Problematic Elements Research Articles

Integrating cationic metal-organic frameworks with ultrafiltration membrane for selective removal of perchlorate from Water

We design a novel cationic metal-organic framework hybrid ultrafiltration polyvinylidene fluoride membrane (PVA/Cu-iMOFs/PVDF-0.05) and report its unique capture of aqueous perchlorate (ClO4−) at ppm-level. This membrane outperformed traditional adsorption materials and exhibited a specific affinity toward ClO4− in the presence of various competing anions at greater levels (up to a concentration ratio of 20). In the batch experiment, the ClO4− removal ratio reached 99.6% over a wide pH range (3˜10). Membrane filtration by using a 12.56 cm2 PVA/Cu-iMOFs/PVDF-0.05 membrane could effectively treat 4.71 L of ClO4−-contaminated water before breakthrough occurred, while maintaining a satisfactory permeability (˜627.32 L/(m2 h bar)) and antifouling property. The exhausted membrane could easily be regenerated in aminoethanesulfonic acid solution for repeated use with a negligible decrease in capacity. Moreover, the membrane showed excellent long-term stability in a cross-flow filtration process due to the amido bond between the Cu-iMOFs and membrane surface as well as the "protection" of polyvinyl alcohol. Selective and reversible ion-exchange between the sulfonic acid (R-SO3) ligands of Cu-iMOFs and tetrahedral oxo-anionic species was verified to be the pathway for ClO4− trapping. Thus, other problematic elements that also occur in tetrahedral form in water can be removed by this method.

The analytical model of the agro-industrial local complex system

In order to effectively manage the agro-industrial complex of municipalities, it is necessary to use high-quality management models. The principle approaches of management in logistics can provide the functions of public administration at the regional level. The use of the principles of logistics systems functioning and modeling in the assessment of agro-industrial complex management in municipalities will allow to see the problematic elements of the system that characterize the state of the municipality economy and social sphere. The object of the research is the process of functioning of the agro-industrial complex system in the municipality. The model of functioning of the agro-industrial complex system in the municipality taking into account the principles of logistics is offered in the article. The main purpose of the study is to coordinate the activities of the municipality in a competitive market environment, aimed at the effective management of material, information, financial and human resources in the agro-industrial complex. The article also presents the analysis of the main indicators of the agro-industrial complex in the Rybinsky district municipality: indicators of crop production, indicators of livestock production and financial results. To assess the effectiveness of the proposed model, the integral assessment of the links of flows based on the effectiveness indicators of the agro-industrial complex in the Rybinsky district municipality was used. The proposed analytical model has an average effectiveness and is characterized by the rise in the rate of growth of the agro-industrial complex system in the Rybinsky district municipality. At the same time, the influence of the state in the form of subsidies, allows to timely supply the model of the agro-industrial complex system in the municipality with the necessary resources.

Water washing for upgrading fuel properties of greenhouse crop residue from pepper

This work investigated the washing pre-treatment in order to upgrade a low grade biomass (greenhouse crop residue). Characteristics of biomass and biomass ashes before and after water washing were studied and compared. Characterization was carried out using techniques such as elemental analysis, proximate analysis, Inductively Coupled Plasma Optic Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-OES), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR), Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) and Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC).The main aim of washing was to decrease the quantity of ashes present in this kind of biomass since inorganics cause operational problems in thermal processes. Water washing process at 80 °C was selected as the best temperature since the higher calorific value (HCV) increased a 7.00%. Moreover, a percentage of 46.16% of ash elimination was achieved at that temperature. Additionally, the quantity of problematic inorganic elements such as Cl, Na, Al, Fe and Si was lowered. Moreover, the ash melting temperature shifted to higher temperatures (1200 °C) after the washing. After carrying out the treatment, HCV was enhanced up to 18.07 MJ/kg and the characteristics for the use of the material as a fuel were improved.

The movement and translation of drug policy ideas: The case of ‘new recovery’

Introduction'New recovery' can be conceptualised as both a social movement and a broader policy agenda to restructure treatment service systems towards 'recovery-oriented systems of care'. Emerging initially out of the United States, new recovery has gained currency as a policy agenda in other jurisdictions - perhaps most distinctly in the United Kingdom. In 2012, the ideas behind 'new recovery' were debated in the Australian alcohol and other drug field as the Victorian government sought to incorporate recovery principles into policy and service design. This paper uses the policy transfer and policy translation literature to understand how international policy ideas about 'new recovery' were negotiated in the Australian context, focusing specifically on the role of non-government actors in the process. MethodsThis paper draws on an analysis of policy documents, organisational documents and interviews with representatives from the Australian non-government alcohol and other drug sector to consider how new recovery was translated into Victorian drug policy. ResultsThe interactions between organisations and actors — including bureaucrats, governmental agencies and policy entrepreneurs — facilitated the circulation and translation of policy ideas in the Victorian context. Despite this, the analysis suggests that policy transfer was largely a symbolic exercise: overall, some of the key features of new recovery policy from the United States and the United Kingdom, such as encouraging peer-led recovery and mutual aid, were not incorporated in the Victorian policy. NGOs resisted what they considered to be some of the more problematic elements of 'new recovery', and informed the local translation of the policy. DiscussionThe results have implications for understandings of the relationship between social movements, non-government organisations and the state, as well as the dynamics of knowledge transfer in drug policy.

Geochemical Fractionation and Assessment of Probabilistic Ecological Risk of Potential Toxic Elements in Sediments Using Monte Carlo Simulations.

The need for further research into potentially toxic elements in Serbian rivers led to an investigation of distributions, sources, and ecological risks in a sample base of sediments from 15 rivers. The analyses were carried out through both experimental and theoretical methods. Geochemical fractionation of Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, As, V, and Zn in sediments was studied using a sequential extraction procedure. Both a Håkanson risk index (RI) and a Monte Carlo simulation (MCS) were used in order to estimate ecological risk, applying the probability distribution of RI values instead of single-point calculations. In order to both further the development of the used method and include additional processes, software for the simulations was developed instead of using proprietary solutions. Metal fractionation showed high percentage recoveries of Cd, Cr, Co, Cu, Fe, Ni, and V in residual fractions. The high content of Pb, Mn, and Zn in mobile fractions might cause serious environmental concerns. In some localities, Cu and Cd could be problematic elements, since their mobility was high. An environmental assessment based on the described criteria provided risk levels varying from low to median (mainly contributed by Cd and Cu).

Ideology-related translation problems

Ideology affects the work of the translator in different ways, namely, through its presence in the source text, which may be subtle and difficult to reproduce, through the bias of the translator due to his or her personal ideological stance, or through the discrepancy in the reception of the source and target texts when the corresponding audiences belong to opposite ideological camps. The paper examines ideology-related problems in translation. The framework includes the working definition of ideology, indications on how to identify problematic ideology-related elements in the text and how to distinguish ideological issues from cultural ones. It allows for a better understanding of ideology issues, identifies essential factors influencing translator's choices and could be used as a guidance in translation practice.

The disparity in PD and LGD estimates within the IRB framework and prospects for future improvement

The internal ratings-based approach (IRB) to calculating capital requirements for credit risk was the main novelty brought about by Basel II and remains fundamentally unchanged in Basel III. The adequacy of this framework has been controversial since its inception, but throughout the years, most regulators and the banking industry have remained among its strong supporters. This paper focuses on some of the most problematic elements of the IRB approach, concerning the estimation of the main parameters capital requirements depend on and the difficulty embedded in the validation process. In the light of these difficulties, it concludes maintaining the IRB approach in its current form and scope reflects an overly optimistic stance with respect to financial institutions’ ability to accurately estimate critical risk parameters and prospects for future improvements.

The (Mis)representation of Enslavement in Historical Literature for Elementary Students

ContextElementary teachers will make difficult pedagogical choices when selecting materials to support their students’ learning about historical topics. Given the variety of historical books written for their students, certain stories will be emphasized and ultimately legitimated and others will be silenced through absence.Objective of StudyThe objective of this article is to identify and analyze children's literature spanning a spectrum of theoretical positioning and to interrogate their instructional implications. We investigate narratives and images of enslavement in children's literature through the question: how is enslavement portrayed in recently published elementary-level (first through sixth grade) literature?Research DesignThis article is a content analysis of 21 recently published elementary-level books that portray enslavement in U.S. history. Unlike previous studies of enslavement in children's literature, we analyzed both the narrative text and the illustrations in our dataset using methods that ensured interrater reliability. To accomplish this, we developed and tested an analytical tool for understanding the interpretive stances books deploy when they portray difficult moments in history. We deductively categorized textual and visual depictions of enslavement into one of three stances: selective tradition, social conscience, and culturally conscious. The criteria for these stances were established through critical race theory and the broad research tradition on African-American subjects in children's literature.ResultsOur analysis revealed the presence of all three depictions in children's literature. Our findings call attention to the need for careful decision-making on the part of elementary teachers, as their decisions around book selection will enact a curriculum that honors particular perspectives of U.S. history. The problematic elements identified in previous studies remain prevalent in modern books for elementary students. However, our findings also suggest teachers will be presented with a more complicated set of options when selecting among historical children's literature than previously documented by researchers.ConclusionsWhile a diversity of interpretive narratives about enslavement is present in elementary-level history books, the invisibility of race in U.S. history remains a powerful feature in current historical resources. Researchers of a number of topics in K–12 education will find utility in the analytical tool developed for this article. Selective tradition, social conscience, and culturally conscious are interpretive frames that can be directed at any number of topics in children's literature.

Unsettling the ‘New’? Apartheid Did Not Die (Lowery, 1998)

The documentary film Apartheid Did Not Die (Lowery, 1998) raises a theoretical problematic concerning the nature of historical change. In this article, an attempt is made to understand how the film represents the ‘post’ in the post-apartheid era, particularly with regard to its premises about historical change in societies that have recently emerged from an oppressive past, and the responses that the film occasioned. I show that through narrative and documentary strategies, Apartheid Did Not Die institutes a singular temporal rhythm for South Africa and is as such a metanarrative. Yet, it is as a metanarrative that the film occasioned a wide array of public engagements. Though powerful and provocative, the film’s arguments point to the limits of generalizing analyses and polemical modes of representation. However, its generalizing tone also shows the productivity of polemic as occasioned by the public responses it brought into being. Considering the theoretically problematic elements of the documentary form offers a critical perspective on the responses the film elicited in the public sphere.

AG Szpunar on Copyright’s Relation to Fundamental Rights: One Step Forward and Two Steps Back?

This paper discusses three recent Opinions by Advocate General Szpunar of the CJEU, all touching upon the relationship between copyright and fundamental rights. It discusses several problematic elements in the AG’s approach. In dealing with questions regarding the scope of the reproduction right and the quotation exception, his over-reliance on textual arguments leads to expansive copyright protection. The arguable negative impact this has on the fundamental rights of others, and with it the question whether this interpretation strikes a “fair balance”, is largely ignored. Regarding the question whether fundamental rights can act as external constraints on copyright, the AG ultimately fails to develop a coherent framework suitable for use in future cases.

La version franco-canadienne du « STrengthening the Reporting of OBservational studies in Epidemiology » (STROBE) Statement : L’outil STROBE

Purpose: The main purpose is to produce a French-Canadian translation of the "STrengthening the Reporting of OBservational studies in Epidemiology" (STROBE) Statement under the proposed name of "outil STROBE" and to assess the cross-cultural validity of its content. The secondary purpose is to examine its preliminary interrater reliability. Method: A modified approach to Vallerand's cross-cultural validation methodology was used. First, professional translators and clinical practitioners produced a parallel reverse translation of the "STROBE Statement." Then, a committee of experts (P1) examined the translated versions and created a first experimental draft of the "outil STROBE." This draft was assessed and modified by a second committee of experts (P2). Finally, 32 future professionals doing their master's degree in physiotherapy and occupational therapy assessed this second experimental version of the tool using an ambiguity scale of 8 points (0 meaning "not at all ambiguous" and 7 meaning "extremely ambiguous"). The main co-researchers examined the problematic elements and proposed final modifications. Ten observational studies published in French after 1980 were assessed by two independent raters using the French-Canadian version of the "outil STROBE." The kappa coefficient was used to examine interrater reliability. Results: For the different elements of the final version of the "outil STROBE," the averages on the ambiguity scale varied from 0.0 to 2.4. No element received an average below 2.4, which showed a high level of clarity. The interrater reliability (n = 2) for the "outil STROBE" is thought to be good for 74% of individual elements, according to the kappa coefficient values obtained. Conclusions: The process's five rigorous steps enabled the production of a valid French-Canadian version of the "STROBE Statement."

РЕСУРСНИЙ ПОТЕНЦІАЛ АГРАРНОЇ ЕКОНОМІКИ УКРАЇНИ ТА РЕЗУЛЬТАТИВНІСТЬ ЙОГО ВИКОРИСТАННЯ

Introduction. The essence of the category “resource potential” and its composition regarding the agrarian sphere of production are considered in the article. The main components of the resource potential of agricultural produc-tion under various methodological concepts are: land resources, labor resources, material and technical resources, finan-cial and information resources. It is determined that the agrarian economy of Ukraine has significant resource potential. The place of Ukraine in the world agribusiness rating was investigated. The modern indicator of value added per 1 worker in the agricultural economy has proved that Ukraine occupies 67 in the world. Results. The main components of the business environment of the national agrarian economy from the positions of international assessments have been analyzed. The most problematic elements of the business environment of the agrarian economy today are seed production, transportation, fertilizers and information and communication technolo-gies. The analysis of the quantitative and value composition of the resource potential of the agrarian economy is car-ried out. The most problematic trends in the modern agricultural economy are characterized by such components as labor resources and fixed capital. The key problems of formation, use and valuation of the resource potential of the agrarian economy are identified here. The lack market value of agricultural land and the land market today is one of the main problems in assessing the resource potential of the agricultural economy. The modern trends in the level of effectiveness of the use of the resource potential of the agricultural sector of production in the context of the main indicators of the effectiveness of the development of the national economy are considered. The efficiency level of the agrarian economy over the past few years is significantly higher compared to other sectors and types of economic activity in Ukraine. Key words: resource potential, productive resources, agrarian economy, agrarian sphere, effectiveness, efficien-cy, national economy.

Perception of educational environment among Bsc nursing students

An observational and analytical study was carried out to assess the perception of educational environment among B. Sc. nursing students at a selected college of nursing, in Ernakulam district. Objectives of the study were, to assess the perception of educational environment among B. Sc. nursing students, to compare the perception of educational environment among first, second, third and fourth year B. Sc. nursing students, to find out the relationship between the measure of educational environment and academic score among B. Sc. nursing students and to identify the weaker and stronger areas of educational environment. Data were collected from 248 undergraduate nursing students of the college by using total enumerative sampling. Dundee Ready Educational Environment Measure (DREEM) inventory was used to get the responses from the students. The total mean score on the 50 item DREEM inventory was 121.48 out of maximum of 200 which showed a more positive perception than negative. No significant difference was seen in the perception score among first, second, third and fourth year B. Sc. nursing students. There was no significant correlation between perception score of educational environment and academic score. Students’ perception of learning and their teachers, their academic self perception, social self perception and the perception of atmosphere were all positive. There were four areas identified as problematic requiring remediation. Implication of the study is to design and maintain a supportive environment in addition to planning strategies to remedy problematic elements in the educational environment.

Study on the Changes of Plant Ecological Communities and Environmental Factors in Cold Cities

There are certain geographical differences in the design process of green areas along the streets of the cold city. The cold climate brings special geographical features to the city. The snow and ice add new vitality and characteristics to the city, and at the same time public demand new challenges for the excavation and creation of cold garden resources. The definition of standards for cold cities and the contribution of cold cities are movements to cold cities. Green space next to the city streets are systematically defined, and the role and influence of public life generated by the concept of greenbelt are inspected. This paper analyzes the design principles and theoretical basis of the green space design along the street in the cold city. An example is given to analyze the problems and optimization suggestions that should be paid attention to during the design process of the green space next to the city. From the solution of the problematic elements in the greening landscape design along the cold city street, the methods and strategies of the greening landscape design along the cold city street are analyzed from the aspects of plant.

Понятия и соотношения уголовно-правовой, криминологической и криминалистической характеристик преступления

The relevance of the study is due to a comprehensive study of the concepts and contents of criminal law, criminological and forensic crime characteristics. The aim is to analyze the criminal-legal, criminological and criminalistic aspects of the crime characteristics as a whole, as well as to consider the problematic elements of some of them. The realization of this aim was achieved using the laws of dialectics, formal logic and the use of general scientific and private scientific research methods. The system approach in studying of considered characteristics of crimes is used. We consider the relations of the studied characteristics in solving common problems of disclosure, investigation and prevention of crimes. We identify, in particular, the content of the criminological characteristics, which is a set of all interrelated features that form its structure. We characterize the elements that make up the above structure, also we adheres to the position that the forensic characteristic is a system of features inherent in a certain type of crime. It is emphasized that in contrast to the criminal-legal characteristics, is not an integral part of the general understanding of the crime and is applied, official nature, necessary to solve the tasks of the investigation. We indicate the main elements inherent in the concept of forensic characteristics. Conducting a comparative analysis of the elements of criminal law and criminalistic characteristics of crimes, it is noted that in both cases, different elements are considered in importance for them, but in the end, determining one-the composition of the crime. The main difference of the considered characteristics was considered on the example of the problems with which they are solved.

A Woman’s Place Is in the Morgue: Understanding Scully in the Context of 1990s Feminism

A Woman’s Place Is in the Morgue: Understanding Scully in the Context of 1990s Feminism

The response of East Kalimantan, Indonesia local rice cultivars against iron stress

Nurhasanah, lestari HS, Sunaryo W. 2019. The response of East Kalimantan, Indonesia local rice cultivars against iron stress. Biodiversitas 20: 273-282. Iron (Fe) toxicity is one of the most problematic metal elements in acidic soil. Besides being as an essential micronutrient, an excessive iron can cause mineral and nutrients absorption disorder which leads to disruption of plant metabolism and cell development. Reduction of plant growth and yield will be the further consequences of the excessive soil iron content. This study aimed to evaluate the response of East Kalimantan local rice cultivars and to screen rice genotypes tolerant to iron stress. Twenty-five rice genotypes were used in this study, consisted of twenty-three local rice cultivars of East Kalimantan and two control of iron sensitive (IR64) and tolerant (Mekongga) varieties. Uniform sprouts (3 days old) having 1-1.5 cm root length were used for iron stress experiment. The seedlings were grown in nutrient solution using hydroponic system in an aerobic condition. The seedlings were treated for one week in iron stress condition by adding an extra iron source of 100 and 200 ppm FeSO4.7H2O (pH 4.0). The seedlings grown in the nutrient solution without an extra iron treatment at normal acidity growth condition (pH 5.8) were used as the control. The growth responses were observed from root, shoot, and biomass of the plants. The tolerance index of the plant growth characters was calculated to classify the rice genotypes into tolerant, moderate, and sensitive to iron stress. The results showed that 100 and 200 ppm of FeSO4.7H2O treatments inhibited the root and shoot growth and also reduced the plant biomass. The plant growth reduction was in parallel with the increase of iron concentration. There was a significant differential response of East Kalimantan local rice genotypes to iron stress treatment. Some genotypes showed an extreme reduction of plant growth, whereas several genotypes had an increased growth under stressed situation. In the contrary, the sensitive genotype IR 64 was consistently sensitive based on the tolerance index of the root, shoot, and plant biomass characters. Among all growth parameters, the most selective character for iron toxicity screening was maximal root length character. This character caused the most severe symptoms for most of the genotypes. Two local rice genotypes, Bentian and Bogor Hitam, were consistently tolerant based on the maximal root growth, total root growth, shoot length and plant biomass.

‘Social Mix’ as ‘Sustainability Fix’? Exploring Social Sustainability in the French Suburbs

The French suburbs, or banlieues, have long been associated with marginalization and peripheralization, characterized by unemployment, a high proportion of ethnic minority populations and low education attainment levels. Since 2000, the ‘crisis’ of the banlieue has been addressed through a policy of ‘social mixing’ which aims to promote mixed communities in certain neighbourhoods, to dilute the ‘problematic elements’ of the suburbs. This ‘social sustainability fix’ however has had mixed results. Questions can be raised over whether a policy based on increasing a neighbourhood’s social mix is an appropriate sustainability fix for the suburbs, and whether it has actually resulted in the outcomes that were intended. Rather than encouraging social integration, it is argued here that the policy of social mixing reinforces segregation and has done little to tackle inequalities and social exclusion. We suggest that there are alternative solutions to the challenges of fostering social sustainability in the suburbs, which could be implemented in partnership with citizens and neighbourhoodbased groups (associations) that would be more effective in addressing social sustainability solutions in the future.

Estructuración de una Estrategia Educomunicativa para la Socialización del Sistema Educativo Indígena Propio – SEIP

El presente artículo describe el camino recorrido en la estructuración y ensayo de una estrategia educomunicativa pertinente al contexto sociocultural indígena Nasa del suroccidente colombiano, para hacer más aprehensible el Sistema Educativo Indígena Propio, considerado el Plan de Vida Educativo del Consejo Regional Indígena del Cauca (CRIC). El SEIP es un sistema que busca ser plenamente reconocido como parte de la contribución a la comunidad indígena de este territorio. Para ello se recreó una explicación del SEIP através del género narrativo más común en los pueblos indígenas, el cuento. El “Tul de Julia y Julio”, metafóricamente remiten a los componentes políticos (principios y fundamentos), organizativos-administrativos y pedagógicos del SEIP. El estudioincorporaaccionescomolaconsultabibliográfica,laindagaciónenla herramienta del cuento como género narrativo y educativo y, el teatro del oprimido para abordar los problemas. Otros insumos fueron recogidos durante la observación a escuelas y colegios y, reuniones con el equipo directivo de la institución educativa con la cual se trabajó. Una vez ensayado el material en mingas de pensamiento con docentes y comunidad, se conocieron las percepciones y propuestas de mejoramiento a través de encuestas y evaluación de las jornadas. Entre los resultados relevantes de esta experiencia se encuentran la facilidad como que la gente se apropió de los componentes del SEIP al escuchar el cuento, identificaron y analizaron los elementos problemáticos planteados, y clarificaron las similitudes y diferencias entre el sistema educativo colombiano y el SEIP.

Improved grazing angle bidirectional reflectance distribution function model using Rayleigh–Rice polarization factor and adaptive microfacet distribution function

The bidirectional reflectance distribution function (BRDF) describes optical scattering off realistic surfaces. The microfacet BRDF, while computationally simple, lacks accuracy especially for grazing angles. An approximation, which replaces mathematically problematic elements of the microfacet model with the polarization factor from wave optics, has proved useful in accurately modeling the grazing region. We now expand upon this analysis by additionally varying the microfacet distribution function—a fundamental part of microfacet BRDF models. We find that after choosing the best microfacet distribution, 12 of the 18 materials studied show a significant improvement in the BRDF fit at grazing angles using the proposed approximation. Additionally, there was one case for which the approximation produced a model statistically tied for best within the experimental uncertainty of the data. The remaining five materials have significant sources of error outside the grazing region and will be further studied in future work.