bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
How to stop the snowball growth? A way for sustaining public debt over generations
Authors: Catrina Ion-Lucian
Published: September 2017

Why public debts are growing so fast in most developing countries, like a dangerous snowball which is growing and growing and no one can stop it? It is only a negative relation between high debt and real growth of economy? How can we definitively remove the Ricardian anxiety which called debt a “terrible scourge”? These are only few questions asked in the last century in relation with debt “overhang” not only by scholars, but by governments as well. This paper aims to answer to other questions like: Why debt’s rate grows faster than GDP? Why governments borrow? For current spending or for public investments? Who should benefits current loans? Who should pay for them and when? How should be the taxation along the economic cycle: neutral or countercyclical? Need we a model to sustain the public debt over generations, or it is good enough to maintain a good ration between real GDP growth and debt and that’s it?
Drivers of going concern audit opinions: empirical evidence from Indonesia
Authors: Suroto Lina Rahmawati , Kusuma Hadri
Published: September 2017

The study of the going concern audit opinions is an important component within the enhancement of firms’ responsibility and stewardship. A going concern audit opinions implies that the independent auditor doubt the future of the firm. This study aimed to examine the drivers of the likelihood of the going-concern audit opinions. Previous studies revealed that there were inconsistent drivers influencing the going-concern audit opinion. This study shows similar results to prior works. The result indicates that firms’ financial condition and profitability significantly affect the likelihood of the going-concern audit opinion, while firms’ size and leverage are not the determinants of the intensity of the going concern audit opinion.
A research on EU trade policy system
Authors: Qi Sitong
Published: September 2017

The EU is the world’s largest trade group, occupying an important position in the world trade in goods and services, especially in the field of service trade. The EU trade in services exports and imports are higher than the United States and Japan, and the EU is the world’s largest capital output and input group, and the world’s largest foreign aid providers. With the deepening of the European integration process, Europe’s position in the world economy and trade is on the rise. Therefore, the EU’s trade policy has increasingly become the focus of attention. From the vertical point of view, research directions can be divided into trade in goods policy, trade in services policy, international direct investment policy, trade-related intellectual property policy four field. In this paper, the four vertical areas are illustrated as the focus of the study.
Effect of Initial Stress on the Dynamic Response of a Multi-Layered Plate-Strip Subjected to an Arbitrary Inclined Time-Harmonic Force
Authors: Daşdemir A.
Published: September 2017

The forced vibration of a multi-layered plate-strip with initial stress under the action of an arbitrary inclined time-harmonic force resting on a rigid foundation is considered. Within the framework of the piecewise homogeneous body model with the use of the three-dimensional linearized theory of elastic waves in initially stressed bodies (TLTEWISB), a mathematical modelling is presented in plane strain state. It is assumed that there exists the complete contact interaction at the interface between the layers and the materials of the layer are linearly elastic, homogeneous and isotropic. The governing system of the partial differential equations of motion for the considered problem is solved approximately by employing the Finite Element Method (FEM). Further, the influence of the initial stress parameter on the dynamic response of the plate-strip is presented.
Conjugate Heat and Mass Transfer on Fluctuating Mixed Convection Flow along a Vertical Wedge with Thermal Radiation
Authors: Firoza M.N. , Roy N.C. , Hossain Md. A.
Published: September 2017

We study the boundary layer characteristics of heat and mass transfer flow past a vertical wedge in the presence of thermal radiation. The surface temperature and the species concentration are assumed to be oscillating in the magnitude but not in the direction of oncoming flow velocity. The governing equations have been solved by two distinct methods, namely, the straightforward finite difference method for the entire frequency range, and the series solution for the low frequency range and the asymptotic series expansion method for the high frequency range. Numerical solutions have been presented in terms of the amplitudes and phase angles of the skin friction, the rate of heat transfer and the mass transfer with the variations of Richardson’s number, the Prandtl number, the conduction–radiation parameter, the surface temperature parameter and the Schmidt number. Furthermore, the effects of these parameters are examined in terms of the transient skin friction, heat transfer and mass transfer.
Axisymmetric Vibration for Micropolar Porous Thermoelastic Circular Plate
Authors: Kumar R. , Kaushal P. , Sharma R.
Published: September 2017

The present investigation is concerned with a two dimensional axisymmetric problem in a homogeneous isotropic micropolar porous thermoelastic circular plate by using the eigen value approach. The Laplace and Hankel transform are used to solve the problem. The expression of displacements, microrotation, volume fraction field, temperature distribution and stresses are obtained in the transformed domain subjected to thermomechanical sources. A computer algorithm is developed for numerical computations. To obtain the resulting quantities in a physical domain, a numerical inversion technique is used. The resulting quantities are depicted graphically for a specific model. Some special cases are also deduced.
Digital Materials – Evaluation of the Possibilities of using Selected Hyperelastic Models to Describe Constitutive Relations
Authors: Mańkowski J. , Lipnicki J.
Published: September 2017

The authors tried to identify the parameters of numerical models of digital materials, which are a kind of composite resulting from the manufacture of the product in 3D printers. With the arrangement of several heads of the printer, the new material can result from mixing of materials with radically different properties, during the process of producing single layer of the product. The new material has properties dependent on the base materials properties and their proportions. Digital materials tensile characteristics are often non-linear and qualify to be described by hyperelastic materials models. The identification was conducted based on the results of tensile tests models, its various degrees coefficients of the polynomials to various degrees coefficients of the polynomials. The Drucker’s stability criterion was also examined. Fourteen different materials were analyzed.
Numerical Solutions by EFGM of MHD Convective Fluid Flow Past a Vertical Plate Immersed in a Porous Medium in the Presence of Cross Diffusion Effects via Biot Number and Convective Boundary Condition
Authors: Raju R.S. , Reddy B.M. , Rashidi M.M. , Gorla R.S.R.
Published: September 2017

In this investigation, the numerical results of a mixed convective MHD chemically reacting flow past a vertical plate embedded in a porous medium are presented in the presence of cross diffusion effects and convective boundary condition. Instead of the commonly used conditions of constant surface temperature or constant heat flux, a convective boundary condition is employed which makes this study unique and the results more realistic and practically useful. The momentum, energy, and concentration equations derived as coupled second-order, ordinary differential equations are solved numerically using a highly accurate and thoroughly tested element free Galerkin method (EFGM). The effects of the Soret number, Dufour number, Grashof number for heat and mass transfer, the viscous dissipation parameter, Schmidt number, chemical reaction parameter, permeability parameter and Biot number on the dimensionless velocity, temperature and concentration profiles are presented graphically. In addition, numerical results for the local skin-friction coefficient, the local Nusselt number, and the local Sherwood number are discussed through tabular forms. The discussion focuses on the physical interpretation of the results as well as their comparison with the results of previous studies.
Role of Slip Velocity in a Magneto-Micropolar Fluid Flow from a Radiative Surface with Variable Permeability: A Numerical Study
Authors: Sharma B.K. , Tailor V. , Goyal M.
Published: September 2017

An analysis is presented to describe the hydromagnetic mixed convection flow of an electrically conducting micropolar fluid past a vertical plate through a porous medium with radiation and slip flow regime. A uniform magnetic field has been considered in the study which absorbs the micropolar fluid with a varying suction velocity and acts perpendicular to the porous surface of the above plate. The governing non-linear partial differential equations have been transformed into linear partial differential equations, which are solved numerically by applying the explicit finite difference method. The numerical results are presented graphically in the form of velocity, micro-rotation, concentration and temperature profiles, the skin-friction coefficient, the couple stress coefficient, the rate of heat and mass transfers at the wall for different material parameters.
A Numerical Simulation for Prediction of Infrared Radiation Emitted from Plain Surfaces with Different Geometries
Authors: Vakilabadi K.A. , Moayeri H. , Ghassemi H.
Published: September 2017

In this paper, infrared radiation exiting plain surfaces with different geometries is numerically simulated. Surfaces under consideration are assumed to have steady uniform heat generation inside. Moreover, the boundaries of the surfaces are considered to be at the surroundings temperature. Infrared radiation is calculated based on the temperature profile determined for the surface. The temperature profile of the surface is determined assuming the two dimensional heat conduction equations to govern the problem. The physical domain is transformed into the appropriate computational domain and the governing equation is mapped into the suitable forms in the new coordinate system of variables. After that the temperature profile of the surface is computed, the infrared radiation distribution of the surface is evaluated based on the equations given in the manuscript. The temperature profile as well as the IR images are given in the results section. It is concluded that the maximum value of infrared radiation of the surface occurs at the center. Moreover, it is concluded that among surfaces with equal areas, the one having the largest perimeter has the least value of IR at its center.
Non-Newtonian Momentum Transfer past an Isothermal Stretching Sheet with Applied Suction
Authors: Veena P.H. , Suresh B. , Pravin V.K. , Goud A.M.
Published: September 2017

The paper discusses the flow of an incompressible non-Newtonian fluid due to stretching of a plane elastic surface in a saturated porous medium in the approximation of boundary layer theory. An exact analytical solution of non-linear MHD momentum equation governing the self-similar flow is given. The skin friction co-efficient decreases with an increase in the visco-elastic parameter k1 and increase in the values of both the magnetic parameter and permeability parameter.
Reynolds Number Effects in the Flow of a Vočadlo Electrorheological Fluid in a Curved Gap
Authors: Walicka A. , Falicki J.
Published: September 2017

Many electrorheological fluids (ERFs) as fluids with micro-structure demonstrate a non-Newtonian behaviour. Rheometric measurements indicate that some flows of these fluids may by modelled as the flows of a Vočadlo ER fluid. In this paper, the flow of a Vočadlo fluid – with a fractional index of non-linearity – in a narrow gap between two fixed surfaces of revolution with a common axis of symmetry is considered. The flow is externally pressurized and it is considered with inertia effect. In order to solve this problem the boundary layer equations are used. The Reynolds number effects (the effects of inertia forces) on the pressure distribution are examined by using the method of averaged inertia terms of the momentum equation. Numerical examples of externally pressurized flows in the gap between parallel disks and concentric spherical surfaces are presented.
Curvilinear Squeeze Film Bearing Lubricated with a Dehaven Fluid or with Similar Fluids
Authors: Walicka A. , Jurczak P. , Falicki J.
Published: September 2017

In the paper, the model of a DeHaven fluid and some other models of non-Newtonian fluids, in which the shear strain rates are known functions of the powers of shear stresses, are considered. It was demonstrated that these models for small values of material constants can be presented in a form similar to the form of a DeHaven fluid. This common form, called a unified model of the DeHaven fluid, was used to consider a curvilinear squeeze film bearing. The equations of motion of the unified model, given in a specific coordinate system are used to derive the Reynolds equation. The solution to the Reynolds equation is obtained by a method of successive approximations. As a result one obtains formulae expressing the pressure distribution and load-carrying capacity. The numerical examples of flows of the unified DeHaven fluid in gaps of two simple squeeze film bearings are presented.
Influence of Wall Porosity and Surfaces Roughness on the Steady Performance of an Externally Pressurized Hydrostatic Conical Bearing Lubricated by a Rabinowitsch Fluid
Authors: Walicka A. , Walicki E. , Jurczak P. , Falicki J.
Published: September 2017

In the paper, the influence of both the bearing surfaces roughness as well as porosity of one bearing surface on the pressure distribution and load-carrying capacity of a curvilinear, externally pressurized, thrust bearing is discussed. The equations of motion of a pseudo-plastic Rabinowitsch fluid are used to derive the Reynolds equation. After general considerations on the flow in a bearing clearance and in a porous layer using the Morgan-Cameron approximation and Christensen theory of hydrodynamic lubrication with rough bearing surfaces the modified Reynolds equation is obtained. The analytical solution is presented; as a result one obtains the formulae expressing the pressure distribution and load-carrying capacity. Thrust radial and conical bearings, externally pressurized, are considered as numerical examples.
Study on the Size Effect of Auxetic Cellular Materials
Authors: Janus-Michalska M.
Published: September 2017

The objective of this paper is to investigate the effects of scale of an auxetic cellular material sample on the evaluation of elastic properties. Size and boundary effects are studied in detail. This is achieved by conducting computer simulations of the auxetic structure under the typical loading exerted by the compression and simple shearing test performed by means of ABAQUS FEA. The material microstructure is discretized by the plane network of Timoshenko beam elements. The results of the studies give insight to the scale effects. Structures with designed properties can be potentially used for engineering applications.
Inertia and Couple-Stress Effects in a Curvilinear Thrust Hydrostatic Bearing
Authors: Walicka A. , Jurczak P. , Falicki J.
Published: September 2017

The flow of a couple-stress lubricant in a clearance of a curvilinear thrust hydrostatic bearing with impermeable walls is considered. The flow in the bearing clearance is considered with inertia forces. The equations of motion are solved by an averaged inertia method. As a result, the formulae for pressure distributions without and with inertia effects were obtained. Radial thrust bearings and spherical bearings are discussed as numerical examples. It is shown that inertia effects influence the bearing performance considerably.
Stop or Continue Data Collection: A Nonignorable Missing Data Approach for Continuous Variables
Authors: Paiva Thais , Reiter Jerome P.
Published: September 2017

We present an approach to inform decisions about nonresponse follow-up sampling. The basic idea is (i) to create completed samples by imputing nonrespondents’ data under various assumptions about the nonresponse mechanisms, (ii) take hypothetical samples of varying sizes from the completed samples, and (iii) compute and compare measures of accuracy and cost for different proposed sample sizes. As part of the methodology, we present a new approach for generating imputations for multivariate continuous data with nonignorable unit nonresponse. We fit mixtures of multivariate normal distributions to the respondents’ data, and adjust the probabilities of the mixture components to generate nonrespondents’ distributions with desired features. We illustrate the approaches using data from the 2007 U.S. Census of Manufactures.
Univariate Tests for Phase Capacity: Tools for Identifying When to Modify a Survey’s Data Collection Protocol
Authors: Lewis Taylor
Published: September 2017

To mitigate the potentially harmful effects of nonresponse, most surveys repeatedly follow up with nonrespondents, often targeting a response rate or predetermined number of completes. Each additional recruitment attempt generally brings in a new wave of data, but returns gradually diminish over the course of a fixed data collection protocol, as each subsequent wave tends to consist of fewer responses than the last. Consequently, point estimates begin to stabilize. This is the notion of phase capacity, suggesting some form of design change is in order, such as switching modes, increasing the incentive, or, as is considered exclusively in this research, discontinuing the nonrespondent follow-up campaign altogether. A previously proposed test for phase capacity calls for multiply imputing nonrespondents’ missing data to assess, retrospectively, whether the most recent wave of data significantly altered a key, nonresponse-adjusted point estimate. This study introduces a more flexible adaptation amenable to surveys that instead reweight the observed data to compensate for nonresponse. Results from a simulation study and application indicate that, all else equal, the weighting version of the test is more sensitive to point estimate changes, thereby dictating more follow-up attempts are warranted.
Dynamic Question Ordering in Online Surveys
Authors: Early Kirstin , Mankoff Jennifer , Fienberg Stephen E.
Published: September 2017

Online surveys have the potential to support adaptive questions, where later questions depend on earlier responses. Past work has taken a rule-based approach, uniformly across all respondents. We envision a richer interpretation of adaptive questions, which we call Dynamic Question Ordering (DQO), where question order is personalized. Such an approach could increase engagement, and therefore response rate, as well as imputation quality. We present a DQO framework to improve survey completion and imputation. In the general survey-taking setting, we want to maximize survey completion, and so we focus on ordering questions to engage the respondent and collect hopefully all information, or at least the information that most characterizes the respondent, for accurate imputations. In another scenario, our goal is to provide a personalized prediction. Since it is possible to give reasonable predictions with only a subset of questions, we are not concerned with motivating users to answer all questions. Instead, we want to order questions to get information that reduces prediction uncertainty, while not being too burdensome. We illustrate this framework with two case studies, for the prediction and survey-taking settings. We also discuss DQO for national surveys and consider connections between our statistics-based question-ordering approach and cognitive survey methodology.
Robustness of Adaptive Survey Designs to Inaccuracy of Design Parameters
Authors: Burger Joep , Perryck Koen , Schouten Barry
Published: September 2017

Adaptive survey designs (ASDs) optimize design features, given 1) the interactions between the design features and characteristics of sampling units and 2) a set of constraints, such as a budget and a minimum number of respondents. Estimation of the interactions is subject to both random and systematic error. In this article, we propose and evaluate four viewpoints to assess robustness of ASDs to inaccuracy of design parameter estimates: the effect of both imprecision and bias on both ASD structure and ASD performance. We additionally propose three distance measures to compare the structure of ASDs. The methodology is illustrated using a simple simulation study and a more complex but realistic case study on the Dutch Travel Survey. The proposed methodology can be applied to other ASD optimization problems. In our simulation study and case study, the ASD was fairly robust to imprecision, but not to realistic dynamics in the design parameters. To deal with the sensitivity of ASDs to changing design parameters, we recommend to learn and update the design parameters.
Inconsistent Regression and Nonresponse Bias: Exploring Their Relationship as a Function of Response Imbalance
Authors: Särndal Carl-Erik , Lundquist Peter
Published: September 2017

One objective of adaptive data collection is to secure a better balanced survey response. Methods exist for this purpose, including balancing with respect to selected auxiliary variables. Such variables are also used at the estimation stage for (calibrated) nonresponse weighting adjustment.

Earlier research has shown that the use of auxiliary information at the estimation stage can reduce bias, perhaps considerably, but without eliminating it. The question is: would it have contributed further to bias reduction if, prior to estimation, that information had also been used in data collection, to secure a more balanced set of respondents? If the answer is yes, there is clear incentive, from the point of view of better accuracy in the estimates, to practice adaptive survey design, otherwise perhaps not.

A key question is how the regression relationship between the survey variable and the auxiliary vector presents itself in the sample as opposed to the response. Strength in the relationship is helpful but is not the only consideration. The dilemma with nonresponse is one of inconsistent regression: a regression model appropriate for the sample often fails for the responding subset, because nonresponse is selective, non-random.

In this article, we examine how nonresponse bias in survey estimates depends on regression inconsistency, both seen as functions of response imbalance. As a measure of bias we use the deviation of the calibration adjusted estimator from the unbiased estimate under full response. We study how the deviation and the regression inconsistency depend on the imbalance. We observe in empirical work that both can be reduced, to a degree, by efforts to reduce imbalance by an adaptive data collection.
Using Prior Wave Information and Paradata: Can They Help to Predict Response Outcomes and Call Sequence Length in a Longitudinal Study?
Authors: Durrant Gabriele B. , Maslovskaya Olga , Smith Peter W. F.
Published: September 2017

In recent years the use of paradata for nonresponse investigations has risen significantly. One key question is how useful paradata, including call record data and interviewer observations, from the current and previous waves of a longitudinal study, as well as previous wave survey information, are in predicting response outcomes in a longitudinal context. This article aims to address this question. Final response outcomes and sequence length (the number of calls/visits to a household) are modelled both separately and jointly for a longitudinal study. Being able to predict length of call sequence and response can help to improve both adaptive and responsive survey designs and to increase efficiency and effectiveness of call scheduling. The article also identifies the impact of different methodological specifications of the models, for example different specifications of the response outcomes. Latent class analysis is used as one of the approaches to summarise call outcomes in sequences. To assess and compare the models in their ability to predict, indicators derived from classification tables, ROC (Receiver Operating Characteristic) curves, discrimination and prediction are proposed in addition to the standard approach of using the pseudo R2 value, which is not a sufficient indicator on its own. The study uses data from Understanding Society, a large-scale longitudinal survey in the UK. The findings indicate that basic models (including geographic, design and survey data from the previous wave), although commonly used in predicting and adjusting for nonresponse, do not predict the response outcome well. Conditioning on previous wave paradata, including call record data, interviewer observation data and indicators of change, improve the fit of the models slightly. A significant improvement can be observed when conditioning on the most recent call outcome, which may indicate that the nonresponse process predominantly depends on the most current circumstances of a sample unit.
The Impact of Targeted Data Collection on Nonresponse Bias in an Establishment Survey: A Simulation Study of Adaptive Survey Design
Authors: McCarthy Jaki , Wagner James , Sanders Herschel Lisette
Published: September 2017

Nonresponse rates have been growing over time leading to concerns about survey data quality. Adaptive designs seek to allocate scarce resources by targeting specific subsets of sampled units for additional effort or a different recruitment protocol. In order to be effective in reducing nonresponse, the identified subsets of the sample need two key features: 1) their probabilities of response can be impacted by changing design features, and 2) once they have responded, this can have an impact on estimates after adjustment. The National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) is investigating the use of adaptive design techniques in the Crops Acreage, Production, and Stocks Survey (Crops APS). The Crops APS is a survey of establishments which vary in size and, hence, in their potential impact on estimates. In order to identify subgroups for targeted designs, we conducted a simulation study that used Census of Agriculture (COA) data as proxies for similar survey items. Different patterns of nonresponse were simulated to identify subgroups that may reduce estimated nonresponse bias when their response propensities are changed.
On the occurrence and toxicity of Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii in Poland
Authors: Rzymski Piotr , Brygider Agnieszka , Kokociński Mikołaj
Published: September 2017

Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii which belongs to the order of Nostocales has continuously been at the centre of interest of various research groups owing to its great ecological plasticity, wide distribution and potential to produce different metabolites known to be harmful for humans and animals. Over recent decades, Polish strains of C. raciborskii have also been studied with regard to these issues. The present paper is a brief review of the present state of knowledge respecting the occurrence and toxicity of this species with emphasis on Polish strains, and indicates potential directions for future research.
Water temperature in investigations of Polish lakes
Authors: Skowron Rajmund
Published: September 2017

Scientists became professionally interested in Polish lakes in the early 1850s. They focused predominantly upon the measurements of depth, observations of water stages, optical properties, and water temperature. The first systematic observations of surface water temperature were carried out in 1956. At present these measurements are conducted in 29 lakes. Investigations of the vertical distribution of water temperature were initiated in the interwar period and they contributed to a better recognition of the processes and factors conditioning dynamics of water masses. In general, measurements of water temperature have constituted fundamental observations with respect to the studies of yearly and daily courses of the temperature of surface water and the entire water mass, the influence of basin morphometry upon water thermal conditions, heat balance and heat resources, thermal conditions of bottom deposits and thermal classification of the lakes. The introduction of automatic gradient probes gave a new impulse to the investigations of water temperature in the lakes. The foundation of the Polish Limnological Society in 2001 and 18 national and international limnological conferences stimulated integration of the circle of limnologists. Specialist journals (Limnological Review, Studia Limnologica et Telmatologica) have presented around 40 publications with the leading theme of water temperature.
Changes in populationdensity of the urban population in southern Poland in the period 1950-2011 against the background of political and economic transformation
Authors: Jażdżewska Iwona
Published: September 2017

This paper presents the changes in urban population density in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries in an area of approximately 20,000 km2in southern Poland, which includes close to 100 towns and cities with a population of almost 4.5 million (in 2011) and an urbanisation index over 70%. It is the most urbanised part of Poland and includes the Cracow agglomeration and the Upper Silesian conurbation. The analysis was performed using one of the statistical methods for estimating discrete distributions, thekernel functionmethod. The conclusions served as a basis for the presentation of changes occurring in this area against the backdrop of political and economic transformation in Poland, as well as a scientific discussion concerning the state and future of the merging of these agglomerations in the light of the factors discussed.
Evaluating Geometric Characteristics of Planar Surfaces using Improved Particle Swarm Optimization
Authors: Pathak Vimal Kumar , Kumar Sagar , Nayak Chitresh , Gowripathi Rao NRNV
Published: September 2017

This paper presents a modified particle swarm optimization (MPSO) algorithm for the evaluation of geometric characteristics defining form and function of planar surfaces. The geometric features of planar surfaces are decomposed into four components; namely straightness, flatness, perpendicularity, and parallelism. A non-linear minimum zone objective function is formulated mathematically for each planar surface geometric characteristic. Finally, the result of the proposed method is compared with previous work on the same problem and with other nature inspired algorithms. The results demonstrate that the proposed MPSO algorithm is more efficient and accurate in comparison to other algorithms and is well suited for effective and accurate evaluation of planar surface characteristics.
Particle Accelerator Focus Automation
Authors: Lopes José , Rocha Jorge , Redondo Luís , Cruz João
Published: September 2017

The Laboratório de Aceleradores e Tecnologias de Radiação (LATR) at the Campus Tecnológico e Nuclear, of Instituto Superior Técnico (IST) has a horizontal electrostatic particle accelerator based on the Van de Graaff machine which is used for research in the area of material characterization. This machine produces alfa (He+) and proton (H+) beams of some μA currents up to 2 MeV/q energies. Beam focusing is obtained using a cylindrical lens of the Einzel type, assembled near the high voltage terminal. This paper describes the developed system that automatically focuses the ion beam, using a personal computer running the LabVIEW software, a multifunction input/output board and signal conditioning circuits. The focusing procedure consists of a scanning method to find the lens bias voltage which maximizes the beam current measured on a beam stopper target, which is used as feedback for the scanning cycle. This system, as part of a wider start up and shut down automation system built for this particle accelerator, brings great advantages to the operation of the accelerator by turning it faster and easier to operate, requiring less human presence, and adding the possibility of total remote control in safe conditions.
Separation technology meets green chemistry: development of magnetically recoverable catalyst supports containing silica, ceria, and titania
Authors: Vono Lucas L. R. , Damasceno Camila C. , Matos Jivaldo R. , Jardim Renato F. , Landers Richard , Masunaga Sueli H. , Rossi Liane M.
Published: September 2017

Magnetic separation can be considered a green technology because it is fast, efficient, consumes low energy, and minimizes the use of solvents and the generation of waste. It has been successfully used in laboratory scale to facilitate supported catalysts’ handling, separation, recovery, and recycling. Only few materials are intrisically magnetic, hence the application of magnetic materials as catalyst supports has broaden the use of magnetic separation. Iron oxides, silica-coated iron oxides, and carbon-coated-cobalt are among the most studied catalyst supports; however, other metal oxide coatings, such as ceria and titania, are also very interesting for application in catalysis. Here we report the preparation of magnetically recoverable magnetic supports containing silica, ceria, and titania. We found that the silica shell protects the iron oxide core and allows the crystalization of ceria and titania at high temperature without compromising the magnetic properties of the catalyst supports.
Synergy in food, energy and advanced materials production from biomass
Authors: Galembeck Fernando
Published: September 2017

Biomass is a sustainable alternative to fossil fuels, as a source of energy and raw materials for industry. However, this is often criticized, based on an alleged competition with food production due to the presumed scarcity of agricultural land. Data from Brazil and Ethiopia show that the creation and dissemination of new agricultural technology actually allows a significant increase in the production of food as well as energy and raw materials from biomass, bringing economic, social and environmental benefits. Moreover, polymers from biomass display unique features that make them suitable as the basis for making advanced materials, with desirable combinations of chemical and physical properties required for some applications. For instance, natural rubber and cellulose have been used to create new complex nanostructured solids capable of performing new functions. Biomass can thus be exploited as a source of new materials as well as petrochemical-like building blocks.
Step economy strategy for the synthesis of amphoteric aminoaldehydes, key intermediates for reduced hydantoins
Authors: Monteiro Júlia L. , Moreira Natália M. , dos Santos Deborah A. , Paixão Márcio W. , Corrêa Arlene G.
Published: September 2017

Despite of the orthogonal reactivity of the N–H aziridines aldehyde, these compounds exist as an equilibrium of three different forms – whereas the dimeric one is mostly observed in a variety of solvents. In this work, we have developed an alternative protocol for the aminoaldehyde dimers synthesis in two steps starting with an organocatalyzed aziridination between α,β-unsaturated aldehydes and a protected amine to afford known isolable and stable N-protected aziridine aldehydes. After Boc-deprotection, dimeric species were immediately formed from monomeric N–H aziridine aldehydes. From this building-block new reduced hydantoins were prepared via [3+2]-annulation with isocyanates.
Soul Death and the Legacy of Total War
Authors: Lohrey David T.
Published: September 2017

Following the lead of Hannah Arendt and others, I want to argue that the imperial mystique seen in the British Empire found its way into Germany’s expansionist ambitions. I am concerned with the emotional costs of oppression, or what I call soul death. I focus on three key writers of the 20th century: Doris Lessing, Nadine Gordimer, and J. M. Coetzee, placing their writings in the context of war trauma and the barbarities associated with 20th century totalitarianism. My argument seeks to elucidate the relationship between postcoloniality and the wars that shaped that century. These narratives of distress will be juxtaposed with novels by Imre Kertész and Arnošt Lustig whose writings of the Holocaust and the war atmosphere on the Eastern Front illuminate scenes of trauma and personal anguish. Here my study draws on the work of recent psychologists whose term soul murder is made much of. These writers’ works can be more fully understood to reveal patterns of personal destruction that are part of living under imperialism. They bring to the forefront behaviours that expose the debasement and hardening witnessed in the early decades of the century.
Christian Materialism and the Quest for Human Personhood
Authors: Leidenhag Mikael
Published: September 2017

This paper offers a critical exploration of philosopher Kevin Corcoran’s proposed Christian Materialism. Corcoran’s constitution view claims that we human persons are constituted by our bodies without being identical with the bodies that constitute us. I will critically evaluate this view and argue that Corcoran has not successfully managed to ground a first-person perspective and intentional states in materialism. Moreover, Corcoran’s property dualism about mental states and the idea of the causally efficacy of such states seem incompatible with materialism. Corcoran’s view of imago Dei is also explored and evaluated. Towards the end of the paper I put forward a brief defense of dualism in light of Corcoran’s critique.
Exploring Soul, Nature, and God. A Triad in Bhagavad gita
Authors: Sumati Yadav
Published: September 2017

Humans have always been and still are fascinated by the elusive phenomenon of soul and have devised various approaches to interpret it and attribute different names to it; depending on which part, which religion, which tribe and which sect of the world they belong to. Theologians to philosophers to spiritual thinkers to literary authors and critics to scientists—all seem to be researching and explaining its nature and place in the universal scheme of things. Interestingly, there is a unanimity among all, regarding the eternity and indestructibility of soul. The ancient Hindu scripture, Bhagavad Gita establishes soul (Jivatma) as a triad of Self, Nature (Prakriti: material reality) and God (Parmeshvara). The inner self is Soul which bears reflections of both, the physical nature and God. Malleable in ignorance, it identifies with the sense-perception dominated body but once realising its true nature, it is capable of governing the body and its actions. With the support mechanisms and persistence, it traverses across individual body consciousness to universal consciousness. This article strives to make a hermeneutic study of this metaphysical text; inquiring how awareness of the duality of nature; transient and permanent, triggers a gradual process of evolution, leading to a complete transformation when a soul resides within a body as a unifying factor; not for exploiting it or others or vice versa but for bringing about universal harmony.
Relationships between Free-Living Amoeba and their Intracellular Bacteria
Authors: Rubeniņa Ilze , Kirjušina Muza , Bērziņš Aivars , Valciņa Olga , Jahundoviča Inese
Published: September 2017

An increasing number of bacteria have been described as benefiting from interaction with free-living amoeba. The most common association between free-living amoeba and microorganisms is interaction of various non-pathogenic and pathogenic bacterial species with amoeba. Various pathogenic bacterial species have capacity to resist digestion by free-living amoeba, which has been observed by many researchers. Also, several of these pathogens are able to resist digestion by macrophages. In addition, free-living amoeba have been associated with several diseases in humans. Acanthamniioeba castella is an important predator of bacteria. It is a ubiquitous organism in water, soil, and air. Attention from a public health perspective is needed by investigation of interaction of foodborne pathogens and free-living amoeba. Bacteria can use free-living amoeba as reservoirs, mediators or vehicles, an infection route, “biological gym” and evolutionary crib or interaction may result in a close endosymbiotic relationship. The purpose of this review is to describe the interaction mechanisms between free-living amoeba and common bacteria species that survive in host cells.
Effect of Vermicompost Extract and Vermicompost-Derived Humic Acids on Seed Germination and Seedling Growth of Hemp
Authors: Ievinsh Gederts , Vikmane Māra , Ķirse Agnese , Karlsons Andis
Published: September 2017

Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) cultivars grown for industrial use have recently emerged as a sustainable alternative source of industrial fibre and bioenergy, and is a highly valuable food and animal feed resource. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of vermicompost extract, vermicompost mineral nutrient composition, and vermicompost-derived humic and fulvic acids on seed germination and growth of hemp seedlings. In general, separate application of all vermicompost components stimulated seed germination and hypocotyl and radicle growth, as well as increased chlorophyll concentration in cotyledons. Effective concentration range and the degree of stimulation varied significantly between the treatments. For practical purposes, application of vermicompost and vermicompost-derived extracts for stimulation of hemp growth could be useful at concentrations 5%, 0.05 mg·mL−1 and 1%, for vermicompost extract, humic acids and fulvic acids, respectively.
Dynamics of a Population Subject to Impulse Type Random Loss
Authors: Carkovs Jevgeņijs , Šadurskis Kārlis
Published: September 2017

We present a qualitative population growth analysis approach using the Pearl logistic population growth differential equation for a population with the intensity of birth a, stationary size K to instances of fast small random population size extractions proportional to εξ
n
at random time moments τ
n
, where ε is the small positive parameter. Assuming that the intervals τ
n
− τ
n−1 are independent identically exponentially distributed random variables with the parameter λ / ε, and that ξ
n
are the independent identically distributed positive random variables with the mean h and the variance b
2, we analyse the population dynamics and the population asymptotic behaviour. We propose a probabilistic limit theorem based stochastic approximation algorithm for the qualitative analysis of the above model on any finite time interval. At first we derive the linear differential equation for mathematical expectation 𝔼{x(t)} of the population growth and the stochastic Ito differential equation for the normalised deviations (𝔼{x(t)} − x(t))ε−1/2. Assuming that the difference a − λh = εc is sufficiently small we derive the stochastic differential equation for the scaled population growth in accelerated time ε−1
Kx(t / ε)and prove that under condition 2c < λ(h
2+b
2) the population disappears with probability one, otherwise the distribution of the scaled population size with increasing time tends to the Gamma-distribution Γ(k,q) with the shape k = 2c/λ(h
2 + b
2) and the scale θ = λ(h
2 + b
2)/2c.
Effect of seawater intrusion on radioactive strontium (90Sr) sorption and transport at nuclear power plants
Authors: Chang Seeun , Um Wooyong , Kim Won-Seok , Kim HyunJu
Published: September 2017

Batch sorption and column experiments were conducted to investigate and compare sorption and transport behavior of 90Sr on the assumption of seawater intrusion at nuclear power plants. Batch sorption experiments were carried out on fractured rocks and bedrocks using synthetic groundwater and seawater both spiked with 90Sr. In general, higher 90Sr sorption occurred on fractured rock samples than on bedrocks, because of the presence of weathered secondary minerals (iron oxide and clay) on fractured rock surfaces. However, one particular bedrock sample (WSP-B) which has higher porosity and carbon amount than fractured rock samples also showed the higher 90Sr sorption than its comparable fractured rocks. For all batch sorption studies, 90Sr sorption distribution coefficient, K
d decreased from groundwater to seawater environment due to the higher ionic strength of seawater (6.4×10−1–7.7×10−1 M) compared to groundwater (4.0×10−3–6.0×10−3 M). The three different ionic strength solutions were used in column experiments, and the results showed that transport behavior of Sr through a fractured rock had similar sorption trend to batch sorption results. The highest mobility (or least retardation) for Sr was found for 100% seawater solution compared to the highest retardation (or least mobility) for 100% groundwater solution. These sorption and transport data of Sr on solid materials contacted with various ionic strength solutions corroborate empirically defensible information for assessment of radioactive contamination in groundwater below the NPP sites located nearby shores. In addition, the experimental data will be incorporated to improve transport models of 90Sr in the subsurface environment for severe nuclear accidents.
Separation of radioisotopes of terbium from a europium target irradiated by 27 MeV α-particles
Authors: Kazakov Andrey G. , Aliev Ramiz A. , Bodrov Alexander Yu. , Priselkova Anna B. , Kalmykov Stepan N.
Published: September 2017

A method for obtaining 156, 155, 154m2, 154, 153Tb radiotracers by the irradiation of a europium oxide target of natural isotopic composition by 27 MeV α-particles is proposed. Terbium can be efficiently separated from bulk of europium by the reduction of the latter by zinc in an acidic solution and precipitation as EuSO4. The optimum Zn/Eu3+ and (NH4)2SO4/Eu3+ molar ratios are 20 and 3, respectively. Terbium is additionally purified from europium and gadolinium by extraction chromatography using LN Resin. It is demonstrated that optimum separation is attained in 0.6 M HNO3. The Tb/Eu separation coefficient was ~5·105. The yield of terbium was about 90%. Time of all steps was 1.5–2 h. The proposed procedure makes it possible to obtain no carrier added terbium radiotracers.
Determination of selenium in roasted beans coffee samples consumed in Algeria by radiochemical neutron activation analysis method
Authors: Messaoudi Mohammed , Begaa Samir , Hamidatou Lylia , Salhi M’hamed
Published: September 2017

The essential trace element selenium is a focus of attention due to its effects on human health, there being consequences of both its deficiency and excess. Due to the ultra-trace content of selenium, the neutron activation analysis method (NAA) is difficult to apply. We therefore made use of the radiochemical neutron activation analysis (RNAA) to determine Se at low level concentrations in several consumed food items in Algeria. A radiochemical procedure based on liquid–liquid separation was established in our laboratory. In this research we focused on the determination of selenium in two species of coffee: Arabica and Robusta. The accuracy of the method was assessed by analyzing the certified reference material NIST-SRM 1573a (tomato leaves). The results obtained show a selenium variation from 0.025 to 0.052 μg/g in coffee beans and an average yield of the separation of about 85%. The results of this study were compared with those obtained with samples from Brazilian, Caribbean, Indian and Kenyan coffee beans.