bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Mapping Soil Electric Conductivity using Bayesian Kriging: A Case Study from Qasur, Pakistan
Authors: Imran Muhammad , Ashraf Ather , Rehman Ateeq Ur 
Published: December 2016

Abstract:
Quality of soil data is vital to formulate agricultural policies at different scales. Current agricultural applications in Pakistan depend however, on average values of soil estimates over larger areas. In this work, model-based ordinary kriging (OK) and Bayesian kriging (BK) to interpolate soil data is used. The aim is to compare the two different methods for the accuracy of soil data prediction. For this soils were sampled for Electrical Conductivity (EC, dS m−1) at 759 different locations in the rural agricultural areas of Qasur Tehsil, Pakistan. Cross validation was used to compare the performance of OK and BK. Our results show strong skewness and spatial dependency of soil EC values in heterogeneous regions. Box-Cox transformation successfully reduced the level of skewness in the soil EC data (from 14.1 to 0.11). Contrary to OK, under-estimation of soil EC values was not evident in the BK interpolation. Mean square prediction error for BK (1.45) was significantly reduced as compared to that for OK (6.1). Considering these findings, BK is a better model to explain the sub-regional soil EC variability and estimating strategies for sustainable agricultural planning in Pakistan.
Influence of Saturation on Rainfall Generated Landslides in Shale along Murree-Kohala Road, Pakistan
Authors: Ali Farhan , Farooq Khalid , Mujtaba Hasan , Riaz Ahmad , Ulhaq Ehsan 
Published: December 2016

Abstract:
On August 10, 2010 a series of landslides of more than 90,000 m3 occurred along the Muree-Kohala road in the northern area of Pakistan. A study was undertaken to evaluate the likely impacts of percent saturation and bulk density on mobilized shear strength along the basal rupture surface of the landslide. A series of unconfined compression test and unconsolidated undrained triaxial tests were performed on remolded samples of different densities with varied percentages of saturation. The results of these tests suggest that soil cohesion and friction decreases with increasing saturation. The tests also showed that the shear strength parameters tend to increase with increasing dry density; however, all the samples exhibited a noticeable loss of shear strength with increasing degree of saturation, independent of soil density.
Limit equilibrium slope stability analyses were performed along the most probable failure planes, based on shear strength parameters corresponding to degrees of saturation, which varied between 30% to about 100%. This resulted in drop of factor of safety from FS = 1.64 down to 0.51 as the degree of saturation approaches unity.
These results suggest that the causative factor in triggering the landslide along Murree-Kohala was the partial saturation of the zone that developed the basal rupture plane. As rain infiltrated the slope, the bulk unit weight of the soil increased, while the shear strength along the developing plane of rupture decreased sufficiently to concentrate shear strain when the material became more than 60% saturation (FS &lt; 1.0).
Dump Slope Stability Analysis – A Case Study
Authors: Behera Prasanta Kumar , Sarkar Kripamoy , Singh Ashok Kumar , Verma A. K. , Singh T. N. 
Published: December 2016

Abstract:
In opencast mining operation, the stability of waste materials stands at high priority from the safety and economic perspective. Poor management of overburden (OB) dump results the instability of slope in an opencast mine. The present paper deals with the stability analysis of dump material of an opencast coal mine at Talcher coal field, Angul district, Odisha, by means of different geotechnical parameters and mineralogical composition affecting the dump slope. The prolonged rainfall in the mining area causes dump failure and loss of valuable life and property. A recent dump failure that occurred in 2013 at Basundhara mines of Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL), Odisha, took 14 lives, and created problems for the mining industry. Most of the dump failure that occurs in the study area are mainly due to increase in pore water pressure as a result of rainfall infiltration. The stability of the waste dump was investigated using the limit equilibrium analysis to suggest an economical, sustainable and safe disposal of the dump in the study area.
Economic Significance of Colonial Invasions in Khejuri-Hijli Coastal Sector of Purba Medinipur District, West Bengal: A Geographical Review
Authors: Pradhan Mihir Kumar , Khan Ansar , Chatterjee Soumendu 
Published: December 2016

Abstract:
Khejuri-Hijili coastal area, now extends over the Khejuri police station, is situated in the southeastern part of the district of Purba Medinipur of West Bengal, on the western bank of the Hugli river. Between 21°47’42”N-22°4’N latitudes and 87°45’4”E-88°18”E longitudes the area covers about 267.97 sq. km. At the confluence of the rivers Bhagirathi-Hugli and the Bay of Bengal, Hijili emerged as an island from the estuarine surroundings around 1400-1500 A.D. afterward the island became covered with natural mangroves. Gradually it became the abode of fishermen. To gather some primary data, household survey by different questionnaire, topographic survey was done. Secondary data are mainly produced by assembling historical charts, maps, literatures for the specified work of the area concerned. Historical records including documents, survey notes, maps and photographs provided valuable information about the study area. Remains of early structures, monuments, and office buildings have been vigilantly watched and written reports and research articles have been carefully studied for sequencing the socio-economic history of the area. Later on accuracy assessment was performed by comparing two sources of information: classification of map derived from old records and maps and the ground truth information. The output obtained by performing the above steps includes land use and other maps and charts. These outputs were then analyzed to detect the historical significance of Khejuri-Hijili sector of the Hugli estuary and its sequential deterioration. These changes in the study area that were identified from classified maps, charts and diagram were tabulated.
Preventing and Analysis of Falling Rocks: A Case of Sarica Village (Gürün, Turkey)
Authors: Polat Ali , Keskin Inan , Denizli Irfan 
Published: December 2016

Abstract:
Rock fall is a common natural hazard causing significant damage to infrastructure and loss of life and property. This paper describes selection of prevention method, construction processes and the results of a rockfall hazard assessment for the village of Sarica (Gürün region, Turkey) based on an engineering-geological model. The study area is located on the lower parts of an area with very steep cliffs and 40-500 slopes with fractured sedimentary and volcanic rocks. Detailed studies have been conducted in the region to prevent the risk of any rockfalls. Maps and charts are prepared including the rock blocks that are likely to fall and the related housing area under the risk. It was found that block sizes reached 3 m3. Rockfall analyses were performed along the selected profiles using the Rocfall V.5.0 software. Kinetic energy, bounce height, horizontal location of rock end-points and velocity of the rocks along each section were evaluated separately for each profile. This data was used to select design and construction of rockfall preventing system. In this study professional type rock fall barrier (catchment fence) was used. This method was chosen because it was cheaper, more practical and reliable than others.
Late Eocene-Early Miocene Palaeogeographic Evolution of Central Eastern Anatolian Basins, the Closure of the Neo-Tethys Ocean and Continental Collision
Authors: Karadenizli Levent , Varol Baki Erdogan , SaraÇ GerÇek , Gedik Fatma 
Published: December 2016

Abstract:
In central eastern Anatolia which is located between Eurasia and Africa, the study of basin developments between late Eocene and early Miocene is of great importance for understanding the process of the closure of the Neo-Tethys Ocean and the formation of strike-slip faults and regional uplift. To study these, three basins were selected: the Sivas-Erzincan, Gürün-Akkisla-Divrigi (GAD), and Malatya basins. The study proposes that the opening of the GAD basin played a key role in the formation of the Ecemis fault, which started developing at the end of early Miocene, and in mountain uplift. All these basins are situated on continental blocks and oceanic crust, arranged from north to south as the Sakarya continent, the Izmir-Ankara-Erzincan ocean (Northern Neo-Tethys), the Kirsehir continent, the inner Tauride ocean, the Munzur-Binboga block, the Maden (=Berit) ocean, the Bitlis-Pütürge block, the Çüngüs ocean and the Arabian continent.
The findings indicate that late Eocene-early Miocene successions in these basins were not deposited in foreland basins formed in front of the thrust faults associated with the closure of the ocean, as stated in previous studies. Rather, they were deposited in forearc and backarc basins related to the subduction which was effective until the end of early Miocene. The Sivas-Erzincan and Malatya basins, located on the inner Tauride and Maden (=Berit) oceans, were forearc basins, while the GAD basin situated on the Munzur-Binboga block was a backarc basin. These basins have parallel developments up to the end of early Miocene. While marine sediments were deposited in the Malatya and Sivas-Erzincan basins between late Eocene and early Miocene, terrestrial units began to settle in the GAD basin from the late Eocene and the deposition there is continuous until the end of the early Miocene.
Collision of the Arabian and the Anatolian plates at the end of early Miocene (16-18 Ma) produced the left-strike slip Ecemis fault zone, which caused the lateral slip of sedimentary units in the Sivas-Erzincan and GAD basins over hundreds of kilometers. This event produced the first westward tectonic escape of the Anatolian plate prior to the north Anatolian fault (NAF) and the east Anatolian fault (EAF). The Gürün region located in the GAD basin was exhumed in late Miocene and this basin was broken. The Gürün region, which remains on the rising part of the Munzur-Binboga block, is not a different basin as stated earlier, but it is a part of the GAD basin, representing the central part of the GAD basin lake, as indicated by the fine grained deposits (limestones and clay) that occur in the Gürün area.
Tie heterogeneity in networks of interlocking directorates: a cost–benefit approach to firms’ tie choice
Authors: Brennecke Julia , Rank Olaf N. 
Published: December 2016

AbstractThis conceptual paper investigates the creation of interlocking directorate ties focusing on firms’ choice between sent, received, and undirected board interlocks. Drawing on a framework on the benefits of board interlocks stemming from resource dependence theory, we synthesize prior research on the consequences of interlocks and demonstrate that each type of interlock goes along with unique knowledge-based, social influence-related, and institutional benefits and costs. We frame tie choice as a strategic decision based on a cost–benefit analysis and suggest that the tie-specific benefits and costs lead to the three types of ties not being equal alternatives. Appealing to specific motives for tie creation, these benefits and costs influence firms’ choice between the three types of interlocks. Our synthesis and cost–benefit analysis contribute to prior research by shedding light on the role of tie heterogeneity as a driver of tie creation as opposed to a factor causing firm-level outcomes. By focusing on content of ties, we extend the typically purely structural research on interlocking directorate networks. We suggest directions for future research and discuss possibilities to empirically validate our propositions on how tie-specific opportunities and constraints will affect tie choice.
ADAMTS‐3, ‐13, ‐16, and ‐19 levels in patients with habitual abortion
Authors: Pekcan Meryem Kuru , Sarıkaya Esma , Tokmak Aytekin , Alışık Murat , Alkan Afra , Özakşit Gülnur , Erel Özcan 
Published: December 2016

AbstractA disintegrin‐like and metalloproteinase domain with thrombospondin‐type 1 motifs (ADAMTS) protein superfamily includes 19 secreted metalloproteases. Proteolytic substrates of ADAMTS enzymes have been linked to reproductive function. The aim of this study was to investigate serum ADAMTS‐3, ‐13, ‐16, and ‐19 levels in women with habitual abortions compared with those in healthy controls. A total of 86 women were enrolled in this prospective case‐control study. ADAMTS‐3, ‐13, ‐16, and ‐19 values were recorded and analyzed in association with demographic and clinical parameters. There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in terms of demographics. No statistically significant differences were observed between the groups with regard to ADAMTS‐13 and ‐19 levels (p > 0.05). However, ADAMTS‐3 and ‐16 were significantly higher in the study group than in the control group (p = 0.004 and p = 0.005, respectively). To estimate habitual abortions using an area under receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, the cutoff values for ADAMTS‐3 and ‐16 were found to be 87.28 ng/mL (sensitivity, 64.44%; specificity 68.29%) and 15.75 ng/mL (sensitivity, 66.67%; specificity 68.29%), respectively. In conclusion, the pregnancy‐loss rate seems to be affected by both ADAMTS‐3 and ‐16.
Short- and Long-Term Reduction of Door-to-Needle Time in Thrombolysis for Acute Stroke
Authors: Chen Bing Yu , Moussaddy Aimen , Keezer Mark R. , Deschaintre Yan , Poppe Alexandre Y. 
Published: December 2016

AbstractBackground: More timely administration of tissue plasminogen activator (alteplase) for patients with acute ischemic stroke yields greater clinical benefits. We implemented door-to-needle (DTN) time reduction strategies at our center and evaluated their short- and long-term effects on in-hospital treatment delays and clinical outcomes. Methods: Strategies, including stroke team prenotification, direct computed tomography transfer, not routinely waiting for laboratory results and alteplase delivery on the computed tomography table, were implemented in June 2013. We included all thrombolysed patients admitted directly to our hospital between January 2012 and March 2015. In-hospital delays and symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage rates were compared between patients pre- and postmodification, and the latter period was divided into early (first 6 months) and late (beyond 6 months) phases to assess the durability of our modifications. Results: Forty-eight individuals were treated premodification compared with 58 postmodification. The median DTN time was reduced from 75 to 46 minutes (p<0.0001). The median DTN time in the early and late postmodification phases was not significantly different (41 vs 46 minutes, p=0.4085). There was no significant difference in rates of symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage (4.2 vs 1.7%, p=0.361) or stroke mimics (2.1 ves 5.2%, p=0.625) Conclusions: We were able to decrease our DTN time for acute stroke thrombolysis by implementing relatively simple modifications and these improvements persisted over time.
A new species ofCoahomasuchus(Archosauria, Aetosauria) from the Upper Triassic Pekin Formation, Deep River Basin, North Carolina
Authors: Heckert Andrew B. , Fraser Nicholas C. , Schneider Vincent P. 
Published: December 2016

AbstractWe describe a new species of the aetosaurCoahomasuchus,C.chathamensis, based on an incomplete, but largely articulated, anterior portion of a skeleton recovered from a quarry in the Upper Triassic Pekin Formation of Chatham County, North Carolina. This is only the second documented occurrence ofCoahomasuchus, with the other being the holotype ofC.kahleorumHeckert and Lucas, 1999 from the Upper Triassic Colorado City Formation of Texas. Although much of the specimen is the same size as the holotype ofC.kahleorum, the dorsal paramedian osteoderms of the North Carolina taxon are considerably (~1.3×) wider than homologous counterparts inC.kahleorum, and the ventral thoracic osteoderms are also rectangular (~1.5× wider than long), rather than square, presumably to accommodate the wider body. This is a rare instance where two articulated specimens of closely related aetosaur species are available for direct comparison of homologous osteoderms. Isolated osteoderms with similar ornamentation from the same locality indicate thatC.chathamensismay have been one of the earliest aetosaurs to attain the broad osteoderm proportions (width:length >3.5:1) otherwise known solely from later branching, spinose taxa such asTypothorax. The co-occurrence ofLucasuchusandCoahomasuchusin both North Carolina and Texas supports past correlations indicating an Otischalkian (Carnian) age for these strata and demonstrates that plesiomorphic, non-spinose aetosaur genera were not necessarily endemic to a single basin in North America.
BAIL-IN AND PRIVATE INTERNATIONAL LAW: HOW TO MAKE BANK RESOLUTION MEASURES EFFECTIVE ACROSS BORDERS
Authors: Lehmann Matthias 
Published: December 2016

AbstractBank resolution is key to avoiding a repetition of the global financial crisis, where failing financial institutions had to be bailed out with taxpayers’ money. It permits recapitalizing banks or alternatively winding them down in an orderly fashion without creating systemic risk. Resolution measures, however, suffer from structural weakness. They are taken by States with territorially limited powers, yet they concern entities or groups with global activities and assets in many countries. Under traditional rules of private international law, these activities and assets are governed by the law of other States, which is beyond the remit of the State undertaking the resolution. This paper illustrates the conflict between resolution and private international law by taking the example of the European Union, where the limitations of cross-border issues are most acute. It explains the techniques and mechanisms provided in the Bank Resolution and Recovery Directive (BRRD) and the Single Resolution Mechanism (SRM) Regulation to make resolution measures effective in intra-Eurozone cases, in intra-EU conflicts with non-Euro Member States and in relation to third States. However, it also shows divergences in the BRRD's transposition into national law and flaws that have been uncovered through first cases decided by national courts. A brief overview of third country regimes furthermore highlights the problems in obtaining recognition of EU resolution measures abroad. This article argues that regulatory cooperation alone is insufficient to overcome these shortcomings. It stresses that the effectiveness of resolution will ultimately depend on the courts. Therefore, mere soft law principles of regulatory cooperation are insufficient. A more stable and uniform text on resolution is required, which could take the form of a legislative guide or, ideally, of a model law. It is submitted that such a text could pave the way for greater effectiveness of cross-border resolution.
Chinese Brush, Western Canvas: The travels of Italian artists and writers, and the making of China's international cultural identity in the mid-1950s
Authors: DE GIORGI LAURA 
Published: December 2016

AbstractAfter 1955 the People's Republic of China looked to Western Europe to develop new economic and cultural relations, and to project its new image as an independent Socialist state. In this new context, between 1955 and 1957 several Italian delegations visited China to explore the possibility of cooperation between China and Italy in the field of literature and art. This article investigates the most important of these delegations, led by the jurist, Piero Calamandrei, in 1955, and some subsequent initiatives, such as the exhibition of Italian artists held in Beijing in 1956. Drawing mainly from Italian published and private sources, the article explores how Socialist China's revolutionary cultural identity was understood and received in Italy in this period. It does so with special reference to the impact of Soviet cultural influence on China, and the prospect of Sino-Italian cooperation in the field of arts and literature as a way to bridge the East–West political and ideological divide.
The China Question in Italian Foreign Policy
Authors: ROSTAGNI CARLA MENEGUZZI 
Published: December 2016

AbstractRelying on evidence from the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and on the private archives of both Aldo Moro and Pietro Nenni, this article shows that from the mid-1950s onwards, important politicians—Socialist Pietro Nenni, Christian Democrat Giovanni Gronchi and Liberal Gaetano Martino—worked to encourage economic exchanges between Italy and China, and were linked with the concurrent initiatives of economic actors like Dino Gentili and Enrico Mattei. It also reveals that this gradual but steady process placed the China question firmly on the agenda of Italian parliamentary debates and government programmes as early as 1964. Finally, it shows that, while American diplomacy was still dominated by the Vietnam War and opposed any initiative towards Chinese recognition, in 1969–1970 the long process of rapprochement between Rome and Beijing came to an end. Thanks to Nenni's and Moro's diplomatic action, Italy recognized the People's Republic of China (PRC) before the Americans decided to inaugurate triangular diplomacy and reach out to China.
Higher order symbolic execution for contract verification and refutation
Authors: NGUYÊN PHÚC C. , TOBIN-HOCHSTADT SAM , VAN HORN DAVID 
Published: December 2016

AbstractWe present a new approach to automated reasoning about higher-order programs by endowing symbolic execution with a notion of higher-order, symbolic values. To validate our approach, we use it to develop and evaluate a system for verifying and refuting behavioral software contracts of components in a functional language, which we callsoft contract verification. In doing so, we discover a mutually beneficial relation between behavioral contracts and higher-order symbolic execution. Contracts aid symbolic execution by providing a rich language of specifications serving as a basis of symbolic higher-order values; the theory of blame enables modular verification and leads to the theorem thatverified components can't be blamed; and the run-time monitoring of contracts enablessoftverification whereby verified and unverified components can safely interact. Conversely, symbolic execution aids contracts by providing compile-time verification and automated test case generation from counter-examples to verification. This relation between symbolic exuection and contracts engenders a virtuous cycle encouraging the gradual use of contracts.Our approach is able to analyze first-class contracts, recursive data structures, unknown functions, and control-flow-sensitive refinements of values, which are all idiomatic in dynamic languages. It makes effective use of off-the-shelf solvers to decide problems without heavy encodings. Counterexample search is sound and relatively complete with respect to a first-order solver for base type values and counter-examples are reported as concrete values, including functions. Therefore, it can form the basis of automated verification and bug-finding tools for higher-order programs. The approach is competitive with a range of existing tools—including type systems, flow analyzers, and model checkers—on their own benchmarks. We have built a prototype to analyze programs written in Racket and report on its effectiveness in verifying and refuting contracts.