Concentration of academic book publishers

Academic book publishers play an important role in the social sciences and humanities (SSH). In this paper, we examine the extent to which academic books in Flanders, Belgium are concentrated in terms of their publishers. Using a data set of 26,896 books published by Flemish SSH scholars between 2000 and 2015, we investigate how evenly books are distributed over publishers. The results show that book publishing in Flanders is fairly concentrated and a relatively small number of publishers publish the majority of books. Concentration has increased over the course of years and is higher for peer-reviewed than for non-peer-reviewed books. Many publishers with a large share of books in the data set are local. Some disciplines are much more concentrated than others. Looking at the top publishers per discipline, it can be observed that most disciplines have a specific publisher profile

Mercury concentrations in plaice, flounder and dab from Belgian continental shelf waters (1971-1990)

Results obtained during a survey of 20 years on plaice (Pleuronectes platessa) and 15 years on flounder (Platichthys flesus) and dab (Limanda limanda) are reported. With flounder, two periods could be distinguished. In 1975-1981, higher mercury concentrations (0.38 mg/kg on average) with rather large variations were noted. From 1982 on, concentrations fluctuated around the same mean value (0.23 mg/kg). A gradual decrease of mercury levels in plaice was observed during the twenty years' monitoring period. The mean concentration in 1990 (0.06 mg/kg) was only one third of that of 1971 (0.18 mg/kg). In contrast with flounder and plaice, mercury concentrations in dab remained practically at the same level (0.09-0.13 mg/kg)

Trace metals in the Belgian dumping area for acid wastes from the titanium dioxide industry (1985-89)

During the period of investigation, two stations in the dumping site and six reference stations were monitored. In water and sediments only the iron content, a key parameter, was determined. In benthos, Fe, Cr, Ni, Zn, Pb, Cu and Cd were assessed. The iron content was very similar in both the dumping area and in five reference stations (0.06-0.08 mg/1). In the station nearest to the coast however, the concentrations were 2 to 3 times higher, showing the influence of river inputs. There was no temporal trend. A lack of dissolved oxygen was never observed and no marked differences between the eight areas were noted indicating that the oxidation of Fe++, the main component of the waste stream, had no measurable consequences in the water column. Abnormally low pH-values were not observed. In the sediments, no temporal trend in iron concentrations could be detected. No higher amounts were noted in the dumping area. The concentration of iron did not appear to be linked directly to the disposal of titanium dioxide waste but to input sources in general. The distance to the coast seems to play an important role. The iron content in the total mud fraction (<63 µm) decreased seawards (from ca 4.2 to 0.12 g/kg) up to about 20 nautical miles. In sea star (Asterias rubens), hermit crab (Pagurus bernhardus), swimming crab (Macropipus holsatus) brittle star (Ophiura texturata) and cut trough shell (Spisula subtruncata), there was neither a clear temporal trend nor evidence of accumulation of metals due to the dumping of titanium dioxide waste. Nevertheless, large amounts of heavy metals associated with particulate matter can be carried over long distances before being deposited. For this reason, all dumpings were banned since 1990