Filling a blank on the map: 60 years of fisheries in Equatorial Guinea

Despite a scarcity of pertinent information, it has been possible to reconstruct time series of marine fisheries catches for Equatorial Guinea from 1950 to 2010 using per capita fish consumption and population numbers for small-scale fisheries, catch rates and number of vessels for industrial fisheries and discard rates to estimate the discarded bycatch. Small-scale fisheries, industrial large-scale fisheries, domestic and legal and illegal foreign fisheries and their discards are all included. Total catches were estimated at 2.7 million tonnes over the time period considered, of which 653 000 t were caught domestically compared to 187 000 t reported by FAO. This shows that fisheries have more importance for Equatorial Guinea's food security than the official data suggest. In contrast to what is suggested by official figures, fisheries were shown to be strongly impacted by civil and political unrest; notably, they declined overall because of civil and political conflicts, socio-demographic dynamics, and a growing role of the newly discovered oil resources, which directly and indirectly threaten the food security of the people of Equatorial Guinea

Bulgarian sport policy 1945-1989: A strategic relation perspective

The 2008 Beijing Olympic Games have stimulated discussions about the success of different sport systems and the Chinese model in particular. Revisiting explanations of sport in the former communist countries of Eastern Europe during the Cold War seems timely, as the current Chinese model of sport was largely designed after the Soviet example established in this period. This paper examines Bulgarian sport policy between 1945 and 1989. It employs a Strategic Relation approach (Jessop, 1990) to analyse sport policy making as a strategic relation closely linked to the dominant state project of building a new stateness. It goes beyond ideological interpretations and argues that the state represents a strategic terrain where these relations have to be established in struggles, the outcomes of which are always uncertain. Furthermore, past and present struggles and their outcomes create various socio-political environments that presuppose the forms of state selectivity and intervention in sport. The process of constructing sport policy was influenced by two main categories of strategic relations: intra-state, including political, organisational and personal relations between the Party, state apparatus and various sport and non-sport organisations and their managers, and transnational, concerning ideological, political, economic and organisational relations with both communist and western countries and international sport organisations

What is a crystal?

Almost 25 years have passed since Shechtman discovered quasicrystals, and 15 years since the Commission on Aperiodic Crystals of the International Union of Crystallography put forth a provisional definition of the term crystal to mean ``any solid having an essentially discrete diffraction diagram.'' Have we learned enough about crystallinity in the last 25 years, or do we need more time to explore additional physical systems? There is much confusion and contradiction in the literature in using the term crystal. Are we ready now to propose a permanent definition for crystal to be used by all? I argue that time has come to put a sense of order in all the confusion.Comment: Submitted to Zeitschrift fuer Kristallographi

An Alternative Procedure to Quantify Soot in Engine Oil by Ultraviolet-Visible Spectroscopy

"This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in Tribology Transactions on 02-11-2019, available online: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/10402004.2019.1645255."[EN] Due to new pollutant emissions standards, internal combustion engines need several emission control strategies (and related procedures) such as exhaust gas recirculation, diesel/gasoline particulate filters, and selective catalyst reduction that allow them to comply with complete requirements defined on those standards. These strategies result in faster degradation of engine oil, one of the most relevant consequences of which is an increase in soot contamination level. All of these strategies facilitate soot generation. Consequently, soot is one of the most important contaminants present in engine oil. The main technique to measure the content of soot in oil is thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), but this technique has certain limitations. TGA requires a long and specific procedure and has limitations in measuring small concentrations of soot in oil. Therefore, the design of an alternative technique to quantify soot in oil is relevant. One alternative is Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, but it also has limitations related to low concentrations of soot in oil. This work presents an alternative technique based on ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy that allows quantification of small soot contents in used engine oil samples and avoids potential interference from other typical contaminants or those related to measurement processes, such as sample cuvette material.Antonio Garcia-Barbera was supported through the Programa Nacional de Formacion de Recursos Humanos de Investigacion of Spanish Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovacion (Grant Number BES-2016-078073).Macian Martinez, V.; Tormos, B.; Ruiz-Rosales, S.; García-Barberá, A. (2019). An Alternative Procedure to Quantify Soot in Engine Oil by Ultraviolet-Visible Spectroscopy. Tribology Transactions. 62(6):1063-1071. https://doi.org/10.1080/10402004.2019.1645255S10631071626Squaiella, L. L. F., Martins, C. A., & Lacava, P. T. (2013). Strategies for emission control in diesel engine to meet Euro VI. Fuel, 104, 183-193. doi:10.1016/j.fuel.2012.07.027Piock, W., Hoffmann, G., Berndorfer, A., Salemi, P., & Fusshoeller, B. (2011). Strategies Towards Meeting Future Particulate Matter Emission Requirements in Homogeneous Gasoline Direct Injection Engines. SAE International Journal of Engines, 4(1), 1455-1468. doi:10.4271/2011-01-1212Johnson, B. T. (2008). Diesel Engine Emissions and Their Control. Platinum Metals Review, 52(1), 23-37. doi:10.1595/147106708x248750Johnson, T. V. (2008). Diesel Emission Control in Review. SAE International Journal of Fuels and Lubricants, 1(1), 68-81. doi:10.4271/2008-01-0069Mohan, B., Yang, W., & Chou, S. kiang. (2013). Fuel injection strategies for performance improvement and emissions reduction in compression ignition engines—A review. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 28, 664-676. doi:10.1016/j.rser.2013.08.051ALKEMADE, U., & SCHUMANN, B. (2006). Engines and exhaust after treatment systems for future automotive applications. Solid State Ionics, 177(26-32), 2291-2296. doi:10.1016/j.ssi.2006.05.051Bensaid, S., Caroca, C. J., Russo, N., & Fino, D. (2011). Detailed investigation of non-catalytic DPF regeneration. The Canadian Journal of Chemical Engineering, 89(2), 401-407. doi:10.1002/cjce.20408E, J., Xie, L., Zuo, Q., & Zhang, G. (2016). Effect analysis on regeneration speed of continuous regeneration-diesel particulate filter based on NO 2 -assisted regeneration. Atmospheric Pollution Research, 7(1), 9-17. doi:10.1016/j.apr.2015.06.012Tripathi, A., & Vinu, R. (2015). Characterization of Thermal Stability of Synthetic and Semi-Synthetic Engine Oils. Lubricants, 3(1), 54-79. doi:10.3390/lubricants3010054Karacan, Ö., Kök, M. V., & Karaaslan, U. (1999). Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry, 55(1), 109-114. doi:10.1023/a:1010136222719Heredia-Cancino, J. A., Ramezani, M., & Álvarez-Ramos, M. E. (2018). Effect of degradation on tribological performance of engine lubricants at elevated temperatures. Tribology International, 124, 230-237. doi:10.1016/j.triboint.2018.04.015Wattrus, M. (2013). Fuel Property Effects on Oil Dilution in Diesel Engines. SAE International Journal of Fuels and Lubricants, 6(3), 794-806. doi:10.4271/2013-01-2680Sharma, V., Uy, D., Gangopadhyay, A., O’Neill, A., Paxton, W. A., Sammut, A., … Aswath, P. B. (2016). Structure and chemistry of crankcase and exhaust soot extracted from diesel engines. Carbon, 103, 327-338. doi:10.1016/j.carbon.2016.03.024Pfau, S. A., La Rocca, A., Haffner-Staton, E., Rance, G. A., Fay, M. W., Brough, R. J., & Malizia, S. (2018). Comparative nanostructure analysis of gasoline turbocharged direct injection and diesel soot-in-oil with carbon black. Carbon, 139, 342-352. doi:10.1016/j.carbon.2018.06.050George, S., Balla, S., Gautam, V., & Gautam, M. (2007). Effect of diesel soot on lubricant oil viscosity. Tribology International, 40(5), 809-818. doi:10.1016/j.triboint.2006.08.002Antusch, S., Dienwiebel, M., Nold, E., Albers, P., Spicher, U., & Scherge, M. (2010). On the tribochemical action of engine soot. Wear, 269(1-2), 1-12. doi:10.1016/j.wear.2010.02.028Green, D. A., & Lewis, R. (2008). The effects of soot-contaminated engine oil on wear and friction: A review. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part D: Journal of Automobile Engineering, 222(9), 1669-1689. doi:10.1243/09544070jauto468Bredin, A., Larcher, A. V., & Mullins, B. J. (2011). Thermogravimetric analysis of carbon black and engine soot—Towards a more robust oil analysis method. Tribology International, 44(12), 1642-1650. doi:10.1016/j.triboint.2011.06.002VAN DE VOORT, F. R., SEDMAN, J., COCCIARDI, R. A., & PINCHUK, D. (2006). FTIR Condition Monitoring of In-Service Lubricants: Ongoing Developments and Future Perspectives. Tribology Transactions, 49(3), 410-418. doi:10.1080/10402000600781432Van de Voort, F. R., Ghetler, A., García-González, D. L., & Li, Y. D. (2008). Perspectives on Quantitative Mid-FTIR Spectroscopy in Relation to Edible Oil and Lubricant Analysis: Evolution and Integration of Analytical Methodologies. Food Analytical Methods, 1(3), 153-163. doi:10.1007/s12161-008-9031-6Ess, M. N., Ferry, D., Kireeva, E. D., Niessner, R., Ouf, F.-X., & Ivleva, N. P. (2016). In situ Raman microspectroscopic analysis of soot samples with different organic carbon content: Structural changes during heating. Carbon, 105, 572-585. doi:10.1016/j.carbon.2016.04.056Russo, C., Apicella, B., Lighty, J. S., Ciajolo, A., & Tregrossi, A. (2017). Optical properties of organic carbon and soot produced in an inverse diffusion flame. Carbon, 124, 372-379. doi:10.1016/j.carbon.2017.08.07

Designing and implementing a communications strategy: lessons learnt from HIV and Sexual and Reproductive Health Research Programme Consortia.

In recent years there has been increasing recognition of the importance of strategic research communication. Health research organisations need to be able to communicate their research effectively to increase the probability that the findings influence policy and practice, and benefit those in greatest need. Many research funders are making communications a requirement of research funding. This paper reflects on the experience in developing and implementing communications strategies of several Research Programme Consortia funded by the Department for International Development.Different research topics will require different communications approaches in order to be effective. This is reflected in the diversity of strategies employed by different research programmes. Strategic research communications designed to influence policy and practice require different skills and expertise from those required for carrying out research and writing it up for publication in academic journals. Therefore researchers involved in communicating research should be supported in this work. One of the ways in which research programme consortia have sought to do this is through convening workshops to develop the communications skills of researchers from partner organisations. These have proven invaluable. Another way of providing ongoing support to those involved in communicating research is through a Communications Community of Practice. Where this has been used it has proven a good way to support researchers both with ideas and resources, but also a strong sense of belonging to a community that shares a common concern with communication. Developing strong partnerships with research users, other research organisations, knowledge intermediaries and other stakeholders is vital for effective communication.Embracing the challenges and opportunities presented by communicating research to influence policy practice is vital if research is to have maximum possible impact, and demonstrate its worth at a time when funding for health and development activities is at risk. Sharing lessons learnt in this process between research programmes is important to support this work

Reclaiming the local in EU peacebuilding: Effectiveness, ownership, and resistance

Since the early 2000s, the "local turn" has thoroughly transformed the field of peacebuilding. The European Union (EU) policy discourse on peacebuilding has also aligned with this trend, with an increasing number of EU policy statements insisting on the importance of "the local." However, most studies on EU peacebuilding still adopt a top-down approach and focus on institutions, capabilities, and decision-making at the EU level. This special issue contributes to the literature by focusing on bottom-up and local dynamics of EU peacebuilding. After outlining the rationale and the scope of the special issue, this article discusses the local turn in international peacebuilding and identifies several interrelated concepts relevant to theorizing the role of the local, specifically those of effectiveness, ownership, and resistance. In the conclusion, we summarize the key contributions of this special issue and suggest some avenues for further research

Financing social and cohesion policy in an enlarged EU: plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose?

The development of the Open Method of Coordination, agreement on the Lisbon Agenda and EU enlargement offered the prospect of a new and substantial EU social policy agenda. This article considers EU social and cohesion policies in the context of the recent negotiation of the EU budget for 2007—13. We find the Commission's wish to redistribute EU spending in favour of these policy areas and new member states was thwarted by key political features of EU budget making: CAP spending levels which are downwardly sticky; institutional arrangements which provide for budget making as, at best, a zero-sum game; and the preferences of contributor member states in the EU-15 to contain overall spending while preserving their net budget positions. Questions are thus raised as to the ability of the EU to make any progress, from a budgetary perspective, on the social and cohesion policy agenda in an enlarged EU

Dangerous work: The gendered nature of bullying in the context of higher education

This paper discusses results from a research project which set out to investigate gender differences in the nature and experience of bullying within the higher education sector. Gender differences emerged in the form and perception of bullying as well as in target response. Results also indicate that, irrespective of gender, bullies can capture and subvert organizational structures and procedures (official hierarchies, mentoring systems, probationary reviews) to further their abuse of the target and to conceal aggressive intent. These outcomes are discussed in relation to gendered assumptions behind management practices and in relation to the masculinist ethic that underpins many higher education management initiatives. Overall, results indicate that bullying cannot be divorced from gender and that such behaviour needs to be seen in a gendered context

Ecofeminism in the 21st Century

This paper considers the influence of ecofeminism on policy concerning gender (in)equality and the environment during the past 20 years. It reviews the broad contours of the ecofeminist debate before focusing on the social construction interpretation of women's relationship with the environment. It will argue that there have been substantial policy shifts in Europe and the UK in both the environmental and equalities fields, and that this is in part a result of lobbying at a range of scales by groups informed by ecofeminist debates. Nevertheless, the paper cautions that these shifts are largely incremental and operate within existing structures, which inevitably limit their capacity to create change. As policy addresses some of the concerns highlighted by ecofeminism, academic discourse and grass roots activity have been moving on to address other issues, and the paper concludes with a brief consideration of contemporary trajectories of ecofeminism and campaigning on issues that link women's, feminist and environment concerns