bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Australian NAPLAN testing: In what ways is this a ‘wicked’ problem?
Authors: Johnston Jenny
Published: October 2016

This article employs Rittel and Webber’s ‘wicked’ problem as a heuristic device for enhancing understanding about National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) testing in the Australian education context. Using a research project with seven independent schools in New South Wales, Australia, which analysed NAPLAN data from primary (elementary) students in years 3 and 5, this article highlights the ‘wicked’ nature of the problem of NAPLAN testing, and standardised testing more generally. The research project, as a catalyst for the article, evidenced a set of difficulties, particularly for smaller primary schools, and highlighted the ways in which these schools experienced many of the challenges that the literature indicates are evident in the current regimes of standardised testing. The article focusses on problematising NAPLAN’s use in Australia and uses the literature to critique its application. It then outlines Rittel and Webber’s criteria that determine whether a problem might be ‘wicked’ and applies this as a lens for considering NAPLAN testing. In problematising NAPLAN testing and applying wicked problem theory to the issue, this article asserts that many of the challenges can be managed and indeed may empower and liberate stakeholders.
Towards dialogic epistemology: the problem of the text
Authors: Jones Raya A
Published: October 2016

This article considers epistemological implications of Bakhtin’s dialogism. Bakhtin urged scholars in the human sciences to treat a text as having a voice of its own, to be attuned to its creativity and originality, and to resist conflating one’s image of the author with the actual person who has produced the text. Importing his ideas into the social sciences creates a site of tensions at the disciplines’ boundaries. Yet his characterisation of dialogue applies also to qualitative researchers’ interactions with nonfiction material. Bakhtin contended that a text as an utterance is a unique unrepeatable event; and that a voice is immanent in how the text itself operates: its placement in a dialogical sequence (answerability), its plan (purpose) and the realisation of the plan. Attention to these dynamics could constitute a formative step in the epistemic process of qualitative research, as concrete examples illustrate. A concept of a ‘dialogic triangle’ (utterance, response and their interrelation) is proposed.
Working with survivors of war rape and sexual violence: fieldwork reflections from Bosnia-Hercegovina
Authors: Clark Janine Natalya
Published: October 2016

Researchers rarely write about the challenges that they confront and navigate while undertaking fieldwork. This is a missed opportunity for us to learn from each other. This is an article about some of the problems and hurdles that the author faced during her recent year in Bosnia-Hercegovina working with survivors of war rape and sexual violence. It discusses some of the main practical, ethical and personal challenges that arose. It is hoped that this article will benefit other researchers, and that it will make university ethics committees more aware of the fact that preparation for fieldwork needs to involve more than just the completion of an ethics form. Undertaking difficult and sensitive work in the field not only impacts on the individuals that we are interviewing, but also on us as researchers. This fact should be better recognized.
Language games: Reimagining learning conversations in art education
Authors: Hammersley John M
Published: October 2016

This paper discusses how language games might facilitate a reimagining of learning conversations in art education, by comparing them with Socratic, Kantian and post-structuralist dialogical perspectives that inform group critique. It proposes that language games may facilitate the construction of more personal and layered modes of conversation, instead of prescribing processes intended to seek universal truths, authentic self-knowledge, or disruptive critical scepticism. It argues that they promote the recognition of all co-learners as people who come with their own valuable original ideas and backgrounds.
Exploring different intersubjective structures in relation to dialogue
Authors: Pawlett-Jackson Sarah P
Published: October 2016

In this paper, I examine some of the presuppositions that underpin the practice and interpretation of multi-person dialogue – that is, in contexts involving more than two interlocutors – with particular thought for the university seminar. I outline the ‘dialogical phenomenology’ of Beata Stawarska as useful on this count; however, I argue that Stawarska’s account is steeped in a philosophical ‘dyadic paradigm’ which has limiting consequences for practitioners of dialogue looking to understand the nature of dialogue in a group context. Against this paradigm, I argue that there are many varieties of intersubjectivity that have not been widely discussed, including we-you, we-yous, I-yous and we-they intersubjective structures. I will look further at how an understanding of these structures is valuable for dialogue within educational praxes and for the Humanities more broadly.
The Investigative DNA
Authors: Abdenour Jesse , Riffe Daniel
Published: October 2016

Building off previous literature on journalistic roles, this study showed that local television investigative reporters were more adversarial and placed greater value on audience appeal compared to other journalists. A factor analysis of survey responses ( N = 165) revealed five functions describing investigative journalists’ perceived roles: adversarial, interpretive, entertainer, traditionalist, and mobilizer. Using Shoemaker and Reese’s hierarchical model, individual- and organization-level variables were used as predictors in multivariate regression analyses. These analyses indicated that investigative journalists at stations owned by publicly traded companies were significantly more likely to subscribe to traditional news values. Other significant predictors of investigative role included ethnicity, amount of investigative work, market size, and an organization’s emphasis on quality journalism.
This Is Not a Test
Authors: Ritter Matt
Published: October 2016

When it comes to the public dissemination of tornado warnings, past research would suggest that the amount of fearful language used by meteorologists and the time spent presenting life-saving information would have an impact on the public’s willingness to heed such warnings. This research experiment uses the extended parallel process model to explore the role of fear and group influence in effective tornado warning message persuasion. Participants who thought they were giving their feedback regarding a live television program were exposed to a fake tornado warning while in a group setting. A local television meteorologist recorded the warning to help ensure the participants thought they were viewing live television. Results indicated that a fear-inducing tornado warning, even when coupled with life-saving information, could not overcome the influence of group inhibition.
Organizing the Evidence for Healthcare Design Projects
Authors: Davidson Judy E.
Published: October 2016

Objective:

This methodology column provides project leaders with helpful tools to organize the evidence analysis for healthcare design projects.

Background:

Searching the evidence to support a design change is encouraged both to guide the development of a project and to determine whether the project is performance improvement, evidence-based design change, or novel research.

Methods:

A project charter, evidence summary grid, stem and leaf plot, and decision algorithm are presented as tools to guide evidence analysis at the start of a healthcare design project.

Conclusions:

Properly searching the evidence and analyzing results sets the stage for project development and may lead to the dissemination or generation of knowledge from which to set design standards.
How a CT-Direct Protocol at an American Comprehensive Stroke Center Led to Door-to-Needle Times Less Than 30 Minutes
Authors: Caputo Lisa M. , Jensen Judd , Whaley Michelle , Kozlowski Mark J. , Fanale Christopher V. , Wagner Jeffrey C. , Orlando Alessandro , Bar-Or David
Published: October 2016

Background and Purpose:

The safety and efficacy of intravenous tissue plasminogen activator (IV tPA) following acute ischemic stroke (AIS) is dependent on its timely administration. In 2014, our Comprehensive Stroke Center designed and implemented a computed tomography-Direct protocol to streamline the evaluation process of suspected patients with AIS, with the aim of reducing door-to-needle (DTN) times. The objectives of our study were to describe the protocol development and implementation process, and to compare DTN times and symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (sICH) rates before and after protocol implementation.

Methods:

Data were prospectively collected for patients with AIS receiving IV tPA between January 1, 2010, and May 31, 2015. The DTN times, examined as median times and time treatment windows, and sICH rates were compared pre- and postimplementation.

Results:

Two hundred ninety-five patients were included in the study. After protocol implementation, median DTN times were significantly reduced (38 vs 28 minutes; P < .001). The distribution of patients treated in the three time treatment windows described below changed significantly, with an increase in patients with DTN times of 30 minutes or less, and a decrease in patients with DTN times 31 to 60 minutes and over 60 minutes ( P < .001). There were two cases of sICH prior to implementation and one sICH case postimplementation.

Conclusions:

The implementation of a protocol that streamlined the processing of suspected patients with AIS significantly reduced DTN time without negatively impacting patient safety.
Serum concentrations of the biomarkers CA125, CA15-3, PSA and PAPP-A in early pregnancy
Authors: Stemp Melissa , Roberts Peter , McClements Allison , Chapple Vincent , Matson Phillip
Published: October 2016

Blood samples were collected serially from 14 women with healthy pregnancies, beginning in gestational week 4 at the time of a positive pregnancy test through to the identification of a foetal heart by ultrasound. Six biomarkers were measured in the serum retrospectively including two reproductive hormones (progesterone and human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG)) and four additional biomarkers (prostate-specific antigen (PSA), cancer antigen 15-3 (CA15-3), cancer antigen 125 (CA125) and pregnancy-associated plasma protein A (PAPP-A)) measured on a Siemens Centaur XP and a Roche Cobas e411 automated analysers, respectively. The progesterone and hCG results were unremarkable following established patterns, but distinctive patterns of change were seen in the other four biomarkers during this period of early pregnancy. PAPP-A and PSA levels rose steadily as the pregnancies progressed, while CA125 levels rose until week 5.5 and then returned to baseline values. CA15-3 serum concentrations were observed to drop as the pregnancies progressed. These biomarker results suggest further investigation is warranted to allow a non-invasive correlation of the biomarkers with the various stages of embryogenesis, implantation and placentation.
Halloysite nanotubes with fluorinated cavity: an innovative consolidant for paper treatment
Authors: Cavallaro Giuseppe , Lazzara Giuseppe , Milioto Stefana , Parisi Filippo
Published: October 2016

Hybrid material based on halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) and sodium perfluorooctanoate (NaPF8) was used as a consolidant for paper treatment. The consolidation efficiency was determined by thermogravimetry as well as by paper grammage determination. Morphological analysis of the treated paper was performed by means of scanning electron microscopy while the effect of modified HNTs on the thermal behaviour of the cellulose fibres was investigated by differential scanning calorimetry which determined the combustion enthalpy of the paper.Water contact angle measurements were performed to study the paper wettability. The physico-chemical properties investigated (mesoscopic structure, thermal stability and wettability) of the treated paper were correlated successfully with the consolidation loading and, consequently, to the affinity between the fluorinated modified HNTs and the fibrous cellulose structure. This study proposes a new green protocol for paper consolidation based on natural tubular nanoparticles with a flame retardant effect.
Polysaccharide-halloysite nanotube composites for biomedical applications: a review
Authors: Liu Mingxian , He Rui , Yang Jing , Long Zheru , Huang Biao , Liu Yongwang , Zhou Changren
Published: October 2016

As a unique tubular nanoclay, halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) have recently attracted significant research attention. The HNTs have outer diameters of ∼50 nm, inner lumens of ∼20 nm and are 200–1000 nm long. They are biocompatible nanomaterials and widely available in nature, which makes them good candidates for application in biomedicine. Compared with other types of nanoparticles such as polymer nanoparticles and carbon nanotubes, the drawbacks associated with HNTs include brittleness, difficulty with fabrication, low fracture strength, high density and inadequate biocompatibility. Preparation of polysaccharide-HNT composites offer a means to overcome these shortcomings. Halloysite nanotubes can be incorporated easily into polysaccharides via solution mixing, such as with chitosan (CS), sodium alginate, cellulose, pectin and amylose, for forming composite films, porous scaffolds or hydrogels. The interfacial interactions, such as electrostatic attraction and hydrogen bonding, between HNTs and the polysaccharides are critical for improvement of the properties. Morphology results show that HNTs are dispersed uniformly in the composites. The mechanical strength and Young's modulus of the composites in both the dry and wet states are enhanced by HNTs and the HNTs can also increase the storage modulus, glass-transition temperature and thermal stability of the composites. Cytocompatibility results demonstrate that the polysaccharide-HNT composites have low cytotoxicity even for HNT loading >80%. Therefore, the polysaccharide-HNT composites show great potential for biomedical applications, e.g. as tissue engineering scaffold materials, wound-dressing materials, drug-delivery carriers, and cell-isolation surfaces.
Association between the perceived environment and overweight in adults and elderly: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Matozinhos Fernanda Penido , Gomes Crizian Saar , Mendes Larissa Loures , Pessoa Milene Cristine , Padez Cristina Maria Proença , das Graças Pena Geórgia , Velasquez-Melendez Gustavo
Published: October 2016

Background

Overweight is a global issue of epidemic proportions, and its negative influence on individual health is clear. However, the relation between environment and overweight is not thoroughly clear, especially concerning to the perceived environment and the physical and social aspects. Therefore, this study aimed to analyze potential associations between the perceived environment and overweight in adults and elderly in a medium-sized city.

Methods

A cross-sectional population-based study was conducted with 808 adult and elderly individuals. Overweight was defined as body mass index ≥25 kg/m2 based on the World Health Organization criteria. The Neighborhood Environment Walkability Scale was used evaluating the perceived environment. Poisson regression was performed evaluating the relationships between the perceived environment and overweight.

Results

The frequency of overweight was 50.4 %. Adjusted models showed association between overweight and the variable of surrounding neighborhood as follows: “1- to 3-story apartments or condos” (most category; PR = 0.30; CI 0.12–0.76) and “4- to 6-story apartments or condos” (all categories) (PR ranged 0.40 to 0.46; p < 0.05), and also, “land-use mix-diversity” was associated with overweight in this population (PR 0.81; CI 0.66–0.99).

Conclusions

In addition to individual characteristics, the environmental aspects are relevant to the occurrence of overweight in this population. Population-based studies using primary data on overweight remain scarce in Brazil. Finally, this study contributes to improve the understanding of the complex relationship between perceived environment and overweight, and we believe that our findings provide further justification for the development of future interventions and health promotion strategies.
Synthesis and Reactivity of Functionalized Silicon(II) Compounds: Iminosilylene, Phosphinosilylene, Hydrosilylene, and Related Compounds
Authors: Bag Prasenjit , Ahmad Syed Usman , Inoue Shigeyoshi
Published: October 2016

Recent decades have witnessed the isolation of a large number of stable silicon(II) compounds along with their applications toward small molecule activation and as versatile ligand systems for transition-metal complexes. The employment of donor stabilization techniques has proven to be an effective mean for stabilization of such silicon(II) systems that is consequently helpful in further reactivity investigations. In this context, an overview of the study of donor-stabilized silicon(II) compounds bearing unique functionalities that have recently been investigated in our research group is presented. By the use of amidinato ligand or N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC), the access to heteroatom-functionalized silicon(II) compounds has been achieved and exploration of further reactivity has led to the isolation of additional novel silicon(II) species. Applications of these silicon(II) compounds as ligands towards transition-metal complexes and in activation of organic and inorganic small molecules are also described.
Recent advances in understanding the extracellular calcium-sensing receptor
Authors: Colella Matilde , Gerbino Andrea , Hofer Aldebaran M. , Curci Silvana
Published: October 2016

The extracellular calcium-sensing receptor (CaR), a ubiquitous class C G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR), is responsible for the control of calcium homeostasis in body fluids. It integrates information about external Ca2+and a surfeit of other endogenous ligands into multiple intracellular signals, but how is this achieved? This review will focus on some of the exciting concepts in CaR signaling and pharmacology that have emerged in the last few years.
Recent advances in understanding the role of lamins in health and disease
Authors: Reddy Sita , Comai Lucio
Published: October 2016

Lamins are major components of the nuclear lamina, a network of proteins that supports the nuclear envelope in metazoan cells. Over the past decade, biochemical studies have provided support for the view that lamins are not passive bystanders providing mechanical stability to the nucleus but play an active role in the organization of the genome and the function of fundamental nuclear processes. It has also become apparent that lamins are critical for human health, as a large number of mutations identified in the gene that encodes for A-type lamins are associated with tissue-specific and systemic genetic diseases, including the accelerated aging disorder known as Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome. Recent years have witnessed great advances in our understanding of the role of lamins in the nucleus and the functional consequences of disease-associated A-type lamin mutations. Many of these findings have been presented in comprehensive reviews. In this mini-review, we discuss recent breakthroughs in the role of lamins in health and disease and what lies ahead in lamin research.
Puzzles in modern biology. IV. Neurodegeneration, localized origin and widespread decay
Authors: Frank Steven A.
Published: October 2016

The motor neuron disease amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) typically begins with localized muscle weakness. Progressive, widespread paralysis often follows over a few years. Does the disease begin with local changes in a small piece of neural tissue and then spread? Or does neural decay happen independently across diverse spatial locations? The distinction matters, because local initiation may arise by local changes in a tissue microenvironment, by somatic mutation, or by various epigenetic or regulatory fluctuations in a few cells. A local trigger must be coupled with a mechanism for spread. By contrast, independent decay across spatial locations cannot begin by a local change, but must depend on some global predisposition or spatially distributed change that leads to approximately synchronous decay. This article outlines the conceptual frame by which one contrasts local triggers and spread versus parallel spatially distributed decay. Various neurodegenerative diseases differ in their mechanistic details, but all can usefully be understood as falling along a continuum of interacting local and global processes. Cancer provides an example of disease progression by local triggers and spatial spread, setting a conceptual basis for clarifying puzzles in neurodegeneration. Heart disease also has crucial interactions between global processes, such as circulating lipid levels, and local processes in the development of atherosclerotic plaques. The distinction between local and global processes helps to understand these various age-related diseases.
Corporate Governance and Costs of Equity: Theory and Evidence
Authors: Li Di , Li Erica X. N.
Published: October 2016

We propose and test an alternative explanation for the existence of the positive governance–return relation in the 1990s and its disappearance in the 2000s: The governance–return relation is positive under good states of the economy and negative under bad states. Corporate governance mitigates investment distortions so that firms with strong governance have more valuable investment options during booms and more valuable divestiture options during busts than the ones with weak governance. Because investment options are riskier and divestiture options are less risky than assets in place, the expected returns of strongly governed firms are higher during booms but lower during busts than the weakly governed ones. Empirical evidence is consistent with our hypothesis.

This paper was accepted by Neng Wang, finance.
A Batalha de Aljubarrota. Novas Interpretações
Authors: Monteiro João Gouveia
Published: October 2016

A Batalha de Aljubarrota, que teve lugar a 14 de Agosto de 1385, no litoral centro de Portugal, foi um dos acontecimentos mais importantes da história política portuguesa. No entanto, tem sido objecto de pouca atenção por parte dos eruditos. Este artigo visa uma reinterpretação de conjunto da batalha, centrada em quatro pontos principais: i) a de que Aljubarrota não correspondeu à invenção de qualquer modelo táctico original; ii) a de que os Castelhanos não estiveram em superioridade numérica no combate; iii) a de que o famoso quadrado do Condestável português Nuno Álvares Pereira nunca existiu; iv) e a de que os homens que lutaram ao lado do monarca português não o fizeram por amor à Pátria, mas sim por interesse materiais, sociais e políticos bem concretos.
Crime e Castigo: "Pecados Publicos" e Disciplinamento Social na Diocese de Viseu (1684-1689)
Authors: Nunes João Rocha
Published: October 2016

Entre 1684 e 1689 o Tribunal Episcopal da diocese Viseu, cuja presidência cabia ao então bispo D. Ricardo Russel, sentenciou 122 réus, entre leigos e eclesiásticos, julgados maioritariamente por delitos de natureza moral e práticas sexuais consideradas ilícitas. Pretende-se com este estudo dar a conhecer o Auditório Eclesiástico - uma das instituições mais marcantes do poder episcopal pós-tridentino - perscrutando o seu modelo de funcionamento e de actuação, e aferindo qual o impacto que pode ter tido na vigilância e disciplinamento da população da diocese e do seu clero.
Um príncipe na diocese de Évora: o governo episcopal do cardeal infante D. Afonso (1523-1540)
Authors: Paiva José Pedro
Published: October 2016

Este estudo propõe uma análise da actuação de D. Afonso, filho de D. Manuel I, enquanto bispo da diocese de Évora (1523-1540).
A partir de um espólio documental muito fragmentado e incompleto em relação àquele que originalmente foi produzido, procura-se reconstituir o múnus deste insigne prelado, tomando-o como um exemplo, no contexto do episcopado português, do arquétipo de antístite com uma dimensão principesca própria de um padrão tardo-medieval e de inícios da modernidade, mas já anunciador de sinais de renovação que se consumarão a partir do Concílio de Trento. A incursão, para além de sublinhar o cariz principesco do titular da mitra e os vectores do seu desempenho, fornece contributos para o conhecimento da justiça episcopal, formação e comportamento do clero, visitas pastorais e formas de religiosidade dos fiéis.
Interpersonal networks and the archaeology of social structures; using social positioning events to understand social strategies and individual behaviour
Authors: Carvalho Joaquim , Campos Rosário
Published: October 2016

This paper is based on two community reconstitution studies (Soure and Lousã) in early modern Portugal during the 17th and 18th centuries that demonstrate the value of analyzing networks of relationships, especially the "apadrinhamento" (selecton of godparents), in understanding social structures and the individual strategies that they encompass.
A central aspect of the methodology used is the concept of "event of relative social positioning": an action, traceable in the sources, by which an actor makes explicit his perception of his own social position relative to another actor. The relationship of "apadrinhamento", in which someone asks another person to be the godfather or godmother of a child, is the main source of social positioning events used in our research. It will be demonstrated that people never invite someone they consider their social inferior to be a godmother or godfather to their child.
This simple principle produces surprising results when a global reconstruction is made at the community level, and the relative social position of a large number of frequently interacting individuals is obtained. The resulting network has interesting formal characteristics suggesting self-organization and high connectivity, and constitutes an example of what modern network theory calls "small worlds".
The reconstructed web of relationships allows us to put information from different sources into context, providing surprising insights into social mechanisms which are otherwise invisible. Specific case studies will be shown to illustrate the explanatory power of this approach, with a focus on socially determined patterns of moral behavior in the parish of Soure, and the impact of an early manufacturing installation on the traditional community of Lousã.
A cultura do olival e da vinha, motor do desenvolvimento agrário alcobacense (séculos XVIII-XIX)
Authors: Maduro António Valério
Published: October 2016

Alcobaça conhece, nos séculos XVIII e XIX, duas revoluções que transformam a paisagem e estabelecem as directrizes da economia agrária. A primeira revolução, que abrange o século XVIII, insere-se no quadro senhorial e num plano agronómico que faz dos coutos cistercienses terras de oliveiras e de azeite. Já a segunda revolução ancorada na cultura da vinha, em curso na segunda metade de oitocentos, provoca uma ruptura definitiva com o sistema agrário cisterciense ao abraçar a dinâmica capitalista.
A Study on the Effect of Different Activating Flux on A-TIG Welding Process of Incoloy 800H
Authors: Sridhar S.P. , Arun Kumar S. , Sathiya P.
Published: October 2016

This study investigates the effect of different activating flux such as V2O5, TiO2, MoO3, Cr2O3, and Al2O3 on A-TIG welding process of Incoloy 800H. The influence of the flux on the depth of penetration and on mechanical and metallurgical characteristics of the weld were studied and compared with autogeneous TIG welds which were welded with the same process parameters and conditions. The use of TiO2 flux gave full depth of penetration and the use of V2O5, Cr2O3 flux gave increased penetration as compared to autogeneous TIG welds while the use of Al2O3 and MoO3 led to the detoriation of the effect.
Can Tourism Revive the Croatian Economy?
Authors: McCormick Janice , Omrčen Tamara
Published: October 2016

Croatia has one of its weakest economies in European Union. The most powerful engine driving a nation’s economy is its businesses. But Croatian business is not faring well. The Croatian government is hoping tourism will help revive the economy. This is a realistic hope but one that will be realized only through concerted action by business, government, and the education sector.
The Soft Rock Socketed Monopile with Creep Effects – A Reliability Approach based on Wavelet Neural Networks
Authors: Kozubal Janusz , Tomanovic Zvonko , Zivaljevic Slobodan
Published: October 2016

In the present study the numerical model of the pile embedded in marl described by a time dependent model, based on laboratory tests, is proposed. The solutions complement the state of knowledge of the monopile loaded by horizontal force in its head with respect to its random variability values in time function. The investigated reliability problem is defined by the union of failure events defined by the excessive horizontal maximal displacement of the pile head in each periods of loads. Abaqus has been used for modeling of the presented task with a two layered viscoplastic model for marl. The mechanical parameters for both parts of model: plastic and rheological were calibrated based on the creep laboratory test results. The important aspect of the problem is reliability analysis of a monopile in complex environment under random sequences of loads which help understanding the role of viscosity in nature of rock basis constructions. Due to the lack of analytical solutions the computations were done by the method of response surface in conjunction with wavelet neural network as a method recommended for time sequences process and description of nonlinear phenomenon.
The Effectiveness of the Methane Drainage of Rock-Mass with a U Ventilation System
Authors: Szlązak Nikodem , Swolkień Justyna
Published: October 2016

Methane drainage is used in Polish coal mines in order to reduce mine methane emission as well as to keep methane concentration in mine workings at safe levels.

The article describes the method of methane drainage used in longwall D-2 in seam 410. In Poland, coal seams are frequently mined under difficult geological conditions in the roof and in the presence of very high methane hazard. In such situations, mines usually use a system with roof caving and a U ventilation system, which means that methane is drawn off from a tail entry behind the longwall front. In this system, boreholes are drilled from a tailgate and methane is drawn off from behind longwall face.

The article shows the influence of a specific ventilation system on the drainage efficiency at longwall D-2 in seam 410. At this longwall, measurements of methane emission and the efficiency of methane capture were conducted. They consisted in gauging methane concentration, air velocity, absolute air pressure and the amount of methane captured by the drainage system. Experimental data were used to estimate the variations in absolute methane-bearing capacity and ventilation methane, and – most importantly – to gauge the efficiency of methane drainage.
A Simulated Annealing based Optimization Algorithm for Automatic Variogram Model Fitting
Authors: Soltani-Mohammadi Saeed , Safa Mohammad
Published: October 2016

Fitting a theoretical model to an experimental variogram is an important issue in geostatistical studies because if the variogram model parameters are tainted with uncertainty, the latter will spread in the results of estimations and simulations. Although the most popular fitting method is fitting by eye, in some cases use is made of the automatic fitting method on the basis of putting together the geostatistical principles and optimization techniques to: 1) provide a basic model to improve fitting by eye, 2) fit a model to a large number of experimental variograms in a short time, and 3) incorporate the variogram related uncertainty in the model fitting. Effort has been made in this paper to improve the quality of the fitted model by improving the popular objective function (weighted least squares) in the automatic fitting. Also, since the variogram model function (£) and number of structures (m) too affect the model quality, a program has been provided in the MATLAB software that can present optimum nested variogram models using the simulated annealing method. Finally, to select the most desirable model from among the single/multi-structured fitted models, use has been made of the cross-validation method, and the best model has been introduced to the user as the output. In order to check the capability of the proposed objective function and the procedure, 3 case studies have been presented.
The Age of Consent and the Reduction of the age of Consent in Church and Civil Marriages and their Interaction
Authors: Grigienė Jurgita , Čerka Paulius , Perkumienė Dalia
Published: October 2016

In order for marriage to be valid, material conditions for marriage should be fulfilled. The form of marriage and material conditions for marriage have changed over the ages. Today marriage can be formed both by a civil and church order. The recognition of church marriage also differs from state to state. Some countries have chosen not to recognise church marriage and some countries have chosen to recognise church marriage. Church marriage is recognised by the state of Lithuania. However, only church marriages which correspond to requirements of material marriage conditions can be included in the public register. Marital age both in church and civil marriage is the same - 18 years. Under special circumstances the age of consent can be reduced. There exist different conditions for the reduction of marital age in church and civil marriage procedure. In church marriage, the bishop must give permission to reduce marital age, and in civil marriage only the court can reduce marital age. The authors of the article recommend obtaining court permission to reduce marital age even though performing the church marriage, because, otherwise, the church marriage will not be included into the public register by the state. As marital age and reduction of marital age differ from country to country, the authors also analyse when marriages concluded abroad shall be recognized if they do not satisfy the requirement of age.
Aquatic Plant Trapa natans L. as Bioindicator of Trace Metal Contamination in a Freshwater Lake (Skadar Lake, Montenegro)
Authors: Petrović Dragana , Jančić Dejan , Furdek Martina , Mikac Nevenka , Krivokapić Slađana
Published: October 2016

Skadar Lake is the largest shallow lake in southeastern Europe. It is located within a national park, and is included in the Ramsar List of international important wetlands, so its preservation and protection from pollution is very important. The aim of this study was to investigate bioaccumulation of the ecotoxic metals Cd, Pb and Cr from sediments of Skadar Lake in the aquatic macrophyte Trapa natans L. Samples of sediment and plants were collected at nine locations covering all major water inputs to the lake as well as locations where contamination could be expected. The obtained results indicate that sediments from the Skadar Lake are only locally contaminated with Cd (0.03–1.18 mg kg−1), generally contaminated with Cr (15.8–180 mg kg−1), the concentrations of both elements frequently exceeding sediment quality guidelines, while concentrations of Pb were low (2.7–17.4 mg kg−1). The highest bioaccumulation of all metals from sediment to Trapa natans L. was observed in the root, with accumulation efficiency decreasing in the order Cd > Cr > Pb. Translocation from root to stem was also higher for Cd than for Cr and Pb, while the translocation from stem to leaf was comparable for all three metals. From the three investigated metals Cd showed the highest mobility. The results indicate that Trapa natans L. may be a very promising bioindicator of trace metal contamination in Skadar Lake.
The Application of Benthic Diatoms in Water Quality Assessment (Mlava River, Serbia)
Authors: Jakovljević Olga S. , Popović Slađana S. , Vidaković Danijela P. , Stojanović Katarina Z. , Krizmanić Jelena Ž.
Published: October 2016

The main objective of this study was to assess the ecological status of the Mlava River based on epilithic diatoms and to test the use of diatom indices as a tool for estimating the quality of flowing waters in Serbia. Quantitative analysis showed that in AprilAchnanthidium minutissimumwas dominant at each site, except at the fifth site, whereAmphora pediculuswas dominant. In July and September,Achnanthidium minutissimum, Achnanthidium pyrenaicum,Amphora pediculus,Denticula tenuis,Diatoma vulgaris,Gomphonema elegantissimum,Cocconeis pseudolineataandCocconeis placentulavar.lineatadominated. Detrended correspondence analysis (DCA) was used to detect the major patterns of variation in species composition. The first DCA axis summarizes the distribution of the diatom community, mainly through temperature, conductivity, oxygen and water hardness gradient. The second DCA axis was weakly correlated with few variables. Based on the average values of the pollution sensitivity index (IPS), commission for economical community metric (CEE) and biological diatom index (IBD), the water of the Mlava River belonged to water class I during all three seasons. Values of the diatom-based eutrophication/pollution index (EPI-D) indicated class II water quality. According to calculated trophic diatom index (TDI) values, water of the Mlava River was characterized by intermediate nutrient concentrations during three seasons. Principal components analysis was used to represent the correlation between diatom indices, and the highest correlation among the selected diatom indices is seen between EPI-D, IPS and IBD.
Dealing with Interpretability Issues in Predicting Firm Growth: Factor Analysis Approach
Authors: Bilandžić Ana , Marina Jeger , Šarlija Nataša
Published: October 2016

Background: Alongside the theoretical progress made in understanding the factors that influence firm growth, many methodological challenges are yet to be overcome. Authors point to the notion of interpretability of growth prediction models as an important prerequisite for further advancement of the field as well as enhancement of models’ practical values.

Objectives: The objective of this study is to demonstrate the application of factor analysis for the purpose of increasing overall interpretability of the logistic regression model. The comprehensive nature of the growth phenomenon implies propensity of input data to be mutually correlated. In such situations, growth prediction models can demonstrate adequate predictability and accuracy, but still lack the clarity and theoretical soundness in their structure.

Methods/Approach: The paper juxtaposes two prediction models: the first one is built using solely the logistic regression procedure, while the second one includes factor analysis prior to development of a logistic regression model.

Results: Factor analysis enables researchers to mitigate inconsistencies and misalignments with a theoretical background in growth prediction models.

Conclusions: Incorporating factor analysis as a step preceding the building of a regression model allows researchers to lessen model interpretability issues and create a model that is easier to understand, explain and apply in real-life business situations.
Biofouling reduction for improvement of depth water filtration. Filter production and testing
Authors: Sztuk - Sikorska Ewa , Gradon Leon
Published: October 2016

Water is a strategic material. Recycling is an important component of balancing its use. Deep-bed filtration is an inexpensive purification method and seems to be very effective in spreading water recovery. Good filter designs, such as the fibrous filter, have high separation efficiency, low resistance for the up-flowing fluid and high retention capacity. However, one of the substantial problems of this process is the biofouling of the filter. Biofouling causes clogging and greatly reduces the life of the filter. Therefore, the melt-blown technique was used for the formation of novel antibacterial fibrous filters. Such filters are made of polypropylene composites with zinc oxide and silver nanoparticles on the fiber surface. These components act as inhibitors of bacterial growth in the filter and were tested in laboratory and full scale experiments. Antibacterial/bacteriostatic tests were performed on Petri dishes with E. coli and B. subtilis. Full scale experiments were performed on natural river water, which contained abiotic particles and mutualistic bacteria. The filter performance at industrial scale conditions was measured using a particle counter, a flow cytometer and a confocal microscope. The results of the experiments indicate a significant improvement of the composite filter performance compared to the regular fibrous filter. The differences were mostly due to a reduction in the biofouling effect.
Modification of polypropylene membranes by ion implantation
Authors: Kotra-Konicka Karolina , Kalbarczyk Joanna , Gac Jakub M.
Published: October 2016

The influence of ion implantation on the structure and properties of polymers is a very complex issue. Many physical and chemical processes taking place during ion bombardment must be taken into consideration. The complexity of the process may exert both positive and negative influence on the structure of the material. The goal of this paper is to investigate the influence of H+, He+and Ar+ion implantation on the properties of polypropylene membranes used in filtration processes and in consequence on fouling phenomena. It has appeared that the ion bombardment caused the chemical modification of membranes which has led to decrease of hydrophobicity. The increase of protein adsorption on membrane surface has also been observed.
Determination of technical and economic parameters of an ionic transport membrane air separation unit working in a supercritical power plant
Authors: Kotowicz Janusz , Michalski Sebastian , Balicki Adrian
Published: October 2016

In this paper an air separation unit was analyzed. The unit consisted of: an ionic transport membrane contained in a four-end type module, an air compressor, an expander fed by gas that remains after oxygen separation and heat exchangers which heat the air and recirculated flue gas to the membrane operating temperature (850 °C). The air separation unit works in a power plant with electrical power equal to 600 MW. This power plant additionally consists of: an oxy-type pulverized-fuel boiler, a steam turbine unit and a carbon dioxide capture unit. Life steam parameters are 30 MPa/650 °C and reheated steam parameters are 6 MPa/670 °C. The listed units were analyzed. For constant electrical power of the power plant technical parameters of the air separation unit for two oxygen recovery rate (65% and 95%) were determined. One of such parameters is ionic membrane surface area. In this paper the formulated equation is presented. The remaining technical parameters of the air separation unit are, among others: heat exchange surface area, power of the air compressor, power of the expander and auxiliary power. Using the listed quantities, the economic parameters, such as costs of air separation unit and of individual components were determined. These quantities allowed to determine investment costs of construction of the air separation unit. In addition, they were compared with investment costs for the entire oxy-type power plant.
Dynamics of particle loading in deep-bed filter. Transport, deposition and reentrainment
Authors: Przekop Rafał , Gradoń Leon
Published: October 2016

Deep bed filtration is an effective method of submicron and micron particle removal from the fluid stream. There is an extensive body of literature regarding particle deposition in filters, often using the classical continuum approach. However, the approach is not convenient for studying the influence of particle deposition on filter performance (filtration efficiency, pressure drop) when non-steady state boundary conditions have to be introduced. For the purposes of this work the lattice-Boltzmann model describes fluid dynamics, while the solid particle motion is modeled by the Brownian dynamics. For aggregates the effect of their structure on displacement is taken into account. The possibility of particles rebound from the surface of collector or reentrainment of deposits to fluid stream is calculated by energy balanced oscillatory model derived from adhesion theory. The results show the evolution of filtration efficiency and pressure drop of filters with different internal structure described by the size of pores. The size of resuspended aggregates and volume distribution of deposits in filter were also analyzed. The model enables prediction of dynamic filter behavior. It can be a very useful tool for designing filter structures which optimize maximum lifetime with the acceptable values of filtration efficiency and pressure drop.
Correlation between air flow rate and pollutant concentrations during two-stage oak log combustion in a 25 KW residential boiler
Authors: Juszczak Marek
Published: October 2016

It can be expected that there is a considerable correlation between combustion air flow rate and the concentrations of carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxide in the flue gas. The influence of temperature and oxygen concentration in the combustion zone on the concentrations of carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxide in the flue gas, for high and low combustion air flow, was analysed. Oxygen concentration for which the concentration of carbon monoxide is the lowest was determined, as well as the mutual relation between carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxide concentration.
Rural Sanctuaries as ‘Smart Destinations’ – Sustainability Concerns (Mazovia Region, Poland)
Authors: Pawlikowska-Piechotka Anna , Gołębieska Karolina , Łukasik Natalia , Ostrowska – Tryzno Anna , Sawicka Karolina
Published: October 2016

The general objective of this paper is to present and discuss the factors that need to be taken into account to ensure that the development and management of religious tourism at rural sites was sustainable from an economic, environmental and socio-cultural point of view. Among other issues, sustainable religious tourism means accessibility to the sanctuaries, protection of cultural and heritage values of the local community, benefits for the local residents and meaningful experience for visitors. Authors were especially interested in the less popular, more remotely located holy sites in Mazovia Region (Poland) and two concerns: readiness to respond the needs of persons with different disabilities and local community opinion on tourists. As was documented by our research outcomes despite the recent numerous improvements, the most popular rural sanctuaries in Mazovia Region, remain only partially accessible for persons with disabilities. As masses of pilgrims have a significant effect on wellbeing and everyday life quality of residents (contributing both to positive and to negative effects), those who accept that tourists are important for economic development, benefit from it, creating ‘smart host area’. These rural communities which are not knowledgeable about positive impacts – see only negative consequences.