bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Numerical Optimization Using the Heart Algorithm
Authors: Hatamlou Abdolreza
Published: May 2018

In this article the authors investigate the application of the heart algorithm for solving unconstraint numerical optimization problems. Heart algorithms are a novel optimization algorithm which mimics the heart function and circulatory system procedure in the human beings. It starts with a number of candidate solutions for the given problem and utilizes the contraction and expansion actions to move the candidates in the search space for finding optimal solution. The applicability and performance of the heart algorithm for solving unconstrained optimization problems has been tested using several benchmark functions. Experimental results show its potential and superiority.
Dynamic Logistic Map Based Spread Spectrum Modulation in Wireless Channels
Authors: Kashyap Katyayani , Sharma Tarun Kumar
Published: May 2018

Generation of an efficient spreading code in Spread Spectrum Modulation (SSM) is always challenging due to considerations like optimum sequence length, physical layout of registers and power requirements. In this article, a design of a dynamic chaotic spreading sequence for application in a Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum (DS SS) based system with the considerations of wireless channels (Rayleigh and Rician) are presented. Generation of dynamic chaotic sequence for application in linear and nonlinear channels is done and a comparison with static chaotic sequence is presented. Evaluation of performance is done in terms of bit error rate (BER), computational time, mutual information and signal power for faded channel taking into considerations of different modulation schemes, which finally dictates the efficiency of the generated code. The performance of the generated dynamic logistic map-based sequence is compared to that obtained from Gold code under equivalent conditions.
Models for the Detection of Malicious Intent People in Society
Authors: Ranjan Preetish , Singh Vrijendra , Kumar Prabhat , Prakash Satya
Published: May 2018

This article describes how in less than two decades, internet in mobile phones has grown from a curiosity to an essential element of modern life. Although, this mind-boggling growth has no doubt facilitated international commerce, trade, and travel, it is also being used in the planning and coordination of criminal activities. These types of attacks are often referred to as socio-technical attacks. These attacks are targeted at these sensitive points to society or national security and may have a devastating impact. Often, organized, sponsored, and trained groups are involved to disguise the intelligence system, deployed for the detection of such attacks. Prior detection of such attacks may reduce its impact. In this article, the authors have developed an efficient model to detect malicious node in huge and complex corpus of data associated with call detail record (CDR). This model analyses CDRs to identify covert nodes operating within society for malicious intent.
Vocabulary Learning Through Picture-Viewing and Picture-Drawing on Tablets
Authors: Ou Kuo-Liang , Tarng Wernhuar , Chen Yi-Ru
Published: May 2018

Beginning learners of English frequently use flashcards as a tool for learning vocabulary. However, because of the consciousness difference between the picture-readers and picture-drawers on vocabularies, errors may be involved in the learners' comprehension of the vocabulary terms on the flashcards. This article develops and evaluates an English vocabulary learning strategy for tablet devices on which learners' viewing and drawing corresponding to vocabularies on the mobile devices. Fifty-two elementary school students were recruited and divided into two groups: The first group read the printed flashcards from electronic files, the second group read the flashcards drawn by students themselves. The results indicated that the drawing learning strategy was beneficial for increasing both their learning motivation and memory retention. The learners could create their own learning content by drawing pictures in such a manner that the pictures were highly relevant to the meaning of the target word, thus transforming their learning pattern from passive to active.
An Investigation Into the Efficacy of Deep Learning Tools for Big Data Analysis in Health Care
Authors: Priyadarshini Rojalina , Barik Rabindra K. , Panigrahi Chhabi , Dubey Harishchandra , Mishra Brojo Kishore
Published: May 2018

This article describes how machine learning (ML) algorithms are very useful for analysis of data and finding some meaningful information out of them, which could be used in various other applications. In the last few years, an explosive growth has been seen in the dimension and structure of data. There are several difficulties faced by conventional ML algorithms while dealing with such highly voluminous and unstructured big data. The modern ML tools are designed and used to deal with all sorts of complexities of data. Deep learning (DL) is one of the modern ML tools which are commonly used to find the hidden structure and cohesion among these large data sets by giving proper training in parallel platforms with intelligent optimization techniques to further analyze and interpret the data for future prediction and classification. This article focuses on the use of DL tools and software which are used in past couple of years in various areas and especially in the area of healthcare applications.
Individual Incentive Based Reward Policy for an Ad Exchange to Mitigate the Threat of Ad Blocking
Authors: Kumar Rajeev
Published: May 2018

This article investigates the fairness of the existing business model of advertisement blocking and ad exchange companies by using exchange frameworks and equity theory. It then provides an individual-centric approach for an ad exchange, which aims to provide a fair compensation to individuals in exchange for their information and effort in the targeting and viewing/filtering of online advertisements. In this article, it is shown that by providing a higher value proposition to individuals in an online advertisement ecosystem, the ad exchange can not only increase individuals' equity in the system, but it can also mitigate the threat of ad blocking for publisher websites and advertisers. An efficient algorithm that estimates the monetary impact of the proposed approach and determines a fair monetary incentive—compensation—for individuals' personal information and actions—engagement—is presented in this article.
Ethics of Electronic Health Record Systems
Authors: Galli Brian J.
Published: May 2018

This article describes how healthcare and IT are combatting the ethical implications of electronic health records (EHRs) in order to make them adopted by over 90% of small practices. There is a lack of trust in EHRs and uneasiness about what they will accomplish. Furthermore, security concerns have become more prevalent as a result of increased hacker activity. The objective of this article is to analyze these ethical issues in an effort to eliminate them as a hinderance to EHR implementation. As of now, 98% of all hospitals use EHRs. Between 2009 and 2015, the government allocated money and resources for incentive programs to get EHRs into every healthcare providers' office. During this time period, over $800 million dollars facilitated EHR implementation. Using this as a tool EHRs negative perception can be revitalized and combated with the meaningful use program. This article will highlight the ethical implications of EHRs and suggest ways in which to avoid them to make EHRs available in every healthcare provider.
Wealth of Merger and Acquisition on Acquiring Firms in Brazil
Authors: Ma Jianyu , Geng Mingzhai , Chu Yun , Chen Jason C. H.
Published: May 2018

In this article, the authors examine the distribution of the stock returns for the acquiring firm and the corresponding market index. They find that significant non-normal distributions exist in a large number of acquiring firms. The authors use two robust regressions to examine the reliability of the standard OLS market models and find that no significant abnormal gain or loss in the selected windows, when all sample deals are included for analysis. However, positive abnormal returns appear in almost all selected windows when analysing deals in financial service industry, and negative abnormal returns appear in almost all selected windows when analysing deals in non-financial industries. Selection of the model and formation of the sample affect the results.
Career Goal-based E-Learning Recommendation Using Enhanced Collaborative Filtering and PrefixSpan
Authors: Ma Xueying , Ye Lu
Published: May 2018

This article describes how e-learning recommender systems nowadays have applied different kinds of techniques to recommend personalized learning content for users based on their preference, goals, interests and background information. However, the cold-start problem which exists in traditional recommendation algorithms are still left over in e-learning systems and a few of them have seriously affected the learning goals of users. Thus, an intelligent e-learning system have been developed which can recommend professional and targeted courses according to their career goals. First, an enhanced collaborative filtering (CF) approach is proposed considering users' career goals and background information. Then, the relevance between career goals and courses are calculated to alleviate the cold-start problem and recommend specialized courses for users. Finally, a PrefixSpan algorithm is combined with the above methods to generate a personalized learning path step by step. Some experiments are carried out with real users of different professions to test the performance of the hybrid algorithm.
Development and Application of Art Based STEAM Education Program Using Educational Robot
Authors: Kim Jin-Ok , Kim Jinsoo
Published: May 2018

This article aims at developing an art-based STEAM educational program that would help elementary school students to develop their abilities to solve scientific problems and artistic sensibilities by using an educational robot. In addition, this article investigates whether the program could be applied in the field. In order to achieve the purpose of this article, ‘mobile' and ‘abstraction' were selected as the subjects of the activities and the STEAM educational program which allowed students to learn knowledge regarding science, technology and mathematics in a comprehensive manner through the course in order to experience and create works of art. Also, the level of satisfaction and effectiveness were confirmed by applying the program to the class targeting students in the 4th and 6th grades.
The Impact of Web 2.0 Technologies on the Learning Experience of Students in Higher Education
Authors: Bugawa Afaf Mubarak , Mirzal Andri
Published: May 2018

This article describes how the use of Web 2.0 technologies in the field of learning is on the rise. By their nature, Web 2.0 technologies increase the interactivity between users where interactivity is considered to be a key to success in traditional classrooms. This article reviews recent studies in the field of Web 2.0 technologies for learning and their impacts on the learning experiences and investigates relationship between Web 2.0 technologies and pedagogy in higher education on student learning. Key findings about the impacts of using social networks like Facebook, Twitter, blogs and wikis on learning experiences are also discussed. Web 2.0 technologies' characteristics and the rationale of Web 2.0 technologies in learning will also be explored.
Course Recommendation Based on Query Classification Approach
Authors: Gulzar Zameer , Leema A. Anny
Published: May 2018

This article describes how with a non-formal education, a scholar has to choose courses among various domains to meet the research aims. In spite of this, the availability of large number of courses, makes the process of selecting the appropriate course a tedious, time-consuming, and risky decision, and the course selection will directly affect the performance of a scholar. The best approach to solve such problems and to produce desirable results is to use a “recommendation system.” Recommender systems at the core employ information retrieval techniques and the ongoing effort of such information retrieval systems is to deliver the most relevant information to the learner. Therefore, if a recommender system is able to recognize the intent and requirements that a user express in the form of queries, it can generate more valid recommendations. This article presents an N-Gram classification technique which can be used to generate course recommendations to scholars depend on the requirements and domain of interest. This way of personalization can improve the quality of research and learning experience by recommending courses which are otherwise overlooked by scholars, as it takes the time to go through the curriculum and finding the best possible match.
Nutrition Knowledge and Misconception about Animal Source Food among Sri Lankans
Authors: Atapattu N. S. B. M. , Wimalarathne H. D. A.
Published: May 2018

Purpose : Though essential for optimum nutrition and health, excessive consumption of animal source food items (ASF), particularly certain types is associated with health risks. Nutritional knowledge and misconceptions about ASF are among the factors that affect the type and level of consumption. This study investigates the nutrition knowledge and misconceptions about the ASF among different demographic segments of Sri Lanka.Research Method : The sample comprised of 361 randomly selected respondents. Each respondent was asked to indicate whether they agreed or disagreed on 20 knowledge-testing statements and to the extent they were certain about the each of the answers- in a four point Likert scale ranging from completely uncertain to completely certain.Findings : Nutritional knowledge score was as low as 34%. Gender and age had no significant effect on knowledge score. Tamils, Hindus, rural dwellers and respondents of lower education levels reported lower knowledge scores. Almost one in four believed that brown eggs are more nutritious than white.  Around 16% respondents believed that even for a healthy adult an egg a day is unsafe. Older and rural respondents opined brown eggs were more nutritious while relatively younger urban segment was more concern about egg consumption level. As high as 19% of the respondents failed to recognize the nutritional superiority of fresh milk over powdered milk.Limitations : Though the sample comprised all main ethnic, religious and dwelling categories, it was drawn only from two administrative districts.Originality/Value : The study revealed that Sri Lankans still have low nutrition knowledge and hold a number of misconceptions about the ASF and, identifies the awareness programs particularly targeting rural and less educated social segments
Investigating cyberloafing, organisational justice, work engagement and organisational trust of South African retail and manufacturing employees
Authors: Oosthuizen Adele , Rabie Gerhard H. , De Beer Leon T.
Published: May 2018

Orientation: Understanding cyberloafing, organisational justice, work engagement and organisational trust will lead organisations to develop strategies to counter the consequences of cyberloafing.Research purpose: This research explored the relationships between cyberloafing, organisational justice, work engagement and organisational trust among South African office workers in the retail and manufacturing industry.Motivation for the study: Cyberloafing, a prevalent way for office employees to engage in non-work-related activities during work time, is considered harmful to organisations. Limited research exists about the relationship between cyberloafing and organisational justice, organisational trust and work engagement within South Africa.Research design, approach and method: A quantitative research design was followed. Questionnaires were administered in the South African retail and manufacturing industry; a convenient sample of N = 224 was obtained. Descriptive statistics, Cronbach’s alpha coefficients, structural equation modelling and bootstrapping were used for data analysis.Main findings: Organisational justice was positively related to organisational trust while organisational trust was positively related to work engagement; work engagement related negatively to cyberloafing. Organisational trust mediated the relationship between organisational justice and work engagement while work engagement mediated the relationship between organisational trust and cyberloafing.Practical and managerial implications: Strategies can be developed to enhance and warrant perceptions of organisational justice and fairness that will increase trust levels, leading to higher work engagement and decreased cyberloafing behaviour and resulting in higher productivity.Contribution or value-add: The research revealed that when employees perceive their organisations as being fair, organisational trust will increase, leading to heightened work engagement levels and ultimately reducing cyberloafing behaviour.
Safety profile of intraoperative methadone for analgesia after major spine surgery: An observational study of 1,478 patients
Authors: Dunn, MD, PhD Lauren K. , Yerra, MBBS Sandeep , Fang, MSc Shenghao , Hanak, BS Mark F. , Leibowitz, BS Maren K. , Alpert, PhD Salome B. , Tsang, PhD Siny , Durieux, MD, PhD Marcel E. , Nemergut, MD Edward C. , Naik, MBBCh Bhiken I.
Published: May 2018

Objective: To investigate the incidence of perioperative adverse events in patients receiving intravenous methadone for major spine surgery.Design: Retrospective review of perioperative records from March 2011 and February 2016.Setting: University of Virginia Healthsystem.Patients: Adult patients undergoing elective spinal fusion of two or more levels. Main Outcome Measures: Incidence of respiratory depression, time to extubation, hypotension, hypoxemia, reintubation, cardiac complications, and death.Results: Reviewed 1,478 patient records. Mean intraoperative methadone dose was 0.14 ± 0.07 mg/kg. A total of 1,142 patients (77.4 percent) were extubated in the operating room, 543 (36.8 percent) experienced respiratory depression, 1,180 (79.8 percent) hypoxemia, and 22 (1.5 percent) required reintubation. Cardiac complications included arrhythmias (289 patients, 29.9 percent), QTc prolongation (568 patients, 58.8 percent), and myocardial infarction (16 patients, 1.1 percent). Two in hospital deaths occurred (0.14 percent).Conclusions: Mild-moderate respiratory depression is observed following a onetime dose of intraoperative methadone, and monitoring in an appropriate postoperative setting is recommended.
Does familiarity with CDC guidelines, continuing education, and provider characteristics influence adherence to chronic pain management practices and opioid prescribing?
Authors: McCalmont, DNP, FNP Jean C. , Jones, PhD, FNP, FAAN Kim D. , Bennett, MD, FRCP, MACR Robert M. , Friend, PhD Ronald
Published: May 2018

Objectives: (1) To assess providers’ experience and knowledge of chronic noncancer pain (CNCP) management. (2) To assess providers’ utilization of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 2016 Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain. (3) To assess the influence of the 2016 CDC guideline on provider confidence in managing CNCP and adherence to the CDC recommendations.Methods: A cross-sectional, web-based survey conducted with 417 Oregon prescribing providers, divided into three continuing medical education (CME) groups composed of minimal (0-3), moderate (4-10), and high (≥11) hours of training. Results: The three CME groups were associated with increased use of CDC opioid recommended practices (29.4, 34.2, 38.8; p = 0.001; scale 0-50), opioid conversion confidence (5.5, 6.5, 7.4; p < 0.001; scale 0-9), and confidence in pain management (5.5, 5.9, 6.9; p < 0.001, scale 0-9). Slightly more providers utilized CDC recommended practices than did not (57 vs 43 percent). However, CME groups differed substantially in utilization of CDC practices (42 vs 57 vs 72 percent; p < 0.001). Neither providers’ profession (physician vs nurse practitioner [NP]) nor geographic setting (urban vs rural) showed differences in use of recommended practices or general confident in pain management (all p > 0.05); however, physicians were slightly more confident in opioid dose conversion than NPs (6.9 vs 5.9; p < 0. 001, scale 0-9).Conclusions: Higher hours of recent CME positively benefit provider confidence in pain management and utilization of CDC recommended practices. NPs and rural providers were equivalent to their physician and urban counterparts on confidence and adherence to CDC practices, with minor exceptions.
The effects on patient retention after opioid weaning in an internal medicine residency clinic
Authors: Opperman, MD Charles P. , Butler, MD Melissa M. , Stroud, MD Andrew K. , Sun, MD Michael R.
Published: May 2018

A retrospective, cross-sectional study was completed on 220 patients to determine the effects of implementation of an aggressive policy to curb opioid misuse/abuse in an internal medicine residency clinic. Our findings suggest that the development of a clear and consistent protocol for approaching patients on chronic controlled substances, as well as the initiation of regular didactic sessions addressing chronic pain and pain management, led to a dramatic reduction in the number or opioid prescriptions written by our resident providers without much reduction in patient volume.
Volume 14, Number 2
Authors: DeVito, Jr. Richard A.
Published: May 2018

Complete Issue PDF
An automated cirrus classification
Authors: Gryspeerdt Edward , Quaas Johannes , Goren Tom , Klocke Daniel , Brueck Matthias
Published: May 2018

Abstract. Cirrus clouds play an important role
in determining the radiation budget of the earth, but many of their
properties remain uncertain, particularly their response to aerosol
variations and to warming. Part of the reason for this uncertainty is the
dependence of cirrus cloud properties on the cloud formation mechanism, which
itself is strongly dependent on the local meteorological conditions. In this work, a classification system (Identification and Classification of
Cirrus or IC-CIR) is introduced to identify cirrus clouds by the cloud
formation mechanism. Using reanalysis and satellite data, cirrus clouds are
separated into four main types: orographic, frontal, convective and synoptic.
Through a comparison to convection-permitting model simulations and
back-trajectory-based analysis, it is shown that these observation-based
regimes can provide extra information on the cloud-scale updraughts and the
frequency of occurrence of liquid-origin ice, with the convective regime
having higher updraughts and a greater occurrence of liquid-origin ice
compared to the synoptic regimes. Despite having different cloud formation
mechanisms, the radiative properties of the regimes are not distinct,
indicating that retrieved cloud properties alone are insufficient to
completely describe them. This classification is designed to be easily implemented in GCMs,
helping improve future model–observation comparisons and leading to
improved parametrisations of cirrus cloud processes.
Sources of reactive nitrogen in marine aerosol over the Northwest Pacific Ocean in spring
Authors: Luo Li , Kao Shuh-Ji , Bao Hongyan , Xiao Huayun , Xiao Hongwei , Yao Xiaohong , Gao Huiwang , Li Jiawei , Lu Yangyang
Published: May 2018

Abstract. Atmospheric deposition of long-range transport of anthropogenic reactive
nitrogen (Nr, mainly comprised of NHx, NOy and
water-soluble organic nitrogen, WSON) from continents may have profound
impact on marine biogeochemistry. In addition,
surface ocean dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) may also contribute to aerosol
WSON in the overlying atmosphere. Despite the importance of off-continent
dispersion and Nr interactions at the atmosphere–ocean boundary,
our knowledge of the sources of various nitrogen species in the atmosphere
over the open ocean remains limited due to insufficient observations. We
conducted two cruises in the spring of 2014 and 2015 from the coast of China
through the East China seas (ECSs, i.e. the Yellow Sea and East China Sea) to
the open ocean (i.e. the Northwest Pacific Ocean, NWPO). Concentrations of water-soluble total
nitrogen (WSTN), NO3- and NH4+, as well as the δ15N
of WSTN and NO3- in marine aerosol, were measured during both
cruises. In the spring of 2015, we also analysed the concentrations and
δ15N of NO3- and the DON of surface seawater (SSW; at a
depth of 5 m) along the cruise track. Aerosol NO3-, NH4+ and
WSON decreased logarithmically (1–2 orders of magnitude) with distance from
the shore, reflecting strong anthropogenic emission sources of NO3-,
NH4+ and WSON in China. Average aerosol NO3- and NH4+
concentrations were significantly higher in 2014 (even in the remote NWOP)
than in 2015 due to the stronger wind field in 2014, underscoring the role of
the Asian winter monsoon in the seaward transport of anthropogenic
NO3- and NH4+. However, the background aerosol WSON over the
NWPO in 2015 (13.3 ± 8.5 nmol m−3) was similar to that in 2014
(12.2 ± 6.3 nmol m−3), suggesting an additional
non-anthropogenic WSON source in the open ocean. Obviously, marine DON
emissions should be considered in model and field assessments of net
atmospheric WSON deposition in the open ocean. This study contributes
information on parallel isotopic marine DON composition and aerosol
Nr datasets, but more research is required to explore complex
Nr sources and deposition processes in order to advance our
understanding of anthropogenic influences on the marine nitrogen cycle and
nitrogen exchange at land–ocean and atmosphere–ocean interfaces.
Vertical wind velocity measurements using a five-hole probe with remotely piloted aircraft to study aerosol–cloud interactions
Authors: Calmer Radiance , Roberts Gregory C. , Preissler Jana , Sanchez Kevin J. , Derrien Solène , O'Dowd Colin
Published: May 2018

Abstract. The importance of vertical wind velocities (in particular positive vertical
wind velocities or updrafts) in atmospheric science has motivated the need to
deploy multi-hole probes developed for manned aircraft in small remotely
piloted aircraft (RPA). In atmospheric research, lightweight RPAs
(< 2.5 kg) are now able to accurately measure atmospheric wind vectors,
even in a cloud, which provides essential observing tools for understanding
aerosol–cloud interactions. The European project BACCHUS (impact of Biogenic
versus Anthropogenic emissions on Clouds and Climate: towards a Holistic
UnderStanding) focuses on these specific interactions. In particular,
vertical wind velocity at cloud base is a key parameter for studying
aerosol–cloud interactions. To measure the three components of wind, a RPA
is equipped with a five-hole probe, pressure sensors, and an inertial
navigation system (INS). The five-hole probe is calibrated on a multi-axis
platform, and the probe–INS system is validated in a wind tunnel. Once
mounted on a RPA, power spectral density (PSD) functions and turbulent
kinetic energy (TKE) derived from the five-hole probe are compared with sonic
anemometers on a meteorological mast. During a BACCHUS field campaign at Mace
Head Atmospheric Research Station (Ireland), a fleet of RPAs was deployed to
profile the atmosphere and complement ground-based and satellite observations
of physical and chemical properties of aerosols, clouds, and meteorological
state parameters. The five-hole probe was flown on straight-and-level legs to
measure vertical wind velocities within clouds. The vertical velocity
measurements from the RPA are validated with vertical velocities derived from
a ground-based cloud radar by showing that both measurements yield
model-simulated cloud droplet number concentrations within 10 %. The
updraft velocity distributions illustrate distinct relationships between
vertical cloud fields in different meteorological conditions.
Solar eclipse induced perturbations at mid-latitude during the 21 August 2017 event
Authors: Adekoya Bolarinwa J. , Adebesin Babatunde O. , David Timothy W. , Ikubanni Stephen O. , Adebiyi Shola J.
Published: May 2018

Abstract. A study of the response of some ionospheric parameters and their relationship in predicting one another during the solar eclipse of 21 August 2017 is presented. Mid-latitude stations located along the eclipse path and with data availability on the GIRO database were selected. The percentage obscuration at these stations ranges between 63–100 %. The decrease in electron density during the eclipse is attributed to reduction in solar radiation and natural gas heating. The maximum magnitude of the eclipse coincided with hmF2 increase and with a lagged maximum decrease in NmF2 consistently at the stations investigated. The results revealed that the horizontal neutral wind flow is as a consequence of the changes in the thermospheric and diffusion processes. The unusual increase/decrease in the shape/thickness parameters during the eclipse period relative to the control days points to the perturbation caused by the solar eclipse. Need for IRI model to capture eclipse caused perturbation
A global assessment of gross and net land change dynamics for current conditions and future scenarios
Authors: Fuchs Richard , Prestele Reinhard , Verburg Peter H.
Published: May 2018

Abstract. The consideration of gross land changes, meaning all area gains and losses within a pixel or administrative unit (e.g. country),
plays an essential role in the estimation of total land changes. Gross land changes affect the magnitude of total land changes, which
feeds back to the attribution of biogeochemical and biophysical processes related to climate change in Earth system models. Global
empirical studies on gross land changes are currently lacking. Whilst the relevance of gross changes for global change has been
indicated in the literature, it is not accounted for in future land change scenarios. In this study, we extract gross and net land
change dynamics from large-scale and high-resolution (30–100 m) remote sensing products to create a new global gross and net
change dataset. Subsequently, we developed an approach to integrate our empirically derived gross and net changes with the results
of future simulation models by accounting for the gross and net change addressed by the land use model and the gross and net change
that is below the resolution of modelling. Based on our empirical data, we found that gross land change within 0.5∘ grid
cells was substantially larger than net changes in all parts of the world. As 0.5∘ grid cells are a standard resolution of
Earth system models, this leads to an underestimation of the amount of change. This finding contradicts earlier studies, which
assumed gross land changes to appear in shifting cultivation areas only. Applied in a future scenario, the consideration of gross
land changes led to approximately 50 % more land changes globally compared to a net land change representation. Gross land
changes were most important in heterogeneous land systems with multiple land uses (e.g. shifting cultivation, smallholder farming,
and agro-forestry systems). Moreover, the importance of gross changes decreased over time due to further polarization and
intensification of land use. Our results serve as an empirical database for land change dynamics that can be applied in Earth system
models and integrated assessment models.
Effects of golf course management on subsurface soil properties in Iowa
Authors: Streeter Matthew T. , Schilling Keith E.
Published: May 2018

Abstract. Currently, in the USA and especially in the Midwest region, urban expansion
is developing turfgrass landscapes surrounding commercial sites, homes, and
recreational areas on soils that have been agriculturally managed for
decades. Often, golf courses are at the forefront of conversations concerning
anthropogenic environmental impacts as they account for some of the most
intensively managed soils in the world. Iowa golf courses provide an ideal
location to evaluate whether golf course management is affecting the quality
of soils at depth. Our study evaluated how soil properties relating to soil
health and resiliency varied with depth at golf courses across Iowa and
interpreted relationships of these properties to current golf course
management, previous land use, and inherent soil properties. Systematic
variation in soil properties including sand content, NO3, and soil organic matter (SOM) were
observed with depth at six Iowa golf courses among three landform regions.
Variability in sand content was identified between the 20 and 50 cm depth
classes at all courses, where sand content decreased by as much as 37 %.
Highest concentrations of SOM and NO3 were found in the shallowest
soils, whereas total C and P variability was not related to golf course
management. Sand content and NO3 were found to be directly related to
golf course management, particularly at shallow depths. The effects of golf
course management dissipated with depth and deeper soil variations were
primarily due to natural geologic conditions. The two abovementioned soil properties were very noticeably altered by golf course management and may directly impact
crop productivity, soil health, and water quality, and while NO3 may be
altered relatively quickly in soil through natural processes, particle size
of the soil may not be altered without extensive mitigation. Iowa golf
courses continue to be developed in areas of land use change from historically
native prairies and more recently agriculture to urban landscapes. As soils
are continually altered by human impacts, it is imperative that we monitor
the changes, both physical and chemical, in order to establish management
practices that maintain environmental sustainability and productivity.
Una mirada a "El habla de Segurilla" (1973) desde una perspectiva actual
Authors: Hernando Cuadrado Luis Alberto
Published: May 2018

Este trabajo ofrece una visión en perspectiva de El habla de Segurilla, una de las memorias de licenciatura dirigidas por el Dr. Alonso Zamora Vicente a comienzos de la década de los años setenta del siglo XX en la Facultad de Filosofía y Letras de la Universidad Complutense de Madrid. El autor pasa revista a la situación lingüística en la que se encontraba en esos años el pueblo, situado a siete kilómetros de Talavera de la Reina, en la provincia de Toledo, en estrecha relación con su situación geográfica, las condiciones de vida de sus hablantes y el entorno sociocultural del momento
Maestros frente a docentes
Authors: Bosque Ignacio
Published: May 2018

El autor repasa los años de formación de Alonso Zamora Vicente en la Facultad de Filosofía y Letras de la Universidad Complutense de Madrid con sus maestros, da cuenta de la importancia que tuvo para él la transmisión de las ideas recibidas y explica que la Universidad debe ser centro de docencia e investigación, pero también de formación y crecimiento para los estudiantes. Finalmente, sostiene que la organización de la Universidad actual no facilita el surgimiento de maestros.
Working Capital Management and Corporate Performance: Evidence from Sri Lankan Listed Manufacturing Firms
Authors: Vijayakumaran Ratnam , Vijayakumaran Sunitha
Published: May 2018

Working capital that represents a significant portion of a firm’s total assets affects its profitability and liquidity. This study examines the performance effects of working capital management using a panel of listed manufacturing companies on the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) over the period 2011 to 2016. Controlling for unobservable firm specific heterogeneity and a set of observable firm characteristics, we document that working capital is non-linearly (inverted U-shaped) related to firm profitability. This indicates the existence of an optimal level of working capital that balances the costs and beneﬁts of maintaining working capital, and maximizes firm’s performance.
Desafios para a construção do conceito afrocentrado de desenvolvimento em comunidades quilombolas no Brasil
Authors: Lacerda Roberto Dos Santos , Da Silva Gicélia Mendes
Published: May 2018

No Brasil, as iniquidades sociais persistem ao longo do tempo e estão fortemente associadas ao processo cruel de colonização estruturado no sistema escravocrata. O modelo convencional de desenvolvimento no Brasil, baseado na busca do crescimento econômico em detrimento do equilíbrio socioambiental, tem sido extremamente danoso às comunidades tradicionais, que têm seus territórios e as riquezas naturais existentes ameaçados frente à lógica ocidental de progresso. As comunidades quilombolas têm lutado ao longo dos anos para efetivar seus direitos de cidadania, principalmente o de titulação dos seus territórios, bem como o de acesso às políticas públicas de saúde, educação, e demais direitos de bem-estar social. Diante do discurso de desenvolvimento sustentável, inicialmente utilizado para promover a integração dos países e comunidades periféricos na lógica desenvolvimentista dos países centrais, as comunidades tradicionais quilombolas não têm suas necessidades e particularidades contempladas em propostas e projetos. Apesar de divulgarem a necessidade de equilíbrio econômico, social e ambiental, os agentes governamentais indutores de políticas de desenvolvimento sustentável não estimulam a emancipação das comunidades. Tampouco incentivam a valorização das concepções e valores civilizatórios que positivamente têm integrado as comunidades aos seus territórios, de modo a promover o convívio equilibrado entre seus membros e o meio ambiente. A construção de um novo panorama para promoção do bem-estar coletivo e da conservação ambiental em comunidades quilombolas requer o reconhecimento da contribuição de epistemologias que localizem o afrodescendente no centro da sua história e de seu presente, promovendo a descolonização do pensamento. A discussão acerca do desenvolvimento em comunidades quilombolas perpassa pelo reconhecimento, pela efetivação dos direitos das comunidades e pela valorização dos saberes e práticas das comunidades, na construção de ambientes sustentáveis e equânimes.
Research on the Correlation between Payment Methods of M&A and M&A Performance of Listed Company
Authors: Liu Yiping , Ma Danqing
Published: May 2018

As mergers and acquisitions of listed companies have become increasingly active, payment methods of M&A have also increasingly diversified. This article takes M&A cases of listed companies in china capital market as samples during 2009 to 2013. Taking financial indexes analysis and factor analysis, we can construct M&A performance comprehensive score model, by which we can calculate the score. Then, build multiple regression model to study the relation between the performance of M&A and payment methods of M&A. Studies indicate that M&A performance is stable by the cash payment method and the cash payment method has a small effect on the M&A performance; M&A performance improves obviously by the stock payment method and mixed payment is not conducive to the improvement of long-term performance; The stock payment method has a huge positive effect on the M&A performance, and the mixed payment is not beneficial to improve the M&A performance.
Uso de Métricas em Mídias Sociais e Indicadores de Desempenho do Site e sua Relação com o Valor da Marca em Empresas de Cosméticos no Brasil
Authors: Pinochet Luis Hernan Contreras , Pachelli Iara Louise , Da Rocha Francisco Marcelo Monteiro
Published: May 2018

Este artigo procura analisar a utilizao de mtricas em mdias sociais e indicadores de desempenho do site e sua relao com o valor da marca pelas empresas de cosmticos instaladas no Brasil. Nesta pesquisa foi necessria a criao de uma base de dados dentro do perodo observado (novembro de 2015 a abril de 2016) nas 14 marcas de cosmticos selecionadas. Para a construo dessa base foram extrados dados de 2 aplicativos de Redes Sociais (Facebook e Instagram) e 3 ferramentas de Digital Analytics (SimilarWeb, Alexa e Nibbler). A abordagem quantitativa foi apoiada pela tcnica multivariada de regresso linear mltipla. Como resultado, apesar de no existir uma preciso numrica das mtricas selecionadas em relao ao valor da marca possvel presumir que os agrupamentos que obtiveram melhores resultados nas anlises de dados foram as mtricas de indicadores de desempenho do site, sendo que a Unidade de Significncia Anlise do site pelo Nibbler obteve o maior R2 ajustado (0,332). O estudo prope ainda uma forma preliminar de mensurar mtricas que podem permitir a identificao de oportunidades para novas estratgias nas empresas, e consequentemente, aumentar a exposio e o valor de suas marcas.
A escola-medusa: o olhar do outro e a educação em Jean-Paul Sartre
Authors: Briskievicz Danilo Arnaldo
Published: May 2018

Investigamos a ontologia do olhar proposta por Jean-Paul Sartre em seu livro O ser e o nada: Ensaio de Ontologia Fenomenológica, publicado em 1943, a fim de problematizar as relações intersubjetivas na instrução escolar em particular, e na educação, em geral. Aproximando-nos do texto sartriano, demonstramos como o conceito de olhar é estruturante do Para-si e de sua dimensão do ser-Para-outro. A partir da controvertida figura da escola-medusa, remetendo-nos ao mito grego antigo de Medusa que petrificava quem a olhasse diretamente, estabelecemos um diálogo entre a ontologia sartriana e a pedagogia. A metodologia utilizada é uma pesquisa bibliográfica. O resultado pretendido é uma colaboração em torno da ontologia do olhar, no interior das discussões propostas pela Filosofia da Educação.
Formação de professores em comunidades colaborativas no interior da Amazônia
Authors: Ximenes-Rocha Solange Helena , Fiorentini Dario
Published: May 2018

Este artigo relata um estudo que objetivou descrever e compreender o processo de transformação de uma comunidade acadêmica endógena do interior da Amazônia – o Formazon – em uma comunidade acadêmica colaborativa que integra professores escolares, professores acadêmicos e futuros professores de diferentes áreas do conhecimento. Os dados foram coletados a partir de registros de reuniões, entrevistas e transcrições de áudios dos encontros durante 18 meses, e sua análise buscou responder às seguintes indagações: Como a comunidade Formazon vem aprendendo e se transformando? Como vem se constituindo em uma comunidade colaborativa? Quais os indícios dessa transformação? Os resultados indicam que a interlocução colaborativa que, no âmbito do Formazon, se estabeleceu acerca das práticas de ensino dos participantes, de pesquisas dessas práticas e das políticas que as permeiam delineou um novo tipo de formação contínua no grupo, baseado na reflexão e na investigação sobre as práticas educativas. Ao constituir-se em uma comunidade de estudo, problematização e pesquisa das práticas docentes, o Formazon empoderou o processo de desenvolvimento profissional dos participantes, pois incrementou a emancipação e a autonomia profissional.
Ill-treatment and torture in demonstrations and other noncustodial settings. How can academic research help in the discussion?
Authors: Pérez-Sales Pau
Published: May 2018

The events in October 2017 in Catalonia exemplify the difficulty of establishing what ‘excessive use of force’ means. Images of violent repression of defenceless people of all ages waiting to vote accompany the Spanish government’s spokeswoman reiterating in the media that what the police force is doing is “proportional” and therefore allegedly acceptable. Can scientific research add to the debate on what is “proportional” and when an intervention in non-custodial settings enters into what is banned under the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (‘CAT’)? This is not a minor issue. According to international databases, from an epidemiological point of view, torture happens mainly in prisons and police stations linked to marginalised populations. Ill-treatment and torture against political dissidents and protesters is less frequent, but widespread, affecting around 70% of countries across the world (Conrad, Haglund, & Moore, 2013).
Factor interaction in prevention of torture Reflections based on Carver and Handley’s research (with Comment by the authors of the book and Response by the author of the paper)
Authors: Draminsky Petersen Hans
Published: May 2018

Summary“Does torture prevention work?” is a very comprehensive book based on commendably profound research in 16 countries. It contains a wealth of very important results concerning the relationship between a multitude of factors in the prevention and occurrence of torture. However, the results described may be interpreted in a manner different to how it was done in the book. The intention of this paper is to draw attention to some challenges in the research design and to give a broader view of the complexity of torture prevention. The book: The authors have identified a host of preventive factors, organised them in clusters (detention law and practice; prosecution (of torturers) law and practice; complaint law and practice; and, monitoring law and practice), and scored them according to whether they fulfil international standards. A torture score comprising frequency, geographical spread and severity of torture was constructed (CHATS). Ill-treatment was excluded. Correlations between preventive factors, clusters and CHATS were calculated. However, the interrelationship between various factors and clusters was not analysed. The main findings included that detention practice had the strongest (negative) correlation to torture and that the torture scoring, pooled for all countries, declined during the study period (1985-2014). Comment: For several reasons, distinguishing ‘more severe torture’ from ‘torture’ is problematic. Excluding illtreatment in the research is also problematic because the border between the two may be blurred and difficult to interpret and it may be manipulated by authorities, leading to falsely low torture incidence. The pooling of data of diverse quality may hide outstanding prevention results. Identification and implementation of best practices is recommended. Preventive means implemented with low quality may give legitimacy to practices in torturing detentions. The quality of preventive actions is key to efficiency. Factors and clusters of preventive means interact in synergy making each other fully effective. A new model for torture prevention is proposed, which emphasises that all preventive means interact together with transparency, lack of corruption and reprisals, forming the practices in detention where torture takes place. The political will to prevent torture is a key factor.
A maldade dos homens se multiplicou sobre a terra: sobre o fenômeno da violência na bíblia
Authors: Reimer Haroldo , Reimer Ivoni Richter
Published: May 2018

O artigo procura descortinar como a questão da violência é tratada em textos da Bíblia. Parte-se da constatação de que não há na Bíblia um termo específico para designar o que hodiernamente chamamos de violência, abarcando desde a violência física até a violência psicológica/simbólica. Com base em pesquisa bibliográfica, o artigo ressalta que a violência é um fenômeno que acompanha a história dos humanos na sua relação com o ambiente e com outras pessoas, sendo sua realização sempre uma possibilidade latente. Busca-se mostrar como os autores dos textos bíblicos se utilizam da linguagem comum, com todas as possibilidades e expressões de violência, para expressar conteúdos, em parte, em conformidade com estruturas culturais e de poder e violência e, em parte, apresentando projeções contraculturais. Indica-se também que, apesar do uso intensivo de linguagem com semântica da violência, textos bíblicos também projetam formas de superação da violência.