bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Area-Construction Algorithms Using Tangent Circles
Authors: Chiang Ching-Shoei , Li Hung-Chieh
Published: June 2020

Computer aided geometric design employs mathematical and computational methods for describing geometric objects, such as curves, areas in two dimensions (2D) and surfaces, and solids in 3D. An area can be represented using its boundary curves, and a solid can be represented using its boundary surfaces with intersection curves among these boundary surfaces. In addition, other methods, such as the medial-axis transform, can also be used to represent an area. Although most researchers have presented algorithms that find the medial-axis transform from an area, a algorithm using the contrasting approach is proposed; i.e., it finds an area using a medial-axis transform. The medial-axis transform is constructed using discrete points on a curve and referred to as the skeleton of the area. Subsequently, using the aforementioned discrete points, medial-axis circles are generated and referred to as the muscles of the area. Finally, these medial-axis circles are blended and referred to as the blended boundary curves skin of the area; consequently, the boundary of the area generated is smooth.
Kumlu Kil- Çimento Karışım Oranlarının Dayanım Özelliklerinin Araştırılması
Authors: DEHGHANİAN Kaveh , İNAN Hülya
Published: June 2020

Zemin iyileştirme teknikleri arasında çimento en çok
kullanılan yöntemlerden biridir. Bu çalışmada %30 kum ve %70 kil karışımına farklı
yüzdelerde çimento eklenerek bu karışım oranlarının mekanik özellikleri
araştırılmıştır. Deneylerde, kaolin kil, portland çimentosu CEM-I (42.5) ve kum
kullanılmıştır. İlk aşamada %70 oranında kaolin kil ve %30 oranında kum
kullanılarak özgül ağırlık deneyi, elek analizi deneyi, kıvam limitleri deneyi
ve kompaksiyon deneyleri yapılmıştır. Elde edilen değerler üzerine
konsolidasyonsuz-drenajsız üç eksenli basınç deneyleri (UU) yapılmıştır. İkinci
aşamada %70 koalin kil ve %30 kum oranlarından eşit miktarda düşürülerek %5,
%10, %15 ve %20 oranlarında çimento eklenerek 1 günlük ve 7 günlük numunelere
konsolidasyonsuz-drenajsız üç eksenli basınç deneyleri yapılmıştır. Deneyler
sonucunda içşel sürtünme açısının çimentoya bağlı olarak belirli bir yüzdeye kadar
arttığı daha sonra düştüğü görülmüştür.
Antonio Vivaldi… ¡en Cuenca!: breve aproximación a la Semana de Música Religiosa de Cuenca (2001-2019)
Authors: De la Ossa Martínez Marco Antonio
Published: June 2020

La Semana de Música Religiosa de Cuenca (SMR) inició su andadura en 1962. Miembro de la Asociación Europea de Festivales desde 1986, es el cuarto festival más antiguo de España. Además, comparte fecha en el calendario con la celebración de la Semana Santa conquense (ambas están declaradas de Interés Turístico Internacional).

En este artículo nos centraremos en la programación de obras de Antonio Vivaldi en las ediciones que han acontecido entre el año 2001 y el 2019. De forma previa y como contextualización, nos aproximaremos al ciclo conquense y sus claves, la figura del violinista italiano y su música religiosa.

De esta manera, nos acercaremos a los directores, solistas, gestores, agrupaciones y obras que han protagonizado los conciertos en los que se ha escuchado música de Vivaldi en la Semana de Música Religiosa de Cuenca para, en global, descubrir qué partituras e intérpretes se han considerado más interesantes, qué ediciones y cuántos recitales han contado con música del prete rosso.
Encuesta de caracterización y consumo cultural de los públicos de Teatro Biobío
Authors: Chales-Aoun Aileen
Published: June 2020

Teatro Biobío, tras dos años de funcionamiento, ya cuenta con distintos estudios de públicos. El objetivo de esta investigación es caracterizar los públicos que asisten a la programación artística del Teatro Biobío, según el dominio cultural. Este estudio es de tipo cuantitativo, descriptivo y longitudinal. En general, los resultados obtenidos de las variables sociodemográficas no cambian sustancialmente de un año a otro, lo que puede traducirse en un alto nivel de confiabilidad del instrumento. No obstante, sí se obtuvieron diferencias significativas entre 2018 y 2019 en variables de consumo cultural. De esta manera, se puede aseverar que lo que distingue a los “tipos” de públicos no son sus características sociodemográficas intrínsecas, sino sus formas de consumo cultural. Esta investigación, es pionera en la región en estudios de públicos, servirá como antecedente para futuros estudios en gestión cultural a nivel local y nacional. 
A Monthly Indicator of Economic Growth for Low Income Countries
Authors: Stanger Michael
Published: June 2020

Monthly economic indicators support policy analysis of current economic developments and forecasting. This paper presents an overview of the data and statistical requirements to develop those indicators taking into account resource constraints that LIC typically face. We review statistical procedures for developing these indicators under the System of National Accounts and propose a general procedure to derive a monthly composite indicator of economic growth in low income economies.
Remittance Concentration and Volatility
Authors: Hosny Amr
Published: June 2020

This paper contributes to the literature by introducing the role of geographic concentration of the source of remittances. Specifically, using data over 2010-2015 for 72 developing countries, we study the impact of (i) large remittances and (ii) the geographic concentration of the source of remittances on economic volatilities. Results suggest that while (i) large remittances can be stabilizing on average, (ii) high remittance concentration from source countries can aggravate economic volatilities in recipient countries. Results are robust to global shocks affecting both source and recipient countries, and volatility in the remittance-sending country.
Exploring the Output Effect of Fiscal Policy Shocks in Low Income Countries
Authors: Honda Jiro , Miyamoto Hiroaki , Taniguchi Mina
Published: June 2020

What do we know about the output effects of fiscal policy in low income countries (LICs)? There are very few empirical studies on the subject. This paper fills this gap by estimating the output effects of government spending shocks in LICs. Our analysis—based on the local projection method—finds that the output effects in LICs are markedly lower than those in AEs and marginally smaller than those in EMs. We also find that in LICs, the output effects are larger (i) during recessions; (ii) under a fixed exchange rate regime; and/or (iii) with higher quality of institutions. Our analysis could not confirm any statistically significant output effect under floating exchange rate regimes. For the estimation of the output effects of fiscal spending shocks, it is thus important to consider the state of the economy and the country’s structural characteristics. Our results imply that the output costs of fiscal adjustment in LICs may not be as large as previously thought, especially if adopted outside of a recession, based on cutting public consumption, and accompanied by reform to enhance institutions.
Model-Based Globally-Consistent Risk Assessment
Authors: Andrle Michal , Hunt Benjamin
Published: June 2020

This paper outlines an approach to assess uncertainty around a forecast baseline as well as the impact of alternative policy rules on macro variability. The approach allows for non-Gaussian shock distributions and non-linear underlying macroeconomic models. Consequently, the resulting distributions for macroeconomic variables can exhibit skewness and fat tails. Several applications are presented that illustrate the practical implementation of the technique including confidence bands around a baseline forecast, the probabilities of global growth falling below a specified threshold, and the impact of alternative fiscal policy reactions functions on macro variability.
El Salvador
Authors:   International Monetary Fund. Statistics Dept.
Published: June 2020

A Technical Assistance (TA) Mission from the Regional Technical Assistance Center for Central America, Panama, and the Dominican Republic, visited the city of San Salvador, El Salvador, on August 13–24, 2018, to provide TA to the Central Reserve Bank of El Salvador (BCRES) on compiling annual accounts by institutional sectors (AAIS) from 2014 onwards, as part of the data series from the base year of 2005. In March 2018, the BCRES published a dataset of quarterly and annual national accounts series by economic activity; a monthly volume indicator; backcasted series from 1990–2014; and Supply and Use Tables (SUT) from 2005 and 2014, with a base year of 2005. As part of the dataset to be prepared and disseminated in the new 2005 base year, the authorities requested TA to compile annual accounts focusing on institutional sectors starting in 2014.
The Anatomy of the Transmission of Macroprudential Policies
Authors: Acharya Viral , Bergant Katharina , Crosignani Matteo , Eisert Tim , McCann Fergal
Published: June 2020

We analyze how regulatory constraints on household leverage—in the form of loan-to-income and loan-to-value limits—a?ect residential mortgage credit and house prices as well as other asset classes not directly targeted by the limits. Supervisory loan level data suggest that mortgage credit is reallocated from low-to high-income borrowers and from urban to rural counties. This reallocation weakens the feedback loop between credit and house prices and slows down house price growth in “hot” housing markets. Consistent with constrained lenders adjusting their portfolio choice, more-a?ected banks drive this reallocation and substitute their risk-taking into holdings of securities and corporate credit.
Real Exchange Rate Overshooting in Large Depreciations
Authors: Culiuc Alexander
Published: June 2020

The consequences of large depreciations on economic activity depend on the relative strength of the contractionary balance sheet and expansionary expenditure switching effects. However, the two operate over different time horizons: the balance sheet effect hits almost immediately, while expenditure switching is delayed by nominal rigidities and other frictions. The paper hypothesizes that the overshooting phase—observed early in the depreciation episode and driven by the balance sheet effect—is largely irrelevant for expenditure switching, which is more closely aligned with ex-post equilibrium depreciation. Given this, larger real exchange rate overshooting should signal a relatively stronger balance sheet effect. Empirical findings support this hypothesis: (i) overshooting is driven by factors associated with the balance sheet effect (high external debt, low reserves, low trade openness), (ii) overshooting-based measures of the balance sheet effect foreshadow post-depreciation output losses, and (iii) the balance sheet effect is strongest early on, while expenditure switching strengthens over the medium term.
Are Capital Goods Tariffs Different?
Authors: Meleshchuk Sergii , Timmer Yannick
Published: June 2020

In this paper we demonstrate the importance of distinguishing capital goods tariffs from other tariffs. Using exposure to a quasi-natural experiment induced by a trade reform in Colombia, we find that firms that have been more exposed to a reduction in intermediate and consumption input or output tariffs do not significantly increase their investment rates. However, firms’ investment rate increase strongly in response to a reduction in capital goods input tariffs. Firms do not substitute capital with labor, but instead also increase employment, especially for production workers. Reduction in other tariff rates do not increase investment and employment. Our results suggest that a reduction in the relative price of capital goods can significantly boost investment and employment and does not seem to lead to a decline in the labor share.
Macro-Structural Obstacles to Firm Performance
Authors: Hosny Amr
Published: June 2020

A recent World Bank enterprise survey identified access to finance as the top constraint to Doing Business in Nigeria. In this context, the objective of this paper is two-fold: (i) study firm characteristics associated with more access to finance and export diversification; and (ii) quantify the impact of these structural obstacles on firm performance. Results suggest that (i) larger and export-oriented firms are about 40 percentage points less likely to report access to finance as a business obstacle, while firms perceiving access to finance as a constraint are, on average, about 10-40 percentage points less likely to be export-oriented diversified firms; and (ii) better access to finance and export diversification can help firm employment —as much as 80 percent higher— and capacity utilization. Results are largely robust to different specifications and estimation methods.
Epistemic injustices and participatory research: A research agenda at the crossroads of university and community
Authors: Godrie Baptiste , Boucher Maxime , Bissonnette Sylvia , Chaput Pierre , Flores Javier , Dupéré Sophie , Gélineau Lucie , Piron Florence , Bandini Aude
Published: June 2020

This article presents an innovative framework to evaluate participatory research. The framework, comprising both a methodology and a self-assessment tool, was developed through a participatory approach to knowledge production and mobilisation. This process took place over the last two years as we, a multidisciplinary team made up of researchers and community-based organisation members from the Groupe de recherche et de formation sur la pauvreté au Québec, were building a scientific program on social injustices and participatory research.

We argue that participatory research can help provide a university-community co-constructed response to epistemic injustices embedded within the processes of knowledge production. From our perspective, the mobilisation of knowledge from the university and the community, initiated at the earliest stages of the creation of a research team, is part of a critical approach to the academic production of knowledge. It also constitutes a laboratory for observing, understanding and attempting to reduce epistemic injustices through building bridges between team members.

The article focuses on two dimensions of the framework mentioned above: (1) The methodology we established to build co-learning spaces at the crossroads of university and community-based organisations (recruitment of a coordinator to organise and facilitate the workshops, informal and friendly meetings, regular clarification of the process and rules of operation, time for everyone to express themselves, informal preparatory meetings for those who wanted them, financial compensation where required, etc.); and (2) A self-assessment tool available in open access that we built during the process to help academics and their partners engage in a reflexive evaluation of participatory research processes from the point of view of epistemic injustices. Throughout we pay particular attention to challenges inherent in our research program and our responses, and finish with some concluding thoughts on key issues that emerged over the course of two years’ research.
Injustices épistémiques et recherche participative: un agenda de recherche à la croisée de l’université et des communautés
Authors: Godrie Baptiste , Boucher Maxime , Bissonnette Sylvia , Chaput Pierre , Flores Javier , Dupéré Sophie , Gélineau Lucie , Piron Florence , Bandini Aude
Published: June 2020

Cet article présente un cadre d’analyse innovant ancré dans le concept d’injustices épistémiques pour évaluer les recherches participatives. Composé d’une méthodologie de travail et d’un outil d’autoévaluation, ce cadre d’analyse a été développé au fil d’un processus participatif de production et de mobilisation des savoirs qui a pris place au cours des deux dernières années. L’équipe multidisciplinaire ayant entrepris ce processus est composée des chercheur-es et des représentant-es du Groupe de recherche et de formation sur la pauvreté au Québec travaillant à l’élaboration d’un programme scientifique de recherche sur les injustices épistémiques et les recherches participatives.

Nous défendons que les recherches participatives peuvent contribuer à apporter des réponses coconstruites entre les milieux universitaires et communautaires à certaines injustices sociales – dans le cas présent, les injustices épistémiques – qui sont enchâssées dans les processus de production des connaissances. De notre point de vue, les recherches participatives constituent des laboratoires permettant d’observer et de comprendre la production des injustices épistémiques et, le cas échéant, d’offrir des leviers pour les réduire grâce à la construction de ponts entre les différentes personnes et les savoirs qu’elles détiennent.

L’article est centré sur la présentation de deux dimensions de notre travail: (1) La méthodologie que nous avons mise sur pied pour bâtir des espaces de coapprentissage à la croisée de l’université et des organismes communautaires et (2) Un guide d’autoévaluation disponible en accès libre que nous avons bâti durant notre démarche afin d’aider les universitaires et leurs partenaires à s’engager dans une évaluation réflexive des processus participatifs de recherche du point de vue des injustices épistémiques. L’article met également de l’avant des défis inhérents à l’élaboration de ce programme de recherche ainsi que des réponses que nous avons pu leur apporter, et se termine par des réflexions sur les enjeux clés ayant émergé en cours de route.
Surface processes in the 7 November 2014 medicane from air–sea coupled high-resolution numerical modelling
Authors: Bouin Marie-Noëlle , Lebeaupin Brossier Cindy
Published: June 2020

Abstract. A medicane, or Mediterranean cyclone with characteristics similar to
tropical cyclones, is simulated using a kilometre-scale
ocean–atmosphere coupled modelling platform. A first phase leads to
strong convective precipitation, with high potential vorticity
anomalies aloft due to an upper-level trough. Then, the deepening and
tropical transition of the cyclone result from a synergy of baroclinic
and diabatic processes. Heavy precipitation results from uplift of
conditionally unstable air masses due to low-level convergence at
sea. This convergence is enhanced by cold pools, generated either by
rain evaporation or by advection of continental air masses from northern
Africa. Back trajectories show that air–sea heat exchanges moisten the
low-level inflow towards the cyclone centre. However, the impact of
ocean–atmosphere coupling on the cyclone track, intensity and
life cycle is very weak. This is due to a sea-surface cooling 1 order
of magnitude weaker than for tropical cyclones, even in the area of
strong enthalpy fluxes. Surface currents have no impact. Analysing the
surface enthalpy fluxes shows that evaporation is controlled mainly by
the sea-surface temperature and wind. Humidity and temperature at the
first level play a role during the development phase only. In
contrast, the sensible heat transfer depends mainly on the temperature
at the first level throughout the medicane lifetime. This study shows that
the tropical transition, in this case, is dependent on processes
widespread in the Mediterranean Basin, like advection of continental
air, rain evaporation and formation of cold pools, and dry-air
intrusion.
Future trends in stratosphere-to-troposphere transport in CCMI models
Authors: Abalos Marta , Orbe Clara , Kinnison Douglas E. , Plummer David , Oman Luke D. , Jöckel Patrick , Morgenstern Olaf , Garcia Rolando R. , Zeng Guang , Stone Kane A. , Dameris Martin
Published: June 2020

Abstract. One of the key questions in the air quality and climate sciences is how tropospheric ozone concentrations will change in the future. This will depend on two factors: changes in stratosphere-to-troposphere transport (STT) and changes in tropospheric chemistry. Here we aim to identify robust changes in STT using simulations from the Chemistry Climate Model Initiative (CCMI) under a common climate change scenario (RCP6.0). We use two idealized stratospheric tracers to isolate changes in transport: stratospheric ozone (O3S), which is exactly like ozone but has no chemical sources in the troposphere, and st80, a passive tracer with fixed volume mixing ratio in the stratosphere. We find a robust increase in the tropospheric columns of these two tracers across the models. In particular, stratospheric ozone in the troposphere is projected to increase 10 %–16 % by the end of the 21st century in the RCP6.0 scenario. Future STT is enhanced in the subtropics due to the strengthening of the shallow branch of the Brewer–Dobson circulation (BDC) in the lower stratosphere and of the upper part of the Hadley cell in the upper troposphere. The acceleration of the deep branch of the BDC in the Northern Hemisphere (NH) and changes in eddy transport contribute to increased STT at high latitudes. These STT trends are caused by greenhouse gas (GHG) increases, while phasing out of ozone-depleting substances (ODS) does not lead to robust transport changes. Nevertheless, the decline of ODS increases the reservoir of ozone in the lower stratosphere, which results in enhanced STT of O3S at middle and high latitudes. A higher emission scenario (RCP8.5) produces stronger STT trends, with increases in tropospheric column O3S more than 3 times larger than those in the RCP6.0 scenario by the end of the 21st century.
Evaluation of the 15-year ROM SAF monthly mean GPS radio occultation climate data record
Authors: Gleisner Hans , Lauritsen Kent B. , Nielsen Johannes K. , Syndergaard Stig
Published: June 2020

Abstract. We here present results from an evaluation of the Radio Occultation Meteorology Satellite Application Facility (ROM SAF) gridded monthly mean climate data record (CDR v1.0),
based on Global Positioning System (GPS) radio occultation (RO) data from the CHAMP (CHAllenging Minisatellite Payload), GRACE (Gravity Recovery and
Climate Experiment), COSMIC (Constellation Observing System for Meteorology, Ionosphere, and Climate),
and Metop satellite missions.
Systematic differences between RO missions, as well as differences of RO data relative to ERA-Interim
reanalysis data, are quantified. The methods used to generate gridded monthly mean data are described, and
the correction of monthly mean RO climatologies for sampling errors, which is essential for
combining data from RO missions with different sampling characteristics, is evaluated. We find good overall agreement between the ROM SAF gridded monthly mean CDR and the ERA-Interim reanalysis,
particularly in the 8–30 km height interval. Here, the differences largely reflect time-varying biases
in ERA-Interim, suggesting that the RO data record has a better long-term stability than
ERA-Interim. Above 30–40 km altitude, the differences are larger, particularly for the pre-COSMIC era. In the 8–30 km altitude region, the observational data record exhibits a high degree of
internal consistency between the RO satellite missions, allowing us to combine data into
multi-mission records.
For global mean bending angle, the consistency is better than 0.04 %, for refractivity it is better than 0.05 %, and for global mean
dry temperature the consistency is better than 0.15 K in this height interval. At altitudes
up to 40 km, these numbers increase
to 0.08 %, 0.11 %, and 0.50 K, respectively. The numbers can be up to a factor of 2 larger for certain latitude
bands compared to global means. Below about 8 km, the RO mission differences are larger, reducing the possibilities
to generate multi-mission data records.
We also find that the residual sampling errors are about one-third of the original and that they include a component
most likely related to diurnal or semi-diurnal cycles.
N2O isotope approaches for source partitioning of N2O production and estimation of N2O reduction – validation with 15N gas-flux method in laboratory and field studies
Authors: Lewicka-Szczebak Dominika , Lewicki Maciej Piotr , Well Reinhard
Published: June 2020

Abstract. The approaches based on natural abundance N2O stable isotopes are often applied for the estimation of mixing proportions between various N2O producing pathways as well as for estimation of the extent of N2O reduction to N2. But such applications are associated with numerous uncertainties and hence their limited accuracy needs to be considered. Here we present the first systematic validation of these methods for laboratory and field studies applying the 15N gas-flux method as the reference approach. Besides applying dual isotope plots for interpretation of N2O isotopic data, for the first time we propose a three dimensional N2O isotopocule model based on Bayesian statistics to estimate the N2O mixing proportions and reduction extent based simultaneously on three N2O isotopic signatures (δ15N, δ15NSP and δ18O). Determination of mixing proportions of individual pathways with N2O isotopic approaches appears often imprecise, mainly due to imperfect isotopic separation of the particular pathways. Nevertheless, the estimation of N2O reduction is much more robust, when applying optimal calculation strategy, reaching typically accuracy of N2O residual fraction determination of about 0.1.
Lower oceanic 𝛿13C during the Last Interglacial compared to the Holocene
Authors: Bengtson Shannon A. , Menviel Laurie C. , Meissner Katrin J. , Missiaen Lise , Peterson Carlye D. , Lisiecki Lorraine E. , Joos Fortunat
Published: June 2020

Abstract. The last time in Earth’s history when the high latitudes were warmer than during pre-industrial times was the last interglacial (LIG, 129–116 ka BP). Since the LIG is the most recent and best documented warm time period, it can provide insights into climate processes in a warmer world. However, some key features of the LIG are not well constrained, notably the oceanic circulation and the global carbon cycle. Here, we use a new database of LIG benthic 𝛿13C to investigate these two aspects. We find that the oceanic mean 𝛿13C was ~ 0.2 ‰ lower during the LIG (here defined as 125–120 ka BP) when compared to the mid-Holocene (7–4 ka BP). As the LIG was slightly warmer than the Holocene, it is possible that terrestrial carbon was lower, which would have led to both a lower oceanic 𝛿13C and atmospheric 𝛿13CO2 as observed in paleo-records. However, given the multi-millennial timescale, the lower oceanic 𝛿13C most likely reflects a long-term imbalance between weathering and burial of carbon. The 𝛿13C distribution in the Atlantic Ocean suggests no significant difference in the latitudinal and depth extent of North Atlantic Deep Water (NADW) between the LIG and the mid-Holocene. Furthermore, the data suggests that the multi-millennial mean NADW transport was similar between these two time periods.
Iron and aluminum association with microbially processed organic matter via meso-density aggregate formation across soils: organo-metallic glue hypothesis
Authors: Wagai Rota , Kajiura Masako , Asano Maki
Published: June 2020

Abstract. Global significance of iron (Fe) and aluminum (Al) for the storage of organic matter (OM) in soils and surface sediments is increasingly recognized. Yet specific metal phases involved or the mechanism behind metal-OM correlations frequently shown across soils remain unclear. We identified density fraction locations of major metal phases and OM using 23 soil samples from 5 climate zones and 5 soil orders (Andisols, Spodosols, Inceptisols, Mollisols, Ultisols), including several subsurface horizons and both natural and managed soils. Each soil was separated to 4 to 7 density fractions using sodium polytungstate with mechanical shaking, followed by the sequential extraction of each fraction with pyrophosphate (PP), acid oxalate (OX), and finally with dithionite-citrate (DC) to estimate pedogenic metal phases of different solubility and crystallinity. The extractable Fe and Al concentrations (per fraction) generally showed unique unimodal distribution along particle density gradient for each soil and each extractable metal phase. Across the studied soils, the maximum metal concentrations were always at meso-density range (1.8–2.4 g cm−3) within which PP-extractable metals peaked at 0.3–0.4 g cm−3 lower density range relative to OX- and DC-extractable metals. Meso-density fractions, consisted largely of microaggregates based on SEM observation, accounted for on average 56–70 % of total extractable metals and OM present in these soils. The OM in meso-density fractions appeared microbially processed from the original plant material. The amounts of PP- and OX-extractable metals correlated positively with co-dissolved C among the soils and, to some extent, across the density fractions within each soil. These results led to a hypothesis which involves two distinct levels of organo-metal interaction – the formation of OM-rich, mixed metal phases having relatively fixed OM : metal stoichiometry and subsequent development of meso-density microaggregates via gluing properties of these organo-metallic phases by incorporating other organic and mineral particles such as phyllosilicate clays. Given that stable OM is mainly located in meso-density fractions, soil's capacity to protect OM may be controlled by the balance of following three processes: (i) microbial processing of plant-derived OM, (ii) dissolution of metals, and (iii) the synthesis of organo-metallic phases and their association with clays to form meso-density microaggregates. The current hypothesis may help to fill the gap between well-studied molecular scales interaction (e.g., OM adsorption on mineral surface, coprecipitation) and larger-scale processes such as aggregation, C accrual, and pedogenesis.
The current state and 125 kyr history of permafrost on the Kara Sea shelf: modeling constraints
Authors: Gavrilov Anatoliy , Pavlov Vladimir , Fridenberg Alexandr , Boldyrev Mikhail , Khilimonyuk Vanda , Pizhankova Elena , Buldovich Sergey , Kosevich Natalia , Alyautdinov Ali , Ogienko Mariia , Roslyakov Alexander , Cherbunina Maria , Ospennikov Evgeniy
Published: June 2020

Abstract. The evolution of permafrost on the Kara shelf is reconstructed for
the past 125 kyr. The work includes zoning of the shelf according to
geological history; compiling sea level and ground temperature scenarios
within the distinguished zones; and modeling to evaluate the thickness of
permafrost and the distribution of frozen, cooled and thawed deposits.
Special attention is given to the scenarios of the evolution of ground
temperature in key stages of history that determined the current state of
the Kara shelf permafrost zone: characterization of the extensiveness and
duration of the existence of the sea during stage 3 of the marine oxygen isotope
stratigraphy (MIS-3),
the spread of glaciation and dammed basins in MIS-2. The present shelf is
divided into areas of continuous, discontinuous-to-sporadic and sporadic
permafrost. Cooled deposits occur at the western and northwestern water
zones and correspond to areas of MIS-2 glaciation. Permafrost occurs in the
periglacial domain that is within a zone of modern sea depth from 0 to 100 m, adjacent to the continent. The distribution of permafrost is mostly
sporadic in the southwest of this zone, while it is mostly continuous in the
northeast. The thickness of permafrost does not exceed 100 m in the
southeast and ranges from 100 to 300 m in the northeast. Thawed deposits
are confined to the estuaries of large rivers and the deepwater part of the
St. Anna trench. The modeling results are correlated to the available field
data and are presented as a geocryological map. The formation of frozen,
cooled and thawed deposits of the region is inferred to depend on the spread
of ice sheets, sea level, and duration of shelf freezing and thawing
periods.
Validation and accommodation of vortex wake codes for wind turbine design load calculations
Authors: Boorsma Koen , Wenz Florian , Lindenburg Koert , Aman Mansoor , Kloosterman Menno
Published: June 2020

Abstract. The computational effort for wind turbine design load calculations is more extreme than it is for other applications (e.g., aerospace), which necessitates the use of efficient but low-fidelity models. Traditionally the blade element momentum (BEM) method is used to resolve the rotor aerodynamic loads for this purpose, as this method is fast and robust. With the current trend of increasing rotor size, and consequently large and flexible blades, a need has risen for a more accurate prediction of rotor aerodynamics. Previous work has demonstrated large improvement potential in terms of fatigue load predictions using vortex wake models together with a manageable penalty in computational effort. The present publication has contributed towards making vortex wake models ready for application to certification load calculations. The observed reduction in flapwise blade root moment fatigue loading using vortex wake models instead of the blade element momentum (BEM) method from previous publications has been verified using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations. A validation effort against a long-term field measurement campaign featuring 2.5 MW turbines has also confirmed the improved prediction of unsteady load characteristics by vortex wake models against BEM-based models in terms of fatigue loading. New light has been shed on the cause for the observed differences and several model improvements have been developed, both to reduce the computational effort of vortex wake simulations and to make BEM models more accurate. Scoping analyses for an entire fatigue load set have revealed the overall fatigue reduction may be up to 5 % for the AVATAR 10 MW rotor using a vortex wake rather than a BEM-based code.
Why Don’t We All Speak the Same Language? Some Reflections on the Role of Cognition
Authors: Cilibrasi Luca
Published: June 2020

From the psycholinguistic point of view, the use of English by non-natives in Europe poses an interesting contradiction, especially for the younger generation. On the one side, it is a non-preferred choice: Speakers have a natural tendency to avoid cross-group intelligibility, and are thus not keen in using a language that increases the amount of shared information, such as English. On the other side, English carries a specific system of values that are psychologically appealing to the younger generation, since it identifies with what speakers see in the media. As such, the new generations of Europeans experience an internal turmoil where the two tendencies, for and against English as a lingua franca, interact. One of the consequences of this particular situation is the use of English terms in local languages (so-called anglicism), a phenomenon rather common across Europe. Using the European situation as an example, this paper discusses the cognitive factors that drive the existence of (so many different) languages, as well as the factors that lead, in the opposite direction, to the use of a lingua franca among speakers.
Romanian Public Health Policy in the First Interwar Decade: Parliamentary Proposals for Administration of the Public Health System
Authors: Reianu Diana-Gabriela
Published: June 2020

The beginning of the interwar period was profoundly marked by the consequences of the war, with the debates focusing on the deficiencies and problems faced by society and the urgent need to intervene. Among others, the issue of public health was, at that time, on the agenda of Romanian parliamentary debates, the main directions of intervention being the administrative organization of health, the prevention and treatment of diseases, medical practice, and material needs. Therefore, this article tries to answer the following research questions: What was the state of health in Romania at the beginning of the interwar period? What were the main directions of intervention in public health policy? Which were the main proposals voted on in Parliament in order to organize the health sector? The analysis relies mainly on Romanian parliamentary debates within the Chamber of Deputies (1919–1929), published in the Romanian Official Gazette.
Countryside Modernized or Traumatized? Rural Mental Health in Hungary after the Collectivization of Agriculture
Authors: Csikós Gábor
Published: June 2020

Modernization and industrialization were core elements of the Communist agenda and reshaped rural life after World War Two. Although the shift toward large-scale agriculture was characterized by a decade-long unequal battle between the traditional peasantry and the Socialist state, the latter achieved collectivization by 1961, at last. In the following decades, the Hungarian cooperative model was labeled successful because of its efficiency (gross domestic product [GDP]) and its contribution to the standard of living in the Hungarian countryside. However, health reports revealed a different picture; the rates of suicide and alcoholism and the prevalence of depression and neurosis increased in these decades. What could explain these discrepancies? Were they the side effects of modernization or results of historical traumas (e.g., the repressed revolution of 1956 or violent collectivization campaigns between 1948 and 1961)? Around six hundred thousand people left the villages in the sixties, expressing that they saw no future for themselves in the countryside. This study aims to (1) explore these patterns and potential causes and (2) make the distinction between general (European modernization tendencies) and local (repressive political systems of the Eastern Bloc) effects. The research is primarily based on archival sources, such as county health reports and the archive of the National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry.
Choosing the Rate of Global Market Expansion by Entrepreneurial Firms
Authors: Zif Jehiel
Published: June 2020

This paper outlines a rational for assessing the rate of global market expansion by entrepreneurial firms. Many entrepreneurial firms are dependent for their success on global market expansion. This is especially true about firms from relatively small countries. One can conceive of two major and opposing strategies for market expansion: market diversification and market concentration. The first strategy implies a fast penetration into a large number of markets in order to achieve fast growth and a first mover advantage. The second strategy is based on concentration of resources in a few markets and gradual expansion into new territories in order to test the response before committing too much effort. The paper is updating prior work on market expansion, taking into account entrepreneurial firms in the digital age. Firms with digital products don’t have to depend on foreign distribution networks and they have new opportunities for fast entry into foreign markets. We propose a concise framework for determining the preferred rate of market expansion utilizing two key variables: the potential response function of customers and the complexity of the product. The paper include a discussion of ways to assess customers’ response to entrepreneurial innovation and additional factors that can influence the market expansion decision.
Stakeholder Engagement in Monitoring and Evaluation and Performance of Literacy and Numeracy Educational Programme in Public Primary Schools in Nairobi County, Kenya
Authors: Karimi Stela Silas , Mulwa Angeline Sabina , Kyalo Dorothy Ndunge
Published: June 2020

Kenya’s education has faced by many challenges especially in literacy and numeracy skills since the introduction of free primary education. This was contributed by swelling of enrollment in classrooms hence low performance of literacy and numeracy skills. The purpose of this article is to establish the extent to which stakeholder engagement influence performance of literacy and numeracy educational programme in public primary schools in Nairobi County, Kenya. Despite various efforts by key educational stakeholders to improve learner’s performance, minimal achievement have been experienced on learner’s skills. This study adapted descriptive research survey design and correlational research design. Data collected from the respondents by use of questionnaires and interview schedules from a target population of 2053 and a sample size of 335. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 25 and results presented in tables and figures. Arithmetic mean and standard deviation generated from the descriptive data and Pearson moment correlation coefficient (r) were computed. The coefficient of determination R2 is 0.480 this is an indicator that R2 was the coefficient of determination of this model and it depicted that stakeholder engagement explained 48%. The remaining 52% was explained by other factors. The overall F statistics 257.949 with p- 0.000b<0.05 implying a statistical significant relationship between stakeholder engagement and performance of literacy and numeracy educational programme. Interpretations were done and recommendations were policy makers should embrace the methodology of engaging all the stakeholders in programme. This was an indication of strong positive relationship between Stakeholder engagement and performance of literacy and numeracy educational programme. The results showed that stakeholder engagement for monitoring and evaluation strongly influenced the performance of literacy and numeracy educational programme as shown by a correlation coefficient, which was statically significant. Learners should explore more things on their own in order to make predictive answers. Recommendations for further research on participatory monitoring and evaluation practices, which was lacking and specifically involvement of all the stakeholders in the intervention programme in basic education.
Effects of Higher Order Questioning in Prekindergarten for School Readiness
Authors: Papa Tiffany
Published: June 2020

This study investigated whether the strategy of higher order questioning during interest area time would have a positive effect on kindergarten school readiness (specifically focusing on mathematical and language concepts) for students in a low-socioeconomic area school. Evidence from the Developmental Indicators for the Assessment of Learning/ Third Edition (DIAL-3) scores (completed upon entering kindergarten) establishes that the students in this low-socioeconomic area school were not kindergarten ready.

Statistical analyses concurred that increasing the frequency of higher order questioning during interest area time significantly improves the test performance of students within the mathematical and language concepts area of the DIAL-3 assessment.

The student achievement results of providing teacher training in higher-order questioning techniques during interest area time (the most vital learning time of the prekindergarten day) has provided evidence of increased cognitive development, ultimately increasing student achievement in mathematical and language skills. High-quality prekindergarten services involving best practices are the precursors for kindergarten; therefore, improving teacher-child verbal interactions in prekindergarten ultimately addresses the issue of kindergarten school readiness.

Additional findings included a correlation indicating that the students who did well in Language skills also did well in Mathematics and a statistically significant correlation existed between better scores and positive behavior.

It is anticipated that the contributions of the present study will encourage future research that will continue to elaborate upon the effects of higher order questioning at the prekindergarten level on kindergarten school readiness.
Switching Energy Suppliers: It’s Not All About the Money
Authors: Deller David , Giulietti Monica , Loomes Graham , Price Catherine Waddams , Moniche Anna , Jeon Joo Young
Published: June 2020

Many consumers do not take advantage of lower energy prices available in liberalized retail markets. We provide evidence to explain why consumers may leave substantial amounts of “money on the table” in this way. We observe real decisions made by over 7,000 consumers in a collective switching auction, supplemented by their responses to a survey. We identify factors which may inhibit switching and show that expectations of high switching rates in an unregulated market may be unrealistic. Our findings have important implications for the design and regulation of energy markets, including imposition of price caps on “default” retail tariffs in 2019 in the UK and parts of Australia.
The Impact of Energy Production on Farmland Markets: Evidence from New York’s 2008 Hydraulic Fracturing Moratorium
Authors: Ifft Jennifer , Yu Ao
Published: June 2020

Future conventional and renewable energy production will predominantly occur on farmland, resulting in economic gains as well as potential negative externalities for farmland owners and rural communities. However there is limited research on the economic impact of energy production that takes place on farmland. This study uses the discrete change in expectations caused by the 2008 New York State moratorium on hydraulic fracturing to investigate the net impact of shale gas development on farmland values. We use a difference-in-differences empirical design with a hedonic pricing model. We find that the moratorium led to net economic losses for rural landowners in New York’s Southern tier, as reflected in farmland values declining approximately $1,400/acre.
Writing Energy Economics Research for Impact
Authors: Dowling Michael , Hammami Helmi , Tawil Dima , Zreik Ousayna
Published: June 2020

We explore the drivers of impact for energy economics research based on an analysis of citations generated by The Energy Journal articles. The focus is on nontopic generators of impact. Our regression analysis shows that these non-topic measures can explain a substantial proportion (about 20%) of variation in future citations. We apply these findings, integrated with prior research on effective economics writing style, to recommend how energy economics articles should be written to increase their impact. These recommendations center particularly around the importance of initial article information provided to the reader and article structure.
The role of attitudes in the professional judicial decision-making progress: a work in progress
Authors: Olthuis Elke
Published: June 2020

The role of attitudes in the professional judicial decision-making progress: a work in progress

In our daily decision-making processes, attitudes play an important role. An attitude is an evaluative judgement of a person, object or an issue on a scale of favorability. A large amount of research has been done on the role of attitudes in our daily decision-making processes. There is, however, a gap in empirical knowledge when it concerns the role of attitudes in the professional judicial decision-making process. It has been accepted that the professional judicial decision-making process has a subjective element, but this subjective element remains unexplained. Attitudes are inherently personal and subjective, and they can make our decision-making process easier. They can, however, also be the basis for biases and prejudices. Herein lies a potential risk, especially in the professional judicial decision-making process. If attitudes play a role in the decision-making process of judges there is a possibility that impartiality, one of the judiciary’s core professional values, might be unobtainable. To see whether attitudes play a role in the professional judicial decision-making process semi-structured interviews will be conducted among judges, who will also be asked to fill in a scenario survey. Hopefully the obtained data will lead to a start in filling this gap in empirical knowledge.
Verbintenisrechtelijke correctiemechanismen van het ongeoorloofd verrijkingsoogmerk van de bemiddelaar
Authors: Meirlaen Matthias
Published: June 2020

What if a mediator tries to enrich himself? Correction mechanisms under the Belgian law of obligations

Every mediator has to act independently and impartially. These are core values of mediation. However, what if a mediator tries to enrich himself? The aim of this contribution is to shed light on some correction mechanisms under the Belgian law of obligations, focusing on the latest developments in the case law of the Belgian Supreme Court.