bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Smartphone-Based Device for Non-Invasive Heart-Rate Measurement of Chicken Embryos
Authors: Phuphanin Akkachai , Sampanporn Lawan , Sutapun Boonsong
Published: November 2019

Heart rate (HR) is an important parameter in the study of the developmental physiology of chicken embryos and a crucial indicator of dead or live embryo grading in artificial incubation processes. A non-invasive HR measurement technique is required for long-term and routine HR assessment with minimal influence on embryo development. Accordingly, in this study, a non-invasive HR measurement technique of chicken embryos using a smartphone is demonstrated. The detection method of the proposed device is based on the photoplethysmography principle in which a smartphone camera is used for video recording, and the chicken embryonic HR is obtained from the recorded video images using a custom Android application. We used a smartphone to measure the embryonic HR of 60 native chicken eggs and found that it can measure the chicken embryonic HR from day 4 to day 20. The proposed smartphone HR device will be beneficial for scientific research and industrial applications. With internet connectivity, users can utilize their smartphone to measure the HR, display, share, and store the results.
Guided, Fusion-Based, Large Depth-of-field 3D Imaging Using a Focal Stack
Authors: Xiao Yuhao , Wang Guijin , Hu Xiaowei , Shi Chenbo , Meng Long , Yang Huazhong
Published: November 2019

Three dimensional (3D) imaging technology has been widely used for many applications, such as human–computer interactions, making industrial measurements, and dealing with cultural relics. However, existing active methods often require both large apertures of projector and camera to maximize light throughput, resulting in a shallow working volume in which projector and camera are simultaneously in focus. In this paper, we propose a novel method to extend the working range of the structured light 3D imaging system based on the focal stack. Specifically in the case of large depth variation scenes, we first adopted the gray code method for local, 3D shape measurement with multiple focal distance settings. Then we extracted the texture map of each focus position into a focal stack to generate a global coarse depth map. Under the guidance of the global coarse depth map, the high-quality 3D shape measurement of the overall scene was obtained by local, 3D shape-measurement fusion. To validate the method, we developed a prototype system that can perform high-quality measurements in the depth range of 400 mm with a measurement error of 0.08%.
Deep Learning Techniques for Grape Plant Species Identification in Natural Images
Authors: Pereira Carlos S. , Morais Raul , Reis Manuel J. C. S.
Published: November 2019

Frequently, the vineyards in the Douro Region present multiple grape varieties per parcel and even per row. An automatic algorithm for grape variety identification as an integrated software component was proposed that can be applied, for example, to a robotic harvesting system. However, some issues and constraints in its development were highlighted, namely, the images captured in natural environment, low volume of images, high similarity of the images among different grape varieties, leaf senescence, and significant changes on the grapevine leaf and bunch images in the harvest seasons, mainly due to adverse climatic conditions, diseases, and the presence of pesticides. In this paper, the performance of the transfer learning and fine-tuning techniques based on AlexNet architecture were evaluated when applied to the identification of grape varieties. Two natural vineyard image datasets were captured in different geographical locations and harvest seasons. To generate different datasets for training and classification, some image processing methods, including a proposed four-corners-in-one image warping algorithm, were used. The experimental results, obtained from the application of an AlexNet-based transfer learning scheme and trained on the image dataset pre-processed through the four-corners-in-one method, achieved a test accuracy score of 77.30%. Applying this classifier model, an accuracy of 89.75% on the popular Flavia leaf dataset was reached. The results obtained by the proposed approach are promising and encouraging in helping Douro wine growers in the automatic task of identifying grape varieties.
Improved UAV Opium Poppy Detection Using an Updated YOLOv3 Model
Authors: Zhou Jun , Tian Yichen , Yuan Chao , Yin Kai , Yang Guang , Wen Meiping
Published: November 2019

Rapid detection of illicit opium poppy plants using UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) imagery has become an important means to prevent and combat crimes related to drug cultivation. However, current methods rely on time-consuming visual image interpretation. Here, the You Only Look Once version 3 (YOLOv3) network structure was used to assess the influence that different backbone networks have on the average precision and detection speed of an UAV-derived dataset of poppy imagery, with MobileNetv2 (MN) selected as the most suitable backbone network. A Spatial Pyramid Pooling (SPP) unit was introduced and Generalized Intersection over Union (GIoU) was used to calculate the coordinate loss. The resulting SPP-GIoU-YOLOv3-MN model improved the average precision by 1.62% (from 94.75% to 96.37%) without decreasing speed and achieved an average precision of 96.37%, with a detection speed of 29 FPS using an RTX 2080Ti platform. The sliding window method was used for detection in complete UAV images, which took approximately 2.2 sec/image, approximately 10× faster than visual interpretation. The proposed technique significantly improved the efficiency of poppy detection in UAV images while also maintaining a high detection accuracy. The proposed method is thus suitable for the rapid detection of illicit opium poppy cultivation in residential areas and farmland where UAVs with ordinary visible light cameras can be operated at low altitudes (relative height < 200 m).
Wicked Problems of Smart Cities
Authors: Colding Johan , Barthel Stephan , Sörqvist Patrik
Published: November 2019

It is often uncritically assumed that, when digital technologies are integrated into the operation of city functions, they inevitably contribute to sustainable urban development. Such a notion rests largely on the belief that Information and Communication Technology (ICT) solutions pave the way for more democratic forms of planning, and that ‘smart’ technological devices result in a range of environmental benefits, e.g., energy efficiency and the mitigation of global warming. Drawing on the scientific literature that deals with ‘smart cities’, we here elaborate on how both propositions fail to consider drawbacks that could be characterized as ‘wicked’, i.e., problems that lack simplistic solutions and straightforward planning responses, and which often come about as ‘management surprises’, as a byproduct of achieving sustainability. We here deal with problems related to public choice constraints, ‘non-choice default technologies’ and the costs of automation for human learning and resilience. To avoid undemocratic forms of planning and too strong a dependence on non-choice default technologies, e.g., smart phones, we recommend that planners and policy makers safeguard redundancy in public-choice options by maintaining a wide range of alternative choices, including analog ones. Resilience thinking could help planners deal more effectively with the ‘wickedness’ of an increasingly hyper-connected society.
Confidence Sets for Statistical Classification (II): Exact Confidence Sets
Authors: Liu Wei , Bretz Frank , Hayter Anthony J.
Published: November 2019

Classification has applications in a wide range of fields including medicine, engineering, computer science and social sciences among others. Liu et al. (2019) proposed a confidence-set-based classifier that classifies a future object into a single class only when there is enough evidence to warrant this, and into several classes otherwise. By allowing classification of an object into possibly more than one class, this classifier guarantees a pre-specified proportion of correct classification among all future objects. However, the classifier uses a conservative critical constant. In this paper, we show how to determine the exact critical constant in applications where prior knowledge about the proportions of the future objects from each class is available. As the exact critical constant is smaller than the conservative critical constant given by Liu et al. (2019), the classifier using the exact critical constant is better than the classifier by Liu et al. (2019) as expected. An example is provided to illustrate the method.
A Sustainability Assessment of Five Major Food Crops’ Water Footprints in China from 1978 to 2010
Authors: Tian Yuanhong , Ruth Matthias , Zhu Dajian , Ding Jinfeng , Morris Nicholas
Published: November 2019

Rice, wheat, corn, soybeans, and sorghum are the five major crops in China, which account for 92% of the country’s total grain production and 33% of its water consumption. Combining water footprint analysis tools with sustainability assessment tools, the water sustainability of the five major crops can be analyzed. Based on ecological economics theory, this paper constructs a sustainability evaluation system of China’s five major crops’ water footprints and analyzes the national and provincial diversity of the sustainability of the five major crops’ water footprints using three dimensions: scale, distribution, and equity. We find that the interprovincial distribution equity sustainability divergence is the key bottleneck factor that restricts sustainability (more than scale and configuration). One key strategy is to arrange grain production at the national level, on the basis of considering the differences of water-resource endowment between different provinces to break through the bottleneck of the water-resource distribution sustainability of these five major food crops. This paper determines a general management model that can improve the sustainability of water resource management at the interprovincial level by comparing and analyzing the most sustainable and least sustainable provinces for the water footprint production of these five major crops.
The Impact of Blockchain Technology Application on Supply Chain Partnership and Performance
Authors: Kim Joon-Seok , Shin Nina
Published: November 2019

Blockchain technology is now considered a next generation information technology tool for sustainable growth in supply chain (SC) management. However, its study is relatively rare in the literature on SC collaboration and sustainability management research, despite its advantages in sustaining connectivity and reliability among SC partners. This study investigates how the use of blockchain in SC activities can influence (increase or decrease) SC partnership efficiency and growth, thereby affecting SC performance outcomes. Specifically, this study empirically validates a measurement and structural equation model with 306 SC experts from various industries. The findings show that the blockchain technology characteristics (information transparency, information immutability, and smart contracts) have significant positive effects on partnership growth and marginal effects on partnership efficiency. Though partnership growth has a positive effect on firm performance, partnership efficiency shows a negative effect.
Environmental Assessment of Two Use Cycles of Recycled Aggregate Concrete
Authors: Pavlů Tereza , Kočí Vladimír , Hájek Petr
Published: November 2019

The main goal of this study was to compare two use cycles of natural aggregate concrete and recycled aggregate concrete, which is another way to compare the environmental impacts of recycled materials. A series of concrete mixtures with various replacement ratios of primary resources with recycled ones were prepared for this study. The mechanical properties of concrete mixtures were examined and were used for the design of structural elements in the same utilized properties. The two use cycles of a structural element were compared using life cycle assessment (LCA). In the first use cycle, the LCA of the structural element containing only primary raw materials was assessed. In the second use cycle, the LCA of a structural element in which primary materials were partially replaced by recycled ones was assessed. The obtained results confirm the potential use of high-quality recycled aggregate originating from local sources in some applications in building structures. Furthermore, the environmental assessment indicates the benefits of using recycled materials, such as environmental savings, especially the reduction of primary resource use, embodied energy, and embodied emissions, as well as reduction of the pressure on landfill sites.
Social Acceptability of More Sustainable Alternatives in Clothing Consumption
Authors: Kleinhückelkotten Silke , Neitzke H.-Peter
Published: November 2019

The rapidly growing demand for clothing in connection with the resource requirements and the emissions along the textile chain as well as the prevailing working conditions in the textile industry cause serious environmental and social problems. The question is asked, whether changes in consumption towards more sustainably produced clothing and, finally, a reduction of clothing consumption are achievable against the background of the existing consumption-related patterns of attitudes and behaviors. A representative survey was conducted in Germany (N = 2000) to tackle the consumer-related aspects of this question. The characteristics of consumption-related attitudes in the different population segments were determined. Factors were identified that affect the buying and use of clothes as well as the efficiency, consistency, and sufficiency supporting consumption alternatives. The results show that some preconditions for a broader diffusion of more sustainable alternatives in clothing consumption are given in Germany, such as a widespread general sustainability and problem awareness. In some population segments, social norms supporting more efficiency and consistency in the clothing sector are effective, and social and ecological buying criteria have a relatively high importance. However, there are also strong attitudinal obstacles, particularly regarding the restriction of clothing consumption.
Explanation of the Patterns, Spatial Relationships, and Node Functions of Biodiversity and Island: An Example of Nature Reserves in Guizhou, Southwest China
Authors: Yan Lingbin , Yu Lifei , An Mingtai , Su Haijun , Li He , Yuan Congjun
Published: November 2019

Biological habitat islanding occurs with the expansion of human activities. Nature reserves are biodiversity hotspots and sources of biodiversity diffusion. To explore the geographical causes of biodiversity and the impact of habitat island on biodiversity, we studied the spatial network relationships of biodiversity in nature reserves and the spatial characteristics of ecological corridors in reserves using various biodiversity indicators and ecological factors of important nature reserves, digital elevation models, and information regarding the land use types in Guizhou Province. Data were analyzed using canonical correspondence analysis and the lowest-cost analysis method. The results of this study showed that the factors that determine the biodiversity of the dominant region are heat, moisture, rock type, parent rock, and soil type. The nature reserves can be divided into seven categories according to the characteristics and ecological factors of the biodiversity network. We identified ecological corridors for biodiversity diffusion and classified them by levels of importance according to their degree of corridor composition.
Comparison of Active Nitrogen Loss in Four Pathways on a Sloped Peanut Field with Red Soil in China under Conventional Fertilization Conditions
Authors: Zheng Haijin , Liu Zhao , Nie Xiaofei , Zuo Jichao , Wang Lingyun
Published: November 2019

Active nitrogen loss mainly includes ammonia (NH3) volatilization, nitrous oxide (N2O) emission, NO3−-N and NH4+-N deep leakage (N leaching), and NO3−-N and NH4+-N surface runoff (N runoff), resulting in serious environmental problems. To analyze the characteristics of active nitrogen loss in the four pathways on sloped farmland under conventional fertilization, six lysimeters with a slope of 8° were used. Losses due to NH3 volatilization, N2O emission, N leaching, and N runoff were investigated after urea application on a peanut field with red soil in China during the growing season from 2017–2018. Results reveal that at conventional nitrogen levels of 150 and 172 kg hm−2, the total active nitrogen loss caused by fertilization accounting for the total nitrogen applied was 5.57% and 14.21%, respectively, with the N2O emission coefficients of 0.18% and 0.10%, respectively; the NH3 volatilization coefficients of 2.24% and 0.31%, respectively; the N leakage loss rates of 3.07% and 10.50%, respectively; and the N runoff loss rates of 0.08% and 3.30%, respectively. The dry year was dominated by leaching and NH3 volatilization, while the wet year was dominated by leaching and runoff; the base fertilizer period was dominated by leakage, while the topdressing period was dominated by leakage and runoff, which suggests that the loss of active nitrogen in the soil-peanut system on a sloped red soil was mainly affected by rainfall and fertilization methods. Taken together, reasonable fertilization management and soil and water conservation measures appear to be effective in minimizing the loss of active nitrogen from nitrogen fertilizer.
Somatotype, BMI, and Sexual Dimorphism in Adolescent School Sports Players in Peru
Authors: Linares-Manrique Marta , Hernández-Gallardo Damaris , Arencibia-Moreno Ricardo , Rojas-Cabrera Miguel , Macedo-Figueroa Julio , Linares-Girela Daniel
Published: November 2019

Introduction and objectives (1): It is currently important to be able to establish logical plans for physical work and/or nutrition aimed at achieving optimal levels of performance and wellbeing. To achieve this, it is crucial to understand anthropometric data and how they relate to body type and, above all, how they associate with parameters linked to health. The present study, therefore, proposed to examine intersexual morphological differences and to determine the existing relationship between somatotype and BMI in a sample of school sports players from Huacho (Peru). Material and methods (2): A descriptive, comparative, correlational, and transversal study was delivered within a sample of 294 students (165 males and 129 females). Participants were aged between 12–16 years and regularly participated in team sports at competitive school level. All participants took part in the anthropometric examination in order to determine their somatotype and body mass index (BMI). Results (3): Significant differences were found to exist between the sexes in practically all of the anthropometric measures. The data demonstrated a high index of overweight and obesity. Further, the zones of occupation of the somatochart for both populations showed a displacement towards endomorphism, and that the level of typological similarity between populations was 30.54%. Conclusions (4): Results indicate a serious need for training so that adolescent students acquire healthy habits and lifestyles.
Time or Money? The Influence of Warm and Competent Appeals on Donation Intentions
Authors: Zhang Yong , Lin Chuling , Yang Jialing
Published: November 2019

Charitable donations are important for healthy functioning and the sustainable development of our society. Individuals are making great contributions by donating their money or volunteering their time. Previous studies have discussed advertising strategies to promote either money or time donation. However, few have focused on money and time donation in one study or compared the effectiveness of advertising strategies to promote different types of donations. To promote an individual’s participation, this paper explores the role of advertising appeals in donation intentions. From the perspective of social cognition, this paper examines the influence of warm and competent advertising appeals on an individual’s donation intentions of time and money based on trait activation theory, revealing the underlying mechanisms. The results show that under the warm advertising appeal conditions, individuals are more willing to donate time due to the mediating role played by social connectedness. In contrast, under the competent advertising appeal conditions, individuals are more willing to donate money due to the mediating role played by competitive orientation. The implications and limitations are also discussed in this paper.
Women Entrepreneurship in International Trade: Bridging the Gap by Bringing Feminist Theories into Entrepreneurship and Internationalization Theories
Authors: Akter Mansura , Rahman Mahfuzur , Radicic Dragana
Published: November 2019

Participation of women-owned small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in international trade is gaining more importance in the transformation of institutional changes. Although women entrepreneurs contribute to the social and economic development, the role of social, cultural, and legal institutions in fostering women entrepreneurship is still debatable. This argument remains controversial as there is no single theory that has explained the phenomenon of women-owned firms in international trade. Because of the missing link between gender sensitivity and the existing theories of entrepreneurship and internationalization, there is a significant research gap. To fill up this research gap, this study revisited existing theories from three research domains: feminism, entrepreneurship, and internationalization. Factors derived from revisiting theories of entrepreneurship and internationalization were evaluated based on findings from the review of the feminist theories. Finally, key parameters were selected to assess the internationalization of women-owned SMEs, which require future empirical investigation.
Community Empowerment and Sustainable Tourism Development: The Mediating Role of Community Support for Tourism
Authors: Khalid Shahrukh , Ahmad Muhammad Shakil , Ramayah T. , Hwang Jinsoo , Kim Insin
Published: November 2019

Though community empowerment and sustainable tourism development (STD) have been discussed in the existing literature, little research has focused on the elaborate mechanisms between these two variables. Therefore, the present study examines the relationship between community empowerment and STD, along with the mediating role played by community support for tourism. Using social exchange theory, this research establishes theoretical relationships between vital variables for STD. A survey of empirical study was undertaken, and data were collected from 353 local residents in the northern area of Pakistan. The results for data analyses demonstrated a significant relationship between community empowerment and STD initiatives, and community support for tourism was shown to partially mediate the relationship between the two variables. The findings imply that high community empowerment enables the community to establish successful sustainable tourism development through local people’s support for tourism. This study contributes theoretically to identifying the idea that community members’ support for tourism has a crucial function bridging the link from community empowerment to sustain tourism in a local area.
Toxin Production in Soybean (Glycine max L.) Plants with Charcoal Rot Disease and by Macrophomina phaseolina, the Fungus that Causes the Disease
Authors: Abbas Hamed K. , Bellaloui Nacer , Accinelli Cesare , Smith James R. , Shier W. Thomas
Published: November 2019

Charcoal rot disease, caused by the fungus Macrophomina phaseolina, results in major economic losses in soybean production in southern USA. M. phaseolina has been proposed to use the toxin (-)-botryodiplodin in its root infection mechanism to create a necrotic zone in root tissue through which fungal hyphae can readily enter the plant. The majority (51.4%) of M. phaseolina isolates from plants with charcoal rot disease produced a wide range of (-)-botryodiplodin concentrations in a culture medium (0.14–6.11 µg/mL), 37.8% produced traces below the limit of quantification (0.01 µg/mL), and 10.8% produced no detectable (-)-botryodiplodin. Some culture media with traces or no (-)-botryodiplodin were nevertheless strongly phytotoxic in soybean leaf disc cultures, consistent with the production of another unidentified toxin(s). Widely ranging (-)-botryodiplodin levels (traces to 3.14 µg/g) were also observed in the roots, but not in the aerial parts, of soybean plants naturally infected with charcoal rot disease. This is the first report of (-)-botryodiplodin in plant tissues naturally infected with charcoal rot disease. No phaseolinone was detected in M. phaseolina culture media or naturally infected soybean tissues. These results are consistent with (-)-botryodiplodin playing a role in the pathology of some, but not all, M. phaseolina isolates from soybeans with charcoal rot disease in southern USA.
Crosstalk between Human Microvascular Endothelial Cells and Tubular Epithelial Cells Modulates Pro-Inflammatory Responses Induced by Shiga Toxin Type 2 and Subtilase Cytotoxin
Authors: Álvarez Romina S. , Jancic Carolina , Garimano Nicolás , Sacerdoti Flavia , Paton Adrienne W. , Paton James C. , Ibarra Cristina , Amaral María M.
Published: November 2019

Hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) is a consequence of Shiga toxin (Stx)-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) infection and is the most frequent cause of acute renal failure (ARF) in children. Subtilase cytotoxin (SubAB) has also been associated with HUS pathogenesis. We previously reported that Stx2 and SubAB cause different effects on co-cultures of human renal microvascular endothelial cells (HGEC) and human proximal tubular epithelial cells (HK-2) relative to HGEC and HK-2 monocultures. In this work we have analyzed the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines by co-cultures compared to monocultures exposed or not to Stx2, SubAB, and Stx2+SubAB. Under basal conditions, IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-α secretion was different between monocultures and co-cultures. After toxin treatments, high concentrations of Stx2 and SubAB decreased cytokine secretion by HGEC monocultures, but in contrast, low toxin concentrations increased their release. Toxins did not modulate the cytokine secretion by HK-2 monocultures, but increased their release in the HK-2 co-culture compartment. In addition, HK-2 monocultures were stimulated to release IL-8 after incubation with HGEC conditioned media. Finally, Stx2 and SubAB were detected in HGEC and HK-2 cells from the co-cultures. This work describes, for the first time, the inflammatory responses induced by Stx2 and SubAB, in a crosstalk model of renal endothelial and epithelial cells.
The Porcine Deltacoronavirus Replication Organelle Comprises Double-Membrane Vesicles and Zippered Endoplasmic Reticulum with Double-Membrane Spherules
Authors: Doyle Nicole , Hawes Philippa C. , Simpson Jennifer , Adams Lorin H. , Maier Helena J.
Published: November 2019

Porcine deltacoronavirus (PDCoV) was first identified in Hong Kong in 2012 from samples taken from pigs in 2009. PDCoV was subsequently identified in the USA in 2014 in pigs with a history of severe diarrhea. The virus has now been detected in pigs in several countries around the world. Following the development of tissue culture adapted strains of PDCoV, it is now possible to address questions regarding virus–host cell interactions for this genera of coronavirus. Here, we presented a detailed study of PDCoV-induced replication organelles. All positive-strand RNA viruses induce the rearrangement of cellular membranes during virus replication to support viral RNA synthesis, forming the replication organelle. Replication organelles for the Alpha-, Beta-, and Gammacoronavirus genera have been characterized. All coronavirus genera induced the formation of double-membrane vesicles (DMVs). In addition, Alpha- and Betacoronaviruses induce the formation of convoluted membranes, while Gammacoronaviruses induce the formation of zippered endoplasmic reticulum (ER) with tethered double-membrane spherules. However, the structures induced by Deltacoronaviruses, particularly the presence of convoluted membranes or double-membrane spherules, are unknown. Initially, the dynamics of PDCoV strain OH-FD22 replication were assessed with the onset of viral RNA synthesis, protein synthesis, and progeny particle release determined. Subsequently, virus-induced membrane rearrangements were identified in infected cells by electron microscopy. As has been observed for all other coronaviruses studied to date, PDCoV replication was found to induce the formation of double-membrane vesicles. Significantly, however, PDCoV replication was also found to induce the formation of regions of zippered endoplasmic reticulum, small associated tethered vesicles, and double-membrane spherules. These structures strongly resemble the replication organelle induced by avian Gammacoronavirus infectious bronchitis virus.
The Effect of Sample Bias and Experimental Artefacts on the Statistical Phylogenetic Analysis of Picornaviruses
Authors: Vakulenko Yulia , Deviatkin Andrei , Lukashev Alexander
Published: November 2019

Statistical phylogenetic methods are a powerful tool for inferring the evolutionary history of viruses through time and space. The selection of mathematical models and analysis parameters has a major impact on the outcome, and has been relatively well-described in the literature. The preparation of a sequence dataset is less formalized, but its impact can be even more profound. This article used simulated datasets of enterovirus sequences to evaluate the effect of sample bias on picornavirus phylogenetic studies. Possible approaches to the reduction of large datasets and their potential for introducing additional artefacts were demonstrated. The most consistent results were obtained using “smart sampling”, which reduced sequence subsets from large studies more than those from smaller ones in order to preserve the rare sequences in a dataset. The effect of sequences with technical or annotation errors in the Bayesian framework was also analyzed. Sequences with about 0.5% sequencing errors or incorrect isolation dates altered by just 5 years could be detected by various approaches, but the efficiency of identification depended upon sequence position in a phylogenetic tree. Even a single erroneous sequence could profoundly destabilize the whole analysis by increasing the variance of the inferred evolutionary parameters.
Gully Erosion Susceptibility Mapping Using Multivariate Adaptive Regression Splines—Replications and Sample Size Scenarios
Authors: Javidan Narges , Kavian Ataollah , Pourghasemi Hamid Reza , Conoscenti Christian , Jafarian Zeinab
Published: November 2019

Soil erosion is a serious problem affecting numerous countries, especially, gully erosion. In the current research, GIS techniques and MARS (Multivariate Adaptive Regression Splines) algorithm were considered to evaluate gully erosion susceptibility mapping among others. The study was conducted in a specific section of the Gorganroud Watershed in Golestan Province (Northern Iran), covering 2142.64 km2 which is intensely influenced by gully erosion. First, Google Earth images, field surveys, and national reports were used to provide a gully-hedcut evaluation map consisting of 307 gully-hedcut points. Eighteen gully erosion conditioning factors including significant geoenvironmental and morphometric variables were selected as predictors. To model sensitivity of gully erosion, Multivariate Adaptive Regression Splines (MARS) was used while the Area Under the Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) Curve (AUC), drawing ROC curves, efficiency percent, Yuden index, and kappa were used to evaluate model efficiency. We used two different scenarios of the combination of the number of replications, and sample size, including 90%/10% and 80%/20% with 10 replications, and 70%/30% with five, 10, and 15 replications for preparing gully erosion susceptibility mapping (GESM). Each one involves a various subset of both positive (presence), and negative (absence) cases. Absences were extracted as randomly distributed individual cells. Therefore, the predictive competency of the gully erosion susceptibility model and the robustness of the procedure were evaluated through these datasets. Results did not show considerable variation in the accuracy of the model, with altering the percentage of calibration to validation samples and number of model replications. Given the accuracy, the MARS algorithm performed excellently in predictive performance. The combination of 80%/20% using all statistical measures including SST (0.88), SPF (0.83), E (0.79), Kappa (0.58), Robustness (0.01), and AUC (0.84) had the highest performance compared to the other combinations. Consequently, it was found that the performance of MARS for modelling gully erosion susceptibility is quite consistent while changes in the testing and validation specimens are executed. The intense acceptable prediction capability of the MARS model verifies the reliability of the method employed for use of this model elsewhere and gully erosion studies since they are qualified to quickly generating precise and exact GESMs (gully erosion sensitivity maps) to make decisions and management edaphic and hydrologic features.
Governance in Maritime Passenger Transport: Green Public Procurement of Ferry Services
Authors: Ystmark Bjerkan Kristin , Karlsson Hampus , Snefuglli Sondell Rebecka , Damman Sigrid , Meland Solveig
Published: November 2019

Governance is central for sustainability transitions in maritime transport. Norwegian authorities can directly influence developments in maritime transport through green public procurement, and low- or zero-emission technologies have been or are being considered for more than 250 operational ferry and high-speed vessel connections. This study explores practices of green public procurement and investigates procuring authorities and operators’ perspectives on the efficiency of green public procurement in accelerating sustainability transitions. Through review of calls for tender and interviews with procuring authorities and operators, the study identifies critical issues for green public procurement to accelerate maritime passenger transport toward sustainability. The critical issues are related to either procedural or service delivery issues. Procedural issues refer to timelines with multiple calls on the same time and different views of procurers and operators on the ideal duration of contracts. The most demanding service delivery issues are infrastructure for charging and energy capacity in remote areas where operators have to pre-book energy needs based on rough estimations which in turn increase the tender price.
O PROGRAMA NACIONAL DE ASSISTÊNCIA ESTUDANTIL EM UMA UNIVERSIDADE PÚBLICA
Authors: Almeida Mônica Rafaela de , Oliveira Isabel Fernandes de , Seixas Pablo de Sousa
Published: November 2019

O ensino superior brasileiro tem se apresentando historicamente como uma estrutura elitizada, mas nos anos recentes houve um maior acesso de estudantes da classe trabalhadora. Nesse contexto, é regulamentado o Programa Nacional de Assistência Estudantil (PNAES), que visa garantir a permanência dos estudantes, em situação de vulnerabilidade social, nas Instituições Federais de Ensino Superior (IFES). Assim, este trabalho procurou analisar o desenvolvimento do PNAES em uma IFES. Os dados foram retirados de documentos oficiais e registro escrito das atividades do I Fórum de Assistência Estudantil. Os resultados indicaram que a assistência estudantil tem permitido a permanência de muitos estudantes no ensino superior, mas sua efetivação é limitada, porque os benefícios são provisórios e não atendem a toda demanda.
ENTRE PSICANÁLISE E EXISTENCIALISMO: A ESTRUTURAÇÃO DA PERSONALIDADE SOB CONDIÇÃO
Authors: Moura Carlos
Published: November 2019

O artigo visa apresentar algumas considerações do existencialismo sartreano ao problema de uma subjetividade que existe em tensão entre a gratuidade de um vivido intencional (Liberdade) e sua condição de possibilidade: ser em situação (Determinação). É neste aspecto que o diálogo de Sartre com a Psicologia e com a Psicanálise o lançará na tarefa de resolver o problema de uma Consciência que só se manifesta na medida em que sofre o peso das estruturas da relação com o Outro e da Linguagem. Diante de tal relação (impulso à liberdade, condições que fazem do homem um existente que se perdeu a si mesmo desde sua infância), observa-se um Sartre cada vez mais íntimo de seu interesse filosófico pela Psicanálise.
Données expérimentales préliminaires sur la stabilité de la rhönite à 1 atmosphère. Application aux gisements naturels
Authors: Boivin Pierre
Published: November 2019

An experimental study under 1 bar pressure with ƒO₂ monitoring has been performed on rhönite-bearing basanitoïde, hawaiite and pure kaersutite from the alkalibasalt series of the Devès (French Massif Central). The following assemblages are recorded to lower temperatures :

-NNO buffer

(1) Kaersutite   ol + (sp) + plag + rhönite + cpx + mt + liq

(2) Basanitoïde   ol + (sp) + cpx + mt + plag + rhönite + liq

(3) Hawaiite   ol + (sp) + plag + cpx + mt + liq

-IW buffer

(4) Kaersutite   ol + (sp) + cpx + plag + rhönite + liq

(5) Basanitoïde   ol + cpx + plag + rhönite + liq

(6) Hawaiite   ol + cpx + plag + liq

Spinel reacts with liquid to give plagioclase (cases 1, 3 and 4) and magnetite (cases 2 and 3).

The liquidus temperatures of the kaersutite (1310 °C) and the basanitoïde (1 300 °C) do not vary significantly with ƒO₂ contrary to the liquidus temperature of the hawaïte : 1 195 °C for NNO and 1 255 °C for IW.

The crystallization course for the basanitoïde shows spinel and clinopyroxene may coexist (at equilibrium) under 1 bar. The temperature of crystallization of rhönite is independent of the ƒO₂ between NNO and IW buffers and it seems rather controlled by the bulk composition of the sample : 1 170 °C for the kaersutite versus 1 100 °C for the basanitoïde.

This petrographic study and experimental results together with available and petrographic data dealing with rhönite-bearing and melilite-free lavas suggest that the crystallization of rhönite and its coexistence with plagioclase is controlled by the rock bulk composition (chiefly Ti and Ca) and by early crystallization and Ti content of clinopyroxene depending on pressure.
La macquartite : un nouveau silico˗chromate de Tiger, Arizona
Authors: Williams Sydney A. , Duggan Marjorie
Published: November 2019

This mineral was recently found on already ancient dioptase specimens (about 1940) from Tiger, Arizona ; it could very well have been mistaken for mimetite. The color is orange cadmium (RHS 23 A) and the powder pale orange ; hardness (Mohs) 3.5 ; measured density 5.49, calculated density 5.58 g/cm3. Crystals can reach 1 mm long in size with a good cleavage on {100}. Optically biaxial negative with 2V = 85°, α = 2.28, β = 2.31 and γ = 2.34 ; γ is along the b axis and the extinction angle is : cΛX = + 36°.

Wet chemical analysis gave : PbO 67.6, CuO 7.8, CrO₃ 10.5, SiO₂ 4.9, H₂O 7.3, sum 98.1 % ; this corresponds to the formula Pb₃Cu(CrO₄)SiO₃(OH)₄•2 H₂O.

Macquartite is monoclinic, probably C2/m, with a = 20.81, b = 5.84, c = 9.26 Å and P = 91°48' ;Z = 4. The strongest lines in the X-ray powder pattern are : 4.822 (9), 4.629 (9), 3.156 (10), 3.090 (6), 2.925 (5), 2.768 (5), 2.320 (4) and 2.235 (4).

This mineral is named in honour of the French chemist L. C. H. Macquart. The species and name have been approved by the Commission on New Minerals and Mineral Names, IMA.
The structure of ferrarisite, Ca5(HAsO4)2(AsO4)2 . 9 H2O, disorder, hydrogen bonding and polymorphism with guerinite
Authors: Catti Michele , Chiari Giacomo , Ferraris Giovanni
Published: November 2019

By an automatic diffractometer (MoKα radiation) 2 810 observed reflections were measured on a single crystal of ferrarisite from Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines (Alsace), with the following unit-cell parameters : a = 8.294(4), b = 6.722(3), c = 11.198(5) Å, α = 106.16(4), β = 92.94(4), γ = 99.20(4)° ; Z = 1, space group P[-1]. The structure was solved by direct methods and refined by least-squares to R = 0.033. One water molecule is disordered over two centrosymmetric positions, and presumably that also implies disorder of hydrogen atoms of other water molecules. Two out of the three independent Ca atoms coordinate, in a very irregular way, seven oxygen atoms. These polyhedra, together with the As tetrahedra, build up (001) layers by sharing edges and vertices. The third Ca atom, which is in special position, has nearly regular octahedral coordination and is sandwiched between the layers, with the formation of very large [010] (and smaller [100]) channels at the border of which the water molecules lie. Possible further occupation of sites in the channels is pointed out. Polymorphism with guerinite, relationships with picropharmacolite and dehydration are discussed.
Étude par microscopie électronique en transmission de l'état de déformation de pyrites de différentes provenances
Authors: Couderc Jean-Jacques , Bras Jean , Fagot Monique , Levade Colette
Published: November 2019

Des cristaux de pyrite au faciès plus ou moins déformé sont observés par microscopie électronique en transmission à 100 kV. Les échantillons à faces triglyphes (Logroño, Saint-Aubin des Châteaux) contiennent de nombreux défauts de croissance dans des plans {100}. Les échantillons provenant de gisements stratiformes (Degtiarka) mettent nettement en évidence une déformation plastique, le système de glissement étant principalement {100} ❮100❯.
A transmission electron microscope study of naturally deformed orthopyroxene. II : mechanics of kinking
Authors: McLaren Alexandre C. , Etheridge M. A.
Published: November 2019

Kink bands (KBs) and kink band boundaries (KBBs) in naturally deformed orthopyroxene have been studied by optical and transmission electron microscopy. The KBs are in general not simple and symmetrical and have features characteristic of both ideal kink bands (as defined by Orowan, 1942) and deformation bands (as defined by Mott, 1952). Two closely-related mechanisms (which involve the pile-up of dislocations belonging to a single slip system) are proposed for the development of the observed KBs. The KBBs are also complex structures up to 4 µm wide consisting of a very fine-grained (essentially amorphous) alteration product and discrete grains of orthopyroxene. However, there is evidence that originally the KBBs consisted of a high local density (of the order of 10¹¹ cm⁻²) of piled-up dislocations. The KBBs are, therefore, likely sites for alteration and recrystallization.
Clay mineralogy of the landenian-ypresian transition beds exposed at Gebel Gurnah, Luxor, Egypt
Authors: Saad Nadi A. , Gindy Amin R. , Toma Samira A.
Published: November 2019

Les études thermiques et thermogravimétriques différentielles indiquent que les minéraux argileux de l'âge Landénien « Esna Shales » exposés au pied de Gebel Gurnah sont essentiellement formés d'un mélange de kaolinite et de montmorillonite. D'autre part, la pierre à chaux, les lits de marne et de « shales » des formations de Thèbes (Yprésien) les recouvrant immédiatement comprennent un assemblage d'argile formée essentiellement de montmorillonite contrairement aux lits mentionnés ci-dessus.

On discute, du point de vue paléoenvironnement, cette différence quant à la minéralogie des argiles dans la séquence continue de l'âge Landénien˗Yprésien. L'existence de formations rocheus est en outre confirmée par des analyses chimiques.
A structural analysis of Echtra Nerai
Authors: Watson Alden
Published: November 2019

Analyse structurale inspirée des méthodes de Claude Lévi-Strauss. Echtra Nerai est constituée de deux légendes, l’aventure de Nera dans le monde du sid, et le Vol du bétail d’Aingen. L’auteur analyse différents épisodes autour de quelques thèmes essentiels («souveraineté», «destin héroïque») .
Les berges de la Nam Ngum et du Mekong. Systèmes économiques villageois et organisation de l'espace dans la plaine de Vientiane (Laos)
Authors: Taillard Christian
Published: November 2019

Cette étude montre que les régions de berge constituent une unité spatiale définie par le paysage, les techniques de production et le calendrier de la vie agricole, tous trois régis par la crue, et nettement différenciés de ceux des plaines rizicoles et des hautes terrasses de la région de Vientiane. Cependant cette unité naturelle n'est pas en elle-même une forme d'organisation de l'espace puisque les berges de la Nam Ngum et du Mekong diffèrent à la fois par leur peuplement et par l'économie rurale. La réalisation de comptabilités villageoises en valeur et en temps d'activité montre qu'il ne s'agit pas d'une simple différence de degré mais de nature. La composition des agents villageois, la structure sociale, l'ouverture sur des marchés extérieurs, la dépendance par rapport au pouvoir étatique, les raisons du sous-emploi... sont autant de facteurs qui s'ajoutent aux données naturelles, aux techniques et au calendrier qu'elles imposent, pour façonner l'espace rural. Seule l'intégration de ces différentes données, liées au milieu naturel mais aussi aux activités humaines et à leur économie, permet de comprendre l'organisation de l'espace, et donne ainsi la possibilité d'y intervenir par une conception d'aménagement appropriée.
Phnom Kulen, paysage rural particulier au Cambodge
Authors: Boulbet Jean
Published: November 2019

Le plateau oriental du Phnom Kulen est et a été un lieu historique et sacré à cause des avantages de sa situation géographique. Après avoir passé en revue les conditions écologiques qui font de ce plateau, dit «des têtes d'eau », un château d'eau privilégié, l'auteur met l'accent sur l'importance du couvert forestier dans le maintien d'un équilibre biologique aujourd'hui menacé. Contrairement aux autres phnom cambodgiens, le Phnom Kulen est habité par une population khmère culturellement semblable (techniques, organisation sociale, religion) à celle des plaines environnantes. Ces villageois ne sont pas issus d'un peuple de la forêt mais ne sont plus des paysans ordinaires fixés dans un paysage rural traditionnel ; ils se montrent mauvais gérants de leur capital forestier et sont encore poussés au gaspillage par des étrangers du plateau qui, de l'extérieur, exploitent les ressources du phnom , sans ménagement ni attachement au milieu. Les villageois de 1' «échine du mont » sont, en revanche, de bons organisateurs de leurs aires villageoises abondamment plantées, ils ont conservé des massifs de haute et puissante futaie à cause de leur richesse en arbres à kulen (letchis). De ces données originales, découlent des problèmes de réorganisation d'une société rurale dans un paysage à vocation forestière.