bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Emission factors of black carbon and co-pollutants from diesel vehicles in Mexico City
Authors: Zavala Miguel , Molina Luisa T. , Yacovitch Tara I. , Fortner Edward C. , Roscioli Joseph R. , Floerchinger Cody , Herndon Scott C. , Kolb Charles E. , Knighton Walter B. , Paramo Victor Hugo , Zirath Sergio , Mejía José Antonio , Jazcilevich Aron
Published: December 2017

Abstract. Diesel-powered vehicles are intensively used in urban areas for transporting goods and people but can substantially contribute to high emissions of black carbon (BC), organic carbon (OC), and other gaseous pollutants. Strategies aimed at controlling mobile emissions sources thus have the potential to improve air quality and help mitigate the impacts of air pollutants on climate, ecosystems, and human health. However, in developing countries there are limited data on the BC and OC emission characteristics of diesel-powered vehicles, and thus there are large uncertainties in the estimation of the emission contributions from these sources. We measured BC, OC, and other inorganic components of fine particulate matter (PM), as well as carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulfur dioxide (SO2), ethane, acetylene, benzene, toluene, and C2-benzenes under real-world driving conditions for 20 diesel-powered vehicles encompassing multiple emission level technologies in Mexico City with the chasing technique using the Aerodyne mobile laboratory. Average BC emission factors ranged from 0.41–2.48 g kg−1 of fuel depending on vehicle type. The vehicles were also simultaneously measured using the cross-road remote sensing technique to obtain the emission factors of nitrogen oxide (NO), CO, total hydrocarbons, and fine PM, thus allowing for the intercomparison of the results from the two techniques. There is overall good agreement between the two techniques and both can identify high and low emitters, but substantial differences were found in some of the vehicles, probably due to the ability of the chasing technique to capture a larger diversity of driving conditions in comparison to the remote sensing technique. A comparison of the results with the US EPA MOVES2014b model showed that the model underestimates CO, OC, and selected VOC species, whereas there is better agreement for NOx and BC. Larger OC / BC ratios were found in comparison to ratios measured in California using the same technique, further demonstrating the need for using locally obtained diesel-powered vehicle emission factor database in developing countries in order to reduce the uncertainty in the emissions estimates and to improve the evaluation of the effectiveness of emissions reduction measures.
Cloud, precipitation and radiation responses to large perturbations
in global dimethyl sulfide
Authors: Fiddes Sonya L. , Woodhouse Matthew T. , Nicholls Zebedee , Lane Todd P. , Schofield Robyn
Published: December 2017

Abstract. Natural aerosol emission represents one of the largest uncertainties in our understanding of the climate system. Sulfur emitted by marine organisms, as dimethyl sulfide (DMS), constitutes one fifth of the global sulfur budget and yet the distribution, fluxes and fate of DMS remain poorly constrained. In this study we quantify the role of DMS in the chemistry-climate system and determine the climate's response to large DMS perturbations. By removing all marine DMS in the Australian Community Climate and Earth System Simulator (ACCESS) – United Kingdom Chemistry and Aerosol (UKCA), we find a top of atmosphere radiative effect of 1.7 W m−2. The largest responses to removing marine DMS are in stratiform cloud decks in the Southern Hemisphere's eastern ocean basins. These regions show significant differences in low-cloud (−9 %), radiation (+7 W m−2 in short wave incoming surface radiation) and large-scale rainfall (+15 %) when all DMS is removed. We demonstrate a precipitation suppression effect of DMS-derived aerosol in stratiform cloud deck regions, coupled with an increase in low cloud fraction. The increase in low cloud fraction is an example of the aerosol lifetime effect. Other areas of low cloud formation, such as the Southern Ocean and stratiform cloud decks in the Northern Hemisphere, have a relatively weak response to DMS perturbations. Our study highlights the need for further modelling and field studies of natural aerosols and their impact on cloud and precipitation, in particular in Southern Hemisphere stratiform cloud regions.
The Holocene sedimentary record of cyanobacterial glycolipids in the Baltic Sea: an evaluation of their application as tracers of past nitrogen fixation
Authors: Sollai Martina , Hopmans Ellen C. , Bale Nicole J. , Mets Anchelique , Warden Lisa , Moros Matthias , Sinninghe Damsté Jaap S.
Published: December 2017

Abstract. Heterocyst glycolipids (HGs) are lipids exclusively produced by heterocystous dinitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria. The Baltic Sea is an ideal environment to study the distribution of HGs and test their potential as biomarkers because of its recurring summer phytoplankton blooms, dominated by a few heterocystous cyanobacterial species of the genera Nodularia and Aphanizomenon. A multi-core and a gravity core from the Gotland Basin were analyzed to determine the abundance and distribution of a suite of selected HGs at a high resolution to investigate the changes in past cyanobacterial communities during the Holocene. The HG distribution of the sediments deposited during the Modern Warm Period (MoWP) was compared with those of cultivated heterocystous cyanobacteria, including those isolated from Baltic Sea waters, revealing high similarity. However, the abundance of HGs dropped substantially with depth, and this may be caused by either a decrease in the occurrence of the cyanobacterial blooms or diagenesis, resulting in partial destruction of the HGs. The record also shows that the HG distribution has remained stable since the Baltic turned into a brackish semi-enclosed basin ∼ 7200 cal. yr BP. This suggests that the heterocystous cyanobacterial species composition remained relatively stable as well. During the earlier freshwater phase of the Baltic (i.e., the Ancylus Lake and Yoldia Sea phases), the distribution of the HGs varied much more than in the subsequent brackish phase, and the absolute abundance of HGs was much lower than during the brackish phase. This suggests that the cyanobacterial community adjusted to the different environmental conditions in the basin. Our results confirm the potential of HGs as a specific biomarker of heterocystous cyanobacteria in paleo-environmental studies.
VPRM-CHINA: Using the Vegetation, Photosynthesis, and Respiration Model to partition contributions to CO2 measurements in Northern China during the 2005–2009 growing seasons
Authors: Dayalu Archana , Munger William , Wofsy Steven C. , Wang Yuxuan , Nehrkorn Thomas , Zhao Yu , McElroy Michael B. , Nielsen Chris , Luus Kristina
Published: December 2017

Abstract. Accurately quantifying the spatiotemporal distribution of the biological component of CO2 surface-atmosphere exchange is necessary to improve top-down constraints on China's anthropogenic CO2 emissions. We provide hourly fluxes of CO2 as Net Ecosystem Exchange (NEE; µmol CO2 m−2 s−1) on a 0.25° × 0.25° grid by adapting the Vegetation, Photosynthesis, and Respiration Model (VPRM) to the eastern half of China for the time period from 2005–2009; the minimal empirical parameterization of the VPRM-CHINA makes it well-suited for inverse modeling approaches. This study diverges from previous VPRM applications in that it is applied at large scale to China's ecosystems for the first time, incorporating a novel processing framework not previously applied to existing VPRM versions. In addition, the VPRM-CHINA model prescribes methods for addressing dual-cropping regions that have two separate growing season modes applied to the same model gridcell. We evaluate the VPRM-CHINA performance during the growing season and compare to other biospheric models. We calibrate the VPRM-CHINA with ChinaFlux and FluxNet data and scale up regionally using Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) Model v3.6.1 meteorology and MODIS surface reflectances. When combined with an anthropogenic emissions model in a Lagrangian particle transport framework, we compare the ability of VPRM-CHINA relative to an ensemble mean of global hourly flux models (NASA CMS) to reproduce observations made at a site in Northern China. The measurements are heavily influenced by the Northern China administrative region. Modeled hourly timeseries using vegetation fluxes prescribed by VPRM-CHINA exhibit low bias relative to measurements during the May-September growing season. Compared to NASA CMS subset over the study region, VPRM-CHINA agrees significantly better with measurements. NASA CMS consistently underestimates regional uptake in the growing season. We find that during the peak growing season, when the heavily cropped North China Plain significantly influences measurements, VPRM-CHINA models an CO2 uptake signal comparable in magnitude to the modeled anthropogenic signal. In addition to demonstrating efficacy as a low-bias prior for top-down CO2 inventory optimization studies using ground-based measurements, high spatiotemporal resolution models such as the VPRM are critical for interpreting retrievals from global CO2 remote sensing platforms such as OCO-2 and OCO-3 (planned). Depending on the satellite time-of-day and season of crossover, efforts to interpret the relative contribution of the vegetation and anthropogenic components to the measured signal are critical in key emitting regions such as Northern China – where the magnitude of the vegetation CO2 signal is shown to be equivalent to the anthropogenic signal.
A case study of aerosol data assimilation with the Community Multi-scale Air Quality Model over the contiguous United States using 3D-Var and optimal interpolation methods
Authors: Tang Youhua , Pagowski Mariusz , Chai Tianfeng , Pan Li , Lee Pius , Baker Barry , Kumar Rajesh , Delle Monache Luca , Tong Daniel , Kim Hyun-Cheol
Published: December 2017

Abstract. This study applies the Gridpoint Statistical Interpolation (GSI) 3D-Var assimilation tool originally developed by the National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP), to improve surface PM2.5 predictions over the contiguous United States (CONUS) by assimilating aerosol optical depth (AOD) and surface PM2.5 in version 5.1 of the Community Multi-scale Air Quality (CMAQ) modeling system. An optimal interpolation (OI) method implemented earlier (Tang et al., 2015) for the CMAQ modeling system is also tested for the same period (July 2011) over the same CONUS. Both GSI and OI methods assimilate surface PM2.5 observations at 00:00, 06:00, 12:00 and 18:00 UTC, and MODIS AOD at 18:00 UTC. The assimilations of observations using both GSI and OI generally help reduce the prediction biases and improve correlation between model predictions and observations. In the GSI experiments, assimilation of surface PM2.5 (particle matter with diameter < 2.5 µm) leads to stronger increments in surface PM2.5 compared to its MODIS AOD assimilation at the 550 nm wavelength. In contrast, we find a stronger OI impact of the MODIS AOD on surface aerosols at 18:00 UTC compared to the surface PM2.5 OI method. GSI produces smoother result and yields overall better correlation coefficient and root mean squared error (RMSE). It should be noted that the 3D-Var and OI methods used here have several big differences besides the data assimilation schemes. For instance, the OI uses relatively big model uncertainties, which helps yield smaller mean biases, but sometimes causes the RMSE to increase. We also examine and discuss the sensitivity of the assimilation experiments' results to the AOD forward operators.
Evaluation of GPM IMERG Early, Late, and Final rainfall estimates using WegenerNet gauge data in southeastern Austria
Authors: O Sungmin , Foelsche Ulrich , Kirchengast Gottfried , Fuchsberger Juergen , Tan Jackson , Petersen Walter A.
Published: December 2017

Abstract. The Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) Integrated Multi-satellite Retrievals for GPM (IMERG) products provide quasi-global (60° N–60° S) precipitation estimates, beginning March 2014, from the combined use of passive microwave (PMW) and infrared (IR) satellites comprising the GPM constellation. The IMERG products are available in the form of near-real-time data, i.e., IMERG Early and Late, and in the form of post-real-time research data, i.e., IMERG Final, after monthly rain gauge analysis is received and taken into account. In this study, IMERG version 3 Early, Late, and Final (IMERG-E,IMERG-L, and IMERG-F) half-hourly rainfall estimates are compared with gauge-based gridded rainfall data from the WegenerNet Feldbach region (WEGN) high-density climate station network in southeastern Austria. The comparison is conducted over two IMERG 0.1°  ×  0.1° grid cells, entirely covered by 40 and 39 WEGN stations each, using data from the extended summer season (April–October) for the first two years of the GPM mission. The entire data are divided into two rainfall intensity ranges (low and high) and two seasons (warm and hot), and we evaluate the performance of IMERG, using both statistical and graphical methods. Results show that IMERG-F rainfall estimates are in the best overall agreement with the WEGN data, followed by IMERG-L and IMERG-E estimates, particularly for the hot season. We also illustrate, through rainfall event cases, how insufficient PMW sources and errors in motion vectors can lead to wide discrepancies in the IMERG estimates. Finally, by applying the method of Villarini and Krajewski (2007), we find that IMERG-F half-hourly rainfall estimates can be regarded as a 25 min gauge accumulation, with an offset of +40 min relative to its nominal time.
Head-on collision of internal waves with trapped cores
Authors: Maderich Vladimir , Jung Kyung Tae , Terletska Kateryna , Kim Kyeong Ok
Published: December 2017

Abstract. The dynamics and energetics of a head-on collision of internal solitary waves (ISWs) with trapped cores propagating in a thin pycnocline were studied numerically within the framework of the Navier–Stokes equations for a stratified fluid. The peculiarity of this collision is that it involves trapped masses of a fluid. The interaction of ISWs differs for three classes of ISWs: (i) weakly non-linear waves without trapped cores, (ii) stable strongly non-linear waves with trapped cores, and (iii) shear unstable strongly non-linear waves. The wave phase shift of the colliding waves with equal amplitude grows as the amplitudes increase for colliding waves of classes (i) and (ii) and remains almost constant for those of class (iii). The excess of the maximum run-up amplitude, normalized by the amplitude of the waves, over the sum of the amplitudes of the equal colliding waves increases almost linearly with increasing amplitude of the interacting waves belonging to classes (i) and (ii); however, it decreases somewhat for those of class (iii). The colliding waves of class (ii) lose fluid trapped by the wave cores when amplitudes normalized by the thickness of the pycnocline are in the range of approximately between 1 and 1.75. The interacting stable waves of higher amplitude capture cores and carry trapped fluid in opposite directions with little mass loss. The collision of locally shear unstable waves of class (iii) is accompanied by the development of instability. The dependence of loss of energy on the wave amplitude is not monotonic. Initially, the energy loss due to the interaction increases as the wave amplitude increases. Then, the energy losses reach a maximum due to the loss of potential energy of the cores upon collision and then start to decrease. With further amplitude growth, collision is accompanied by the development of instability and an increase in the loss of energy. The collision process is modified for waves of different amplitudes because of the exchange of trapped fluid between colliding waves due to the conservation of momentum.
Acontecimento e visualidade na escola: um estudo sobre as imagens de uma ocupação imagética
Authors: Junger Victor
Published: December 2017

Procuro pensar a multiplicidade de relações estabelecidas entre os praticantes e as imagens fotográficas em meio à ocupação imagética realizada no colégio, no âmbito de minha pesquisa de mestrado, tomando a sua aparição momentânea como acontecimento de criação da escola, assim como das visibilidades presididas em seus contextos. Para tanto, apenas me deterei sobre os deslocamentos e desaparecimentos das fotografias no dispositivo da ocupação, bem como acerca das rasuras e inscrições marcadas na superfície das imagens, como indícios de um território dinâmico, polêmico, e não menos poético, desta visualidade que, incessante, se faz instaurar nos espaços e tempos da escola. AbstractLooking for thinking the multiplicity of relations between practitioners and photographic images through the imagistic occupation held at the college as part of my master's research, taking its momentary appearance as a happening of school creation, as well as chaired the visibilities in their contexts. To do so, just dwell on the displacements and disappearances of the photos in the occupation dispositive, as well as about the erasures and markings to the surface of the images as evidence of a dynamic, controversial territory, and no less poetic, of this visuality that, incessantly, is made in the spaces and times of the school. ResumenBusco pensar la multiplicidad de relaciones establecidas entre los practicantes y las imágenes fotográficas en medio a la ocupación imagética realizada en el colegio, en el ámbito de mi investigación de maestría, tomando su aparición momentánea como acontecimiento de creación de la escuela, así como de las visibilidades presididas en sus contextos. Para ello, sólo me detendré sobre los desplazamientos y desapariciones de las fotografías en el dispositivo de la ocupación, así como sobre las rasuras e inscripciones marcadas en la superficie de las imágenes, como indicios de un territorio dinámico, polémico, y no menos poético, de esta visualidad que, incesante, se hace instaurar en los espacios y tiempos de la escuela.
Accuracy of Discriminating between Similar Drug Names by Nurses: Effect of Finger-pointing on Error Prevention
Authors: Mitobe Junko , Higuchi Takahiro
Published: December 2017

Discriminating between similar drug names accurately is important in order to prevent medication error. To facilitate accurate discrimination, performing finger-pointing toward drug names to recognize them is recommended in Japan for healthcare workers. We investigate whether nurses would accurately recognize the difference between target and similar drug names and whether finger-pointing would lead to error prevention for drug names by using a choice reaction time task. Participants observed six drug names with or without pointing with the index finger and determined as quickly and accurately as possible whether the target drug name was present. Targets were real drug names, although distractors were pseudo names so as to strictly manipulate the degree of similarity. The results showed that error rates were significantly higher for nurses than for students. Due to their familiarity with the drug names, the nurses could misrecognize the pseudo words as target drug names when a quick response was requested. We also found that nurses did not receive a benefit from finger-pointing. Moreover, finger-pointing may have been inadequate to lead to accurate recognition of complex stimuli, such as drug names.
Trends in United States Drug Shortages for Medications Used in Gastroenterology
Authors: Patel Jigar M. , Fox Erin R. , Zocchi Mark , Lee Zone-En , Mazer-Amirshahi Maryann
Published: December 2017

Introduction

Drug shortages have become more severe in recent years; however, data describing how such shortages impact gastroenterology (GI) drugs are limited. We characterize longitudinal trends of drug shortages in the USA within the scope of GI practice.

Methods

Drug shortage data from the University of Utah Drug Information Service were analyzed from January 2001 to December 2014. A board certified gastroenterologist, an internal medicine physician, and a clinical pharmacist identified drug shortages within the scope of GI practice, whether they are used for high-acuity conditions, availability, formulation, or therapeutic category. Trends in the length of shortages for GI drugs were described using standard descriptive statistics and regression analysis.

Results

A total of 1,774 drug shortages were reported over the 14-year period. Of those, 253 shortages (14.3%) were classified within the scope of GI practice. The number of newly-reported GI drug shortages increased from 15 in 2001 to 44 in 2014. The majority of GI drugs (55.7%) were parenteral and 102 shortages (40.3%) were single source drugs. By the end of the study period, 44 (17.4%) GI drugs remained on active shortage with a median duration of 24.3 months (interquartile range [IQR] 6.9–32.1). The median duration for resolved shortages of GI drugs was 7.7 months (IQR 2.9–17.6).

Conclusions

There was a significant increase in shortages of drugs used in GI practice from 2001 to 2014. Many of these drugs were used for high-acuity conditions and alternative agents were also impacted. Gastroenterologists must be cognizant of current shortages in order to mitigate impact on patient care.
Unveiling the Peril of Substandard and Falsified Medicines to Public Health and Safety in Africa: Need for All-Out War to End the Menace
Authors: Aminu Nafiu , Sha'aban Abubakar , Abubakar Abdulhakim , Gwarzo Mahmud S.
Published: December 2017

The peril of substandard and falsified medicines (SFM) risk complete failure of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals on access to safe, effective, quality, and affordable essential medicines in African countries. The global market volume of SFM could be up to US$200 billion, and up to 70% of the total medicines in circulation could be SFM in some parts of Africa. This dominance in the region is a clear sign of SFM proliferation, which continues to cause avoidable health hazards leading to severe adverse effects and devastating loss of human lives, by compromising treatment of chronic, infectious, and life-threatening diseases, such as malaria, cancer, pneumonia, tuberculosis, and diabetes. Besides these consequences to public health and safety, the economic and societal detriments are also grave. Although the recent advancement in detection technology coupled with increased collaborative efforts among some African drug regulatory agencies has led to a considerable success in countering the SFM pandemic, there is need to amplify and intensify such efforts in order to curb or totally eradicate the menace. Here, we provide an overview of the detrimental impact of SFM on the healthcare system in African countries and highlight various strategies for curbing the menace in order to arrest its hazardous consequence to the public.
La relevancia de la investigación durante la formación de pregrado
Authors: Zambrano Lysien Ivania
Published: December 2017

Sin resumen disponible.
O papel da política de saúde sobre as desigualdades nas regiões do Brasil
Authors: Schenkel Marina Do Amaral
Published: December 2017

Nesta pesquisa buscou-se analisar o papel da política de saúde frente as persistentes desigualdades em saúde, observando o atual debate sobre a mudança de padrão de investimentos em políticas públicas do país. Para tanto, as unidades de análise foram as regiões de saúde de todo o país, com dados secundários e metodologia com abordagem de natureza quantitativa. Como referencial teórico, utilizou-se a literatura sobre as origens e a situação da pobreza e desigualdade de renda no Brasil, como de Medeiros (2005, 2012) e Pochmann (2015), bem como as teorias explicativas e definições conceituais das desigualdades em saúde a partir da dimensão socioeconômica de indivíduos e grupos, abordadas por Barata (2009), Buss e Pellegrini Filho (2007) e Whitehead (1990). Foram analisados estudos sobre a forma que o sistema de saúde pode incidir para potencializar ou reduzir essas desigualdades e o contexto e organização do sistema brasileiro.  As análises apontaram a existência de significativas diferenças na distribuição da renda e da condição de saúde entre as regiões, bem como variações na oferta de serviços e no gasto do sistema de saúde. Ademais, demonstrou-se que a taxa de mortalidade infantil está correlacionada de forma elevada e negativa tanto com a renda mensal per capita dos habitantes quanto com o gasto investido no sistema de saúde.
Os custos dos acidentes de trânsito envolvendo jovens de 18 a 29 anos de idade em cinco cidades da Região Oeste do Paraná
Authors: Da Silva Diuslene Rodrigues , Bidarra Zelimar Soares
Published: December 2017

Este estudo é parte de tese de doutorado e aborda, como discussão central, a problemática da violência no trânsito envolvendo jovens de 18 (dezoito) a 29 (vinte e nove) anos em cinco cidades localizadas na Região Oeste do Paraná. Trata-se de uma pesquisa descritivo analítica, que utilizou como fonte o Banco de Dados do Corpo de Bombeiros do Paraná (SYSBM-RGO), SIM/DATASUS e SIH/SUS. Foram pesquisados os anos de 2012, 2013 e 2014, com uma amostragem intencional estratificada. Na pesquisa, a violência que se refere não diz respeito à violência que ocorre no espaço urbano, mas, especificamente, a violência no trânsito, retratada no elevado número anual de mortes e lesionados. Os dados apontam os elevados custos aplicados na política pública de saúde, sinalizando que a redução dos gastos nesta modalidade de atendimento poderia reverter em melhores oportunidades na formação dos jovens.
Expediente
Authors: Guaju Revista
Published: December 2017

Revista Brasileira de Desenvolvimento Territorial Sustentável
Radiographic Evaluation of Acetabular Fractures: Review and Update on Methodology
Authors: Mauffrey Cyril , Stacey Stephen , York Philip J. , Ziran Bruce H. , Archdeacon Michael T.
Published: December 2017

Despite increased availability of modern imaging techniques, plain radiographs remain the initial step in the classification of acetabular fractures. The ability to interpret the injury configuration allows the surgeon to develop a thorough preoperative plan and to evaluate the quality of reduction and fixation intraoperatively. Proficiency in the mental conversion of a two-dimensional radiograph into a three-dimensional conceptual image is imperative. The widely used radiographic classification scheme developed by Judet and Letournel in the 1960s is both practical and simple. However, understanding the subtleties of the fracture pattern can be a challenge even for experienced surgeons. Current evaluation methods include CT and three-dimensional reconstructions in addition to plain radiographs. Our diagnostic algorithm uses three plain radiographs to classify the fracture into one of the 10 fracture patterns described by Judet and Letournel.
The Effectiveness of Using Online Blogging for Students’ Individual and Group Writing
Authors: Alsamadani Hashem A.
Published: December 2017

The current research study investigates the effectiveness of online blogging for students’ individual and group writing skills. The participants were divided into individual learners and group learners. They produced pre-writing and post-writing samples through blogging practices. The study conducted lasted for 14 weeks so that blogging could be optimized. The results of the study reveal that unlike traditional ways of improving writing skills, blogging has revolutionized EFL pedagogy and methodology (learning and teaching). Blogging-based writing practice is more participatory and interactive in that learners can dramatically improve their writing skills in terms of content, word choice, style, language mechanics and the like. The learner-blogger becomes aware that the arbiter is no longer the classroom teacher, the audience or readership. This study recommends that blogging be part of writing classes and be incorporated into school curricula. This essentially requires pedagogical consideration of the design of blogging-based writing materials.
The New Paradigm of the Omnichannel Retailing: Key Drivers, New Challenges and Potential Outcomes Resulting from the Adoption of an Omnichannel Approach
Authors: Simone Aiolfi , Sabbadin Edoardo
Published: December 2017

The rise of the Internet, mobile technologies and digital disruption have changed the retail business as well as the implementation of the levers of retail mix and the behavior of shoppers. Online channel has become an appealing channel where retailers can sell their products and services. The proliferation of channels and touch points has affected not only consumer behavior but also companies' business models. Many retailers have started to develop multichannel and omnichannel strategies by adding new channels through which interact with the customers. Retailers are now concentrating on how shoppers are influenced by new technologies and how they switch across channels during their research and buying process. Omnichannel retailing, defined as the conceptualization of the complete integration of all channels, with no distinction between the online and the physical channel, is the new retailing paradigm of today. The topic itself is particularly relevant as technological development continue to disrupt retail strategies and practitioners are debating as to how to respond.  Particularly, managers are worried about how to manage the several touch points, which are now simultaneously available to customers. Concerning with the present research, we attempt to describe this development by analyzing the existing literature about topics that we can classify within the omnichannel paradigm. In order to explain how both literature and business models are moving from multichannel retailing towards the implementation of omnichannel strategies, we follow a blended approach based on literature review, theoretical background as well as some interesting managerial insights resulting from business’ case histories. To address the concerns of managers and retailers about the new challenges they will need to face in implementing an omnichannel retailing approach, we  present a theoretical framework, concerning with the adoption of the omnichannel as an innovative strategy in the overall marketing strategies. To deal with the topic we start from three research questions that guide our literature review as well as our theoretical framework. We investigate what are the key drivers that have stimulated retailers to develop an omnichannel retailing strategy, what are the new challenges that retailers will need to face when they decide to implement an omnichannel strategy in their overall marketing strategy and finally what are the possible outcomes of a correct and successful implementation of an omnichannel retailing strategy. Therefore, our theoretical framework explains key drivers, new challenges and potential outcomes coming from the adoption of the omnichannel retailing in order to help managers and practitioners who might decide to enter the omnichannel retailing.
Using Item Response Theory to Evaluate Self-directed Learning Readiness Scale
Authors: Momani Rana Th.
Published: December 2017

Item Response Theory becomes one of the most popular methods for instruments development and evaluation methods. This baseline study is a self-directed learning readiness (SDLR) 40 item scale with data from 648 undergraduate psychology female students attending Qassim University in Saudi Arabia through randomized selection to evaluate an SDLR scale at item and scale levels using GRM. Results provide more detailed diagnostic information to modulate the scale. GRM analysis led to the detection of two locally dependent items, one item with low discrimination parameter and 15 model misfit items. The scale often tends to measure low and moderate levels of SDLR. Advanced psychometric evaluations should be made and the SDLR scale must be reviewed based on quantitative and qualitative analysis.
Self-Efficacy and Alexithymia as Moderators between Perceived Social Support and Stress among Parents of Children with Learning Disabilities
Authors: Abbasi Mohammad
Published: December 2017

The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to examine Self-Efficacy and Alexithymia as moderators between perceived social support and Stress among parents of children with Learning Disabilities. The convenience sample of the study consisted of 98 parents of children with Learning Disabilities from Ahwaz (Iran). This descriptive correlational study was conducted in 2014-15. Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS), General Self-Efficacy Scale (GCE), Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20), and Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) were completed by parents. Hierarchical linear regression analyses were used to examine the moderating role of Self-Efficacy and Alexithymia. The results revealed that Self-Efficacy and Alexithymia were moderators in the relationship between Perceived social support and Stress. The findings supported the hypothesis that higher levels of self-efficacy (see: Figure 1) would be associated with lower levels of Stress, and that lower levels of Alexithymia (see: Figure 2) would be associated with lower levels of Stress.
A HISTÓRICA VIOLÊNCIA DE LONGA DURAÇÃO DAS ELITES BRASILEIRASHist
Authors: Gomes Lilian Cristina Bernardo
Published: December 2017

RESUMO

Os processos de colonização estão imbuídos de uma violência pela ambição de conquista e acúmulo. No Brasil, isso não foi diferente e os 350 anos de escravização de negras e negros pelas elites portuguesas é uma marca desse processo. Contudo, mesmo após a Independência (1822), a Abolição da Escravidão (1888) e a Proclamação da República as próprias elites brasileiras buscaram modos de perpetuar essa violência em função de uma hierarquia social, econômica, política e simbólica com padrões que marcaram a história de longa duração do Brasil pautados no patriarcalismo, patrimonialismo, machismo, sexismo, racismo e homofobia.  O presente artigo perpassará diferentes momentos da história do Brasil indicando que as elites brasileiras reinventaram, ao longo da história, formas de perpetuar a violência através da exclusão dos grupos não-brancos, estabelecendo hierarquizações e colocando o homem, branco, proprietário e heterossexual no topo da pirâmide num processo de subalternização dos outros grupos.

 

ABSTRACT

 

The processes of colonization around the world are pervaded by violence that has its roots in the ambition of conquest and accumulation. In Brazil, that was not different and the 350 years of enslavement of black people by the Portuguese elites marks this process. However, even after the Independence of Brazil (1822), Slavery Abolition (1888) and Proclamation of the Republic, the Brazilian elites sought ways in order to perpetuate violence based on social, economic, political and symbolic hierarchy with patterns that marked a longue durée history of patriarchalism, patrimonialism, chauvinism, sexism, racism and homophobia. Thus, the elites naturalized themselves as holders of the power and the market in Brazil. This article will cover different moments in Brazilian history, indicating how the elites they have reinvented, throughout history, ways of perpetuating violence by excluding nonwhite groups, establishing hierarchies and placing the men, not only white, but owner and heterosexual on the top of the pyramid in a process of subalternity of the other groups.

KEY WORDS: elites, racism, patriarchalism, violence, subalternity. 
O DIREITO EM JOHN LOCKE
Authors: Nascimento Christian Lindberg Lopes do
Published: December 2017

O presente artigo tem como objetivo analisar o tema do Direito em John Locke, à luz da caracterização feita por Norberto Bobbio na obra Era dos Direitos (2014), na qual levanta a questão se poder-se-ia inserir o pensamento filosófico lockeano na denominada Era. Este texto busca compreender o conceito de Direito em Locke associado a outros, ainda que de forma secundária, tais como o de justiça, violação, magistrado e, sobretudo, propriedade. Tendo como foco o Direito e suas ramificações políticas, entendemos que Locke defende aquilo que os modernos chamam de “básico” para a existência de cada indivíduo, como a vida, a paz, a liberdade e a igualdade, ou seja, os bens materiais elementares para a sobrevivência humana. Este arcabouço conceitual é referendado à medida que são adotados o conjunto dos livros do filósofo inglês, particularmente aqueles relacionados à Filosofia Política e à da Religião, como a Carta sobre a tolerância; o Dois tratados sobre o governo e o Ensaios políticos.
JOHN LOCKE E A DIVERSIDADE DE INTERPRETAÇÕES
Authors: Santos Antônio Carlos
Published: December 2017

O objetivo deste texto é apresentar, por um lado, os eixos centrais da chamada “Escola de Cambridge” e, por outro, analisar os procedimentos metodológicos e chaves de leituras dos comentadores clássicos de Locke vinculados a essa mesma escola. Para cumprir esse objetivo, o artigo é composto de duas partes: na primeira, serão problematizados os pontos essenciais da “Escola de Cambridge”, notadamente os defendidos por Skinner, assim como as críticas mais contundentes sobre sua abordagem; na segunda, serão analisadas as principais interpretações e leituras de Locke relacionadas à mesma “Escola” e que deram o tom da leitura de seu pensamento na segunda metade do século XX. No fundo, as duas partes conectam-se porque os fundadores da “Escola” inglesa, quase todos, foram pesquisadores da obra de Locke. Com isso, espera-se que este texto possa contribuir para minimizar a lacuna bibliográfica sobre os estudos de Locke no Brasil e que inspire novas pesquisas e abordagens, seja sobre o pensador inglês, seja na área da Filosofia Política.
Sideritis scardica extracts inhibit aggregation and toxicity of amyloid-β in Caenorhabditis elegans used as a model for Alzheimer's disease
Authors: Heiner Felix , Feistel Björn , Wink Michael
Published: December 2017

Background. Beyond its traditional uses in the Balkan area, Sideritis scardica (known as Greek mountain tea, Lamiaceae) is currently extensively investigated for its pharmacological activity in the central nervous system. Antidepressant, psychostimulating, cognition-enhancing and neuroprotective properties have been described. In this study, we tested hydroalcoholic extracts of S. scardica for their potential to counteract amyloid-β toxicity and aggregation, which plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease.

Methods. For this purpose, we have chosen the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, which is used as a model organism for neurodegenerative diseases. The concentration of different polyphenols in extracts prepared from water, 20, 40, 50, and 70 % ethanol was analysed by HPLC. Additionally, polar and unpolar fractions were prepared from the 40 % ethanolic extract and phytochemically analysed.

Results. Essentially, the contents of all measured constituents increased with the lipophilicity of the extraction solvents. Treatment of transgenic C. elegans strains expressing amyloid-β with the extracts resulted in a reduced number of peptide aggregates in the head region of the worms and alleviated toxicity of amyloid-β, observable through the degree of paralysed animals. The mid-polar extracts (40 and 50 % ethanol) turned out be the most active, decreasing the plaque number by 21 % and delaying the amyloid-β-induced paralysis by up to 3.5 h. The more lipophilic extract fractions exhibited higher activity than the hydrophilic ones.

Discussion. Sideritis scardica extracts demonstrated pharmacological activity against characteristics of Alzheimer's disease also in C. elegans, supporting current efforts to assess its potential for the treatment of cognitive decline. The active principle as well as the mode of action needs to be investigated in more detail.
Pause/Play: Curating as Living/Aesthetic Analysis
Authors: Hofsess Brooke A , Thiel Jaye Johnson
Published: December 2017

What might become if teachers were asked to view themselves as curators? And, in turn, in what ways might curatorial work draw attention to how analytic spaces are continuously created as teachers and teacher educators move through pedagogical and research processes? This paper extends an invitation for readers to engage with curatorial impulses (Hofsess, 2015, 2016, forthcoming) and co-curatorial moments (Thiel, forthcoming) as living/aesthetic analysis by remixing a series of constructs and technologies explored by a cohort of preservice teachers. Finding inspiration in Nordstrom’s (2017) antimethodology, the authors grapple with how curating might set up “conditions of possibility” (Barad, 2007) that offer a new way to engage in the theoretical work of qualitative inquiry—a way that begins to invite the student, the art material, the political, the affectual, etc., into the entanglement of theorizing from the start because they were always, already there to begin with.
Editorial: Postqualitative Curations and Creations
Authors: Nordstrom Susan , Ulmer Jasmine
Published: December 2017

This special issue of Reconceptualizing Educational Research Methodology offers a series of curations and creations from emergent scholars within the equally emergent field of postqualitative research.
System Change, Learning and Public Opinion about the Economy
Authors: ANDERSON CHRISTOPHER J. , O'CONNER KATHLEEN M.
Published: July 2002

This study examines attitudes about the economy under conditions of system change. We argue that citizens in new market economics are relative novices with regard to understanding the new economic environment at the beginning of the transition phase, but that they accumulate experience as time passes. We develop and test two hypotheses: (1) we expect that, over time, economic perceptions more closely track objective economic performance; (2) as a corollary, we hypothesize that, over time, economic policy priorities of citizens in a new market economy more closely track objective economic performance. Time-series data of objective economic indicators and public opinion collected in East Germany between 1991 and 1995 are analysed using regression analyses and tests of structural change in parameters. We find that East Germans' economic perceptions correspond to actual economic trends as they develop experience with the political-economic system. The implications of our findings for research on the relationship between the economy and political support in societies in transition are discussed.
JOURNALISTS' SOURCES AND DISLOYAL EMPLOYEES: DISCRETION, FACT AND
JUDGEMENT
Authors: ALLAN T. R. S.
Published: July 2002

Two recent decisions afford contrasting examples of the operation of
section 10 of the Contempt of Court Act 1981, which grants a writer or publisher a limited privilege to withhold the source of published information. The privilege acknowledges the importance of maintaining the flow of information to the public about matters of legitimate public concern, a process which may depend on a journalist's ability to keep a promise of anonymity or non-attributability made to his source. The privilege is lost, however, where it is “established to the satisfaction of the court that disclosure is necessary in the interests of justice or national security or for the prevention of disorder or crime”. Since these exceptions are widely stated and reflect public interests of (potentially) equal importance with the flow of information to the press, the application of section 10 inevitably depends on the court's assessment of the comparative weight of the conflicting interests in the
circumstances of the particular case.
HIT POLYNOMIALS AND EXCESS IN THE MOD P STEENROD ALGEBRA
Authors: Meyer Dagmar M.
Published: July 2002

Let $p$ be an odd prime. The primary purpose of this paper is to determine the excess of the conjugates of the Steenrod operations $\mrm{P}[k;f]$, which are defined as $\mrm{P}[k;f]:=\mrm{P}(p^{k-1}f)\cdot\mrm{P}(p^{k-2}f)\cdot\cdots\cdot\mrm{P}(pf)\cdot\mrm{P}(f)$. The result is then used to obtain sufficient conditions for an element in the polynomial algebra $\mathbb{F}_p[x_1,\dots,x_s]$ to be in the image under the standard action of the Steenrod algebra. Results and methods are generalizations of previous work by Judith Silverman and by myself with Judith Silverman.

AMS 2000 Mathematics subject classification: Primary 55S10. Secondary 55S05
Adoption of new sugarcane varieties by the non-miller-planters in Mauritius: the importance of on-farm trials
Authors: PILLAY K. P.
Published: July 2002

One of the major research activities of the Mauritius Sugar Industry Research Institute (MSIRI) is the breeding and selection of sugarcane varieties adapted to the different agro-climatic environments. Most of the on-farm experimentation is carried out in the fields of miller-planters (planters who own the sugar mills), where resources in terms of land, labour and other inputs are usually easily available. The non-miller-planters are operating in environments which are not always similar to those of the miller-planters. There is a need for on-farm experimentation under these conditions in order to improve productivity. Variety trials, observation plots and industrial trials to compare commercial varieties with promising and newly released ones have been established on-farm in order to improve the adoption rate of new varieties. The paper elaborates on the objectives of this major extension activity during the last decade. A major inference is that the planters obtain first-hand information on promising varieties prior to their release for commercial plantation, hence influencing their decision for adoption or rejection. Moreover, additional information on the performance and behaviour of these promising varieties is made available to research staff.
The dynamics of a senescence plasmid in fungal populations
Authors: FIERS M. , van den BOSCH F. , DEBETS F. , HOEKSTRA R. F.
Published: July 2002

Fungi normally do not senesce, but in some species mitochondrial plasmids are known to occur
that induce senescence. In this paper models for the dynamics of a senescence plasmid in a fungal
population are developed and analysed. In the first model it is assumed that total fungal biomass
density is constant, while in the second model the resource dynamics and its effect on fungal
growth is modelled explicitly. An additional death rate describes the effect of the plasmid on the
senescent subpopulation. Plasmids can be transferred to non-senescent fungus. Criteria for the
coexistence of the non-senescent and senescent fungal strains are derived, all of which have a clear
biological interpretation. It is shown that coexistence is not possible in the first model, but is
possible in the second model for a large range of parameter values. We show that the interplay
between resource dynamics, fungal growth and plasmid transmission is crucial for coexistence. We
develop a biological interpretation of how these mechanisms have to interact to promote
coexistence. A numerical study of the second model further clarifies the relations between the
numerical value of several parameters and coexistence of non-senescent and senescent fungal
strains.