bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Anomalously High Cretaceous Paleobrine Temperatures: Hothouse, Hydrothermal or Solar Heating?
Authors: Wang Jiuyi , Lowenstein Tim K.
Published: December 2017

Elevated surface paleobrine temperatures (average 85.6 °C) are reported here from Cretaceous marine halites in the Maha Sarakham Formation, Khorat Plateau, Thailand. Fluid inclusions in primary subaqueous “chevron” and “cumulate” halites associated with potash salts contain daughter crystals of sylvite (KCl) and carnallite (MgCl2·KCl·6H2O). Petrographic textures demonstrate that these fluid inclusions were trapped from the warm brines in which the halite crystallized. Later cooling produced supersaturated conditions leading to the precipitation of sylvite and carnallite daughter crystals within fluid inclusions. Dissolution temperatures of daughter crystals in fluid inclusions from the same halite bed vary over a large range (57.9 °C to 117.2 °C), suggesting that halite grew at different temperatures within and at the bottom of the water column. Consistency of daughter crystal dissolution temperatures within fluid inclusion bands and the absence of vapor bubbles at room temperature demonstrate that fluid inclusions have not stretched or leaked. Daughter crystal dissolution temperatures are reproducible to within 0.1 °C to 10.2 °C (average of 1.8 °C), and thus faithfully document paleobrine conditions. Microcrystalline hematite incorporated within halite crystals also indicate high paleobrine temperatures. We conclude that halite crystallized from warm brines rich in K-Mg-Na-Cl; sylvite and carnallite daughter crystals were nucleated during cooling of the warm brines sometime after deposition. Hothouse, hydrothermal, and solar-heating hypotheses are compared to explain the anomalously high surface paleobrine temperatures. Solar radiation stored in shallow density stratified brines is the most plausible explanation for the observed paleobrine temperatures and the progressively higher temperatures downward through the paleobrine column. The solar-heating hypothesis may also explain high paleobrine temperatures documented from fluid inclusions in other ancient halites.
Fe–Ti(–V) Oxide Deposits of the Kunene Anorthosite Complex (SW Angola): Mineralogy and Thermo-Oxybarometry
Authors: Villanova-de-Benavent Cristina , Torró Lisard , Castillo-Oliver Montgarri , Campeny Marc , Melgarejo Joan Carles , Llovet Xavier , Galí Salvador , Gonçalves Antonio Olimpio
Published: December 2017

The Kunene Intrusive Complex (KIC), in NW Namibia and SW Angola, is one of the largest Proterozoic anorthosite massif-type exposures in the world. A geochemical, mineralogical and petrological study of four Fe–Ti(–V) oxide bodies located in the understudied Angolan part of the KIC has been performed. The massive Fe–Ti(–V) oxide bodies, locally apatite-rich (nelsonites), are lenticular or dike-like. They consist mostly of titaniferous magnetite, ilmenite and minor aluminous spinel, apatite, olivine and graphite. Titaniferous magnetite displays a wide variety of subsolvus features, including aluminous spinel–magnetite–ulvöspinel exsolutions and ilmenite (Trellis) exsolutions. This work estimated the composition of the titaniferous magnetite prior to the exsolution, in order to calculate the temperature and oxygen fugacity of the different lithologies of each ore body. The thermo-oxybarometry results obtained range from 600 °C to 820 °C and fO2 from 10−24.7 to 10−14.7. These values do not correspond to magmatic crystallization in equilibrium, but to a later re-equilibration. In addition, the mineralogical and geochemical results indicate that the studied ore bodies contain economic reserves of Ti, V, and possibly of P and REE.
Cymantrenyl-Nucleobases: Synthesis, Anticancer, Antitrypanosomal and Antimicrobial Activity Studies
Authors: Jabłoński Artur , Matczak Karolina , Koceva-Chyła Aneta , Durka Kamil , Steverding Dietmar , Jakubiec-Krześniak Katarzyna , Solecka Jolanta , Trzybiński Damian , Woźniak Krzysztof , Andreu Vanesa , Mendoza Gracia , Arruebo Manuel , Kochel Krzysztof , Krawczyk Barbara , Szczukocki Dominik , Kowalski Konrad
Published: December 2017

The synthesis of four cymantrene-5-fluorouracil derivatives (1–4) and two cymantrene-adenine derivatives (5 and 6) is reported. All of the compounds were characterized by spectroscopic methods and the crystal structure of two derivatives (1 and 6), together with the previously described cymantrene-adenine compound C was determined by X-ray crystallography. While the compounds 1 and 6 crystallized in the triclinic P-1 space group, compound C crystallized in the monoclinic P21/m space group. The newly synthesized compounds 1–6 were tested together with the two previously described cymantrene derivatives B and C for their in vitro antiproliferative activity against seven cancer cell lines (MCF-7, MCF-7/DX, MDA-MB-231, SKOV-3, A549, HepG2m and U-87-MG), five bacterial strains Staphylococcus aureus (methicillin-sensitive, methicillin-resistant and vancomycin-intermediate strains), Staphylococcus epidermidis, and Escherichia coli, including clinical isolates of S. aureus and S. epidermidis, as well as against the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma brucei. The most cytotoxic compounds were derivatives 2 and C for A549 and SKOV-3 cancer cell lines, respectively, with 50% growth inhibition (IC50) values of about 7 µM. The anticancer activity of the cymantrene compounds was determined to be due to their ability to induce oxidative stress and to trigger apoptosis and autophagy in cancer cells. Three derivatives (1, 4 and 5) displayed promising antitrypanosomal activity, with GI50 values in the low micromolar range (3–4 µM). The introduction of the 5-fluorouracil moiety in 1 enhanced the trypanocidal activity when compared to the activity previously reported for the corresponding uracil derivative. The antibacterial activity of cymantrene compounds 1 and C was within the range of 8–64 µg/mL and seemed to be the result of induced cell shrinking.
Increased Efficiency of Solar Cells Protected by Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Anti-Reflecting Nanostructured Glasses
Authors: Baquedano Estela , Torné Lorena , Caño Pablo , Postigo Pablo
Published: December 2017

We investigated the fabrication of large-area (cm2) nanostructured glasses for solar cell modules with hydrophobic and hydrophilic properties using soft lithography and colloidal lithography. Both of these techniques entail low-cost and ease of nanofabrication. We explored the use of simple 1D and 2D nanopatterns (nanowires and nanocones) and the effect of introducing disorder in the nanostructures. We observed an increase in the transmitted light for ordered nanostructures with a maximum value of 99% for wavelengths >600 nm when ordered nanocones are fabricated on the two sides of the solar glass. They produced an increment in the efficiency of the packaged solar cell with respect to the glass without nanostructures. On the one hand, the wettability properties showed that the ordering of the nanostructures improved the hydrophobicity of the solar glasses and increased their self-cleaning capacity. On the other hand, the disordered nanostructures improved the hydrophilic properties of solar glasses, increasing their anti-fogging capacity. The results show that by selecting the appropriate nanopattern, the wettability properties (hydrophobic or hydrophilic) can be easily improved without decreasing the efficiency of the solar cell underneath.
Novel Hydrogel-Advanced Modified Clay Nanocomposites as Possible Vehicles for Drug Delivery and Controlled Release
Authors: Ianchis Raluca , Ninciuleanu Claudia , Gifu Ioana , Alexandrescu Elvira , Somoghi Raluca , Gabor Augusta , Preda Silviu , Nistor Cristina , Nitu Sabina , Petcu Cristian , Icriverzi Madalina , Florian Paula , Roseanu Anca
Published: December 2017

Present study refers to the synthesis of new advanced materials based on poly(methacrylic acid) (PMAA) with previously reported own advanced modified clays by edge covalent bonding. This will create the premises to obtain nanocomposite hydrogels with combined hydrophilic-hydrophobic behavior absolutely necessary for co-delivery of polar/nonpolar substances. For the synthesis, N,N’-methylenebisacrylamide was used as cross-linker and ammonium persulphate as initiator. As a consequence of the inclusion of clay into the polymer matrix and the intercalation of PMAA between the layers as well as the presence of hydrophobic interactions occurred between partners, the final hydrogel nanocomposites possessed greater swelling degrees, slower de-swelling process and enhanced mechanical properties depending on the clay type in comparison with pure hydrogel. In vitro MTS ([3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-5-(3-carboxymethoxyphenyl)-2-(4-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium, inner salt]) colorimetric assay showed that direct exposure with PMMA-clay-based constructs did not affect cell viability and proliferation in time (24 and 48 h) on either normal or adenocarcinoma cell lines.
Enhanced Reduction of Few-Layer Graphene Oxide via Supercritical Water Gasification of Glycerol
Authors: Torres Daniel , Arcelus-Arrillaga Pedro , Millan Marcos , Pinilla José , Suelves Isabel
Published: December 2017

A sustainable and effective method for de-oxygenation of few-layer graphene oxide (FLGO) by glycerol gasification in supercritical water (SCW) is described. In this manner, reduction of FLGO and valorization of glycerol, in turn catalyzed by FLGO, are achieved simultaneously. The addition of glycerol enhanced FLGO oxygen removal by up to 59% due to the in situ hydrogen generation as compared to the use of SCW only. Physicochemical characterization of the reduced FLGO (rFLGO) showed a high restoration of the sp2-conjugated carbon network. FLGO sheets with a starting C/O ratio of 2.5 are reduced by SCW gasification of glycerol to rFLGO with a C/O ratio of 28.2, above those reported for hydrazine-based methods. Additionally, simultaneous glycerol gasification resulted in the concurrent production of H2, CO, CH4 and valuable hydrocarbons such as alkylated and non-alkylated long chain hydrocarbon (C12–C31), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), and phthalate, phenol, cresol and furan based compounds.
Sequential Growth of Uniform β-NaYF4@β-NaLnF4 (Ln = Y, Lu, Yb) Microcrystals with Luminescent Properties of Multicolor Tuning and Dual-Mode Emission
Authors: Ju Dandan , Song Feng , Han Yingdong , Cui Wenjing , Zhou Aihua , Liu Shujing , Wang Xueqin , Feng Ming , Ming Chengguo
Published: December 2017

We synthesized the uniform core-shell microstructured compounds with hexagonal phase NaYF4:Er/Yb microrods as the core and hexagonal phase NaLnF4 (NaYbF4, NaLuF4:Yb/Tm, NaYF4:Yb/Er, NaYF4:Eu) as the shell based on the hydrothermal reaction. These microscale core-shell structures provided a platform for the spatially confining optical process while possessing high luminescence efficiency. The thickness of the shell could be controlled by adjusting the amounts of shell precursor, which significantly affected the intensity of the shell dopant ions emission and the emission color of core-shell upconversion luminescence (UCL). The uniform NaYF4@NaLnF4 (Ln = Y, Lu, Yb) microrods, with a series of rare-earth ions doped into the core and shell layer at various doping concentrations, achieved color-tuning of the upconversion (UC) emission and dual-mode emission at the single-microcrystal level, thus allowing the efficient utilization of core-shell microcrystals in the photonics and security labeling. This study suggests a new class of luminescent materials in the microscopic field.
Gastric Emptying and Gastrointestinal Transit Compared among Native and Hydrolyzed Whey and Casein Milk Proteins in an Aged Rat Model
Authors: Dalziel Julie , Young Wayne , McKenzie Catherine , Haggarty Neill , Roy Nicole
Published: December 2017

Little is known about how milk proteins affect gastrointestinal (GI) transit, particularly for the elderly, in whom digestion has been observed to be slowed. We tested the hypothesis that GI transit is faster for whey than for casein and that this effect is accentuated with hydrolysates, similar to soy. Adult male rats (18 months old) were fed native whey or casein, hydrolyzed whey (WPH) or casein (CPH), hydrolyzed blend (HB; 60% whey:40% casein), or hydrolyzed soy for 14 days then treated with loperamide, prucalopride, or vehicle-control for 7 days. X-ray imaging tracked bead-transit for: gastric emptying (GE; 4 h), small intestine (SI) transit (9 h), and large intestine (LI) transit (12 h). GE for whey was 33 ± 12% faster than that for either casein or CPH. SI transit was decreased by 37 ± 9% for casein and 24 ± 6% for whey compared with hydrolyzed soy, and persisted for casein at 12 h. Although CPH and WPH did not alter transit compared with their respective intact counterparts, fecal output was increased by WPH. Slowed transit by casein was reversed by prucalopride (9-h), but not loperamide. However, rapid GE and slower SI transit for the HB compared with intact forms were inhibited by loperamide. The expected slower GI transit for casein relative to soy provided a comparative benchmark, and opioid receptor involvement was corroborated. Our findings provide new evidence that whey slowed SI transit compared with soy, independent of GE. Increased GI transit from stomach to colon for the HB compared with casein suggests that including hydrolyzed milk proteins in foods may benefit those with slowed intestinal transit.
Reduced Educational Outcomes Persist into Adolescence Following Mild Iodine Deficiency in Utero, Despite Adequacy in Childhood: 15-Year Follow-Up of the Gestational Iodine Cohort Investigating Auditory Processing Speed and Working Memory
Authors: Hynes Kristen , Otahal Petr , Burgess John , Oddy Wendy , Hay Ian
Published: December 2017

There is increasing evidence that even mild gestational iodine deficiency (GID) results in adverse neurocognitive impacts on offspring. It’s unclear, however, if these persist long-term and whether they can be ameliorated by iodine sufficiency in childhood. We followed a unique cohort (Gestational Iodine Cohort, n = 266) where gestation occurred during a period of mild population iodine deficiency, with children subsequently growing-up in an iodine replete environment. We investigated whether associations between mild GID and reductions in literacy outcomes, observed at age 9-years, persisted into adolescence. Comparisons were made between offspring of mothers with gestational urinary iodine concentrations (UICs) ≥ 150 μg/L and < 150 μg/L. Educational outcomes were measured using Australian National Assessment Program—Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) tests. Children whose mothers had UICs < 150 μg/L exhibited persistent reductions in spelling from Year 3 (10%, −41.4 points (95% Confidence Interval −65.1 to −17.6, p = 0.001)) to Year 9 (5.6%, −31.6 (−57.0 to −6.2, p = 0.015)) compared to children whose mothers had UICs ≥ 150 μg/L. Associations remained after adjustment for biological factors, socioeconomic status and adolescent UIC. Results support the hypothesis that mild GID may impact working memory and auditory processing speed. The findings have important public health implications for management of iodine nutrition in pregnancy.
25th Conference of GP2A
Authors: Threadgill Michael D. , Matthews Susan E. , Giuntini Francesca
Published: December 2017

The 25th Conference of GP2A was held on 31 August and 1 September 2017 in Liverpool, UK, with the aim of exchange of ideas and experience, particularly amongst young medicinal chemists. Topics included bioactive compounds from plants and lichens, and design and development of drugs. Abstracts of invited lectures, proffered oral presentations, flash presentations and posters presented during the meeting are collected in this report.
Presenting Precision Glycomacromolecules on Gold Nanoparticles for Increased Lectin Binding
Authors: Boden Sophia , Wagner Kristina , Karg Matthias , Hartmann Laura
Published: December 2017

Glyco-functionalized gold nanoparticles have great potential as biosensors and as inhibitors due to their increased binding to carbohydrate-recognizing receptors such as the lectins. Here we apply previously developed solid phase polymer synthesis to obtain a series of precision glycomacromolecules that allows for straightforward variation of their chemical structure as well as functionalization of gold nanoparticles by ligand exchange. A novel building block is introduced allowing for the change of spacer building blocks within the macromolecular scaffold going from an ethylene glycol unit to an aliphatic spacer. Furthermore, the valency and overall length of the glycomacromolecule is varied. All glyco-functionalized gold nanoparticles show high degree of functionalization along with high stability in buffer solution. Therefore, a series of measurements applying UV-Vis spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering (DLS) and surface plasmon resonance (SPR) were performed studying the aggregation behavior of the glyco-functionalized gold nanoparticles in presence of model lectin Concanavalin A. While the multivalent presentation of glycomacromolecules on gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) showed a strong increase in binding compared to the free ligands, we also observed an influence of the chemical structure of the ligand such as its valency or hydrophobicity on the resulting lectin interactions. The straightforward variation of the chemical structure of the precision glycomacromolecule thus gives access to tailor-made glyco-gold nanoparticles (glyco-AuNPs) and fine-tuning of their lectin binding properties.
Taxonomy Construction and the Normative Turn in Religious Studies
Authors: Cooper Travis
Published: December 2017

Jonathan Z. Smith contends that a taxonomic agenda underlies the study of religion. Before Smith, structuralist scholars saw it as their task to uncover the roots of human taxonomic arrangements that present themselves as natural. Drawing somewhat anachronistically on Smith’s taxonomic model, I argue that underlying investigative categories posed by structural anthropologists are operative strategies of subjective value and valuation. I employ Smith to amend structuralist classificatory paradigms and to speak to questions of normativity, values, and concealed agendas in the contemporary study of religion. Smith’s comparative program serves as a fertile territory of encounter between divergent religious studies subfields. In short, I argue that although the normative turn in religious studies has generally succeeded in deconstructing appeals to scholarly objectivity, it faces challenges along other parameters.
Understanding Human Actions and Institutional Change: What Are the Impacts of Power Asymmetries on Efficiency in Pasture Use?
Authors: Kasymov Ulan , Zikos Dimitrios
Published: December 2017

The paper investigates actions and decisions of agricultural resource users and explores their implications for institutional change and natural resource management in the post-socialist context of Central Asia. More specifically, the authors propose a novel methodological approach for the aforementioned context to support policy-relevant research that explicitly addresses behavioral responses of pastoralists in Kyrgyzstan. The paper builds on distributive and economic theories of institutional change and combines findings from lab and field framed economic experiments with complementary qualitative methods (questionnaires, group discussions and semi-structured interviews). By these means the authors test the impact of a specific variable on institutional change in pasture use: the role of power and specifically the difference in the ability of players to “survive” in a bargaining game without an agreement. The impact of power asymmetries and its implications for cooperation and the efficiency of bargaining outcomes are discussed and analyzed. Experimental results largely confirm findings reported in the literature: as players learn about the game and the behavior of others, they adjust their decisions accordingly; the subjects also exhibit other-regarding preferences, resulting to the prevalence of relatively equally distributed gains as an outcome. Furthermore, the findings of the study suggest that under the condition of incomplete information about the preferences of other players, the experimental subjects internalize the game as a group. The authors propose that an explanatory variable for such situations might be that actual shared beliefs of pasture users assist players to economize on information processing and coordinate the bargaining in an effective way. From this perspective, the paper raises a series of questions regarding the proposition that power asymmetry leads to inefficient bargaining outcomes, and provides some first insights for further investigation.
Time Series Analysis of Very Slow Landslides in the Three Gorges Region through Small Baseline SAR Offset Tracking
Authors: Sun Luyi , Muller Jan-Peter , Chen Jinsong
Published: December 2017

Sub-pixel offset tracking has been used in various applications, including measurements of glacier movement, earthquakes, landslides, etc., as a complementary method to time series InSAR. In this work, we explore the use of a small baseline subset (SBAS) Offset Tracking approach to monitor very slow landslides with centimetre-level annual displacement rate, and in challenging areas characterized by high humidity, dense vegetation cover, and steep slopes. This approach, herein referred to as SBAS Offset Tracking, is used to minimize temporal and spatial de-correlation in offset pairs, in order to achieve high density of reliable measurements. This approach is applied to a case study of the Tanjiahe landslide in the Three Gorges Region. Using the TerraSAR-X Staring Spotlight (TSX-ST) data, with sufficient density of observations, we estimate the precision of the SBAS offset tracking approach to be 2–3 cm on average. The results demonstrated accord well with corresponding GPS measurements.
Adaptive Wavelet Coding Applied in a Wireless Control System
Authors: Gama Felipe , Silveira Luiz , Salazar Andrés
Published: December 2017

Wireless control systems can sense, control and act on the information exchanged between the wireless sensor nodes in a control loop. However, the exchanged information becomes susceptible to the degenerative effects produced by the multipath propagation. In order to minimize the destructive effects characteristic of wireless channels, several techniques have been investigated recently. Among them, wavelet coding is a good alternative for wireless communications for its robustness to the effects of multipath and its low computational complexity. This work proposes an adaptive wavelet coding whose parameters of code rate and signal constellation can vary according to the fading level and evaluates the use of this transmission system in a control loop implemented by wireless sensor nodes. The performance of the adaptive system was evaluated in terms of bit error rate (BER) versus E b / N 0 and spectral efficiency, considering a time-varying channel with flat Rayleigh fading, and in terms of processing overhead on a control system with wireless communication. The results obtained through computational simulations and experimental tests show performance gains obtained by insertion of the adaptive wavelet coding in a control loop with nodes interconnected by wireless link. These results enable the use of this technique in a wireless link control loop.
Community Participation, Natural Resource Management and the Creation of Innovative Tourism Products: Evidence from Italian Networks of Reserves in the Alps
Authors: Martini Umberto , Buffa Federica , Notaro Sandra
Published: December 2017

The paper analyses value co-creation and social innovation focusing on a new approach to the management of Natura 2000 areas: the Networks of Reserves (NoRs). NoRs have been set up in Trentino (an Italian alpine area) to create an ecological network within the territory, with a particular focus on the socio-economic dimensions of nature conservation and with a bottom-up approach. The research investigates the role of NoRs by using a quali-quantitative approach to analyse the attitudes and awareness of private stakeholders, public actors and local communities. In-depth interviews with NoRs coordinators and key players in tourism organizations were carried out. 167 online questionnaires were sent out to local stakeholders. The research investigates community participation and stakeholder engagement in NoRs’ projects and activities, whether and how socio-economic development has occurred, and whether and how innovative sustainable tourism offers have been created. It confirms the role of NoRs in relation to the conservation and valorisation of natural resources through the stimulation of activities such as environmental interpretation and education. The research demonstrates the effectiveness of bottom-up processes for the co-creation of sustainable tourism offers and the fostering of social innovation. NoRs have proved to be successful in overcoming the major impediments to the functioning of the Natura 2000 network highlighted in the literature.
On Innovative Cool-Colored Materials for Building Envelopes: Balancing the Architectural Appearance and the Thermal-Energy Performance in Historical Districts
Authors: Rosso Federica , Pisello Anna , Castaldo Veronica , Ferrero Marco , Cotana Franco
Published: December 2017

Architectural expression and energy performance are key decision-drivers in the selection of a particular construction element, with the purpose of Urban Heat Island mitigation, energy-consumption reductions, and cultural heritage preservation in historical centers. In historical centers, the external layer of the envelope and the visible parts of the building are built with traditional materials and technological solutions, such as single-layer walls or brickworks, depending on the country’s context, while the energy performance is usually optimized by means of internal insulation layers, or other active and passive solutions. Thermal-energy efficient materials and construction elements for the temperate, warm climate of the Mediterranean area are usually light-colored to reflect the largest part of solar radiation, thus reducing energy demands for cooling and improving thermal comfort conditions for occupants. On the other hand, many historical centers in such areas are characterized by reddish or grayish colors. In this work, we considered Italian historical areas, and other countries in the Mediterranean area with present similar situations. Thus, in this study, innovative, cool-colored, cement-based materials were developed to improve the thermal-energy performance of the external envelope of historical/historic built environments, without altering their appearance. These materials were prepared directly on-site, by mixing two types of pigments to achieve the desired color saturation. Optic and thermal properties were assessed, and yearly dynamic simulations of a historic, listed, case study building were performed, by comparing traditional-colored mortar and the prototype cool mortar envelopes. The research demonstrates that such cool-colored materials can maintain lower surface temperatures (−8 °C), while reducing energy demands for cooling (−3%).
CSR Reporting Practices in Visegrad Group Countries and the Quality of Disclosure
Authors: Hąbek Patrycja
Published: December 2017

Companies around the world more often issue publicly available reports to disclose how responsibly they conduct their business. The practices of corporate social responsibility (CSR) reporting are more popular in western part of Europe then in Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries and empirical studies related to these practices in the region are sporadic and fragmented. The Visegrad Group countries have undergone tremendous changes in political, environmental and social area during the last twenty years. The CSR concept in these countries is relatively new but is rapidly spreading, in particular as part of their integration with the European Union, as well as under the influence of transnational corporations (TNCs) and foreign investors. Therefore, acquisition of knowledge, which presents the functioning of CSR reporting practices in the region seems to be of interest to both the scientific community and enterprises themselves. An important part of the analysis conducted in the study was the assessment of quality of CSR reports issued in this region. The quality indicator of the studied reports was based on seventeen criteria related to relevance and credibility of disclosed information. The findings indicate that CSR reporting practices are not widespread among V4 countries and suggest some area of improvements. Furthermore, the achieved results confirm the existence of a relationship between two factors (external verification of a report and usage of the GRI guidelines when developing a report) and the level of quality of the CSR report.
Effect of Environmental Regulation Stringency on the Pulp and Paper Industry
Authors: Brolund Johan , Lundmark Robert
Published: December 2017

The article investigates whether environmental regulations have affected productivity development and technological change in the European pulp and paper industry. A dynamic panel data approach is selected for analyzing a sample consisting of the pulp and paper industries in eight European countries. Industry total factor productivity for the period 1993–2009 is used as the dependent variable; it is explained by the intensities of environmental regulations for various types of pollutants, as well as by a number of other independent variables. The econometric results indicate that the regulation of nitrogen oxides is associated with productivity improvements with a one-year lag, whereas regulations regarding sulphur dioxide and carbon dioxide have not had any statistically significant impact. In line with the a priori expectations, the price of pulp is connected to a negative effect, while lagged R&D expenditures have had corresponding positive impacts. However, since stationary tests are asymptotic and the data series are quite short, strong conclusions regarding the actual causal effect of environmental policy could not be drawn. The results could therefore not be viewed as a proof of the so-called strong Porter hypothesis postulating that stringent well-designed environmental regulations increase productivity growth compared to a no-policy scenario.
Tangible Visualization Table for Intuitive Data Display
Authors: Kim Jongyong , Lee Cheongun , Yoon Seung-Hyun , Park Sanghun
Published: December 2017

We propose a new tangible visualization table for intuitive and effective visualization of terrain data transferred from a remote server in real time. The shape display approximating the height field of remote terrain data is generated by linear actuators, and the corresponding texture image is projected onto the shape display. To minimize projection distortions, we present a sophisticated technique for projection mapping. Gesture-based user interfaces facilitate intuitive manipulations of visualization results. We demonstrate the effectiveness of our system by displaying and manipulating various terrain data using gesture-based interfaces.
Analyzing Spatial Behavior of Backcountry Skiers in Mountain Protected Areas Combining GPS Tracking and Graph Theory
Authors: Taczanowska Karolina , Bielański Mikołaj , González Luis-Millán , Garcia-Massó Xavier , Toca-Herrera José
Published: December 2017

Mountain protected areas (PAs) aim to preserve vulnerable environments and at the same time encourage numerous outdoor leisure activities. Understanding the way people use natural environments is crucial to balance the needs of visitors and site capacities. This study aims to develop an approach to evaluate the structure and use of designated skiing zones in PAs combining Global Positioning System (GPS) tracking and analytical methods based on graph theory. The study is based on empirical data (n = 609 GPS tracks of backcountry skiers) collected in Tatra National Park (TNP), Poland. The physical structure of the entire skiing zones system has been simplified into a graph structure (structural network; undirected graph). In a second step, the actual use of the area by skiers (functional network; directed graph) was analyzed using a graph-theoretic approach. Network coherence (connectivity indices: β, γ, α), movement directions at path segments, and relative importance of network nodes (node centrality measures: degree, betweenness, closeness, and proximity prestige) were calculated. The system of designated backcountry skiing zones was not evenly used by the visitors. Therefore, the calculated parameters differ significantly between the structural and the functional network. In particular, measures related to the actually used trails are of high importance from the management point of view. Information about the most important node locations can be used for planning sign-posts, on-site maps, interpretative boards, or other tourist infrastructure.
SPHysics Simulation of Experimental Spillway Hydraulics
Authors: Gu Shenglong , Ren Liqun , Wang Xing , Xie Hongwei , Huang Yuefei , Wei Jiahua , Shao Songdong
Published: December 2017

In this paper, we use the parallel open source code parallelSPHysics based on the weakly compressible Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (WCSPH) approach to study a spillway flow over stepped stairs. SPH is a robust mesh-free particle modelling technique and has great potential in treating the free surfaces in spillway hydraulics. A laboratory experiment is carried out for the different flow discharges and spillway step geometries. The physical model is constructed from a prototype reservoir dam in the practical field. During the experiment, flow discharge over the weir crest, free surface, velocity and pressure profiles along the spillway are measured. In the present SPH study, a straightforward push-paddle model is used to generate the steady inflow discharge in front of the weir. The parallelSPHysics model is first validated by a documented benchmark case of skimming flow over a stepped spillway. Subsequently, it is used to reproduce a laboratory experiment based on a prototype hydraulic dam project located in Qinghai Province, China. The detailed comparisons are made on the pressure profiles on the steps between the SPH results and experimental data. The energy dissipation features of the flows under different flow conditions are also discussed. It is shown that the pressure on the horizontal face of the steps demonstrates an S-shape, while on the vertical face it is negative on the upper part and positive on the lower part. The energy dissipation efficiency of the spillway could reach nearly 80%.
Genetic Diversity, Population Structure, and Genetic Correlation with Climatic Variation in Chickpea (Cicer arietinum) Landraces from Pakistan
Authors: Sani Syed Gul Abbas Shah , Chang Peter L. , Zubair Asif , Carrasquilla‐Garcia Noelia , Cordeiro Matilde , Penmetsa Ramachandra Varma , Munis M. Farooq H. , Nuzhdin Sergey V. , Cook Douglas R. , von Wettberg Eric J.
Published: December 2017

Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) production in arid regions, such as those predominant in Pakistan, faces immense challenges of drought and heat stress. Addressing these challenges is made more difficult by the lack of genetic and phenotypic characterization of available cultivated varieties and breeding materials. Genotyping‐by‐sequencing offers a rapid and cost‐effective means to identify genome‐wide nucleotide variation in crop germplasm. When combined with extended crop phenotypes deduced from climatic variation at sites of collection, the data can predict which portions of genetic variation might have roles in climate resilience. Here we use 8113 single nucleotide polymorphism markers to determine genetic variation and compare population structure within a previously uncharacterized collection of 77 landraces and 5 elite cultivars, currently grown in situ on farms throughout the chickpea growing regions of Pakistan. The compiled landraces span a striking aridity gradient into the Thal Desert of the Punjab. Despite low levels of variation across the collection and limited genetic structure, we found some differentiation between accessions from arid, semiarid, irrigated, and coastal areas. In a subset of 232 markers, we found evidence of differentiation along gradients of elevation and isothermality. Our results highlight the utility of exploring large germplasm collections for nucleotide variation associated with environmental extremes, and the use of such data to nominate germplasm accessions with the potential to improve crop drought tolerance and other environmental traits.
Industrial heritage, capitalism and business
Authors: Popp Andrew
Published: December 2017

L’article situe l’intérêt du patrimoine industriel par rapport aussi bien à la future orientation dominante du capitalisme et des entreprises qu’à des concepts comme la notion de « destruction créatrice » élaborée par Schumpeter. Ainsi contextualisé, le patrimoine industriel apparaît paradoxal et problématique : il pose des questions dérangeantes sur les processus inhérents au capitalisme et aux entreprises et sur leurs implications pour les développements sociaux et culturels. Enfin il montre comment la prise en considération du patrimoine industriel pourrait utilement être incorporée aux études et recherches sur les entreprises, les organisations et le management.
Les « villes de compagnie » du Canada. Un patrimoine urbain pour le vivre ensemble de notre siècle ?
Authors: Morisset Lucie K.
Published: December 2017

Si les villes-usines ont pu faire l’objet de nombreux travaux à l’échelle internationale, les villes de compagnie du Canada sont encore mal connues. Construites par des entreprises en situation de mono-industrie, elles ont fait l’objet de planifications soignées, non seulement pour loger les salariés, mais aussi pour leur offrir toutes les infrastructures utiles à la vie quotidienne, tant dans les domaines sociaux, politiques, économiques que des loisirs. L’article interroge cette définition et ce qu’elle recouvre, en comparaison avec d’autres typologies proches. Il analyse deux cas plus précisément pour en dégager les caractéristiques propres au Canada : Powell River, en Colombie Britannique, érigée à partir de 1908, et Arvida, au Québec, à partir de 1926. Il se termine par une réflexion sur l’état actuel de ces villes et leur avenir, possible, dans la voie d’une patrimonialisation investie et assumée par ses habitants.
Software Heritage : pourquoi et comment construire la grande bibliothèque du code source
Authors: Di Cosmo Roberto
Published: December 2017

Les logiciels informatiques constituent des objets techniques dont l’histoire est peu étudiée. Ils sont pourtant aujourd’hui incontournables dans tous les secteurs économiques, mais aussi dans l’ensemble des activités de la vie quotidienne privée et publique. Bien qu’importants, ils sont aussi très fragiles en raison de leur rapide obsolescence, de leur quantité exponentielle, et d’une caractéristique technique propre, une clef d’entrée indispensable pour les faire exister, le code source. Le projet Software Heritage, initié par l’Institut national de recherche en informatique et en automatique (INRIA), s’est attelé à leur collecte et à leur préservation au travers d’un vaste programme d’archivage accessible librement. Cette initiative a reçu le soutien de l’UNESCO en 2017 par la signature d’une convention qui ouvre la voie à des actions communes pour la préservation et le partage du code source des logiciels.
La zone entre classes laborieuses et classes dangereuses : les marges parisiennes de la Belle Époque à la fin des années 1970
Authors: Cannon James
Published: December 2017

De quoi est faite, historiquement, la mauvaise réputation de la zone ? Cet article survole trois périodes clés susceptibles d’apporter des éléments de réponse : la Belle Époque (1896-1914), pendant laquelle la zone de Paris participe avec la périphérie intra-muros de la capitale d’une recrudescence du mythe des classes laborieuses et classes dangereuses ; l’entre-deux-guerres (1919-1939), où cette zone et ce mythe s’élargissent dans l’imaginaire parisien pour incorporer les porteurs du « virus bolchevique » ; les années 1970, enfin, décennie qui repousse encore les limites de la zone et qui rajeunit le terme, en y associant les jeunes « délinquants » issus des grands ensembles et les jeunes héritiers de l’esprit anarchisant de mai 1968.
Sur la « zone » de Kreuzdorf : habiter une Wagenburg berlinoise
Authors: Marsault Ralf
Published: December 2017

Depuis le milieu des années 1980, Berlin compte un peu plus d’une douzaine de Wagenburgen , à savoir des campements alternatifs constitués d’une enfilade de caravanes et de camions où la bohème activiste côtoie des punks et des Travellers venus de toute l’Europe. Espace semi-nomade dont les résidents entretiennent une culture du passage, Kreuzdorf reste à ce jour emblématique de ces manières de vivre et d’habiter à la frontière de la société instituée. Quant à cet article, il propose une approche non invasive de cette « zone punk » dont il s’agit d’exposer non pas les habitants mais la façon dont ils conçoivent leur espace. Le programme est donc celui d’une anthropologie visuelle laissant apparaître un style de vie – celui des Wagenburgen  – au travers d’un ensemble de dispositifs et d’objets que ses promoteurs ont créés.
Les groupes chiites en Irak : enjeux nationaux et dimensions transnationales
Authors: Taha Hebatalla , Therme Clément
Published: December 2017

Les milices chiites irakiennes se sont mobilisées rapidement après la déroute de l’armée irakienne face à Daech en 2014. Elles minimisent le rôle joué par les États-Unis dans les reculs actuels de l’organisation djihadiste. Elles entendent peser sur l’avenir de l’Irak, et investissent notamment le champ de l’éducation. Ces milices sont loin d’être unifiées. Si certaines ont des affiliations très claires avec l’Iran, d’autres entretiennent des relations plus distantes avec Téhéran.
L’ordre international face à l’Amérique de Trump
Authors: Vimont Pierre
Published: December 2017

Donald Trump bouscule l’ordre mondial établi. Mais, en dépit de ses déclarations provocatrices, cherche-t-il vraiment à le remettre en cause ? Les bouleversements du système international ne datent pas de l’arrivée de Donald Trump au pouvoir. Ils correspondent à des changements en profondeur du monde de l’après-guerre froide. Si le président américain accentue aujourd’hui le désordre du monde, il n’en est pas l’instigateur et ne fournit pas davantage de solutions, faute d’une stratégie claire.
Sauver l’ordre libéral de lui-même
Authors: Lind Jennifer , Deville-Fradin Valentine
Published: December 2017

L’élection de Donald Trump est le symptôme d’une crise générale de l’ordre libéral international. Ses coûts ont été gravement sous-estimés : délocalisations brisant le pacte social, flux migratoires mal assimilables par les sociétés, divisions entre élites et masses perdantes de la globalisation, crises électorales et politiques. Les sociétés doivent adapter l’ordre libéral à leurs caractéristiques profondes, et non l’accepter comme un donné global et obligatoire.
Le Monténégro ou la fragilité à toute épreuve
Authors: Dorlhiac Renaud
Published: December 2017

Le Monténégro est désormais membre de l’Alliance atlantique, et peut-être l’État des Balkans occidentaux le plus avancé sur la voie de l’adhésion à l’Union européenne. Il a pu développer son ancrage régional et ses échanges avec les États voisins, au moment où ses relations avec Moscou se faisaient plus difficiles. Son identité nationale reste néanmoins fragile. L’économie connaît de réelles difficultés, et son système politique fait l’objet d’une contestation interne croissante.
Iran : architecture du pouvoir et conservatisme
Authors: Doix Vincent
Published: December 2017

Les institutions politiques iraniennes sont difficiles à déchiffrer. Elles sont les héritières de traditions particulières et de la Révolution de 1979. Les sources du pouvoir sont multiples : électorales, religieuses, économiques, groupes de pression, réseaux d’influence, etc. Au-delà de la dualité visible président/Guide suprême, le compromis établi entre traditions, loi religieuse et acquis libéraux est complexe et réduit la probabilité d’une évolution rapide du régime.
La France face à la politique économique de Trump
Authors: Ricard Lanata Xavier
Published: December 2017

La plupart des réformes annoncées en matière commerciale par le ­candidat Trump n’ont pas été mises en œuvre. La France peut tirer profit de l’existence de nombreux intérêts communs pour défendre sa vision d’une ­mondialisation à la fois libre-échangiste et régulée. Cependant, l’hypothèse d’un recours croissant à des mécanismes de protection et d’un rejet du multilatéralisme doit aussi être envisagée, notamment du fait de l’attitude de la Chine et de ses alliés.
Le double : un opérateur thérapeutique dans la clinique des souffrances narcissiques-identitaires ?
Authors: Jung Johann , Francisco Alexandre
Published: December 2017

L’abord clinique des souffrances narcissiques-identitaires permet de dégager un axe transféro-contre-transférentiel « en double » qui renvoie aux couches profondes de l’identité. A partir d’un cas clinique, les auteurs font l’hypothèse que le double, dans ses différentes modalités, remplirait un rôle d’attracteur transférentiel en constituant un support privilégié des transformations identitaires. L’émergence du double sur la scène transférentielle et des affects douloureux qui l’accompagnent permettra au sujet, en appui sur la fonction réflexive du clinicien et ses capacités de survivre à sa destructivité, de réorganiser son rapport à lui-même et à l’autre.
L’hallucinatoire de déplaisir. Une perspective psychanalytique et scientifique
Authors: Poenaru Liviu
Published: December 2017

L’examen de plusieurs hypothèses en lien avec le diktat de la mémoire, les effets de l’objet-limite, la fonction des hallucinations (conçues comme des échecs du processus hallucinatoire) ainsi qu’avec l’hallucinatoire comme réalisation de la pulsion, permettent à l’auteur une approche transdisciplinaire du concept d’hallucinatoire de déplaisir et des processus opposants qui le constituent.
« Centraliser grâce à la décentralisation » ou comment enseigner le contrôle de gestion ?
Authors: Quemener Yann
Published: December 2017

Le paradoxe fondateur du contrôle de gestion selon Sloan (1963, p. 53) est de pouvoir « centraliser grâce à la décentralisation » 1 . Les affinités tayloriennes des origines du contrôle de gestion explique que son enseignement a longtemps mobilisé des méthodes calculatoires génériques. L’évolution du rapport au paradoxe fondateur remet en cause les méthodes pédagogiques classiques d’enseignement. Pourtant, peu de travaux en France ont étudié des pistes de renouvellement de la palette pédagogique. L’article propose trois pistes de recherche pour accompagner cette évolution.
La dissonance cognitive comme levier d’autorégulation éthique - une étude longitudinale de six cas de harcèlement au travail
Authors: Brasseur Martine
Published: December 2017

Une autorégulation éthique au travail est-elle possible pour les individus comme pour les entreprises ? Les résultats d’une étude longitudinale de six cas de salariés confrontés à une situation de harcèlement comme harcelé, harceleur, donneur d’alerte ou témoin, semblent l’indiquer. En appui sur la théorie de la dissonance cognitive, nous avons ainsi identifié et modélisé un processus d’autorégulation éthique de la conduite professionnelle. Le rôle d’alerte joué par les émotions est ressorti de l’analyse de contenu des entretiens. Ce sont elles qui semblent amener le sujet à enclencher un processus interne de restauration de la consonance, pouvant se traduire par un changement d’attitude ou de comportement. Nous avons constaté que cette dynamique peut s’instaurer quelle que soit la position du sujet dans le harcèlement (harceleur comme harcelé), ce qui laisse supposer qu’en toute personne confrontée à un problème éthique au travail, réside une potentialité de régulation. Nous concluons sur les limites et les différents apports de l’étude.