bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Relationship Between Customer Engagement, Satisfaction, and Loyalty
Authors: Al-Dmour Hani H , Ali Wasim Khalil , Al-Dmour Rand H
Published: January 2019

This article examines how customer engagement influences customer satisfaction, experience, trust, and loyalty in the context of mobile banking as well as the role of customer experience and trust as mediating variables in customer engagement with customer satisfaction and customer loyalty. For these purposes, a conceptual framework based on the content analysis of the previous studies was developed. The data for this research were collected from 406 customers using mobile banking services in Jordan. The responses are verified using structural equation modelling. Customer engagement positively influences customer trust and experience, while the impact of customer engagement on customer satisfaction and loyalty is partially mediated by customer trust. The study findings may aid future researchers in their quest in understanding the inherent relationships that lie between the constructs' questions and may provide a platform for banking managers in their efforts to improve their online banking customers satisfaction.
Manipulation of Ambient Housing Temperature To Study the Impact of Chronic Stress on Immunity and Cancer in Mice
Authors: Hylander Bonnie L. , Gordon Christopher J. , Repasky Elizabeth A.
Published: January 2019

Mice are the preeminent research organism in which to model human diseases and study the involvement of the immune response. Rapidly accumulating evidence indicates a significant involvement of stress hormones in cancer progression, resistance to therapies, and suppression of immune responses. As a result, there has been a concerted effort to model human stress in mice. In this article, we discuss recent literature showing how mice in research facilities are chronically stressed at baseline because of environmental factors. Focusing on housing temperature, we suggest that the stress of cool housing temperatures contributes to the impact of other imposed experimental stressors and therefore has a confounding effect on mouse stress models. Furthermore, we propose that manipulation of housing temperature is a useful approach for studying the impact of chronic stress on disease and the immune response and for testing therapeutic methods of reducing the negative effects of chronic stress.
ARTD1 in Myeloid Cells Controls the IL-12/18–IFN-γ Axis in a Model of Sterile Sepsis, Chronic Bacterial Infection, and Cancer
Authors: Kunze Friedrich A. , Bauer Michael , Komuczki Juliana , Lanzinger Margit , Gunasekera Kapila , Hopp Ann-Katrin , Lehmann Mareike , Becher Burkhard , Müller Anne , Hottiger Michael O.
Published: January 2019

Mice deficient for ADP-ribosyltransferase diphteria toxin–like 1 (ARTD1) are protected against microbially induced inflammation. To address the contribution of ARTD1 to inflammation specifically in myeloid cells, we generated an Artd1ΔMyel mouse strain with conditional ARTD1 deficiency in myeloid lineages and examined the strain in three disease models. We found that ARTD1, but not its enzymatic activity, enhanced the transcriptional activation of distinct LPS-induced genes that included IL-12, TNF-α, and IL-6 in primary bone marrow–derived macrophages and LPS-induced IL-12/18–IFN-γ signaling in Artd1ΔMyel mice. The loss of Artd1 in myeloid cells also reduced the TH1 response to Helicobacter pylori and impaired immune control of the bacteria. Furthermore, Artd1ΔMyel mice failed to control tumor growth in a s.c. MC-38 model of colon cancer, which could be attributed to reduced TH1 and CD8 responses. Together, these data provide strong evidence for a cell-intrinsic role of ARTD1 in myeloid cells that is independent of its enzymatic activity and promotes type I immunity by promoting IL-12/18 expression.
Cardiac Prevention and Rehabilitation “3.0”: From acute to chronic phase. Position Paper of the ltalian Association for Cardiovascular Prevention and Rehabilitation (GICR-IACPR)
Authors: Pedretti Roberto F.E. , Fattirolli Francesco , Griffo Raffaele , Ambrosetti Marco , Angelino Elisabetta , Brazzo Silvia , Corrà Ugo , Dasseni Nicolò , Faggiano Pompilio , Favretto Giuseppe , Febo Oreste , Ferrari Marina , Giallauria Francesco , Greco Cesare , Iannucci Manuela , La Rovere Maria Teresa , Mallardo Mario , Mazza Antonio , Piepoli Massimo , Riccio Carmine , Scalvini Simonetta , Tavazzi Luigi , Temporelli Pier Luigi , Mureddu Gian Francesco
Published: January 2019

Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is the subspecialty of clinical cardiology dedicated to the treatment of cardiac patients, early and in the long term after an acute event. The aim of CR is to improve both quality of life and prognosis through prognostic stratification, clinical stabilization and optimization of therapy (pharmacological and non), management of comorbidities, treatment of disability, as well as through the provision and reinforcement of secondary prevention interventions and maintenaince of adherence to treatment. The mission of CR has changed over time. Once centered on the acute phase, aimed primarily at short-term survival, the healthcare of cardiac patients now increasingly involves the chronic phase where the challenge is to guarantee continuity and quality of care in the medium and long-term. The aim of the present position paper is to provide the state-of-the-art of CR in Italy, discussing its trengths and weaknesses as well as future perspectives.
Exogenous lipoid pneumonia associated with oil pulling: Report of two cases
Authors: Wong Chi Fong , Yan See Wan , Wong Wai Mui , Ho Ronnie S.L.
Published: January 2019

Two ladies with history of carcinoma of tongue presenting with un-resolving pneumonia were ultimately diagnosed to have lipoid pneumonia, and both were subsequently found to be associated with the practice of oil pulling which is a popular complementary therapy. Apart from cessation of oil pulling, they were treated with repeated therapeutic lobar broncho-alveolar lavage. despite the potential benefits of oil pulling on oral health, people especially those at risk of aspiration, should be properly informed of this potential risk when considering this form of complementary therapy.
The value of exfoliative cell cytology in the diagnosis of exudative pleural effusions
Authors: Tetikkurt Cuneyt , Yılmaz Nail , Tetikkurt Seza , Gundogdu Şule , Disci Rian
Published: January 2019

The sensitivity and specificity of exfoliative cell cytology for the diagnosis of exudative pleural effusions varies widely according to the etiologic causes. The aim of this study is to assess the diagnostic value of exfoliative cell cytology for the identification of exudative pleural effusions. This is a retrospective study of the patients with an exudative pleural effusion admitted at our clinic in the last twenty years. We have conducted the clinical, the cytological findings, and the diagnostic results of six hundred patients from hospital records.  Male to female ratio was 2.2:1 with a mean age of 42.8 years (range 18-78 years) among the patients. Samples were processed and evaluated according to the standard methods. Cytology results were reviewed and the patients were stratified according to the final diagnosis of their disease. Of the six hundred exudative effusions, 240 were malignant on exfoliative cytology pleural fluid alone. Adenocarcinoma was the most common type of malignancy. Tuberculosis was the second most frequent etiology for the exudative effusions followed by infection and collagen vascular diseases. Diagnostic accuracy of cytology showed a good correlation with the final diagnosis with an overall 70.1% sensitivity, 62.5% specificity, and a 95.9% positive predictive value for all exudative pleural effusions. Cytologic examination of the pleural fluid is a simple non-invasive procedure as the initial step for the diagnostic work up of patients with a pleural effusion.  Exfoliative cytology provides high a final diagnostic yield for the identification of an exudative pleural effusion etiology. Furthermore, cytologic analysis leads the clinician into the correct diagnostic pathway as the most informative laboratory tool even when it was not diagnostic by itself for equivocal cases.
Isolated tension pneumoperitoneum following endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration complicated by cardiac peri-arrest: A case report
Authors: Muriana Piergiorgio , Carretta Angelo , Ciriaco Paola , Rossetti Francesca , Negri Giampiero
Published: January 2019

Transbronchial needle aspiration under endobronchial ultrasound guidance (EBUS-TBNA) is recommended for the diagnosis and staging of lung cancer. Major complications following EBUS-TBNA are uncommon. We report a case of isolated tension pneumoperitoneum following EBUS-TBNA under deep sedation in an 80-year-old male patient affected by a right hilar mass suspicious for lung cancer. At the end of the procedure, the patient suddenly manifested desaturation, severe bradycardia and hypotension, and abdominal distension. After resuscitation, in the suspect of intraperitoneal free air, needle decompression led to respiratory and hemodynamic improvement. A total body CT-scan showed isolated pneumoperitoneum without signs of gastrointestinal perforation, confirmed by a subsequent upper digestive contrast study. The patient recovered well without the need of surgical exploration. Isolated tension pneumoperitoneum can be an exceptional complication of EBUS-TBNA; a conservative treatment can avoid unnecessary surgery in the absence of peritonism.
Тропические нижние оценки для расширений многогранников. II. Графы несоответствия
Authors: Shitov Yaroslav
Published: January 2019

Графы несоответствия возникают в связи с задачей представления вектора в виде суммы точек заданного тропического многообразия. В настоящей статье разработаны приложения этого понятия к теории расширений выпуклых многогранников: показано, что хроматическое число графа несоответствия специальным образом построенной тропической матрицы служит нижней оценкой сложности расширения данного выпуклого многогранника. В работе приведено сравнение этой нижней оценки с известными ранее оценками этого инварианта, а также сформулировано несколько гипотез, связывающих графы несоответствия и расширения многогранников с теорией ранговых функций тропических матриц.
Библиография: 34 наименования.
Завершение классификации типичных особенностей геодезических потоков в метриках двух классов
Authors: Pavlova Natalia Gennadievna , Remizov Alexey Olegovich
Published: January 2019

Эта статья является заключительной в серии работ, посвященных типичным особенностям геодезических потоков в двумерных псевдоримановых метриках переменной сигнатуры и метриках на поверхностях с ребром возврата, индуцированных евклидовой метрикой объемлющего пространства. Исследованы локальные фазовые портреты и свойства геодезических в точках вырождения определенного типа, который завершает список особенностей коразмерности $1$ и $2$.
Библиография: 28 наименований.
Неподвижные точки и совпадения семейств отображений упорядоченных множеств и некоторые метрические следствия
Authors: Fomenko Tatiana Nikolaevna
Published: January 2019

Представлены теоремы об общих неподвижных точках и точках совпадения семейств многозначных отображений упорядоченных множеств, обобщающие соответствующие результаты недавних совместных работ автора и Д. А. Подоприхина, а также классические теоремы Кнастера-Тарского, Смитсона и Цермело. Рассмотрены связи с теоремой Каристи о неподвижной точке и некоторыми другими метрическими результатами.
Библиография: 63 наименования.
The Roman Object Revolution
Authors: Pitts Martin
Published: January 2019

Archaeologists working in northwest Europe have long remarked on the sheer quantity and standardisation of objects unearthed from the Roman period, especially compared with earlier eras. What was the historical significance of this boom in standardised objects? With a wide and ever-changing spectrum of innovative objects and styles to choose from, to what extent did the choices made by people in the past really matter? To answer these questions, this book sheds new light on the make-up of late Iron Age and early Roman ‘objectscapes’, through an examination of the circulation and selections of thousands of standardised pots, brooches, and other objects, with emphasis on funerary repertoires, c. 100 bc-ad 100. Breaking with the national frameworks that inform artefact research in much ‘provincial’ Roman archaeology, the book tests the idea that marked increases in the movement of people and objects fostered pan-regional culture(s) and transformed societies. Using a rich database of cemeteries and settlements spanning a swathe of northwest Europe, including southern Britannia, Gallia Belgica, and Germania Inferior, the study extensively applies multivariate statistics (such as Correspondence Analysis) to examine the roles of objects in an ever-changing and richly complex cultural milieu.
Effects of Arctic stratospheric ozone changes on spring precipitation in the northwestern United States
Authors: Ma Xuan , Xie Fei , Li Jianping , Zheng Xinlong , Tian Wenshou , Ding Ruiqiang , Sun Cheng , Zhang Jiankai
Published: January 2019

Abstract. Using observations and reanalysis, we find that changes in April
precipitation variations in the northwestern US are strongly linked to March
Arctic stratospheric ozone (ASO). An increase in ASO can result in enhanced
westerlies in the high and low latitudes of the North Pacific but weakened
westerlies in the midlatitudes. The anomalous circulation over the North
Pacific can extend eastward to western North America, decreasing the water
vapor concentration in the air over the northwestern United States and
enhancing downwelling in the northwestern US, which results in decreased
precipitation there and vice versa for the decrease in ASO. Model
simulations using the Whole Atmosphere Community Climate Model version 4 (WACCM4) support the statistical analysis of observations and
reanalysis data and further reveal that the ASO influences circulation
anomalies over the northwestern US in two ways. Stratospheric circulation
anomalies caused by the ASO changes can propagate downward to the troposphere
in the North Pacific and then eastward to influence the strength of the
circulation anomalies over the northwestern US. In addition, sea surface
temperature anomalies over the North Pacific, which may be related to the ASO
changes, would cooperate with the ASO changes to modify the circulation
anomalies over the northwestern US. Our results suggest that ASO variations
could be a useful predictor of spring precipitation changes in the
northwestern US.
Specifying light absorbing properties of aerosol particles in fresh snow samples, collected at the Environmental Research Station Schneefernerhaus (UFS), Zugspitze
Authors: Linke Claudia , Ibrahim Inas , Kiselev Alexei , Waitz Fritz , Leisner Thomas , Rehm Till , Norra Stefan , Schnaiter Martin
Published: January 2019

Abstract. Darkening of pristine white areas on Earth could happen when light absorbing particles are deposited on snow and ice surfaces. Airborne particles like mineral dust, ashes or carbonaceous aerosols are able to reduce the snow and ice albedo already by a small quantity of deposited particles. In this study we developed a laboratory analysis method to address mass and absorption properties of snow particles simultaneously. For a set of snow samples, taken at the Environmental Research Station Schneefernerhaus (UFS) during winter 2016/2017, we combine the determination of refractory Black Carbon mass (rBC) by a Single Particle Soot Photometer (SP2) with photo acoustic aerosol absorption spectroscopy at three distinct wavelengths across the visible spectral range (PAAS-3λ). For the calibration of the method, Fullerene standard aerosol was used and its mass specific absorption cross section was determined. The analysis of the UFS snow sample measurements reveals a significant difference between the particle masses determined from the PAAS-3λ and the SP2 data. Our findings suggest that the light absorbing particles included in the snow could not only be composed of rBC but must have particulate matter of different nature. This result is confirmed by Environmental Scanning Electron Microscopy (ESEM) and single particle fluorescence measurements with the Waveband Integrated Bioaerosol Sensor (WIBS-4) which both revealed a significant portion of biological material to be present in the snow samples.
Is Positive Correlation between Cloud Droplet Effective Radius and
Aerosol Index over Land Due to Retrieval Artifacts or Real Physical
Processes?
Authors: Jia Hailing , Ma Xiaoyan , Quaas Johannes , Yin Yan , Qiu Tom
Published: January 2019

Abstract. The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) C6 L3, Clouds and the Earth's Radiant Energy System (CERES) Edition-4 L3 products, and the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) ERA-Interim reanalysis data are employed to systematically study aerosol-cloud correlations over three anthropogenic aerosol regions and their adjacent oceans, as well as explore the effect of retrieval artifacts and underlying physical mechanisms. This study is confined to warm phase and single layer clouds without precipitation during the summertime (June, July, and August). Our analysis suggest that cloud effective radius (CER) is positively correlated with aerosol index (AI) over land (positive slopes), but negatively correlated over oceans (negative slopes) even with small ranges of liquid water path (quasi-constant). The changes in albedo at the top of atmosphere (TOA) corresponding to aerosol-induced changes in CER also lends credence to the authenticity of this opposite aerosol-cloud correlation between land and ocean. It is noted that potential artifacts, such as the retrieval biases of both cloud (partially cloudy and 3-D shaped clouds) and aerosol, can result in a serious overestimation of the slope of CER-AI. Our results show that collision-coalescence seems not to be the dominant cause for positive slope over land, but the increased CER caused by increased aerosol might further increase CER by initializing collision-coalescence, generating a positive feedback. By stratifying data according to the lower tropospheric stability and relative humidity near cloud top, it is found that the positive correlations more likely occur in case of drier cloud top and stronger turbulence in clouds, while negative correlations occur in case of moister cloud top and weaker turbulence in clouds, which implies entrainment mixing might be a possible physical interpretation for such a positive CER-AI slope.
Drivers of 21st Century carbon cycle variability in the North
Atlantic Ocean
Authors: Couldrey Matthew P. , Oliver Kevin I. C. , Yool Andrew , Halloran Paul R. , Achterberg Eric P.
Published: January 2019

Abstract. The North Atlantic carbon sink is a prominent component of global climate, storing large amounts of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2), but this basin’s CO2 uptake variability presents challenges for future climate prediction. A comprehensive mechanistic understanding of the processes that give rise to year-to-year (interannual) and decade-to-decade (decadal) variability in the North Atlantic’s dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) inventory is lacking. Here, we numerically simulate the oceanic response to human-induced (anthropogenic) climate change from the industrial era to the year 2100. The model distinguishes how different physical, chemical, and biological processes modify the basin’s DIC inventory; the saturation, soft tissue, and carbonate pumps, anthropogenic emissions, and other processes causing air-sea disequilibria. There are four ‘natural’ pools (saturation, soft tissue, carbonate, and disequilibrium), and an ‘anthropogenic’ pool. Interannual variability of the North Atlantic DIC inventory arises primarily due to temperature- and alkalinity-induced changes in carbon solubility (saturation concentrations). A mixture of saturation and anthropogenic drivers cause decadal variability. Multidecadal variability results from the opposing effects of saturation versus soft tissue carbon, and anthropogenic carbon uptake. By the year 2100, the North Atlantic gains 66 Pg (1 Pg = 1015 grams) of anthropogenic carbon, and the natural carbon pools collectively decline by 4.8 Pg. The first order controls on interannual variability of the North Atlantic carbon sink size are therefore largely physical, and the biological pump emerges as an important driver of change on multidecadal timescales. Further work should identify specifically which physical processes underlie the interannual saturation-dominated DIC variability documented here.
TREMOL: A stochastic rupture earthquake code based on the fiber
bundle model. Application to Mexican subduction earthquakes
Authors: Monterrubio-Velasco Marisol , Rodríguez-Pérez Quetzalcóatl , Zúñiga Ramón , Scholz Doreen , Aguilar-Meléndez Armando , de la Puente Josep
Published: January 2019

Abstract. In general terms, earthquakes are the result of brittle failure within the heterogeneous crust of the Earth. However, the rupture process of a heterogeneous material is a complex physical problem which is difficult to model deterministically due to the numerous parameters and physical conditions, which are largely unknown. Considering the variability within the parametrization, it is necessary to analyze earthquakes by means of different approaches. Computational physics may offer alternative ways to study brittle rock failure by generating synthetic seismic data based on physical and statistical models, and by the use of only few free parameters. The Fiber Bundle model (FBM) is a discrete element model, which is able to describe complex rupture processes in heterogeneous materials. In this article, we present a computer code called stochasTic Rupture Earthquake MOdeL, TREMOL. This code is based on the principle of the FBM to investigate the rupture process of asperities on the earthquake rupture surface. In order to validate TREMOL, we carried out a parametric study at first to identify the best parameter configuration while minimizing computational efforts. As test cases, we applied the final configuration to 10 Mexican subduction zone earthquakes in order to compare the synthetic results by TREMOL with real data. According to our results, TREMOL is able to model the rupture of an asperity that is defined essentially by two basic dimensions: (1) the size of the fault plane, and (2) the size of the maximum asperity within the fault plane. Based on this data, and few additional parameters, TREMOL is able to generate numerous earthquakes as well as a maximum magnitude for different scenarios within a reasonable error range. The simulated earthquakes magnitudes are of the same order as the real earthquakes. Thus, TREMOL can be used to analyze the behavior of a single asperity or a group of asperities since TREMOL considers the maximum magnitude occurring on a fault plane as a function of the size of the asperity. TREMOL is a simple, and flexible model which allows its users to investigate the role of the initial stress configuration, and the dimensions and material properties of seismic asperities. Although various assumptions and simplifications are included in the model, we show that TREMOL can be a powerful tool which can deliver promising new insights into earthquake rupture processes.
GIS-based earthquake-triggered landslide susceptibility mapping with an integrated weighted index model in Jiuzhaigou region of Sichuan Province, China
Authors: Yi Yaning , Zhang Zhijie , Zhang Wanchang , Xu Qi , Deng Cai , Li Qilun
Published: January 2019

Abstract. A Ms 7.0 earthquake struck the Jiuzhaigou region of Sichuan Province, China at 21:19 pm on Tuesday, 8 August 2017, which triggered a large number of landslides. For mitigating the damages of earthquake-triggered landslides to individuals and infrastructures of the earthquake affected region, a comprehensive landslide susceptibility mapping was attempted with an integrated weighted index model by combining the frequency ratio and the analytical hierarchy process approaches under GIS-based environment in the earthquake heavily attacked Zhangzha town of the Jiuzhaigou region. For this purpose, a total number of 842 earthquake-triggered landslides were visually interpreted and located from Sentinel-2A images acquired before and after the earthquake at first, and then the recognized landslides were randomly split into two groups to establish the earthquake-triggered landslide inventory, among which 80 % of the landslides was used for training the integrated model and the remaining 20 % for validation. Nine landslide controlling factors, namely slope, aspect, elevation, lithology, distance from faults, distance from rivers, land-use/cover, normalized difference vegetation index and peak ground acceleration, were considered with an integrated weighted index model for determination of the weighted index through analysing their relationships with occurrence frequency ratios of landslides with analytical hierarchy process approaches. Furthermore, an area under the curve approach was adopted to comprehensively evaluate the performance of the integrated weighted index model, including the degree of model fit and model predictive capability. The results demonstrated the reliability and feasibility of the integrated weighted index model in earthquake-triggered landslide susceptibility mapping at regional scale. The generated map can be served as the scientific basis to mitigate hazards of the earthquake-triggered landslides to individuals and infrastructures of the earthquake affected region.
Using Canonical Correlation Analysis to produce dynamically-based
highly-efficient statistical observation operators
Authors: Jansen Eric , Pimentel Sam , Tse Wang-Hung , Denaxa Dimitra , Korres Gerasimos , Mirouze Isabelle , Storto Andrea
Published: January 2019

Abstract. Observation operators (OOs) are a central component of any data assimilation system. As they project the state variables of a numerical model into the space of the observations, they also provide an ideal opportunity to correct for effects that are not or not sufficiently described by the model. In such cases a dynamical OO, an OO that interfaces to a secondary and more specialised model, often provides the best results. However, given the large number of observations to be assimilated in a typical atmospheric or oceanographic model, the computational resources needed for using a fully dynamical OO mean that this option is usually not feasible. This paper presents a method, based on canonical correlation analysis (CCA), that can be used to generate highly-efficient statistical OOs that are based on a dynamical model. These OOs can provide an approximation to the dynamical model at a fraction of the computational cost. One possible application of such an OO is the modelling of the diurnal cycle of sea surface temperature (SST) in ocean general circulation models (OGCMs). Satellites that measure SST measure the temperature of the thin uppermost layer of the ocean. This layer is strongly affected by the atmospheric conditions and its temperature can differ significantly from the water below. This causes a discrepancy between the SST measurements and the upper layer of the OGCM, which typically has a thickness of around 1 m. The CCA OO method is used to parametrise the diurnal cycle of SST. The CCA OO is based on an input dataset from the General Ocean Turbulence Model (GOTM), a high-resolution water column model that has been specifically tuned for this purpose. The parameterisations of the CCA OO are found to be in good agreement with the results from GOTM, showing the potential of this method for use in data assimilation systems.
Sensitivity of active-layer freezing process to snow cover in Arctic Alaska
Authors: Yi Yonghong , Kimball John S. , Chen Richard H. , Moghaddam Mahta , Miller Charles E.
Published: January 2019

Abstract. The contribution of cold-season soil respiration to the
Arctic–boreal carbon cycle and its potential feedback to the global climate
remain poorly quantified, partly due to a poor understanding of changes in
the soil thermal regime and liquid water content during the soil-freezing
process. Here, we characterized the processes controlling active-layer
freezing in Arctic Alaska using an integrated approach combining in situ soil
measurements, local-scale (∼50 m) longwave radar retrievals
from NASA airborne P-band polarimetric SAR (PolSAR) and a remote-sensing-driven permafrost model. To better capture landscape variability in snow
cover and its influence on the soil thermal regime, we downscaled global
coarse-resolution (∼0.5∘) MERRA-2 reanalysis snow
depth data using finer-scale (500 m) MODIS snow cover extent (SCE)
observations. The downscaled 1 km snow depth data were used as key inputs to
the permafrost model, capturing finer-scale variability associated with local
topography and with favorable accuracy relative to the SNOTEL site
measurements in Arctic Alaska (mean RMSE=0.16 m, bias=-0.01 m).
In situ tundra soil dielectric constant (ε) profile measurements were used
for model parameterization of the soil organic layer and unfrozen-water
content curve. The resulting model-simulated mean zero-curtain period was
generally consistent with in situ observations spanning a 2∘
latitudinal transect along the Alaska North Slope (R: 0.6±0.2; RMSE:
19±6 days), with an estimated mean zero-curtain period ranging from
61±11 to 73±15 days at 0.25 to 0.45 m depths. Along the same
transect, both the observed and model-simulated zero-curtain periods were
positively correlated (R>0.55, p<0.01) with a MODIS-derived snow cover fraction (SCF) from September to October. We also examined
the airborne P-band radar-retrieved ε profile along this transect in 2014 and
2015, which is sensitive to near-surface soil liquid water content and
freeze–thaw status. The ε difference in radar retrievals for the surface
(∼<0.1 m) soil between late August and early October
was negatively correlated with SCF in September (R=-0.77, p<0.01); areas with lower SCF generally showed larger ε reductions, indicating
earlier surface soil freezing. On regional scales, the simulated zero curtain
in the upper (<0.4 m) soils showed large variability and was closely
associated with variations in early cold-season snow cover. Areas with
earlier snow onset generally showed a longer zero-curtain period; however,
the soil freeze onset and zero-curtain period in deeper (>0.5 m)
soils were more closely linked to maximum thaw depth. Our findings indicate
that a deepening active layer associated with climate warming will lead to
persistent unfrozen conditions in deeper soils, promoting greater cold-season
soil carbon loss.
Socioeconomic and Public Policy Impacts of China Pakistan Economic Corridor on Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Authors: Khan Shehryar , Liu Guijian
Published: January 2019

The projects under CPEC specifically the Energy, Infrastructure and Economic zones development Promises significant implication for people of Pakistan. The aim of the study was top analyze the Impacts of CPEC on Socioeconomic, Public Policy, Environmental and Economic Indicators in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The study used T Test for the primary data collected from respondents of different Public Policy, Economic and Educational Departments in Khyber Pakhtunkwa (KPK). The results of the study support significant impacts of CPEC on Economic, Socioeconomic and Public Policy Indicators in KPK. The results also present some environmental challenges due to the CPEC project. It is concluded that health, education, business competitiveness, economic political stability will improve with the project. The Project is expected to improve the socioeconomic indicators of the underdeveloped Province of KPK. Further the Project will support the KPK Public Policy concerns such women empowerment, allocation of resources, economic stability and increasing productivity to reduce poverty and inequality of wealth.
Audit Committee Characteristics and Audit Report Lag: Evidence From Oman
Authors: Raweh Nahla Abdulrahman Mohammed , Kamardin Hasnah , Malik @ Malek Mazrah
Published: January 2019

This study examines and provides empirical evidence on the association between audit committee characteristics and audit report lag, by using data from 255 companies listed in the Muscat Securities market from 2013 to 2017. Multivariate analyses show that audit committee size positively associated with audit report lag and audit committee financial expertise reduces audit lag. However, this study does not find evidence that audit committee independence and meetings are associated with audit report lag. This study concludes that internal mechanisms of corporate governance in Oman are not effective compared to more developed nations and that policymakers in this emerging market should enforce and motivate practices of corporate governance in substance rather than simply adhering to practices in the form.
El camino de la Iglesia Católica en México hacia la libertad religiosa
Authors: Valvo Paolo
Published: January 2019

Al margen de la evolución sociopolítica y cultural que ha llevado a México del anticlericalismo exacerbado del Constituyente queretano a la reforma constitucional promovida por Carlos Salinas de Gortari en 1992, el conflicto mexicano entre el Estado y la Iglesia —particularmente en los años de la Guerra Cristera— ha contribuido de manera significativa a la evolución del pensamiento católico sobre la libertad religiosa en un nivel no solo nacional, sino universal
Effectiveness of journal clubs in translating knowledge into practice: A literature review
Authors: Al Saif Amal Nasser , Johnson Jessie M. , Munir Sadia , Ammal Kumari , Forgrave Daniel
Published: January 2019

Background and objective: Hamad Medical Corporation nurse leaders established nursing journal clubs in 2014 as an important strategy to involve nurses in translating research into practice and as an effort to provide patients with the highest possible standards of care. Since the implementation of journal clubs in Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC), evaluative research within HMC has not been conducted to examine the effectiveness of this strategy. The aim of this review was to increase decision makers’ knowledge about the effectiveness of journal clubs in translating knowledge into clinical practice and to provide a framework to guide the development of a survey tool that would aide in the evaluation of nursing journal clubs’ effectiveness at Hamad Medical Corporation. A literature search was conducted as an initial step top guide the development of this tool.Methods: A literature search was conducted yielded 13 studies that evaluated the effectiveness of journal clubs after removing all duplicates and applying the inclusion criteria. The Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool-version 2011 was used to evaluate the quality of the included articles. Data was analyzed and extracted from each study and assembled into a summary table.Results: Four themes related to journal clubs’ effectiveness that are important in translating knowledge into practice: encouraging discussion among healthcare professionals, enhancing critical appraisal skills, promoting evidence-based practice knowledge, and impacting clinical practice.Conclusions: This literature review provides information about the four main interrelated themes that contribute to journal clubs’ effectiveness in translating knowledge into practice. This information would be useful to nurse educators at Hamad Medical Corporation and further utilized as a backdrop to the development of a tool to evaluate Hamad Medical Corporation nurses’ perceptions of journal clubs’ effectiveness.
A Qualitative Study on the Best Motivational Teaching Strategies in the Context of Oman: Perspectives of EFL Teachers
Authors: Abdullah Mohamad Yahya , Ghafri Hawa Mubarak Harib Al , Yahyai Khadija Saleem Hamdan Al
Published: January 2019

In the pedagogical process, lack of motivation becomes a controversial issue. In this qualitative study, the researcher intended to explore the best motivational teaching strategies from the perspectives of the EFL teachers at Buraimi University College (henceforth BUC) in Oman. Purposeful sampling was used in the selection of five EFL teachers in English language department at BUC. The protocol of interview (semi-structured interviews) was conducted for data collection. The obtained data provided by the participants was analysed using qualitative thematic analysis to answer the questions and accomplish the objective of the present study. The findings revealed that motivational strategies would not be applicable in any classroom without creating a helpful, interactive, engaging, and enjoyable environment. The participants of the current study believe in the vital role of playing games in stimulating the interest and enthusiasm of learners as well as giving fun and energetic environment. Besides, it is essential to inspire students with the feelings of a sense of accomplishment through helping them to set realistic goals according to their learning abilities and observe their progress once in a while. However, in any learning environment developing motivation is a difficult task for the teachers because students learn differently and every student is diverse in her way.
Organisatiecriminaliteit en de aanpak ervan in de Lage Landen
Authors: Van Wingerde Karin , Verhage Antoinette , Bisschop Lieselot
Published: January 2019

Corporate crime and its enforcement in the Netherlands and Belgium

In this introductory article we will discuss some of the recent developments in corporate crime research in the Netherlands and Belgium since 2008. In doing so, we will answer the following three questions: (1) What are the most important developments in the way research on corporate crime has been carried out? (2) What are key themes in corporate crime research? (3) What are the most important blind spots in research into corporate crime? We will conclude with some avenues for future research on corporate crime and its enforcement.
Patronen in regelovertreding in de chemische industrie
Authors: Kluin Marieke , Blokland Arjan , Huisman Wim , Peeters Marlijn , Wiering Ellen , Jaspers Steven
Published: January 2019

Patterns of regulatory violations in chemical corporations

Unlike criminal career research into the criminal behavior of natural persons, longitudinal research into rule violations by corporations is still scant. The few available studies are mostly limited to US corporations, and suffer from either a small sample size or a short follow-up period, limiting the generalizability of their findings. The present study uses longitudinal data on rule violating behavior of 494 Dutch chemical corporations derived from yearly inspections (N=4.367) of the relevant safety and environmental agencies between 2006 and 2017. The study aims to gain insight in the patterning of rule violations by Dutch chemical corporations, and the extent to which these patterns are associated with sector and corporate characteristics. The results show that rule violation is common among Dutch chemical corporations. A small minority of chronically violating corporations however, is responsible for a disproportional share of all observed rule violations. Using group-based trajectory modelling (GBTM) we distinguish several longitudinal patterns of rule violations in our data. Available sector and corporation characteristics are only weakly associated with the patterns of rule violations identified.
Revised Pourbaix diagrams for the vanadium – water system
Authors: Povar Igor , Spinu Oxana , Zinicovscaia Inga , Pintilie Boris , Ubaldini Stefano
Published: January 2019

The forms of occurrence of vanadium metal are determined by the major chemical reactions in the aquatic environment such as hydrolysis, oxidation, reduction, and precipitation. Depending on pH, potential and total concentration of inorganic ions and organic ligands, vanadium compounds may undergo various transformations to produce a whole range of chemical forms in aqueous systems. In this paper, a novel approach has been applied for calculating potential-pH (Pourbaix) diagrams, based on the developed thermodynamic analysis of chemical equilibria in the V–H2O system. On the basis of currently revised thermodynamic data for V(III), V(IV) and V(V) hydrolysis and original thermodynamic and graphical approach used, the repartition of their soluble and insoluble chemical species has been investigated. By means of ΔG–pH diagrams, the areas of thermodynamic stability of V(IV) and V(V) hydroxides have been established for a number of analytical concentrations of vanadium in heterogeneous mixtures. The obtained results, based on the thermodynamic analysis and graphic design of calculated data, are in good agreement with available experimental data.
Tablets for inclusive teaching and learning in a mainstream setting - a need analysis
Authors: Galanciak Sylwia , Weiss Anna , Judge Miriam , Holland Charlotte , Grebe Clara , Nunez Claudinho , Graf Jörg , Tanaś Maciej , Kehl Felix
Published: January 2019

The article presents the results of international research on the use of mobile technologies as a support in the process of educating students with special educational needs. A team of researchers from five European countries conducted a survey among teachers using tablets while working with students with disabilities. Answers from the respondents reveal the image of educators who seek on their own, without any systemic support, opportunities to strengthen the educational opportunities of their pupils. The research results indicate that systemic organizational, methodical and financial solutions should be developed to facilitate the introduction of mobile devices for special and inclusive education.
Music education for social change in the United States:
towards artistic citizenship through Little Kids Rock
Authors: Smith Gareth Dylan Smith , Gramm Warren Gramm , Wagner Kenrick
Published: January 2019

Public education in the United States is often woefully under-funded, especially in the arts, despite a federal mandate to provide music education for all. Where music programs exist in US schools, they tend to focus on teacher-directed large ensembles that afford students little agency or creative opportunity, playing music that alienates a majority of young people. Faced with the volume of evidence pointing to the benefits of including music in a well-rounded education, philanthropy-funded nonprofit companies such as Little Kids Rock step in to fill the vacuum in state provision. This paper is a descriptive, intrinsic case study that describes how Little Kids Rock provides culturally relevant music making experiences for young people in schools, through a learning approach called music as a second language and alternative music classes termed modern band. Little Kids Rock builds a nationwide community of innovative music pedagogues by training teachers, donating musical instruments and sharing original curricular resources. This paper includes examples of two modern band teachers – one working in a rock band context, and the other a hip hop facilitator. The work of these and other teachers is ever more urgent in an era in which the U.S. perpetuates an intense neoliberal capitalism that oppresses and marginalizes vast numbers of its own people. Little Kids Rock aims to foster artistic citizenship wherein music makers recognize social and emancipatory responsibilities with the aim of transforming lives for the better.
Posting, blocking, double profiles: audience segmentation on Facebook
Authors: Schleicher Nóra
Published: January 2019

As social network sites are becoming more populated and users more diverse, impression management on these sites has become more complicated. Users face challenges as they attempt to perform a unified identity to a diverse audience. The article discusses some of the strategies Hungarian teenage users of Facebook apply to deal with this situation. Drawing on data coming from two focus group interviews and a representative survey (N = 612) with Hungarian secondary school students, strategies of selecting ‘friends’, curating posts, blocking and deleting ‘friends’ and creating double profiles on Facebook are discussed. It is concluded that there are significant differences in the use of these strategies according to different user groups as off-line inequalities influence online impression management in different ways.
Reflexivity as a characteristic of pedagogical research
Authors: Perkowska-Klejman Anna
Published: January 2019

The article presents reflexivity as an important attribute of pedagogical research. Introduction contains a brief historical outline of the tradition of social and humanistic research (from the positivist paradigm to the relativization, from a single paradigm to multiplicity of paradigms). Nowadays a pluri-paradigmatic approach became more popular amongst in methodology and is equated with the maturity of discipline. The main part of the article presents the most important assumptions of reflective studies. The first premise concerns cognition, which will never be completely certain and objective. Researcher could remain impartial. Knowledge is socially and personally involved. The most common feature in contemporary world descriptions is changeability. No research – and especially reflexive – can/should be planned or carried out without knowing the theory of the research subject. There are no isolated phenomena in the socio-cultural reality surrounding humanity. Reflexive studies recognize the relationship between the subjective perspective of the subject and the objective structure that creates the living space of the subjects studied. The reflexive stream of study does not have to lead to the creation of new theory.
Corporate social responsibility reporting - necessity or fashion
Authors: Świątek Władysław
Published: January 2019

The current legislation, rules and procedures for reporting data referring to the situation of enterprises do not provide full information necessary to make decisions. This study attempts to present corporate social responsibility reports as an element reducing the so-called gap in value between the book value and market value of enterprises. The benefits and threats resulting from reporting social attitudes and their impact on the perception of the company by stakeholders are also presented.
The ghosts that will not be laid to rest: a critical reading of “Abantu Stand”
Authors: Ojoniyi Olabode Wale
Published: January 2019

This paper centres on an existential consciousness reading of the production of “Abantu Stand” by Rhodes University Theatre. “Abantu Stand” is a product of pieces of workshop sketches on current social, economic and political conversations in South Africa. From my participation in the back stage conversations of the artists and the production crew towards the final making of the production, to the discussions with the audience after each performance, I realise that, of a truth, as the closing song of the performance re-echoes, “It is not yet uhuru” for the South Africans, particularly, the people on the peripheral of the society!” In “Abantu Stand,” in spite of her post-apartheid status, South Africa appears as a volatile contested space. Of course, in reality, in many areas, 70 to 85% of lands remain in the hands of the settlers. There are towns and settlements outside of towns – for till now, majority of the blacks live in shanties outside the main towns. Inequality, mutual suspicion, mismanagement and oppression operate at different levels of the society – from race to race, gender to gender and tribe to tribe. There is the challenge of gender/sexual categorisation and the tension of “coming out” in relation to the residual resisting traditional culture of heterosexuals. The sketches in the performance are woven around these contentious issues to give room for free conversations. The desire is to provoke a revolutionary change. However, one thing is evident: South Africa, with the relics of apartheid, is still a state in transition.