bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Assessment of LiDAR and Spectral Techniques for High-Resolution Mapping of Sporadic Permafrost on the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, Alaska
Authors: Whitley Matthew , Frost Gerald , Jorgenson M. , Macander Matthew , Maio Chris , Winder Samantha
Published: February 2018

Western Alaska’s Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta (YKD) spans nearly 67,200 km2 and is among the largest and most productive coastal wetland ecosystems in the pan-Arctic. Permafrost currently forms extensive elevated plateaus on abandoned floodplain deposits of the outer delta, but is vulnerable to disturbance from rising air temperatures, inland storm surges, and salt-kill of vegetation. As pan-Arctic air and ground temperatures rise, accurate baseline maps of permafrost extent are critical for a variety of applications including long-term monitoring, understanding the scale and pace of permafrost degradation processes, and estimating resultant greenhouse gas dynamics. This study assesses novel, high-resolution techniques to map permafrost distribution using LiDAR and IKONOS imagery, in tandem with field-based parameterization and validation. With LiDAR, use of a simple elevation threshold provided a permafrost map with 94.9% overall accuracy; this approach was possible due to the extremely flat coastal plain of the YKD. The addition of high spatial-resolution IKONOS satellite data yielded similar results, but did not increase model performance. The methods and the results of this study enhance high-resolution permafrost mapping efforts in tundra regions in general and deltaic landscapes in particular, and provide a baseline for remote monitoring of permafrost distribution on the YKD.
Real-Time and Meter-Scale Absolute Distance Measurement by Frequency-Comb-Referenced Multi-Wavelength Interferometry
Authors: Wang Guochao , Tan Lilong , Yan Shuhua
Published: February 2018

We report on a frequency-comb-referenced absolute interferometer which instantly measures long distance by integrating multi-wavelength interferometry with direct synthetic wavelength interferometry. The reported interferometer utilizes four different wavelengths, simultaneously calibrated to the frequency comb of a femtosecond laser, to implement subwavelength distance measurement, while direct synthetic wavelength interferometry is elaborately introduced by launching a fifth wavelength to extend a non-ambiguous range for meter-scale measurement. A linearity test performed comparatively with a He–Ne laser interferometer shows a residual error of less than 70.8 nm in peak-to-valley over a 3 m distance, and a 10 h distance comparison is demonstrated to gain fractional deviations of ~3 × 10−8 versus 3 m distance. Test results reveal that the presented absolute interferometer enables precise, stable, and long-term distance measurements and facilitates absolute positioning applications such as large-scale manufacturing and space missions.
A New Framework for Assessing the Sustainability Reporting Disclosure of Water Utilities
Authors: Cantele Silvia , Tsalis Thomas , Nikolaou Ioannis
Published: February 2018

Sustainability reporting is becoming more and more widespread among companies aiming at disclosing their contribution to sustainable development and gaining legitimacy from stakeholders. This is more significant for firms operating in a public services’ context and mainly when supplying a fundamental public resource, like water utilities. While the literature on sustainability reporting in the water sector is scant, there is an increasing need to study the usefulness and quality of its sustainability disclosures to adequately inform the stakeholders about the activities of water utilities to protect this fundamental resource and general sustainable development. This article presents a novel assessment framework based on a scoring technique and an empirical analysis on the sustainability reports of Italian water utilities carried out through it. The results highlight a low level of disclosure on the sustainability indicators suggested by the main sustainability reporting guidelines (Global Reporting Initiative, (GRI), and Sustainability Accounting Standard Board, (SASB)); most companies tend to disclose only qualitative information and fail to inform about some material aspects of water management, such as water recycled, network resilience, water sources, and effluent quality. These findings indicate that sustainability reporting is mainly considered as a communication tool, rather than a performance measurement and an accountability tool, but also suggest the need for a new and international industry-specific sustainability reporting standard.
Pharmacokinetics of Snake Venom
Authors: Sanhajariya Suchaya , Duffull Stephen , Isbister Geoffrey
Published: February 2018

Understanding snake venom pharmacokinetics is essential for developing risk assessment strategies and determining the optimal dose and timing of antivenom required to bind all venom in snakebite patients. This review aims to explore the current knowledge of snake venom pharmacokinetics in animals and humans. Literature searches were conducted using EMBASE (1974–present) and Medline (1946–present). For animals, 12 out of 520 initially identified studies met the inclusion criteria. In general, the disposition of snake venom was described by a two-compartment model consisting of a rapid distribution phase and a slow elimination phase, with half-lives of 5 to 48 min and 0.8 to 28 h, respectively, following rapid intravenous injection of the venoms or toxins. When the venoms or toxins were administered intramuscularly or subcutaneously, an initial absorption phase and slow elimination phase were observed. The bioavailability of venoms or toxins ranged from 4 to 81.5% following intramuscular administration and 60% following subcutaneous administration. The volume of distribution and the clearance varied between snake species. For humans, 24 out of 666 initially identified publications contained sufficient information and timed venom concentrations in the absence of antivenom therapy for data extraction. The data were extracted and modelled in NONMEM. A one-compartment model provided the best fit, with an elimination half-life of 9.71 ± 1.29 h. It is intended that the quantitative information provided in this review will provide a useful basis for future studies that address the pharmacokinetics of snakebite in humans.
Bacillus subtilis Type I antitoxin SR6 Promotes Degradation of Toxin yonT mRNA and Is Required to Prevent Toxic yoyJ Overexpression
Authors: Reif Celine , Löser Charlotte , Brantl Sabine
Published: February 2018

yonT/SR6 is the second type I toxin-antitoxin (TA) system encoded on prophage SPβ in the B. subtilis chromosome. The yonT ORF specifying a 58 aa toxin is transcribed on a polycistronic mRNA under control of the yonT promoter. The antitoxin SR6 is a 100 nt antisense RNA that overlaps yonT at its 3′ end and the downstream gene yoyJ encoding a second, much weaker, toxin at its 5′ end. SR6 displays a half-life of >60 min, whereas yonT mRNA is less stable with a half-life of ≈8 min. SR6 is in significant excess over yonT mRNA except in minimal medium with glucose. It interacts with the 3′ UTR of yonT mRNA, thereby promoting its degradation by RNase III. By contrast, SR6 does not affect the amount or half-life of yoyJ mRNA. However, in its absence, a yoyJ overexpression plasmid could not be established in Bacillus subtilis suggesting that SR6 inhibits yoyJ translation by directly binding to its ribosome-binding site. While the amounts of both yonT RNA and SR6 were affected by vancomycin, manganese, heat-shock and ethanol stress as well as iron limitation, oxygen stress decreased only the amount of SR6.
Challenges to Sustainable Safe Drinking Water: A Case Study of Water Quality and Use across Seasons in Rural Communities in Limpopo Province, South Africa
Authors: Edokpayi Joshua , Rogawski Elizabeth , Kahler David , Hill Courtney , Reynolds Catherine , Nyathi Emanuel , Smith James , Odiyo John , Samie Amidou , Bessong Pascal , Dillingham Rebecca
Published: February 2018

Consumption of microbial-contaminated water can result in diarrheal illnesses and enteropathy with the heaviest impact upon children below the age of five. We aimed to provide a comprehensive analysis of water quality in a low-resource setting in Limpopo province, South Africa. Surveys were conducted in 405 households in rural communities of Limpopo province to determine their water-use practices, perceptions of water quality, and household water-treatment methods. Drinking water samples were tested from households for microbiological contamination. Water from potential natural sources were tested for physicochemical and microbiological quality in the dry and wet seasons. Most households had their primary water source piped into their yard or used an intermittent public tap. Approximately one third of caregivers perceived that they could get sick from drinking water. All natural water sources tested positive for fecal contamination at some point during each season. The treated municipal supply never tested positive for fecal contamination; however, the treated system does not reach all residents in the valley; furthermore, frequent shutdowns of the treatment systems and intermittent distribution make the treated water unreliable. The increased water quantity in the wet season correlates with increased treated water from municipal taps and a decrease in the average contaminant levels in household water. This research suggests that wet season increases in water quantity result in more treated water in the region and that is reflected in residents’ water-use practices.
Analysis of the Effects of Water Management Strategies and Climate Change on the Environmental and Agricultural Sustainability of Urmia Lake Basin, Iran
Authors: Ahmadaali Jamal , Barani Gholam-Abbas , Qaderi Kourosh , Hessari Behzad
Published: February 2018

In arid and semi-arid areas, unsustainable development of irrigated agriculture has reduced the water level of large lakes such as Aral, Urmia, Hamoon, and Bakhtegan. Urmia Lake, as a hyper saline and very shallow lake, located in the northwest of Iran, has water level reductions of about 40 cm each year over the past two decades. In this research, the indices of environmental and agricultural sustainability are evaluated using performance criteria influenced by climate change and water management strategies for the Zarrinehrud and Siminehrud River basins as the largest sub-basin of Urmia Lake basin. Modeling of hydrologic behavior of these basins is performed using WEAP21 model. The model is analyzed for three future emission scenarios (A2, A1B, and B1), for the period of 2015–2040 and five water management scenarios: (1) keeping the existing situation; (2) crop pattern change; (3) improving the conveyance and distribution efficiency; (4) combining the improvement of conveyance and distribution efficiency with improving the application efficiency using modern technology; and (5) the combination of crop pattern change with the improvement of total irrigation efficiency. The results show that the highest values of indices of environmental sustainability and agricultural sustainability are related to the scenario of combining the crop pattern change with improving the total irrigation efficiency under the B1 emission scenario (B1S4).
Evaluation of the Digestibility of Attached and Suspended Growth Sludge in an Aerobic Digester for a Small Community
Authors: Azizi Shohreh , Kamika Ilunga , Tekere Memory
Published: February 2018

The aerobic sludge digestion process for waste sludge generated from suspended biomass (i.e., activated sludge process, ASP) and attached biomass (i.e., moving bed bioreactor, MBBR and modified packed bed biofilm, PBBR) reactors in a residential complex were analyzed. The rate of digestion with respect to different sludge characteristics generated through these various treatment processes were examined; the results revealed that waste sludge from ASP took 16 days to achieve complete digestion while MBBR and PBBR took nine and seven days, respectively. The most important factors influencing the sludge digestion such as sludge volume index (SVI), mixed liquor suspended solid (MLSS), and mixed liquor volatile suspended solid (MLVSS) were examined. The ASP which had the highest initial MLSS and MLVS took a longer time for digestion. Aerobic sludge digestion in all the treatment reactors was studied under laboratory scale conditions in batch experimentation to evaluate sludge characteristics and the rate of digestion as well as through a continuous bench scale pilot system to optimize the process parameters. Removal efficiencies of volatile solids (VS) 90.71% in ASP, 84.27% in MBBR and 84.07% in PBBR in aerobic digestion during batch mode were also observed. The study revealed that the aerobic sludge digestion process utilized in curbing sludge is not feasible application for a small community due to very long digestion times and a large amount of space although Packed Bed Biofilm (PBBR) used the lowest time (seven days) compared to the other systems.
Effect of Saturated Zone on Nitrogen Removal Processes in Stormwater Bioretention Systems
Authors: Wang Chuansheng , Wang Fan , Qin Huapeng , Zeng Xiangfei , Li Xueran , Yu Shaw-Lei
Published: February 2018

The introduction of a saturated zone (SZ) has been recommended to address the issue of nitrogen removal fluctuation in the bioretention system, which is one of the most versatile low-impact development facilities for urban stormwater management. Nine experimental columns were used to characterize the nitrogen concentration variations over the outflow during wetting periods and in SZ during the antecedent drying periods (ADPs), as well as compare removal efficiencies of various nitrogen species in systems with different SZ depths under alternate drying and wetting conditions. Results indicated that NO3−-N concentrations in the outflow showed quasi-logistic curve-shaped variations over time: being low (<0.5 mg/L) in the early process, sharply increasing thereafter, and finally flattening around 3.0 mg/L with NO3− leaching; NH4+-N and organic nitrogen (ON) concentrations were consistently low around 0.5 mg/L and 1.8 mg/L, respectively during the wetting periods. NH4+ removal efficiency in bioretention systems was consistently high around 80%, not varying with the increasing SZ depth; ON removal efficiency had a slight rise from 57% to 84% and NO3− removal efficiency was significantly enhanced from −23% to 62% with the SZ depth increasing from 0 to 600 mm. Deeper SZ could store more runoff and promote more denitrification of NO3− and mineralization of ON during the ADPs, providing more “old” water with low NO3− and ON concentrations for water exchange with “new” inflow of higher NO3− and ON concentrations during the wetting periods. The total nitrogen (TN) removal, a combined result of the instantaneous removal through adsorption and retention in the upper soil layer during the wetting periods and the gradual removal via denitrification and mineralization in SZ during the ADPs, was also improved by increasing the SZ depth; TN removal efficiency was elevated from 35% to 73% when the SZ depth increased from zero to 600 mm.
A Systematic Review of Quantitative Resilience Measures for Water Infrastructure Systems
Authors: Shin Sangmin , Lee Seungyub , Judi David , Parvania Masood , Goharian Erfan , McPherson Timothy , Burian Steven
Published: February 2018

Over the past few decades, the concept of resilience has emerged as an important consideration in the planning and management of water infrastructure systems. Accordingly, various resilience measures have been developed for the quantitative evaluation and decision-making of systems. There are, however, numerous considerations and no clear choice of which measure, if any, provides the most appropriate representation of resilience for a given application. This study provides a critical review of quantitative approaches to measure the resilience of water infrastructure systems, with a focus on water resources and distribution systems. A compilation of 11 criteria evaluating 21 selected resilience measures addressing major features of resilience is developed using the Axiomatic Design process. Existing gaps of resilience measures are identified based on the review criteria. The results show that resilience measures have generally paid less attention to cascading damage to interrelated systems, rapid identification of failure, physical damage of system components, and time variation of resilience. Concluding the paper, improvements to resilience measures are recommended. The findings contribute to our understanding of gaps and provide information to help further improve resilience measures of water infrastructure systems.
L’influence française et les rapports commerciaux entre l’Albanie et la France dans une perspective historique
Authors: Malltezi Argita
Published: February 2018

Les relations entre la France et l’Albanie existent depuis longtemps et dans des domaines divers. L’attention portée par des historiens, des voyageurs et des chroniqueurs français, comme par des figures politiques telles que Justin Godart ou Elise Aubry, qui ont soutenu les efforts des Albanais pour défendre dans des moments difficiles leur indépendance et leur intégrité territoriale, ont contribué à tisser le fil de la francophonie en Albanie, au même titre que les anciens échanges commerciaux qui témoignent de la pénétration des commerçants français jusqu’au coeur du pays. La France fait partie des rares pays européens, en dehors de l’ancien bloc de l’Est, avec qui l’Albanie a maintenu ouvertement des relations économiques et culturelles durant les cinquante années de son isolement sous le régime communiste. Mais ces échanges, qui ont joué un rôle important dans la formation des élites, ne représentent pas la seule forme de l’influence française en Albanie. La présente étude constitue une tentative pour présenter un panorama historique de l’influence française en Albanie, en particulier dans le domaine des institutions et de la législation commerciales albanaises, ainsi que pour remonter la trace des échanges commerciaux intervenus entre les deux pays.
Le mariage homosexuel dans les jurisprudences constitutionnelles
Authors: Poli Maria Daniela
Published: February 2018

Dans une perspective de droit comparé, l’attitude des cours constitutionnelles face à l’extension de l’institution du mariage aux couples homosexuels peut être analysée en distinguant quatre modèles : 1) le modèle d’obligation constitutionnelle, selon lequel la prohibition de toute discrimination fondée sur l’orientation sexuelle oblige à considérer les mariages hétérosexuels et homosexuels comme étant légalement équivalents ; 2) le modèle d’inconstitutionnalité, selon lequel le mariage homosexuel est contraire à la Constitution ; 3) le modèle intermédiaire ou facultatif, selon lequel la possibilité d’organiser un mariage homosexuel est laissée à l’appréciation du législateur ; 4) le modèle hybride, qui est une variante du modèle intermédiaire ou facultatif, selon lequel, tout en reconnaissant une marge d’appréciation au législateur, le juge constitutionnel s’exprime en faveur de la reconnaissance du mariage homosexuel. Sur la base de cette classification, l’article examine les différentes expériences nationales, en soulignant le rôle des cours constitutionnelles pour l’affirmation des droits des couples homosexuels ainsi que l’importance du dialogue entre les juges et l’influence du droit comparé.
Réajustement ou déstabilisation du droit pénal spécial allemand ? Un aperçu des réformes du Code pénal des dernières années
Authors: Umansky Andrej
Published: February 2018

Évolution, changements, bouleversements. Force est de constater que le droit pénal allemand a subi, ces dernières années de nombreux remaniements. Le législateur se vit dans l’obligation d’une part de satisfaire les attentes européennes ou internationales, d’autre part de répondre à l’évolution de la société elle-même, en particulier dans les domaines environnemental et informatique. La prise en compte de ces deux sources se révéla être un exercice périlleux, qu’il fallut mener à bien de façon rapide. Cette chronique retrace les grands changements du droit pénal spécial allemand observés les dix dernières années, tout en mentionnant les problèmes, souvent dus à un manque de précision des normes en question, posés par les nouveaux paragraphes.
« Tilâwit le Coran » en Égypte, entre droit d’auteur et droits voisins (à propos de l’affaire du Cheikh Abdel Basit Abdel Samad). Contribution à l’étude de la conception arabo-musulmane de la propriété littéraire et artistique
Authors: Omar Amine Yasser
Published: February 2018

«Tilâwit ou la récitation du Coran » est-elle éligible au droit d’auteur en tant qu’une oeuvre de l’esprit ? S’agit-elle d’une interprétation protégée par le droit voisin des artistes-interprètes de sorte que la personne qui récite le Coran puisse être attribuée la qualité d’artiste-cheikh-interprète ? Rien n’est moins sûr. Tilâwit le Coran en tant qu’une «création innommée spécifique et unique en son genre » constitue sans doute un fertile terrain d’exploration sur le plan du droit de la propriété littéraire et artistique qui appelle un traitement juridique très particulier. Dans une affaire célèbre, retentissante et symbolique relative à la récitation du fameux Cheikh Abdel Bâsit Abdel Samad, les juridictions égyptiennes ont eu l’occasion de se pencher, pour la première fois et dans l’un des plus rares conflits, sur cette question. À vrai dire, la présente affaire met à l’épreuve la délicate conciliation du droit de la propriété littéraire et artistique avec la religion. Par ailleurs, elle a le mérite de montrer que plusieurs facteurs significatifs entrent en jeu dans la formation du droit de la propriété littéraire et artistique de sorte que certains aspects particuliers tels que la culture et la civilisation arabo-musulmane entre autres contribuent à l’émergence d’une conception arabo-musulmane de la propriété littéraire et artistique. En effet, si la culture arabo-musulmane est un fait social, alors la propriété littéraire et artistique elle-même sous cet angle ne peut être qu’une (socio) propriété littéraire et artistique.
Kinetics of solvent supported tubule formation of Lotus (Nelumbo nucifera) wax on highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) investigated by atomic force microscopy
Authors: Dora Sujit Kumar , Koch Kerstin , Barthlott Wilhelm , Wandelt Klaus
Published: February 2018

The time dependence of the formation of lotus wax tubules after recrystallization from various chloroform-based solutions on an HOPG surface at room temperature was studied by atomic force microscopy (magnetic AC mode) taking series of consecutive images of the formation process. The growth of the tubules oriented in an upright fashion follows a sequential rodlet→ring→tubule behavior. The influence of a number of factors, e.g., different wax concentration in chloroform, the additional presence of water, or salts [(NH4)2SO4, NH4NO3] or a mixture of salt/water in the solution on the growth rate and orientation of the tubules is also investigated. Different wax concentrations were found to have no effect on the growth rate or the orientation of tubules in none of the solutions. The presence of water, however, considerably increased the growth rate of tubule formation, while the presence of salt was again found to have no effect on growth rate or orientation of tubules.
Turbulence in the Outer Heliosheath
Authors: Burlaga L. F. , Florinski V. , Ness N. F.
Published: February 2018

We present in situ observations of magnetic turbulence in the draped interstellar magnetic field

measured by Voyager 1 during an undisturbed interval from 2015.3987 to 2016.6759 confirming the existence of the turbulence observed previously from 2013.3593 to 2014.6373. The power spectral density of the turbulence was the same in both cases. The turbulence had a Kolmogorov k
−5/3 spectrum in the range from k = 1.3 × 10−13 cm−1 to 4 × 10−12 cm−1. The ratio of the turbulent fluctuations to the average magnetic field strength was only 0.02, indicating that the turbulence was very weak. Extrapolating the power-law slope to lower frequencies yields an upper limit on the turbulence outer scale of 0.01 pc = 2000 au, which may be regarded as the distance at which Voyager 1 will enter the undisturbed local interstellar medium, beyond the outer heliosheath or bow wave in the upstream direction. The maximum variance of the fluctuations was in the two directions transverse to the average magnetic field in the recent interval, whereas it was parallel to the average magnetic field in the earlier interval, suggesting a transformation from turbulence with a dominant compressive component to turbulence dominated by transverse fluctuations. As the magnitude of the fluctuations was approaching that of the uncertainties of the measurements, the latter result requires confirmation by further observations.
Elaboração de massa de pizza utilizando farinha mista de trigo e de soja processada
Authors: Pereira Bárbara Nubias , Bezerra Aline Sobreira
Published: February 2018

As mudanças no estilo de vida acompanhadas dos hábitos alimentares transformados tornaram-se os maiores responsáveis pelas modificações no estado nutricional do brasileiro. Visando essas mudanças que exigem qualidade nutricional e sensorial, têm sido elaborados novos produtos, que sejam práticos e rápidos e que agreguem valor nutricional. Este trabalho teve por objetivo avaliar a aceitação de massas de pizza preparadas com uma farinha mista composta de 20% de soja em relação à farinha de trigo, obtidas por diferentes técnicas de preparo. As três formulações foram avaliadas sensorialmente, para os atributos: aparência, cor, sabor, textura e aceitação global. Os resultados obtidos mostraram que houve diferença significativa de 5% entre as amostra de F0, para F1 e F2, nos quesitos sabor e aceitação global, no item textura todas as amostram diferiram significativamente entre elas. A amostra F0 obteve a melhor intenção de compra 51%. Quanto ao perfil nutricional o produto elaborado é uma boa fonte de fibras, proteínas, minerais e vitaminas do complexo B.
Análise comparativa de ácido ascórbico e microbiológica em tomate (Lycopersicum esculentum Mill) orgânico e convencional.
Authors: Carvalho Leandro Augusto Ferreira de , Oliveira Priscila Hália Pires dos Santos , Nunes Luciene Viana , Bousfield Izabel Carolina
Published: February 2018

Considerando-se que o preparo doméstico de alimentos exerce efeitos significativos sobre a avaliação nutricional e segurança alimentar, em relação ao alimento in natura, particularmente no teor de compostos antioxidantes e na avaliação de microrganismos indicadores da qualidade sanitária do alimento. O principal objetivo desta pesquisa foi comparar os efeitos dos cultivos orgânicos e convencionais sobre o teor de ácido ascórbico e realizar a análise microbiológica.. Os critérios para análise dos tomates orgânicos foram de três fornecedores distintos da região de Joinville-SC, o produto estava certificado com selo de reconhecimento de cultivo orgânico. Os tomates convencionais foram adquiridos em três mercados aleatórios locais de Joinville-SC. Todos os tomates foram selecionados no mesmo estágio de maturação, tendo como critério: coloração, textura, peso, ausência de lesões e de fungos visíveis. As amostras foram avaliadas quanto ao pH, teor de ácido ascórbico pela titulação com solução de iodo e presença de Salmonella, Shigella, E. coli, bolores e leveduras. Para a análise estatística os resultados foram analisados com Software GraphPadPrism versão 7.0, realizando-se os testes de Normalidade, Teste t e ANOVA, com p 0,05. Os valores de pH indicam que o tomate orgânico seja menos ácido que os tomate convencional, podendo ter relação com o solo que são cultivados. Há prevalência de vitamina C em tomates orgânicos, quando comparado a tomates convencionais. As contagens de colônias evidenciam contaminação, somente nos tomates orgânicos e somente um tipo de microrganismo (Shigella). Estes resultados podem ter interação com o uso de pesticidas durante o cultivo convencional.
Aflatoxins in peanut oil: food safety concerns
Authors: Shephard G.S.
Published: February 2018

Aflatoxins are widely recognised as important natural contaminants of a wide range of foods, including maize and peanuts (groundnuts), which form part of the staple diet in many countries of the developing world, especially in Africa. There is a frequent misconception based on solubility considerations and developed market surveys that aflatoxins do not occur in peanut oil. Thus, the use of peanut oil in human food is frequently overlooked as a source of aflatoxin exposure, yet artisanal oil extraction from contaminated peanuts in local facilities in the developing world results in carryover of these mycotoxins into the oil. Consequently, these peanut oils can have high contamination levels. This review highlights food safety concerns and addresses inter alia the analytical adaptations required to determine the polar aflatoxins in peanut oil. The determination of aflatoxins in peanut oil was first achieved by thin-layer chromatography, which was later mostly superseded by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with fluorescence detection, or later, by mass spectrometric detection. More recently, a specially modified HPLC method with immunoaffinity column clean-up and fluorescence detection has achieved official method status at AOAC International. In addition, the review deals with toxicology, occurrence and detoxification of contaminated oil. Although various methods have been reported for detoxification of peanut oil, the toxicity of degradation products, the removal of beneficial constituents and the effect on its organoleptic properties need to be considered. This review is intended to draw attention to this often overlooked area of food safety.
Posextractivismo: del discurso a la práctica—Reflexiones para la acción
Authors: Acosta Alberto
Published: February 2018

El pensamiento dominante nos conduce a aceptar como imposible una economía sin crecimiento. La única vía para lograr el desarrollo pasaría por el crecimiento económico. Esto demanda cada vez mayores volúmenes de recursos naturales que sostengan la creciente demanda mundial. Al mismo tiempo ese esfuerzo aseguraría los ingresos para que el Sur global supere su «subdesarrollo».  La realidad, sin embargo, nos dice que superar esas visiones es la gran tarea del momento. El resto demanda superar «la religión del crecimiento económico», dando paso a respuestas que nos saquen también de la trampa del extractivismo. Y, por cierto, también debemos transitar hacia una sociedad no capitalista, que puede inspirarse en las visiones, valores, experiencias y prácticas de las diversas formas de «Buen Vivir» de los diversos pueblos indígenas del planeta.
EVALUATION OF VARIOUS DEVICE DESIGNS FOR POSTERIOR LUMBAR INTERBODY FUSION SURGERY USING A T10–S1 MULTILEVEL SPINE MODEL
Authors: Le Minh-Thai , Hsu Ching-Chi , Shih Kao-Shang
Published: February 2018

A spinal fusion surgery has been the gold standard treatment for treating lumbar degenerative disc disease. Many clinical studies have demonstrated that adjacent segment degeneration was observed in patients over time. Different types of stabilization systems have been investigated using numerical approaches. However, numerical models developed in the past were simplified to reduce computational time. Additionally, it is quite difficult to compare different stabilization systems in clinical application due to variation in bone anatomy and density. The aim of this study is to evaluate and compare the biomechanical performances of different stabilization systems using a more realistic spine model. In this study, three-dimensional finite element models of the intact, injured and treated T10–S1 multilevel spines are developed. The intersegmental rotation, the maximum disc stress and the maximum implant stress are calculated. The results showed that the pedicle screw–rod system can provide better fixation stability and lower implant stress. The Coflex system (CFS) has an advantage on reducing the risk of adjacent segment degeneration. This study could provide useful information to surgeons understanding the effects of different stabilization systems on the biomechanical performances for the posterior lumbar interbody fusion surgery.
Standardizing Ethics East and West
Authors: Topor F. Sigmund
Published: February 2018

A basic element that separates primates from us Homo sapiens is language, which serves as a socializing catalyst for interpersonal and intercultural communication. Linguistic rules can be regarded as the ethics of communication. Without such rules, encoding and decoding of communication between a speaker/writer and a listener/reader would be impossible. Etiquette and the social emotion of shame, which have dissimilar connotations in Confucian heritage cultures of the East and Socratic or Judeo-Christian cultures of the West, are examples of moral qualities having different attributes and applications for diverse peoples. Whereas distinctive societies, cultures, and civilizations define morality based on their particular history and culture, including religion, humans everywhere are the same. Thus, drawing on Jean-Jacques Rousseau's 1762 Social Contract, the current reality of globalization requires a cultural contract that harmonizes the morals and ethics of Eastern and Western civilizations.
Analyzing, Classifying, Safeguarding
Authors: Castagnolo Valentina
Published: February 2018

A modern city can be studied through its representation, from the urban to the architectural and detail scales. The image of a city is characterized by a plurality of architectural shapes that are visible across the urban landscape. This chapter describes the scientific method of the representation science, namely the architectural survey and drawing, as knowledge methods, that play the role of tools for the analysis of the structuring place dynamics. The methodology includes the retrieval of existing documentary material and the redrawing of the façades and their subsequent composition within the urban space. The research aim is to show the city image of Bari in its architectural, historical, and cultural essence, implementing a graphic model that can be an effective tool for protection, which contains the reference documentation of each architecture, that can be viewed and studied individually or placed in relation to other façades of the city.
Modernization and Accountability in Public-Sector Administration
Authors: Ökten Serkan , Akman Elvettin , Akman Çiğdem
Published: February 2018

The issue of studying has been determined as the development of the Turkish public sector in terms of modernization and accountability. In this chapter, it is aimed that postmodernism and new public administration concepts as well as the effects of modernization and accountability concepts coming to the public in the field of public administration are aimed. These impacts will be examined by examining the legal arrangements related to political and administrative accountability as well as the use of new legislative acts such as e-government and ombudsman. Modernization and accountability in public sector management in Turkey can be evaluated under the following headings; Political Accountability, Public Accountability, Accountability at Public Administration, Accountability at Public Employees, Accountability as Different Citizens, Citizenship Accountability.
Environmental Reporting and Accounting
Authors: Othman Radiah , Nath Nirmala , Laswad Fawzi
Published: February 2018

This chapter examines the context in which ‘accounting-sustainability hybrids' were constructed in anticipation of the Environmental Reporting Act (ERA) passed in 2015 in New Zealand. Using governmentality perspectives, the researchers consider how the key individuals in local government discursively articulate the ‘sustainability programmatic' – sustainability policies that deploy the Act as a regulative intervention, the mediating instruments (reporting medium), and the hybridisation of accounting and sustainability (accounting-sustainability hybrids). The chapter draws on archival materials and qualitative survey of 90 key individuals from all 78 local authorities. The analysis showed that local mediating instruments were aligned with ERA and sustainability programmatics, resulting in modification of the existing hybrids and the creation of new ones. The chapter demonstrates how legislation facilitates action from a distance.
Strategic Responses of Public Sector Entities to GRI Sustainability Reports
Authors: Tavares Maria da Conceição da Costa , Rodrigues Lúcia Lima
Published: February 2018

The almost absence of sustainability reports in Portugal prepared using the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) guidelines in public sector (PS) entities led to the study of the strategic responses to institutional pressures, as suggested by Oliver (1991), in the few entities that publish such reports. The objective of this chapter is to determine the institutional factors that motivated sustainability disclosure in GRI reports. An interpretative approach through open questionnaire was used to analyze the strategic responses to the institutional pressures and expectations provided by PS entities. The results show that not all the institutional factors that lead Portuguese PS entities to disclose their social responsibility are in the acquiescence line, accommodating other strategic responses. Thus, this acquiescence is verified when the consistency with organizational goals is high and when the constraints and the multiplicity of stakeholders are low.
The Perception of Tax Complexity Within Local Authorities' VAT Framework
Authors: Borrego Ana Clara , Lopes Cidalia Mota , Ferreira Carlos Manuel
Published: February 2018

The relevance of the impact of tax complexity on tax noncompliance justifies the study of tax complexity in the scope of several taxpayers, including local authorities. This chapter analyses the case of the value added tax (VAT), a typical example where the misuse of exemptions and no subjections imply the no payment of taxes by citizens. Therefore, this chapter tries to assess, qualitatively and quantitatively, the levels of tax complexity perceived in local authorities' administrations through the amount of binding tax information those organizations request. The results suggest a high degree of perception of tax complexity and uncertainty as well as a lack of transparency associated with the tax framework of the activities of local authorities. It is pointed out that the perceived complexity is essentially legal. Moreover, the findings establish a relation between some more complex legal changes with great tax impact within these entities and the increase of the number of binding tax information requested on their subjects.
The Knowledge Urbanity in Qatar
Authors: Alraouf Ali A.
Published: February 2018

This chapter illustrates the alternative approach to knowledge-based urban development that Qatar adopted to cope with the challenges of the post-carbon paradigm and to construct a new identity as a knowledge-based model of development within the Middle East. Using the capital city, Doha, as the main case study, the chapter provides analysis of the city evolution from the discovery of oil until the contemporary stage where knowledge economy is envisioned as its future and the guiding principle for its urban and architectural projects. The analysis covers the city planning level and how future masterplan is geared towards KBUD and then some influential projects will be assessed. The chapter concludes with a holistic understanding of the case of Doha as a knowledge and creative city that succeeded to craft a new urban brand within the Gulf and Middle Eastern cities.
The Role of Context on Age of Acquisition Effect
Authors: Raman Ilhan
Published: February 2018

Processes involved in converting print to sound are reported to be flexible and under the strategic control of skilled readers even in transparent orthographies. In this respect, word frequency effect, regularity, and lexicality have been the topic of much research and debate in understanding how context is involved in the emergence of strategies. However, whether age of acquisition (AoA) effects are influenced by context and under the strategic control of readers have yet to be established. A series of single-word naming experiments addresses this issue and examines the role of filler type critically manipulated on lexicality, frequency, and imageability on the size of AoA effect in word naming in an entirely transparent orthography. Overall, results, which are discussed within the current theoretical frameworks, suggest that context plays a significant role on AoA.
Context Effects in Bilingual Language Processing
Authors: Kaur Sugandha , Som Bidisha
Published: February 2018

Previous studies show that the presence of a context word in picture naming either facilitates or interferes with the naming. Although there has been extensive research in this area, there are many conflicting findings, making it difficult to reach firm conclusions. This chapter aims to delve into the dynamics of such processing and understand the nuances involved in experimental manipulations that may influence the pattern of results and be responsible for differences in outcomes. The series of experiments reported in this chapter was aimed at refining our understanding of mechanisms in the way bilinguals process language production by examining two different paradigms—primed picture naming and picture-word interference. This was investigated by manipulating both the type of visual context words presented with the picture and the time interval between the presentation of context word and picture. The results are interpreted within the context of current models of lexical access.
Inclusion in Linguistic Education
Authors: Monte-Serrat Dionéia Motta
Published: February 2018

Education norms have been altered over the years; however, marginalization problems in linguistic education have not changed. A contemporary approach to linguistic education is taken in which individuals with brain injury or dysfunction are not observed isolatedly from the operations that structure them. This chapter is a study on the signification processes that are constituted during enunciation by subjects who, due to brain dysfunction, appropriate reality and produce conscience of themselves in a particular fashion. Linguistic monitoring articulated with neurolinguistics is suggested in order to promote rhythmic, lexical, and syntactic modifications in such subjects' discourse so as to place the significant chain in order as regards its oral or written production. Hence, subjects with brain dysfunction can develop authorship characteristics as concerns both language appropriation and the subjective aspect, thus showing unicity under the form of coherence: such subjects' creative imagination is imposed, ordinating and coordinating the content expressed.
Promoting Diversity and Multicultural Training in Higher Education
Authors: Hsieh Alexander L. , Seshadri Gita
Published: February 2018

The educational system and academia reside at the core of most professional settings. The issues are that diversity and multicultural content and process continue to be taught in higher education but multicultural issues within programs are sometimes neglected. These concerns occur in and out of the classroom and can be a microcosm of biases in our society. This chapter seeks to promote diversity and multicultural training and discussion of microaggressions to infuse and build higher education programs to become more culturally competent both in content and process. The theoretical concepts are presented to offer a guideline and lens to perceive faculty training. Biases are explored as they pertain to our current state of higher education in both the structure and content. Instances of faculty training are given with case examples to highlight the training process and to promote an academic environment that is open to multicultural discussions and persistent on creating and maintaining safe space and time. Suggestions for future exploration and reading recommendations are made.
Selection of Renewable Energy Sources for Buildings
Authors: Jędrzejuk Hanna Irena
Published: February 2018

This chapter describes a general issue of selecting renewable energy sources (RES) and technical systems. To achieve the nearly zero-energy building (nZEB) standard, application of an RES (e.g., solar, wind, geothermal, hydropower, and biomass energy) is necessary. Each type of RES has specific characteristics and can be used to produce electricity and/or heat in certain systems. A short review of various systems using renewable energy sources is presented. To find the required and satisfactory solution that guaranties meeting the nZEB standard, an analysis must be carried out considering a number of aspects: local availability, structure and time-dependence of energy demand, building construction, economic conditions, legal regulations, and specific requirements. Finally, two examples of modernisation towards the nZEB standard are included.
The Concept of Expert System Supporting the Increase of Energy Efficiency in Buildings
Authors: Węglarz Arkadiusz
Published: February 2018

This chapter describes the concept of an expert system supporting improvements in a building's energy efficiency. An expert system is a computer program or group of programs that facilitates using knowledge and decision making. The main elements of an expert system are the knowledgebase and a conclusion system. The knowledgebase collects information about a particular area, which was beforehand written in using particular rules. The conclusion system uses the knowledgebase and user input facts to generate conclusions or prove the user's hypothesis. The proposed expert system contains information on building technology, modernization and installation activities, and the values for financial, environmental, and technical indicators characterising these technologies. The user of an expert system defines the problem to be solved using questions. Using the knowledgebase, the system will present the optimal solution or information that the technologies in the existing knowledgebase will be applicable in the case defined by the user.
Single-Family Residential Building Energy Retrofit
Authors: Pierzchalski Michał
Published: February 2018

This chapter is a case study for the energy retrofit of an existing single-family residential building. The main assumption of the project was creating a model example for an energy retrofit with the aim of achieving the nZEB standard in existing residential building. The discussed building was built between the 1960s and the 1970s. The building was built using mixed technologies. The flooring on the ground floor was replaced; the foundation, external walls, and roof were thermally insulated. The windows and doors were replaced with higher parameter ones. Moreover, a modern biomass boiler was installed in the building along with the installation of a mechanical bidirectional ventilation unit with a heat recovery. Before the renovation, the building used about 133.4 GJ final energy for heating annually. After the renovation, the building uses about 8.89 GJ annually. The author describes all the stages of the renovation, the technical solutions, the calculations of economic and environmental benefits of the conducted renovations.