bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
El Patrimonio Paleobiológico de Orce
Authors: Martínez Navarro Bienvenido
Published: January 2016

Here we show the paleobiological heritage (including the archaeological one) of the Orce region, in the Guadix-Baza Basin, which is known in the scientific literature as the "Spanish Olduvai", and it is the most abundant and best preserved of the European continent related to the earliest Quaternary. It is described the paleontological site of Venta Micena (~1.5 Ma), and the archaeo-paleontological sites of Fuente Nueva 3 and Barranco León, where it is recorded the earliest evidences with human presence in western Europe, dated 1.3-1.4 Ma. This heritage is unfortunately little known by the great public, and it is necessary to begin to use the new techniques of virtual palaeontology and archaeology with aim to spread and put it in value.
Requisitos de un Sistema de Información para Gestión de Patrimonio
Authors: Luzón Mª Victoria , Martín Perandrés Domingo , Arroyo Germán , López Rodríguez José Ramón , Herce Fimia Julia , Izquierdo de Montes Rocío , Jiménez Sancho Álvaro , Martínez Mora Juan Bosco , Pérez Falcón Marta , Lamolda Álvarez Francisco , Correa Gómez Elena , Rubio Domene Ramón
Published: January 2016

Cultural Heritage has had a great development in recent years. Currently, new tools are being developed as a result of transferring knowledge between areas. One of these possibilities is to create a system for Cultural Heritage with the advantages of Geographic Information System. The difficulties are not trivial, being the first step to create a framework of common requirements for the multiple needs that may arise. We present a set of requirements that provide that objective, obtained from the study of the needs of various restoration and Cultural Heritage professional teams.
Sistema de Información para Patrimonio Histórico
Authors: Torres J.C. , Soler F. , Cano P. , León A. , Luzón V. , Martín D.
Published: January 2016

Geographic information systems (GIS) allow us to manage information related to a territory in an efficient and flexible way. Management of information concerning cultural heritage presents a set of requirements which are similar to those. In processes such as documentation, restoration and preservation it is necessary to locate a wealth of information on the surface of the model on which we are working, not only allowing editing and displaying it, but even analysing such information.
This paper presents a novel design of an information system for cultural heritage that provides the functionality described above, which starting from some ideas and working methods borrowed from GIS has adapted these ideas to representations commonly used in the field of cultural heritage.
La capacidad prospectiva y de visualización del escáner láser 3D aplicado al plan de conservación preventiva del conjunto cerámico, piedra y hierro de Antoni Gaudí y Josep María Jujol en la catedral gótica de Mallorca
Authors: Ruiz Juan Antonio , Garcés Simón , Gambús Mercè , Mas Catalina , Perales Francisco J. , Ponseti Xisco
Published: January 2016

In this work it is presented the prospective and visualization efficiency of the 3D laser scanner as a tool applied to the elaboration of a preventive conservation plan of the ceramic done by Antoni Gaudí and Josep Maria Jujol in the gothic cathedral of Mallorca .The usage of this technique has enabled its investigation regarding digital information storage and metrology of the whole surface and plastic elements in it. This ways it is determined the creation of a multidisciplinary and interactive database with documental, technical and prescriptive content in order to compose the preventive conservation plan.
Registro tridimensional acumulativo de la secuencia estratigráfica. Fotogrametría y SIG en la intervención arqueológica de lo Boligni (Alacant)
Authors: Charquero Ballester Ana Mª , López Lillo Jordi A.
Published: January 2016

In this paper a stratigraphic recording methodology is presented after a practial experience at the lo Boligni archaeological site. This experience has allowed, on the basis of cenital stereo-photo pairs, the digitalization of interfacial surfaces through high density point clouds renderization as the excavation went on, in order to obtain a Three-dimmensional Cummulative Model (TCM) of the stratigraphical sequence. It will be exposed the way some easy and affordable digital tools are used at the excavation in order to achieve a massive data recovery, and how their integration in CAD and GIS environments opens new possibilities for the everyday archaeological information treatement.
Sampled 3D models for Cultural Heritage: which uses beyond visualization?
Authors: Scopigno Roberto
Published: January 2016

Digital technologies are now mature for producing high quality digital replicas of Cultural Heritage (CH) artefacts. The research results produced in the last decade have shown an impressive evolution and consolidation of the technologies for acquiring high-quality digital 3D models (3D scanning) and for rendering those models at interactive speed. Technology is now mature enough to push us to go beyond the plain visualization of those assets, devising new tools able to extend our insight and intervention capabilities and to revise the current consolidated procedures for CH research and management. The paper presents a few recent experiences where high-quality 3D models have been used in CH research, restoration and conservation. These examples constitutes a broad review of different uses of digital 3D
assets in the CH domain.
Virtual Acropolis. Digital recreation of a Sicilian Archaic sanctuary
Authors: Stanco F. , Tanasi D.
Published: January 2016

This paper deals with a project of virtual reconstruction of an entire archaeological site, the Sicilian Archaic sanctuary on the acropolis of Polizzello Mountain. This research program, called ’Virtual Acropolis’ has been developed in order to allow the experience of visiting an interactive and immersive 3D environments reconstructed in all and set in a realistic landscape. A visit that in the reality is currently impossible due to the still ongoing restoration works. For improving the archaeologist’s hypotheses about rituals and performances that were carried out in the sanctuary, all votive objects and offerings were digitally recreated and located in their original position and an avatar of a worshipper was implemented within the interactive model in order to directly experience, thanks to the archaeological and literary sources collected, how was one ordinary day in an Archaic sanctuary. Furthermore, the application of this technique represents the more recent frontier in the policies aimed to promotion of cultural and archaeological heritage.
Does Agricultural Mechanics Laboratory Size Affect Agricultural Education Teachers' Job Satisfaction?
Authors: Byrd Alex Preston , Anderson Ryan G. , Paulsen Thomas H.
Published: January 2016

Secondary agricultural education teachers were surveyed to examine if a relationship existed between the physical attributes of agricultural mechanics laboratories and agricultural education teachers’ enjoyment of teaching agricultural mechanics. Teachers also indicated their competence to teach courses other than agricultural mechanics within the agricultural education curriculum, perceived importance of Iowa agricultural education curricula, and training an agricultural mechanics Career Development Event (CDE) team. Responses were collected from 103 Iowa agricultural education teachers. It was found that shop size and the age of the shop did not have a correlation between agricultural education teachers’ enjoyment of teaching agricultural mechanics, competence in other courses, importance of agricultural mechanics, or training a team to compete in the state CDE. Teachers’ enjoyment of teaching agricultural mechanics was positively correlated to the size of the budget for consumables and equipment for their agricultural mechanics laboratory. Researchers recommend that further research be conducted to identify factors which motivate agricultural education teachers who teach agricultural mechanics within secondary agricultural education programs
Does the Number of Post-secondary Agricultural Mechanics Courses Completed Affect Teacher Competence?
Authors: Byrd Alex Preston , Anderson Ryan G. , Paulsen Thomas H. , Shultz Matthew J.
Published: January 2016

Preparing teachers to teach agricultural mechanics is a difficult task since many topic areas are included in the curriculum. This study examines the effect of the number of college courses taken on a teacher’s perceived competence to teach agricultural mechanics. Agricultural education teachers in Iowa ranked themselves according to their perceived, individual competence in 54 skill areas associated with agricultural mechanics curricula. Respondents also indicated the number of agricultural mechanics courses they completed in their teacher preparation program. Teachers who completed one or no courses had low to slight perceived level of competence while teachers who took two or more courses identified a moderate level of perceived competence in agricultural mechanics. Teachers indicating six or more classes completed exhibited a high-perceived competence. A positive correlation was identified between courses completed and perceived competence as the more courses taken the higher the self-perceived competence level of the teacher. To develop the competence of pre-service agricultural education teacher candidates it is recommended to examine the current agricultural mechanics curricula in teacher preparation programs. It is further recommended that professional development be offered in areas identified by agricultural education teachers as having low perceived competence.
An Exploration of the Formal Agricultural Education System in Trinidad and Tobago
Authors: Hurst Sarah D. , Conner Nathan W. , Stripling Christopher T. , Blythe Jessica , Giorgi Aaron , Rubenstein Eric D. , Futrell Angel , Jenkins Jenny , Roberts T. Grady
Published: January 2016

A team of nine researchers from the United States spent 10 days exploring the formal agricultural education system in Trinidad and Tobago from primary education through postgraduate education. Data were collected from interviews and observations from students, teachers/instructors, and agricultural producers. The team concluded that (a) the people in Trinidad and Tobago involved in agriculture (teachers, students, and producers) are passionate about agriculture, but believe that the general public demeans agricultural workers and work; (b) Trinidad and Tobago has the capacity to develop a well-trained workforce through a comprehensive agricultural education system that spans from primary education to doctoral instruction, however there was little interaction between the various educational systems; and (c) pedagogical training for agriculture educators at all levels can be improved. Furthermore, conclusions related to nine specific areas of interest are discussed and six recommendations for improving the formal agricultural education system in Trinidad and Tobago are provided. As an exploratory study, the findings and conclusions drawn only begin to shed light on ways to improve human capacity development in Trinidad and Tobago. Thus, future research is warranted to further understand and improve Trinidad and Tobago’s human capacity development efforts.
Beliefs and Attitudes of Secondary Agriculture Teachers About Global Agriculture Issues
Authors: Hurst Sarah D. , Roberts T. Grady , Harder Amy
Published: January 2016

The purpose of this study was to explore the beliefs and attitudes of secondary agriculture teachers regarding global agricultural issues. A randomized national sample of 417 teachers were surveyed using a modified version of the International Agricultural Awareness and Understanding Survey (Wingenbach, Boyd, Lindner, Dick, Arispe, & Haba, 2003). Results revealed agriculture teachers had positive personal beliefs about global agriculture. Teachers also had favorable attitudes about what students should learn related to global agricultural issues. Teachers mostly learned about global agriculture through activities that do not require travel, with watching television and professional development workshops as the most frequently reported activities. Few teachers had traveled outside the United States. Teacher beliefs and attitudes about what students should learn did vary based on selected international experiences, with teachers who had participated in international experiences having slightly stronger beliefs and more favorable attitudes. However, these differences had little practical significance.
The Impact of a Capstone Farm Management Course on Critical Thinking Abilities
Authors: Perry Dustin K. , Paulsen Thomas H. , Retallick Michael S.
Published: January 2016

Current research demonstrates a need to explore the effects of specific course designs or directed activities on higher education students’ critical thinking abilities. Specifically, such research on the effect of an experiential learning-based capstone course is limited. All students (N = 54) enrolled in a capstone farm management course completed a critical thinking assessment test through a pretest–posttest design, and 25 of the paired tests were analyzed using t tests. Although there were no statistically significant increases for overall critical thinking scores, there was a significant increase in one subskill: Summarize a pattern of results in a graph. The capstone course in this study may emphasize only certain subskills of critical thinking development while negating to address others. The key implication for instructors of similar capstone courses is to be intentional in targeting development of the wide array of specific skills shown to affect overall critical thinking abilities.
Knowledge and Perceptions of Visual Communications Curriculum in Arkansas Secondary Agricultural Classrooms: A Closer Look at Experiential Learning Integrations
Authors: Pennington Krisitn , Calico Carley , Edgar Leslie D. , Edgar Don W. , Johnson Donald M.
Published: January 2016

The University of Arkansas developed and integrated visual communications curriculum related to agricultural communications into secondary agricultural programs throughout the state. The curriculum was developed, pilot tested, revised, and implemented by selected secondary agriculture teachers. The primary purpose of this study was to evaluate students’ knowledge prior to the program, after the curriculum was taught, and after participation in a day-long experiential learning activity utilizing skills and competencies taught in the curriculum. This study also assessed students’ perceptions of the program and application of skills and competencies learned in the curriculum through a content analysis of short promotional videos created in the program. Eleven schools participated in the study with 106 students represented. Analysis of student test scores noted a significant effect between pre-, post-, and/or delayed-post scores for each curriculum unit (photography, writing, and videography). Overall, students had positive perceptions of the curriculum and the experiential (mobile classroom) learning activity. The content analysis noted that students were able to apply skills and competencies taught in the curriculum through short promotional videos about agriculture. This study found that the curriculum was successful in increasing student knowledge of visual communications as it relates
Critical Theory View of the National FFA Convention
Authors: Martin Michael J. , Kitchel Tracy
Published: January 2016

Urban FFA members face unique challenges if they want to become active members in the National FFA Organization. FFA leaders have realized that the FFA organization does not represent the evolving demographics of America and have made efforts to cater to urban and diverse high school audiences with some success. This study seeks to explore this phenomenon from the perspective of urban and diverse agriculture students through the use of a critical theory lens. This paper focuses on one group of urban FFA members and how they interpreted FFA culture while attending the National FFA Convention. The critical theory framework herein focuses on how these urban FFA members comprehended the FFA’s rural and production- oriented agricultural themes. The Harris FFA members had the cultural resiliency to internalize the different cultural values they experienced and personally connect with some pieces of the culture presented. These members overlooked or adapted to the rural, White, and traditional agriculture values of FFA; but, more importantly, they focused on the leadership and community development values of FFA.
Farmer attitudes to injurious pecking in laying hens and to potential control strategies
Authors: Palczynski LJ , Buller H , Lambton SL , Weeks CA
Published: January 2016

Farmers’ recognition of health and welfare problems, and their responses to related intervention programmes, such as those to reduce injurious pecking in hens, directly influence the welfare of animals in their care. Changing those responses can be achieved through a re-positioning of social drivers as well as from individual behaviour. This study begins by considering how certain levels of plumage damage become normalised while others might be considered unacceptable. Drawing upon in-depth farmer interviews, the study investigates how management practices for addressing the issue of injurious pecking are developed and enacted, looking at the relative influence of intrinsic and extrinsic individual behavioural factors. Twelve farmers with varied uptake of evidence-based management strategies designed to reduce levels of injurious pecking were interviewed. Although farmers ranked images of flocks with various levels of plumage damage in a similar order to scientists, their perception of levels of injurious pecking in their own flocks varied, and was not consistently associated with the actual levels measured. Most farmers recognised both financial and welfare implications of injurious pecking and expressed pride in having a good-looking flock. The popular management strategies were those designed to redirect pecking to other objects, whereas a substantial barrier to uptake was the perception of creating other problems: for example, mislaid eggs if early access to litter and range were adopted. To achieve uptake of knowledge that improves animal welfare on-farm, it may be necessary both to shift the norms perceived as acceptable, and to overcome barriers to change that include lack of time and understanding, by providing impartial advice and facilitation of ownership of the issues.
A tool for the evaluation of slaughter horse welfare during unloading
Authors: Messori S , Visser EK , Buonanno M , Ferrari P , Barnard S , Borciani M , Ferri N
Published: January 2016

This study aimed to develop a scientific and practical tool to be used to assess horse welfare after commercial transport over long journeys. A set of physical, behavioural and environmental measures was selected, covering welfare aspects of both transport and unloading procedures. The protocol was field-tested on 51 intra-EU commercial transports arriving at different sites in Italy. Univariate analysis was implemented to look for associations between the input variables (environmental hazards potentially affecting the animal well-being during long transports) and the outcome variables (direct evaluation of the animal condition). No severe welfare impairments were recorded (ie dead on arrival, severe injuries, non-ambulatory animals), while milder ones were more frequent at unloading (eg slipping; 36.7%, reluctance to move; 9.6%). Correlations emerged between ramp slope and falling; type of ramp floor and slipping; fast gait and the presence of gaps between the ramp and the floor. The horses’ behaviour was also related to the type of handling procedure used. The measures were repeatable and practical to apply and score during real-time unloading. This work provides a sound basis for a new and practical welfare assessment tool for horses travelling over long journeys. Careful and constant application of this protocol would provide stakeholders with the opportunity to track and monitor changes in the industry over time, as well as to identify high risk areas in transport routines.
A survey of animal welfare experts and practicing veterinarians to identify and explore key factors thought to influence canine and feline welfare in relation to veterinary care
Authors: Dawson LC , Dewey CE , Stone EA , Guerin MT , Niel L
Published: January 2016

Veterinary care is important for maintaining companion animal health; however, it also has the potential to impact other aspects of patient welfare. To investigate factors related to veterinary care that are likely to influence canine and feline welfare, animal welfare researchers, veterinarians with an expertise in animal welfare, and Canadian and American companion and mixed animal veterinarians were invited to participate in a three-stage online survey. Participants were asked to do the following: i) identify factors related to the veterinary experience that impact patient welfare; ii) rate the relative impact of each factor; and iii) gauge the feasibility of measuring and improving each factor. Overall, 78 participants identified 85 factors that impact animal welfare in the clinic (eg restraint techniques) and home environment (eg advice regarding behaviour and training). Among factors, seven themes emerged: physical environment of the clinic; routine animal care provided by veterinary team members (‘staff); interactions between the patient, staff, and client; clinic management; medical and surgical procedures; staff attitudes and education; and communication between the veterinarian and client. Mean relative impact scores ranged from 1.0 to 3.8 on a five-point scale (0-4), with 70% of factors receiving a score greater than 3. Most participants (> 80%) agreed that 68% of the identified factors could be feasibly improved in an average veterinary clinic and that 43% of the factors could be feasibly measured during a welfare assessment. These results identify key areas where veterinary care may impact the welfare of canine and feline patients and highlight priority areas where assessment and improvement are possible.
Maximum permissible load for Yonaguni ponies (Japanese landrace horses) trotting over a short, straight course
Authors: Matsuura A , Mano H , Irimajiri M , Hodate K
Published: January 2016

This study aimed to determine the load-bearing capacity of trotting Yonaguni ponies using gait analysis. The Yonaguni pony is one of the Japanese landrace horses, and has normal gait characteristics when trotting. As a breed they are small in stature and hence susceptible to the effect of the rider's weight. It is therefore important to determine their load-bearing capacity as regards to their welfare. Ten Yonaguni ponies with a (mean ± SD) height at withers of 122 (± 2.9) cm had a marker attached to their chests, and their unridden gait was recorded using two high-resolution hybrid cameras while they trotted along a short (40 m), straight course. In total, nine tests were performed for each horse: the first with a 0-kg load; seven with randomly loaded weights weighing 10-70 kg; and then a final test again with a 0-kg load. Three-dimensional movement of the marker was analysed using a motion capture system. The time series of vertical displacement of the marker underwent spectrum analysis, and the autocorrelation coefficient was calculated. The first two peaks of the autocorrelation were defined as symmetry and gait regularity, and their sum was defined as stability. Symmetry (no unit) in the 70-kg test (0.53) was lower than that in the first 0-kg test (0.68), and stability (no unit) in the 70-kg test (1.16) was lower than that in the first 0-kg test (1.41). We concluded that the maximum permissible load for a trotting Yonaguni pony is < 70 kg, which represents 33% of its bodyweight. To promote welfare, it is important to determine the load-bearing capacity for individual types of horse.
Introduction: Space on the Early Modern Stage
Authors: Preedy Chloe Kathleen , Publicover Laurence
Published: January 2016

This introductory article situates the collection ‘Space on the Early Modern Stage’ ( Cahiers Elisabéthains 88) within the context of existing scholarship on the staging practices and architecture of sixteenth- and seventeenth-century playhouses. Pointing to the impact that reconstructed theatres have had on scholars' interest in the relationship between space and performance, it argues that, nonetheless, work in this area remains comparatively fragmented. It then outlines the various ways in which the collection develops scholarship in this emerging field by considering how the practical conditions of staging – both within and beyond the commercial playhouses – shaped the spatial grammar of early modern performance.
‘In the Friars’: The Spatial and Cultural Geography of an Indoor Playhouse
Authors: Sanders Julie
Published: January 2016

This article tells the ‘biography’ of one particular indoor London playhouse, the Blackfriars, and the precinct and neighbourhood in which it operated. The methodology seeks to narrate the story of different seventeenth-century commercial theatres as spaces and places by means of what abutted them in terms of people, landscapes, traffic, noise, smell, sights and actions. The article looks in detail at three particular locales that abutted the Blackfriars Theatre – the Royal Wardrobe, the Bridewell Prison and the River Thames – and reconstructs lived experiences from the traces they have left in street patterns, in architecture, and significantly, in drama.
Breaches in a Battered Wall: Invasion, Spectatorship and the Early Modern Stage
Authors: Preedy Chloe Kathleen
Published: January 2016

This article explores how the fictional representation of siege and invasion in the war dramas of the 1580s and 1590s enabled Elizabethan dramatists to reflect on the vulnerable state of their own theatre, threatened with invasion and destruction by anti-theatrical authors and unruly spectators alike. Through consideration of how the invasion of the city is portrayed in Marlowe's Tamburlaine plays, Shakespeare's 2 Henry VI and Heywood's Edward IV, it demonstrates how such martial discourse of invasion and conquest provided a vocabulary through which these three playwrights explore different models of spectatorship: from coerced, to antagonistic, to cooperative.
Clowning, Location and Mediterranean Drama
Authors: Publicover Laurence
Published: January 2016

This article explores the ways in which clowns disturb both spatial and generic decorum within early modern drama, and examines the ideological implications of those disturbances. With a particular focus on plays set in the Mediterranean, it demonstrates how clown-figures, through a variety of techniques, refocus attention on the performance space even at moments when plays seem most concerned with the real geographical locations they present. The article ends by considering the impact of clowning on plays' capacities to construct what John Gillies has influentially called a ‘geography of difference’.
Culturas de resistência e média alternativos: os fanzines punk portugueses
Authors: Guerra Paula , Quintela Pedro
Published: January 2016

Embora a produção de fanzines anteceda o surgimento do punk, a verdade é que foi com ele que os fanzines se tornaram relevantes enquanto espaços de liberdade de pensamento e criação, bem como enquanto alternativa aos meios de comunicação convencionais. Desde a década de 1970 o universo dos fanzines expandiu-se, não só temática e estilisticamente, como também se alargou a sua cobertura territorial e se ampliaram os suportes comunicacionais utilizados na sua produção e difusão. Neste artigo, propõe-se uma abordagem que vai para além da realidade anglo-saxónica e pretende olhar para fanzines como “comunidades” fundadas em torno de um objeto cultural, na produção de textos, fotos e outros materiais a respeito da cena punk em Portugal, desde 1978 até à atualidade. A partir de um grande conjunto de fanzines punk portugueses analisam-se as formas de produção, o design e tipografia, os principais temas focados, os canais de distribuição, as bandas, cenas e estilos de vida abrangidos. Os fanzines são aqui entendidos como média alternativos da modernidade tardia, capazes de revelar o movimento punk e o ethos DIY associado a ele. Procura-se entender qual foi e é ainda a sua relevância no contexto da cena punk portuguesa. Finalmente, procura-se identificar alguns padrões de evolução e mudança.
Effect of thermalization distance on stochastic phenomena in 7-nm-half-pitch line-and-space pattern fabrication using chemically amplified extreme ultraviolet resists
Authors: Kozawa Takahiro , Santillan Julius Joseph , Itani Toshiro
Published: January 2016

The thermalization of secondary electrons is an important process in the radiation effects on a condensed matter. In the lithography using ionizing radiations, it is expected that the effects of thermalization distance will become prominent in the sub-10 nm resolution region. In this study, the effects of thermalization distance on the stochastic phenomena in the fabrication of line-and-space patterns with 7 nm half-pitch were investigated on the basis of the sensitization mechanisms of chemically amplified extreme ultraviolet resists. All three factors related to the stochastic phenomena [the stochastic generation of pinching and bridges and line edge roughness (LER)] were improved by decreasing the thermalization distance. It was found that the suppression of LER and bridge generation was a more serious problem than that of pinching.
Luminescence stability of porous Si terminated by hydrophilic organic molecules
Authors: Matsumoto Kimihisa , Kamiguchi Masao , Kamiya Kazuhide , Nomura Takashi , Suzuki Shinya
Published: January 2016

The effects of the surface termination of a porous Si surface by propionic acid and by undecylenic acid on their hydrophilicity and luminescence stability were studied. In the measurements of the contact angle of water droplets on porous Si films, the hydrophilicity of porous Si is improved by the surface termination each types of organic molecule. The PL intensity of as-prepared porous Si decreased with increasing aging time in ambient air. As PL quenching involves PL blue shift and increasing Si–O bonds density, nonradiative recombination centers are formed in the surface oxide. After the hydrosilylation process of propionic acid and undecylenic acid, PL intensity decreased and became 30% that of as-prepared porous Si film. However, the PL intensity was stable and exceeded that of the as-prepared film after 1000 min of aging in the ambient air. The PL stabilities are contributed to the termination by organic molecules that inhibits surface oxidation.
Aging and Homelessness in a Canadian Context
Authors: Reynolds Kristin A. , Isaak Corinne A. , DeBoer Tracy , Medved Maria , Distasio Jino , Katz Laurence Y. , Sareen Jitender
Published: January 2016

There is a growing body of research examining the experiences of homeless older adults in Canada. Fourteen participants (11 males & 3 females) ages 46 to 57, recruited from the At Home / Chez Soi project in Winnipeg, completed individual semistructured interviews exploring their experiences of homelessness. Most participants reported lifelong intermittent homelessness. We identified 5 main themes that captured the experience of homelessness for older adults: pathways to homelessness; controlled lives; centrality of social relationships; shame and desire for self-reliance; and the challenge of disentanglement from the cycle of homelessness. This study provides insight into the experiences of homeless older adults in Canada. Findings suggest a need for policies and programs to meet the unique needs of homeless older adults.
Membrane topology and search for potential redox partners of colon cancer‐specific cytochrome P450 2W1
Authors: Guo Jia , Thiess Stefanie , Johansson Inger , Mkrtchian Souren , Ingelman‐Sundberg Magnus
Published: January 2016

Cytochrome P450 2W1 (CYP2W1) is a colon tumor‐specific enzyme, suggested as a potential target for cancer therapy. In contrast to other endoplasmic reticulum P450s, we found completely inverted ER membrane topology of CYP2W1 using different approaches (redox sensitive luciferase assay and protease protection assay) and demonstrated that canonical CYP reductants, cytochrome P450 reductase, and cytochrome b5 cannot serve as electron donors for CYP2W1. Moreover, the reduced catalytic activity of the Asn177 mutant that is modified by glycan moieties in the wild‐type enzyme indicates a functional relevance of CYP2W1 glycosylation.
From spatially variable streamflow to distributed hydrological models: Analysis of key modeling decisions
Authors: Fenicia Fabrizio , Kavetski Dmitri , Savenije Hubert H. G. , Pfister Laurent
Published: January 2016

This paper explores the development and application of distributed hydrological models, focusing on the key decisions of how to discretize the landscape, which model structures to use in each landscape element, and how to link model parameters across multiple landscape elements. The case study considers the Attert catchment in Luxembourg—a 300 km2 mesoscale catchment with 10 nested subcatchments that exhibit clearly different streamflow dynamics. The research questions are investigated using conceptual models applied at hydrologic response unit (HRU) scales (1–4 HRUs) on 6 hourly time steps. Multiple model structures are hypothesized and implemented using the SUPERFLEX framework. Following calibration, space/time model transferability is tested using a split‐sample approach, with evaluation criteria including streamflow prediction error metrics and hydrological signatures. Our results suggest that: (1) models using geology‐based HRUs are more robust and capture the spatial variability of streamflow time series and signatures better than models using topography‐based HRUs; this finding supports the hypothesis that, in the Attert, geology exerts a stronger control than topography on streamflow generation, (2) streamflow dynamics of different HRUs can be represented using distinct and remarkably simple model structures, which can be interpreted in terms of the perceived dominant hydrologic processes in each geology type, and (3) the same maximum root zone storage can be used across the three dominant geological units with no loss in model transferability; this finding suggests that the partitioning of water between streamflow and evaporation in the study area is largely independent of geology and can be used to improve model parsimony. The modeling methodology introduced in this study is general and can be used to advance our broader understanding and prediction of hydrological behavior, including the landscape characteristics that control hydrologic response, the dominant processes associated with different landscape types, and the spatial relations of catchment processes.
Irrigation water sources and irrigation application methods used by U.S. plant nursery producers
Authors: Paudel Krishna P. , Pandit Mahesh , Hinson Roger
Published: January 2016

We examine irrigation water sources and irrigation methods used by U.S. nursery plant producers using nested multinomial fractional regression models. We use data collected from the National Nursery Survey (2009) to identify effects of different firm and sales characteristics on the fraction of water sources and irrigation methods used. We find that regions, sales of plants types, farm income, and farm age have significant roles in what water source is used. Given the fraction of alternative water sources used, results indicated that use of computer, annual sales, region, and the number of IPM practices adopted play an important role in the choice of irrigation method. Based on the findings from this study, government can provide subsidies to nursery producers in water deficit regions to adopt drip irrigation method or use recycled water or combination of both. Additionally, encouraging farmers to adopt IPM may enhance the use of drip irrigation and recycled water in nursery plant production.
Uncertainties in vertical groundwater fluxes from 1‐D steady state heat transport analyses caused by heterogeneity, multidimensional flow, and climate change
Authors: Irvine Dylan J. , Cartwright Ian , Post Vincent E.A. , Simmons Craig T. , Banks Eddie W.
Published: January 2016

Steady state 1‐D analytical solutions to estimate groundwater fluxes from temperature profiles are an attractive option because they are simple to apply, with no complex boundary or initial conditions. Steady state solutions have been applied to estimate both aquifer scale fluxes as well as to estimate groundwater discharge to streams. This study explores the sources of uncertainty in flux estimates from regional scale aquifers caused by sensor precision, aquifer heterogeneity, multidimensional flow and variations in surface temperature due to climate change. Synthetic temperature profiles were generated using 2‐D groundwater flow and heat transport models with homogeneous and heterogeneous hydraulic and thermal properties. Temperature profiles were analyzed assuming temperature can be determined with a precision between 0.1°C and 0.001°C. Analysis of synthetic temperature profiles show that the Bredehoeft and Papadopulos (1965) method can provide good estimates of the mean vertical Darcy flux over the length of the temperature profile. Reliable flux estimates were obtained when the ratio of vertical to horizontal flux was as low as 0.1, and in heterogeneous media, providing that temperature at the upper boundary was constant in time. However, temporal increases in surface temperature led to over‐estimation of fluxes. Overestimates increased with time since the onset of, and with the rate of surface warming. Overall, the Bredehoeft and Papadopulos (1965) method may be more robust for the conditions with constant temperature distributions than previously thought, but that transient methods that account for surface warming should be used to determine fluxes in shallow aquifers.
Space‐time conditional disaggregation of precipitation at high resolution via simulation
Authors: Bárdossy András , Pegram Geoffrey G. S.
Published: January 2016

Daily rainfall data are more plentiful and reliable than pluviometer data and are the best data set to start data‐repair from, worldwide. Clusters of pluviometers (a term used herein for instruments recording at subdaily intervals) record wet and dry periods in close synchrony and larger and smaller catches tend to be recorded in similar groups, but they have many gaps that require infilling. We present a method of disaggregating daily rainfall to subdaily intervals, contemporaneously infilling gaps in the pluviometers. Then the observed data, together with the infilled and disaggregated values, are interpolated over the intervening space. To achieve this disaggregation, we used a Gaussian copula‐based model with time‐dependent marginal distributions and censored values representing the dry periods. In addition, we generated stochastically meaningful ensembles of missing or disaggregated values, while constraining each realization to the observed daily total where relevant. This applies to the gaps filled in the pluviometers as well as the disaggregation of the daily totals. Using the disaggregated and infilled subdaily ensembles, we then conditionally spatially simulated historical rainfall in the space between the gauges and pluviometers. The mean of these stochastic realizations was compared to interpolated fields using two other procedures: Rescaled Ordinary Kriging and Rescaled Nearest Neighbors, and found our method to be superior. Where there are daily data, the daily sum constrains the simulation. In the intervening space, in a chosen daily subinterval, there will be an ensemble of values simulated from the observations. We present the results of measurements and validation of the applications to an unusually large amount of data (not just a few convenient samples), and are confident that the methodology is sound and applicable in a variety of geographies.
Clustering Small Dendrimers into Nanoaggregates for Efficient DNA and siRNA Delivery with Minimal Toxicity
Authors: Liu Chongyi , Shao Naimin , Wang Yitong , Cheng Yiyun
Published: January 2016

Cationic dendrimers are widely used as nonviral gene vectors, however, current gene materials based on dendrimers are either little effective or too toxic on the transfected cells. Here, a facile strategy is presented to prepare high efficient dendrimers with low transfection toxicity. Small dendrimers with 2 nm are clustered into nanoaggregates (≈100 nm) via phenylboronic acid modification and the self‐assembled materials enable efficient DNA and siRNA delivery on several cell lines. The clustered nanostructures can disassemble into small dendrimers in acidic conditions thus exerting significantly less toxicity on the transfected cells. Further structure–function relationship studies reveal that both the phenyl group and boronic acid group play essential roles in the self‐assembly and gene delivery processes. The transfection efficacy of phenylboronic acid‐modified dendrimers can be down‐regulated by blocking the boronic acid groups on dendrimers with diols or degrading the groups with hydrogen peroxide. This study provides a facile strategy in the development of efficient and biocompatible gene vectors based on low molecular weight polymers and clearly demonstrates the structure–function relationship of phenylboronic acid‐modified polymers in gene delivery.
Integrated gasoline blending and order delivery operations: Part I. short‐term scheduling and global optimization for single and multi‐period operations
Authors: Li Jie , Xiao Xin , Floudas Christodoulos A.
Published: January 2016

Gasoline is one of the most valuable products in an oil refinery and can account for as much as 60–70% of total profit. Optimal integrated scheduling of gasoline blending and order delivery operations can significantly increase profit by avoiding ship demurrage, improving customer satisfaction, minimizing quality give‐aways, reducing costly transitions and slop generation, exploiting low‐quality cuts, and reducing inventory costs. In this article, we first introduce a new unit‐specific event‐based continuous‐time formulation for the integrated treatment of recipes, blending, and scheduling of gasoline blending and order delivery operations. Many operational features are included such as nonidentical parallel blenders, constant blending rate, minimum blend length and amount, blender transition times, multipurpose product tanks, changeovers, and piecewise constant profiles for blend component qualities and feed rates. To address the nonconvexities arising from forcing constant blending rates during a run, we propose a hybrid global optimization approach incorporating a schedule adjustment procedure, iteratively via a mixed‐integer programming and nonlinear programming scheme, and a rigorous deterministic global optimization approach. The computational results demonstrate that our proposed formulation does improve the mixed‐integer linear programming relaxation of Li and Karimi, Ind. Eng. Chem. Res., 2011, 50, 9156–9174. All examples are solved to be 1%‐global optimality with modest computational effort. © 2016 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 62: 2043–2070, 2016
Evaluation of proton‐coupled folate transporter (SLC46A1) polymorphisms as risk factors for neural tube defects and oral clefts
Authors: VanderMeer Julia E. , Carter Tonia C. , Pangilinan Faith , Mitchell Adam , Kurnat‐Thoma Emma , Kirke Peadar N. , Troendle James F. , Molloy Anne M. , Munger Ronald G. , Feldkamp Marcia L. , Mansilla Maria A. , Mills James L. , Murray Jeff C. , Brody Lawrence C.
Published: January 2016

Many folate‐related genes have been investigated for possible causal roles in neural tube defects (NTDs) and oral clefts. However, no previous reports have examined the major gene responsible for folate uptake, the proton‐coupled folate transporter (SLC46A1). We tested for association between these birth defects and single nucleotide polymorphisms in the SLC46A1 gene. The NTD study population included 549 complete and incomplete case‐family triads, and 999 controls from Ireland. The oral clefts study population comprised a sample from Utah (495 complete and incomplete case‐family triads and 551 controls) and 221 Filipino multiplex cleft families. There was suggestive evidence of increased NTD case risk with the rs17719944 minor allele (odds ratio (OR): 1.29; 95% confidence intervals (CI): [1.00–1.67]), and decreased maternal risk of an NTD pregnancy with the rs4795436 minor allele (OR: 0.62; [0.39–0.99]). In the Utah sample, the rs739439 minor allele was associated with decreased case risk for cleft lip with cleft palate (genotype relative risk (GRR): 0.56 [0.32–0.98]). Additionally, the rs2239907 minor allele was associated with decreased case risk for cleft lip with cleft palate in several models, and with cleft palate only in a recessive model (OR: 0.41; [0.20–0.85]). These associations did not remain statistically significant after correcting for multiple hypothesis testing. Nominal associations between SLC46A1 polymorphisms and both Irish NTDs and oral clefts in the Utah population suggest some role in the etiology of these birth defects, but further investigation in other populations is needed. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Longitudinal heritability of childhood aggression
Authors: Porsch Robert M. , Middeldorp Christel M. , Cherny Stacey S. , Krapohl Eva , van Beijsterveldt Catharina E. M. , Loukola Anu , Korhonen Tellervo , Pulkkinen Lea , Corley Robin , Rhee Soo , Kaprio Jaakko , Rose Richard R. , Hewitt John. K. , Sham Pak , Plomin Robert , Boomsma Dorret I. , Bartels Meike
Published: January 2016

The genetic and environmental contributions to the variation and longitudinal stability in childhood aggressive behavior were assessed in two large twin cohorts, the Netherlands Twin Register (NTR), and the Twins Early Development Study (TEDS; United Kingdom). In NTR, maternal ratings on aggression from the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) were available for 10,765 twin pairs at age 7, for 8,557 twin pairs at age 9/10, and for 7,176 twin pairs at age 12. In TEDS, parental ratings of conduct disorder from the Strength and Difficulty Questionnaire (SDQ) were available for 6,897 twin pairs at age 7, for 3,028 twin pairs at age 9 and for 5,716 twin pairs at age 12. In both studies, stability and heritability of aggressive behavioral problems was high. Heritability was on average somewhat, but significantly, lower in TEDS (around 60%) than in NTR (between 50% and 80%) and sex differences were slightly larger in the NTR sample. In both studies, the influence of shared environment was similar: in boys shared environment explained around 20% of the variation in aggression across all ages while in girls its influence was absent around age 7 and only came into play at later ages. Longitudinal genetic correlations were the main reason for stability of aggressive behavior. Individual differences in CBCL‐Aggressive Behavior and SDQ‐Conduct disorder throughout childhood are driven by a comparable but significantly different genetic architecture. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Cobalt‐Catalyzed Dehydrogenative Coupling of Alcohols/Aldehydes and Amines: An Important Role for Imine Hydration
Authors: Guo Ya‐Fei , Ren Tian‐Lu , Xu Bao‐Hua , Wang Yao‐Feng , Zhang Suo‐Jiang
Published: January 2016

A cobalt and iodide co‐catalyzed oxidative amidation reaction between alcohols or aldehydes and amines has been developed. The reactions proceeded smoothly under mild conditions using tert‐butyl hydroperoxide solution in water as the terminal oxidant, with broad functional group tolerance. Mechanistic studies indicated that the tBuO⋅/tBuOO⋅ radical generated in situ is the active species responsible for hydrogen abstraction in this catalytic process, and not IO−/IO2−/IO3− ions. Investigation into the reaction mechanism also revealed the potential transiency of a hemiaminal and the important role of its regeneration by imine hydration.