9,639 research outputs found
Auditing scholarly journals published in Malaysia and assessing their visibility
The problem with the identification of Malaysian scholarly journals lies in
the lack of a current and complete listing of journals published in Malaysia.
As a result, librarians are deprived of a tool that can be used for journal
selection and identification of gaps in their serials collection. This study
describes the audit carried out on scholarly journals, with the objectives (a)
to trace and characterized scholarly journal titles published in Malaysia, and
(b) to determine their visibility in international and national indexing
databases. A total of 464 titles were traced and their yearly trends, publisher
and publishing characteristics, bibliometrics and indexation in national,
international and subject-based indexes were described
Chain configurations in light nuclei
The model of nuclear matter built from alpha-particles is proposed. The
strong deformed shape for doubly even N=Z nuclides from carbon to magnesium has
been determined according to this model. In this paper we undertake very simple
approach, which assumes the existence of low lying chain configurations.Comment: 6 pages, 5 figure
Noncommutative field gas driven inflation
We investigate early time inflationary scenarios in an Universe filled with a
dilute noncommutative bosonic gas at high temperature. A noncommutative bosonic
gas is a gas composed of bosonic scalar field with noncommutative field space
on a commutative spacetime. Such noncommutative field theories was recently
introduced as a generalization of quantum mechanics on a noncommutative
spacetime. As key features of these theories are Lorentz invariance violation
and CPT violation. In the present study we use a noncommutative bosonic field
theory that besides the noncommutative parameter shows up a further
parameter . This parameter controls the range of the
noncommutativity and acts as a regulator for the theory. Both parameters play a
key role in the modified dispersion relations of the noncommutative bosonic
field, leading to possible striking consequences for phenomenology. In this
work we obtain an equation of state for the
noncommutative bosonic gas relating pressure and energy density , in
the limit of high temperature. We analyse possible behaviours for this gas
parameters , and , so that , which
is the region where the Universe enters an accelerated phase.Comment: Reference added. Version to appear in Journal of Cosmology and
Astroparticle Physics - JCA
Including social performance as a measure for resilient and green freight transportation
Whilst the literature shows a clear relation between institutional pressures (normative, coercive, mimetic) on the adoption of Resilient and Green Freight Transportation (RGFT) practices on the one hand, and economic, operational and environmental performance on the other, very few studies have considered the role of social performance (both society and employee-wise) in this equation. Social performance is currently under investigation as a potential success indicator in RGFT practice implementation. However, well-established models that include this social indicator still lack in the field. To this end, this research builds upon an institutional theory-based model which includes social performance as one of the decision-making factors in the industry. A sample of 107 freight transporters from South East Europe (SEE) provides the data to test several structural relations through path analysis.
Results show that the three aforementioned institutional pressures positively impact on RGFT practice implementation. However, the relation is positive for all three pressures only when successful RGFT practice implementation has a moderating effect. Similarly, RGFT practice implementation positively impacts on social performance, through which as moderator, it also yields environmental and economic performance. Lastly, the results show that social performance positively impacts on economic and environmental performance. Overall, this study contributes to institutional theory and green supply chain management by demonstrating the need for including social performance as a success indicator in RGFT practice implementation. Ultimately, this study provides insights for industries and policymakers from SEE and comparable regions
Surface Operators in N=2 Abelian Gauge Theory
We generalise the analysis in [arXiv:0904.1744] to superspace, and explicitly
prove that for any embedding of surface operators in a general, twisted N=2
pure abelian theory on an arbitrary four-manifold, the parameters transform
naturally under the SL(2,Z) duality of the theory. However, for
nontrivially-embedded surface operators, exact S-duality holds if and only if
the "quantum" parameter effectively vanishes, while the overall SL(2,Z) duality
holds up to a c-number at most, regardless. Nevertheless, this observation sets
the stage for a physical proof of a remarkable mathematical result by
Kronheimer and Mrowka--that expresses a "ramified" analog of the Donaldson
invariants solely in terms of the ordinary Donaldson invariants--which, will
appear, among other things, in forthcoming work. As a prelude to that, the
effective interaction on the corresponding u-plane will be computed. In
addition, the dependence on second Stiefel-Whitney classes and the appearance
of a Spin^c structure in the associated low-energy Seiberg-Witten theory with
surface operators, will also be demonstrated. In the process, we will stumble
upon an interesting phase factor that is otherwise absent in the "unramified"
case.Comment: 46 pages. Minor refinemen
Nonclassical rotational behavior at the vicinity of the lamda point
The rotational property of a quantum liquid at the vicinity of the lambda
point is examined. In a liquid helium 4 just above the lambda point, under the
strong influence of Bose statistics, the coherent many-body wave function grows
to an intermediate size between a macroscopic and a microscopic one, which is
of a different nature from the thermal fluctuations. It must reflect in the
rotational properties such as the moment of inertia. Beginning with the bosons
without the condensate, we make a perturbation calculation of its
susceptibility with respect to the repulsive interaction, and examine how, with
decreasing temperature, the growth of the coherent wave function gradually
changes the rotational behavior of a liquid:The moment of inertia slightly
decreases just above the lambda point. This means that at the vicinity of the
lambda point, the mechanical superfluid density does not always agree with the
thermodynamical one.We compare the result to the experiment by Hess and
Fairbank. A new interpretation of the shear viscosity just above the lambda
point is given from this viewpoint.Comment: 12pages, 5figure
Aspects of Quantum Gravity in Cosmology
We review some aspects of quantum gravity in the context of cosmology. In
particular, we focus on models with a phenomenology accessible to current and
near-future observations, as the early Universe might be our only chance to
peep through the quantum gravity realm.Comment: 15 pages, 1 figure. Invited review for Modern Physics Letter A.
Version 2: minor typos corrected, few references adde
Effects of Variable Newton Constant During Inflation
In this paper the effects of time-dependent Newton constant G during
inflation are studied. We present the formalism of curvature perturbations in
an inflationary system with a time-dependent Newton constant. As an example we
consider a toy model in which G undergoes a sudden change during inflation. By
imposing the appropriate matching conditions the imprints of this sharp change
in G on curvature perturbation power spectrum are studied. We show that if G
increases (decreases) during the transition the amplitude of curvature
perturbations on large scales decreases (increases). In our model with a sudden
change in G a continuous sinusoidal modulations on curvature power spectrum is
induced. However, in a realistic scenario in which the change in G has some
finite time scale we expect these sinusoidal modulations to be damped on short
scales. The generated features may be used to explain the observed glitches on
CMB power spectrum. This puts a bound on during inflation of roughly
the same order as current bounds on during the entire observed age
of the universe.Comment: 15 pages, 2 figures. Typos fixed, new references added, conforms with
the journal versio
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Review: Consumption-stage food waste reduction interventions - What works and how to design better interventions
Food waste prevention has become an issue of international concern, with Sustainable Development Goal 12.3 aiming to halve per capita global food waste at the retail and consumer levels by 2030. However there is no review that has considered the effectiveness of interventions aimed at preventing food waste in the consumption stages of the food system. This significant gap, if filled, could help support those working to reduce food waste in the developed world, providing knowledge of what interventions are specifically effective at preventing food waste.
This paper fills this gap, identifying and summarizing food-waste prevention interventions at the consumption/consumer stage of the supply chain via a rapid review of global academic literature from 2006 to 2017.
We identify 17 applied interventions that claim to have achieved food waste reductions. Of these, 13 quantified food waste reductions. Interventions that changed the size or type of plates were shown to be effective (up to 57% food waste reduction) in hospitality environments. Changing nutritional guidelines in schools were reported to reduce vegetable waste by up to 28%, indicating that healthy diets can be part of food waste reduction strategies. Information campaigns were also shown to be effective with up to 28% food waste reduction in a small sample size intervention.
Cooking classes, fridge cameras, food sharing apps, advertising and information sharing were all reported as being effective but with little or no robust evidence provided. This is worrying as all these methods are now being proposed as approaches to reduce food waste and, except for a few studies, there is no reproducible quantified evidence to assure credibility or success. To strengthen current results, a greater number of longitudinal and larger sample size intervention studies are required. To inform future intervention studies, this paper proposes a standardised guideline, which consists of: (1) intervention design; (2) monitoring and measurement; (3) moderation and mediation; (4) reporting; (5) systemic effects.
Given the importance of food-waste reduction, the findings of this review highlight a significant evidence gap, meaning that it is difficult to make evidence-based decisions to prevent or reduce consumption-stage food waste in a cost-effective manner
Identifikasi Dan Aplikasi Marka Berbasis PCR Untuk Identifikasi Varietas Padi Dengan Palatabilitas Tinggi
To date, there hasbeen no DNA fingerprint profile as unique identity of ricevariety that has a high palatability (overall eating quality) inIndonesia, thus identification of premium varieties usingmolecular markers is considered to be important. This studyaimed to establish DNA fingerprint profiles of indica andjaponica rice varieties, and unique identities of rice varietieswith high palatability using molecular markers associatedwith palatability. Total of 22 japonica and 24 indica ricevarieties were evaluated their overall eating quality andtested using 20 molecular markers STS (sequence-taggedsite) which were designed on the basis of japonica ricegenome. To identify the genes functions, all these markersamplicons were cloned, transformed, sequenced and thesequences results were analyzed their homologous againstthe genome database. Ilpum (japonica) and Rojolele(indica) were identified to have the highest palatabilitycompared to other varieties. DNA fingerprint profilesidentified with the total STS markers were not able todifferentiate each variety, however premium varieties ofjaponica and indica showed specific identities. A uniqueidentity of Indonesian indica variety possessing highpalatability, Rojolele was successfully developed using amarkers set. DNA fingerprint profile in digital value systemfacilitates the identification of premium rice from othervarieties. The fragments of the STS primers showed no anyknown-genes functions related to rice eating quality,therefore these markers are preferentially used foridentification of premium rice with high palatability thandifferentiation of rice varieties based on the palatability. Inthis study, the unique identity of rice variety with highpalatability is very usefull to evaluate the purity forgermplasm protection
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