bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Accumulation and Distribution of As in Different Tissues of Camellia sinensis
Authors: Xiong Hua Bin , Duan Chang Qun , Fu Deng Gao , Liang Ming Zhi , Yan Kai , He Feng
Published: November 2013

Arsenic is an important toxic substance in soil contamination, research of As accumulation and distribution inCamellia sinensiscan explore adopting mechanism of tea plant to toxic substance and breeding of strong resistance varieties. In the research As content in root, stem and leaf part was detected on the condition of different concentration stress. The results showed that with the increase of treatment concentration relative change rate of tea plant was remarkable ascend. But, in root difference of five materials was most distinguished in low dose. In leaf when As concentration arrived 50 and 100mg/kg, difference of them was highly significant. Relative change rate from stem was not significant difference in all treatment.
Forming and Simulation of Titanium Alloy Ti-6Al-4V by Hot Isostatic Pressing
Authors: Bu Guo Liang , Lang Li Hui , Wang Gang , Song Yao , Xu Qiu Yu
Published: November 2013

Numerical simulation of titanium alloy powder during hot isostatic pressing (HIP) with Shima model is studied in this paper. Material parameters in this model were determined based on uniaxial compression test with different relative density specimens. A titanium alloy ring sample was designed and formed by hot isostatic pressing. The sample was analyzed by using Shima model in the platform of MSC.Marc with the determined parameters of titanium alloy (Ti-6Al-4V). The results of simulation with Shima model were in a good agreement with that result of experiment. Finally, the model is successfully applied to complex model of impeller to predict the deformation during HIP.
Volcanic Rock Diagenesis and Characteristics Analysis of Yingcheng Formation in Yaoyingtai Area
Authors: Ren Xian Jun , Zhang Jing Jun , Liu Cheng Zhi
Published: November 2013

Research on volcanic rock diagenesis have important reference value in volcanic rock secondary pore formation, evolution and reservoir prediction. Using the core data, flakes, imaging logging, geochemicals analysis and lithologies-lithofacies characteristics of Yaoyingtai area in Yingcheng Formation, Changling fault depression, we research on the volcanic rock diagenesis, reservoir space types, characteristics and relationships. The results are shown that: The research area mainly develop volcanic rock mantle thermal liquid alkali metasomatism and other 11 diagenesis types, and base on diagenesis formation mechanism and the effects of the reservoir spaces, which is divided constructive and destructive.
Analysis of Construction Monitoring of Jinzhou Underground Mall Excavation
Authors: Li Jin Kui , Fan Yue Bo , Wang Yi Bing
Published: November 2013

Cause the deformation of soil around the foundation pit excavation, have a great impact on the surrounding environment. At the same time, the excavation is limited by surrounding environmental conditions. Relying on the Jinzhou underground mall excavation monitoring project, after monitoring the ground settlement and horizontal displacement of pile top and measurement during the construction period, we realize the real-time information construction ,safe and smooth construction in the process of construction. And we conclude some useful conclusions, which can be a reference for similar engineering and reference.
The Monitoring and Analysis of Surface Subsidence of Soft Soil Rock Large Section of Subway Tunnel Shield Construction
Authors: Li Jin Kui , Yan Bing Wei , Shi Yong Jian
Published: November 2013

In this paper use the shield construction of Dalian subway 202 bid section as an example, carried out the monitoring measurement of surface subsidence and crown surface subsidence during the shield construction, detailed analysis the monitoring data, explored the characteristics and distribution of surrounding rock and surface deformation of large cross section shield construction. Construction transverse deformation has a relationship with lateral position and the tunnel excavation length. The closer from shield machine working face, the closer to the center line of the tunnel, the greater impact is. The research results have reference value for the future similar engineering design and construction.
Experiment Study on the Biogas Fermentation of the Hylocereus undatus Stem
Authors: Li Ying Juan , Liu Jing , Yang Hong , Yin Fang , Zhang Wu Di
Published: November 2013

In order to get the biogas fermentation potential of the Hylocereus undatus stem, this experiment was conducted the CSRT anaerobic batch fermentation with the fresh hylocereus undatus stem as the raw material and blue green algae slurry as inoculum, on the condition of feed concentration of 6.25%, temperature of 30°C and pH of 8.0. The fermentation period lasted 70 days. The results showed it produced total 4800mL biogas while went over the 90% of the biogas production in the former 48 days. The TS biogas production rate was 695mL/g, the VS biogas production rate was 80mL/g, and the raw material biogas production rate was 70mL/g. It implicated that Hylocereus undatus stem is a kind of good biogas fermentation raw material.
Synthesis of Porous Silica via Styrene Natural Rubber Template: The Effect of Calcination
Authors: Siti Nurfatihah Yahya , Ben Alwi Abu Bakar , Azura A. Rashid , Zulkifli Ahmad
Published: November 2013

This paper discussed the preparation of porous silica using styrene natural rubber (SNR) sacrificial template. The preparation of porous silica based on SNR template involved three steps which were the synthesis of SNR, the formation of SNR/silica, and the formation of porous silica. The SNR sacrificial template was synthesized using styrene as monomer and deproteinized natural rubber (DPNR) latex as based material. The effects of different silica loading and mixing methods were studied to produce SNR/silica films. Calcinations process was carried out to remove SNR to produce porous silica structure. The increasing of silica loadings enhanced the porosity of the template structure. The shaker mixing method produced better porous structure compared to the mechanical stirring and the magnetic stirring methods. The porous structure was analyzed via SEM which the optimum silica loading was obtained at 15 % of silica loading.
Temperature Dependent Current-Voltage Characteristics of n-Type Nanocrystalline-FeSi2/p-Type Si Heterojunctions Fabricated by Pulsed Laser Deposition
Authors: Promros Nathaporn , Iwasaki Ryūhei , Funasaki Suguru , Yamashita Kyohei , Li Chen , Yoshitake Tomohiro
Published: November 2013

n-Type NC-FeSi2/p-type Si heterojunctions were successfully fabricated by PLD, and their forward current-voltage characteristics were analyzed on the basis of thermionic emission theory (TE) in the temperature range from 300 down to 77 K. With a decrease in the temperature, the ideality factor was increased while the zero-bias barrier height was decreased. The calculated values of ideality factor and barrier height were 3.07 and 0.63 eV at 300 K and 10.75 and 0.23 eV at 77 K. The large value of ideality factor indicated that a tunneling process contributes to the carrier transport mechanisms in the NC-FeSi2 films. The series resistance, which was estimated by Cheungs method, was strongly dependent on temperature. At 300 K, the value of series resistance was 12.44 Ω and it was dramatically enhanced to be 1.71× 105 Ω at 77 K.
The Effect of Wollastonite on Curing Characteristics, Tensile and Morphology of Natural Rubber Compounds
Authors: Diep Hoang T.B. , Ismail Hanafi , Azura A. Rashid , Van Tu Ng. , Takeichi Tsutomu
Published: November 2013

Wollastonite filled natural rubber (NR) compounds were prepared using a laboratory two-roll mill. The filler was loaded into NR at different loading, i.e., 0, 10, 20, 30 and 40 part per hundred of rubber (phr). The effect of wollastonite on curing characteristic, tensile and morphology properties has been studied. Results indicated that the cure time (t90), scorch time (t2), tensile strength and elongation at break of the NR compounds decrease with increasing wollastonite loading but the maximum torque, tensile modulus M100 (stress at 100% elongation), M300 (stress at 100% elongation) increase with increasing wollastonite loading. The fracture surface morphology of the NR compounds was investigated with a scanning electron microscope (SEM). More filler detachment from NR surface was observed with increasing wollastonite loading.
Use of Rice Straw Ash in Enhancing the Properties of Soda-Lime-Silica Glass-Ceramics
Authors: Othman Radzali , Jaafar Farah
Published: November 2013

A study on the crystallization behavior of a soda-lime-silica glass composition incorporating rice straw ash was carried out. Melting was carried out at 1500°C in an alumina crucible for 5 hours. The glass produced was examined by differential scanning calorimetry to determine the glass transition and crystallization temperatures for use as heat-treatment temperatures to transform the glass into glass-ceramics. A similar composition made up using industrial chemicals was also melted for comparative purposes. Both glasses were heat-treated at 750°C and 920°C for 3 different soaking durations. Both glasses exhibited crystallization from the outer surface which increased in thickness as the soaking time was increased. Scanning electron microscopy was used to study the thickness and identity of the crystalline phases formed. Density and hardness measurements showed that the rice straw glass ceramics exhibited higher values than the glass-ceramics using industrial chemicals. The morphologies of the fracture surfaces of both glass-ceramic compositions were also evaluated by scanning electron microscopy.
Modelling and Simulation of Air Classification in Cement Manufacturing
Authors: Ku Ishak Ku Esyra Hani , Saiyid Hashim Syed Fuad
Published: November 2013

In cement manufacturing, the finish grinding circuit consumes more energy from the raw grinding circuit. Thus, it is necessary for the system to have an efficient air classifier in order to reduce the energy consumption of the cement production. A mathematical model was developed for describing the air classification in the air classifier, in the finish grinding circuit. Samples were collected around the air classifier feed, product and reject. In the laboratory, particle size analysis was done to the samples. Modelling and simulation studies were carried out using JKSimMet software. In order to verify the validity of the model, extensive surveys were performed at different operating conditions. The product and reject of the air classifier for the extensive surveys were predicted by using simulation based on the model that has been developed. The observed and predicted data for particle size distribution agreed closely for the new conditions.
Comparison on the Properties of Glass Fiber/MWCNT/Epoxy and Carbon Fiber/MWCNT/Epoxy Composites
Authors: Wan Dalina Wan Ahmad Dahalan , Mariatti M. , Ramlee Radziana , Ishak Zainal Arifin Mohd , Mohamed Abdul Rahman
Published: November 2013

A hand lay-up and vacuum bagging method was used in this study to fabricate glass fiber/epoxy laminated composites and carbon fiber/epoxy composite laminates with multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT). The density, flexural properties, and burning rate of the laminated composites incorporated with different concentration of MWCNT (0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 vol%) were investigated and analyzed. Trend in the density, flexural and burning rate of glass fiber composite laminates were compared to those of carbon fiber composite laminates. Effect of MWCNT concentration on glass fiber composites properties varies from carbon fiber composite laminates. Incorporation of 0.5vol% of MWCNT has increased flexural strength by 54.4% compared to 5-ply glass fiber composite laminates. Nonetheless addition of 1vol% of MWCNT has only increased flexural strength by 34% compared to 5-ply carbon fiber laminated composites. Incorporation of MWCNT has successfully reduced the burning rate of the glass fiber composites as well as the carbon fiber laminated composites.
Decolourization of Simulated Dye Wastewater Containing Reactive Blue 19 (RB19) by the Electro-Fenton Reaction in the Presence of Metal Oxide-Coated Electrodes
Authors: Shwe Moe Thazin , Dimaculangan Marites M. , De Luna Mark Daniel G.
Published: November 2013

Reactive Blue (RB 19), also known as Remazol brilliant blue, is a widely-used colorant in various textile applications. RB 19 is very resistant to chemical oxidation due to its aromatic anthraquinone structure highly stabilized by resonance. Its relatively low fixation efficiency (75-80%) attributed to the competition between the formation of the reactive form (vinyl sulfone) and the hydrolysis reaction, results in its prevalence in textile wastewater discharges. In this study, electro-Fenton (EF) process, a popular advanced oxidation process (AOP) was used to treat RB 19 dye-containing simulated wastewater. The electrochemical reactor (0.5 L) used in all experiments had parallel plate/mesh electrodes coated with metal oxides. Synthetic textile wastewater was prepared by dissolving RB 19 dye (300 ppm) in distilled water. The effects of pH, initial [Fe2+], initial [H2O2] and current on RB 19 decolorization efficiency were investigated. Removal of 100 percent RB 19 was achieved at pH 2, 0.71 mM initial [Fe2+], 5 mM initial [H2O2] and 1.86 A in 20 minutes. High decolorization efficiencies and absence of sludge during the treatment process render the electro-Fenton process a viable treatment option for dye wastewaters.
Effect of Cleaning Agent on Tensile and Swelling Properties of Natural Rubber Latex Film
Authors: Md Sidek Mufidah , Azura A. Rashid , Azahari Baharin
Published: November 2013

The effect of different types and loading of cleaning agent on the tensile properties and swelling properties of natural rubber latex film were investigated. The aim for this study is to find the cleaning agent which is compatible with natural rubber latex with optimum loading. In this study, there are two different amine based cleaning agent used which are Monoethanolamine (MEA) and Di-(3-aminopropyl) ether of diethylene glycol (DG). Swelling test was done to support the tensile results. It is found that tensile properties of the sample with MEA cleaning agent is higher than control sample (without cleaning agent) and sample with DG cleaning agent. For the best cleaning agent compound, the different loading has been tested and results showed that optimum loading of cleaning agent are achieved at 5 phr. The effects of both types of cleaning agents and different loading of cleaning agents on tensile properties and swelling properties for cleaning mold application are discuss.
Effect of Solid Concentration on Properties of Porous Alumina
Authors: Chhor Darong , Kasim Shah Rizal , Mohd Noor Ahmad Fauzi , Nareth Men , Sakai Etsuo
Published: November 2013

In this study, porous alumina was fabricated by using polymeric sponge method. The slurries were prepared by mixing alumina (Al2O3) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) powder in distilled water. Slurries with two different compositions (60 and 70 wt. %.) of solid concentration were prepared. Samples were dried in an oven at 80 °C for 24 hours and sintered at temperature of 1500 °C. The effect of solids concentration was studied. Characterizations such as density and porosity tests, compressive strength as well as microstructure morphology were then used to analyze the sintered porous alumina samples. Specimens with 60 wt. % of solid loadings showed the higher porosity (88.06%) and pores structure more clearly interconnected. However, specimens with higher strength, 0.55 MPa, were obtained by using slurry with solid loadings of 70 wt. %.
Electrical Properties of LLDPE/SR with Nano-Silica and Nanoboron Nitride
Authors: Hidayah Ismail Nurul , Mariatti M. , Ismail Hanafi , Kamarol M.
Published: November 2013

Thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) nanocomposites based on 70:30 of linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) and silicone rubber (SR) filled with nanosilica (SiO2) and nanoboron nitride (BN) was prepared. The effect of different types of nanofiller and sequence of blending on dielectric breakdown strength, dielectric properties and morphological properties of the blend was evaluated. The results showed that the presence of nanofiller improved the dielectric strength of LLDPE/SR. BN filled system had better dielectric strength as compared to SiO2 filled system. The addition of nanofillers also increased dielectric constant and dielectric loss of the blends. The sequence of blending significantly affected the properties of the material. The indirect blending (sample prepared master batch of SR/nanofiller) showed higher dielectric strength compared to the sample prepared through direct blending. The result was explained through SEM observation which showed the presence of fewer interfaces in the indirect blending sample, thus resulting in less weak points. This would have resulted in higher dielectric strength compared to direct blending sample which had various interfaces. The sample prepared through direct blending also showed remarkably higher dielectric contant and loss which is not suitable for insulator.
Improvement of Compressive Properties of Porous HA Scaffold by Introducing PCL Secondary Phase
Authors: Yos Phanny , Todo Mitsugu
Published: November 2013

Continuous porous hydroxyapatite (HA) scaffold has been considered to be used in bone tissue engineering. However, the low fracture property of HA scaffold has been a problem to be solved. In the present study, polycaprolactone (PCL) was introduced as a secondary phase into the porous structure of HA scaffold to improve the low fracture property. HA scaffolds were firstly fabricated using the template method. The HA scaffolds were then coated with PCL by changing the solution concentration from 1 to 5 wt%. Compression tests and SEM were done to examine the mechanical properties and the morphology of the two-phase composite scaffolds. It was found that the compression strength and modulus increased with increasing PCL concentration. It is also noted that PCL coating can greatly improve the brittleness of pure HA scaffolds. XRD test was also done to study the phase stability of HA and the two-phase scaffolds. There was no chemical reaction between PCL and HA observed by the XRD results. On the overall, these results indicated that PCL coating can effectively improve the low fracture property of pure HA scaffold and the two-phase scaffold could be a potential candidate for bone regeneration.
Aluminium Evaporation from Titanium Alloys in the VIM Process
Authors: Oleksiak Beata , Blacha Leszek , Pikna Lubomir , Burdzik Rafał
Published: November 2013

In the paper, results of the study on aluminium evaporation from the Ti-Al alloy (6.5%mass) during smelting in a vacuum induction furnace (VIM) are presented as well as the kinetics of the process is discussed. The experiments were performed at 51000 Pa for 1972 K and 2023 K. Based on the determined values of aluminium overall mass transfer coefficient, the mass transfer coefficient in the liquid phase and the evaporation rate constant, the stages that determined the investigated process were defined. It was demonstrated that Al evaporation from the aluminium-titanium alloy is kinetically controlled.
Multi-Stage Heat Treatment of Second Generation TiAl Based Alloys
Authors: Szkliniarz Agnieszka , Szkliniarz Wojciech
Published: November 2013

In this work the influence of the particular stages of a multi-stage heat treatment on microstructure and properties of the Ti-47Al-2W-0.5Si alloy was presented. The alloy was melted in a vacuum induction furnace at a special graphite crucible. The received alloy in form of cylindrical ingot with a diameter of 16 mm and a length of 120 mm was homogenized at 1400°C for 1 h with furnace cooling (Stage 1). The proposed further treatment consists of a cyclic heat treatment (Stage 2), under-annealing carried out in a two-phase α+γ area (Stage 3) and a short full annealing conducted in α-phase area (Stage 4). Selection of particular stage parameters including the upper cycle temperature, the soaking time at the upper cycle temperature, the cooling rate from the upper cycle temperature and number of cycles for the second stage and the temperature and time of annealing for the third and forth stage was presented. The purpose of the proposed treatment is microstructure refining. This refinement is associated with the massive transformation that occurs in the alloy after heating to a temperature of 1405°C, short soaking time and cooling in air. The effect of heat treatment parameters on the microstructure and hardness of the investigated alloy was characterized.
Welding of Aluminium Alloy Thin Sheets Using Variable Polarity MIG Method
Authors: Adamiec Janusz , Pfeifer Tomasz
Published: November 2013

Results of research on application of variable polarity MIG method for welding of thin sheets of 6082 and 5754 aluminium alloys have been presented. The influence of negative component portion in current and voltage course on process stability, joints quality and the microstructure evolution was discussed.
Assessment of the Deformation of Composites with Aluminum Matrix Designed for the Metal Forming
Authors: Myalski Jerzy , Płachta Adam , Wieczorek Jakub
Published: November 2013

Applying the metal forming for the production of machine parts from the composites in the aluminum alloy matrix will allow to widen the range of the practical appliances in this group of materials. In order to reach such results not only the reinforcement with ceramic particles into the matrix should be inserted but also the basic metal forming parameters of created composites must be set and verified. The article shows the results of plastometric research carried on the composites with PA31 alloy matrix. The research was conducted on the turning plastometer possessed by the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering of the Silesian Technology University. On the basis of the results the yielding curves were set in the system forming stress σ true deformation ε. Good coating in the PA31-SiC system causes limitation of the ability to deformation as a result of the separating boarder destruction and leads to destruction of the composite at the much lower deformation value and ductile stress. In case of the composites with glass carbon as well as in homofases system (PA31+15%WS) and heterofase (PA31+15%(SiC+WS)) the ductile stress value increase as follows 10 % and 20%.
The Microstructure of Elektron21 and WE43 Magnesium Casting Alloys after Subsequent Melting Process Operations
Authors: Dybowski Bartłomiej , Kiełbus Andrzej , Jarosz Robert , Paśko Janusz
Published: November 2013

Magnesium alloys are one of the lightest structural metallic materials. Their specific strength and stiffness is comparable to this, characterizing aluminum alloys and even some groups of steel and titanium alloys. Their main disadvantage is low maximum working temperature (about 120°C for Mg-Al-Zn alloys). This led to development of Mg-RE-Zr alloys, which can work up to 250°C. The paper presents results of the investigations of influence of subsequent melting operations on the Elektron 21 and WE43 magnesium alloys. Elektron 21 alloy had been prepared from the pure ingots, while WE43 alloy from the scrap material. Average area of the grain flat section and eutectics volume fraction had been evaluated quantitatively. The results of the evaluation have been verified by means of Mann-Whitney U-Test and Kolmogorov-Smirnov statistical tests. The liquid metal treatment led to refinement of the grain only in Elektron 21 alloy (from Ᾱ=3559μm2 to Ᾱ=1849 μm2). Multiple modification of the WE43 alloy does not lead to further decrease of the average area of grain flat section (from Ᾱ=1638μm2 to Ᾱ=1871 μm2).
High-Cycle Fatigue Life of AZ31 and AZ61 Magnesium Alloys
Authors: Cieśla Marek
Published: November 2013

Usefulness of the magnesium alloys for construction of structural components is determined, apart from their low density, by a number of favourable mechanical properties and in the case of their use for components of transport means additionally by good fatigue strength. In this study, 12 mm diameter extruded rods of AZ31 and AZ61 magnesium alloys were used as test material. After extrusion the rods were annealed at a temperature of 400°C, with a 60 min soaking period and subsequent cooling in air. Cylindrical specimens with a diameter of d0 = 8 mm were made for the fatigue test under high-cycle rotary bending conditions with the cycle asymmetry coefficient R = -1. The tests were carried out for a limited fatigue strength range. Examination of microstructure of tested alloys and fatigue fractography were also performed. During the high-cycle fatigue tests it was found that the AZ61 alloy has a longer fatigue life. Based on the obtained results, fatigue life characteristics of the tested materials were drawn up.
Wife beating amongst Africans as a challenge to pastoral care
Authors: Baloyi Magezi E.
Published: November 2013

Traditional African people are known for respecting their marriage. Even though marriage is so highly regarded, it is astonishing to realise that wife beating has become an extremely common practice amongst them. It therefore becomes an important research question to ask about the extent to which deeply-seated traditional customs regarding wife beating as a form of stamping down authority and of trying to keep the household in order, will have to be confronted with what is deemed to be good practice from the perspective of the law, community and pastoral caregivers. There are women who live with scars on their faces and bodies, having been beaten by their husbands. Although there are many forms of abuse towards women in family situations, this article aims particularly to focus on wife beating that is practiced for traditional as well as other related reasons. This research will involve itself with establishing whether the reasons for wife beating are part of the traditional system for keeping the household in order and interrogate both legal and pastoral interventions that attempt to eliminate or avoid such behaviour.Tradisionele Afrikane is nog altyd daarvoor bekend dat hulle die instelling van die huwelik respekteer. Verbasend genoeg is vroueslanery egter ’n ou gevestigde gebruik wat vandag algemeen onder Afrikane voorkom. Die mate waartoe diepgewortelde gebruike soos vroueslanery as ’n manier om gesag af te dwing en orde in die huis te handhaaf, gekonfronteer sal moet word met wat as goeie praktyk beskou word vanuit die gesigspunt van die reg, die gemeenskap en pastorale versorgers, is dus ’n belangrike navorsingsvraag. Baie vroue dra fisiese en emosionele littekens wat deur hulle eggenote veroorsaak is. Alhoewel daar baie vorme van vrouemishandeling in familiesituasies voorkom, fokus hierdie artikel veral op vroueslanery wat om tradisionele en verwante redes beoefen word. Hierdie navorsing probeer vasstel of die redes vir vroueslanery deel van die tradisionele sisteem uitmaak waarvolgens orde in die huishouding gehandhaaf is. Dit ondersoek regs- sowel as pastorale ingryping wat sodanige gedrag probeer elimineer of voorkom.
History of ‘swine fever’ in Southern Africa
Authors: Penrith Mary-Louise
Published: November 2013

The histories of the two swine fevers in southern Africa differ widely. Classical swine fever (hog cholera) has been known in the northern hemisphere since 1830 and it is probable that early cases of ‘swine fever’ in European settlers’ pigs in southern Africa were accepted to be that disease. It was only in 1921 that the first description of African swine fever as an entity different from classical swine fever was published after the disease had been studied in settlers’ pigs in Kenya. Shortly after that, reports of African swine fever in settlers’ pigs emerged from South Africa and Angola. In South Africa, the report related to pigs in the north-eastern part of the country. Previously (in 1905 or earlier) a disease assumed to be classical swine fever caused high mortality among pigs in the Western Cape and was only eradicated in 1918. African swine fever was found over the following years to be endemic in most southern African countries. Classical swine fever, however, apart from an introduction with subsequent endemic establishment in Madagascar and a number of introductions into Mauritius, the last one in 2000, had apparently remained absent from the region until it was diagnosed in the Western and subsequently the Eastern Cape of South Africa in 2005. It was eradicated by 2007. The history of these diseases in the southern African region demonstrates their importance and their potential for spread over long distances, emphasising the need for improved management of both diseases wherever they occur.
Teachers’ knowledge for teaching compound interest
Authors: Pournara Craig
Published: November 2013

There is increasing acknowledgement that teachers’ knowledge for teaching mathematics is multifaceted and topic specific. Given the paucity of research on the teaching and learning of financial mathematics in general, little can be known about teachers’ knowledge for teaching compound interest. However, since financial mathematics is a component of the school curriculum in South Africa, and an important element of financial literacy more broadly, attention needs to be given to knowledge for teaching financial mathematics, and compound interest in particular. Drawing from a larger study in which the author taught a financial mathematics course to pre-service secondary mathematics teachers, a theoretical elaboration is provided of the underlying mathematics of compound interest, and connections with the world of banking. Based on findings from the study, two key student errors are identified: the over-generalisation of linear thinking in multiplicative scenarios, and the over-generalisation of reversible operations in percentage-change scenarios. Taken together, teachers’ knowledge of relevant mathematics, of the banking context and of learners’ conceptions will contribute to building a knowledge-base for teachers’ knowledge for teaching compound interest.
Occupational Mobility at Migration - Evidence from Spain
Authors: Stanek Mikolaj , Ramos Alberto Veira
Published: November 2013

This article provides insight into the determinants of occupational mobility recorded for immigrants between their last job in the region of origin and their first job in Spain. Multinomial and bivariate logistic regression models are applied to identify the strongest predictors of upward and downward mobility when immigrants move from one country's labour market to another. This study's empirical analysis was carried out using data from the Spanish National Immigrant Survey of 2007. Our results show that ethnic segmentation in the Spanish labour market negatively affects the occupational mobility of immigrants. Secondly, we observe that non EU15 immigrants are at higher risk of downward mobility. Thirdly, higher levels of education offer protection against downward mobility and increase the chance for upgrading. Finally, contrary to our predictions, social capital embedded in support received from friends and relatives who reside in the destination country increases the risk of occupational downgrading and reduces the possibility of upward mobility.
Mobilising ‘Minutemen’: Predicting Public Support for Anti-Immigration Activism in the United States
Authors: Ward Matthew
Published: November 2013

Advances in social movement research conceptualise micromobilisation as – at least – a two-step sequential process in which willingness to participate must first be generated and then translated into actual participation. However, such research often ignores a more fundamental first step in this process: the generation of movement support. I address this gap by drawing on a nationally representative sample of adults in the United States – who either sympathised with or opposed anti-immigration activism – to identify individual attributes differentiating anti-immigration movement supporters and non-supporters. Perceptions of economic threat, waning confidence in political leadership, and prejudicial cultural beliefs about Latinos represent attributes differentiated movement supporters from non-supporters. Power devaluation theory is used as an overarching framework to meaningfully interpret these results. More generally, I argue that grievances play an important, yet under theorised role in jumpstarting conservative micromobilisation and that principles from power devaluation theory can help us understand the differentiation of movement support, irrespective of a social movement's political orientation.
Speaking and Listening: The 2011 English Riots
Authors: Bassel Leah
Published: November 2013

This article explores the challenges and opportunities for political listening ( Bickford 1996 ) following the events of August 2011, with a specific focus on the role of the media and citizen responses to media coverage. While the aftermath of the riots hardly gives rise to starry-eyed optimism, I explore an interaction – a conference on media and the riots – where political listening took place and provided the possibility to break down binaries of ‘Us and Them’ that have dominated public debate during and after the disturbances. I argue that although incomplete in this particular instance, political listening can provide the possibility to break out of limiting, damaging binaries and generate alternative spaces to listen, speak and act differently which expand public debate and enrich democratic life.
‘Urban Safaris’: Looting, Consumption and Exclusion in London 2011
Authors: Casey Emma
Published: November 2013

This paper examines the prevalence and relevance of looting for understanding the 2011 English riots. It begins by distinguishing these riots from previous British riots by arguing that although looting is by no means a new phenomena looting nevertheless became central to discussions, interpretations and recollections of the riots. The paper will explore public and media responses to the looting and will focus on the uses of looting as a means of identifying a feral underclass of people seen to be morally and culturally separate from mainstream society. By unpicking the relationships between looting and what currently stands for ‘consumer culture’, the paper will argue that looting is seen as the lowest common denominator of mob behaviour since its focus is deemed to be entirely apolitical. The paper will look towards current understandings of consumer culture to try to make sense of the looting. It will argue that whilst there is now a good deal of literature exploring the relationships between judgments of taste and the reproduction of existing class structures and barriers, there is virtually nothing examining the relationships between consumption and social exclusion.

I will argue in this paper that exclusion is crucial in providing a comprehensive understanding of the looting. In particular, I suggest that Bourdieusian accounts of the effects of popular expressions of disgust at the looters can offer only a partial understanding of the looting, since they do not explain the strength of desire for consumer goods. In order to address this, the paper expands on cultural capital discourses by incorporating the concept of ‘emotional capital’ into the analysis. The paper concludes by arguing that we should not be surprised by the widespread looting that took place in August 2011 given that advanced consumer society is characterised by common feelings and emotions and that many of the looters were not part of the original riots but opportunists who took advantage of the lack of police presence.
The Riots of the Underclass?: Stigmatisation, Mediation and the Government of Poverty and Disadvantage in Neoliberal Britain
Authors: Tyler Imogen
Published: November 2013

The riots in England in August 2011 comprised one of the most significant events of civil unrest in recent British history. A consensus rapidly emerged, notably within political commentary, print journalism, television and online news media coverage of these five nights of rioting, that these were the riots of the underclass. This article explores how and why the conceptual and perceptual frame of the underclass – a frame through which child poverty and youth unemployment are conceived as consequences of a cocktail of ‘bad individual choices’, an absence of moral judgement, poor parenting, hereditary or genetic deficiencies, and/or welfare dependency – was mobilised as a means of explaining and containing the meaning of these riots. It briefly traces the longer cultural and political history of the underclass as an abjectifying category and then examines how this framing of the riots was used to generate public consent for the shift from protective liberal forms of welfare to penal neoliberal ‘workfare’ regimes. In his response to the riots, Paul Gilroy argued that ‘one of the worst forms of poverty that's shaped our situation is poverty of the imagination’ ( Gilroy 2011 ). Following Gilroy's call for alternative political aesthetics and in order to engender critical sociological perspectives that might contest the downward social mobility and deepening inequalities which neoliberal social and economic policies are affecting, the aim of this article is to fracture the consensus that these were the riots of the underclass. By exposing the underclass as a powerful political myth, it is possible to transform public understandings of poverty and disadvantage and vitalise understandings of neoliberalism as class struggle.
Ideology in Disguise: Place Name Metonyms and the Discourse of Newspaper Headlines
Authors: Lewin-Jones Jenny , Webb Mike
Published: November 2013

‘Place metonyms’ are figures of speech which use place names as shortcuts, for example Whitehall to mean the British civil service, or Europe for the institutions of the European Union. The paper examines place metonyms in the headlines of two British newspapers, the Sun and the Guardian. Using evidence from a 12-month period in 2011–12, a headline-by-headline linguistic analysis is used to work out the denotations and wider connotations of each metonym. This critical discourse approach suggests that such place metonyms in headlines have three problematic effects: firstly they may conceal agency and responsibility within some public bodies, secondly for some social institutions, they give an exaggerated impression of unity and homogeneity, and finally for a further list of institutions, they offer relentless pejorative evaluative colouring. These effects are found not only in the right-of-centre Sun but also to some extent in the more progressive newspaper, the Guardian. The authors speculate that it may be difficult for readers of newspapers to think critically about place metonyms in headlines. In particular, place metonyms may subtly reinforce any impression that public institutions are fixed entities, not susceptible to challenge, and may facilitate the polarised value-judgments that are characteristic of ‘headlinese’. Such social constructions support some of the central tenets of neo-liberal, capitalist ideology, and so subtly add to the news media's distorting representations of public matters.
George Herbert Mead on Humans and Other Animals: Social Relations after Human-Animal Studies
Authors: Wilkie Rhoda , Mckinnon Andrew
Published: November 2013

The turn towards nonhuman animals within sociology has shed a critical light on George Herbert Mead, his apparent prioritisation of language and the anthropocentric focus of Symbolic Interactionism (SI). Although Herbert Blumer canonised Mead as the founder of this perspective he also played a key role in excising the evolutionary and ‘more-than-human’ components in Mead's work. This intervention not only misrepresented Mead's intellectual project, it also made symbols the predominant concern in Blumer's version of SI. Since groundbreaking animal sociologists in America framed much of their thinking in opposition to SI's emphasis on language, because it excluded alingual animal others from sociological consideration, Mead's Mind, Self, and Society has largely functioned as a negative classic within this sub-field. Although some scholars recognise there is more in Mead's work that is potentially applicable to this interspecies area the attempt to recover what might be helpful has yet to begin (e.g. Alger & Alger 1997 ). This paper suggests that if the ambiguities and contradictions that exist alongside Mead's oft-quoted anthropocentrisms are also attended to this may open up a more positive reading and use of Mead's work for animal sociology.
Analysing ‘Seriousness’ in Roller Derby: Speaking Critically with the Serious Leisure Perspective
Authors: Breeze Maddie
Published: November 2013

This article draws on original ethnographic research in the context of roller derby to argue for a sociological analysis of seriousness. Galvanized by the notable divergence between participants’ practices of ‘seriousness’ and the use of this concept in the Serious Leisure Perspective (SLP), the article develops three constructively critical points. Firstly, contra to assumptions at the core of the SLP, ‘seriousness’ in leisure is differently accessible according to familiar intersectional patterns of inequality. Moreover, roller derby occupies a position of gendered alterity in relation to a broader cultural field of sport; ‘getting taken seriously’ in this context is an issue of gender contestation. Secondly, while the normative assumption that seriousness in leisure is individually and socially ‘good’ pervades the SLP, I argue that seriousness is more accurately understood as a generative ‘mode of ordering’ ( Law 1994 ). I analyse seriousness as one discursive resource drawn upon and enacted in participants’ organizational and representational practice. Thirdly seriousness cannot be defined, as the SLP does, predominantly in terms of commitment; commitment is an interactional achievement. Participants’ enactments of seriousness include tactics of ridicule and satire and do not necessarily cohere. This paper thus responds to the question of what a more sociological approach to seriousness might look like and argues that seriousness-in-practice, in leisure and elsewhere, is generative of multiple and ambivalent effects and is thus amenable to, and requires, sociological analysis.
Variations in tropospheric submicron particle size distributions across the European continent 2008–2009
Authors: Beddows D. C. S. , Dall'Osto M. , Harrison Roy M. , Kulmala M. , Asmi A. , Wiedensohler A. , Laj P. , Fjaeraa A. M. , Sellegri K. , Birmili W. , Bukowiecki N. , Weingartner E. , Baltensperger U. , Zdimal V. , Zikova N. , Putaud J.-P. , Marinoni A. , Tunved P. , Hansson H.-C. , Fiebig M. , Kivekäs N. , Swietlicki E. , Lihavainen H. , Asmi E. , Ulevicius V. , Aalto P. P. , Mihalopoulos N. , Kalivitis N. , Kalapov I. , Kiss G. , de Leeuw G. , Henzing B. , O'Dowd C. , Jennings S. G. , Flentje H. , Meinhardt F. , Ries L. , Denier van der Gon H. A. C. , Visschedijk A. J. H.
Published: November 2013

Abstract. Cluster analysis of particle number size distributions from background sites across Europe is presented. This generated a total of nine clusters which could be further combined into two main groups, namely: a South to North category (four clusters) and a West to East category (five clusters). The first category was identified as most frequently being detected inside and around Northern Germany and neighbouring countries, showing clear evidence of local afternoon nucleation and growth events that could be linked to movement of air masses from South-to-North arriving ultimately at the Arctic resulting in Arctic Haze. The second group of particle size spectra proved to have narrower size distributions and collectively showed a dependence of modal diameter upon the longitude of the site (West to East) at which they were most frequently detected. These clusters indicated regional nucleation (at the coastal sites) growing to larger modes further inland. The apparent growth rate of the modal diameter was around 1–3 nm h−1. Four specific air mass back trajectories were successively taken as case studies to examine in real time the evolution of aerosol size distributions across Europe. While aerosol growth processes can be observed as aerosol traverses Europe, the processes are often obscured by the addition of aerosol by emissions en route. This study revealed that some of the 24 stations exhibit more complex behaviour than others, especially when impacted by local sources or a variety of different air masses. Overall, the aerosol size distribution clustering analysis greatly simplifies the complex dataset and allows a description of aerosol aging processes, which reflects the longer-term average development of particle number size distributions as air masses advect across Europe.
Testing and optimization of the seismic networks of Campi Flegrei (Southern Italy)
Authors: Tramelli A. , Troise C. , De Natale G. , Orazi M.
Published: November 2013

Abstract. The definition of the network resolution power is an important parameter to be considered when evaluating most of the seismic analysis, being connected to the location quality and earthquakes detectability. We estimated the resolving power of the seismic network of Campi Flegrei. The results show that the actual moment magnitude threshold is 0.5 in the Solfatara area, center of the caldera, but increases sharply going away from the center. We also estimated the theoretical resolution power of the actual seismic network of Campi Flegrei plus 5 hypothetical borehole stations, moving the borehole stations into 3 different wells. As expected, big improvements in the location parameters come from the use of borehole stations. The results show that a 3000 m deep borehole located close to the actual hypocentral area would allow to detect and locate the very low magnitude earthquakes, probably connected to the hydrothermal system characterizing the Campi Flegrei caldera. Finally, we performed an optimization analysis of the permanent seismic network of Campi Flegrei finding the best 3 station positions that would increase the resolution power of the network to locate earthquakes in the South and offshore part of the caldera. We evidenced that the actual network has an improvable resolution in the South and West part of the caldera.
A video precipitation sensor for imaging and velocimetry of hydrometeors
Authors: Liu X. C. , Gao T. C. , Liu L.
Published: November 2013

Abstract. A new method to determine the shape and fall velocity of hydrometeors by using a single CCD camera is proposed in this paper, and a prototype of Video Precipitation Sensor (VPS) is developed. The instrument consists of an optical unit (collimated light source with multi-mode fiber cluster), an imaging unit (planar array CCD sensor), an acquisition and control unit, and a data processing unit, the cylindrical space between the optical unit and imaging unit is sampling volume (300 mm × 40 mm × 30 mm). As the precipitation particles fall through the sampling volume, the CCD camera exposures two times in a single frame, by which the double-exposure of particles images can be obtained. The size and shape can be obtained by the images of particles; the fall velocity can be calculated by particle displacement in double-exposure image and interval time; the drop size distribution and velocity distribution, precipitation intensity, and accumulated precipitation amount can be calculated by time integration. The innovation of VPS is that the shape, size, and velocity of precipitation particles can be measured by only one planar array CCD sensor, which can address the disadvantages of linear scan CCD disdrometer and impact disdrometer. Field measurements of rainfall demonstrate the VPS's capability to measure micro-physical properties of single particles and integral parameters of precipitation.