bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Survey of Proprietorship, Continental Bureaucratic Empires, and the Culture of Power, in South Asian History
Authors: Ilhan Niaz
Published: August 2018

This historical survey examines the relationship between proprietorship, state structure, and cultures of power, over the broad expanse of South Asian History. In doing so the focus is kept upon the major Indian empires (Maurya, Delhi Sultanate, Mughal, British). The paper maintains that in continental bureaucratic empires that manifest arbitrary cultures of power the rulers perceive the state and the country as a personal estate. Consequently, the level of insecurity even within the elite, which can be dispossessed by the ruler, is remarkably high. Pervasive insecurity means that the incentives to work, save, and invest, are greatly diminished, and the creativity and enterprise that sustain qualitative improvement in the economic and technological base are by and large lacking. This pattern manifests itself more or less consistently until the British period when, for a number of reasons, private property, the rule of law, and other reforms are introduced. A new dynamic gains momentum an the basis for a modern economy are laid.
Banking: Interest Spread, Inelastic Deposit Supply, and Mergers
Authors: M. Idrees Khawaja
Published: August 2018

Interest spread, the difference between what a bank earns on its assets and what it pays on its liabilities, has been on an upward trend during the last few years: during 2005 the average interest spread of the banking sector has increased by 2.14 percent. An increase in the interest spread implies that either the depositor or the borrower or both stand to loose. In the context of developing economies, the lack of alternate avenues of financial intermediation aggravates the adverse impact of increase in spread.1 Interest spread also has implications for the effectiveness of the bank lending channel. For example, with a commitment to market based monetary policy, the central bank influences the yield on treasury bills (T. bill hereafter) that in turn affects the deposit and lending rates.2 The change in these rates influences the cost of capital that in turn affects the level of consumption and investment in the economy. If the pass-through of the changes in yield on T. bill rate to the deposit and lending rates is asymmetric then this changes the spread, for better or worse, depending upon the nature of asymmetry. If the increase in spread is due to lower return to depositors then this discourages savings; alternatively if it is due to higher charge on loans, investment decisions are affected. In either case the increase in spread has an adverse bearing upon the effectiveness of bank lending channel of monetary policy and has therefore important implications for the economy......
Competitiveness and Policy Analysis of Potato Production in Different Agro-ecological Zones of Northern Areas: Implications for Food Security and Poverty Alleviation
Authors: Noor P. Khan
Published: August 2018

Potato (L. Solanum tuberosum) belongs to Solanaceae family. It is the most important dicotyledonous tuber crop and possesses major socio-economic importance worldwide. It is the fourth most cultivated food crop after wheat, rice and maize in world. Potato is a good and cheaper source of carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals and proteins and also provides most of the trace elements, which can meet the energy requirement of the people living in the developing countries like Pakistan [Rahman (1986)]. About 325 million metric ton of potato is produced annually throughout the world [World Book (2001)]. This crop is financially more remunerative than cereals from food security and can be recommended as a partial replacement of cereals.
Judicial Systems and Authoritarian Transitions
Authors: Hilton L. Root
Published: August 2018

For several decades, development policy specialists and donor agencies have championed investment in the judicial systems of developing countries to promote economic growth and, eventually, democracy. The assumption of a causal link among these three phenomena motivates donors’ investments in the physical and human capacity of the legal system. Some reforms are narrowly focused—better enforcement of property rights and contract law—conducive to enhanced trade and investment. Although these narrow reform programs imply that political liberalisation is an ultimate objective, studies are unable to substantiate causality between the rule of law, economic growth and democracy [Carothers (2003)]. Autocratic regimes may establish courts to protect the property rights of regime insiders and to expropriate the rights of outsiders. In our view a rule of law will have emerged only once the state has achieved legitimacy in the hearts and minds of citizens. The idea that better rule of law would generate economic growth, which would in turn build constituencies for democratic reforms will be questioned in this paper. An alternative view will be suggested, most notably the alignment of national identity with the institutions of the state is critical to establishing a rule of law.
Land-locked: An Examination of Some of the Inefficiencies Affecting Transactions Involving Immovable Property
Authors: Ahmad Rafay Alam
Published: August 2018

In the study of law and economics, the Coase Theorem posits that an efficient allocation of resources will result when transactions costs are zero.1 These “transaction costs” may be viewed as impediments to an efficient allocation of resources and can take many forms. For example, long distances between a prospective vendor and purchaser of property and a lack of communication facilities between them would impede even the best of intentions to enter into a bargain. Similarly, the cost of mobilising labour and materials might impede a property developer from pursuing a tender for civil works. In some cases, a high rate of Stamp Duty on transactions can result in the parties reconsidering their decision to enter into such bargains. To the extent this author can claim knowledge of economics, the Coase Theorem also suggests that transaction costs and inefficiencies hamper the natural flow of bargains, result in inefficient allocation of resources and thus impact the economy. Some transaction costs are small enough to ignore whereas some, imposed, for example, by the law, are unavoidable. In such cases, a mutual understanding between the parties may see the burden of these transaction costs shared or, in others, avoided altogether. For example, the statutory requirements that all leases purporting to grant a term in excess of one year or which reserve an annual rent must be registered and stamped2 often results, in owners of residential property granting indefinitely renewable leases of 11 months and thus avoiding such requirements.
IFI Conditionality on Governance
Authors: Aziz Ali Mohammed  , Aziz Ali Mohammed
Published: August 2018

This note looks at the dilemmas faced in the application of conditions on governance by the international financial institutions (IFI) in the course of their lending operations in member states. Governance relates to the activities of governments and other public sector entities in the exercise of their financial and regulatory functions and that bear directly on the proper use of funds provided by the IFI. Given the extensive range of state action, conditions relating to governance can apply to diverse areas, including the allocation of public expenditures and the collection of taxes, the rules affecting procurement of goods and services by public authorities, the effectiveness of the judicial system in enforcing contracts and the arbitration of claims and obligations between governments and all the social entities they deal with.
Demographic Change and Governance Issues
Authors: Mohammad Nizam-Ud-Din
Published: August 2018

Pakistan is the 6th most populous country in the world while it ranks 4th in Asia. Its population has increased from 34 million in 1951 to an estimated 160 million in the year 2006, growing at the rate of three million persons per year. At this speed of growth, Pakistan’s population is projected to reach the 220 million mark by the year 2020; as we arrive at the Population Replacement Level. While Population Growth Rate (PGR) has declined from over 3 percent in previous decades to its current level of 2.1 percent per annum, which is, nevertheless, the highest population growth rate in South Asia, a dubious achievement when compared to the situation in the neighbouring countries. Therefore, the government policy remains intact, which is to lower population growth rate from its current level to 1.3 percent per annum by the year 2020, to reduce the total fertility rate to 2.1 percent and to reach replacement level of fertility by the year 2020. Unless its growth rate swiftly, by the year 2060, Pakistan is destined to become the 4th most populated country in the world, its population reaching over 305 million mark. In 1950s it was ranked 14.
The Impact of Public Investment on Private Investment: A Disaggregated Analysis
Authors: Noman Saeed
Published: August 2018

The impact of public investment on private investment has been a matter of great interest in economic literature. Classical economists believed that public investment crowds out private investment. While Keynesian economists counter this argument and argued that public investment increases or crowds in private investment because of the multiplier effect. Many of the empirical studies have directly examined this by testing whether a statistically significant relationship exists or not, between public investment and private investment. The empirical work appears with mixed statistical results on the relationship between public and private investment. Results of Erenburg and Wohar (1995), Pereira (2001, 2003), Pereira and Roca-Sagales (2001), Hyder (2002) and Naqvi (2002) showed that public investment crowds in private investment while Pradhan, Ratha and Sarma (1990), Haque and Montiel (1993), Ahmed (1994), Voss (2002) and Narayan (2004) showed that public investment crowds out private investment.
Did They Do It Differently? Capital Structure Choices of Public and Private Sectors in Pakistan
Authors: Muhammad Azeem Qureshi
Published: August 2018

Capital structure is one of the most complex areas of strategic financial decision making due to its interrelationship with other financial decision variables. For more than four decades discussion in corporate finance concerns the question of optimal capital structure: Given a level of total capital necessary for supporting firm’s activities, is there a way of dividing this capital into debt and equity which maximises firm value? And, if so, what are the critical factors in setting the leverage ratio for a given firm? Corporate finance literature is overwhelmed by this hot debate, which is still going on, about firm value triggered by the two conflicting conclusions of Modigliani and Miller (1958, 1963). For a comprehensive review of this literature, see Harris and Raviv (1991). The theoretical and empirical research about the optimal capital structure has so far been inconclusive and conflicting. However, the capital structure approach to firm value has been successful to replace heuristics with more methodical approach to define capital structure of the firm. The researchers have theoretically as well as empirically identified many endogenous and exogenous factors affecting the firm’s leverage. They have theoretically and empirically identified agency costs, information asymmetry, taxes, non-debt tax shields, growth, firm size, assets’ collateral value and tangibility, profitability and liquidity, earnings variability, expected costs of financial distress, industry classification, country factor, and firm’s international activities as the determinants of firm’s debt-equity choices.
Trade Liberalisation, Financial Sector Reforms, and Growth
Authors: Muhammad Arshad Khan
Published: August 2018

The relationship between trade liberalisation, financial reforms and economic growth has been well-documented in the economic literature. A considerable body of literature suggests a strong and positive link between trade liberalisation, financial development and economic growth. It has been argued that trade and financial liberalisation policies reduce the inefficiency in the production process and positively influence economic growth. This argument is strengthened by the fact that countries with more open trade and financial policies may grow faster than those with restricted trade and financial policies. An increasing openness is expected to have positive impacts on economic growth [Jin (2000); Fry (1995, 1997); Darrat (1999); Levine (1997); Mckinnon (1973); Shaw (1973) and World Bank (1989)]. There is growing consensus among the researchers that both liberalisation policies are expected to exert positive impacts on economic growth.
X-efficiency, Scale Economies, Technological Progress, and Competition: The Banking Sector in Pakistan
Authors: Abdul Qayyum
Published: August 2018

The financial sector plays an important role in economic growth, and the banking sector as a part of the financial sector facilitates the economic activities in the capacity of an intermediary between lender and borrowers. That is why the researchers as well as the policy-makers have been concerned with the issue of banking sector efficiency. The banks transform their various inputs into multiple financial products, and the efficient way the banking sector transform these input into financial products may followed by macroeconomic stability [Ngalande (2003)]. It has also important role in effective execution of monetary policy [Hartman (2004)], furthermore, efficient allocation by banks play a central role in economic growth [Galbis (1977)]. There is a strong empirical support for positive link between financial intermediation and economic growth. A wide acceptance of this link also exists and financial development used as a determinant in growth model over the past several decades [Gurley and Shaw (1955) and Goldsmith (1969)]. The positive relationship could be either through factor accumulation or through increase in efficiency [Collins (2002)]. It is the efficiency which is more important because mere factor accumulation could not stimulate economic growth [Slutz (2001)]. The efficient financial intermediation mechanism allocates the credit to more productive sectors in optimal way. In addition, this efficient financial intermediation mechanism also promotes innovations, because of high return on investment, with positive implications for economic growth [Luccheti (2000)].
Governance and Income Inequality
Authors: Saima Shafique
Published: August 2018

Major problems of developing countries are unequal income distribution and low growth rate, which affect their welfare aspects. It was implicitly assumed that whenever we achieve target of higher growth rate, benefit of growth would automatically trickle down to the poor. History of developing countries shows that the rich benefited more than the poor as evidenced by rising income inequality during the period of higher economic growth. The economic policy changes are often triggered by the logic of low level of equilibrium of output level, employment and income distribution. To overcome this low level of equilibrium trap, government often adopt polices so as to achieve high level of income and employment growth and development, and equitable income distribution. Coherent policy instruments are essential to meet these policy targets. Impact of any macro economic policy has been examined by studying its impact on economic growth and income distribution. In recent years polices have been directed toward reducing the level of poverty and inequality through raising quality of life in society by providing efficient and effective governance. This new economic philosophy has resulted in a massive change in the policy orientation of countries; the priority is now centred on issue of governance and focus is now shifted towards a qualitative nature of its growth and development. According to Sen (1983), the realisation of human capabilities, that enlarge the range of human choices, is essential for a broader notion and measure of economic well-being. The institutional frame work is then considered as one of the essential elements for translating growth and well-being into a sustainable process.
SURİYE’YE KOMŞU ÜLKELERİN SURİYELİ MÜLTECİLERE YÖNELİK POLİTİKALARI
Authors: Pirinççi Ferhat
Published: August 2018

Suriye krizi ve krizin insani boyutu, 2011 yılından itibaren ortaya çıkmış ancak bölge ülkeleri her ne kadar bu durumun farkında olsa da dünya genelinde krizin bu boyutuna yönelik bir duyarsızlık söz konusu olmuştur. Türkiye, Suriye krizinin insani boyutuna yönelik olarak krizin başında harekete geçmiş ve zaman içinde Suriye krizinin insani boyutunda Türkiye’nin uyguladığı politikalar ve uluslararası topluma bir örnek olan tutumu, uluslararası boyutta akademide, medyada ve kamuoyunda çoğunlukla göz ardı edilmiştir. Bu çalışma, Türkiye’nin Suriye krizinden etkilenen sivillere yönelik insani politikasını Suriye ile sınırları bulunan Lübnan, Ürdün ve Irak’ın yaklaşımlarıyla karşılaştırarak analiz etmektedir. Çalışma esnasında literatür taramasının yanı sıra 2014-2017 yılları arasında Suriye’ye komşu ülkelerde yapılan görüşmeler ve saha çalışmalarından yararlanılmıştır. Çalışmada ilk olarak Suriye krizinin geldiği nokta genel hatlarıyla ortaya konmakta ardından sırasıyla Türkiye, Lübnan, Ürdün ve Irak’ın geliştirdiği yaklaşımlar tartışılmaktadır. Sonuç olarak Türkiye’nin Suriye krizinin insani boyutuna yönelik uyguladığı politikaların tecrübelerle gelişerek profesyonel bir şekilde uygulandığı Türkiye’nin ardından Ürdün’ün krize profesyonel bir şekilde yaklaşım gösterdiği görülmektedir. Lübnan ve Irak’ın ise bir yandan krizin insani boyutuna muhatap olurken diğer yandan uyguladıkları politikalarla krizin bu boyutunu görmezden gelme veya öteleme şeklinde bir yaklaşım sergilediği görülmektedir. 
Arkeologi: Humanisme dan Sains
Authors: Subroto Ph.
Published: August 2018

Dalam waktu sepuluh tahun terakhir ini dunia arkeologi mengalami perkembangan yang sangat pesat di dalam metodologinya. Semenjak tahun 1960-an sudah dirasakan bahwa disiplin arkeologi berkembang menuju ke arah scientific methodology (metodologi ilmiah). Sebagai akibat perkembangan ini ada kecenderungan dari para1 arkeolog untuk menempatkan disiplin arkeologi ke dalam sains dan mengemukakan keberatannya untuk menempatkan humanisme ke dalam prosedur arkeologi. Makalah ini akan mencoba menempatkan sains dan humanisme di dalam disiplin arkeologi.
MENGAPA PHALLUS ARCA SIWA-BHAIRAWA DI PURA KEBO EDAN MENGHADAP KE ARAH KIRI?
Authors: Atmodjo Sukarto K.
Published: August 2018

Di dalam makalah saya berjudul "Betulkah Astasura-ratna-bumi-banten seorang raja Bali yang murka dan hina (?)" pada Seminar Sejarah Nasional ke III di Jakarta tahun 1981, saya juga menguraikan secara singkat sebuah arca Siwa-Bhairawa yang tersimpan di Pura Kebo Edan di Bali. Makalah itu pada pokoknya membahas seorang tokoh raja Bali yang disebut Paduka Bhatara Sri Astasura-ratna-bumi-banten di dalam prasasti tembaga Patapan Langgaran yang bertarikh 1259 Saka. Tetapi di dalam kitab Nagarakertagama yang digubah oleh pujangga Prapanca, yaitu Nyanyian 49, bait 4, disebut seorang raja Bali yang murka dan hina dan yang kemudian dikalahkan oleh bala-tentara Majapahit.
Exergy Analysis of a Domestic Refrigerator
Authors: Mahdi Louay Abd Al-Azez , Mohammad Wahid S. , Mahmood Samir Akram
Published: August 2018

An energy and exergy thermodynamic analysis using EES program was done for a domestic refrigerator working with R-134a using vapor compression refrigeration cycle. The analysis deals with the system component, i.e. compressor, condenser, evaporator and the expansion device. The analysis depends on the entropy generation minimization approach to improve the refrigerator performance by exploring the optimum design points. These design points were derived from three different theories governing the entropy generation minimization using exergy analyzing method. These theories were first applied to find the optimum balance between the hot inner condenser area and the cold inner evaporator area of the refrigerator and between its hot and cold thermal conductances. Nine types of condensers were used according to its internal surface area and thermal conductance, in order to reach the minimum entropy generation in the refrigerator. The results showed that the compressor has the lowest exergy efficiency of 25%. The expansion device was the second component after the compressor with exergy efficiency of 92%, followed by the condenser with an efficiency of 93%. The evaporator was found to have an exergy efficiency of 98 %. The experimental tests were repeated for the nine condensers sizes with three different ambient temperatures 25℃, 30℃ and 35℃.  The exergy analysis showed that the design of the refrigerator mainly depends on thermal conductance calculations rather than the surface inner area estimation.
Testing the Foundations of Signal Detection Theory in Recognition Memory
Authors: Kellen David , Winiger Samuel , Dunn John Cameron , Singmann Henrik
Published: August 2018

Signal Detection Theory (SDT) plays a central role in the characterization ofhuman judgments in a wide range of domains, most prominently in recognition memory. But despite its success, many of its fundamental properties are often misunderstood, especially when its comes to its testability. The present work examines five main properties that are characteristic of existing SDT models of recognition memory: i) random-scale representation, ii) latent-variable independence, iii) likelihood-ratio monotonicity, iv) ROC function asymmetry, and v) non-threshold representation. In each case, we establish testable consequences and test them against data collected in the appropriately-designed recognition memory experiment. We also discuss the connection between yes-no, forced-choice, and ranking judgments. This connection introduces additional behavioral constraints and yields an alternative method of reconstructing yes-no ROC functions. Overall, the reported results provide a strong empirical foundation for SDT modeling in recognition memory.
Synthesis, properties and EDM behavior of 10 wt.-% ZrB2 reinforced AA7178 matrix composites
Authors: Kumar Sundaram Dinesh , Ravichandran Manickam
Published: August 2018

The present study outlines the optimization of process parameters in the EDM of AA7178-10 wt.-% ZrB2 composites. The composites were fabricated by using stir casting and the mechanical properties are evaluated. The mechanical properties of AA7075, AA7178 and AA7178-10 wt.-% ZrB2 composites were reported. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) and energy dispersive spectrometry (EDS) analysis were used to characterize the composites. The fabricated composite material was machined using different process parameters based on Taguchi's L9 orthogonal array. Parameters such as current (I), pulse on time (PT-on) and pulse off time (PT-off) were varied. The response variables measured for the analysis are material removal rate (MRR) and surface roughness (SR). From the SN Ratio (SNR) analysis, it was observed that, current is the significant factor affecting both MRR and SR. ANOVA analysis was carried out to determine the percentage contribution of each factor to the responses. Further, a verification experiment was performed to confirm the performance of optimum parameters.
Hipertensão arterial na infância: um estudo de revisão
Authors: Dias da Silva Andressa , De Oliveira Jaqueline Angelica , Immich Isabel Cristina , De Pellegrin Kratz Cristiane
Published: August 2018

O número de casos de hipertensão arterial sistêmica (HAS) cresce anualmente. Estima-se que 36 milhões de indivíduos adultos apresentem esta patologia, acarretando alto custo socioeconômico. Os fatores de risco incluem dislipidemia, obesidade abdominal, intolerância à glicose e diabetes mellitus. Este estudo objetivou trazer uma abordagem multidisciplinar dos fatores que contribuem para o comprometimento dos níveis normais de pressão arterial (PA) em crianças e adolescentes, além de investigar os possíveis tratamentos farmacológicos e não farmacológicos desta enfermidade. A HAS está relacionada ao aumento do número de indivíduos com sobrepeso, excesso de sódio nos alimentos, consumo precoce de álcool e com o sedentarismo. Há indícios de que a progressão desta seja consequência dos comportamentos e hábitos na infância e adolescência, que implicam na relação da hipertensão na infância com a idade adulta. Crianças com elevações de PA têm predisposição a tornarem-se adultos hipertensos, ainda, as alterações leves da pressão arterial em idades precoces se traduzem em hipertensão com lesão orgânica no adulto, podendo resultar em danos na retina, rins, coração, entre outras complicações. Desta forma, é de grande importância o manejo correto tanto do diagnostico quanto da terapêutica da hipertensão na infância, ressaltando a importância da atenção primária à saúde da criança. 
HUMAN CAPITAL - THE MAIN COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE UKRAINE: PROBLEMS THE WAY ITS IMPLEMENTATION
Authors: Goryachuk V.F.
Published: August 2018

Human capital is the main competitive advantage of Ukraine, but there are a number of negative factors that limit the effectiveness of its use. First of all, this is a low level of staffing with fixed assets (5-6 times lower than in developed European countries). This results in a low technological level of production and, consequently, a 4-5 times lower level of labor productivity in comparison with developed countries, limiting the opportunities of Ukrainian citizens, especially of high qualifications, to realize their abilities and skills. As a result, the outflow of highly skilled professionals to other countries with a higher technological level of production and higher wages. Among 52 countries with the highest level of education, Ukraine has one of the lowest GDP per capita ($ 7,500). At the existing level of education in our country, GDP per capita should be about 30.0 thousand dollars. This inconsistency, to a large extent, can be attributed to inefficient government and high levels of corruption. All this negatively affects the efficiency of the use of human capital and productivity of work of citizens, which they can count on, taking into account their educational level.
Important in the consideration of human capital is its moral component, which, unlike other components (education, knowledge, experience, health, etc.) determines the vector of its use: for good or for evil. The efficiency of the use of human capital depends on the state of the institutional environment. The existing institutional environment in Ukraine encourages redistribution rather than material wealth production, reduces the possibility of fair competition, limits the direction of high-productivity use of human capital. Ukraine has enormous intellectual potential. This is our main competitive advantage, it is an opportunity to take a worthy place among the leading countries of the world. Today, there is such a chance, but it will take some time and it can be lost if society continues to cultivate the readiness of people for dishonest acts for the sake of careers, power and money, instead of focusing on the realization of their creative abilities, energy and initiative to ensure the successful modernization of your country.
ADHESIVE COMPOUND FOR PRODUCTION OF WOOD CHIPBOARD COMPOSITE MATERIALS
Authors: Pikulev V. S. , Sarkisov Yu. S. , Gorlenko N. P. , Klopotov A. A. , Rahmanova I. A.
Published: August 2018

Currently, the chipboard production is a priority direction in the development of woodworking industry. In addition to purely technological aspects, the environmental safety of chipboard production is the most relevant, which is reflected in the modern patent, scientific and technical literature. One of the main ways to improve the environmental safety and efficiency of the chipboard production is a directed modification of urea-formaldehyde resin, the main binder, in order to significantly change the emission of free formaldehyde from finished structures. This problem is solved by modifying both the binder and the hardener. Ammonium chloride, oxalic acid, hydrochloric acid, ammonium silicofluoride, combined hardener in the composition of ammonium chloride and ammonia water and others are used as a hardener, and a polyacrylamide solution is used as resin modifier. The gas phase of wood chipboards aged at 1100 °C for 30 min was studied using a method of the vapor-phase gas chromatographic analysis with the mass spectrometer detection. Results show that polyacrylamide sample with modifying additives has the smallest quantity of components releasing in the gas phase. Concerning gas emission, all studied wood chipboard samples meet the sanitary rules for the use of polymeric materials in construction and furniture production and the sanitary and hygienic assessment of polymer and polymer-containing building materials and structures intended for use in the construction of residential, public and industrial buildings.
Soziale Bewegungen und Hegemonie
Authors: Lindner Kolja
Published: August 2018

Bei manchen Diskussionsbeiträgen möchte man zunächst an die AutorInnen appellieren, den Text, den sie kritisieren, etwas genauer zu lesen. Die Replik von Raimund Feld auf meine Analyse "Soziale Bewegungen und autoritärer Populismus" aus PROKLA 148 ist von dieser Art. Ich will daher im Foigenden zunächst auf Feld fehlerhafter Lektüre meines Textes eingehen, mich anschließend jedoch v.a. zweier inhaltlicher Streitpunkte annehmen, bei denen unsere Einschätzungen der politischen Situation in Frankreich voneinander abzuweichen scheinen. Diese betreffen die sozialen Bewegungen der letzten Jahre sowie die Reichweite und Stabilität des Präsidialregimes von Nicolas Sarkozy.
Grenzen und Möglichkeiten linker Stadtpolitik
Authors: Lebuhn Henrik
Published: August 2018

Responding to Klaus Lederer's critique on an earlier article written by the author, the text highlights the preformation of the urban political arena via New Public Management, and looks at the different roles that progressive parties and grassroots movements play under these conditions.
Der Streik der Lokführer-Gewerkschaft GDL
Authors: Hoffmann Jürgen , Schmidt Rudi
Published: August 2018

The authors give an outline of the strike in 2007/08 of the oldest German union, the profeSSIOnal umon of the locomotive drivers GDL. By doing this they analyse the outcome of the strike and the dynamics of the relationship between that professional union GDL, the industrial union transnet and the German Railway Ltd. (DB AG) as pardigmatic for politics of a particularistic organisation (GDL) and politics of an encompassing organisation (transnet). And they put the question whether the upcoming of professional unions in Germany would lead to an erosion of the German system of industrial relations in the future.
Effect of Optimal Placement of Permanent Magnets on the Electromagnetic Force in the Horizontal Direction
Authors: Ito Yasuaki , Oda Yoshiho , Narita Takayoshi , Kato Hideaki
Published: August 2018

The surface quality of steel plates is deteriorated as they contact rollers while being conveyed during manufacturing processes. To solve this problem, we previously proposed a hybrid electromagnetic levitation system comprising electromagnets, permanent magnets, and a horizontal positioning control system for steel plates. Moreover, to increase stability, we proposed integrating these levitation systems. In this study, we aim to determine the optimal placement of permanent magnets in the levitation system to suppress the deflection of a levitated steel plate for cases where the magnetic field in the horizontal direction changes. Using a genetic algorithm, the optimal gap, number, and placement of permanent magnets in the system are obtained.
Foliar Application of Cu Nanoparticles Modified the Content of Bioactive Compounds in Moringa oleifera Lam
Authors: Juárez-Maldonado Antonio , Ortega-Ortíz Hortensia , Cadenas-Pliego Gregorio , Valdés-Reyna Jesús , Pinedo-Espinoza José Manuel , López-Palestina César Uriel , Hernández-Fuentes Alma Delia
Published: August 2018

Moringa oleifera Lam is a plant that has recently gained importance as a food because of its nutritional value and bioactive compound content and because practically all the organs are usable. The use of nanoparticles has appeared as an alternative to increase bioactive compounds in plants. The goal of this work was to determine if the application of copper nanoparticles would increase the content of bioactive compounds and antioxidant capacity in M. oleifera. Copper (Cu) nanoparticles were applied to the leaves at four different times throughout crop growth. The biocompounds were analyzed after the second, third, and fourth applications. The results show that application of Cu nanoparticles has a beneficial effect on the accumulation of bioactive compounds in M. oleifera leaves. In addition, the antioxidant capacity and carotenoid and chlorophyll contents in the leaves of M. oleifera increased after Cu nanoparticles application. The same effect was not observed in the fruit of M. oleifera. Here, the bioactive compound contents diminished. Therefore, the use of Cu nanoparticles can be an important alternative to improve the quality of this plant, particularly that of the leaves.
Multi-Objective Virtual Power Plant Construction Model Based on Decision Area Division
Authors: Duan Jie , Wang Xiaodan , Gao Yajing , Yang Yongchun , Yang Wenhai , Li Hong , Ehsan Ali
Published: August 2018

Virtual power plant (VPP) is an effective technology form to aggregate the distributed energy resources (DERs), which include distributed generation (DG), energy storage (ES) and demand response (DR). The establishment of a unified and coordinated control of VPP is an important means to achieve the interconnection of energy internet. Therefore, this paper focuses on the research of VPP construction model. Firstly, a preliminary introduction on all kinds of the DERs is carried out. According to the relevant guidelines, the decision area of the VPP is carefully divided, and the decision variables representing the various resources in the area are determined. Then, in order to get a VPP with low daily average cost, good load characteristics, high degree of DG consumption and high degree of resource aggregation, a multi-objective VPP construction model based on decision area division is established, and various constraints including geographic information are considered. The improved bat algorithm based on priority selection is used to solve this model. Finally, the correctness and effectiveness of the model are verified by an example.
A Baseline for General Music Object Detection with Deep Learning
Authors: Pacha Alexander , Hajič Jan , Calvo-Zaragoza Jorge
Published: August 2018

Deep learning is bringing breakthroughs to many computer vision subfields including Optical Music Recognition (OMR), which has seen a series of improvements to musical symbol detection achieved by using generic deep learning models. However, so far, each such proposal has been based on a specific dataset and different evaluation criteria, which made it difficult to quantify the new deep learning-based state-of-the-art and assess the relative merits of these detection models on music scores. In this paper, a baseline for general detection of musical symbols with deep learning is presented. We consider three datasets of heterogeneous typology but with the same annotation format, three neural models of different nature, and establish their performance in terms of a common evaluation standard. The experimental results confirm that the direct music object detection with deep learning is indeed promising, but at the same time illustrates some of the domain-specific shortcomings of the general detectors. A qualitative comparison then suggests avenues for OMR improvement, based both on properties of the detection model and how the datasets are defined. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that competing music object detection systems from the machine learning paradigm are directly compared to each other. We hope that this work will serve as a reference to measure the progress of future developments of OMR in music object detection.
Evaluation Model of Demand-Side Energy Resources in Urban Power Grid Based on Geographic Information
Authors: Chen Feifan , Guo Shixiao , Gao Yajing , Yang Wenhai , Yang Yongchun , Zhao Zheng , Ehsan Ali
Published: August 2018

In the context of current energy shortage and environmental degradation, the penetration rate of demand-side energy resources (DSER) in the power grid is constantly increasing. To alleviate the problems concerning the energy and environment, it is of tremendous urgency to develop and make effective use of them. Therefore, this paper proposes the evaluation model of DSER in urban power grid based on geographic information, and a variety of demand-side energy resources in a region is evaluated. Firstly, as for five kinds of DSER, revolving wind power generation (WG), photovoltaic power generation (PV), electric vehicle (EV), energy storage (ES), and flexible load, the commonality indexes and individuality indexes of all kinds of resources are selected based on geographic information. The commonality indexes are common indexes of all DSER, and the individuality indexes are unique indexes of all DSER. Then the weight of each subindex under the commonality and individuality indexes are determined by analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and entropy weight method, respectively. Finally, weighted overlay are made according to the weights and quantized values of each index, and a comprehensive score is obtained from the commonality indexes and individuality indexes upon various demand-side energy resources in the region. The result depicts that the proposed evaluation model of demand-side energy resources is of well practicability and effectiveness, which is beneficial to the planning of the city and the power grid. Most of all, such model provides a strong support for the long-term optimization planning and the medium-term optimization aggregation of DSER.
Predicting Aromatic Amine Mutagenicity with Confidence: A Case Study Using Conformal Prediction
Authors: Norinder Ulf , Myatt Glenn , Ahlberg Ernst
Published: August 2018

The occurrence of mutagenicity in primary aromatic amines has been investigated using conformal prediction. The results of the investigation show that it is possible to develop mathematically proven valid models using conformal prediction and that the existence of uncertain classes of prediction, such as both (both classes assigned to a compound) and empty (no class assigned to a compound), provides the user with additional information on how to use, further develop, and possibly improve future models. The study also indicates that the use of different sets of fingerprints results in models, for which the ability to discriminate varies with respect to the set level of acceptable errors.
Carbon Self-Doped Carbon Nitride Nanosheets with Enhanced Visible-Light Photocatalytic Hydrogen Production
Authors: Wang Hongwei , Huang Guiqing , Chen Zhiwei , Li Weibing
Published: August 2018

In this study, we prepared carbon self-doped carbon nitride nanosheets through a glucose synergic co-condensation method. In the carbon self-doped structure, the N atoms in the triazine rings were substituted by C atoms, resulting in enhanced visible-light photocatalytic hydrogen production, which is three-times higher than that of bulk carbon nitride. The enhanced photocatalytic hydrogen production was attributed to the higher charge-carrier transfer rate and widened light absorption range of the carbon nitride nanosheets after carbon self-doping. Thus, this work highlights the importance of carbon self-doping for improving the photocatalytic performance. Meanwhile, it provides a feasible method for the preparation of carbon self-doped carbon nitride without destroying the 2D conjugated backbone structures.
CFAP70 Is a Novel Axoneme-Binding Protein That Localizes at the Base of the Outer Dynein Arm and Regulates Ciliary Motility
Authors: Shamoto Noritoshi , Narita Keishi , Kubo Tomohiro , Oda Toshiyuki , Takeda Sen
Published: August 2018

In the present study, we characterized CFAP70, a candidate of cilia-related protein in mice. As this protein has a cluster of tetratricopeptide repeat (TPR) domains like many components of the intraflagellar transport (IFT) complex, we investigated the domain functions of particular interest in ciliary targeting and/or localization. RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry of various mouse tissues demonstrated the association of CFAP70 with motile cilia and flagella. A stepwise extraction of proteins from swine tracheal cilia showed that CFAP70 bound tightly to the ciliary axoneme. Fluorescence microscopy of the cultured ependyma expressing fragments of CFAP70 demonstrated that the N-terminus rather than the C-terminus with the TPR domains was more important for the ciliary localization. When CFAP70 was knocked down in cultured mouse ependyma, reductions in cilia beating frequency were observed. Consistent with these observations, a Chlamydomonas mutant lacking the CFAP70 homolog, FAP70, showed defects in outer dynein arm (ODA) activity and a reduction in flagellar motility. Cryo-electron tomography revealed that the N-terminus of FAP70 resided stably at the base of the ODA. These results demonstrated that CFAP70 is a novel regulatory component of the ODA in motile cilia and flagella, and that the N-terminus is important for its ciliary localization.
Teachers’ Strategies in Combating Diseases in Preschools’ Environments
Authors: Obeng-Gyasi Emmanuel , Weinstein Melissa A. , Hauser Jessica R. , Obeng Cecilia S.
Published: August 2018

Scholarship on child health indicates that the early years of life are vital for all aspects of health and development. In particular, a solid health foundation predicts good life outcomes; therefore, systematic strategies for combating diseases are needed to ensure optimal health of young children in early care environments. This study examined strategies used by 48 preschool teachers from 10 pre-schools in the US Midwest in order to combat diseases. The following results emerged: Participants noted that children should not attend childcare if they are vomiting, have a fever or have diarrhea. They should be symptom-free for at least one day before returning to school. It is recommended that children be sent home if they have any disease deemed to have adverse effects on their health during the school day. Participants noted further that children must not share hats in their childcare environments to avoid transfer of head lice. Since no strategies were mentioned to help children cope with emotional distress and illness, it is recommended that teachers develop strategies that will address emotional childhood diseases in order to help all children.
Youth Physical Activity Patterns During School and Out-of-School Time
Authors: Saint-Maurice Pedro F. , Bai Yang , Vazou Spyridoula , Welk Gregory
Published: August 2018

This study describes age, sex, and season patterns in children’s physical activity behaviors during discrete time periods, both in school and at home. Participants were 135 elementary, 67 middle, and 89 high-school students (128 boys and 163 girls) involved in a larger school activity monitoring project. We examined time spent in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) at recess, physical education (PE), lunch, commuting to/from school, before-school, after-school, evening, and weekend segments. Differences in MVPA by age, sex, and season were examined using a three-way analysis of variance and separately for each individual segment. Moderate-to-vigorous physical activity levels varied by context and were higher during recess (15.4 ± 8.5 min) while at school, and on Saturdays (97.4 ± 89.5 min) when youth were out-of-school. Elementary children were more active than their older counterparts only during lunch time, after-school, and Sunday (p < 0.05). Boys were consistently more active than girls at all segments. Participants were only more active during non-winter than winter months during PE (p = 0.006), after-school (p < 0.001), and Sunday (p = 0.008) segments. These findings showed that activity levels in youth vary during the day and season. The segments reflect discrete time periods that can potentially be targeted and evaluated to promote physical activity in this population.
Formation of Dislocations in the Growth of Silicon along Different Crystallographic Directions—A Molecular Dynamics Study
Authors: Zhou Naigen , Wei Xiuqin , Zhou Lang
Published: August 2018

Molecular dynamics simulations of the seeded solidification of silicon along <100>, <110>, <111> and <112> directions have been carried out. The Tersoff potential is adopted for computing atomic interaction. The control of uniaxial strains in the seed crystals is enabled in the simulations. The results show that the dislocation forms stochastically at the crystal/melt interface, with the highest probability of the formation in <111> growth, which agrees with the prediction from a previously proposed twinning-associated dislocation formation mechanism. Applications of the strains within a certain range are found to inhibit the {111}-twinning-associated dislocation formation, while beyond this range they are found to induce dislocation formation by different mechanisms.
Changes in Species Composition of Birds and Declining Number of Breeding Territories over 40 Years in a Nature Conservation Area in Southwest Germany
Authors: Schrauth Fabian Etienne , Wink Michael
Published: August 2018

Global loss of biodiversity is occurring at an alarming rate and is a major issue in current times. Long-term studies offer the possibility to analyse changes in biodiversity and allow assessments of anthropogenic interventions in ecosystems. At present, various studies in most countries show partially strong declines of insect populations. Due to their role as a food source for many organisms it is assumed that declines of insect abundance might have effects on higher trophic levels like insectivorous birds. For reliable statements on relationships between food availability and population trends, systematic and extensive records of breeding birds are necessary. In this study, we analysed the changes in the range of species, biodiversity, and abundance of a breeding bird community over 43 years in a large nature conservation area in southwest Germany (“Lampertheimer Altrhein” near Mannheim). Since 1974, considerable changes in the spectrum of breeding birds have been found, but the overall biodiversity index did not change. Furthermore, 70% of the investigated species showed decreasing numbers of breeding bird territories, and the overall number of territories across species declined by more than 65%. A classification based on the main diet during the breeding period and habitat use revealed strong declines for insectivorous birds in the study area, especially in wetland and open cultivated landscapes.
Cognitive Radar Waveform Optimization Based on Mutual Information and Kalman filtering
Authors: Yao Yu , Zhao Junhui , Wu Lenan
Published: August 2018

A new strategy to optimizing the waveforms of cognitive radar under transmitted power constraint is presented. Our scheme is to enhance the performance of target estimation by minimizing the MSE (mean-square error) of the estimates of target scattering coefficients (TSC) based on Kalman filtering and then minimizing mutual information (MI) between the radar target echoes at successive time instants. The two steps are the optimal design of transmission waveform and the selection of a reasonable waveform from the ensemble for emission, respectively. The waveform design technique addresses the problems of target detection and parameter estimation in intelligent transportation system (ITS), where there is a need of extracting the features of target information obtained from different sensors. As the number of iterations increases, simulation results show better TSC estimation from the radar scene provided by the proposed approach as compared with the traditional waveform optimization algorithm. In addition, the proposed algorithm results in improved target detection probability.