bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A Process for Transition to Sustainability: Implementation
Authors: Wooltorton Sandra , Palmer Marilyn , Steele Fran 
Published: March 2012

AbstractThis paper reports the outcomes of the second action cycle of an ongoing project at Edith Cowan University (ECU) calledTransition to Sustainability: ECU South Westwhich is located in a small, single faculty regional university campus. The overall project has comprised three action research cycles, the frst of which was the planning cycle which established the importance of building a community of practice with a learning stance for sustainability transition. It also highlighted the issue of a common defnition of the term sustainability; of including cross-disciplinary perspectives; and of working with the local community. The second action cycle which was the frst implementation phase, is the subject of this report. In this phase, we found that by not foreclosing on the meaning of sustainability, important aspects of sustainability were included. Although research participants initially expressed some concern about using an open understanding of sustainability, the problem of the meaning functioned to foster involvement in dialogue. In fact, these ongoing discussions around sustainability and the notion of a sustainable future formed the heart of this action cycle. However there were constraints associated with the subject of dialogue. These included problems of site communication, the maintenance of effective networks and issues around power and authorisation. We observed that each of these elements could work together in ways that enrich and/or obstruct a transition to sustainability. Finally, we found that lack of time hinders participation in sustainability transition projects because of its effect on authentic dialogue, thereby impacting upon the development of collaborative ways of working within the university. Our project is distinctively Australian in that it reflects an emerging movement in Australia to create social frameworks for embedding sustainability education activities. In our project, the transition process by which learning and change has been facilitated comprises the action research itself.
A cosmopolitan legal order: Constitutional pluralism and rights adjudication in Europe
Authors: STONE SWEET ALEC 
Published: March 2012

AbstractThe European Convention on Human Rights is rapidly evolving into a cosmopolitan legal order: a transnational legal system in which all public officials bear the obligation to fulfill the fundamental rights of every person within their jurisdiction. The emergence of the system depended on certain deep, structural transformations of law and politics in Europe, including the consolidation of a zone of peace and economic interdependence, of constitutional pluralism at the national level, and of rights cosmopolitanism at the transnational level. Framed by Kantian ideas, the paper develops a theoretical account of a cosmopolitan legal system, provides an overview of how the ECHR system operates, and establishes criteria for its normative assessment.
Geoelectric observations of the degradation of nearshore submarine permafrost at Barrow (Alaskan Beaufort Sea)
Authors: Overduin Pier Paul , Westermann Sebastian , Yoshikawa Kenji , Haberlau Thomas , Romanovsky Vladimir , Wetterich Sebastian 
Published: February 2012

Submarine permafrost degradation rates may be determined by a number of interacting processes, including rates of sea level rise and coastal erosion, sea bottom temperature and salinity regimes, geothermal heat flux and heat and mass diffusion within the sediment column. Observations of ice‐bearing permafrost in shelf sediments are necessary in order to determine its spatial distribution and to quantify its degradation rate. We tested the use of direct current electrical resistivity to ice‐bearing permafrost in Elson Lagoon northeast of Barrow, Alaska (Beaufort Sea). A sharp increase in electrical resistivity was observed in profiles collected perpendicular to and along the coastline and is interpreted to be the boundary between ice‐free sediment and underlying ice‐bearing submarine permafrost. The depth to the interpreted ice‐bearing permafrost increases from <2 m below sea level to over 12 m below sea level with increasing distance from the coastline. The dependence of the saline sediment electrical resistivity on temperature and freezing was measured in the laboratory to provide validation for the field measurements. Electrical resistivity was shown to be effective for detection of shallow ice‐bearing permafrost in the coastal zone. Historical coastal retreat rates were combined with the inclination of the top of the ice‐bearing permafrost to calculate mean vertical permafrost degradation rates of 1 to 4 cm yr−1.
Advances in calorie restriction in the last 10 years: implications for human longevity.
Authors: Mitchell S. J. , Sankavaram K. , Serrano E. M. Y. , Cabo R. de 
Published: March 2012

Abstract

Calorie restriction (CR) remains the most well-established experimental intervention to delay the onset of ageing and age-associated disease(s). However, this is not a new phenomenon. The beneficial effects of CR have been well recognized since the early 1930s. It is only recently the interest in understanding the mechanism(s) behind the beneficial effects has gained momentum. Mitochondria are proposed to be the leading target for the CR-mediated effects, given the fact that mitochondria are the primary regulators of cellular energy and oxidative stress. Consistent with this theory, many mitochondrial components are damaged with ageing and age-related diseases. More importantly, mitochondrial dysfunction has been implicated in premature ageing syndromes such as Werner's syndrome. Thus, this makes mitochondria an attractive target for the modulation of both ageing and age-related diseases. In recent years, the study of the CR story has made great progress towards understanding how CR ameliorates mitochondrial dysfunction; however, much is still to be understood. This review will examine the role of five players in the CR story: the sirtuins, adenosine monophosphate (AMP)-activated protein kinase (AMPK), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) coactivator-1α (PGC-1α), mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) and
pha-4
.
Managing farmland flora to promote biodiversity in Europe.
Authors: Andreasen C. , Andresen L. C. 
Published: March 2012

Abstract
Modern agriculture has increased food production, improved food security and reduced poverty, but farming has also caused a considerable decrease in biodiversity, primarily through land-use intensification and overexploitation, along with excessive pesticide and water use, nutrient loading and pollution. The major purpose of agriculture is to ensure sustainable food production, adequate nutrition and stable livelihoods for all. The new challenge for modern farming is to balance high productivity and high biodiversity and allow a sustainable exploitation of resources that preserves biodiversity. This review seeks to summarize how farmland flora can be managed to promote flora and fauna diversity in Europe. We outline how further loss of biodiversity can be avoided by expanding the area of organic farming and by increasing the landscape complexity, modifying pesticide use and cropping systems, increasing the support for grazing of grassland and through establishment of buffer zones and dispersal corridors in areas with arable crops.
First Report of Abundant Rudd Populations in North America
Authors: Kapuscinski Kevin L. , Farrell John M. , Wilkinson Michael A. 
Published: February 2012

Abstract
The rudd Scardinius erythrophthalmus was first introduced into U.S. waters about a century ago, and the species’ popularity as a baitfish in the 1980s has facilitated its spread to at least 21 states and the province of Ontario. Several established populations have been identified, but low abundances have led to little research and management attention. Rudds comprised 48.7% of the 14,130 fish captured in spring trap-netting surveys of Buffalo Harbor (northeastern Lake Erie) and the upper Niagara River during 2007–2008. Rudd was the most abundant species sampled, being captured at 11 of 12 locations and comprising 23.6% of the total catch in Buffalo Harbor and 70.3% of the catch in the upper Niagara River. Documented presences and absences in historical reports indicate that rudd became established in these waters between 1986 and 1991. Research is needed to understand the effects of rudds on native aquatic resources, especially nearshore macrophyte assemblages and the fish they support.
Received June 28, 2011; accepted November 1, 2011
Preoperative Immunosuppression Is Not Associated With Increased Postoperative Complications Following Colectomy in Children With Colitis
Authors: Schaufler Candi , Lerer Trudy , Campbell Brendan , Weiss Richard , Cohen Jeffrey , Sayej Wael , Hyams Jeffrey 
Published: March 2012

ABSTRACTObjectives:The aim of the present study was to review postoperative complications of pediatric patients undergoing colectomy for ulcerative colitis (UC) or inflammatory bowel disease‐unspecified (IBD‐U) with a focus on preoperative immunosuppression including exposure to infliximab.Methods:We performed a retrospective chart review of all of the children with UC or IBD‐U undergoing colectomy at our institution from 1996 to 2010. Data collected included indication for colectomy, immunosuppressive medications taken within 30 to 90 days of colectomy, surgical techniques and staging, and early and late postoperative complications.Results:A total of 51 patients underwent colectomy (45 UC, 6 IBD‐U) (55% male, 63% pancolitis at diagnosis, mean age at diagnosis 10.8 ± 3.8 years, mean age at colectomy 13.1 ± 3.8 years). Indications for colectomy were fulminant colitis in 26% and medically refractory chronic disease in 74%. Patient exposure to immunosuppression in the 30 days before colectomy included corticosteroids (88%), thiopurines (51%), and calcineurin inhibitors (4%). Within 90 days before colectomy, 65% of patients were exposed to infliximab. Small bowel obstruction was the most common postoperative complication, occurring in 19% (treated surgically in 30%), followed by wound infection in 8% and intraabdominal abscess in 6%. One patient developed postoperative sepsis. There was no increased incidence of early or late infectious or noninfectious complications in those patients taking or not taking thiopurines or calcineurin inhibitors (within 30 days), or infliximab (within 90 days).Conclusions:Preoperative exposure to thiopurines or calcineurin inhibitors (within 30 days) or infliximab (within 90 days) was not associated with increased postoperative complications in our cohort undergoing colectomy for UC or IBD‐U.
Synergistic Biosynthesis of Biphasic Ethylene and Reactive Oxygen Species in Response to HemibiotrophicPhytophthora parasiticain Tobacco Plants
Authors: Wi Soo Jin , Ji Na Ri , Park Ky Young 
Published: March 2012

AbstractWe observed the biphasic production of ethylene and reactive oxygen species (ROS) in susceptible tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum ‘Wisconsin 38’) plants after shoot inoculation with Phytophthora parasitica var nicotianae. The initial transient increase in ROS and ethylene at 1 and 3 h (phase I), respectively, was followed by a second massive increase at 48 and 72 h (phase II), respectively, after pathogen inoculation. This biphasic pattern of ROS production significantly differed from the hypersensitive response exhibited by cryptogein-treated wild-type tobacco plants. The biphasic increase in ROS production was mediated by both NADPH oxidase isoforms, respiratory burst oxidase homolog (Rboh) D and RbohF. Conversely, different 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid synthase members were involved in specific phases of ethylene production: NtACS4 in the first phase and NtACS1 in the second phase. Biphasic production of ROS was inhibited in transgenic antisense plant lines expressing 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid synthase/oxidase or ethylene-insensitive3 as well as in transgenic plants impaired in ROS production. All tested transgenic plants were more tolerant against P. parasitica var nicotianae infection as determined based on trypan blue staining and pathogen proliferation. Further, silencing of NtACS4 blocked the second massive increase in ROS production as well as pathogen progression. Pathogen tolerance was due to the inhibition of ROS and ethylene production, which further resulted in lower activation of ROS-detoxifying enzymes. Accordingly, the synergistic inhibition of the second phase of ROS and ethylene production had protective effects against pathogen-induced cell damage. We conclude that the levels of ethylene and ROS correlate with compatible P. parasitica proliferation in susceptible plants.
Eye‐hand‐workspace calibration using laser pointer projection on plane surface
Authors: Hu Jwu‐Sheng , Chang Yung‐Jung 
Published: March 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to propose a calibration method that can calibrate the relationships among the robot manipulator, the camera and the workspace.Design/methodology/approachThe method uses a laser pointer rigidly mounted on the manipulator and projects the laser beam on the work plane. Nonlinear constraints governing the relationships of the geometrical parameters and measurement data are derived. The uniqueness of the solution is guaranteed when the camera is calibrated in advance. As a result, a decoupled multi‐stage closed‐form solution can be derived based on parallel line constraints, line/plane intersection and projective geometry. The closed‐form solution can be further refined by nonlinear optimization which considers all parameters simultaneously in the nonlinear model.FindingsComputer simulations and experimental tests using actual data confirm the effectiveness of the proposed calibration method and illustrate its ability to work even when the eye cannot see the hand.Originality/valueOnly a laser pointer is required for this calibration method and this method can work without any manual measurement. In addition, this method can also be applied when the robot is not within the camera field of view.
Unsupervised neural networks approach for understanding fraudulent financial reporting
Authors: Huang Shin‐Ying , Tsaih Rua‐Huan , Lin Wan‐Ying 
Published: March 2012

PurposeCreditor reliance on accounting‐based numbers as a persistent and traditional standard to assess a firm's financial soundness and viability suggests that the integrity of financial statements is essential to credit decisions. The purpose of this paper is to provide an approach to explore fraudulent financial reporting (FFR) via growing hierarchical self‐organizing map (GHSOM), an unsupervised neural network tool, to help capital providers evaluate the integrity of financial statements, and to facilitate analysis further to reach prudent credit decisions.Design/methodology/approachThis paper develops a two‐stage approach: a classification stage that well trains the GHSOM to cluster the sample into subgroups with hierarchical relationship, and a pattern‐disclosure stage that uncovers patterns of the common FFR techniques and relevant risk indicators of each subgroup.FindingsAn application is conducted and its results show that the proposed two‐stage approach can help capital providers evaluate the reliability of financial statements and accounting numbers‐based decisions.Practical implicationsFollowing the SOM theories, it seems that common FFR techniques and relevant risk indicators extracted from the GHSOM clustering result are applicable to all samples clustered in the same leaf node (subgroup). This principle and any pre‐warning signal derived from the identified indicators can be applied to assessing the reliability of financial statements and forming a basis for further analysis in order to reach prudent decisions. The limitation of this paper is the subjective parameter setting of GHSOM.Originality/valueThis is the first application of GHSOM to financial data and demonstrates an alternative way to help capital providers such as lenders to evaluate the integrity of financial statements, a basis for further analysis to reach prudent decisions. The proposed approach could be applied to other scenarios that rely on accounting numbers as a basis for decisions.
Laser sintering of blended Al‐Si powders
Authors: Olatunde Olakanmi Eyitayo , Dalgarno Kenneth W. , Cochrane Robert F. 
Published: March 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to study the effects of particle size distribution, component ratio, particle packing arrangement, and chemical constitution on the laser sintering behaviour of blended hypoeutectic Al‐Si powders.Design/methodology/approachA range of bimodal and trimodal powder blends were created through mixing Al‐12Si and pure aluminium powder. The powder blends were then processed using selective laser sintering to investigate the effect of alloy composition, powder particle size and bed density on densification and microstructural evolution.FindingsFor all of the powder blends the sintered density increases with the specific laser energy input until a saturation level is reached. Beyond this saturation level no further increase in sintered density is obtained for an increase in specific laser energy input. However, the peak density achieved for a given blend varied significantly with the chemical constitution of the alloy, peaking at approximately 9 wt% Si. The tap density of the raw powder mixture (assumed to be representative of bed density) was also a significant factor.Originality/valueThis is the first study to consider the usefulness of silicon as an alloying element in aluminium alloys to be processed by selective laser sintering. In addition the paper outlines the key factors in optimising processing parameters and powder properties in order to attain sound sinterability for direct laser sintered parts.
Influence of surface characteristics on fatigue behaviour of laser sintered plastics
Authors: Blattmeier Monika , Witt Gerd , Wortberg Johannes , Eggert Jan , Toepker Jochen 
Published: March 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to provide macromechanical insight into the fatigue behaviour of laser sintered parts and to understand the influence of the laser sintered surface structure on this behaviour.Design/methodology/approachA background on the technological maturity of manufacturing processes and the demand for structural and aesthetic properties of laser sintered plastic products is given. As the contribution of surface structure on part quality was the focus, laser sintered specimens with and without surface finishes, as well as injection moulded specimens were used. The latter simply served as a comparison and was not intended to qualify injection moulding. The study comprises the determination of short‐term tensile properties, the load increase method for investigating fracture and deformation behaviours, and fatigue crack propagation analysis.FindingsAccording to the test results, the contribution of laser sintered surface structures to relevant mechanical properties can be neglected. Under dynamic loading conditions, laser sintered specimens achieved a longer lifetime but showed less deformation capabilities in contrast to injection moulded specimens. In general, laser sintered specimens presented considerable resistance to crack initiation and propagation.Research limitations/implicationsBecause of the long‐term approach of the research, the number of tests conducted per lot was limited. Thus, the effects of different process settings and the reproducibility could not be fully analysed.Practical implicationsThe studied fatigue behaviour of laser sintered specimens has implications for the functional testing of parts or components, for the product and process design as well as for the general compatibility of laser sintering as a manufacturing technology of end‐customer products.Originality/valueThe value of this paper lies in the better understanding of deformation and fracture behaviours of laser sintered polymers.
Study of I‐V characteristics of ZnO film on Si substrate with Ag buffer layer by C‐AFM
Authors: Zhang Yidong , He Weiwei 
Published: March 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the I‐V characteristics of ZnO film on Si substrates with Ag buffer layer by conductive atomic force (C‐AFM).Design/methodology/approachAn Ag buffer layer and Zn film was first deposited on silicon substrate by RF‐sputtering deposition method from high pure Ag and Zn target, respectively. Then, the deposited film was sintered in air at 500°C for 1 h.FindingsThe structures and morphologies of the prepared films were characterized by X‐ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive spectrum (EDS), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and C‐AFM. The results show that the prepared ZnO films with Ag buffer layer have a good crystallinity and surface morphology. Interestingly, the I‐V curve of ZnO film exhibited typical characteristics of semi‐conductive oxide under the conductive Ag buffer layer.Originality/valueThe paper demonstrates, by C‐AFM, that the ZnO/Ag‐buffer/Si exhibits excellent crystal structure, morphology and typical I‐V characteristics.
Dual rate taxed valuation: a more rational approach
Authors: Chan Nelson , Harker Norman 
Published: March 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to re‐visit the problems of taxation consequences of sinking fund in the UK and to look at what is believed to be the only rational reason for using the dual rate adjusted for tax method variant.Design/methodology/approachThe structure of this paper is: valuing a freehold and a leasehold interest by the single rate gross and net of tax approaches to show the logic that works with freehold valuation interest may not work with leasehold valuation; exploring the tax impacts on sinking fund; resolving the taxation issue of sinking fund; demonstrating the solution to the “double sinking fund problem” by the Greaves method and the single rate net of tax approach; and exploring the future of the dual rate theory.FindingsThe paper confirms that the traditional method is not satisfactory, even after the modifications made by the various methods mentioned above. The single rate net of tax approach is proved to meet all expectations and can be regarded as a more rational approach to the dual rate method.Practical implicationsValuers of the “UK School” might consider that not only should dual rate valuation be regarded as defunct, but also that the more appropriate approach might be to move to a net of taxation approach.Originality/valueThis paper is the original work of the authors.