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Abstract Bisphenol A (BPA), a well-known endocrine disruptor, is used as a color developer in thermal paper. More recently, some emerging structural analogues have been introduced to replace BPA due to the strengthened regulations concerning thermal paper. Nevertheless, very limited data are available regarding their occurrence and potential health risks. Here, thirteen potentially toxic compounds were investigated in paper products (120 thermal papers and 81 nonthermal papers) collected in Beijing, China. The results indicated that the replacement of BPA by alternatives such as Bisphenol S (BPS), Bis(2-chloroethyl)ether-4,4″-dihydroxydiphenyl sulfone copolymer (D-90), 4-hydroxyphenyl 4-isoprooxyphenylsulfone (D-8), Bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)sulfonylphenyl (BPS-MAE) and Bis-(3-allyl-4-hydroxyphenyl) sulfone (TGSA) has been significantly advanced in several types of thermal paper (i.e., market weight stickers, train tickets, express labels, air boarding passes and lottery tickets). The mean value for the total analyte concentrations in thermal paper was 6.06 mg/g, and the highest level found was 26.0 mg/g. In addition, the frequent detection of these chemicals in nonthermal paper (>80%, n = 81) demonstrated that the contamination in thermal paper can be spread into other recycled paper, such as corrugated boxes, newspapers, food contact papers, etc. The estimated daily intake of BPA and its alternatives through the handling of thermal paper was 0.025 μg/kg bw/day for the general population. This is the first report on the occurrence of various new BPA alternatives in paper products from China, which will be helpful for further risk assessment and making responsible replacement decisions. Graphical abstract Image 1 Highlights • A large-scale survey of BPA and alternatives in 201 paper products is reported. • D-90, D-8, BPS-MAE and TGSA were detected in paper products from China. • Thermal paper is a source for contamination of recycled papers with BPA and alternatives. • Dermal daily intake of ∑TAs was estimated to be 1.77 μg/day for the general population. First identification of several new bisphenol A alternatives in paper products from China and the dermal daily intake of ∑TAs was estimated to be 0.025 μg/kg bw/day for the general population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current research presents the best solution for socio-economic problem regarding poplar plantation in Eastern and Western Azerbaijan, Iran. Planting fast growing species such as poplar is highly profitable in wood farming in Eastern and Western Azerbaijan, hence identification of socio-economic qualifications of poplar plantation would solve the problems of wood and paper industries regarding wood supply in the coming decade. Assuming previous researches and visiting poplar plantation surfaces in the so-called provinces, 51 sub-criteria were identified. These sub-criteria were categorized in five major groups: application, economic and financial, social and cultural, technical, and infrastructure. The priority and weight of the criteria and sub-criteria were determined through survey the experts and poplar farmers in wood and paper industries and poplar plantation. The findings revealed that economic and financial aspects are the most important criteria, and the sub-criteria of prepurchase contract, water sources, and improved species have the highest priorities, respectively. For selecting the best optimized solution in the provinces, three groups of alternatives were selected: poplar farmer promotion and education using national and foreign experts, offering multiple facilities, and increasing the participation of wood and paper industries and investors with respect to poplar farmers' problems. To select the best solution, a questionnaire was designed and administered among the experts, and then evaluated considering the sub-criteria. The results of synthesizing by AHP and Expert Choice software indicated that polar farmer promotion and education through national and foreign experts' contribution is the best solution for providing proper situation of poplar plantation in the area and consumption of wood and paper industries. The result of sensitivity analysis indicated that economic & financial, technical and structural criteria are more sensitive when affect the solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This two-part paper, which consists of Part 1: waste flow and energy potential, and Part 2: energy balance and carbon footprint, respectively, aims to evaluate alternatives to energy recovery from Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) in Pyongyang. This first part focuses on an evaluation of alternatives to energy recovery from MSW in terms of waste flow and energy potential analysis. This paper proposes three alternatives to energy recovery from MSW, and conducts an evaluation of energy potential for the alternatives, based on an analysis of the existing MSW management options (i.e., recycling & reuse, incineration, landfill, and composting) in the municipality, inclusive of MSW composition and characteristics of waste flow (i.e., refuse-derived fuel) being fed to energy recovery. The results show that alternative 3 (i.e., gasification reactor) could produce the largest electricity, followed by alternative 1 (i.e., grate combustor and fixed dome reactor) and alternative 2 (i.e., fluidized bed combustor). In the meanwhile, alternative 1 accounts for 29.9% of the largest gross efficiency, followed by alternative 3 and alternative 2, as 29.7% and 28.0%, respectively. This study can provide a possibility of energy recovery from MSW to the local planners in Pyongyang. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An old observation about the focus sensitive particles only and even is that they are in some sense scalar antonyms. We examine three schematic proposals raised in the literature to capture this observation, namely that only vs. even presuppose that the proposition denoted by their prejacent, p, is lower vs. higher, respectively (A) than what is EXPECTED/the default STANDARD (the 'mirative/evaluative antonymy' view), (B) than SOME (salient) alternative in the set of contextually relevant focus alternatives, C, (the 'existential antonymy' view), or (C) than ALL alternatives in C (the 'superlative antonymy' view). To tease these views apart, we examine the behavior of only vs. even in a wide range of contexts and types of discourse, concentrating on the way the C set of contextually relevant alternatives with only(C)(p) and even(C)(p) is constrained by the interaction of (i) previously uttered sentences and (ii) the salient QUD. Based on these examinations we argue for the preferability of the 'superlative antonymy' view of only and even. In contrast, we argue that the 'existential' antonymy and the 'mirative/evaluative' antonymy between only and even are apparent. The former only holds in specific contexts where one alternative to p is made maximally salient. As to the latter, we show that while an evaluative ('above the standard' / 'a lot') inference is hardwired into the scalar presupposition of even, alongside the superlative inference, the mirror imaged one ('below the standard' / 'a little') is cancellable for only. We propose that this inference can be derived from the interaction of the superlative scalar presupposition of only and domain based constraints on alternatives in C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) techniques are increasing in product recommendation decisions, which typically entail several factors. This study aims to demonstrate the application of a novel strategy based on MCDM techniques as the core element of a consumer Decision Support System by suggesting the most appropriate items from a given set of alternatives. Ranking products based on online product ratings and consumer preferences is an important area of study, but there are currently few studies on this topic. This paper proposes a method for ranking products using multi-attribute online ratings. We propose a novel mobile recommendation-ranking system-based (MCDM) method to recommend the best alternative. Our proposed model differs from previous works in the following ways: (a) Rating information of each feature is used to identify user preferences and complementary criteria; (b) Criteria weights are determined by Shannon entropy (c) The complex proportional assessment method is employed to rank the alternatives and solve the best mobile recommendation problem. (d) The sensitivity study results showed that the rankings produced by the various MCDM approaches were highly consistent with the rankings of the evaluated compromise candidates. Demonstration of the proposed approach through a mobile phone selection case study. In our experiments, we have found that our approach provides a reliable ranking while reducing time and space complexity, indicating that our optimization model is accurate and efficient. With its superior product comparison skills and ability to offer a recommendation to the user as a final ranking of alternatives, a decision-making system like this may prove to be the optimal long-term answer for e-commerce sites and websites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Denić (2018, 2019, To appear) observes that the availability of distributive inferences—for sentences with disjunction embedded in the scope of a universal quantifier—depends on the size of the domain quantified over as it relates to the number of disjuncts. Based on her observations, she argues that probabilistic considerations play a role in the computation of implicatures. In this paper we explore a different possibility. We argue for a modification of Denić's generalization, and provide an explanation that is based on intricate logical computations but is blind to probabilities. The explanation is based on the observation that when the domain size is no larger than the number of disjuncts, universal and existential alternatives are equivalent if distributive inferences are obtained. We argue that under such conditions a general ban on 'fatal competition' (Magri 2009a,b, Spector 2014) is activated, thereby predicting distributive inferences to be unavailable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rental housing market is one of the most flourishing shaped by continued growth in demand generating an increase in number of landlord and tenant conflicts by 20% in 2016, most of them can be resolved out of Court to save time and money according to Residential Tenancies Boards. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to analyze the alternatives to judicial proceedings to prevent and handle conflicts, from pre-contract signing action to options once the lease agreement is signed. These substitutes have been compared by using Multi-Attribute Decision Making and ranked from the most appropriate to the least relevant alternative. The main findings of this paper are that appropriate clauses, mediation, arbitration and adjudication are alternatives resolving disputes meet more or less well both parties' expectations. Based on compensatory and non-compensatory models, appropriate clauses alternative is the most effective way for both landlord and tenant to prevent conflicts since it is the first step in the rental process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Modern age developments needs are leading to growth of new complex problems in terms of markets, societies, nations, trade practices etc. This justifies the need for alternative out of the box solution that does lead to the dynamicity of a new theory known as 'Nudge Theory'. Although, the term is new, some researches indicate that it can lead to vast improvements in the existing systems of trade, economics and sustainability. This research paper is an effort to understand this theory with instances where it has been successfully used to cater new range of solutions. Data has been collected from secondary sources to identify the grass root problems and effect of nudge theory in general and other specific circumstances. A model has also been developed as an effort to construct new plans with 'Nudge theory' approach. This paper can be a source of new learning for students, researchers, academicians, bureaucrats, governments and other economic institutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a constantly changing environment, projects face multiple issues. Overtime is a common answer to constraints among most companies: scheduled or not, it will guarantee project completion on time and flexibility. Although it might seem like a useful solution, it appears that extended use of overtime has disastrous consequences on a project organization, the main one being productivity loss, which is one of the main reasons of project failure. Considering those facts and focusing on the model of construction projects, this paper aims at exploring alternatives to overtime, in order to avoid productivity loss and limit all the negative consequences on cost, time, quality and scope of the project. For our research, we chose to use a qualitative and two levels of quantitative methods. Thus we could answer the following question: what are the possible and best alternatives to overtime considering the constraints and obligations of the project? Our final studies will explain why shiftwork or construction methods and sequencing should be used instead when considering our attributes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The primary role of semen processing and preservation is to maintain a high proportion of structurally and functionally competent and mature spermatozoa, that may be used for the purposes of artificial reproduction when needed, whilst minimizing any potential causes of sperm deterioration during ex vivo semen handling. Out of a multitude of variables determining the success of sperm preservation, bacterial contamination has been acknowledged with an increased interest because of its often unpredictable and complex effects on semen quality. Whilst antibiotics are usually the most straight-forward option to prevent the bacterial contamination of semen, antimicrobial resistance has become a serious threat requiring widespread attention. As such, besides discussing the consequences of bacteriospermia on the sperm vitality and the risks of antibiotic overuse in andrology, this paper summarizes the currently available evidence on alternative strategies to prevent bacterial contamination of semen prior to, during, and following sperm processing, selection, and preservation. Alternative antibacterial supplements are reviewed, and emphasis is given to modern methods of sperm selection that may be combined by the physical removal of bacteria prior to sperm preservation or by use in assisted reproductive technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we aim to account for the distribution and interpretation of a novel class of free choice items in Romanian, which we refer to as additive free choice items (ADD-FCIs). We show that the internal composition of ADD-FCIs, as well as their distribution, differs from that attested for other free choice paradigms discussed in the literature. Morphologically, ADD-FCIs are a more complex variant of regular universal FCIs, by virtue of an additional morpheme. This morpheme plays an additive role when it functions as a stand-alone particle, and we propose that its role is similarly additive when it functions as an infix in ADD-FCIs. Couched in an exhaustification framework, we put forward a novel compositional account that can derive the interpretation of these ADD-FCIs. As for their distribution, these elements are only found in the presence of the conditional mood, as well as unconditional structures. We show how our analysis, coupled with the Viability Constraint used to explain the distribution of regular FCIs, can also account for their restricted distribution. In doing so, we further show how the pattern we investigate opens new perspectives regarding the licensing of free choice items in unconditionals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Magri (2009a , b) proposed a generalization according to which a sentence is infelicitous whenever exhaustification over the full set of formal alternatives of the sentence leads to contextual contradiction. While Magri proposes an account of obligatory implicatures which explains some cases where this generalization expects infelicity, he does not provide a general account of this generalization. In this paper I argue for a perspective on the 'pruning' of alternatives which predicts this generalization, building on the counter-intuitive idea that contradictions are relevant in every context (Lewis 1988). I further argue, using disjunction in the scope of a universal quantifier as a test case, that an extension of this view to obligatory ignorance inferences provides a new perspective on the Logical Integrity Generalization put forward by Anvari (2018b) , while avoiding some empirical problems for this generalization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(Series Information) European Papers - A Journal on Law and Integration, 2020 5(3), 1573-1576 | European Forum Highlight of 4 November 2020 | (Abstract) This Highlight introduces the European papers special focus on pre-trial detention and its alternatives under EU law. It frames the highly controversial topic of overuse of pre-trial custodial measures within the Unions system of judicial cooperation in criminal matters. Specific attention is devoted to the European supervision Order and to the vertical division of competences between the EU and its Member States in its sensitive domain.

Epistemological contextualism states that propositions about knowledge, expressed in sentences like “S knows that P,” are context-sensitive. Schaffer (2005) examines whether one of Lewis’ (1996), Cohen’s (1988) and DeRose’s (1995) influential contextualist accounts is preferable to the others. According to Schaffer, Lewis’ theory of relevant alternatives succeeds as a linguistic basis for contextualism and as an explanation of what the parameter that shifts with context is, while Cohen’s theory of thresholds and DeRose’s theory of standards fail. This paper argues that Schaffer’s analysis is unsatisfactory since it fails to show that thresholds and standards cannot cope with skepticism, as it is ultimately the conversation participants who control how the conversation plays out. Moreover, Schaffer fails to show that gradability is of no importance in inquiries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This two-part paper, which consists of Part 1: waste flow and energy potential, and Part 2: energy balance and carbon footprint, respectively, aims to evaluate alternatives to energy recovery from Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) in Pyongyang. This second part, as the ongoing research, focuses on an evaluation of the alternatives to energy recovery from MSW in terms of energy balance and carbon footprint. Based on an analysis of mass and energy balance in the alternatives, this study evaluates net electricity and energy-related carbon footprint from the alternatives in Pyongyang, respectively, regarding the energy consumption in each process and the transport of feedstock and residues (e.g., inerts and ash). The results show that alternative 1 could produce the largest net electricity, followed by alternative 3 and alternative 2, while net efficiency decreases by 25.3% in alternative 1, followed by alternative 3 and alternative 2, as 21.4% and 20.9%, respectively. In regard to the energy-related carbon footprint, alternative 3 has the largest carbon footprint as 13,222.7 CO2eq Mg, followed by alternative 2 and alternative 1, as 9,686.8 CO2eq Mg and 7,206.6 CO2eq Mg, respectively. In summary, the results reveal that alternative 1 could be the most favorable option in terms of the net electricity production, the net efficiency as well as the carbon footprint. Therefore, alternative 3 is highly recommended to the municipality. The research findings could make a valuable contribution to achievement of energy recovery from MSW in the municipality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Antipode is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

In this paper I provide a unified analysis of a number of pragmatic anomalies that have been discussed in the literature. The paper's main goal is to account for Sobel sequences of conditionals and sequences of disjunctive sentences, but I will also propose that this analysis can be extended to sequences of sentences with superlatives. The starting point is the observation that, while all these sequences are felicitous in one order, they are infelicitous when the order is reversed. Previous proposals have focussed on particular types of infelicitous sequences (e.g. von Fintel, in: Kenstowicz (ed) Ken Hale: A life in language, MIT Press, Cambridge, 2001; Moss in Noûs 46:516–586, 2012; Lewis in Noûs 52:481–507, 2018; a.o.), or a subset of all the phenomena cited above (e.g. Singh in On competition between only and exh, 2008b; Linguist Philos 31:245–260, 2008c; Dohrn, in: Pistoia-Reda, Domaneschi (eds) Linguistic and psycholinguistic approaches on implicatures and presuppositions. Palgrave McMillan, Basingstoke, 2017; a.o.). I propose that sequences of sentences belonging to the same structured set of alternatives T are subject to a Specificity Constraint (SC): sequences are acceptable if both alternatives are dominated by the same number of nodes in the structured set of alternatives T. Violations of SC can be avoided by strengthening the weaker alternative. However, covert strengthening violates an economy condition if the overtly stronger alternative is among those made salient by the preceding utterance in the sequence (if any). I propose that the set of alternatives made salient by an utterance of a sentence s consists of s's sisters and mother in T. I will show that the strengthening mechanism varies depending on the kind of sequence we have. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Turkey, situated in the periphery of Europe, is governed by anti-labour policies of the Justice and Development Party (AKP) Governments in the last 15 years. Embarking on a historical materialist perspective that draws concepts from Gramsci, this paper questions whether labour can come up with an alternative and form a united front vis-a-vis globalization and European Union membership. It then examines impediments behind the lack of a united front and a viable alternative. The analyses rely on empirical data generated through interviews conducted with trade unionists and representatives from civil society for struggles against patriarchy, environmental degradation, and human rights violations at two critical junctures in 2010 and 2017. This paper argues that labour and struggles within civil society contest neoliberal restructuring with two rival class strategies, namely Ha-vet (Turkish abbreviations for No to Capitalist Europe - Yes to Social Europe) and neomerchantilism, none of which stands as a viable alternative. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we introduce a new and more general kind of cooperative games in which players have many alternatives to choose, or many goals to try to realize, but also have the possibility of abstaining or of being absent for a while. In these games we define coalitions and study their properties observing how it is possible to obtain all the classical definitions of cooperative game theory inside this new setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nigeria is a country blessed with vast oil and natural gas resources, due to inadequate management of resources most of the natural gas is flared. One of the most pressing challenges today is global warming. Gas flaring has been known to deliver carbon dioxide and other ozone depleting substances which cause unnatural weather change. This paper focuses on gas flaring; its definition, composition, types and classifications. It also highlights the policies that have been made in Nigeria concerning gas flaring and provides alternative solutions to gas flaring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we argue that for the (probabilistic) interpretation of generic sentences of the form " G s are f ," three types of alternatives play a role: (i) alternative features of f , (ii) alternative groups, or kinds, of G , and (iii) alternative causal background factors. In the first part of this paper we argue for the relevance of these alternatives. In the second part, we describe the results of some experiments that empirically tested in particular the second use of alternatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The expansion of industrial fishing via technological advancements and heavy subsidies in the Global North has been a significant factor leading to the current global fishery crisis. The growth of the industrial fleet led to an initial increase in global catches from the 1950s to the 1990s; yet, today, several marine fish stocks are harvested at unsustainable rates, and catches are stagnating. As a result, industrial fishers increase investments and fishing effort, reaching farther and deeper, while small-scale fishers face the threat of disappearance as both their catches and livelihoods worsen. The emergent international emphasis on Blue Growth is likely to put further pressure on marine capture fisheries. This paper explores how the growth imperative in the seas has manifested itself in Turkey since the 1970s and how industrial and small-scale fishers responded to this growth spiral in the seas. Based on participant observation methods and in-depth interviews, this paper problematizes the expanding boundaries of industrial fishers and examines the reactions of small-scale fishing cooperatives in Istanbul, in particular their proposed alternative economic model, as a response to the growth imperative. Overall, the paper demonstrates that the crisis that small-scale fishers are facing not only presents economic and ecological difficulties, but also represents an existential threat to the identity and traditional ways of life as a fisher. The strategies adopted by small-scale fishers in response to this crisis in Turkey, especially in Istanbul, are politicizing fishers as they open up new spaces, collaborations, and demands for environmental, social, and economic justice. However, their efforts constitute an ongoing process prone to numerous tensions and contradictions. This paper concludes that challenging the growth paradigm in fisheries via the Blue Degrowth framework can be useful for analyzing emerging alternative imaginaries to the growth-driven capitalist economic system among small-scale fishers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Espanola de Linguistica is the property of Sociedad Espanola de Linguistica and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

In recent years, French parents have increasingly chosen to homeschool their children or to send them to 'alternative' independent schools. French President Emmanuel Macron, in reaction to this trend, announced on October 2, 2020, his desire to restrict homeschooling to instances when 'health imperatives' necessitate this option and, further, to reinforce state control of independent schools. A bill to this effect passed on July 23, 2021, survived a challenge before the Constitutional Court, and became the law of the land one month later on August 24,.2021. The research for this paper was completed before the law took effect. Its aim was to understand the relationship between the State and those families who have made alternate schooling choices; that is, to explore the potential effects of implementing the new school policy. I relied on governmental data and, to capture how school policies were perceived by families, data collected in France that included interviews with parents, answers to an online survey, and one interview with a civil servant at the Ministry of National Education. The results of the research reveal that the dynamics that operate between 'independent schooling' families and the State have the markings of a power relationship that pits State authority against parents who tend to have low confidence in public schools and may identify with a counterculture. Finally, this recent legislation suggests that the French education system is moving from an educational model of 'inclusion through control' for children learning outside of public schools (Farges et al., 2018) to a model of exclusion through coercion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multi-attribute decision analysis is an approach to decision support in which decision alternatives are evaluated by multi-criteria models. An advanced feature of decision support models is the possibility to search for new alternatives that satisfy certain conditions. This task is important for practical decision support; however, the related work on generating alternatives for qualitative multi-attribute decision models is quite scarce. In this paper, we introduce Bayesian Alternative Generator for Decision Support Models (BAG-DSM), a method to address the problem of generating alternatives. More specifically, given a multi-attribute hierarchical model and an alternative representing the initial state, the goal is to generate alternatives that demand the least change in the provided alternative to obtain a desirable outcome. The brute force approach has exponential time complexity and has prohibitively long execution times, even for moderately sized models. BAG-DSM avoids these problems by using a Bayesian optimization approach adapted to qualitative DEX models. BAG-DSM was extensively evaluated and compared to a baseline method on 43 different DEX decision models with varying complexity, e.g., different depth and attribute importance. The comparison was performed with respect to: the time to obtain the first appropriate alternative, the number of generated alternatives, and the number of attribute changes required to reach the generated alternatives. BAG-DSM outperforms the baseline in all of the experiments by a large margin. Additionally, the evaluation confirms BAG-DSM's suitability for the task, i.e., on average, it generates at least one appropriate alternative within two seconds. The relation between the depth of the multi-attribute hierarchical models—a parameter that increases the search space exponentially—and the time to obtaining the first appropriate alternative was linear and not exponential, by which BAG-DSM's scalability is empirically confirmed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mandarin focus particles systematically have heterogeneous uses. By examining details of two focus particles jiu 'only' and dou 'even', this paper explores the hypothesis that varieties of alternatives give rise to systematic 'ambiguities'. Specifically, by positing sum-based alternative sets and atom-based ones, it maintains unambiguous semantics of jiu as only and dou as even, while deriving their variability through interaction with alternatives. Independently motivated analyses of distributive/collective readings and contrastive topics, combined with varieties of alternatives, deliver the full range of facts concerning jiu and dou. Theoretically, the paper illustrates an integration of Link, Landman's theory of pluralites into Rooth's alternative semantics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of benchmarking and performance indicators to evaluate and compare water operators is a relatively new phenomenon. It has been taking place in the private sector since the 1970s but only migrated to public services over the past two decades. It is now widespread in the water sector, but there are emerging concerns about its commercial bias and relatively undemocratic processes. This paper reviews the history of benchmarking in the water sector, discusses arguments for and against its use, and proposes an alternative performance evaluation framework that may help to better account for universality, sustainability and democratic forms of governance, particularly with public water operators in low-income settings in the global South. I argue that shared forms of performance measurement can be useful but only if they are more explicit about recognizing local difference and if they become better at promoting public awareness and advancing equity. The paper also asks why existing water benchmarking systems do not explicitly differentiate between public and private water operators, and proposes indicators that may help promote non-commercialized forms of public water services. The proposals are necessarily tentative and preliminary – calling for more empirical and theoretical research on the topic – but do offer concrete alternative benchmarking possibilities for further debate and exploration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the paper is to present a new MCEQLS AHP method for the expert evaluation of quality of learning scenarios. A special attention is paid to suitability of scenarios to particular learner groups (styles). Solution of learning scenarios quality evaluation and optimisation problem could help educational institutions to select suitable scenarios for particular learning styles. The research results will be implemented in iTEC – a four-year, largest pan-European e-learning R&D project focused on the design of the future classroom funded by 7th Framework Programme. A novel method of consecutive triple application of AHP is explored in more detail. Suitability of several iTEC scenarios to particular learner groups is also analysed in the paper. A number of multiple criteria decision analysis principles are applied to create a comprehensive quality model (criteria tree) for evaluating quality of scenarios. Several optimisation methods are explored and applied to optimise learning scenarios in conformity with particular learning style. Several practical examples of iTEC learning scenarios alternatives have been evaluated against the proposed MCEQLS AHP method. The research results have shown that the proposed MCEQLS AHP method is quite objective, exact and simple to use for selecting qualitative scenarios alternatives for particular learner groups. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Copyright of Cuadernos de Filología Italiana is the property of Universidad Complutense de Madrid and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Antibiotics are widely used for infectious diseases and feed additives for animal health and growth. Antibiotic resistant caused by overuse of antibiotics poses a global health threat. It is urgent to choose safe and environment-friendly alternatives to antibiotics to promote the ecological sustainable development of the pig industry. Phytochemicals are characterized by little residue, no resistance, and minimal side effects and have been reported to improve animal health and growth performance in pigs, which may become a promising additive in pig production. This paper summarizes the biological functions of recent studies of phytochemicals on growth performance, metabolism, antioxidative capacity, gut microbiota, intestinal mucosa barrier, antiviral, antimicrobial, immunomodulatory, detoxification of mycotoxins, as well as their action mechanisms in pig production. The review may provide the theoretical basis for the application of phytochemicals functioning as alternative antibiotic additives in the pig industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agricultural plastic mulching is an important horticultural process for increasing crop yields because it preserves soil moisture, soil temperature, and nutrients, and avoids the need for weed herbicides. However, there are risks to using plastic mulch, since residual macroplastic (MaP), microplastic (MP), and nanoplastic (NP) in fields have a significant negative impact on the environment, causing damage to soil properties, harming microorganisms in the soil, and entering the human body via the food chain. Plastic mulch is often disposed of in landfills or used in techniques like the thermal process to gain energy or recycling to generate plastic granules for the plastic industry. Pretreatments are occasionally required before recycling, such as cleaning the mulch from the soil to fit the recycling process. This review provides an overview of the quantities and negative impacts of plastic, especially plastic mulch films after use, as well as their decomposition products, on the environment, soil, and human health, and presents alternatives. The possibilities and problems of collecting and recycling films are discussed in addition to the alternatives, for example, the use of biodegradable films. Overall, agricultural advancements to reduce plastic waste in the environment by using thicker films, collection after use, and recycling in developed countries are on a good path. However, NP poses a risk, as it is still completely unclear how it affects human health. Alternatives to plastic mulch have found little acceptance so far due to the significantly higher material costs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This introductory article to the special issue contributes to ongoing debates on pesticides in agriculture by focusing on their alternatives. Through a literature review, we explore the pluralism of those alternatives and the socio-political processes that support or hinder their expansion. The first section examines the obstacles encountered by public policies aimed at reducing pesticide use. Resistances are both external to public decision-making, i.e. agricultural players, agrochemical firms, and internal, related to the existing regulatory mechanisms, including the scientific expertise used to assess risks. The second section introduces the two main families of alternatives to pesticides, and their respective political and scientific underpinnings. On the one hand, solutions based on substitution through alternative technologies, such as biocontrol. On the other hand, solutions based on the systemic redesign of agricultural systems, such as organic farming or agroecology. The third section presents the contributions that make up this special issue. We highlight the political work carried out at the interface between policies, expertise and markets in order to legitimise one or the other alternative. Beyond a strictly technological approach, the papers stress the importance of considering the diversity of components, stakeholders and processes involved at the whole food system level. Farmers and practitioners make complex production choices and trade-offs. These decisions are influenced by policies and upstream companies, which offer inputs or plant health diagnostic technologies, and by downstream actors, i.e.processors, retailers and policymakers, who shape the markets for pesticide-free food. The approach we propose here calls for a fresh sociological look at policymaking and expertise involved in identifying and dealing with pesticides issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Breheny et al. (Nat Lang Semant, 2017) argue against the structural approach to alternatives. The empirical force of their argument comes mostly from challenges raised against Trinh and Haida (Nat Lang Semant 23:249-270, 2015). This paper aims to respond to these challenges, showing how they can be met by a natural refinement of Trinh and Haida’s proposal which turns out to capture additional facts previously not accounted for. Another aim of this paper is to recount the debate with enough precision and explicitness in order to enhance understanding and facilitate future discussions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]