bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Study on Free Vibrational Response of Functionally Graded Nanocomposite Sandwich Plates Reinforced by Randomly Oriented Straight Carbon Nanotubes
Authors: Tahouneh Vahid
Published: November 2016

This paper is motivated by the lack of studies in the technical literature concerning to the three dimensional vibration analysis of thick laminated rectangular plates with continuously graded carbon nanotube-reinforced (CGCNTR) sheets. The formulations are based on the three-dimensional elasticity theory. The proposed rectangular plates have two opposite edges simply supported, while all possible combinations of free, simply supported and clamped boundary conditions are applied to the other two edges. The structure is supported by an elastic foundation with Winkler’s (normal) and Pasternak’s (shear) coefficients. The material properties of the functionally graded carbon nanotube reinforced composites are graded along the thickness and estimated through Mori-Tanaka method.
Comparative Assessment of Strength Models for AA6063 Alloy
Authors: Sekhar Aluru Praveen , Nandy Supriya , Ray Kalyan Kumar , Das Debdulal
Published: November 2016

This report presents a comparative assessment of the suitability of two existing physical models for predicting yield strength of artificially aged AA6063 Al-alloy. One model is based on the modified Orowan mechanism of dislocation by-pass for non-shearable rod shaped precipitates rejuvenated by Zhu and Stark, and the other model is based on classical dislocation-particle interaction that incorporates both cutting and by-pass mechanisms for spherical shaped precipitates developed by Deschamps and Brechet. Using these models, simulation of yield strength values have been performed considering nucleation-growth as well as nucleation-growth-coarsening of precipitates during the entire period of ageing. Comparison of experimental and simulated results reveals that the model by Deschamps and Brechet predicts yield strength more accurately when nucleation-growth-coarsening of precipitates are incorporated.
Development of Strand Burner Test by Using Aluminized AP/HTPB
Authors: Hafizi Mohammad , Mamat Rizalman , Aziz Amir , Noor M.M. , Tamimi Ahmad
Published: November 2016

One of the key factors that play an important role in the performance of a solid propellant rocket is dependent on its burning rate. A strand burner is a type of apparatus used to measure the propellant burning rate at elevated pressure. This study investigates the relation between burning rates of aluminized ammonium perchlorate at low pressure. Chamber pressure was varied from 1 atm, 3 atm, 5 atm and 7 atm. This study shows that propellant burning rate is about 50%-62% higher when the burn rate test is conducted at atmospheric condition compared to when it is done in inert gas. The investigation’s results also revealed an increasing propellant burning rate when the chamber pressure is increased. In conclusion, the burning condition and chamber pressure influences the propellant burning rate.
The transformation of the city of Zion: From decadence to justice and prophetic hope (Is. 1:1–2:5)
Authors: Groenewald Alphonso
Published: November 2016

This article focuses on the story of the transformation of the city called Zion. Isaiah 1:1–2:5 is the key to the book. This chapter describes the failure of Israel to be the people of God: Israel’s covenant breach, a corrupted cult and imminent punishment. It tells of the existence of two groups within Israel: the righteous remnant who would be saved and the wicked who would be judged. This chapter furthermore presents the reader with a picture of decadent Jerusalem whose sacrifices are rejected and whose prayers are no longer accepted. Isaiah 1 contains a warning of judgement against Jerusalem, whereas Isaiah 2:1–5 sketches the prophetic hope for Zion, which would lead to a pilgrimage of the nations to receive the Torah on Zion.
Reminiscenses of Manichaeism in Augustine’s City of God
Authors: Van Oort Johannes
Published: November 2016

This article aims to analyse all the passages in Augustine’s City of God in which he either explicitly or implicitly makes mention of Manichaeism and its doctrines. It turns out that, even in his later years, Manichaean doctrines were at the forefront of Augustine’s mind, although essential elements of his own doctrines (for instance, evil being the privation of good) have a clearly anti-Manichaean background. A close reading of all those anti-Manichaean passages further discloses some fairly unique particulars, such as, for example, the Manichaeans’ use and interpretation of John 8:44 and 1 John 3:8.
Holy feigning in the Apophthegmata Patrum
Authors: Wheeler Rachel
Published: November 2016

The purpose of this article is to uncover the meaning of holy feigning in the late-antique Christian text the Apophthegmata Patrum, or Sayings of the Desert Fathers [and Mothers]. Whereas stories in this text depict demonic feigning as a regular occurrence (demons often appearing in the guise of a fellow desert dweller), what I call ‘holy feigning’ depicts one desert Christian expressing empathy for the situation of another – and helping the other to change. By looking at two stories that are paradigmatic of holy feigning, I show that exemplary deceptive behaviour, though explicitly defying the otherwise consistent rhetoric of ‘radical self-honesty’ in the Apophthegmata Patrum, paradoxically marks out the person who feigns as holy, discerning and imitative of Christ. In this article, I offer several suggestions for accounting for this seeming contradiction in the desert literature and propose how a spirituality of holy feigning might remain meaningful to readers of this literature today.
The study of religion and theology at the University of Pretoria – A century of endeavour in conditionalistic perspective
Authors: Krüger J.S.
Published: November 2016

This article suggests a theoretical and methodological perspective primarily hinging on the categories of Horizon, Totality and conditionalism, with an outspoken mystical orientation, radically relativising yet simultaneously treasuring diverse religious expression. This model was developed with a view to interpreting the history of religions, in this case applied to the history of the Faculty of Theology at the University of Pretoria from 1917 to 2017.Utilising this perspective, the history of the faculty is analysed in terms of three qualitatively distinct yet continuous epochs, overlapping with the three epochs of South African history during the twentieth century: 1902–1948, 1948–1994 and 1994 to present. In particular the article focuses on two dimensions of theological existence at the University of Pretoria: firstly, its interaction with the state over this century, that is, its political existence during the decades prefiguring apartheid, during apartheid and during the aftermath of apartheid; secondly, its relationship with the wider world of religious pluralism over the past century, implying its notion of religious truth. Differences of emphasis and conflicts during the century, involving both sets of problems, are explained and understood conditionalistically and with reference to Totality and Horizon. Racial exclusion and religious exclusion are understood as mutually determining and are both informed by and dependent on a certain view of religious truth.In the context of its own ambit this article has a reconciliatory intention, not evaluating the mistakes of the past in terms of the categories of sin and guilt, but rather in terms of tragic misjudgements of situations: shortcomings in historical hindsight, sufficiently wide peripheral vision, realistic foresight and sufficient insight into the epochal conditions of the times and the essence of religion. Greed and hatred, seemingly ingrained in human nature, are taken to feed on such lack of insight.
Looking beyond the Sella: Suprasellar Infundibular Prolactinoma
Authors: Mathur Manoj , Gupta Saryu
Published: November 2016

This is a case report of a 24-year-old female who presented with galactorrhoea and elevated serum prolactin levels of 150 ng/mL. The intrasellar pituitary gland demonstrated normal morphology and characteristic enhancement. The pituitary stalk was thickened and revealed a non-enhancing lesion on dynamic contrast imaging, which was interpreted as a functioning microadenoma. The patient exhibited significant clinical improvement after initiation of therapy with a dopamine agonist, Cabergoline.
On the Structure of the Schild Group in Relativity Theory
Authors: Jensen Gerd , Pommerenke Christian
Published: November 2016

Alfred Schild has established conditions that Lorentz transformationsmap world-vectors (ct, x, y, z) with integer coordinates onto vectors of the same kind. These transformations are called integral Lorentz transformations.

This paper contains supplements to our earlier work with a new focus on group theory. To relate the results to the familiar matrix group nomenclature, we associate Lorentz transformations with matrices in SL(z, ℂ). We consider the lattice of subgroups of the group originated in Schild’s paper and obtain generating sets for the full group and its subgroups.
Uniform Hölder bounds for strongly competing systems involving the square root of the laplacian
Authors: Terracini Susanna , Verzini Gianmaria , Zilio Alessandro
Published: November 2016

For a class of competition-diffusion nonlinear systems involving the square root of the Laplacian, including the fractional Gross–Pitaevskii system

(-\Delta)^{1/2} u_i=\omega_i u_i^3 + \lambda_i u_i - \beta u_i\sum_{j\neq i}a_{ij}u_j^2,\qquad i=1,\dots,k,

we prove that

L^\infty

boundedness implies

\mathcal C^{0,\alpha}

boundedness for every

\alpha\in[0,1/2)

, uniformly as

\beta\to +\infty

. Moreover we prove that the limiting profile is

\mathcal C^{0,1/2}

.This system arises, for instance, in the relativistic Hartree—Fock approximation theory for

k

-mixtures of Bose–Einstein condensates in different hyperfine states.
Top tautological group of $\mathcal M_{g,n}$
Authors: Buryak Alexandr , Shadrin Sergey , Zvonkine Dimitri
Published: November 2016

We describe the structure of the top tautological group in the cohomology of the moduli space of smooth genus

g

curves with

n

marked points.
Sharp isoperimetric inequalities via the ABP method
Authors: Cabré Xavier , Ros-Oton Xavier , Serra Joaquim
Published: November 2016

Given an arbitrary convex cone of

\mathbb R^n

, we find a geometric class of homogeneous weights for which balls centered at the origin and intersected with the cone are minimizers of the weighted isoperimetric problem in the convex cone. This leads to isoperimetric inequalities with the optimal constant that were unknown even for a sector of the plane. Our result applies to all nonnegative homogeneous weights in

\mathbb R^n

satisfying a concavity condition in the cone. The condition is equivalent to a natural curvature-dimension bound and also to the nonnegativeness of a Bakry-Emery Ricci tensor. Even that our weights are nonradial, still balls are minimizers of the weighted isoperimetric problem. A particular important case is that of monomial weights. Our proof uses the ABP method applied to an appropriate linear Neumann problem.

We also study the anisotropic isoperimetric problem in convex cones for the same class of weights. We prove that the Wulff shape (intersected with the cone) minimizes the anisotropic weighted perimeter under the weighted volume constraint.

As a particular case of our results, we give new proofs of two classical results: the Wulff inequality and the isoperimetric inequality in convex cones of Lions and Pacella.
La insuficiencia de la Ley de Transparencia para el ejercicio del Periodismo de datos en España
Authors: La Rosa Barrolleta Leonardo , Sandoval Martín Teresa
Published: November 2016

La incorporación de elementos de la cultura de la transparencia de la era del Big Data en el periodismo ha dado como resultado lo que se conoce como periodismo de datos (PD). Objetivos. Al depender de instituciones fuera del periodismo, buscamos determinar hasta qué punto ha afectado la Ley de Transparencia española el desarrollo del PD y cómo ha respondido este sector profesional ante estas afecciones. Metodología. Con entrevistas en profundidad a periodistas de datos examinamos que elementos de la ley afectan el desarrollo del PD. A través de un análisis de contenido en medios con unidades de datos, determinamos como responde el sector ante estos elementos que le afectan. Resultados y conclusiones. El PD en España no ha alcanzado su potencial debido a la insuficiencia e incumplimiento de la ley, por lo que los periodistas han posicionado la transparencia como tema fundamental en la agenda pública
Stress Corrosion Cracking Resistance of Quenched and Tempered High Strength Ni-Cr-Mo Alloy Steel in Phosphate Based Boiler Feed Water
Authors: Rihan Rihan , Basha Mehaboob , Al-Meshari Abdulaziz , Bairamov Avtandil , van Zyl Gys , Dafalla Hatim , Mohamed Abdul Rashid
Published: November 2016

This article has been withdrawn according to CORROSION policy on article withdrawal.
Interrogating the Founding Gestures of the New Materialism
Authors: Bruining Dennis
Published: November 2016

In this article, I aim to further thinking in the broadly ‘new materialist’ field by insisting it attends to some ubiquitous assumptions. More specifically, I critically interrogate what Sara Ahmed has termed ‘the founding gestures of the “new materialism”’. These founding rhetorical gestures revolve around a perceived neglect of the matter of materiality in ‘postmodernism’ and ‘poststructuralism’ and are meant to pave the way for new materialism’s own conception of matter-in/of-the-world. I argue in this article that an engagement with the postmodern critique of language as constitutive, as well as the poststructuralist critique of pure self-presence, does not warrant these founding gestures to be so uncritically rehearsed. Moreover, I demonstrate that texts which rely on these gestures, or at least the ones I discuss in this article, are not only founded on a misrepresentation of postmodern and poststructuralist thought, but are also guilty of repeating the perceived mistakes of which they are critical, such as upholding the language/matter dichotomy. I discuss a small selection of texts that make use of those popular rhetorical gestures to juxtapose the past that is invoked with a more nuanced reading of that past. My contention is that if ‘the founding gestures of the “new materialism”’ are not addressed, the complexity of the postmodern and poststructuralist positions continues to be obscured, with damaging consequences for the further development of the emerging field of new materialism, as well as our understanding of cultural theory’s past.
Rural Autochthony? The Rejection of an Aboriginal Placename in Ballarat, Victoria, Australia
Authors: Newton Janice
Published: November 2016

This article addresses the question of why the name ‘Mullawallah’, advanced by local Wada wurrung for a new suburb in the Ballarat area, was contested and rejected by residents. It argues that the intersection between corporate profit, government policy and meaning-based issues of belonging should be highlighted for a deeper understanding of practices around place naming. The contextual conditions regarding the democratisation of place-naming policy, overwhelming power of commercial developers to ‘name Australia’ with marketable high status names and a ‘carpentered’ pastoral environment ‘emptied’ of the Indigenous population, created an environment conducive for the contests over naming. The Indigenous people appeared to have been wiped from the landscape and the worldview of settler locals. Concepts of ‘locals’ and ‘rural autochthony’ prove useful for understanding the ambiguities of belonging and placename attachment in Australia. The article argues that cultural politics of naming remains a contested social practice.
Arrival of the Fittest
Authors: Williams Tess
Published: November 2016

Prometheus, the fifth film of the Alien franchise, maintains narrative connections to the original four films but the inclusion of new aliens—the Engineers—radically shifts the feminist politic of the series. There is a move away from centralising the monster and the repressed feminine, through images of horror and bodily abjection, toward a politic of carnival, seen in representations of multiple grotesque bodies and subversion of the affect of primal scenes. Carnival is a space where the authority and stability of current social powers and orders are challenged and subverted. This article contends that in Prometheus such a process occurs in the deliberate mixing of scientific knowledge and religious cosmologies, the ambivalent relationship of horror and SF genres to science and scientific knowledge, the gendered complexities of the specific bodies of astronauts and of scientists, and disruptions of the notion of gaze and viewer positioning in the opening scenes.
‘I Am Responsible’: Histories of the Intersection of the Guardianship of Unaccompanied Child Refugees and the Australian Border
Authors: Silverstein Jordana
Published: November 2016

In Australia in 1946, the Immigration (Guardianship of Children) Act was passed. This Act was intended to support the postwar migration to Australia of British children, unaccompanied by their parents, and to provide them with a guardian in Australia—the Immigration Minister. Despite subsequent amendments, this key provision continues. Children who attempt to migrate to Australia unaccompanied by adult family members are subject to the minister’s guardianship. In 1948 Arthur Calwell, the then Minister for Immigration, described himself in parliament as the ‘father’ of these such children. This article focuses on the period from the 1970s to explore what this notion of fatherhood entails. What can it tell us about how children, families and the role of the minister in child refugee policies, have been imagined? I examine how the Act functions as a form of biopolitics, to discipline and regulate intimate relations for child refugees. The article asks how the Act produces a set of historically specific interdependent relationships and highlights the ways successive governments have subordinated concerns for the ‘best interests of the child’ to concerns of the policing of the Australian border.
Perception, Imagination and Affect in Human–Robot Relationships
Authors: Kerruish Erika
Published: November 2016

As they arrive in our homes, nursing facilities and educational institutions, urgent questions are being asked about the ethics of encouraging people to have feelings towards social robots that have roles as companions, carers and teachers. This article suggests that the quality of these debates is enhanced by examining how people perceive robots and, in particular, how robots’ expressive characteristics stimulate feelings through engaging the embodied imagination. I discuss the perception and expression of the zoomorphic therapeutic robot Paro, before considering the directions an understanding of these processes can take discussions about the aesthetics and ethics of social robots.
Cultural Studies: Not Drowning but Waving?
Authors: Evers Clifton
Published: November 2016

A review of:Gilbert B. RodmanWhy Cultural Studies?Wiley-Blackwell, Chichester and Malden, MA, 2015ISBN 9781405127974 RRP AU$44.95 (pb)
Tracing the Global Themes of Media and Migration
Authors: Budarick John
Published: November 2016

Review of:Radha S. HegdeMediating MigrationPolity Press, Cambridge, 2016ISBN 9780745646329 RRP AU$37.95 (pb)
Physiological responses of coastal and oceanic diatoms to diurnal fluctuations in seawater carbonate chemistry under two CO2 concentrations
Authors: Li Futian , Wu Yaping , Hutchins David A. , Fu Feixue , Gao Kunshan
Published: November 2016

Abstract. Diel and seasonal fluctuations in seawater carbonate chemistry are common in coastal waters, while in the open-ocean carbonate chemistry is much less variable. In both of these environments, ongoing ocean acidification is being superimposed on the natural dynamics of the carbonate buffer system to influence the physiology of phytoplankton. Here, we show that a coastal Thalassiosira weissflogii isolate and an oceanic diatom, Thalassiosira oceanica, respond differentially to diurnal fluctuating carbonate chemistry in current and ocean acidification (OA) scenarios. A fluctuating carbonate chemistry regime showed positive or negligible effects on physiological performance of the coastal species. In contrast, the oceanic species was significantly negatively affected. The fluctuating regime reduced photosynthetic oxygen evolution rates and enhanced dark respiration rates of T. oceanica under ambient CO2 concentration, while in the OA scenario the fluctuating regime depressed its growth rate, chlorophyll a content, and elemental production rates. These contrasting physiological performances of coastal and oceanic diatoms indicate that they differ in the ability to cope with dynamic pCO2. We propose that, in addition to the ability to cope with light, nutrient, and predation pressure, the ability to acclimate to dynamic carbonate chemistry may act as one determinant of the spatial distribution of diatom species. Habitat-relevant diurnal changes in seawater carbonate chemistry can interact with OA to differentially affect diatoms in coastal and pelagic waters.
ASIS v1.0: an adaptative solver for the simulation of atmospheric
chemistry
Authors: Cariolle Daniel , Moinat Philippe , Teyssèdre Hubert , Giraud Luc , Josse Béatrice , Lefèvre Franck
Published: November 2016

Abstract. This article reports on the development and tests of the Adaptative Semi-Implicit Scheme (ASIS) solver for the simulation of atmospheric chemistry. To solve the Ordinary Differential Equation systems associated with the time evolution of the species concentrations, ASIS adopts a one step linearized implicit scheme with specific treatments of the Jacobian of the chemical fluxes. It conserves mass and has a time stepping module to control the accuracy of the numerical solution. In idealized box model simulations ASIS gives results similar to the higher order implicit schemes derived from the Rosenbrock's and Gear's methods. When implemented in the MOCAGE CTM and the LMD Mars GCM the ASIS solver performs well and reveals weaknesses and limitations of the original semi-implicit solvers used by these two models. ASIS can be easily adapted to various chemical schemes and further developments are foreseen to increase its computational efficiency, and to include the computation of the concentrations of the species in aqueous phase in addition to gas phase chemistry.
OBLIMAP 2.0: a fast climate model–ice sheet model coupler including online embeddable mapping routines
Authors: Reerink Thomas J. , van de Berg Willem Jan , van de Wal Roderik S. W.
Published: November 2016

Abstract. This paper accompanies the second OBLIMAP open-source release. The package is developed to map climate fields between a general circulation model (GCM) and an ice sheet model (ISM) in both directions by using optimal aligned oblique projections, which minimize distortions. The curvature of the surfaces of the GCM and ISM grid differ, both grids may be irregularly spaced and the ratio of the grids is allowed to differ largely. OBLIMAP's stand-alone version is able to map data sets that differ in various aspects on the same ISM grid. Each grid may either coincide with the surface of a sphere, an ellipsoid or a flat plane, while the grid types might differ. Re-projection of, for example, ISM data sets is also facilitated. This is demonstrated by relevant applications concerning the major ice caps. As the stand-alone version also applies to the reverse mapping direction, it can be used as an offline coupler. Furthermore, OBLIMAP 2.0 is an embeddable GCM–ISM coupler, suited for high-frequency online coupled experiments. A new fast scan method is presented for structured grids as an alternative for the former time-consuming grid search strategy, realising a performance gain of several orders of magnitude and enabling the mapping of high-resolution data sets with a much larger number of grid nodes. Further, a highly flexible masked mapping option is added. The limitation of the fast scan method with respect to unstructured and adaptive grids is discussed together with a possible future parallel Message Passing Interface (MPI) implementation.
A land surface model combined with a crop growth model for paddy rice (MATCRO-Rice v. 1) – Part 2: Model validation
Authors: Masutomi Yuji , Ono Keisuke , Takimoto Takahiro , Mano Masayoshi , Maruyama Atsushi , Miyata Akira
Published: November 2016

Abstract. We conducted two types of validation for the simulations by MATCRO-Rice developed by Masutomi et al. (2016). In the first validation, we compared simulations with observations for latent heat flux (LHF), sensible heat flux (SHF), net carbon uptake by crop, and paddy rice yield from 2003 to 2006 at the site where model parameters are parameterized. In the second validation, we compared the observed and simulated paddy rice yields over Japan from 1991 to 2010 between observations and simulations. The 4-year average root mean square errors (RMSEs) of the first validation for LHF and SHF were 18.20 and 15.47 W m−2, respectively. These values for errors are comparable to those reported in earlier studies. The comparison of biomass growth during growing periods from 2003 to 2006 at the parameterization site shows that the simulations were in agreement with the observations, indicating that the model can reproduce the net carbon uptake by crops well. The 4-year average RMSE of the first validation for crop yield in the same period was 410.6 kg ha−1, which accounted for 8.1 % of the mean observed yields. The error of the second validation for crop yield was 16.7 % and the correlation of crop yields between observations and simulations from 1991 to 2010 was significant at 0.663 (P < 0.01). These results indicate that MATCRO-Rice has high ability to accurately and consistently simulate LHF, SHF, net carbon uptake by crop, and crop yield.
Coastal flooding: impact of waves on storm surge during extremes – a case study for the German Bight
Authors: Staneva Joanna , Wahle Kathrin , Koch Wolfgang , Behrens Arno , Fenoglio-Marc Luciana , Stanev Emil V.
Published: November 2016

Abstract. This study addresses the impact of wind, waves, tidal forcing and baroclinicity on the sea level of the German Bight during extreme storm events. The role of wave-induced processes, tides and baroclinicity is quantified, and the results are compared with in situ measurements and satellite data. A coupled high-resolution modelling system is used to simulate wind waves, the water level and the three-dimensional hydrodynamics. The models used are the wave model WAM and the circulation model GETM. The two-way coupling is performed via the OASIS3-MCT coupler. The effects of wind waves on sea level variability are studied, accounting for wave-dependent stress, wave-breaking parameterization and wave-induced effects on vertical mixing. The analyses of the coupled model results reveal a closer match with observations than for the stand-alone circulation model, especially during the extreme storm Xaver in December 2013. The predicted surge of the coupled model is significantly enhanced during extreme storm events when considering wave–current interaction processes. This wave-dependent approach yields a contribution of more than 30 % in some coastal areas during extreme storm events. The contribution of a fully three-dimensional model compared with a two-dimensional barotropic model showed up to 20 % differences in the water level of the coastal areas of the German Bight during Xaver. The improved skill resulting from the new developments justifies further use of the coupled-wave and three-dimensional circulation models in coastal flooding predictions.
A multi-centennial record of past floods and earthquakes in Valle d'Aosta, Mediterranean Italian Alps
Authors: Wilhelm Bruno , Vogel Hendrik , Anselmetti Flavio S.
Published: November 2016

Abstract. Mediterranean Alpine populations are particularly exposed to natural hazards like floods and earthquakes because of both the close Mediterranean humidity source and the seismically active Alpine region. Knowledge of long-term variability in flood and earthquake occurrences is of high value since it can be useful to improve risk assessment and mitigation. In this context, we explore the potential of a lake-sediment sequence from Lago Inferiore de Laures in Valle d'Aosta (Northern Italy) as a long-term record of past floods and earthquakes. The high-resolution sedimentological study revealed 77 event layers over the last ca. 270 years; 8 are interpreted as most probably induced by earthquakes and 68 by flood events. Comparison to historical seismic data suggests that the recorded earthquakes are strong (epicentral MSK intensity of VI–IX) and/or close to the lake (distance of 25–120 km). Compared to other lake-sediment sequences, Lago Inferiore de Laures sediments appear to be regionally the most sensitive to earthquake shaking, offering a great potential to reconstruct the past regional seismicity further back in time. Comparison to historical and palaeoflood records suggests that the flood signal reconstructed from Lago Inferiore de Laures sediments well represents the regional and (multi-)decennial variability of summer–autumn floods, in connection to Mediterranean mesoscale precipitation events. Overall, our results reveal the high potential of Lago Inferiore de Laures sediments to extend the regional earthquake and flood catalogues far back in time.
Relationships between snowfall density and solid hydrometeors, based on measured size and fall speed, for snowpack modeling applications
Authors: Ishizaka Masaaki , Motoyoshi Hiroki , Yamaguchi Satoru , Nakai Sento , Shiina Toru , Muramoto Ken-ichiro
Published: November 2016

Abstract. The initial density of deposited snow is mainly controlled by snowfall hydrometeors. The relationship between snowfall density and hydrometeors has been qualitatively examined by previous researchers; however, a quantitative relationship has not yet been established due to difficulty in parameterizing the hydrometeor characteristics of a snowfall event. Thus, in an earlier study, we developed a new variable, the centre of mass flux distribution (CMF), which we used to describe the main hydrometeors contributing to a snowfall event. The CMF is based on average size and fall speed weighted by the mass flux estimated from all measured hydrometeors in a snowfall event. It provides a quantitative representation of the predominant hydrometeor characteristics of the event. In this study, we examine the relationships between the density of newly fallen snow and predominant snow type as indicated by the CMFs. We measured snowfall density at Nagaoka, Japan, where riming and aggregation are predominant, simultaneously observing the size and fall speed of snowfall hydrometeors, and deduced the predominant hydrometeor characteristics of each snowfall event from their CMFs. Snow density measurements were carried out for short periods, 1 or 2 h, during which the densification of the deposited snow was negligible. Also, we grouped snowfall events based on similar hydrometeor characteristics. As a result, we were able to obtain not only the qualitative relationships between the main types of snow and snowfall density as reported by previous researchers, but also quantitative relationships between snowfall density and the CMF density introduced here. CMF density is defined as the ratio between mass and volume, assuming the diameter of a sphere is equal to the CMF size component. This quantitative relationship provides a means for more precise estimation of snowfall density based on snow type (hydrometeor characteristics), by using hydrometeor size and fall speed data to derive initial densities for numerical snowpack models, and the snow-to-liquid ratio for winter weather forecasting. In fact, we found that this method can more accurately estimate snowfall density compared with using meteorological elements, which is the method generally used in current snowpack models, even though some issues remain in parameterization for practical use. Transferability of the method developed in the temperate climate zone, where riming and aggregation are predominant, to other snowy areas is also an issue. However, the methodology presented in this study would be useful for other kinds of snow.
Properties of black carbon and other insoluble light-absorbing particles in seasonal snow of northwest China
Authors: Pu Wei , Wang Xin , Wei Hailun , Zhou Yue , Shi Jinsen , Hu Zhiyuan , Jin Hongchun , Chen Quanliang
Published: November 2016

Abstract. Abstract. A large field campaign was conducted in northwestern China from January to February 2012 to measure the insoluble light-absorbing particles (ILAPs) and chemical species in the snow, and two hundred eighty-four snow samples were collected at 38 sites in Xinjiang Province and 6 sites in Qinghai Province. The cleanest snow was found in northeastern Xinjiang along the border of China, and it presented an estimated black carbon (BC) (CBCest) of approximately 5 ng g−1. The dirtiest snow was found near industrial cities, and it presented a CBCest of approximately 450 ng g−1. Overall, the CBCest of most of the snow samples collected in this campaign was 10–150 ng g−1. Vertical variations in the snowpack ILAPs indicated a probable shift in emission sources with the progression of winter. An analysis of the fractional contributions to absorption implied that organic carbon (OC) dominated the 450-nm absorption in Qinghai, whereas the contributions from BC and OC were comparable in Xinjiang. A Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF) model was run to explore the sources of particulate light absorption, and the results indicated an optimal 3-factor/source solution that included industrial pollution, biomass burning, and soil dust. In addition, the chemical components were evaluated to examine the mass contributions. In Qinghai, biomass burning was the dominant absorption factor despite the high mass contribution from soil dust. In Xinjiang, the primary absorption source was industrial pollution at sites near cities and biomass burning at most sites in other regions. A negative correlation was observed between the BC mixing ratio and altitude in Xinjiang. An analysis based on the PMF 3-factor solution showed that this relationship likely resulted from gradient variations in the contributions of industrial pollution sources.
Eurasian snow depth in long-term climate reanalyses
Authors: Wegmann Martin , Orsolini Yvan , Dutra Emanuel , Bulygina Olga , Sterin Alexander , Brönnimann Stefan
Published: November 2016

Abstract. Snow cover variability has significant effects on local and global climate evolution. By changing surface energy fluxes and hydrological conditions, changes in snow cover can alter atmospheric circulation and lead to remote climate effects. To analyze such multi-scale climate effects, atmospheric reanalysis and derived products offer the opportunity to analyze snow variability in great detail far back in time. So far only little is know about their quality. Comparing four long-term reanalysis datasets with Russian in situ snow depth data, a good representation of daily to sub-decadal snow variability was found. However, the representation of pre-1950 inter-decadal snow variability is questionable, since datasets divert towards different base states. Limited availability of independent long-term snow data hinders investigating this bifurcation of snow states in great detail, but initial investigations reveal a non-stationary performance of snow evolution representation. This study demonstrates the ability of long-term reanalysis to reproduce snow variability accordingly.
Perception of wine labels by generation Z: eye-tracking experiment
Authors: Mokrý Stanislav , Birčiaková Nada , Slováčková Tereza , Stávková Jana , Nagyová Ľudmila
Published: November 2016

Product quality is the result of an involved technological process. For the customer, product quality is not easy to grasp and the decision to buy the product is more influenced by the customer's perception of quality than by quality itself. It is therefore the result of many factors making an impression on the customer, their personal taste and the mood of the moment. The role of marketing is to understand the factors that have a customer impact. We need to identify the factors the customer is aware of and is able to communicate. Yet there are also a number of factors at play that affect the customer without their being aware of it. The aim of the paper is to get to know customer behaviour not just through the factors the customer communicates (answering questions) but to seek new methods that allow an objective examination of the customer's stimulus response, in our research case, using eye-tracking technology. The research study was conducted by way of an experiment with concurrent questioning in June 2016. There were 44 respondents taking part in the experiment, aged from 19 to 25 (Generation Z). The experiment set out to identify the importance of various visual attributes of a bottle of white wine, using a total of 7 stimuli.  The experiment was carried out using the method called A/B testing, whereby one half of the respondents (A) was shown the original version of the stimulus and the second half (B) the modified stimulus. The eye-tracking research was carried out using remote eye-tracker SMI RED 250 at a sampling frequency of 125 Hz. In answering questions, the respondents evaluated the importance of the factors of price, type, awards, the shape and colour of the bottle and information on the label, i.e. information about the producer (maker) of the wine, wine variety, wine-growing region, country of origin, year of vintage and the sugar content indication. The paper concludes with a summary of the respective importance of the individual visual attributes that Generation Z consumers are most influenced by, when purchasing bottled white wine.
Risk of agricultural production in russian orel region
Authors: Tóth Marián , Matveev Vladislav , Boháčiková Andrea
Published: November 2016

The paper evaluates the risk of agricultural farms in Russian Orel region by using the modified Markowitz portfolio theory. We analyse individual farm data of agricultural animal and crop production with respect to yield, price and revenue agricultural risk. Farms included in the analyses represent four organizational legal forms and the range of agricultural products produced by these farms is wide. Therefore the research focused on the grain and milk production only. Over the period 2010 to 2014 the effects of Russian ban on import of agricultural products from EU can be observed in form of increased price level of individual commodity prices. Risk and return are negatively related and investors are comparing the risk with profitability. The same stands for farmers. They select the type of production based on expected return. The result show that the systemic yield, price and revenue risk of grain production is higher when compared to milk production. This is due the nature of animal and crop production. Climate and weather risk has much lower effect on animal production when compared to crop production. Therefore the overall risk of crop production is higher. But farmers consider the risk not isolated but in relation to profitability. The profitability of crop production is higher as in Orel region more than 90% of agricultural production is not animal related and farms are profitable with and also without subsidies. Our empirical study shows that in case of equal expected profitability animal production is more profitable for the farmer as it is linked to lower yield, price and revenue risk.
An Assessment of Public Private Partnerships for Housing Projects in Bauchi State, North Eastern Nigeria
Authors: Yakubu Sanda Nehemiah , Anigbogu Natalia A. , Daniel Mallo Maren
Published: November 2016

Public Private Partnership (PPP) has gained wide acceptance as a strategy for housing provision in many countries. However, the level of success varies from one country to the other due to economic, political and cultural variations. This study examines PPP in housing in Bauchi State in Nigeria using Unity Housing Estate as a case study with the view to examine its performance and to suggest possible measures for improving the effectiveness of the concept. Methods of data collection used were semi-structured interviews and direct observation. Interviews responses were tape-recorded in addition to note taking which were subsequently transcribed and validated. The model of PPP used in the area was the Design-Build-Finance arrangement in which the private party takes the responsibilities for the design, finance and construction of the housing units. The houses were far beyond the affordability level of the target beneficiaries. Some of the challenges depicted were lack of political will, corruption among government agents and private sector developers, insincerity of contacting parties and unavailability of development fund. The study suggests among others, attitudinal change among stakeholders to ensure the success of PPP housing, the need to establish and empower relevant institutions that will help in fighting corruption.
Iranian EFL Learners’ Writing Problems: A Move towards Solution
Authors: Sharafi Nejad Maryam , Raftari Shohreh , Ismail Shaik Abdul Malik Mohamed , Eng Lin Siew
Published: November 2016

Writing connotes the declaration or expression of thoughts, feelings, plans and wishes in a composed form that demands skills and expertise as opposed to knowledge. Skillful writing calls for diligent work, perusing or reading, composing through reaching inferences from perusing materials and long period of practice. This study seeks to investigate the problems and identify the practical needs of writing skill in English as Foreign Language (EFL) context with special focus on Iranian citizens studying in Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM). In Iran, learning English language appears cumbersome for learners because it is handled as a foreign language. Hence, the leaners are confronted with plethora of problems in writing the language because it is not utilized in real life conversation or situation. In order to achieve its objectives, the study administered questionnaires to the respondents to elicit information on the difficulties confronting them while learning English as Foreign Language and their pragmatic needs.
El principio favor persona en el derecho internacional y en el derecho interno como regla de interpretación y de preferencia normativa
Authors: Aguilar Cavallo Gonzalo , Nogueira Alcalá Humberto
Published: November 2016

El artículo establece la hipótesis de que el principio favor persona constituye un postulado en materia de derechos humanos que contiene una vertiente interpretativa y una vertiente normativa, permitiendo delimitar los derechos y resolver conflictos normativos sobre derechos. Dicho postulado tiene una consagración de derecho positivo en el derecho internacional de los derechos humanos, el cual al incorporarse al derecho interno, se genera la obligación jurídica de su aplicación en el derecho nacional, en el análisis de derechos fundamentales.
Las potestades del Ministerio Público en la investigación de los delitos tributarios
Authors: Piedrabuena Richard Guillermo
Published: November 2016

En el presente artículo el autor analiza las normas constitucionales y reglas legales que circunscriben las atribuciones del Ministerio Público y el Servicio de Impuesto Internos para la persecución de delitos tributarios. Para ello, emprende una reconstrucción histórico – jurídica de las modificaciones y leyes adecuatorias del nuevo sistema procesal penal para luego desarrollar los presupuestos de las tesis del artículo: la derogación tácita de la facultad exclusiva del Director del SII para decidir en forma autónoma el inicio de una

investigación penal por un posible delito tributario, dictada la reforma constitucional que creo el Ministerio Público y la naturaleza de delito de acción penal público del delito tributario.
Un estudio multidisciplinario interinstitucional de necesidades sociocomunicativas lingüísticas: hacia una propuesta curricular para la ingeniería agroindustrial, 2014, CURVA-ELCE UNAH
Authors: Alexis Espino José , Cooman Jean Noel , Gálvez Oscar Arlyn
Published: November 2016

Con el interés de responder a la demanda de un diseño curricular de parte de la Carrera de Ingeniería en Agroindustria del Centro Universitario Regional del Valle de Aguan (CURVA) en la ciudad de Olanchito, se inició, dentro de la Escuela de Lenguas y Culturas Extranjeras, a finales del año 2014, la realización de un estudio científico con un enfoque cuanti-cualitativo, que recogió datos de 4 poblaciones idóneas, con miras a la elaboración de una propuesta curricular para el programa de inglés por objetivos específicos para dicha carrera en este centro regional de la Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Honduras (UNAH).Este proyecto de investigación tuvo como objetivo, en primer lugar, diagnosticar y determinar a través de 5 instrumentos de recolección de información, las exigencias de formación en la lengua inglesa y, después del análisis de los datos obtenidos, constituir y validar técnicamente un programa nuevo y más intensivo que responda a las necesidades objetivas-comunicativas, necesidades subjetivas y necesidades interculturales específicas de los estudiantes y egresados de Ingeniería en Agroindustria; de tal manera que los lleve eventualmente a adquirir mejores competencias comunicativas-lingüísticas para un óptimo aprovechamiento académico y profesional en esa área en concreto.El presente estudio consiguió determinar el nivel actual e insuficiente de la lengua inglesa de la población de estudiantes; la demanda, motivación y hábitos de estudio actuales de los mismos para el aprendizaje de la lengua; al igual que los contenidos, competencias sociolingüísticas, estrategias de enseñanza y metodología de evaluación deseables. Es decir, se determinó lo que estos estudiantes deben de leer, escuchar, redactar y hablar en inglés de manera más orientada a sus necesidades profesionales. En conclusión, se respondió a la interrogante: “¿Quién tiene necesidad de qué lengua para efectuar qué operación de acuerdo a qué interlocutor dentro de qué circunstancia y para qué objetivo, a propósito de qué objeto, con ayuda de qué medios y de qué formas lingüísticas?” (Cabré, 2010). Estos componentes dieron forma a la propuesta curricular formulada.Consecuentemente, la gestión de esta novedosa reforma curricular pretende impulsar el desarrollo socioeconómico de las familias de la comunidad y, paralelamente, dar respuesta a la demanda de contratación de profesionales capacitados en las cuantiosas empresas nacionales e internacionales de la zona del valle del Aguán, dedicadas al rubro de la agricultura y la industria.