bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Impact of Textile Dyes on Human Health and Environment
Authors: Manzoor Javid , Sharma Manoj
Published: October 2019

The textile industry is one of the important industries that generates a large amount of industrial effluents. Color is the main attraction of any fabric. Manufacture and use of synthetic dyes for fabric dyeing has therefore become a massive industry. Synthetic dyes have provided a wide range of colorfast, bright hues. However, their toxic nature has become a cause of grave concern to environmentalists. Use of synthetic dyes has an adverse effect on all forms of life. Presence of sulphur, naphthol, vat dyes, nitrates, acetic acid, soaps, enzymes chromium compounds, and heavy metals like copper, arsenic, lead, cadmium, mercury, nickel, and cobalt and certain auxiliary chemicals all collectively make the textile effluent highly toxic. These organic materials react with many disinfectants, especially chlorine, and form byproducts (DBPs) that are often carcinogenic and therefore undesirable. This effluent, if allowed to flow in the fields, clogs the pores of the soil resulting in loss of soil productivity. This chapter gives an overview on the health and environmental impact of dyes.
Advanced Oxidation Processes for Dye Removal From Wastewater
Authors: Shikuku Victor Odhiambo , Nyairo Wilfrida N.
Published: October 2019

Advanced oxidation processes (AOPs), namely the Fenton oxidation, ozonation, electrochemical oxidation, and photocatalysis, are potential alternative techniques for dye removal from textile effluents. Their inherent ability to completely mineralize pollutants including those recalcitrant to biodegradation and to be compatibly integrated in conventional technologies present grounds for consideration of AOPs as alternative wastewater treatment options. Advanced oxidation involves generation and subsequent reaction of various radicals and reacting species with the target compounds. This chapter discusses the fundamentals and chemistry and efficiencies of the Fenton process, ozonation, electrochemical oxidation, and photocatalysis processes for complete dye removal from wastewater. The reaction mechanisms, performance, and factors affecting efficiency are discussed.
Challenges Facing Building Construction in Developing Countries
Authors: Pettang Chrispin , Manjia Marcelline Blanche , Abanda F. Henry
Published: October 2019

It is now well-established that the industry faced enormous challenges. To overcome these challenges and hence improve efficiency and productivity requires a deeper understanding of the challenges. In this chapter, the main challenges related to construction material and equipment, man-power and management will be examined. The consequences of these challenges which often lead cost overruns and delays will be discussed. The aim of this chapter is to provide a deeper understanding of these challenges so as to inform the choice of the decision support systems to be used in the subsequent chapters.
Structure Development for Effective Medical Waste and Hazardous Waste Management System
Authors: Cılız Nilgün , Yıldırım Hacer , Temizel Şila
Published: October 2019

Management of medical and hazardous wastes is a serious problem especially for developing countries. People are not aware of possible threats and/or they are afraid of the cost of application. Rapid population growth leads municipalities towards proper solid waste management applications. In this study, data were collected from the Turkish Statistical Institute and a general framework was drawn for medical and hazardous waste amounts and disposal methods. Starting from this point of view, the authors analyzed both the Regulation on Control of Hazardous Waste and the Regulation on Control of Medical Waste applied in Turkey. Taking into account all of these factors, this chapter is intended to develop the medical and hazardous waste management system economically and environmentally including waste generation, collection, transportation, disposal and treatment activities. Additionally, it investigates the reasons for lack of proper application of the regulations in light of the statistical data.
Increase of Transportation Efficiencies and Emission Reduction within a City
Authors: Jenne Christian
Published: October 2019

On a worldwide scale population is increasing, necessitating efficiencies in transportation essential for a modern and healthy environment. Most cities have already reached their limitations on population and vehicle movement. Street layouts and cycling lanes, which were initially planned for a certain number of inhabitants, are now not able to cope with increasing demand. The same applies for fresh water supply and effluent treatment which have limitations also. With an increasing population in urban areas, restriction levels in these regions can be reached very quickly, creating a problem which needs to be addressed. A smarter city can only be developed when there is pre-planning on all of these issues, when there is an understanding of newly developed human behaviours, and when new inventions and technologies in urban areas can adapt to these changes.
A Business Development Strategy for India's Rail Company Ircon in Expanding Businesses to Asia, Africa and Middle East
Authors: Chinnobaiah Sandeep
Published: October 2019

The Ircon is one of the key players in the market of transportation infrastructure development backed by Indian government and Indian railways. It has successful presence in various locations such as Malaysia, Algeria, Mozambique, Srilanka and India. The objective of the company is to expand globally to get lucrative projects simultaneously sustain competition locally and overseas. The idea is to devise a strategic marketing plan based on infrastructure spending data, location accessibility and market friendliness of the target market countries. The research design carried out was of comprehensive study of data collected from email survey, archive survey and depth interview analysis on various stages of business. The survey outcomes from exclusively selected respondents having international experience in construction business have indicated that infrastructure spending of a country is of utmost importance with 56% of survey response agreeing to it, similarly majority of respondents agreed that deciding factors like market entry plan, entry strategies and other attributes in markets.
Self-Comparison in the Digital World
Authors: Moningka Clara
Published: October 2019

In this chapter, the author is interested in studying self-comparison in social media and its effect to the self-esteem in emerging adults. In Indonesia, social media are widely used by various groups. Jakarta is even referred as the capital of a text-based social media. Data in 2016 indicated that social media users in Indonesia have reached high ranking. Indonesia ranked fourth in the world for social media users and ranked first with Facebook with 111 million users, followed by Twitter. Indonesian Internet Service Provider Association explained that the biggest users were dominated by adolescents, amounting to 75.50% of the total users. The use of social media can be influenced by collective culture. This culture can influence how individuals evaluate themselves, including their self-esteem. The topic of the psychological effects of social media has been much discussed. A lot of research conducted on the effect of social on development of self-esteem. Social media becoming a place for comparing oneself to others and it turn out it has a great effect.
Technologies for Digital Inclusion
Authors: Morato Jorge , Ruiz-Robles Alejandro , Sanchez-Cuadrado Sonia , Marzal Miguel Angel
Published: October 2019

Digital inclusion proposals are oriented towards specific groups of people. These groups are excluded due to their qualities or lack of them, their attitude, socio-political factors, economic factors, or just by the geographic zone where they live. Since 1999 several strategies have been proposed, either related to educational or technological aspects. The lessons learned are collected with the aim of proposing an adapted model that allows defining a set of good practices. In order to know what technology is the most suited to promote the digital inclusion of each group, multiple variables are analysed. A higher number of variables allow better groups description regarding their context and the relevance of each variable for each group. In this work the authors discuss the dimensions of the group profiles, the factors affecting them, and the infrastructure and software solutions that can change the situation. Finally a simple graphic is proposed to show the dimensions of causes and user groups in order to improve their comparison.
Internet Use and Economic Growth
Authors: Bhattacharya Abhijit , Ghosh Archita
Published: October 2019

A good infrastructure is actually the base behind the growth of an economy. In the present age of globalization accessibility of information is a very important component of infrastructure. Studies carried out on the effect of internet on economic growth are mostly either on high income countries only or on a large number of countries belonging to different income groups. Keeping in mind the differential impact of internet on economic growth of countries with different initial conditions, we have attempted in this chapter a study on the impact of internet use on economic growth in 39 lower middle income and low income countries during 2002-2011. Applying panel data regression techniques we have found a positive significant impact of internet use on economic growth of low income countries. The emergence of crisis adversely affected this growth process, overruling the positive impact of internet use.
The Impact of Information and Communication Technologies on Economic Growth and Electricity Consumption
Authors: Berke Burcu , Akarsu Gülsüm , Obay Gökhan
Published: October 2019

Information overload is an important issue in the digital economy. Although, information can be easily accessed and disseminated by widespread use of information and communication technologies (ICT) since 1990s; among countries, there are still significant disparities in information access and utilization as well as ICT access and usage. ICT affect economy, industries and companies holistically and have important functions like increasing economic growth and promoting development. The basic purpose of this study is to analyze the impact of ICT on economic growth and electricity consumption for a group of Balkan and Eastern European countries by using other economic variables that affect electricity consumption and growth, such as income and electricity consumption for control purposes. This study employed a panel data method on a group of Balkan and Eastern European countries to verify the effect of other economic variables, primarily electricity consumption and found that ICT had positive impacts on economic growth.
Welfare Economic Principles of (Urban) Rail Network Pricing
Authors: Schimmelpfennig Jörg
Published: October 2019

The purpose of this chapter is to rectify the at best unprofessional intermingling of objectives and constraints and present a proper theory of first-best and second-best pricing in urban rail networks. First, in view of the flaws of both Dupuit's – though nevertheless ingenious idea of – consumer surplus as well its cannibalized version found in most of today's economics textbooks, a proper definition of economic welfare resting on Hicks'sian variations instead is provided. It is used to derive efficient pricing rules that are subsequently applied to specific questions arising from running an urban railway network such as overcrowding, short-run versus long-run capacity or competing modes of transport like the private motor car. At the same time, another look is taken at economic costs, and in particular economic marginal costs, differing from commercial or accounting costs. Among other things, it is shown that even with commercial marginal costs being constant first-best pricing might not necessarily be incompatible with a zero-profit budget.
Small and Medium Enterprises in the Slovak Republic
Authors: Malega Peter
Published: October 2019

The main goal of this chapter will be the clarification of SME´s in Slovak republic as the main creator of value in the Slovak republic, which is one of the semi-developed countries in EU. In the Slovak Republic have small and medium enterprises irreplaceable role particularly in job creation and regional development. This chapter has three main sections, which are interlinked. First main section is about the current conditions of SMEs in Slovakia, where are explained in detail business environment in Slovakia and also support for SMEs. Second main section deals with SMEs and international cooperation, where are described business risk, internationalisation of SMEs in EU markets and analysis of SMEs possibilities. Third main section is about entry strategy into foreign markets and competitiveness of SMEs and in this section you can find entry strategies of enterprise on foreign markets and competitiveness of Slovakia and Slovak SMEs.
Ethical Appraisal of the Role of Civil Society in Nigeria
Authors: Essien Essien D.
Published: October 2019

Contemporary studies surrounding the creation of civil society in Africa have revealed two important findings. First, despite the effort of civil society organizations in supporting inclusive democratic governance, promoting participation, advocating for transparency and accountability, sustainable development and stability remain elusive due to the challenges of social exclusion. Second, institutions central to the exercise of governmental powers exhibit inefficiency, weakness, lack transparency, and low credibility which worsen extreme poverty, inequality, and deprivation. Drawing upon extensive contemporary literature on social exclusion and inclusive growth, this study examines the role of civil society organisations as a pathway for social inclusion and sustainable development. Findings reveal that the management and distribution of services in the Nigerian society is largely inefficient and exclusionary, leading to myriad of social problems. This study has a significant implication for cumulative research on the subject of inclusive society and sustainable development.
Laws, Finance, and Policies of Higher Education Accessibility
Authors: Raasch Jennifer
Published: October 2019

Historically, educational accessibility in higher education appeared to be a dynamic and fluid scale with individual rights and accessibility on one side while institutional policies and procedures balanced the other side. Additional weights were applied to both sides of the scale. United States (U.S.) federal laws applied weight to the individual rights and accessibility side. Meanwhile, financial considerations applied weight to the institutional policies side. U.S. universities may have found this balancing act difficult through ongoing legal cases and law revisions. Critical Disability Theory (CDT) provides an alternative viewpoint to review education accessibility. CDT also encourages participation by more campus stakeholders to resolve accessibility issues and promote full accessibility on university campuses. This chapter will explore and explain the complex interconnections of laws, finances and policies in supporting accessibility on campuses and discuss potential guidelines for future institutional policies and procedures related to students with disabilities.
Special Education Leadership and the Implementation of Response to Intervention
Authors: Cooley Derek , Whitten Elizabeth
Published: October 2019

Special education administrators provide leadership to guide the identification of learners with exceptionalities and ensure that staff working with special education students delivers instructional best practice. In order to execute these responsibilities, special education administrators must be effective leaders who collaborate with a variety of stakeholder including. Contrary to their general education counterparts, special education administrators must possess a specific body of procedural knowledge to identify low-performing groups of students. These procedures are often referred to Response to Intervention (RTI) or Multi-Tier Systems of Support (MTSS). Under IDEA (2004), students with and without disabilities can benefit from the same system of interventions and supports. This intersection has necessitated coordination of RTI models by both general and special education administrators. Special education and general education leaders will be challenged to blend models of leadership to address the high-stakes environment in our K-12 schools.
Factors Determining the Internationalization of Spanish Family SMEs
Authors: Fernández-Olmos Marta
Published: October 2019

This chapter examines the factors determining international expansion for a group of Spanish family SMEs. Internationalization is modelled taking into account both the decision to enter foreign markets and the degree of internationalization. This chapter uses the information provided by the Survey on Business Strategies in Spain, including 1,519 observations. The results indicate that the presence of the second generation in the family firm, the establishment of alliances with other firms, and some intangible resources (in particular, product innovations, and human resources) all positively influence the degree of internationalization. The results also indicate that the size and age of family firms are important factors in determining their international expansion.
Keys to the Survival of the Family Firm
Authors: Camisón César , Moreno José Antonio
Published: October 2019

The purpose of this research is to carry out an in-depth exploration of the causes of the family firm's success over short and long term, analysing which capabilities are the most valuable sources of sustainable competitive advantage in every time horizon. The results confirm only functional capabilities have a positive and significant effect on short-term economic performance, whereas dynamic capabilities are the only ones that have a positive and significant impact on long-term economic performance.
The Role of Family Ownership in Survival and Bouncing Back
Authors: Iborra María , Safón Vicente , Dolz Consuelo
Published: October 2019

The latest global economic and financial crisis has been a litmus test for companies, especially for SMEs. These companies have had to demonstrate their ability to be resilient, surviving first and then recovering. This chapter studies the role of family ownership in the survival and recovery of SMEs during a stressful event. From a perspective based on the complementarity or substitutability of goals that family firms pursue, the authors propose that family ownership has a positive effect on survival but a negative effect on recovery. Furthermore, they propose that the risk of bankruptcy before a crisis moderates the relationship between family ownership and survival. Hypotheses have been tested with a dataset of 3,133 Spanish manufacturing MEs finding evidence for the positive role of family ownership in survival and for the moderating effect of previous bankruptcy risk. The empirical data confirms good news for family-owned firms.
The Quadruple Sustainability
Authors: Forés Beatriz , Clemente Almendros José Antonio , Fernández Yáñez José María
Published: October 2019

This chapter analyzes the relationship between ownership structure and sustainability performance adopting the socioemotional wealth approach. This work extends previous literature on the topic by considering the three dimensions of sustainability performance: economic, social, and environmental. Analysis with the matching technique revealed that being a family firm has a positive effect on economic profitability, growth sales, employees training and commitment, investment in R&D, environmental commitment, and cooperation agreements with external partners. The authors use a sample of Spanish firms operating in the tourism industry.
The Influence of Smoke From Forest Fires on the Meteorological and Electrical Characteristics of the Atmosphere
Authors: Nagorskiy Petr Mikhailovich , Kabanov Mikhail Vsevolodovich , Pustovalov Konstantin Nikolaevich
Published: October 2019

The impact of smoke from forest fires in western Siberia on meteorological, atmospheric electric, and aerological variables has been analyzed. The anomalous distribution of water vapor in the atmosphere associated with the peculiarities of the evaporation regime and the absence of advective moisture transfer over the southern regions of Western Siberia during the fires. With an increase in the height of the homogeneous surface smoke layer with an unchanged aerosol optical thickness, the cooling of the earth's surface and heating of the atmosphere was weakened. The smoke plume spreads predominantly in the middle of the troposphere, creating aerosol layers elevated above the ground, the lower part of which had a negative volume charge. The effect of diurnal variations in the electrical field in the near-surface layer, differs from the known similar effects.
Forecast of geomagnetic activity by linear prediction filtering
Authors: Lam H M
Published: October 2019

A prediction filter based on Wiener linear prediction theory has been developed for medium-term (27 days) forecasts of geomagnetic activity in Canada. Magnetic data from observatories with the Automatic Magnetic Observatory System CAMOS) in the polar cap, auroral
zone and subauroral zone are used as input to the filter. The forecasts compare favourably with actual data. It is found that the optimum length of input data to the prediction filter is about 8 solar rotations and the appropriate length of the prediction filter is about one third of the length of
the data. The prediction filter could be used for routine forecasting work.
A new type of magnetic activity forecast
Authors: Coles R L , Hruska J
Published: October 2019

A new type of geomagnetic activity forecast provides daily estimates of a range parameter for each of the three major magnetic zones over Canada (sub-auroral, auroral, and polar cap). The parameter used is the mean of the twenty-four one-hour ranges in one of the
components of the magnetic field. forecasts are made up to 27 days in advance, based primarily on the recurrent features in the magnetic field and in solar activity, resulting from the solar rotation.
Overall accuracy, measured by a figure of merit defined in the paper, exceeds 70%, during the latter part of 1984 and early 1985, a period of generally low magnetic activity. A comparison between data obtained during this period and data from the last peak in magnetic activity (1982)
demonstrates the contrasts in activity, on a solar cycle basis, seasonally, and latitudinally.
Un réseau de microgravimétrie dans la région d'Ottawa
Authors: Bastien R
Published: October 2019

A three-site precise gravity network has been established on a 20 km radius around the Ottawa absolute gravity reference site in order to study secular changes in gravity in the Ottawa region. Seven separate surveys comprising nearly 150 observations each have
been completed on a quaterly basis from November 1986 to July 1988 using four model D gravimeters from Lacoste and Romberg. The method used allows us to estimate the gravity variations with an uncertainty of 3 uGal. An extension to the North of the Canadian Absolute Gravity Site of Gatineau in July
1988 will add 5 new links to the actual 6 links network.
A precursory sub-event to the Mont-Laurier earthquake
Authors: Adams J
Published: October 2019

Two reports prepared in the month following the 1990 Mont-Laurier earthquake are included. Digitally-recorded waveforms for the mN 5.0 Mont-Laurier mainshock on 19th November 1990 at 0701 UT (epicentre: 46.47N 75.59W; depth 11 km) show that the initiation of the
mainshock rupture was preceded (by 0.15 s) by a precursory event (or foreshock) of about mN 3.5 which may have initiated about 250 m northwest of the mainshock epicentre. Common first and second motion directions at most stations, but differences between the first and second motions at stations EEO
and KGN, suggest a common NE-dipping plane for both the precursor and the mainshock but a
larger strike-slip component for the mainshock.
Compilation of earthquakes for the Juan de Fuca plate, seismicity map
Authors: Rogers G C
Published: October 2019

A compilation of the seismicity of the Juan de Fuca Plate map region (39°-53°N and 116°- 133~W)has been completed for events of magnitude four and greater. The earthquakes are divided into four magnitude ranges and plotted on a contour map to
facilitate correlation with major structural features. Revisions have been made to parameters of about half of the earthquakes in the northern portion of the map (north of 48°). All revisions are referenced.
Computer re-evaluation of earthquake mechanism solutions
Authors: Wickens A J , Hodgson J H
Published: October 2019

A program has been written which determines the best positions of the P-nodal planes and B axis for any set of observations and defines the variations possible in these potiitions. In the best and in the extreme positions a number of parameters are calculated:
(1) with Model I assumed, and each plane taken in turn as the fault, the strike and dip components are computed; (2) with Model II assumed, the orientation of the pressure and tension axes is calculated.
This program has been applied to the data 011 618 earthquakes; these include all earthquakes for which solutions have previously been published anywhere in the world and for which the data are available, together with a large number of European earthquakes for which data have been collected through
the European Seismological Commission's Working Group on Earthquake Mechanism (Dr. A. R. Ritsema, chairman) . Where more than one author has considered an earthquake, the data of each are treated separately and are then combined to produce a final solution. The entire print-out is included in the
paper.
Of the 618 earthquakes, 70 provide unique solutions in which none of the parameters vary by more than 10 degrees. For these the paper provides a listing of the observations on which the solution is based, together with the constants of the observing stations, the theorctical amplitude and polarity
for each of these stations reduced to the focal sphere, and a plot of the data and solution on a Byerly projection.
Theoretical dispersion tables for love waves propagating in a wedge and in a single non-homogeneous layer with a linear velocity gradient
Authors: Pec K
Published: October 2019

Dispersion of Love waves propagating in a wedge and in a single layer with a linear gradient of shear wave velocity overlying a homogeneous semi-infinite half-space is considered. The dispersion equations have been deduced from the condition of constructive
interference in both cases under consideration. The domain of existence of Love waves in a wedge-shaped layer has been discussed. For a very shallow slope the domain is essentially equivalent to that of a single layer with parallel boundaries. With increasing slope of the wedge the domain of
existence becomes more complex. However, there are large deviations in the shape of dispersion curves with respect to the curves associated with the standard model even for small angles of inclination. These deviations are greatest for comparatively great wave lengths with respect to the thickness
of the layer; with decreasing wave length the effects quickly decrease.
In the possible range of linear gradients of shear wave velocity in the earth's crust, there are no essential deviations from the standard model.
The dispersion tables for a wedge and inhomogeneous layer are given. These tables have been calculated on the basis of deduced dispersion formulae. The method of successive approximations bas been used in the former case; the dispersion formula for inhomogeneous layer is given in the closed form.
The dispersion tables of Love waves for a standard mode! are also given.
An FM magnetic tape recording seismograph
Authors: Bancroft A M , Basham P W
Published: October 2019

A three-component, short-period seismograph bas been developed in which frequency-modulated magnetic tape is used as the recording medium. The techniques for maintaining a well-calibrated system under field conditions are discussed in detail. Present methods for
editing and conversion to a digital format are also described. The possibilities are explored for a modified system that produces additional long-period information from short-period seismometers.
A computer-oriented system for the reduction of gravity data
Authors: Tanner J G , Buck R J
Published: October 2019

ln 1958, the Dominion Observatory expanded its program of regional and local gravity measurements throughout Canada. The regional observations are ta.ken at intervals of 10 km using different makes of gravimeters, and transportation is provided by fixed and
rotary-winged aircraft, automobiles and ships. The local surveys consist of deta.iled investigations of geological features and of areas in which steep horizontal gravity gradients are observed. The resulting increase in the volume of data (tenfold in about 5 years) required that a system of
processing, filing and plotting of data from both types of survey be developed. The basic unit of the system is a computer program that reduces field observations to simple Bouguer and free-air anomalies, for use in both geodetic and geophysical investigations. The computed output data carde are
maintained in a Principal Facts file, which is used to prepare Bouguer anomaly maps on an automatic plotter, and from which data is supplied upon request.
Computer-determined p-nodal solutions for the larger earthquakes of 1959-1962
Authors: Hodgson J H , Wickens A J
Published: October 2019

This paper continues the Dominion Observatory program of attempting P-nodal (fault-plane) solutions for ail large earthquakes. In this case the solutions have been determined for 66 of the larger earthquakes of 1959-1962 using a computer program described earlier
(Wickens, Stevens and Hodgson, 1963). This program does not define the possible variation of the planes from the "best" position determined by the computer, but an attempt bas been made to supply this information by inspection of the solutions. The solutions are summarized in the tabular form
established in earlier papers of the series.
A digital recorder for pendulum measurements
Authors: Valliant H D
Published: October 2019

A portable, moderate-speed digital recorder is required for the Bronze Pendulum Apparatus of the Dominion Qbservatory, Canada. A review of available event recording methods reveals that, in general, contemporary recorders are too bulky and consume too much power
to be readily adapted to field applications. Consequently, a miniature 30-channel recorder, having a total power consumption of 5 watts and a speed capability of three print-outs per second, bas been designed. The operating speed is !imited only by the chart transport mechanism, as the recording
medium is capable of speeds greater than two thousand print-outs per second.
A study of spectral line identifications in perseid meteor spectra
Authors: Halliday I
Published: October 2019

A detailed lisl of spectral line idenlifirations is derived from the study of five Perseid meteor spectra. A total of 229 features are identified in the region from 3680 A to 8710 A. lt is shown that lines of N II, O II, and Sr II are present, and probably also
lines of Sr I, Ba I, and Ba II, in addition to lines of other atoms and ions previously identified. The high excitation energies required for the lines of N and O II are discussed. Additional wavelengths may be expected to appear on spectra of higher dispersion or by further extensions of the
observations to the ultraviolet and infrared.
The identification of the (0,0) and (1,0) bands of the CN red system in the solar spectrum
Authors: Rigutti M
Published: October 2019

A comparison has been made of the wavelengths of the rotational lines in the (0,0) and (1,0) bands of the CN red system produced in the laboratory with the tabulated wavelengths of lines in the solar spectrum in the neighbourhood of 11 000 A and 9200 A
respectively. Some 38 coincidences were established between CN lines and previously unidentified lines of solar or terrestrial origin.
The digital velocity-generating computer for the dominion observatory mirror transit
Authors: Brealey G A
Published: October 2019

The original velocity-generating computer of the Ottawa mirror transit has been found to lack sufficient accuracy for the tracking of stars during meridian passage. This shortcoming is shown to be caused be a combination of observing techniques, atmospheric
refraction, thermal expansion effects, and mechanical alignment errors. The first two of these effects are referred to briefly (with references to a previous paper) and the last two are examined in detail and shown to exceed tolerable amounts.
The new computer uses electro-magnetic clutches and mechanical differentials to supply a mechanical analogue of binary arithmetic. The differentials are used to add angular velocities which in turn are selected by the energizing of appropriate clutches. The selection of velocity is done through a
four-column decimal keyboard in which the observ enters the digits of cosine declinaiton directly. A diode matrix converts each decimal number into its binary equivalent; and this in turn energizes the required clutches.
The new velocity generator is shown to be an extremely accurate device. The output velocity error does not exceed plus or minus 2 parts in 10000 whereas the original generator had errors of about ten times this value.
The 1420 MC/s radio telescope of the dominion radio astrophysical observatory
Authors: Locke J L , Galt J A , Costain C H
Published: October 2019

The radio telescope of the Dominion Radio Astrphysical Observatory, used both for studies of the hydrogen line and the continuum, is described. The antenna, a 25.6-meter-diameter paraboloid of focal ratio 0.34, is mounted equatorially. The radiometer is a Dicke
type instrument with a comparison resistor at liquid oxygen temperature. An over-all noise temperature of 160K is attained using an electron beam parametric amplifier.
A study of ultraviolet meteor spectra
Authors: Halliday I
Published: October 2019

The spectra of one Lyrid and one Perseid meteor are used as the basis for a list of spectral line identifications in the ultraviolet range from 3100 to 4000 A. Lines from six neutral atoms and five ions are listed, including the first identificat ions of Ti Il
and Cr If in meteor spectra. No lines are attributed to Si I or Co 1. An enduring line at 3836.5 A was observed between heights of 87 and 75 km in the Lyrid spectrum. No satisfactory identification for this line was found since its association with lines of Fe I or Mg I is considered
doubtful.
Determinants of the utilisation of sexual and reproductive healthcare services by male adolescents in the Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality in South Africa
Authors: Shabani Omari , Tshitangano Takalani G.
Published: October 2019

Background: Male adolescent sexual and reproductive health is one of the essential healthcare programmes in the world. However, male adolescents still face numerous challenges in this area. Determinants of the utilisation of these services need to be known to develop strategies to improve utilisation of the available services by male adolescents.Aim: The aim of this study was to identify the determinants of the utilisation of sexual and reproductive healthcare services by male adolescents in the Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality in South Africa.Setting: The study was conducted in the Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality in South Africa.Methods: An explorative, descriptive and qualitative approach was employed. The study was contextual in nature, and purposive sampling was used. The population of the study consisted of male adolescents (aged 18–24 years) living in the Tshwane metropolitan Municipality. Twenty male adolescents participated in the study. Data collected using semistructured individual interviews were analysed using Tesch’s method of data analysis, and measures to ensure trustworthiness and ethical consideration pertaining to the study were established.Results: The perception of existing services was found to be a significant individual factor influencing them negatively in utilising the services. This was linked to the violation of their rights as human beings by healthcare providers, their unmet expressed needs and the ineffectiveness as well as inefficiency of the support structures.Conclusion: These results suggest that utilisation of these services by male adolescents can be improved by changing their perception of the existing services through support from different structures of the society.
"Мигающие" и "планирующие" частоты собственных колебаний упругих тел с обломанным пикообразным заострением
Authors: Nazarov Sergei Aleksandrovich
Published: October 2019

Изучен спектр плоской задачи теории упругости для тела $\Omega^h$ с пикообразным заострением, от которого обломан кончик пика малой длины $h>0$. Известно, что спектр задачи для тела $\Omega^0$ с целым пиком приобретает непрерывную компоненту $[\Lambda_\dagger,+\infty)$ с положительной точкой отсечки $\Lambda_\dagger>0$. Установлено, что каждая точка $\Lambda>\Lambda_\dagger$ - "мигающее" собственное число, т.е. она - истинное собственное число задачи в $\Omega^{h}$ "почти периодически" в логарифмическом масштабе $|\ln h|$. Среди семейств собственных чисел $\Lambda^h_{m(h)}$, непрерывно зависящих от параметра $h$, обнаружены "планирующие" собственные числа, т.е. спускающиеся вниз с большой скоростью $O((\Lambda^h_{m(h)}-\Lambda_\dagger)h^{-1}|\ln h|^{-1})$ вдоль вещественной оси, но плавно садящиеся на порог $\Lambda_\dagger$. Таким образом, выявлен новый способ формирования непрерывного спектра задачи для пикообразного тела $\Omega^0$ из совокупности дискретных спектров задач в $\Omega^h$, $h>0$. Кроме того, возможно появление "малоподвижных" собственных чисел, которые в противоположность "планирующим" остаются в малой окрестности фиксированной точки при всех малых $h$.
Библиография: 30 названий.
Accounting for rain type non-stationarity in sub-daily stochastic weather generators
Authors: Benoit Lionel , Vrac Mathieu , Mariethoz Gregoire
Published: October 2019

Abstract. At sub-daily resolution, rain intensity exhibits a strong variability in space and time, which is favorably modelled using stochastic approaches. This strong variability is further enhanced because of the diversity of processes that produce rain (e.g. frontal storms, mesoscale convective systems, local convection), which results in a multiplicity of space-time patterns embedded into rain fields, and in turn leads to non-stationarity of rain statistics. To account for this non-stationarity in the context of stochastic weather generators, and therefore preserve the climatological coherence of rain simulations, we propose to resort to rain types simulation. We explore two methods to simulate rain type time series conditional to meteorological covariates: a parametric approach based on a non-homogeneous semi-Markov chain, and a non-parametric approach based on multiple-point statistics. Both methods are tested by cross-validation using a 17-year long rain type time series defined over central Germany. Evaluation results indicate that the non-parametric approach better simulates the relationships between rain types and meteorological covariates. Indeed, the inherent simplifications in the parametric model do not allow fully resolving complex and non-linear interactions between the rainfall statistics and meteorological covariates. The proposed approach is applied to generate rain type time series conditional to meteorological covariates simulated by a Regional Climate Model under an RCP8.5 emission scenario. Results indicate that, by the end of the century, the distribution of rain types could be modified over the area of interest, with an increased frequency of convective- and frontal-like rains at the expense of more stratiform events.
Technical note: Inherent benchmark or not? Comparing Nash–Sutcliffe and Kling–Gupta efficiency scores
Authors: Knoben Wouter J. M. , Freer Jim E. , Woods Ross A.
Published: October 2019

Abstract. A traditional metric used in hydrology to summarize model
performance is the Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency (NSE). Increasingly an
alternative metric, the Kling–Gupta efficiency (KGE), is used instead. When
NSE is used, NSE = 0 corresponds to using the mean flow as a benchmark
predictor. The same reasoning is applied in various studies that use KGE as
a metric: negative KGE values are viewed as bad model performance, and only
positive values are seen as good model performance. Here we show that using
the mean flow as a predictor does not result in KGE = 0, but instead KGE =1-√2≈-0.41. Thus, KGE values greater than −0.41
indicate that a model improves upon the mean flow benchmark – even if the
model's KGE value is negative. NSE and KGE values cannot be directly
compared, because their relationship is non-unique and depends in part on
the coefficient of variation of the observed time series. Therefore,
modellers who use the KGE metric should not let their understanding of NSE
values guide them in interpreting KGE values and instead develop new
understanding based on the constitutive parts of the KGE metric and the
explicit use of benchmark values to compare KGE scores against. More
generally, a strong case can be made for moving away from ad hoc use of
aggregated efficiency metrics and towards a framework based on
purpose-dependent evaluation metrics and benchmarks that allows for more
robust model adequacy assessment.
THE SPATIAL AND TEMPORAL AVAILABILITY DIFFERENCES OF CLOUD-FREE LANDSAT IMAGES OVER THREE GORGES RESERVOIR AREA
Authors: Bai B. X. , Tan Y. M. , Wu P.
Published: October 2019

Abstract. Availability analysis of cloud-free optical remote sensing data is a prerequisite for remote sensing applications. In this study, spatio-temporal availability differences of cloud-free Landsat TM, ETM+, and OLI sensors images over Three Gorges Reservoir Area (TGRA) were analyzed from 1986 to 2019 based on the Google Earth Engine (GEE). The results show that: 1) in Summer, especially in August, the probabilities of obtaining Landsat images with no more than 30% cloud cover (CC) is higher. 2) the northeast of TGRA has higher probability of acquiring cloudless images than the southwest. 3) In TGRA, annual monitoring which require at least one cloud-free observation in a year largely unaffected by CC, but when considering seasonal monitoring, cloud contaminate will become a limitation, and monthly monitoring in this area is basically not feasible even if the three sensors data are combined. The results of this paper will provide important references for the research of using optical data in this area, and although the research area is relatively small, the analysis method and the program developed in this paper have no restrictions on the area.
RESEARCH ON INVERSION OF LIDAR EQUATION BASED ON NEURAL NETWORK
Authors: Wang X. K. , Zhao H. , Zhang H. L. , Liu Y. P. , Shu C.
Published: October 2019

Abstract. Lidar is an advanced atmospheric and meteorological monitoring instrument. The atmospheric aerosol physical parameters can be acquired through inversion of lidar signals. However, traditional methods of solving lidar equations require many assumptions and cannot get accurate analytical solutions. In order to solve this problem, a method of inverting lidar equation using artificial neural network is proposed. This method is based on BP (Back Propagation) artificial neural network, the weights and thresholds of BP artificial neural network is optimized by Genetic Algorithm. The lidar equation inversion prediction model is established. The actual lidar detection signals are inversed using this method, and the results are compared with the traditional method. The result shows that the extinction coefficient and backscattering coefficient inverted by the GA-based BP neural network model are accurate than that inverted by traditional method, the relative error is below 4%. This method can solve the problem of complicated calculation process, as while as providing a new method for the inversion of lidar equations.
L’expression contemporaine de l’islam dans Jeux de rubans d’Emna Belhaj Yahia et Les intranquilles d’Azza Filali
Authors: Seghair Sana Alaya
Published: October 2019

La montée de l’islamisme ainsi que l’éclosion de nouvelles manifestations religieuses longtemps opprimées par les régimes politiques de Bourguiba and de Ben Ali attise, chez une certaine intelligentsia laïque tunisienne, une « panique parole ». Néanmoins, il s’avère que le traitement littéraire accordée à ces mêmes questions par des auteures tunisiennes comme Azza Filali et d’Emna Belhaj Yahia dans leurs romans Les intranquilles et Jeux de Rubans permet d’amorcer une réflexion critique innovante sur la situation actuelle de la Tunisie post-révolutionnaire sans pour autant tomber dans les ambivalences simplistes vacillant entre clichés orientalistes surannés et prosélytisme islamiste.
El fomento del empleo decente y sostenible en cooperativas y sociedades laborales
Authors: Canalda Criado Sergio
Published: October 2019

Los poderes públicos, a través del fomento de la economía social y la persecución del pleno empleo, deben promover la creación de empleo estable y de calidad. En dicho marco deben situarse las subvenciones a la incorporación de personas socias trabajadoras o de trabajo en cooperativas y sociedades laborales. La creación de empleo como consecuencia de la intervención de los poderes públicos a través del fomento de éste se puede estudiar cuantitativamente, tomando en cuenta el número de puestos de trabajo que se generan a través de las políticas de empleo. Sin embargo, lo que aquí se propone es un estudio del empleo en términos cualitativos, esto es, el tipo de empleo generado, tomando en cuenta las entidades beneficiarias, los colectivos cuya incorporación se subvenciona y los criterios de selección y obligaciones asumidas por las sociedades con la concesión de la subvención.