bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The role of local authorities in the development relational capital: rural schools perspective
Authors: Lenart Regina
Published: December 2014

Since the late 90s of last century, a small primary schools, including rural schools are closed. Originally intended this effect: shortening of primary education (transformation of the eight schools in six school classes), demographic, and transfer of schools to local government units. This means that the management of schools should use management methods. The article states that the relational capital can be a factor for competitiveness and success of the school. The article presents the results of interviews with experts affiliated to the Silesian Cluster of Education. The aim of study was to identify ways to build competitive educational institutions. Each of the respondents in their statements drew attention to the importance of building relationships and cooperation with the environment. Studies show, however, the lack of preparedness of schools to build partnerships and relationships with the environment.
Factors influencing the development of milk production in Lithuania after milk quota abolition
Authors: Mikelionytė Deiva , Lukošiutė Ingrida , Petrauskaitė-Senkevič Laura
Published: December 2014

Following the decision to abolish the EU milk quotas in 2015, it is relevant to predict how it will influence the milk production, what changes need to be prepared for. For this purpose, there are plenty of scientific studies done, which evaluated the impact of milk quota abolition on EU. Scientists admit that for more accurate predictions, it is necessary to evaluate the changes in each country separately. Such studies haven’t been carried out in case of Lithuania. The purpose of the study is to identify the factors that will have the greatest impact on the development of the milk production in Lithuania after the removal of milk quotas, considering Lithuanian milk production specifics. In order to achieve the target of study, the analysis of other authors’ studies about the impact of milk quota abolition in EU milk sector were analysed. The study was based on logical, systematic analysis and synthesis, induction and deduction, correlation analysis. In this paper the factors that have the greatest influence on the future development of Lithuanian milk production after milk quota abolition are identified. They are demand and supply, amount of milk production quotas limiting, size of dairy herd, cow productivity, self-sufficiency in feed, profitability, size of dairy farm, state support, self-sufficiency in capabilities of processing and foreign trade, changes in neighbouring countries dairy sectors.
Small and large farms in the Republic of Moldova: trends and perspectives
Authors: Moroz Victor , Ignat Anatolie , Lucasenco Eugenia
Published: December 2014

In recent years the Republic of Moldova has implemented a set of reforms in order to increase the efficiency of agricultural production. The main purpose of this paper is to highlight economic advantages and disadvantages of large and small scale farms, and also to focus on the multidimensional role of the small scale farming for rural areas. The methodology used in the article is based on analysis of statistical data, as well as on results of relevant qualitative and quantitative surveys. The main expected results of this paper lay in the proposals of ways in which agriculture can make a contribution to the vibrancy of rural communities from the Republic of Moldova.
Institutionalization of feed market: legal aspects
Authors: Petrychenko Iryna
Published: December 2014

Institutional environment determines the development of the market of feed, play a pivotal role on legal regulation, as the fundamental, which stimulates the formation and effective functioning of the economic system and its structural and sectoral subsystems. Purpose – theoretical and practical study of institutional determinants of development of the market of feed and rationale regulatory priority directions of its transformation. Analysis performed on the basis of scientific and special methods of economic research. The basic definition, subsystems and elements, subjects and objects of the process, institutional imperatives and objectives, proposed copyright concept of "institutionalization of feed market". Conclusions regarding the importance of institutionalizing the feed market in a systematic manner; improvement of normative legal regulation of the market and the harmonization of legislation with EU standards.
Interaction between satisfaction and loyalty of lithuanian rural tourists: a moderating effect of perceived value
Authors: Pilelienė Lina , Grigaliūnaitė Viktorija
Published: December 2014

The moderating effect of perceived value on the effect of Lithuanian rural tourist satisfaction to loyalty (behavioural and attitudinal) is being analyzed in the article. The positive effect of tourist satisfaction to loyalty is widely analyzed and discussed in scientific literature. Nevertheless, this effect is considered as complex due to the possibility of other variables’ moderating effect. Tourist’s perceived value may be regarded as such variable. Scientific researches about the moderating effect of perceived value in a framework of rural tourism in Lithuania is weak; therefore, the analysis of the interaction effect between tourist satisfaction and loyalty is relevant. Furthermore, as tourist loyalty is composited from behavioral and attitudinal loyalty, the moderating effect of perceived value may differ regarding these approaches. The aim of this article is to determine the interaction effect between Lithuanian rural tourist satisfaction and loyalty (behavioural and attitudinal) regarding perceived value as a moderator variable. While achieving the aim of the article, quantitative questionnaire research and the analysis of the research results using structural equation modelling are applied. As a research result, the interaction effect of Lithuanian rural tourist satisfaction to loyalty is determined and the moderating effect of perceived value is assessed.
Local self government and formation of self governing in rural areas
Authors: Pilipavičius Vytautas , Vidrevičienė Inga
Published: December 2014

Nowadays, in public administration observed high dichotomy between legal regulation of selfgovernment (de jure) and local self-government practice (de facto) – self management. This makes communication, harmony and compatibility problem between local self-organization and organization of self-management in rural areas. Today this problem is related to the formation of selfgoverning as a systematic practice of local self-government in rural areas. Research aim – an analysis of historical and cultural sites of self-government and self-management and provide guidelines for the formation of self-governing in rural areas. The research design consists of local selfgovernment and the assumptions of self-management analysis, the development of local selfgovernment, decentralization of management and local government, local government and government institutions regulatory authority, public administration, trends and prospects, and local government strategic planning contexts. Studies the use of the scientific literature and analysis of documentary sources, content and structure analysis methods. The article highlighted the historical and cultural assumptions of local self-government, and for self-management and provided guidelines for the formation of self-governing of Lithuanian rural areas.
Innovative character of rural territories social potential realization
Authors: Plotnikova Maria
Published: December 2014

The availability of disproportions and asymmetries in rural territories development owing to the absence of the system approach in management caused degradation of the grounds, problems of demographic and economic character, as well as cultural historical preconditions for restoration and harmonious village development what made for the choice of research theme. The research aim is the search and substantiation of directions and mechanisms of rural territories revival on the basis of their sustainable development and the self-reliance of industrial, socio-economic and ecological activity. Theoretical base of the research is formal theory of economic systems, which reflects the application of a systemic approach to modeling the economic objects. The estimation of modern development of agriculture status is given. The features of regional and national rural development in Ukraine are pointed out. The dynamics of modern tendencies and priorities of national agrarian policy in this direction are educed. The attention is emphasized on the demographic constituent of rural development in Ukraine. The problems of employment and unemployment in rural area are exposed. The reasons and the consequences of decline in employment and reduction of rural population size are revealed. The specific character of organizing and functioning of ecological settlements in Ukraine is defined. The perspective of this direction of rural territories development is assessed.
Ways of improvement of non-tariff measures of international trade regulation
Authors: Solodkovska Ganna , Olefirenko Viktoria
Published: December 2014

The unequal development of individual countries, the economic and political crises, deepening of foreign economic relations have led to the fact that tariffs often do not provide the necessary level of national markets protection. As a result, countries governments are turning to the use of nontariff regulation. And the range of instruments of non-tariff measures of international trade regulation is constantly expanding. Therefore the study of non-tariff measures in the system of state regulation of international trade is vital and that of a current interest. The purpose of this paper is to improve the development of measures of non-tariff regulation of international trade. In this study authors used such scientific methods as system analysis, the grouping method, the method of comparative analysis and statistical method. This article determines the main problems of non-tariff regulation in the global trading system and proposes the ways of their solution. The conducted studies will help to organize the effective regulation of countries foreign economic activity. Therefore, the results of the research can be used for further theoretical research in the field of international trade.
Tax risk in cash pooling agreements in polish enterprises
Authors: Szlęzak-Matusewicz Joanna
Published: December 2014

Cash pooling is a service addressed to enterprise groups, which enables effective management of cash pooled on a bank account. In Poland, there is no normative definition of the cash pooling agreement, what is a source of the tax risk of qualifying such an agreement as a loan agreement. The consequence of the recognition of cash pooling as a loan agreement is an increase of the tax burden resulting from the application of the thin capitalisation rules (TCR). In 2013, such interpretation was presented by the Polish tax authorities. The aim of the article is to identify the tax risk in Poland in income tax issuing from the application of the TCR. Referring to the construction of the cash pooling agreement and the features of indirect financing and making appropriate analysis of tax law the author has shown that this interpretation is wrong
Econometric analysis of the crops’ production prime cost in steppe zone
Authors: Zhorova Alla , Tischenko Svetlana
Published: December 2014

Efficiency of agrarian production depends on the characteristics of the natural complex in specific territory. Managing costs on crop production in steppe zone is largely determined by correctly chosen strategy of development and tools of its implementation, taking into account cost and innovative technologies. The purpose of this paper is to identify possible ways to reduce the cost of crop production by constructing an econometric model. Searching of the most efficient ways of working agrarian enterprise is grounded by the intense technological progress, with considerable attention which is paid to the econometric modelling. It provides the opportunity not only to see the relationship between the studied quantitative factors, but also to predict the results of activities in an analytical form. The paper proposes an econometric model of the crops’ yield formation and identifies ways to reduce the cost of crop production. The hypothesis of a linear relation between the prime cost, expenditures and yield is proved. As a result of the analysis, the dependence of production costs on crop yields and prime costs, the opportunity to use the survey data to predict future economic factors in agriculture is given.
Role of rhBMP-2 and rhBMP-7 in the Metabolism and Differentiation of Osteoblast-Like Cells Cultured on Chemically Modified Titanium Surfaces
Authors: Cirano Fabiano Ribeiro , Togashi Adriane Yaeko , Marques Márcia Martins , Pustiglioni Francisco Emílio , Lima Luiz Antônio Pugliesi Alves
Published: December 2014

This study analyzed the role of recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein 2 (rhBMP-2) and recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein 7 (rhBMP-7) in the adhesion and differentiation of rat osteoblast-like (osteo-1) cells cultured on chemically modified titanium surfaces. Osteo-1 cells were cultured on chemically modified (modified sandblasted and acid-etched) titanium surfaces in 3 different types of medium: control, medium supplemented with 20 ng/mL rhBMP-2, and medium supplemented with 20 ng/mL rhBMP-7. The following parameters were evaluated: cell adhesion after 24 hours; total protein content; collagen content and alkaline phosphatase (AP) activity after 7, 14, and 21 days; and calcified nodule formation after 21 days. The addition of rhBMP-2 or rhBMP-7 did not influence cell adhesion (P = .1175). Cell differentiation was influenced by rhBMP-2, as demonstrated by a significant increase in collagen content after 7 days of culture (P < .0001) and a significant decrease in AP activity after 21 days (P < .0001). The addition of rhBMP-7 only influenced AP activity, and a significant increase was observed after 21 days (P < .0001). Within the limitations of the study, we conclude that the presence of rhBMP-2 or rhBMP-7 did not influence cell adhesion to chemically modified titanium surfaces but provided an additional stimulus during the differentiation of rat osteo-1 cells cultured on this type of surface.
Full-Mouth Rehabilitation of a Patient With Ectodermal Dysplasia With Dental Implants
Authors: Koyuncuoglu Cenker Zeki , Metin Suleyman , Saylan Isil , Calısir Kerem , Tuncer Ozen , Kantarci Alpdogan
Published: December 2014

Oral findings in patients with ectodermal dysplasia (ED) include complete or partial hypodontia, anodontia, loss of vertical dimension of occlusion, protuberant lips, malformed and widely spaced conical-shaped teeth, and underdeveloped alveolar ridges. These patients present a substantial challenge in dental treatment. This case report presents oral rehabilitation of a 22-year-old male patient diagnosed with ED using an implant tooth–supported telescopic partial denture at the mandible and a tooth-supported telescopic partial denture at the maxilla. Implants in the mandible were placed at the sites of the right and left lateral incisor teeth. Following implant placement, the remaining buccal bone dehiscence was filled with deproteinized bovine bone graft and covered with resorbable membrane. To manage the vestibular insufficiency and to increase the keratinized mucosa in maxilla, bilateral acellular dermal matrix allograft was used on the right and left buccal aspects. The treatment described here improved the patient's functional and esthetic status while significantly restoring his oral health and self-esteem.
Effect of Splinting in Accuracy of Two Implant Impression Techniques
Authors: de Avila Erica Dorigatti , de Matos Moraes Fernanda , Castanharo Sabrina Maria , Del'Acqua Marcelo Antonialli , de Assis Mollo Francisco
Published: December 2014

Because there is no consensus in the literature about the need for a splint between copings, the aim of this study was to evaluate, in vitro, the accuracy of 2 impression techniques for implant-supported prostheses. A master cast was fabricated with four parallel implant abutment analogs and a passive framework. Two groups with 5 casts each were formed: Group 1 (squared impression copings with no splint: S) and Group 2 (splinted squared impression copings, using metal drill burs and Pattern resin: SS). The impression material used was polyvinyl siloxane with open trays for standard preparation of the casts. For each cast, the framework was positioned, and a titanium screw was tightened with 10 N·cm torque in analog A, after which measurements of the abutment-framework interface gaps were performed at analogs C and D. This process was repeated for analog D. These measurements were analyzed using software. A one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) with a confidence interval of 95% was used to analyze the data. Significant differences were detected between S and SS in relation to the master cast (P ≤ 0.05). The median values of the abutment-framework interface gaps were as follows: master cast: 39.64 μm; squared impression copings with no splint: 205.86 μm; splinted squared impression copings: 99.19 μm. Under the limitations of this study, the technique presented for Group 2 produces better results compared with the technique used for Group 1.
Nuclear Receptor Signaling: A Home for Nuclear Receptor and Coregulator Signaling Research
Authors: McKenna Neil J. , Evans Ronald M. , O'Malley Bert W.
Published: December 2014

The field of nuclear receptor and coregulator signaling has grown into one of the most active and interdisciplinary in eukaryotic biology. Papers in this field are spread widely across a vast number of journals, which complicates the task of investigators in keeping current with the literature in the field. In 2003, we launched Nuclear Receptor Signaling as an Open Access reviews, perspectives and methods journal for the nuclear receptor signaling field. Building on its success and impact on the community, we have added primary research and dataset articles to this list of article categories, and we now announce the re-launch of the journal this month. Here we will summarize the rationale that informed the creation and expansion of the journal, and discuss the possibilities for its future development.
The Status Quo of Situation-Specific Theories
Authors: Im Eun-Ok
Published: December 2014

The purpose of this article is to explore the status quo of situation-specific theories through an integrated literature review on situation-specific theories that have been published since 1999. The literature was searched through multiple databases including PubMed, CINAHL, and PsycINFO and analyzed in terms of purpose of theorizing, types of theorizing, sources of theorizing, and linkages to research or practice. Four themes reflecting the current status of situation-specific theories were extracted: (a) explicitly claimed and not explicitly claimed situation-specific theories; (b) multiple philosophical bases; (c) unique theorizing process; and (d) providing clear directions for nursing interventions but rarely evaluated. Nurses need to continuously make their efforts to develop theoretical bases that could closely link theory, research, and practice in nursing and that could adequately serve new nursing needs and challenges.
Nonpharmacological Techniques to Reduce Pain in Preterm Infants Who Receive Heel-Lance Procedure: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Bergomi Piera , Chieppi Michele , Maini Antonella , Mugnos Tiziana , Spotti Debora , Tzialla Chrisoulle , Scudeller Luigia
Published: December 2014

Introduction: The heel-lance (HL) method for blood collection from the newborn is controversial for the pain it causes. This is the first randomized controlled trial on the management and reduction of pain using the music of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (“Sonata K. 448”) in premature infants hospitalized in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). This study has compared nonpharmacological techniques with standard procedure for reducing pain during HL procedure. Methods: Thirty-five premature infants were enrolled, each for 3 HL procedures, of which each was randomized to 1 of the 3 study arms. Arms were then compared in terms of the Premature Infant Pain Profile (PIPP) changes by analysis of variance (ANOVA). Results: One hundred five HL procedures were available for analysis (35 standard procedure, 35 music, 35 glucose). Median baseline PIPP was 3, and median PIPP after the HL procedure was 5. PIPP scale change was +3 in the control arm, +1 in the glucose arm, +2 in the music arm (p = .008). Discussion: Both glucose and music were safe and effective in limiting pain increase when compared to standard procedure in HL procedures in preterm infants.
Hydraulic capacity of ancient water conveyance systems to Ephesus
Authors: Öziş Ünal , Atalay Ayhan , Özdemir Yalçın
Published: December 2014

Ephesus was supplied by several long-distance water conveyance systems in ancient times. The 8 km long Şirince water conveyance system consists of baked clay pipes, and had a hydraulic capacity of around 10 l/s. The 7 km long Derbentdere water conveyance system consists also of baked clay pipes; and its hydraulic capacity was around 20 l/s. The 36 km long Değirmendere water conveyance system is a masonry conduit; its hydraulic capacity was around 200 l/s. The 42 km long Kayapınar water conveyance was also a masonry conduit; its hydraulic capacity was around 100 l/s. The Şirince system was extended over to the Ayasuluk hill and Saint John basilica in the 6th century ad by the 650 m long Selcuk aqueduct, serving as the venter of an inverted siphon.
Analysis of historic bursts and burst detection in water supply areas of different size
Authors: Bakker M. , Trietsch E. A. , Vreeburg J. H. G. , Rietveld L. C.
Published: December 2014

Pipe bursts in water distribution networks lead to water losses and a risk of damaging the urban environment. We studied hydraulic data and customer contact records of 44 real bursts for a better understanding of the phenomena. We found that most bursts were reported to the water company shortly after the beginning, and the negative consequences of the bursts were limited. However, smaller bursts that stayed unnoticed for a longer time period or larger bursts that began in the late evening or in the night were problematic to the water company that had no burst detection method installed. Detection of those bursts was critical to minimise the negative consequences, and a burst detection method could perform this task. We studied the relation between the size of supply area and the size of the bursts that can be detected. Therefore, we applied a heuristic burst detection method on historic datasets of eight areas varying in size between 1,500 and 48,300 connections. We found a correlation between the size of the area and the minimum detectable burst size and quickly detectable burst size. To reduce the risk of substantial water losses or damage to the urban environment, the burst detection method can effectively be applied to areas with an average demand of 150 m3/h or less.
Influence of pyrolytic seeds on ZnO nanorod growth onto rigid substrates for photocatalytic abatement of Escherichia coli in water
Authors: Sanchez Luis , Guz Lucas , García Pilar , Ponce Silvia , Goyanes Silvia , Marchi María Claudia , Candal Roberto , Estrada Walter , Rodriguez Juan
Published: December 2014

ZnO nanorods (ZnO NRs) were grown on ZnO seeded fluorine doped tin oxide (FTO) substrates at low temperatures (90 °C) from Zn2+ precursors in alkaline aqueous solution. The ZnO seeds were deposited on the FTO substrate heated at 350 °C by spray pyrolysis of a zinc acetate solution in a water ethanol mixture. The structure of seeds was tuned by the ethanol water ratio, Γ, which controls the solvent evaporation rate of drops impinging the substrate. The relationship between the microstructure and optical properties of the ZnO NR films and the photocatalytic antibacterial activity for Escherichia coli abatement, was determined through a detailed characterization of the material. The higher photocatalytic antibacterial activity was performed by ZnO NR films grown on seeds deposited from solutions with Γ in the 0.0–0.03 range. With these films, the population of viable E. coli dropped more than six orders, from 8 × 108 to 4 × 102 CFU. These results show the potential of these materials in water disinfection.
Evaluation of dynamic groundwater quality simulation based on Cloud-GIS: a case study in Harbin urban area, China
Authors: Liu Baoling , Li Gang , You Hong , Sui Mingrui , Wang Shutao
Published: December 2014

This paper consists of two parts. The first part addresses the joint modeling of both spatial and temporal elements to perform dynamic evaluation of groundwater quality. In this part, a grey prediction method was used to predict missing values and then, on the basis of an entropy-weighting method, to build a dynamic weight model which continually changes with time; finally, a fuzzy evaluation method was used to evaluate groundwater quality. MATLAB was used to integrate these mathematical models. The second part describes the construction of a dynamic simulation platform which integrated mathematical models, a property database, and a spatial database, with secondary developments in geographic information system (GIS) and cloud-based simulation technology. All calculation steps and simulation programs were carried out on the simulation platform. The results indicated the grade of groundwater quality between II and IV. Groundwater quality gradually rose in the first and fourth quarters, but continually decreased in the second and third quarters. The lowest groundwater-quality value for the entire year appeared in October. This result also illustrates that turning points in groundwater quality appear when groundwater levels increase or decrease along rivers.
Arsenic waste from water treatment systems: characteristics, treatments and its disposal
Authors: Nguyen Tien Vinh , Loganathan Paripurnanda , Vigneswaran Saravanamuthu , Krupanidhi Srirama , Pham Thi Thu Nga , Ngo Huu-Hao
Published: December 2014

As with other water treatment systems, arsenic treatment creates not only quality water but arsenic waste as well. Management of arsenic waste is now becoming a major public concern due to its harmful effects on the surrounding environment, including serious health problems such as skin cancers and various internal carcinomas. The main aim of this paper is to review: (i) the characteristics of arsenic waste produced by arsenic treatment systems; and (ii) the treatment and disposal methods of this waste. Arsenic waste type or its characteristics play an important role in choosing the best method of treatment and disposal. Currently, encapsulation of arsenic waste through solidification/stabilization (S/S) techniques is considered to be the most attractive solution and this method is the focus of this review. A number of studies have used cement by itself and in combination with additives such as lime, iron, silicates, or fly ash in the S/S process. Although there is a lack of systematic investigations and differing procedures for testing the effectiveness of the treatment methods, it was agreed that incorporating additives could increase the effectiveness of the S/S process depending on the type and dose of additives.
An appraisal of the qualifying role of hydraulic heritage systems: a case study of Qanats in central Iran
Authors: Harandi Mehdi F. , de Vries Marc J.
Published: December 2014

Hydraulic heritage systems, both underground and exposed, have been known to be sustainable for millennia. Persian and also Roman aqueducts are examples of such hydrosystems. Their value is often overlooked but they have undeniable advantages: they have functional interconnectedness with their surrounding society and ecology, which sometimes leads to revitalization plans. By using the notion ‘qualifying role’, this paper will raise questions concerning the disregarded functions and early and historical positions of hydraulic heritage systems. This article illustrates the qualifying role of Qanats in urban drainage by describing the skill in their planning and construction. This is shown by a problematic case study in Iran, where the construction of a drainage system modelled on bygone Qanat techniques resulted in a dramatic drawdown in the water level of the area soon after construction.
Clustering analysis of water distribution systems: identifying critical components and community impacts
Authors: Diao K. , Farmani R. , Fu G. , Astaraie-Imani M. , Ward S. , Butler D.
Published: December 2014

Large water distribution systems (WDSs) are networks with both topological and behavioural complexity. Thereby, it is usually difficult to identify the key features of the properties of the system, and subsequently all the critical components within the system for a given purpose of design or control. One way is, however, to more explicitly visualize the network structure and interactions between components by dividing a WDS into a number of clusters (subsystems). Accordingly, this paper introduces a clustering strategy that decomposes WDSs into clusters with stronger internal connections than external connections. The detected cluster layout is very similar to the community structure of the served urban area. As WDSs may expand along with urban development in a community-by-community manner, the correspondingly formed distribution clusters may reveal some crucial configurations of WDSs. For verification, the method is applied to identify all the critical links during firefighting for the vulnerability analysis of a real-world WDS. Moreover, both the most critical pipes and clusters are addressed, given the consequences of pipe failure. Compared with the enumeration method, the method used in this study identifies the same group of the most critical components, and provides similar criticality prioritizations of them in a more computationally efficient time.
Urban-Water Harmony model to evaluate the urban water management
Authors: Ding Yifan , Tang Deshan , Wei Yuhang , Yin Sun
Published: December 2014

Water resources in many urban areas are under enormous stress due to large-scale urban expansion and population explosion. The decision-makers are often faced with the dilemma of either maintaining high economic growth or protecting water resources and the environment. Simple criteria of water supply and drainage do not reflect the requirement of integrated urban water management. The Urban-Water Harmony (UWH) model is based on the concept of harmony and offers a more integrated approach to urban water management. This model calculates four dimensions, namely urban development, urban water services, water–society coordination, and water environment coordination. And the Analytic Hierarchy Process has been used to determine the indices weights. We applied the UWH model to Beijing, China for an 11-year assessment. Our findings show that, despite the severe stress inherent in rapid development and water shortage, the urban water relationship of Beijing is generally evolving in a positive way. The social–economic factors such as the water recycling technologies contribute a lot to this change. The UWH evaluation can provide a reasonable analysis approach to combine various urban and water indices to produce an integrated and comparable evaluation index. This, in turn, enables more effective water management in decision-making processes.
An ecohydrologic model for a shallow groundwater urban environment
Authors: Arden Sam , Ma Xin (Cissy) , Brown Mark
Published: December 2014

The urban environment is a patchwork of natural and artificial surfaces that results in complex interactions with and impacts to natural hydrologic cycles. Evapotranspiration is a major hydrologic flow that is often altered through urbanization, although the mechanisms of change are sometimes difficult to tease out due to difficulty in effectively simulating soil–plant–atmosphere interactions. This paper introduces a simplified yet realistic model that is a combination of existing surface runoff and ecohydrology models designed to increase the quantitative understanding of complex urban hydrologic processes. Results demonstrate that the model is capable of simulating the long-term variability of major hydrologic fluxes as a function of impervious surface, temperature, water table elevation, canopy interception, soil characteristics, precipitation and complex mechanisms of plant water uptake. These understandings have potential implications for holistic urban water system management.
Simplifying impact of urban development on sewer systems
Authors: Kleidorfer Manfred , Sitzenfrei Robert , Rauch Wolfgang
Published: December 2014

Linking urban development and urban drainage models is a more and more popular approach when impacts of pavement of urban areas on sewer system performance are evaluated. As such an approach is a difficult task, this is not a feasible procedure for everyday engineering practice. We propose an alternative method, based on a developed simple near-quadratic relationship, which directly translates change (increase or decrease) of paved area into a change in the return period (RP) of the design rainfall event or design rainfall intensity. This formula is simple to use and compatible with existing design guidelines. A further advantage is that the calculated design RP can also be used to communicate the impact of a change in impervious areas to stakeholders or the public community. The method is developed using a set of 250 virtual and two real-world case studies and hydrodynamic simulations. It is validated on a small catchment for which we compare system performance and redesigned pipe diameters. Of course such a simplification contains different uncertainties. But these uncertainties have to be seen in the context of overall uncertainties when trying to predict city development into the future. Hence it still is a significant advantage compared to today's engineering practice.
The application of a Web-geographic information system for improving urban water cycle modelling
Authors: Mair M. , Mikovits C. , Sengthaler M. , Schöpf M. , Kinzel H. , Urich C. , Kleidorfer M. , Sitzenfrei R. , Rauch W.
Published: December 2014

Research in urban water management has experienced a transition from traditional model applications to modelling water cycles as an integrated part of urban areas. This includes the interlinking of models of many research areas (e.g. urban development, socio-economy, urban water management). The integration and simulation is realized in newly developed frameworks (e.g. DynaMind and OpenMI) and often assumes a high knowledge in programming. This work presents a Web based urban water management modelling platform which simplifies the setup and usage of complex integrated models. The platform is demonstrated with a small application example on a case study within the Alpine region. The used model is a DynaMind model benchmarking the impact of newly connected catchments on the flooding behaviour of an existing combined sewer system. As a result the workflow of the user within a Web browser is demonstrated and benchmark results are shown. The presented platform hides implementation specific aspects behind Web services based technologies such that the user can focus on his main aim, which is urban water management modelling and benchmarking. Moreover, this platform offers a centralized data management, automatic software updates and access to high performance computers accessible with desktop computers and mobile devices.
Adaptation of sewer networks using integrated rehabilitation management
Authors: Tscheikner-Gratl Franz , Mikovits Christian , Rauch Wolfgang , Kleidorfer Manfred
Published: December 2014

The urban water structure is aging and in need of rehabilitation. Further, the need to address future challenges (climate change, urban development) also arise lines. This study investigates if it is possible to combine rehabilitation and adaptation measures. To do so, we combined an urban development model, an urban drainage model and a rehabilitation model. A case study of a medium-sized alpine city with a sewer length of 228 km and a population of 125,431 was used to develop and apply this method. A priority model to pinpoint the structures in need of replacement was used. This model considered a deterioration model, vulnerability estimation and other influences. Further different rehabilitation rates and methods were examined. The urban development model used is a simplistic approach specifically tailored for the field of urban infrastructure management. Climate change is considered in terms of climate change factors. All these different influences together create scenarios for which the construction costs and the flooding volume are estimated and compared. Consequently the aim of this paper was to test to which degree it is possible to reduce urban flooding by adapting those parts of the network which require rehabilitation anyway. In our case study it could be reduced by 5%.
Modelling the urban water cycle as an integrated part of the city: a review
Authors: Urich Christian , Rauch Wolfgang
Published: December 2014

In contrast to common perceptions, the urban water infrastructure system is a complex and dynamic system that is constantly evolving and adapting to changes in the urban environment, to sustain existing services and provide additional ones. Instead of simplifying urban water infrastructure to a static system that is decoupled from its urban context, new management strategies use the complexity of the system to their advantage by integrating centralised with decentralised solutions and explicitly embedding water systems into their urban form. However, to understand and test possible adaptation strategies, urban water modelling tools are required to support exploration of their effectiveness as the human–technology–environment system coevolves under different future scenarios. The urban water modelling community has taken first steps to developing these new modelling tools. This paper critically reviews the historical development of urban water modelling tools and provides a summary of the current state of integrated modelling approaches. It reflects on the challenges that arise through the current practice of coupling urban water management tools with urban development models and discusses a potential pathway towards a new generation of modelling tools.
Students Studying Student Sexuality: methodological and ethical implications
Authors: De Craene Valerie , Loopmans Maarten
Published: December 2014

This article reports on an experiment engaging Master-level Geography students in real-life research on young people's sexuality in the context of a research methods module. This experiment was set up with the triple aim of providing students with a more hands-on learning experience of qualitative research methods, stimulating students to reflect on the social production of their own sexualities, and collaborating with young people to conduct research on the sexuality of their peers so as to circumvent the problem of outsiderness that older researchers face. Here, the authors reflect on the methodological, ethical and educational benefits and challenges of the experiment. The students reported to have acquired greater awareness of the social production and structural power of sexual norms in society. They also claimed to have appreciated the opportunity to gain insights into the intricacies of real-life research projects. From a methodological perspective, engaging students as researchers allowed the authors to acquire an insider perspective on young people's sexuality. This has improved access to research subjects as well as the authors' interpretative capacities. However, the students also reported to have struggled with their position as researchers of their own lifeworld, while the dominance of their interest to pass the course sometimes negatively affected the quality of the research. Finally, the students reported ethical issues, as some claimed to feel ‘exploited’ for the benefit of the authors' personal research interests, while others struggled with privacy issues in investigating the intimate lives of people close to them.
The Implication of the Concept “nikotiiniriippuvuus” in the Finnish Tobacco Discussion
Authors: Hellman Matilda , Majamåki Maija , Hakkarainen Pekka
Published: December 2014

Background

We examined the Finnish concept of “nikotiiniriippuvuus” (nicotine addiction or dependency in English) in two public arenas in recent Finnish history (1970s, 1990s and 2000s). One was the biggest daily newspaper Helsingin Sanomat, the other the medical professional journal Lääkärilehti.

Data & Design

A total of 102 print press items from the 1990s and the 2000s were collected through electronic archives with the search word “nikotiiniriippuvuus”. In addition, 41 texts were collected manually from the 1970s.

Results

Of the items from the 1970s, only three mentioned the concept of “riippuvuus”. Overall, we found that the use of “nikotiiniriippuvuus” has increased greatly over time. In order to know more about the implications of this, we identified some themes as meaning-making traits surrounding the concept in the materials. The analysis points to four main meaning-making functions of the concept: i) agenda-setting, ii) introducing and explaining self-governance techniques, iii) introducing a medical understanding, and iv), mediating views on responsibility division.
Handling Correlations Between Covariates and Random Slopes in Multilevel Models
Authors: Bates Michael David , Castellano Katherine E. , Rabe-Hesketh Sophia , Skrondal Anders
Published: December 2014

This article discusses estimation of multilevel/hierarchical linear models that include cluster-level random intercepts and random slopes. Viewing the models as structural, the random intercepts and slopes represent the effects of omitted cluster-level covariates that may be correlated with included covariates. The resulting correlations between random effects (intercepts and slopes) and included covariates, which we refer to as “cluster-level endogeneity,” lead to bias when using standard random effects (RE) estimators such as (restricted) maximum likelihood. While the problem of correlations between unit-level covariates and random intercepts is well known and can be handled by fixed-effects (FE) estimators, the problem of correlations between unit-level covariates and random slopes is rarely considered. When applied to models with random slopes, the standard FE estimator does not rely on standard cluster-level exogeneity assumptions, but requires an “uncorrelated variance assumption” that the variances of unit-level covariates are uncorrelated with their random slopes. We propose a “per-cluster regression” (PC) estimator that is straightforward to implement in standard software, and we show analytically that it is unbiased for all regression coefficients under cluster-level endogeneity and violation of the uncorrelated variance assumption. The PC, RE, and an augmented FE estimator are applied to a real data set and evaluated in a simulation study that demonstrates that our PC estimator performs well in practice.
An Explanation of the Ageing Mechanism of Li-Ion Batteries by Metallographic and Material Analysis
Authors: Gorse S. , Kugler B. , Samtleben T. , Waldmann T. , Wohlfahrt-Mehrens M. , Schneider G. , Knoblauch V.
Published: December 2014

Li-ion batteries are a key technology for both electro-mobility and stationary energy storage systems. In order to be able to represent and improve their service life in these applications, a better understanding of the processes which lead to the degradation of the individual cells is essential. The work presented in this article focuses on the comparative post mortem analysis of type 18650 commercially available cells containing the state of the art active materials (Cathode: LiMn2O4 (LMO) and Li(Ni1/3Mn1/3Co1/3)O2 (NMC), Anode: Graphite). These cells were subjected to various different ageing procedures. Amongst other effects, the cells investigated revealed signs of crack formation in the LMO- and NMC-particles, a loss in the mechanical integrity of the cathode active mass and plastic deformation of cell structure together with pronounced delamination between the active mass layers, the separator and the current collector.
Special aspects of ice drilling and results of 5G hole drilling at Vostok station, Antarctica
Authors: Litvinenko V.S. , Vasiliev N.I. , Lipenkov V.Ya. , Dmitriev A.N. , Podoliak A.V.
Published: December 2014

This paper documents the drilling of the 5G deep hole at the Russian Vostok station, Antarctica. The hole construction is described and the specifications of the drill and surface drilling equipment are given. The peculiarities of drilling at various depths are considered. Based on the extensive experimental data collected at Vostok station, the processes occurring at the hole bottom are investigated: ice breaking and cutting, bottom cleaning and chip transport, and accumulation of the chips in the screen. The main factors affecting ice-drilling efficiency are the coarseness of ice crystals and the ice temperature. When ice crystal size exceeds 10 mm the cutting efficiency sharply decreases, and when ice temperature exceeds –5°C the chip transport from the hole bottom and the chip density in the screen are reduced. The drill advance then becomes irregular, slows down and may even be terminated in some cases. Optimal values of the basic drilling parameters (e.g. cutter head rotation rate and drilling fluid flow rate in the circulation system) have been deduced empirically. The designs of the cutter head and circulation system including screens have been significantly modified, allowing the drilling process to proceed at a normal rate even in the vicinity of the subglacial lake surface.
High-Contrast Fluorescence Microscopy for a Biomolecular Analysis Based on Polarization Techniques Using an Optical Interference Mirror Slide
Authors: Yasuda Mitsuru , Akimoto Takuo
Published: December 2014

Fluorescence microscopy with an improved contrast for fluorescence images is developed using an optical interference mirror (OIM) slide, which can enhance the fluorescence from a fluorophore as a result of the double interference of the excitation light and emission light. To improve the contrast of a fluorescence image using an OIM slide, a linearly-polarized excitation light was employed, and the fluorescence emission polarized perpendicular to the polarization of the excitation light was detected. The image contrast with this optical system was improved 110-fold for rhodamine B spotted on the OIM, in comparison with a glass slide using a general fluorescence microscopy optical system. Moreover, a 24-fold improvement of the image contrast was achieved for the detection of Cy3-labeled streptavidin bound to immobilize biotin.
Empirical-Statistical Study on the Relationship between Deposition Parameters, Process Variables, Deposition Rate and Mechanical Properties of a-C:H:W Coatings
Authors: Hetzner Harald , Schmid Christoph , Tremmel Stephan , Durst Karsten , Wartzack Sandro
Published: December 2014

Tungsten-modified hydrogenated amorphous carbon coatings (a-C:H:W) were deposited on high speed steel by reactive magnetron sputtering of a tungsten carbide target in an argon-ethine atmosphere. The deposition parameters, sputtering power, bias voltage, argon and ethine flow rate, were varied according to a central composite design comprising 25 different parameter combinations. For comparison, a tungsten carbide coating was deposited, as well. During coating deposition, the process variables, total pressure, sputtering voltage and bias current, were measured as process characteristics. The thickness of the deposited coatings was determined using the crater grinding method, and the deposition rate was calculated. Young’s modulus E and indentation hardness HIT were characterized by means of nanoindentation. With E = 80