bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pleistocene Paleoart of Australia
Authors: Bednarik Robert
Published: February 2014

Pleistocene rock art is abundant in Australia, but has so far received only limited attention. Instead there has been a trend, begun over a century ago, to search for presumed depictions of extinct megafauna and the tracks of such species. All these notions have been discredited, however, and the current evidence suggests that figurative depiction was introduced only during the Holocene, never reaching Tasmania. Nevertheless, some Australian rock art has been attributed to the Pleistocene by direct dating methods, and its nature implies that a significant portion of the surviving corpus of rock art may also be of such age. In particular much of Australian cave art is of the Ice Age, or appears to be so, and any heavily weathered or patinated petroglyphs on particularly hard rocks are good candidates for Pleistocene antiquity. On the other hand, there is very limited evidence of mobiliary paleoart of such age in Australia.
Acknowledgement to Reviewers of the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health in 2013
Authors: IJERPH Editorial Office
Published: February 2014

The editors of the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health would like to express their sincere gratitude to the following reviewers for assessing manuscripts in 2013 [...]
Intelligence Is What the Intelligence Test Measures. Seriously
Authors: Van der Maas Han , Kan Kees-Jan , Borsboom Denny
Published: February 2014

The mutualism model, an alternative for the g-factor model of intelligence, implies a formative measurement model in which “g” is an index variable without a causal role. If this model is accurate, the search for a genetic of brain instantiation of “g” is deemed useless. This also implies that the (weighted) sum score of items of an intelligence test is just what it is: a weighted sum score. Preference for one index above the other is a pragmatic issue that rests mainly on predictive value.
Acknowledgement to Reviewers of the Journal of Low Power Electronics and Applications in 2013
Authors: JLPEA Editorial Office
Published: February 2014

The editors of the Journal of Low Power Electronics and Applications would like to express their sincere gratitude to the following reviewers for assessing manuscripts in 2013. [...]
Surface Finish and Residual Stresses Induced by Orthogonal Dry Machining of AA7075-T651
Authors: Jomaa Walid , Songmene Victor , Bocher Philippe
Published: February 2014

The surface finish was extensively studied in usual machining processes (turning, milling, and drilling). For these processes, the surface finish is strongly influenced by the cutting feed and the tool nose radius. However, a basic understanding of tool/surface finish interaction and residual stress generation has been lacking. This paper aims to investigate the surface finish and residual stresses under the orthogonal cutting since it can provide this information by avoiding the effect of the tool nose radius. The orthogonal machining of AA7075-T651 alloy through a series of cutting experiments was performed under dry conditions. Surface finish was studied using height and amplitude distribution roughness parameters. SEM and EDS were used to analyze surface damage and built-up edge (BUE) formation. An analysis of the surface topography showed that the surface roughness was sensitive to changes in cutting parameters. It was found that the formation of BUE and the interaction between the tool edge and the iron-rich intermetallic particles play a determinant role in controlling the surface finish during dry orthogonal machining of the AA7075-T651 alloy. Hoop stress was predominantly compressive on the surface and tended to be tensile with increased cutting speed. The reverse occurred for the surface axial stress. The smaller the cutting feed, the greater is the effect of cutting speed on both axial and hoop stresses. By controlling the cutting speed and feed, it is possible to generate a benchmark residual stress state and good surface finish using dry machining.
Numerical Simulation and Optimization of Directional Solidification Process of Single Crystal Superalloy Casting
Authors: Zhang Hang , Xu Qingyan , Liu Baicheng
Published: February 2014

The rapid development of numerical modeling techniques has led to more accurate results in modeling metal solidification processes. In this study, the cellular automaton-finite difference (CA-FD) method was used to simulate the directional solidification (DS) process of single crystal (SX) superalloy blade samples. Experiments were carried out to validate the simulation results. Meanwhile, an intelligent model based on fuzzy control theory was built to optimize the complicate DS process. Several key parameters, such as mushy zone width and temperature difference at the cast-mold interface, were recognized as the input variables. The input variables were functioned with the multivariable fuzzy rule to get the output adjustment of withdrawal rate (v) (a key technological parameter). The multivariable fuzzy rule was built, based on the structure feature of casting, such as the relationship between section area, and the delay time of the temperature change response by changing v, and the professional experience of the operator as well. Then, the fuzzy controlling model coupled with CA-FD method could be used to optimize v in real-time during the manufacturing process. The optimized process was proven to be more flexible and adaptive for a steady and stray-grain free DS process.
Mechanical Properties and Durability of CNT Cement Composites
Authors: Del Carmen Camacho María , Galao Oscar , Baeza Francisco , Zornoza Emilio , Garcés Pedro
Published: February 2014

In the present paper, changes in mechanical properties of Portland cement-based mortars due to the addition of carbon nanotubes (CNT) and corrosion of embedded steel rebars in CNT cement pastes are reported. Bending strength, compression strength, porosity and density of mortars were determined and related to the CNT dosages. CNT cement paste specimens were exposed to carbonation and chloride attacks, and results on steel corrosion rate tests were related to CNT dosages. The increase in CNT content implies no significant variations of mechanical properties but higher steel corrosion intensities were observed.
Improvement of Membrane Performances to Enhance the Yield of Vanillin in a Pervaporation Reactor
Authors: Camera-Roda Giovanni , Cardillo Antonio , Loddo Vittorio , Palmisano Leonardo , Parrino Francesco
Published: February 2014

In membrane reactors, the interaction of reaction and membrane separation can be exploited to achieve a “process intensification”, a key objective of sustainable development. In the present work, the properties that the membrane must have to obtain this result in a pervaporation reactor are analyzed and discussed. Then, the methods to enhance these properties are investigated for the photocatalytic synthesis of vanillin, which represents a case where the recovery from the reactor of vanillin by means of pervaporation while it is produced allows a substantial improvement of the yield, since its further oxidation is thus prevented. To this end, the phenomena that control the permeation of both vanillin and the reactant (ferulic acid) are analyzed, since they ultimately affect the performances of the membrane reactor. The results show that diffusion of the aromatic compounds takes place in the presence of low concentration gradients, so that the process is controlled by other phenomena, in particular by the equilibrium with the vapor at the membrane-permeate interface. On this basis, it is demonstrated that the performances are enhanced by increasing the membrane thickness and/or the temperature, whereas the pH begins to limit the process only at values higher than 6.5.
Solidification Behavior of Polymer Solution during Membrane Preparation by Thermally Induced Phase Separation
Authors: Ishigami Toru , Nii Yoko , Ohmukai Yoshikage , Rajabzadeh Saeid , Matsuyama Hideto
Published: February 2014

The solidification behavior of poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) solution during membrane preparation by thermally induced phase separation (TIPS) was investigated. Apparatus newly developed in our laboratory was used to quantitatively measure membrane stiffness during phase separation. In this apparatus, a cooling polymer solution, placed on a stage, is moved upwards and the surface of the polymer solution contacts a sphere attached to the tip of a needle. The displacement of a blade spring attached to the needle is then measured by a laser displacement sensor. Different phase separation modes, such as liquid-liquid (L-L) phase separation and solid-liquid (S-L) phase separation (polymer crystallization) were investigated. In the case of S-L phase separation, the stiffness of the solution surface began to increase significantly just before termination of crystallization. In contrast, L-L phase separation delayed solidification of the solution. This was because mutual contact of the spherulites was obstructed by droplets of polymer-lean phase formed during L-L phase separation. Thus, the solidification rate was slower for the L-L phase separation system than for the S-L phase separation system.
Local Constructions of Vulnerability and Resilience in the Context of Climate Change. A Comparison of Lübeck and Rostock
Authors: Christmann Gabriela , Balgar Karsten , Mahlkow Nicole
Published: February 2014

Climate change is globally defined as a “reality”. This does not mean however that the way in which it is understood is the same all over the world. Rather, perceptions may differ at different places and times, even if physical and geographical conditions are similar. For the time being, this phenomenon has not been dealt with on a theoretical-conceptual level. The article will address this desiderate. Based on the approaches of social constructivism as well as actor-network theory, a theoretical concept will be suggested as a heuristic model for empirical analysis. By the examples of Lübeck and Rostock, two cities on Germany’s Baltic coast, it will be shown that climate change related perceptions of vulnerability and resilience may build on physical-material aspects but that they are above all considerably interwoven with specific cultural and social patterns of interpretation. In the framework of the local discourse in Lübeck, it is the strong Hanseatic tradition which consumes the climate change issue, whereas in Rostock it is the problems and historical breaks of a transformation society which shape the way of viewing climate change.
Assessment of Rice Inbred Lines and Hybrids under Low Fertilizer Levels in Senegal
Authors: Kanfany Ghislain , El-Namaky Raafat , Ndiaye Kabirou , Traore Karim , Ortiz Rodomiro
Published: February 2014

This research was conducted at the Africa Rice Sahel Regional Station (near Saint Louis, Senegal) during two wet seasons (i.e., July to November) in 2010 and 2011 with the aim of assessing the performances of introduced hybrid cultivars along with an inbred check cultivar under low input fertilizer levels. The five treatments used in this study were (a) the control (without any fertilizer application), (b) 37.5–4.4–8.3 kg N–P–K ha−1, (c) half of recommend application in Senegal (75–8.75–16.5 kg N–P–K ha−1), (d) 112.5–13.3–24.8 kg N–P–K ha−1, and (e) the recommended application in the country (150–17.5–33 kg N–P–K ha−1). There were significant year and cultivar effects for all traits. The fertilizer levels affected significantly most traits except panicle length and 1000-grain weight. The year × fertilizer level and year × cultivar interactions were significant for most traits, but the fertilizer level × cultivar and year × fertilizer level × cultivar interactions were not significant. Days to maturity, plant height, panicle per m2, and grain yield increased with increasing fertilizer levels during the two wet seasons. The grain yield of rice hybrids (bred by the International Rice Research Institute) was not significantly higher than that of the check cultivar widely grown in Senegal. The assessment of other rice hybrid germplasm showing more adaptability to low fertilizer levels will facilitate further hybrid cultivar development in Africa.
Electrophysiological Characterization of Ts6 and Ts7, K+ Channel Toxins Isolated through an Improved Tityus serrulatus Venom Purification Procedure
Authors: Cerni Felipe , Pucca Manuela , Peigneur Steve , Cremonez Caroline , Bordon Karla , Tytgat Jan , Arantes Eliane
Published: February 2014

In Brazil, Tityus serrulatus (Ts) is the species responsible for most of the scorpion related accidents. Among the Ts toxins, the neurotoxins with action on potassium channels (α-KTx) present high interest, due to their effect in the envenoming process and the ion channel specificity they display. The α-KTx toxins family is the most relevant because its toxins can be used as therapeutic tools for specific target cells. The improved isolation method provided toxins with high resolution, obtaining pure Ts6 and Ts7 in two chromatographic steps. The effects of Ts6 and Ts7 toxins were evaluated in 14 different types of potassium channels using the voltage-clamp technique with two-microelectrodes. Ts6 toxin shows high affinity for Kv1.2, Kv1.3 and Shaker IR, blocking these channels in low concentrations. Moreover, Ts6 blocks the Kv1.3 channel in picomolar concentrations with an IC50 of 0.55 nM and therefore could be of valuable assistance to further designing immunosuppressive therapeutics. Ts7 toxin blocks multiple subtypes channels, showing low selectivity among the channels analyzed. This work also stands out in its attempt to elucidate the residues important for interacting with each channel and, in the near future, to model a desired drug.
L’économie politique de l’« aide boomerang » dans la Région autonome du Tibet
Authors: Fischer Andrew Martin
Published: February 2014

Cet article explique comment la contestation de la domination chinoise au Tibet est exacerbée par la croissance rapide que les régions tibétaines de Chine occidentale connaissent depuis le milieu des années 1990. Dans un contexte général où les populations tibétaines continuent à ne pas avoir accès au pouvoir politique, les stratégies de développement récentes ont abouti à faire affluer une quantité massive de subventions et d’investissements subventionnés par le canal du gouvernement lui-même ou celui d’entreprises chinoises dont le siège se trouve hors des régions tibétaines. Ces stratégies accentuent une tendance déjà très fortement marquée à une externalisation de l’économie locale. L’analyse de ces processus offre un éclairage essentiel sur les récentes explosions de tension dans les régions occupées.
Les « nouveaux villages socialistes » en Région autonome du Tibet : remodeler le paysage rural, contrôler les populations
Authors: Robin Françoise
Published: February 2014

L’établissement des «nouveaux villages socialistes » (2006-2010) en Région autonome du Tibet vise la relocalisation de 50 à 80 % des ruraux, dont la pratique agricole et pastorale est considérée comme «arriérée » et «non scientifique » . En théorie, cette politique a pour objectif l’avènement d’une ruralité «hygiénique » et «entreprenante » . Ce projet social de vaste ampleur, encore peu étudié, aura sans aucun doute des répercussions profondes sur la ruralité tibétaine.
Au loin l’harmonie. La gestion de la crise tibétaine de 2008 par les autorités chinoises
Authors: Bonnin Michel
Published: February 2014

La crise tibétaine a entaché le succès des jeux Olympiques de 2008 pour une fraction assez importante de l’opinion internationale. La gestion de cette crise comporte encore beaucoup de zones d’ombre, mais il est clair qu’elle n’a été que le prolongement d’une politique du PCC à l’égard du Tibet marquée depuis de nombreuses années par le refus du dialogue et du compromis, et par la tentative de résoudre les problèmes par un mélange de contrôle répressif et de modernisation économique. Les dirigeants actuels sont trop impliqués dans cette politique de l’affrontement pour que l’on puisse imaginer une évolution significative dans le court terme. Cependant, à moyen terme, une autre politique, plus en accord avec les idées d’ «harmonie » et d’ «émergence pacifique » , pourrait apparaître à une nouvelle génération de dirigeants comme plus conforme aux intérêts du pays.
La politisation de l’appareil policier et judiciaire
Authors: Lam Willy Wo-Lap
Published: February 2014

Le Parti communiste chinois continue d’exercer un contrôle politique sur l’appareil policier et judiciaire en dépit d’une volonté affirmée de s’aligner sur les pratiques internationales. Cet article montre comment, à la suite de la reprise en main de la situation par le pouvoir après le 4 Juin 1989, la direction du PCC a renforcé son emprise sur les tribunaux et parquets afin de pouvoir mieux réprimer les dissidents, séparatistes et autres éléments subversifs. En dépit du slogan martelé par Hu Jintao d’un «gouvernement du pays par la loi » , la perspective d’aboutir à un véritable État de droit ou à une indépendance du système judiciaire demeure encore bien illusoire.
Le Parti communiste chinois et le 4 Juin, ou comment s’en sortir et comment s’en débarrasser
Authors: Bonnin Michel
Published: February 2014

Le mouvement démocratique du printemps 1989 et le massacre du 4 juin ont constitué un très grave défi à la légitimité du Parti communiste chinois. Vingt ans après, il apparaît que le Parti a réussi à le surmonter au prix d’un retour aux fondamentaux politiques de l’Etat-Parti léniniste et d’un recours au nationalisme comme légitimité de remplacement. Mais, malgré tous ses efforts pour occulter et déformer l’histoire de la «tourmente » de 1989 (dont témoignent les manuels scolaires et universitaires), il n’a pas réussi à se débarrasser de cette tache historique. La question de la reconnaissance des responsabilités et celle d’une éventuelle «réconciliation » continuent à se poser.
Les événements de Tiananmen et le mouvement pour la démocratie à Hong Kong
Authors: Cheng Joseph Y.S.
Published: February 2014

Tout en refusant de remettre en question de quelque manière que ce soit le monopole du Parti communiste sur le pouvoir, les dirigeants chinois ont relevé avec habileté les nouveaux défis de l’ouverture économique et des réformes durant la période qui a suivi les événements de Tian’anmen. Conforté dans sa conviction que la croissance économique demeure la clé de la stabilité sociale et politique de Hong Kong, le gouvernement chinois continue de privilégier l’idée d’un front uni dans la Région administrative spéciale, sans intention d’introduire une politique authentiquement démocratique.
Kang Xiaoguang et le projet d’une religion confucéenne. Itinéraire d’un intellectuel engagé
Authors: Ownby David
Published: February 2014

Cet article analyse le parcours académique et intellectuel de Kang Xiaoguang, éminent défenseur du confucianisme et de son instauration comme religion d’État en Chine. Il démontre que le plaidoyer de Kang est ancré dans une vision utilitaire de la religion, et dans un désir pragmatique d’encourager le développement de relations saines entre l’État et la société dans la Chine du XXIe siècle.
Le réalisme face à un dilemme. L’attrait de l’«accent Jia Zhangke»
Authors: M. K. Cheung Esther
Published: February 2014

En cherchant à construire une mémoire individuelle et collective des transformations sans précédent de la Chine postsocialiste, Jia Zhangke a produit un ensemble de films réalistes à l’attrait personnel et authentique remarquable. Cet article étudie la diversité d’accents, les images de l’authenticité, les ambiances quotidiennes et la nouvelle approche des objets matériels dans ses films, au croisement du local et du global. Situés dans les trois dimensions de la vérité, de l’identité et de la représentation, les oeuvres de Jia démontrent la puissante performativité des différents modes de réalisme apparus dans la Chine en transition de l’économie planifiée vers le marché et la mondialisation.
Filmer le pouvoir et les sans-pouvoir. Crime et châtiment (2007) et Pétition (2009) de Zhao Liang
Authors: Li Jie
Published: February 2014

Cet article s’intéresse à deux documentaires récents (Crime et châtiment, 2007 et Pétition, 2009) d’un cinéaste encore peu connu, Zhao Liang. Les observations pertinentes qui s’y développent sur les relations entre l’État et la société dans la Chine contemporaine donnent une visibilité à ceux qui ne sont pas (ou peu) représentés. Ils critiquent la mystification des images véhiculées par les médias, et montrent les multiples et complexes façons dont le pouvoir est lié à la surveillance et à la visibilité. Ainsi le cinéaste, sa caméra, et les spectateurs sont impliqués dans des relations de pouvoir au moment où nous jetons des regards voyeurs, panoptiques, activistes, empathiques ou critiques sur les représentants du pouvoir de l’État et sur les sans-droits.
Des images impossibles à contenir. Le nouveau cinéma chinois depuis 1995
Authors: Zhangke Jia
Published: February 2014

Jia Zhangke, dont l’activité de réalisateur s’est accompagnée depuis longtemps de réflexions théoriques sous forme de courts articles, en a récemment publié un recueil intitulé Jia Xiang. Jia Zhangke dianying shouji 1996-2008. Pai dianying shi wo jiejin ziyou de fangshi, Pékin, Presses de l’Université de Pékin, 2009 (Pensées de Jia. Notes sur le cinéma 1996-2008. Faire du cinéma est ma manière d’approcher la liberté). Rassemblant un grand nombre de textes importants, cette publication marque un moment rétrospectif dans son travail. Trois essais ont été choisis pour être traduits dans ce numéro : «Des images impossibles à contenir » écrit en 2002, mais qui est aussi le développement de deux essais célèbres publiés en 1998, «L’âge du cinéma amateur est sur le point de revenir » et «Maintenant que nous avons les VCD et les caméras numériques » . L’article retrace la manière dont, pour Jia Zhangke, le cinéma indépendant s’est développé en Chine depuis le début des années 1990. Il est suivi par un texte sur son documentaire In Public, qui traite de manière plus spécifique de l’espace comme source d’inspiration au cinéma. En 2009 également, pour accompagner la sortie de son dernier film 24 City, Jia a publié un recueil d’entretiens sur lesquels le film est basé, et qui s’intitule : Zhongguo gongren fangtan lu. Ershisi cheng ji (Entretiens avec des ouvriers chinois. 24 City), avec pour sous-titre (en anglais dans l’original), «Une mémoire collective de la classe ouvrière chinoise » , Jinan, Shandong huabao chubanshe. La préface de ce recueil est aussi incluse dans ce numéro. (NDLR)
Construire une conscience publique. Une conversation avec Jia Zhangke
Authors: Zhangke Jia , Veg Sebastian
Published: February 2014

Ce texte est la transcription de l’enregistrement d’une discussion publique organisée le 13 avril 2009 par le Hong Kong International Film Festival et le Centre d’études français sur la Chine contemporaine, dans le cadre du symposium «Entre le public et le privé : un espace pour le cinéma indépendant chinois » . Les réponses de Jia Zhangke à deux questions du public ont été insérées dans la discussion aux endroits où elles semblent les plus pertinentes.
« Mon travail représente une forme d’action participative ». Entretien avec Ai Xiaoming
Authors: Xiaoming Ai , Yurong Peng , Pernin Judith
Published: February 2014

Ai Xiaoming, née à Wuhan en 1953, est professeure retraitée du Département de littérature de l’Université Sun Yat-Sen de Canton. Après une carrière universitaire en littérature comparée, elle se distingue en tant qu’intellectuelle engagée en s’impliquant dans un premier temps dans la défense des droits des femmes et des homosexuels. Elle organise alors de nombreuses actions ayant pour but de sensibiliser à la discrimination et à la violence exercée à l’égard des femmes, dont la plus célèbre est la traduction et la mise en scène, avec ses étudiants, des Monologues du vagin. Utilisé tout d’abord comme un outil visant à enregistrer et diffuser ces activités dans un cadre purement pédagogique, la vidéo devient rapidement, pour Ai Xiaoming le moyen de rendre compte des cas de violation des droits des citoyens par les institutions publiques en Chine. Ces dernières années, elle a constitué un corpus d’une dizaine de documentaires indépendants abordant des sujets tels que l’élection des comités de village, le droit de propriété des terres, le VIH/ SIDA, et le scandale qui a suivi le tremblement de terre du Sichuan. (JP)
Efficacy of Entecavir in Chronic Hepatitis B Patients with Persistently Normal Alanine Aminotransferase: Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study
Authors: Tseng Kuo-Chih , Chen Chi-Yi , Tsai Hung-Wen , Chang Ting-Tsung , Chuang Wan-Long , Hsu Ping-I , Liu Wen-Chun , Cheng Pin-Nan
Published: February 2014

Background

It is still inconclusive whether chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients with persistently normal alanine aminotransferase (PNALT) should receive nucleoside/nucleotide analogues. This study is to evaluate the efficacy of entecavir in improving liver histology in CHB patients with PNALT.

Methods

In this prospective randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, 380 CHB patients with PNALT were screened, 82 patients received biopsy and 43 patients met the HBV DNA and histology criteria and were randomly assigned to either an entecavir or placebo group for 52 weeks, with 22 and 21 in each group, respectively. The primary objective was to evaluate histological improvement. The secondary objective is to evaluate virological efficacy.

Results

A total of eight (38.1%) patients in the entecavir group and eight (44.4%) in the placebo group ( P=0.752) showed histological improvement. The decrease in total Knodell scores (±sd) was 1.3 ±1.9 in the entecavir group and 1.5 ±2.2 in the placebo group ( P=0.803). The subjects with undetectable HBV DNA at week 52 were 16/21 (76.2%) in the entecavir group and 0/18 (0%) in the placebo group ( P<0.001). The mean HBV DNA reduction from baseline to week 52 was 4.73 ±0.83 in the entecavir and 0.25 ±0.81 in the placebo group ( P<0.001).

Conclusions

CHB patients with PNALT receiving entecavir therapy for one year achieved virological efficacy, but not histological benefit. ClinicalTrials.gov number NCT01833611.
Formulation of Seismic Passive Resistance of Retaining Wall Backfilled with c-F Soil
Authors: Ghosh Sima
Published: February 2014

Knowledge of passive resistance is extremely important and it is the basic data required for the design of geotechnical structures like the retaining wall moving towards the backfill, the foundations, the anchors etc. An attempt is made to develop a formulation for the evolution of seismic passive resistance of a retaining wall supporting c-F backfill using pseudo-static method. Considering a planar rupture surface, the formulation is developed in such a way so that a single critical wedge surface is generated. The variation of seismic passive earth pressure coefficient are studied for wide range of variation of parameters like angle of internal friction, angle of wall friction, cohesion, adhesion, surcharge, unit weight of the backfill material, height and seismic coefficients.
Assessment of Liquefaction Potential Index Using Deterministic and Probabilistic Approaches
Authors: James Naveen , Sitharam T. G. , Vipin K. S.
Published: February 2014

Liquefaction is a devastating effect of earthquakes resulting in sudden decrease in shear strength due to excess pore water pressure generation, resulting in differential settlement of structure, inducing severe damages. Assessment of liquefaction hazard for a given site is important for planning out mitigation works. In this paper the liquefaction susceptibility using deterministic and probabilistic methodologies was assessed and results are presented in terms of liquefaction potential index (LPI) for a nuclear power plant site. The results of this study are explored further in the article.
The use of co-digested solid fraction as feedstock for biogas plants
Authors: Dinuccio Elio , Gioelli Fabrizio , Cuk Dalibor , Rollè Luca , Balsari Paolo
Published: February 2014

A comparative study was set up in order to assess the technical feasibility of the long-term reuse of the mechanically separated co-digested solid fraction as a feedstock for anaerobic digestion plants (ADP). The biogas yields of two feedstock mixtures (A and B) were assessed in mesophilic conditions (40°C±2°C) using 6 lab-scale continuous stirredtank reactors. Feedstock mixture A (control) consisted of pig slurry (70%), farmyard manure (4%), sorghum silage (12%) and maize silage (14%). Feedstock mixture B was the same as the control plus the solid fraction derived from the mechanical separation of the output raw codigestate collected from the reactors. All reactors were fed simultaneously, three times a week, over a period of nine month. According to the study results, the reuse of the co-digested solid fraction as feedstock for ADP could increase the methane yield by approximately 4%. However, ADP efficiency evaluation (e.g., daily yield of methane per m3 of digester) suggests limiting this practice to a maximum time period of 120 days.
Effectiveness of the mechanical excitation applied to the olive paste: possible improving of the oil yield, in malaxation phase, by vibration systems
Authors: Gallina Toschi Tullia , Berardinelli Annachiara , Cevoli Chiara , Iaccheri Eleonora , Di Lecce Giuseppe , Bendini Alessandra , Ragni Luigi
Published: February 2014

The mechanical vibrations characterized by a frequency lower than 200 Hz could promote the cells breakage and improve the oil extraction process by avoiding, at the same time, the negative effects on the commercial qualitative parameters due to the use of the heating during malaxation. Vibration tests were conducted by means of an electrodynamic shaker in order to find the optimal frequency levels of excitation, able to put in a resonant condition the olive paste. Sinusoidal accelerations at constant acceleration (120 m/s2), in a range between 5 and 200 Hz were explored. The 50 Hz and 80 Hz frequencies were able to put in resonant condition the olive paste. In the vibrated samples at 50 Hz (15 min of treatment), the maximum increment of the extraction efficiency (about 53% in comparison with the control), was observed. Further studies could be conducted in order to assess the synergic effect of the mechanical vibrations and the malaxation on the oil extraction efficiency, with the aim of reducing the time of the whole phase and avoiding changes in the oil quality traits.
Changes in motility, morphology, plasma membrane and acrosome integrity during stages of cryopreservation of buck sperm
Authors: Ahmad Mushtaq , Nasrullah Rashad , Riaz Hasan , Sattar Abdul , Ahmad Nasim
Published: February 2014

Changes in sperm structure and function occur during the processing of semen. The present study was designed to investigate the effect on buck sperm during different stages of semen preparation including dilution, cooling, equilibration and freeze-thawing. Semen ejaculates from three mature bucks (replicates = 5) were diluted with tris-citric acid egg yolk glycerol extender at 37 ºC, cooled to 4 ºC over 90 min, equilibrated at 4 ºC for 2 h, transferred to 0.5 mL straws, placed in nitrogen vapour, frozen and thawed and then analysed. Sperm samples were assessed for percentage motility, acrosomal and plasma membrane integrity, live sperm, and morphology after dilution, cooling, equilibration and thawing. Mean percentage motility after dilution (86.0 ± 1.4%) was reduced significantly (p < 0.05) due to cooling and equilibration (77.6 ± 1.3% and 74.6 ± 1.4% respectively); furthermore, it decreased significantly (p < 0.05) after freezing and thawing (42.3 ± 2.5%). Mean percentage of live sperm was higher (p < 0.05) after dilution (89.3 ± 1.4%)compared with cooling (84.8 ± 1.8%) and equilibration (80.2 ± 2.5%) and further reduced (p < 0.05) after freezing and thawing (56.0 ± 3.4%). Sperm morphology dropped significantly (p < 0.05) from 96.4 ± 0.3% after dilution to 88.8 ± 1.3% at cooling and further decreased (p < 0.05) after freezing and thawing (81 ± 1.9%). Mean percentage of sperm with normal plasma membrane after dilution (82.2 ± 1.1%) was significantly reduced (p < 0.05) at cooling or equilibration (73.8 ± 1.8) and further decreased (p < 0.05) after freezing and thawing (50.1 ± 2.9%). The percentage of sperm with normal acrosomes did not differ significantly due to dilution, cooling or equilibration (85.8 ± 1.7%, 83.2 ± 1.6%, 81.7 ± 1.8%) but was significantly reduced after freezing and thawing (45.2 ± 2.8%). In conclusion, frozen thawed sperm showed maximum damage to motility, morphology, plasma membrane and acrosome integrity following cooling.
Risk, knowledge and preventive measures of smallholder dairy farmers in northern Malawi with regard to zoonotic brucellosis and bovine tuberculosis
Authors: Tebug Stanly Fon , Njunga Gilson R. , Chagunda Mizeck G.G. , Mapemba Jacob P. , Awah-Ndukum Julius , Wiedemann Steffi
Published: February 2014

Milk production using local cattle breed-types is an age-old practice in Malawi. Although dairy farming is becoming more common as a result of the increasing population and demand for milk and milk products, there is limited knowledge of the farmers’ awareness of zoonotic disease risks, their preventative practices and the disease burden in animals. This study determined dairy farmers’ general knowledge of zoonoses, assessed their risks for infection with zoonotic bovine tuberculosis (bTB) and brucellosis, and evaluated farm practices to prevent disease transmission. A questionnaire was drawn up and administered by the authors. It was used to collect information about the knowledge and preventive practices of 140 out of 684 registered dairy farmers at Mzuzu Agricultural Development Division, northern Malawi. During a second visit to 60 out of the 140 farms, a total of 156 and 95 cattle were tested for brucellosis and tuberculosis, respectively. Most farmers (77.1%) knew or had heard of zoonotic diseases, whilst 75.0% correctly named at least one zoonotic disease. More survey participants named tuberculosis as a zoonotic disease compared to brucellosis (74.3% versus 2.9%). The most commonly named means of transmission were milk (67.0%) and meat (56.0%). Almost all survey participants (96.4%) practised at least one farm activity that could lead to potential transmission of brucellosis or bTB, including sale (67.0%) and consumption (34.0%) of unpasteurised milk. Antibodies against brucellosis were found in 12 cattle (7.7%), whilst one animal (1.1%) reacted to the tuberculin skin test. General knowledge about possible transmission of diseases between humans and animals was high, although most farmers practised risk behaviours that could potentially expose the public to milk-borne zoonotic diseases such as brucellosis and bTB. Furthermore, some animals had positive results for brucellosis and tuberculosis tests. Therefore, improvement of zoonotic disease prevention programmes, as well as further investigation into the prevalence and risk factors for zoonoses, is recommended.
Developing transformational leadership for sub-Saharan Africa: Essential missiological considerations for church workers
Authors: Mwambazambi Kalemba , Banza Albert K.
Published: February 2014

Aware of the particular importance of efficient leadership for Africa, this article investigates how Africans can develop the kind of leadership their continent needs to contribute to effective transformation. Therefore, essential notions and procedures are analysed and described; the meaning and qualities of transformational leadership that can effect solid transformation of both individuals and their communities are explained. Lack of theoretical and practical understanding of effective leadership, colonial history of the continent, inappropriate spirituality amongst post-colonial Africans, poor ethical role-modelling in African communities, and poor awareness of the need for effective leadership development are amongst the main causes of poor leadership in African communities. So, developing efficacious transformational leadership for Africa requires that the causes of poor leadership be removed. Subsequently, the flourishing of the strong moral and socio-political qualities necessary for solid transformational leadership equally demands an intentional work.
Researching the Intangible: A Qualitative Phenomenological Study of the Everyday Practices of Belonging
Authors: Bennett Julia
Published: February 2014

How can the intangible aspects of everyday life be uncovered? A phenomenological approach has its origins in the everyday but also allows everything to be questioned. In studying belonging a phenomenological approach supported by a variety of qualitative methods produced a wealth of ‘insider’ information that could have been missed using more traditional methods. The research was based around multi-generational family groups as a family narrative focuses on relations between different family members over the generations rather than on an individual biography. Biographical interviews in family groups allowed families to talk about their lives together. Diaries put the direction of the research in the hands of the participants thus reversing, to some extent, the traditional power relations between researcher and researched. Through written and photo diaries participants shared details of their daily lives which might have been more difficult to elicit in a formal interview situation. The photos allowed the researcher to ‘visit’ places which are a part of the daily life of participants in a subtle and non-intrusive manner. These research approaches privilege the voices of the participants in research into their lives. Through demonstrating the richness of the data collected this article argues that such approaches could be used more widely.
Migration and Long-Distance Commuting Histories and Their Links to Career Achievement in Germany: A Sequence Analysis
Authors: Viry Gil , Rüger Heiko , Skora Thomas
Published: February 2014

Moving and travelling extensively for job reasons is often seen as a way to achieve a successful career. Yet, evidence based on longitudinal data is limited. In this paper, we use a sequence analysis to study typical histories of intensive forms of work-related spatial mobility, i.e. migration, daily and weekly long-distance commuting and overnight business travel (called below ‘high mobility’), and their links to career achievement. Using retrospective survey data from Germany, we show that a variety of high mobility histories coexist. While migrations occur mainly in the first years of the professional life, the chances of experiencing long-distance daily or weekly commuting and frequent overnight business trips remain stable over the career. Some evidence was found that long-lasting high mobility is associated with better incomes. Nevertheless, having repeated experiences of high mobility has no positive impact, per se, on managerial responsibilities or socio-economic status. These findings suggest that high mobility has become a ‘usual’ feature in many job careers and is often a way of combining a distant job with a local attachment to a place, home or community, rather than a way of achieving upward career mobility. This study points out that, besides migration, long-distance commuting and frequent travel for job reasons should receive more attention in longitudinal research on spatial mobility.
User Involvement in Mental Health Services: A Case of Power over Discourse
Authors: Lewis Lydia
Published: February 2014

Public participation in planning and implementing health care has become a government mandate in many states. In UK mental health services, this ‘user involvement’ policy dates back nearly three decades and has now become enshrined in policy. However, an implementation gap in terms of achieving meaningful involvement and influence for service users persists. This paper aims to illuminate some of the political discursive processes through which this gap emerges and to educe implications for the policy initiative and for effective approaches to service user involvement. It presents findings from a qualitative, localised UK-based study of user involvement in mental health services, conducted from a critical discourse analytic perspective, according to one emergent feature - power over discourse. Three themes relating to this discursive regulation are discussed: the rules of the game, the rules of engagement and agenda-setting. The article shows how although the policy initiative was providing opportunities for discursive contestation in local arenas surrounding mental health service development, these were pre-dominantly characterized by containment and control and by silences. Consequently, the discursive processes of user involvement worked to nullify its potentially transformative influence and to further marginalize women service users and other groups. Implications for the development of user involvement in service commissioning are provided.
Attitudes to the Welfare State: A Systematic Review Approach to the Example of Ethnically Diverse Welfare States
Authors: Sundberg Trude
Published: February 2014

There has been a growing interest in and expansion of research on welfare attitudes and the legitimacy of welfare states as they face both internal and external pressures at social, political and economic levels. The number of cross-national surveys is steadily increasing and many studies examine developments in social provision and public attitudes towards welfare. However, there is a lack of a clear and comprehensive overview of knowledge about tendencies in support for the welfare state in light of these pressures. Moreover, there is a lack of understanding of what impacts variations in attitudes and the relationship between attitudes and other constructs such as perceptions, values and stereotypes, which all form part of support for the welfare state. The article reports on findings from a project using tools from the systematic review tradition in an innovative way to achieve a comprehensive and systematic overview of current knowledge. The article has three main contributions; firstly, it adds to our understanding of the relationship between attitudes, perceptions, beliefs, stereotypes and values, secondly, it adds to attitude theory and thus enhances our understanding of welfare attitudes and lastly it illustrates how it achieves the first two through applying adapted tools from the systematic review tradition. Systematic Review as a method originated in natural science and medicine, and the paper examines how it can be successfully transferred to issues in social science. The article argues in favour of emphasising the importance of differentiating and investigating what is known and not known by examining the relationship between immigration and support for the welfare state. Thus, an adapted systematic review is found to enhance our understanding of trends in welfare support by use of theoretically framed research synthesis.
HCOOH measurements from space: TES retrieval algorithm and observed global distribution
Authors: Cady-Pereira K. E. , Chaliyakunnel S. , Shephard M. W. , Millet D. B. , Luo M. , Wells K. C.
Published: February 2014

Abstract. Presented is a detailed description of the TES-Aura satellite formic acid (HCOOH) retrieval algorithm and initial results quantifying the global distribution of tropospheric HCOOH. The retrieval strategy, including the optimal estimation methodology, spectral microwindows, a priori constraints, and initial guess information, are provided. A comprehensive error and sensitivity analysis is performed in order to characterize the retrieval performance, degrees of freedom for signal, vertical resolution, and limits of detection. These results show that the TES HCOOH retrievals: (i) typically provide at best 1.0 pieces of information, (ii) have the most vertical sensitivity in the range from 900 to 600 hPa with ~ 2 km vertical resolution, (iii) require at least 0.5 ppbv of HCOOH for detection if thermal contrast is greater than 10 K, and higher concentrations as thermal contrast decreases; and (iv) based on an ensemble of simulated retrievals, are unbiased with a standard deviation of ±0.3 ppbv. Globally, the spatial distribution of tropospheric HCOOH derived from TES is broadly consistent with that simulated by a state-of-the-science chemical transport model (GEOS-Chem CTM). However, TES HCOOH is frequently higher than is predicted by GEOS-Chem, and this is in agreement with recent work pointing to a large missing source of atmospheric HCOOH. The model bias is especially pronounced over biomass burning regions, suggesting that fires are one key source of the missing atmospheric HCOOH in the model.
Application of a computationally efficient method to approximate gap model results with a probabilistic approach
Authors: Scherstjanoi M. , Kaplan J. O. , Lischke H.
Published: February 2014

Abstract. To be able to simulate climate change effects on forest dynamics over the whole of Switzerland, we adapted the second generation DGVM LPJ-GUESS to the Alpine environment. We modified model functions, tuned model parameters, and implemented new tree species to represent the potential natural vegetation of Alpine landscapes. Furthermore, we increased the computational efficiency of the model to enable area-covering simulations in a fine resolution (1 km) sufficient for the complex topography of the Alps, which resulted in more than 32 000 simulation grid cells. To this aim, we applied the recently developed method GAPPARD (Scherstjanoi et al., 2013) to LPJ-GUESS. GAPPARD derives mean output values from a combination of simulation runs without disturbances and a patch age distribution defined by the disturbance frequency. With this computationally efficient method, that increased the model's speed by approximately the factor 8, we were able to faster detect shortcomings of LPJ-GUESS functions and parameters. We used the adapted LPJ-GUESS together with GAPPARD to assess the influence of one climate change scenario on dynamics of tree species composition and biomass throughout the 21st century in Switzerland. To allow for comparison with the original model, we additionally simulated forest dynamics along a north-south-transect through Switzerland. The results from this transect confirmed the high value of the GAPPARD method despite some limitations towards extreme climatic events. It allowed for the first time to obtain area-wide, detailed high resolution LPJ-GUESS simulation results for a large part of the Alpine region.
A new technique using the aero-infiltrometer to characterise the natural soils based on the measurements of infiltration rate and soil moisture content
Authors: Fulazzaky M. A. , Yusop Z. , Ibrahim I. , Kassim A. H. M.
Published: February 2014

Abstract. Infiltration rate (f) and soil moisture content (θ) are the important factors for water resources management. Accurate measurements of these factors are not so readily available in most farmlands since present measuring equipments are not really suitable. This paper proposes the measuring device that uses a simple method to measure the rate of water infiltration into the ground and to determine the percentage of water contained in the soil. The two empirical equations which formulated on the basis of power regression models of plotting f vs. air pressure dropping rate (P) and θ vs. P are proposed to evaluate the dynamic properties of soil–water and soil–air interface from a three-phase system. All the parameters in equations have physical meanings, and experimental data validation shows that the equations are sufficiently accurate. Aero-infiltrometer was used to measure both the variations of f and θ at three natural soil sites to contribute to operational water management issues and soil texture identification. In the future, new research opportunities on basic knowledge of air diffusion into the ground will contribute to more versatile techniques in measurement of water infiltration.