bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Information Content of Biodiversity Datasets is Affected by Patterns of Citizen Science Participation both Between and Within Projects
Authors: Pocock Michael , August Tom , Fox Richard , Logie Mark
Published: July 2019

Citizen science is a powerful way to undertake monitoring of biodiversity, both for detecting rare events (e.g. invasive species, animal and plant health issues or presence of rare species) and assessing trends. However, in order to use citizen science effectively we need to understand better the patterns of people’s participation in projects considering

variation in participation between citizen science approaches and

individual variation in participation within a project.

variation in participation between citizen science approaches and

individual variation in participation within a project.

Here, we particularly focus on the information content of the data collected through citizen science (although we recognise that citizen science has many other benefits, in addition to data collection).

Firstly, we assessed participation in five projects for biodiversity monitoring in the UK, from mass participation to monitoring by volunteer experts, representing up to two thousand people per activity per year. We quantified the patterns of participation (in terms of retention of participants, spatial patterns of participation, and unevenness of contributions per participant - as in the 90:10 rule). We found that the data from mass participation projects were more strongly spatially correlated with human population density and retention of individuals was lower compared to projects targeted on those with existing interest in the subject.

Secondly, we quantified the recording behaviour of recorders in a butterfly citizen science project. We developed this with four thousand users of a smartphone app designed for recording sightings of butterflies in the UK. The majority of these users were active for less than 10 days, a feature common to many citizen science projects. The users who engaged for longer produced most of the records for the project. We characterised their recording behaviour using 11 metrics that describe the variation in temporal and spatial recording behaviour as well as the data they recorded. Results showed that citizen scientists in this project fall on a continuum along 4 main axes describing their behaviour. We then used a 20-year butterfly dataset to assess the contribution of different types of recorders to the overall estimate of biodiversity trends and their precision. Overall, variation in participation, both between projects and between individuals within projects, contributes to variation in the information content (and hence the usefulness) of citizen science datasets. We show how different approaches can provide data to meet different needs for data users and how this understanding can be used to improve analyses of these data, allowing us to better design citizen science activities in the future.
Zarui Muradian-Ciamician at 80 years!
Authors: Petrescu Iorgu
Published: July 2019

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Taxons dedicated to Grigore Antipa
Authors: Petrescu Ana-Maria , Stan Melania , Petrescu Iorgu
Published: July 2019

A comprehensive list of the taxons dedicated to Grigore Antipa by collaborators, science personalities who appreciated his work was constituted from surveying the natural history or science museums or university collections from several countries (Romania, Germany, Australia, Israel and United States). The list consists of 33 taxons, with current nomenclature and position in a collection. Historical aspects have been discussed, in order to provide a depth to the process of collection dissapearance during more than one century of Romanian zoological research. Natural calamities, wars and the evictions of the museum’s buildings that followed, and sometimes the neglection of the collections following the decease of their founder, are the major problems that contributed gradually to the transformation of the taxon/specimen into a historical landmark and not as an accessible object of further taxonomical inquiry.
An online interactive identification key to common pest species of Aspidiotini (Hemiptera, Coccomorpha, Diaspididae), version 1.0
Authors: Schneider Scott A. , Fizdale Michael A. , Normark Benjamin B.
Published: July 2019

Aspidiotini is a species-rich tribe of armored scale insects that includes several polyphagous and specialist pests that are commonly encountered at ports-of-entry to the United States and many other countries. This article describes a newly available online interactive tool that can be used to identify 155 species of Aspidiotini that are recognized as minor to major pests or that are potentially emergent pests. This article lists the species and features included with a description of the development and structure of the key. The interactive key is free to access at https://idtools.org/id/scales/aspidiotini/about_index.php.
Pourquoi et comment contourner la contrainte budgétaire
Authors: Schnatterer Tinette
Published: July 2019

Cet article ambitionne de contribuer à une meilleure compréhension des conditions de réalisation des promesses électorales, en adoptant une perspective empruntée à l’analyse des politiques publiques, centrée sur les populations cibles , et en mobilisant une stratégie de recherche complémentaire. Alors que la littérature relative aux pledges s’appuie jusqu’ici sur des analyses macro-statistiques, il propose l’étude approfondie d’un cas déviant de promesse tenue : l’engagement de Jacques Chirac à mettre en place une Prestation d’accueil du jeune enfant (PAJE) lors de son second mandat. La première section de cet article revient sur l’historique de la promesse et sur les caractéristiques qui en font un cas déviant de promesse tenue. Nous analysons ensuite le pourquoi de cette réalisation, en montrant qu’elle répond au souci de ménager une clientèle électorale très large. Enfin, nous mettons en évidence que les incitations électorales liées à la prise en compte des populations ciblées par les engagements programmatiques varient en fonction du contexte de compétition politique.
Les gouvernants face aux transformations de la démocratie
Authors: Schiffino Nathalie , Jacquet Vincent , Cogels Maximilien , Reuchamps Min
Published: July 2019

Les décideurs publics contemporains gouvernent des démocraties sous tensions. Qu’il s’agisse d’une crise, d’une fatigue ou d’une mutation, le lien qui unit gouvernants et gouvernés est aujourd’hui largement considéré comme sujet à transformation. Cet enjeu questionne la légitimité des décideurs publics ainsi que leur place dans l’architecture des démocraties contemporaines. En ces temps de remise en question du modèle représentatif, cet article examine dans un premier temps comment les décideurs publics perçoivent leur propre position. Ensuite, l’article aborde la manière dont les décideurs publics conçoivent la représentation politique. Finalement, l’analyse porte sur la place qu’accordent les décideurs à une participation plus directe des citoyens dans l’action publique.
Pour une approche des politiques électorales par les idées
Authors: Ehrhard Thomas , Canelas Rapaz Paulo José
Published: July 2019

L’article étudie la réduction du nombre de parlementaires en France, au Portugal et au Royaume-Uni. Il vise à en comprendre le sens grâce à une approche discursive et argumentative comparée, réalisée à partir de l’étude d’un large corpus documentaire. Après avoir constaté les limites des approches rationnelles et mathématiques, l’étude des arguments pour et contre la réforme permet de construire deux référentiels, « décisionniste » et « représentativiste », du rôle du Parlement. La question électorale initiale (du nombre) est transfigurée pour devenir une réforme institutionnelle (du Parlement) dont les enjeux en concurrence sont l’utilité et les fonctions. En démontrant que la question du nombre importe moins que les fonctions et les conséquences que les acteurs politiques attribuent à sa baisse, l’article apporte une contribution à la place des idées dans l’analyse des politiques publiques.
La sibylle du Rhin
Authors: Gouguenheim Sylvain
Published: July 2019

Hildegarde, abbesse du monastère de Bingen, vécut au temps des Croisades et de l'empereur Barberousse. De nos jours célèbre pour ses visions, ses écrits médicaux ou naturalistes, elle fut en son temps recherchée pour ses capacités prophétiques ainsi que pour la sagesse et le bon sens de ses conseils. Inexpérience visionnaire, le souci personnel d'échapper aux calomnies ou aux suspicions, ajoutés au désir bien compréhensible de ses proches d'exalter sa sainteté et de souligner l'exceptionnelle originalité de sa vie ont à terme produit une image déformée. Miracles et prophéties furent mis en exergue, la correspondance remaniée, voire manipulée, l'image de la sainte utilisée à des fins aléatoires. D'une œuvre en partie rédigée sous le signe de l'Apocalypse, on retient les aspects les plus spectaculaires, au détriment d'une approche exacte de la bénédictine. Il était certes plus facile de transformer l'abbesse en prophétesse enflammée que de scruter ses écrits, plus facile de basculer dans la légende que de faire son histoire.

C'est en revenant aux sources, aux textes, que ce livre entend dresser un portrait de la visionnaire, une première approche qui puisse servir d'introduction. Hildegarde de Bingen ne fut pas une mystique mais une visionnaire, elle ne dévoila pas l'avenir pas plus qu'elle n'a anticipé sur nos découvertes scientifiques, mais elle lutta inlassablement contre les maux du temps, contre l'indignité des prêtres, l'impiété des empereurs ou la subversion cathare. Ranimant les énergies défaillantes, secouant les âmes inconstantes ou faibles, elle a préparé ses contemporains à la fin des temps, sans chercher à les effrayer inutilement. A ses yeux l'eschatologie n'est que le désir de faire retour aux origines sacrées et incorruptibles du monde, de s'y réfugier, d'échapper à la mort. Hildegarde resta toute sa vie une femme d'Église, respectueuse des institutions, une abbesse infatigable rappelant le message des Écritures, bref une femme de son temps, qui sut se faire entendre et respecter.
Beowulf au paradis
Authors: Gautier Alban
Published: July 2019

Les autorités et les penseurs chrétiens du Moyen Âge ont, en règle générale, tenu un discours extrêmement négatif à l'égard de ceux qu'ils appelaient les païens, qu'il s'agisse de figures polythéistes du passé ou d'individus professant au présent une autre religion : stupides, brutaux, sans foi ni loi, les païens sont ordinairement donnés pour damnés.

Pourtant, dans l'Europe du Nord entre la fin du vie et le début du xiie siècle, une poignée de personnages ont été reconnus comme de « bons païens » par des auteurs chrétiens : certains sont regardés comme fondateurs, vertueux, voire exemplaires, et il arrive même qu'on laisse entendre que l'un ou l'autre d'eux a pu accéder au salut. Ainsi le poème anglo-saxon Beowulf met en scène des personnages héroïques et positifs, laissant planer le doute sur leur sort ultime, enfer ou paradis. De fait, selon les contextes politiques, sociaux, et culturels, les réponses à ce double problème de la vertu et du salut des païens ont été très variables : ainsi, si certaines sociétés ont rapporté sans trop de réticences l'histoire héroïque de leurs ancêtres païens, d'autres ont été amenées à refouler l'essentiel d'un passé jugé incompatible avec le nouveau contexte religieux.

L'enquête progresse de façon à la fois géographique et chronologique, explorant tour à tour l'Irlande, les marges septentrionales du royaume des Francs, l'Angleterre, le pays de Galles, la Scandinavie et le monde slave occidental. Dans toutes ces régions, la question des bons païens permet d'éclairer la manière dont, au prix d'accommodements et de bricolages théologiques, les sociétés nouvellement converties ont appris à parler d'elles-mêmes à travers le miroir de l'Autre païen.
The Link Between Knowledge Sharing and Organizational Performance
Authors: Crhová Zuzana , Matošková Jana
Published: July 2019

Despite a general assumption that knowledge sharing among employees is vital for achieving a competitive advantage, only limited evidence has been provided to support it. This article examines the relation between knowledge sharing and three dimensions of organizational performance: innovativeness, financial performance and the use of human recourses. The study uses data from a sample of 112 employees from the Czech Republic. The findings provide evidence that knowledge sharing is significantly related to organizational innovativeness, employees' engagement, and the perceived benefits of knowledge sharing. However, there was no statistically significant correlation between knowledge sharing and financial performance. The results highlight that if a competitive advantage is built on innovativeness, then bilateral communication between supervisors and their subordinates, including the communication of the top management's intentions and employees' ideas, is essential because it facilitates knowledge sharing among employees.
A Methodology for Building Knowledge Memory Within the Handicraft Sector
Authors: El Amrani Imane , Saka Abdelmjid , Matta Nada , Chahdi Taoufik Ouazzani
Published: July 2019

The Moroccan handicraft is threatened by the loss of its knowledge and several authorities are calling to safeguard this cultural heritage through a detailed transcription and development of an interactive multimedia system. In response to this call, this article represents a first step in addressing this need. It provided a basic methodology for building a craft memory which will be considered as a benchmark for handicraft knowledge preservation. The study focuses on identifying the most critical and vulnerable know-how and modelling the knowledge which needs to be retained. To do so, a methodological framework is proposed and validated through a case study on the Moroccan zellige craft. The methods used here are derived from the world of Knowledge Management (KM) and Knowledge Engineering (KE); in particular, MASK method, GAMETH and M3C. Nevertheless, their systematic application is not perfectly adapted, it needs to be in accordance to the craft characteristics and the artisan's profile which is the key point of the current study.
Sustainability Appraisement of Industrial Robots by GRA for Real Automation Environment
Authors: Sahu Atul Kumar , Narang Harendra Kumar , Rajput Mridul Singh , Sahu Nitin Kumar
Published: July 2019

A knowledge-based tool for executing the managerial decision-making process is presented in this work. The work evaluated the significant robot i.e. industrial machines for sustainably handling the real time manufacturing environment. The presented tool integrates the grey sets theory with grey relational approach (GRA) to support the decision-making process for opting most significant industrial robot. The performance mapping of industrial robots by GRA under grey set theory is presented for defining a sustainable real automation environment. The work offers the essence of both grey set theory and grey relational approach under a sole ring. The work implicates grey sets theory to capture the uncertainties associated with the evaluation of robot measures and implicated GRA to recognize the most valuable robot alternative. The proposed tool is developed by categorizing the list of qualitative and quantitative characteristics; which links the robot evaluation properties. The work attempts to draft a knowledgeable tool for effectively executing manufacturing activities by the robots.
Understanding Entrepreneurial Ecosystem
Authors: Meshram Sachin A , Rawani A. M.
Published: July 2019

Entrepreneurial ecosystems are a strategy that is designed to nurture economic development by promoting entrepreneurship, small business growth, and innovation. Ecosystems represent a new direction for entrepreneurship research that simultaneously increases knowledge of the complex contextual environments surrounding the entrepreneurship process, while at the same time providing useful contributions to policy debates around the role of high-growth entrepreneurship as a driver of regional economic development. This article reviews the concept evolution; different definitions and factors of entrepreneurial ecosystems. Additionally, it provides approaches of past contributions about entrepreneurial ecosystem. This article contributes to knowledge generation and provides further research directions. This study is an attempt to cover the different articles that exist on the entrepreneurial ecosystems.
Biodiversity Conservation and Social Science Underpinnings in the Cordillera Highlands of Northern Philippines
Authors: Abansi Corazon Lumbera
Published: July 2019

This article conducts a literature review and synthesis of social science research on biodiversity in the Cordillera of Northern Philippines. The area hosts key biodiversity sites that need protection and conservation but there is little understanding of the socio-cultural, economic and political dynamics that cause the loss of biodiversity and effective conservation. The review showed unequal distribution of social-science among the different sites in the Cordillera with concentration in urban areas. The reviewed materials showed a wide scope of topics, indicating that the social dimension of biodiversity conservation is complex and multidimensional. For social science research to better inform decision-making in biodiversity conservation, social scientists need to be aggressive and openly engaged with practitioners and local policy makers so that relevant research findings could penetrate biodiversity management practice. Partnership among universities and productive research groups could address the disproportionate distribution of research efforts across sites.
Discourse Analysis of Indigenous Women's Construct on Biodiversity and Sustainable Development
Authors: Serrano Joane Vermudo , Gelisan Luisa Almeda , Lacaste Aurora Valladolid , Muyco Paula Grace Montierro , Alazada Noreen Dianne Sanga , Marasigan Sherry Bayot
Published: July 2019

Managing and understanding the environment and its issues is not limited to one environmental discourse but to numerous discourses. It is created through histories which result in contradictions as narratives may oppose each other. This opposition is considered an important aspect of discourse. This article explores how biodiversity and sustainable development were discursively constructed by indigenous women living in an agricultural society with distinct cultural practices closely linked to rice farming and examined the outcomes arising from their construction of biodiversity and sustainable development. Seven women farmers were interviewed and conversations were transcribed, coded and analyzed through discourse analysis using Maarten Hajer's conceptual tool. Five major discourses emerged from this study: conserving biodiversity through the notion of contrasting views on farming responsibilities, conserving biodiversity through a sense of community, sustainability of government initiatives, negotiating cultural heritage and economic benefits, and articulating sustainable development.
Identity Construction, Social Media, and Ifugao Rice Terraces Conservation of Indigenous People's Youth Through Appreciative Inquiry
Authors: Habito Consuelo De Luna , Ealdama Susan Janette G.
Published: July 2019

Recognizing the important contribution of the indigenous people's (IP) youth towards the sustainable development and conservation of the internationally recognized Ifugao rice terraces (IRT) of the Philippines, the University of the Philippines Open University implemented a youth capacity building and exchange program among IP youth from Hungduan, Kiangan, Banaue and Mayaoyao rice terraces in the Ifugao province. The study conducted focus group discussions that included identity construction with physical co-presence and utilization of new communication technologies (NCTs) through the strengths, opportunities, aspirations, and results of an appreciative inquiry approach (SOAR). Beliefs, ethnicity and values were three key identity construction factors. Need, talent, passion, and conscience were also included among the dimensions of identity construction. These findings were subsequently used in the design and construction of training course modules customized for IP youth from the IRT using the blended-mode of learning and practical activities such as video logs and memes in NCTs.
Automatic Screening of Diabetic Maculopathy Using Image Processing
Authors: Reddy Shweta
Published: July 2019

Retinal imaging is a challenging screening method for detection of retinal abnormalities. Diabetic Maculopathy (DM) is a condition that can result from retinopathy. Regular screening is necessary for diabetic maculopathy in order to identify the risk of vision loss. Maculopathy is damage to macula, the key region responsible for high sharp colour vision. Diabetic Retinopathy and Diabetic Maculopathy needs regular observation in order to indicate visual impairment risk. In this article, the author first presents a brief summary of diabetic maculopathy and its causes. Then, an exhaustive literature review of different automated DM diagnosis systems offered. It is important for ophthalmologists to have an automated system which detects early symptoms of the disease and yields a high accurate result. A vital assessment of the image processing techniques used for DM feature detection is projected in this paper. Various methods have been proposed to identify and classify DM based on severity level.
Impact of Hedonic Evaluation of Technological Innovations on Revisit Intention in a Store Digitalization Context
Authors: Diallo Mbaye Fall , Collin-Lachaud Isabelle
Published: July 2019

The objective of this research is to investigate how hedonic evaluation of technological innovation affects directly store revisit intention and indirectly through the mediation of customer satisfaction and shopping experience. 257 real customers assessed the introduction of four innovative tools (automatic check-out, Internet kiosk, Smartphone and self-scanning) in supermarkets. Structural equation modeling results show that customer hedonic evaluation of technological innovation affects positively store revisit intention. However, while technology pleasantness influences it significantly technology interactivity does not. Furthermore, the authors establish significant mediation effects of customer overall satisfaction and shopping experience on the relationship investigated. FIMIX-PLS segmentation identifies two specific groups (low versus high hedonic technology seekers). This research stresses retail companies to focus on hedonic aspects of innovative technologies and to invest in personnel and accompanying measures that enable a smooth use of technological innovations.
Understanding the Acceptance and Use of M-Learning Apps by Entrepreneurs
Authors: Verkijika Silas Formunyuy
Published: July 2019

This study is designed to examine factors influencing the acceptance of m-learning apps by entrepreneurs. The constructs used to develop the proposed model were drawn from the social cognitive and motivational theories. The model was validated using 218 valid responses from entrepreneurs in South Africa. The results showed that both intrinsic (i.e. perceived enjoyment) and extrinsic (i.e. perceived usefulness and social influence) motivational factors had a direct positive influence on the behavioral intentions to adopt m-learning apps. Also, perceived usefulness, which showed the strongest direct influence on behavioral intentions, was directly influenced by outcome expectancy, and indirectly influenced by self-efficacy. The study also evaluated the outcomes of use behavior. For one, entrepreneurs who used m-learning apps were more likely to recommend the m-learning apps to others. Moreover, use behavior was shown to have a significant positive influence on entrepreneurial self-efficacy.
The Critical Role of Information System Integration in a Horizontal Merger
Authors: de la Harpe Andre , Thurner Thomas Wolfgang
Published: July 2019

This article reports on a horizontal merger of two insurance companies and their failure to properly integrate their information systems. The task that was supported by both well-founded market research and external consultants proved more challenging than thought due to the complexity and interconnectedness of related business processes. The main difficulties arose in the area of skill development, skill retention, and management buy-in. Thereby, this article adds valuable insights to the stream of case studies of merger and acquisition activities through providing deeper insights into IS integration, which is by most contributions treated as a black box.
A Hidden Markov Model Combined With Markov Games for Intrusion Detection in Cloud
Authors: Narwal Priti , Kumar Deepak , Singh Shailendra N.
Published: July 2019

Cloud computing has evolved as a new paradigm for management of an infrastructure and gained ample consideration in both industrial and academic area of research. A hidden Markov model (HMM) combined with Markov games can give a solution that may act as a countermeasure for many cyber security threats and malicious intrusions in a network or in a cloud. A HMM can be trained by using training sequences that may be obtained by analyzing the file traces of packet analyzer like Wireshark network analyzer. In this article, the authors have proposed a model in which HMM can be build using a set of training examples that are obtained by using a network analyzer (i.e., Wireshark). As it is not an intrusion detection system, the obtained file traces may be used as training examples to test a HMM model. It also predicts a probability value for each tested sequence and states if sequence is anomalous or not. A numerical example is also shown in this article that calculates the most optimal sequence of observations for both HMM and state sequence probabilities in case a HMM model is already given.
Internet of Things (IOT)-Enabled Product Monitoring at Steadyserv
Authors: Angeles Rebecca
Published: July 2019

This qualitative case study features SteadyServ, a beer inventory monitoring solution vendor, and its internet of things (IOT)-based radio frequency identification (RFID)-enabled technology solution. IOT-based information technology systems are powering new business models and innovative cloud-supported solutions addressing use cases in many industries. At this early stage, IOT is taking off in monitoring premises, products, supply chains, and customers. Content analysis of primary and secondary data was used to interpret this firm's RFID-enabled IOT solution's deployment at the firm's customer sites. Two theoretical frameworks were used in the attempt to understand the IT solution experiences of customer firms: socio-technical systems theory and affordances theory.
Impact of Facebook as a Learning Tool on Learning Outcomes, Technology Acceptance, and Attitude
Authors: Saif Manal Abdo Farhan , Tlili Ahmed , Essalmi Fathi , Jemni Mohamed
Published: July 2019

While several studies have investigated learners' opinions toward using Facebook in learning, limited attention has been paid to examine the effectiveness of Facebook as a learning tool in classrooms. Thus, this article proposes a newly designed Facebook learning tool that is used in a public Tunisian university to learn the “game development” course. It then investigates its impact on the learners' level of knowledge and motivation compared to the traditional learning method. This article also investigates the impact of this tool on the learners' technology acceptance and attitudes. The experimental results showed that the Facebook learning tool can significantly improve the learners' level of knowledge. In addition, learners who learned with this tool revealed a high degree of perceived usefulness, security, and intention to use the Facebook learning tool again. Furthermore, these learners reported a favorable attitude towards the Facebook learning tool. In addition, a set of recommendation is found that researchers and educators should consider while using Facebook in their classrooms.
Can Gamification Concepts Work With E-Government?
Authors: Abu-Shanab Emad Ahmed , Al-Sayed Malak Rasheed
Published: July 2019

This article predicts the adoption of e-government websites and services by focusing on gamification and enjoyment factors. The sample uses ranked use of points and coupons as the most suitable schemes, while excluding the use of quests and puzzles. In predicting the intention to use e-government, five constructs were used: perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, enjoyment and innovation, positive influence on government image and negative influence of government images. Results indicated a significant role for enjoyment and innovation based on the gamification context. The influence on government image (positive and negative) were not significant in predicting the intention to use e-government. The coefficient of determination of the regression model was 0.655, which explains 65.5% of the variance in ITU.
A Novel Cognitive Approach for Measuring the Trust in Robots
Authors: Dubey Akash Dutt , Kumar Bimal Aklesh
Published: July 2019

One of the major challenges in human-robot interaction is to determine the trustworthiness of the robot. In order to enhance and augment the human capabilities by establishing a human robot partnership, it is important to evaluate the reliability and dependability of the robots for the specific tasks. The trust relationship between the human and robot becomes critical especially in the cases where there is strong cohesion between humans and robots. In this article, a cognition based-trust model has been developed which measures the trust and other related cognitive parameters of the robot. This trust model has been applied on a customized robot which performs path planning tasks using three different algorithms. The simulation of the model has been done to evaluate the trust of the robot for the three algorithms. The results show that with each learning cycle of each method, the trust of the robot increases. An empirical evaluation has also been done to validate the model.
A Lifecycle Sustainability Assessment of CO2 Emissions, Energy Consumption and Social Aspects of Methylic and Ethylic Biodiesel Using Principal Component Analysis
Authors: Interlenghi Stefano Ferrari , de Medeiros José Luiz , Araújo Ofélia de Queiroz Fernandes
Published: July 2019

The possibility of using renewable feedstocks for biodiesel production and reducing gas emissions makes it an attractive large-scale substitute to traditional fossil diesel. Although renewability is one of the main driving forces in biodiesel use, traditional production routes employ methanol as the transesterification agent, a chemical generated from fossil carbon. Aiming at further improving biodiesel’s sustainable performance, the replacement of methanol by ethanol has been proposed. Use of the ethylic production route could further reduce CO2 emissions, energy consumption and generate more jobs. The objective of this study is to unveil whether substituting methanol for ethanol does indeed result in a less carbon and energy intensive production chain while also increasing job generation and decreasing social strife. To assess production chain performance a lifecycle approach was used composed by: (i) Data assemblage from literature to represent the ethylic/methylic biodiesel systems; (ii) Construction of quantitative indicators to compare material and energetic flows; and (iii) Principal Component Analysis (PCA) for data interpretation and relevance ranking of calculated social/environmental indicators. Focus was given to CO2 emissions, energy consumption and social aspects of sustainability. Results show that use of ethanol does indeed reduce CO2 emissions, due to extra agricultural carbon sinks in the production chain but increases energy consumption and energy loss. Methanol also resulted in a chain with higher average wages, more jobs generated and less forced labor cases but with a higher accident rate and a high salary disparity. PCA showed that carbon intensity is one of the most important environmental metrics while energy consumption was considered secondary, but the high correlation between these aspects highly impact chain sustainability. PCA also greatly differentiated agricultural and industrial links of respective production chains, with industrial links being governed by CO2 emissions and process safety and agricultural links by water consumption, land use and energy loss. A distinct tradeoff was seen between environmental and social considerations of sustainability and between carbon intensity and energy consumption reductions. As a result, substitution is only justified in scenarios in which CO2 emissions outweigh energy intensity and social aspects.
Feasibility Study of CO2 Mitigation with Methanol Production through Hydrogenation and Bi-Reforming of Natural Gas
Authors: Wiesberg Igor Lapenda , de Medeiros José Luiz , Araújo Ofélia de Queiroz Fernandes
Published: July 2019

Chemical conversion of carbon dioxide (CO2) to methanol has the potential to address two relevant sustainability issues: economically feasible replacement of fossil raw materials and avoidance of greenhouse gas emissions. However, chemical stability of CO2 is a challenging impediment to conversion, requiring harsh reaction conditions at the expense of increased energy input, adding capital, operational and environmental costs. This work evaluates two innovative chemical conversion of CO2 to methanol: the indirect conversion, which uses synthesis gas produced by bi-reforming as intermediate, and the direct conversion, via hydrogenation. Process simulations are used to obtain mass and energy balances, needed to support economic analyses. Due to the uncertainties in the raw material prices, including CO2 and hydrogen (H2), its limits for economic viability are estimated and sensitivity analyzes are carried in predetermined prices (base cases). It is considered the scenario of free CO2 available in atmospheric conditions, as in a bioethanol industry, but the sensitivity analyses show the results for other scenarios, as in a CO2 rich natural gas, in which the cost of processing CO2 is zero. The economic analyses show that hydrogenation can be feasible if hydrogen prices are lower than 1000 US$/t, while the indirect route is viable only for cheap sources of natural gas below 3.7 US$/MMBtu. The CO2 pre-treatment costs are not as sensible as the others raw materials.
Evaluation of Polymeric Coatings in CO2 Containing Environment
Authors: Demoner Rayane Z.C. , Castro Alexandre R.P. , Barros Adriana L. , Quintela J.P. , de Oliveira Jefferson R. , Bott I.S.
Published: July 2019

Two types of polymeric coating were applied on an AISI 1020 steel, where one of them was reinforced by carbon nanotubes, with the objective of protection against corrosion in a medium containing saline solution, NaCl 3% wt satured with CO2, at 75 bar and tested at 50oC and 75oC for 360 hours. Electrochemical techniques, such as Linear Polarization Resistance, (LPR), Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS), Tafel curves and weight loss method, were used for coating evaluation performance. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) were used to determine both the morphology and chemical composition of the layer formed on the analyzed surfaces. The coating adhesion to metallic surface was evaluated using pull-off test according to ASTM D4541-09. For the studied conditions, the results obtained showed that there was no adequate coating protection, occurring failures and indicating that both coatings may not be used in the tested conditions.
Achieving Negative Emissions: Integration of Sugarcane Crop, Ethanol Biorefinery, Post-Combustion Capture and CO2 Pipeline for Enhanced Oil Recovery
Authors: Carminati Hudson Bolsoni , Milão Raquel de F. Dias , Araújo Ofélia de Queiroz Fernandes , de Medeiros José Luiz
Published: July 2019

Every day huge amounts of CO2 are released into the atmosphere by enterprises such as biorefineries. In this context, the present work proposes a plausible scenario where a large-scale sugarcane-based biorefinery capture over 92% of its CO2 emissions to be used as enhanced oil recovery (EOR) agent. The study is based on the integration of sugarcane crop–large-scale ethanol biorefinery–post-combustion capture–CO2 pipeline to EOR. As results, the plant obtained a CO2 recover of 91.3% from post-combustion capture, allowing export 5.29 MM tCO2/y. Basic revenues of this project came from ethanol production, electricity sales, and EOR. In addition, four scenarios were investigated considering incomes from the handling of the captured CO2. All scenarios were evaluated in terms of the use of 1 and 2 bbl/tCO2 for EOR, leading to the conclusion that long-term economic sustainability can be assured only for some scenarios and mainly above 2 bbl/tCO2.
Integration of Post-Combustion Capture and Reinjection Plant to Power Generation Cycle Using CO2-Rich Natural Gas in Offshore Oil and Gas Installation
Authors: Silva Raquel de Pádua Fernandes , de Medeiros José Luiz , Araújo Ofélia de Queiroz Fernandes
Published: July 2019

The use of CO2-rich natural gas (%CO2 ≈ 20%mol) for power generation in offshore hubs results in simpler upgrade process, while imposes an extra challenge to mitigate emissions. Power generation via combined cycle configurations and post-combustion capture with CO2 reinjection are investigated for carbon-footprint reduction, while increasing gas export and oil production, respectively. The processes are simulated using Aspen HYSYS software and compared to currently installed simple cycle configuration in terms of footprint, weight, power, efficiency and CO2 emissions. The combined cycle including two gas turbines and one single-pressure steam cycle (CC 2:1:1) results in the most favorable power system, having 53% efficiency, 476.8 gCO2/kWh emissions and similar dimensions compared to the simple cycle. The integration of a post-combustion capture sending the CO2 for enhanced oil recovery results in 241 gCO2/kWh for the CC 2:1:1 and 251 gCO2/kWh for the simple cycle, without great impacts in total efficiency. The CC 2:1:1 with post-combustion capture presents higher net efficiency, lower dimensions and greater economic advantages, enabling emissions reduction without having significant impacts on the power generation.
CO2 Rich Natural Gas Processing: Technical, Power Consumption and Emission Comparisons of Conventional and Supersonic Technologies
Authors: Arinelli Lara de Oliveira , Teixeira Alexandre Mendonça , de Medeiros José Luiz , Araújo Ofélia de Queiroz Fernandes
Published: July 2019

Supersonic separator is investigated via process simulation for treating CO2 rich (>40%) natural gas in terms of dew-points adjustment and CO2 removal for enhanced oil recovery. These applications are compared in terms of technical and energetic performances with conventional technologies, also comparing CO2 emissions by power generation. The context is that of an offshore platform to treat raw gas with 45%mol of CO2, producing a lean gas stream with maximum CO2 composition of ≈20%mol, suitable for use as fuel gas, and a CO2 rich stream that is compressed and injected to the oil and gas fields. The conventional process comprises dehydration by chemical absorption in TEG, Joule-Thomson expansion for C3+ removal, and membrane permeation for CO2 capture. The other alternatives use supersonic separation for dew-points adjustment, and membranes or another supersonic separation unit for CO2 capture. Simulations are carried out in HYSYS 8.8, where membranes and supersonic separation are modeled via unit operation extensions developed in a previous work: MP-UOE and SS-UOE. A full technical and power consumption analysis is performed for comparison of the three cases. The results show that the replacement of conventional dehydration technology by supersonic separators decreases power demand by 8.5%, consequently reducing 69.66 t/d of CO2 emitted to the atmosphere. The use of supersonic separation for CO2 capture is also superior than membranes, mainly due to the production of a high-pressure CO2 stream, that requires much less power for injection compression than the low-pressure permeate stream from membranes. Therefore, the case with two supersonic separator units in series presents the best results: lowest power demand (-23.9% than conventional case), directly impacting on CO2 emissions, which are reduced by 2598 t/d (-27.82%).
Building a nation: The Jeroboams and the creation of two Israels
Authors: Davies Philip
Published: July 2019

This article represents a short reflective essay in honour of the Old Testament scholar Eben Scheffler. It focuses on the writing of the history of ancient Israel texts; examines different approaches to address the history of texts: minimalist and maximalist; and illustrates a minimalist approach in reference to the figure of the Israelite king Jeroboam II.
Modelling participation, resistance to change, and organisational citizenship behaviour: A South African case
Authors: Msweli-Mbanga P. , Potwana N.
Published: July 2019

The purpose of this paper is two-fold. First, to establish the extent to which employees from State Owned Enterprises are provided with information and opportunities to participate in change efforts in their organisations. Secondly, to verify the relationship between access to participation, willingness to participation, resistance to change and organisational citizenship behaviour, by testing a model that links these four constructs together. While the results of this study support the hypothesis that access to participation is positively linked to willingness to participate, we found that personnel from the State Owned Enterprises are not provided adequate access to participate in change efforts. The hypothesis that willingness to participate in change efforts in organisations has a higher propensity to reduce resistance to change was also supported. The implications of these findings are discussed and avenues for further research offered.
Adaptive Bayesian agents: Enabling distributed social networks
Authors: Potgieter A. , April K. A. , Cooke R. J.E. , Lockett M.
Published: July 2019

This article brings together two views of organisations: resource-based theories (RBT) and social network analysis (SNA). Resource-based theories stress the importance of tangible assets, as well as less tangible ones, in the competitive advantage and success of organisations. However, they provide little insight into how resources are brought together by an organisation to generate core competencies that provide a source of differentiation that cannot easily be reproduced or substituted. In contrast SNA provides insight into the complexity of organisations and the interaction between the people within them, taking account of uncertainty and complexity. However, neither perspective gives significant insight into how organisations evolve over time, and how their competitive position is sustained or eroded.Our view is that integrating these two perspectives gives deeper insight into the basis of competitive advantage, and how it can evolve over time. ‘Complementary resource combinations’ (CRCs), bundles of related resources, can provide a basis for differentiation but only when these are embedded in a complex web of social interactions specific to the organisation. The ‘socially-complex resource combinations’ (SRCs) enable competitive advantage that is not readily reproduced or substituted, and which evolves over time in an uncertain and complex way. They are the basis of distinctive organisational competencies that enable the organisation to be a player in the marketplace, and in some cases to sustain competitive advantage. To understand how competitive advantage can be sustained, it is necessary to understand how these SRCs evolve over time, based on the interactions in social networks. To do this, we use Bayesian networks and topic maps, making hidden social relationships tangible. We use dynamic agents to observe local and global behaviours to model the SRCs. In this, we use the concept of ‘agencies’ that are networks of individual agents and which can solve problems and adapt in ways that are too complex for individual agents. The article outlines how this approach can be used to model complex social networks over time, recognising uncertainty and complexity, hence giving the ability to predict changes that will occur in the SRCs.
Perceptions of SAQA’s critical cross-field outcomes as key management meta-competencies
Authors: Carmichael T. , Stacey A.
Published: July 2019

The critical cross-field outcomes (CCFOs) formulated by the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) are generic competencies designed to underpin all national qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF). They are intended to provide the basis for lifelong learning, personal growth, honest business acumen, critical, creative thinking and aesthetic appreciation. However, little work on these important learning outcomes has been published, despite their high face validity, and this exploratory study amongst MBA graduates is intended to stimulate interest and further research into this important area.Although the findings cannot necessarily be generalised due to the specific sampling methodology among 53 MBA graduates from Wits Business School (graduating between 1998 and 2002), it was found that the CCFOs were collectively important to their careers, although individually, some were considered more important than others. The sample also perceived that the CCFOs were developed through the course of their studies, with use of information being developed the most, and use of technology the least.These findings are encouraging as they imply that most of the CCFOs are intuitively important to both faculty and management students and mechanisms for systematically embedding the CCFOs into curricula may be sought and implemented to the benefit of MBA students and the business community.
Corporate citizenship in South African business education
Authors: Hamann R. , Van Duin L. , Appels C. , Taylor E. , Akor E.
Published: July 2019

This paper seeks to enhance our understanding of the extent and manner in which corporate citizenship and related topics are taught to business students in South Africa. It argues that there are increasingly prominent drivers for integrating these topics in business education, but we know little about how South African business schools are responding. The methodology relies on a survey of business schools’ websites, as well as two survey questionnaires, one of which was aimed at MBA coordinators, while the other targeted a range of “MBA stakeholders” consisting of recent MBA graduates and representatives from business, government, and civil society. The findings suggest that, though there are some proactive business schools, South African MBA programmes are generally still dominated by conventional notions of business success. Furthermore, there are important contradictions between the perceptions of MBA coordinators, on the one hand, and those of the MBA stakeholders, with the latter generally demanding more rigorous treatment of corporate citizenship issues. The overarching conclusion is that a more committed engagement of and by South African business schools is required on the need for integrating corporate citizenship in business education.