraviolet spectroscopy as well as the orthogonal test. Experimental results indicate that the specific surface energy parameter of the aggregate is certainly related to the particle size of the aggregate. That is, the surface free energy of the unit system is proportional to the surface area A and the density of the interface unit. The specific surface area parameter of aggregates increases with the decrease of particle size, when the particle size is reduced to 600 mesh, the specific surface area parameters of the three aggregates selected in this paper tend to be consistent. Orthogonal experimental analysis demonstrates that the surface energy and specific surface area have an impact on the emulsion breaking speed and they are proven to be positively correlated. Meanwhile, in the case of small particle sizes, there is no statistically significant correlation between the physical properties of aggregates and the demulsification speed of emulsified asphalt, and the physical property of aggregates is not the main factor that affects the demulsification speed of the emulsified asphalt. On the contrary, the material properties of the aggregate, such as acid-base property and chargeability, are the dominant factors.
Effect of Zn and Ca Addition on Microstructure and Strength at Room Temperature of As-Cast and As-Extruded Mg-Sn Alloys
Authors: Zhang Yang , Song Leipeng , Chen Xiaoyang , Lu Yalin , Li Xiaoping
Published: August 2018

In this study, the effect of Zn and Ca addition on microstructure and strength at room temperature of Mg-Sn alloys was investigated by comparison of Mg-6Sn, Mg-6Sn-2Zn, and Mg-6Sn-2Zn-1Ca alloys in as-cast and as-extruded states. In the as-cast samples, α-Mg and Mg2Sn phases were the main phases of Mg-6Sn and Mg-6Sn-2Zn alloys, while the CaMgSn phase was formed in Mg-6Sn-2Zn-1Ca alloy due to the addition of the Ca element. Mg2Sn phase dissolved into the matrix during homogenization while CaMgSn phase remained. Incomplete dynamic recrystallization (DRX) took place in these alloys during hot extrusion. Fine Mg2Sn precipitates were observed in α-Mg matrix of as-extruded samples. Zn showed little influence on microstructure, whereas Ca reduced the volume fraction of un-DRXed grains and increased the size of DRXed grains. As-extruded Mg-Sn alloys exhibited typical fiber texture. The strength at room temperature of Mg-Sn alloys improved significantly after hot extrusion. The addition of Zn element was beneficial to the strength at room temperature of the Mg-6Sn alloy, while the further addition of Ca element was harmful to the strength. Among these alloys, the Mg-6Sn-2Zn alloy exhibited the best strength at room temperature in both as-cast and as-extruded states.
An Alternative Route to Obtain Carbon Quantum Dots from Photoluminescent Materials in Peat
Authors: Souza da Costa Rafael , Ferreira da Cunha Wiliam , Simenremis Pereira Nizamara , Marti Ceschin Artemis
Published: August 2018

Peat, an organic compound easily found in the soil (easy to acquire), has more than 50% elemental carbon in its composition and can be used as raw material to produce carbon quantum dots (CQDs, C-dots, Carbon Dots). In this work we describe two simple and low-cost routes for the acquisition of these photoluminescent materials based on peat. The final products were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), absorption (UV-Vis) and emission (PL) spectra and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). The produced CQDs have an average size of 3.5 nm and exhibit coloration between blue and green. In addition, it is possible to produce photoluminescence by means of the aromatic compounds also present in the composition of the peat, in turn exhibiting an intense green coloration. The results indicate great versatility of peat for the production of photoluminescent materials.
Health Concerns of Various Nanoparticles: A Review of Their in Vitro and in Vivo Toxicity
Authors: Ajdary Marziyeh , Moosavi Mohammad Amin , Rahmati Marveh , Falahati Mojtaba , Mahboubi Mohammad , Mandegary Ali , Jangjoo Saranaz , Mohammadinejad Reza , Varma Rajender S.
Published: August 2018

Nanoparticles (NPs) are currently used in diagnosis and treatment of many human diseases, including autoimmune diseases and cancer. However, cytotoxic effects of NPs on normal cells and living organs is a severe limiting factor that hinders their use in clinic. In addition, diversity of NPs and their physico-chemical properties, including particle size, shape, surface area, dispersity and protein corona effects are considered as key factors that have a crucial impact on their safe or toxicological behaviors. Current studies on toxic effects of NPs are aimed to identify the targets and mechanisms of their side effects, with a focus on elucidating the patterns of NP transport, accumulation, degradation, and elimination, in both in vitro and in vitro models. NPs can enter the body through inhalation, skin and digestive routes. Consequently, there is a need for reliable information about effects of NPs on various organs in order to reveal their efficacy and impact on health. This review covers the existing knowledge base on the subject that hopefully prepares us better to address these challenges.
Cement-Based Materials Containing Graphene Oxide and Polyvinyl Alcohol Fiber: Mechanical Properties, Durability, and Microstructure
Authors: Jiang Wenguang , Li Xiangguo , Lv Yang , Zhou Mingkai , Liu Zhuolin , Ren Zhaofeng , Yu Zhuqing
Published: August 2018

The influence of graphene oxide (GO) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) fiber on the mechanical performance, durability, and microstructure of cement-based materials was investigated in this study. The results revealed that compared with a control sample, the mechanical strength and durability of cement-based materials were significantly improved by adding PVA fiber and GO. The compressive and flexural strength at 28 d were increased by 30.2% and 39.3%, respectively. The chloride migration coefficient at 28 d was reduced from 7.3 × 10−12 m2/s to 4.3 × 10−12 m2/s. Under a sulfate corrosion condition for 135 d, the compressive and flexural strength still showed a 13.9% and 12.3% gain, respectively. Furthermore, from the Mercury Intrusion Porosimetry (MIP) test, with the incorporation of GO, the cumulative porosity decreased from more than 0.13 cm3/g to about 0.03 cm3/g, and the proportion of large capillary pores reduced from around 80% to 30% and that of medium capillary pores increased from approximately 20% to 50%. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) images showed a significant amount of hydration products adhering to the surface of PVA fiber in the GO and PVA fiber modified sample. The addition of GO coupling with PVA fiber in cement-based materials could promote hydration of cement, refine the microstructure, and significantly improve mechanical strength and durability.
Stimuli Responsive Polymeric Systems for Cancer Therapy
Authors: Alsuraifi Ali , Curtis Anthony , Lamprou Dimitrios A. , Hoskins Clare
Published: August 2018

Nanoscale polymers systems have dominated the revolution of drug delivery advancement. Their potential in the fight against cancer is unrivalled with other technologies. Their functionality increase, targeting ability and stimuli responsive nature have led to a major boom in research focus. This review article concentrates on the use of these smart polymers in cancer therapy. Nanotechnologies have shown potential as drug carriers leading to increased drug efficacy and penetration. Multifunctional smart carriers which can release their payload upon an external or internal trigger such as pH or temperature are proving to be major frontrunners in the development of effective strategies to overcome this disease with minimal patient side effects.
Autonomy as a Social Role and the Function of Diversity
Authors: Giovagnoli Raffaela
Published: August 2018

In the ambit of the debate on “personal autonomy”, we propose to intend “personal autonomy” in a social sense. We undertake this move because we think that autonomy is compatible with socialization and we will give reasons for this claim. Moreover, we must consider the role of the wide variety of informational sources we are exposed to that influence our behavior. Social background represents the ontological ground from which we develop the capacity for autonomy; at the same time, interaction with others (real or virtual) enlarges the possibility for autonomous judgements. Our attempt is, first, to try to sketch a social notion of personal autonomy and, second, to elucidate the connection between autonomy and the exposition to informational and social diversity.
Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage: Bibliometric Overview
Authors: Durán-Sánchez Amador , Álvarez-García José , Del Río-Rama María de la Cruz , Oliveira Cristiana
Published: August 2018

This paper reviews the academic literature related to religious tourism through a bibliometric study and citations of articles indexed in the multidisciplinary database Web of Science (WoS). Through an advanced search by terms, a representative set of 103 documents that form the ad-hoc basis of the analysis were selected. In view of the results, it is concluded that the United States is at the forefront of research, with almost 20% of the articles affiliated to one of its centres, mainly university centres. Publications on religious tourism are currently in an exponential growth stage, supported by the annual increase in the number of citations received. These papers are published in a small number of journals well positioned in their JCR category, classified within the field of Social Sciences Research.
Mapping and Classification of Ecologically Sensitive Marine Habitats Using Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Imagery and Object-Based Image Analysis (OBIA)
Authors: Ventura Daniele , Bonifazi Andrea , Gravina Maria Flavia , Belluscio Andrea , Ardizzone Giandomenico
Published: August 2018

Nowadays, emerging technologies, such as long-range transmitters, increasingly miniaturized components for positioning, and enhanced imaging sensors, have led to an upsurge in the availability of new ecological applications for remote sensing based on unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), sometimes referred to as “drones”. In fact, structure-from-motion (SfM) photogrammetry coupled with imagery acquired by UAVs offers a rapid and inexpensive tool to produce high-resolution orthomosaics, giving ecologists a new way for responsive, timely, and cost-effective monitoring of ecological processes. Here, we adopted a lightweight quadcopter as an aerial survey tool and object-based image analysis (OBIA) workflow to demonstrate the strength of such methods in producing very high spatial resolution maps of sensitive marine habitats. Therefore, three different coastal environments were mapped using the autonomous flight capability of a lightweight UAV equipped with a fully stabilized consumer-grade RGB digital camera. In particular we investigated a Posidonia oceanica seagrass meadow, a rocky coast with nurseries for juvenile fish, and two sandy areas showing biogenic reefs of Sabelleria alveolata. We adopted, for the first time, UAV-based raster thematic maps of these key coastal habitats, produced after OBIA classification, as a new method for fine-scale, low-cost, and time saving characterization of sensitive marine environments which may lead to a more effective and efficient monitoring and management of natural resources.
Numerical Analysis of Microwave Scattering from Layered Sea Ice Based on the Finite Element Method
Authors: Xu Xu , Brekke Camilla , Doulgeris Anthony P. , Melandsø Frank
Published: August 2018

A two-dimensional scattering model based on the Finite Element Method (FEM) is built for simulating the microwave scattering of sea ice, which is a layered medium. The scattering problem solved by the FEM is formulated following a total- and scattered-field decomposition strategy. The model set-up is first validated with good agreements by comparing the results of the FEM with those of the small perturbation method and the method of moment. Subsequently, the model is applied to two cases of layered sea ice to study the effect of subsurface scattering. The first case is newly formed sea ice which has scattering from both air–ice and ice–water interfaces. It is found that the backscattering has a strong oscillation with the variation of sea ice thickness. The found oscillation effects can increase the difficulty of retrieving the thickness of newly formed sea ice from the backscattering data. The second case is first-year sea ice with C-shaped salinity profiles. The scattering model accounts for the variations in the salinity profile by approximating the profile as consisting of a number of homogeneous layers. It is found that the salinity profile variations have very little influence on the backscattering for both C- and L-bands. The results show that the sea ice can be considered to be homogeneous with a constant salinity value in modelling the backscattering and it is difficult to sense the salinity profile of sea ice from the backscattering data, because the backscattering is insensitive to the salinity profile.
Data Feature Analysis of Non-Scanning Multi Target Millimeter-Wave Radar in Traffic Flow Detection Applications
Authors: Liu Haiqing , Li Na , Guan Deyong , Rai Laxmisha
Published: August 2018

The millimeter-wave radar has been widely used in traffic applications. However, little research has been done to install the millimeter-wave radar on the top of a road for detecting road traffic flow at a downward looking direction. In this paper, the vehicle parameters, including the distance, angle and radar cross-section energy, are collected by practical experiments in the aforementioned application scenario. The data features are analyzed from the dimensions of single parameter sampling characteristics and multi-parameter relationships. Further, the correlations of different parameter series are given using the grey correlation analysis method. For millimeter-wave radar used in the traffic flow detection, our work can definitely provide significant support for further intelligent transportation applications, such as vehicle trajectory tracking, traffic flow estimation and traffic event identification.
Family Socialisation Styles and Hostility in the Adolescent Population
Authors: Aymerich María del Milagro , Musitu Gonzalo , Palmero Francisco
Published: August 2018

The affective involvement of parents in the socialization of their children is fundamental for the proper psychological and emotional adjustment of adolescents, although we know that it is difficult to study. In this research, the relationship between parenting style and hostility was analysed in Spanish adolescents. Five-hundred and thirty-six adolescents participated in this study (53.7% males and 46.3% females), between the ages of 12 and 18 (M = 15.76, SD = 1.43), enrolled in 4 compulsory Secondary Education centers of the Castellon province. Family socialization was evaluated through the parental styles: authoritative, indulgent, authoritarian and negligent, and hostility, through the Cook–Medley Hostility Scale Criteria assessment. A multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) was carried out with multiple regression analysis. The results showed that hostility and compound hostility are higher in adolescents from authoritarian and authoritative families than in adolescents from indulgent families. It was also observed that the Mother’s Strictness/Imposition had the greatest effect on hostility, as well as a low acceptance/involvement of the father. Regarding parental styles, it was observed that mother’s deprivation, physical coercion, and mother’s verbal coercion were the greatest predictors of hostility. No differences were observed depending on the gender.
Conditions for the Sustainable Development of Underground Transport in the Ljubljana Basin
Authors: Jovičić Vojkan , Volk Boštjan , Logar Janko
Published: August 2018

In Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia, surface road traffic prevails and there is a strong need to free urban areas and use underground space for public transport. As a result of excessive use of combustion engines, the concentration of particulate matter and CO2 emissions in Ljubljana is high and is of public concern. For this purpose, several studies have been made in which sustainable development of underground transport has been considered as an alternative for rail, inter-rail and city traffic. The city of Ljubljana lies on quite a diverse geological substratum, consisting of alluvial and lacustrine deposits. A complex hydrogeological situation comprising a high water table and perched water supply zones located within the urban environment presents a particular challenge for underground construction. For this reason, a research study concerning the sustainable development of underground traffic in the Ljubljana Basin was carried out. The results of the study presented in the paper highlight the possible technological conditions for the development of underground transport with a particular emphasis on sustainability and environmental impact.