bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
YIELD IN SAWN WOOD AND RESIDUE UTILIZATION OF Qualea paraensis DUCKE AND Erisma uncinatum WARM
Authors: Stragliotto Michelly Casagrande , Freitas Jefferson Melo , Oliveira Aylson Costa , Pereira Barbara Luísa Corradi
Published: March 2019

The study was developed in Nova Maringá - MT. The objectives of this work were to evaluate the sawn timber yield, the use of wood residues and the quantification of products for the species Qualea paraensis (cambará) and Erisma uncinatum (cedrinho) in three diametric classes: Class A - 40.0 to 49.9 cm; Class B - 50.0 to 59.9 cm; Class C - 60.0 to 69.9 cm. Four replicates per class were evaluated, totaling 12 logs per species of varied lengths. The sawn timber yield did not show a statistical difference between diametric classes for both species. Average yield for Qualea paraensis was equal to 43.97% and for Erisma uncinatum, 42.05%. The residues use increased the total yield in 4.40% and 6.52% for Qualea paraensis and Erisma uncinatum, respectively. For Erisma uncinatum, the sawed products with the highest production were the board in the primary unfolding and the short board in the residues use. As for Qualea paraensis, there was more production of rafters and short battens in the same processes.
EFFECT OF INDIVIDUAL TREE VOLUME ON OPERATIONAL PERFORMANCE OF HARVESTER PROCESSOR
Authors: Rodrigues Carla Krulikowski , Lopes Eduardo Da Silva , Pereira André Leonardo Nasser , Sampietro Jean Alberto
Published: March 2019

The need to obtain multi-products from the forest makes the wood processing an important step in the timber harvest, being necessary, then, to understand the influence of the stand characteristics on the operational performance of the machines. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of the individual tree volume on the operational performance of the harvester forest processor in Pinus taeda L. stands, in order to assist in planning operations and reducing production costs. The analyzes were carried out by means of a time and motion study, determining the time consumed in the phases of the operational cycle, mechanical availability, operational efficiency, productivity, and production costs in three stands with different individual mean volumes (IMV): I (1.21 m3 tree-1); II (1.34 m3 tree-1) and III (1.61 m3 tree-1). In a completely randomized design, the averages of the variables were compared, as well as models for estimating productivity and production costs were fitted according to individual tree volume. The results showed that the processing element consumed a significant part of the total operational cycle time, with 46, 53 and 64% in treatments I, II and III, respectively, with an average operational efficiency of 56% in all treatments. Productivity increase and reduction of production costs were observed in the order of 43 and 30%, respectively, with the increase in IMV from 1.21 to 1.61 m3 tree-1. Such behavior can be represented by the third degree polynomial, which demonstrated the operational limit of 1.5 m3 tree-1 for the harvester forest processor.
Leadership Styles and Productivity
Authors: Tewari Shweta , Gujarathi Rajashree , Maduletty K.
Published: March 2019

Leadership styles in today’s world is an increasingly complex and a popular organizational dynamic to work upon. Different leadership styles are appropriate in distinct situations. If an inappropriate style is adopted by the leader, it may pose several challenges for the workers, managers and human resources departments in the planning and execution of work in an organization. Similarly, the satisfaction and performance levels of employees also depend upon the leadership styles adopted by corporate leaders. An appropriate leadership style paves way to delivering successful plans for fulfilling the long-term organizational goals. Little is however understood about which leadership style influence employees the most and how leadership behavior lead to acceptable outcomes. This paper reviews some of the current challenges in organizations which are faced by managers and the productivity levels for the same. This research statistically calculates and analyzes the leadership style of 50 respondents and which category they fall into depending upon their behavioral attributes to deal with people through a survey questionnaire of 25 questions. It further helps us conclude which leadership style is the most relevant for highest level of productivity in telecommuting employees and managers. It also gives an insight on managerial behaviors and relationship of employees and managers in a less formal organizational setup.
APPLYING SURFACE PLASMA HARDENING FOR IMPROVING
THE TRIBOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF STEEL PARTS
Authors: RAHADILOV Bauyrzhan , ZHUREROVA Laila , SAGDOLDINA Zhuldyz
Published: March 2019

This work presents the results of experimental studies on the application of surface plasma hardening to
improve the tribological characteristics of steel marks of 40CrNi, 20Cr2Ni4A, and 34CrNi1Mn. According
to the obtained results, it was established that, after plasma treatment, a modified layer with a thickness of
1–1.2 mm with high hardness and wear resistance is formed, consisting of a hardened layer of fine-grained
martensite and, an intermediate layer of perlite and martensite. It was determined that, after treatment with a
heating time of 3 min, the microhardness of steels 40CrNi and 20Cr2Ni4A doubles, and the steel 34CrNi1Mn
increases 1.6 times, depending on the initial state, and the wear resistance of all steel samples increases, on
average, 30 times.
Ensemble Methods for Improving Classification of Data Produced by Latent Dirichlet Allocation
Authors: Jankowski Maciej
Published: March 2019

Topic models are very popular methods of text analysis. The most popular algorithm for topic modelling is LDA (Latent Dirichlet Allocation). Recently, many new methods were proposed, that enable the usage of this model in large scale processing. One of the problem is, that a data scientist has to choose the number of topics manually. This step, requires some previous analysis. A few methods were proposed to automatize this step, but none of them works very well if LDA is used as a preprocessing for further classification. In this paper, we propose an ensemble approach which allows us to use more than one model at prediction phase, at the same time, reducing the need of finding a single best number of topics. We have also analyzed a few methods of estimating topic number.
Law as Refuge of Anarchy
Authors: Amborn Hermann
Published: March 2019

A study of communities in the Horn of Africa where reciprocity is a dominant social principle, offering a concrete countermodel to the hierarchical state.

Over the course of history, people have developed many varieties of communal life; the state, with its hierarchical structure, is only one of the possibilities for society. In this book, leading anthropologist Hermann Amborn identifies a countermodel to the state, describing communities where reciprocity is a dominant social principle and where egalitarianism is a matter of course. He pays particular attention to such communities in the Horn of Africa, where nonhierarchical, nonstate societies exist within the borders of a hierarchical structured state. This form of community, Amborn shows, is not a historical forerunner to monarchy or the primitive state, nor is it obsolete as a social model. These communities offer a concrete counterexample to societies with strict hierarchical structures.

Amborn investigates social forms of expression, ideas, practices, and institutions that oppose the hegemony of one group over another, exploring how conceptions of values and laws counteract tendencies toward the accumulation of power. He examines not only how the nonhegemonic ethos is reflected in law but also how anarchic social formations can exist. In the Horn of Africa, the autonomous jurisdiction of these societies protects against destructive outside influences, offers a counterweight to hegemonic violence, and contributes to the stabilization of communal life. In an era of widespread dissatisfaction with Western political systems, Amborn's study offers an opportunity to shift from traditional theories of anarchism and nonhegemony that project a stateless society to consider instead stateless societies already in operation.
Einstein's Wife
Authors: Esterson Allen , Cassidy David C.
Published: March 2019

The real-life story behind The Other Einstein—a fascinating profile of mathematician Mileva Einstein-Marić and her alleged contributions to her husband's scientific discoveries.

Albert Einstein's first wife, Mileva Einstein-Marić, was forgotten for decades. When a trove of correspondence between them beginning in their student days was discovered in 1986, her story began to be told. Some of the tellers of the “Mileva Story” made startling claims: that she was a brilliant mathematician who surpassed her husband, and that she made uncredited contributions to his most celebrated papers in 1905, including his paper on special relativity. This book, based on extensive historical research, uncovers the real “Mileva Story.”

Mileva was one of the few women of her era to pursue higher education in science; she and Einstein were students together at the Zurich Polytechnic. Mileva's ambitions for a science career, however, suffered a series of setbacks—failed diploma examinations, a disagreement with her doctoral dissertation adviser, an out-of-wedlock pregnancy by Einstein. She and Einstein married in 1903 and had two sons, but the marriage failed.

So was Mileva her husband's uncredited coauthor, unpaid assistant, or his essential helpmeet? It's tempting to believe that she was her husband's secret collaborator, but the authors of Einstein's Wife look at the actual evidence, and a chapter by Ruth Lewin Sime offers important historical context. The story they tell is that of a brave and determined young woman who struggled against a variety of obstacles at a time when science was not very welcoming to women.
Quantum Computing for Everyone
Authors: Bernhardt Chris
Published: March 2019

An accessible introduction to an exciting new area in computation, explaining such topics as qubits, entanglement, and quantum teleportation for the general reader.

Quantum computing is a beautiful fusion of quantum physics and computer science, incorporating some of the most stunning ideas from twentieth-century physics into an entirely new way of thinking about computation. In this book, Chris Bernhardt offers an introduction to quantum computing that is accessible to anyone who is comfortable with high school mathematics. He explains qubits, entanglement, quantum teleportation, quantum algorithms, and other quantum-related topics as clearly as possible for the general reader. Bernhardt, a mathematician himself, simplifies the mathematics as much as he can and provides elementary examples that illustrate both how the math works and what it means.

Bernhardt introduces the basic unit of quantum computing, the qubit, and explains how the qubit can be measured; discusses entanglement—which, he says, is easier to describe mathematically than verbally—and what it means when two qubits are entangled (citing Einstein's characterization of what happens when the measurement of one entangled qubit affects the second as “spooky action at a distance”); and introduces quantum cryptography. He recaps standard topics in classical computing—bits, gates, and logic—and describes Edward Fredkin's ingenious billiard ball computer. He defines quantum gates, considers the speed of quantum algorithms, and describes the building of quantum computers. By the end of the book, readers understand that quantum computing and classical computing are not two distinct disciplines, and that quantum computing is the fundamental form of computing. The basic unit of computation is the qubit, not the bit.
Ways of Hearing
Authors: Krukowski Damon
Published: March 2019

A writer-musician examines how the switch from analog to digital audio is changing our perceptions of time, space, love, money, and power.

Our voices carry farther than ever before, thanks to digital media. But how are they being heard? In this book, Damon Krukowski examines how the switch from analog to digital audio is changing our perceptions of time, space, love, money, and power. In Ways of Hearing—modeled on Ways ofSeeing, John Berger's influential 1972 book on visual culture—Krukowski offers readers a set of tools for critical listening in the digital age. Just as Waysof Seeing began as a BBC television series, Ways of Hearing is based on a six-part podcast produced for the groundbreaking public radio podcast network Radiotopia. Inventive uses of text and design help bring the message beyond the range of earbuds.

Each chapter of Ways of Hearing explores a different aspect of listening in the digital age: time, space, love, money, and power. Digital time, for example, is designed for machines. When we trade broadcast for podcast, or analog for digital in the recording studio, we give up the opportunity to perceive time together through our media. On the street, we experience public space privately, as our headphones allow us to avoid “ear contact” with the city. Heard on a cell phone, our loved ones' voices are compressed, stripped of context by digital technology. Music has been dematerialized, no longer an object to be bought and sold. With recommendation algorithms and playlists, digital corporations have created a media universe that adapts to us, eliminating the pleasures of brick-and-mortar browsing. Krukowski lays out a choice: do we want a world enriched by the messiness of noise, or one that strives toward the purity of signal only?
How to Be Human in the Digital Economy
Authors: Agar Nicholas
Published: March 2019

An argument in favor of finding a place for humans (and humanness) in the future digital economy.

In the digital economy, accountants, baristas, and cashiers can be automated out of employment; so can surgeons, airline pilots, and cab drivers. Machines will be able to do these jobs more efficiently, accurately, and inexpensively. But, Nicholas Agar warns in this provocative book, these developments could result in a radically disempowered humanity.

The digital revolution has brought us new gadgets and new things to do with them. The digital revolution also brings the digital economy, with machines capable of doing humans' jobs. Agar explains that developments in artificial intelligence enable computers to take over not just routine tasks but also the kind of “mind work” that previously relied on human intellect, and that this threatens human agency. The solution, Agar argues, is a hybrid social-digital economy. The key value of the digital economy is efficiency. The key value of the social economy is humanness.

A social economy would be centered on connections between human minds. We should reject some digital automation because machines will always be poor substitutes for humans in roles that involve direct contact with other humans. A machine can count out pills and pour out coffee, but we want our nurses and baristas to have minds like ours. In a hybrid social-digital economy, people do the jobs for which feelings matter and machines take on data-intensive work. But humans will have to insist on their relevance in a digital age.
Plastic Capitalism
Authors: Boetzkes Amanda
Published: March 2019

An argument for the centrality of the visual culture of waste—as seen in works by international contemporary artists—to the study of our ecological condition.

Ecological crisis has driven contemporary artists to engage with waste in its most non-biodegradable forms: plastics, e-waste, toxic waste, garbage hermetically sealed in landfills. In this provocative and original book, Amanda Boetzkes links the increasing visualization of waste in contemporary art to the rise of the global oil economy and the emergence of ecological thinking. Often, when art is analyzed in relation to the political, scientific, or ecological climate, it is considered merely illustrative. Boetzkes argues that art is constitutive of an ecological consciousness, not simply an extension of it. The visual culture of waste is central to the study of the ecological condition.

Boetzkes examines a series of works by an international roster of celebrated artists, including Thomas Hirschhorn, Francis Alÿs, Song Dong, Tara Donovan, Agnès Varda, Gabriel Orozco, and Mel Chin, among others, mapping waste art from its modernist origins to the development of a new waste imaginary generated by contemporary artists. Boetzkes argues that these artists do not offer a predictable or facile critique of consumer culture. Bearing this in mind, she explores the ambivalent relationship between waste (both aestheticized and reviled) and a global economic regime that curbs energy expenditure while promoting profitable forms of resource consumption.
Computability and Complexity
Authors: Jones Neil Deaton
Published: March 2019

Computability and complexity theory should be of central concern to practitioners as well as theorists. Unfortunately, however, the field is known for its impenetrability. Neil Jones's goal as an educator and author is to build a bridge between computability and complexity theory and other areas of computer science, especially programming. In a shift away from the Turing machine- and Gödel number-oriented classical approaches, Jones uses concepts familiar from programming languages to make computability and complexity more accessible to computer scientists and more applicable to practical programming problems.

According to Jones, the fields of computability and complexity theory, as well as programming languages and semantics, have a great deal to offer each other. Computability and complexity theory have a breadth, depth, and generality not often seen in programming languages. The programming language community, meanwhile, has a firm grasp of algorithm design, presentation, and implementation. In addition, programming languages sometimes provide computational models that are more realistic in certain crucial aspects than traditional models.

New results in the book include a proof that constant time factors do matter for its programming-oriented model of computation. (In contrast, Turing machines have a counterintuitive "constant speedup" property: that almost any program can be made to run faster, by any amount. Its proof involves techniques irrelevant to practice.) Further results include simple characterizations in programming terms of the central complexity classes PTIME and LOGSPACE, and a new approach to complete problems for NLOGSPACE, PTIME, NPTIME, and PSPACE, uniformly based on Boolean programs.

Foundations of Computing series
The LOCUS Distributed System Architecture
Authors: Popek Gerald J.
Published: March 2019

LOCUS, a distributed version of the popular operating system Unix, provides an excellent solution. It makes a collection of computers, whether they are workstations or mainframes, as easy to use as a single computer by providing a set of supports for the underlying network that is virtually invisible to users and - applications programs.

Computer systems consisting of many machines will be the norm within a few years. However, making a collection of machines appear as a single, coherent system - in which the location of files, servers, programs, or users is invisible to users who do not wish to know - is a very difficult problem. LOCUS, a distributed version of the popular operating system Unix, provides an excellent solution. It makes a collection of computers, whether they are workstations or mainframes, as easy to use as a single computer by providing a set of supports for the underlying network that is virtually invisible to users and - applications programs. This "network transparency" dramatically reduces the cost of developing and maintaining software, and considerably improves the user model of the system. It also permits a variety of system configurations, including diskless workstations, full duplex I/O to large mainframes, transparently shared peripherals, and incremental growth from one workstation to a large network including mainframes with no effect on applications software required to take advantage of the altered configurations. In addition to transparent, distributed operation, LOCUS features also include high performance and reliability; full Unix compatibility, support for heterogeneous machines and systems, automatic management of replicated file storage; and architectural extensions to support extensive interprocess communication and internetworking.

Contents The LOCUS Architecture • Distributed Operation and Transparency • The LOCUS Distributed Filesystem • Remote Tasking • Filesystem Recovery • Dynamic Reconfiguration of LOCUS • Heterogeneity • System Management • Appendixes: LOCUS Version Vector Mechnism • LOCUS Internal Network Messages

The LOCUS Distributed System Architecture is included in the Computer Systems series, edited by Herb Schwetman.
The Copyright Book
Authors: Strong William S.
Published: March 2019

An accessible and comprehensive guide to copyright law, updated to include new developments in infringement, fair use, and the impact of digital technology.

Through five editions since 1981, this book has offered the most comprehensive accessible guide available to all aspects of copyright law. Now, with the sixth edition, The Copyright Book has been thoroughly updated to cover copyright for the Internet age, discussing a range of developments in the law since 2000. The only book written for nonlawyers that covers the entire field of copyright law, it is essential reading for authors, artists, creative people in every medium, the companies that hire them, users of copyrighted material, and anyone with an interest in copyright law from a policy perspective.

New material includes greatly expanded coverage of infringement and fair use, with detailed discussion of recent decisions, including the Grateful Dead, Google, and HathiTrust cases. The new edition considers such topics as open access, the defeat of the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA), file sharing, e-reserves, the status of “orphan works,” and the latest developments under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA).

The sixth edition also brings up to date The Copyright Book's plain English explanation of such fundamental topics as authorship and ownership; transfers and licenses of copyright; copyright notice; registration of copyright (including the new online registration and “preregistration” systems); the scope of rights included in copyright, and exceptions to those rights; “moral rights”; compulsory licenses; tax treatment of copyright; and international aspects of copyright law.

As copyright issues grow ever more complicated, The Copyright Book becomes ever more indispensable.
Coding Places
Authors: Takhteyev Yuri
Published: March 2019

An examination of software practice in Brazil that reveals both the globalization and the localization of software development.

Software development would seem to be a quintessential example of today's Internet-enabled “knowledge work”—a global profession not bound by the constraints of geography. In Coding Places, Yuri Takhteyev looks at the work of software developers who inhabit two contexts: a geographical area—in this case, greater Rio de Janeiro—and a “world of practice,” a global system of activities linked by shared meanings and joint practice. The work of the Brazilian developers, Takhteyev discovers, reveals a paradox of the world of software: it is both diffuse and sharply centralized. The world of software revolves around a handful of places—in particular, the San Francisco Bay area—that exercise substantial control over both the material and cultural elements of software production. Takhteyev shows how in this context Brazilian software developers work to find their place in the world of software and to bring its benefits to their city.

Takhteyev's study closely examines Lua, an open source programming language developed in Rio but used in such internationally popular products as World of Warcraft and Angry Birds. He shows that Lua had to be separated from its local origins on the periphery in order to achieve success abroad. The developers, Portuguese speakers, used English in much of their work on Lua. By bringing to light the work that peripheral practitioners must do to give software its seeming universality, Takhteyev offers a revealing perspective on the not-so-flat world of globalization.
Logic in Games
Authors: van Benthem Johan , Velazquez Quesada Fernando R.
Published: March 2019

A comprehensive examination of the interfaces of logic, computer science, and game theory, drawing on twenty years of research on logic and games.

This book draws on ideas from philosophical logic, computational logic, multi-agent systems, and game theory to offer a comprehensive account of logic and games viewed in two complementary ways. It examines the logic of games: the development of sophisticated modern dynamic logics that model information flow, communication, and interactive structures in games. It also examines logic as games: the idea that logical activities of reasoning and many related tasks can be viewed in the form of games.

In doing so, the book takes up the “intelligent interaction” of agents engaging in competitive or cooperative activities and examines the patterns of strategic behavior that arise. It develops modern logical systems that can analyze information-driven changes in players' knowledge and beliefs, and introduces the “Theory of Play” that emerges from the combination of logic and game theory. This results in a new view of logic itself as an interactive rational activity based on reasoning, perception, and communication that has particular relevance for games.

Logic in Games, based on a course taught by the author at Stanford University, the University of Amsterdam, and elsewhere, can be used in advanced seminars and as a resource for researchers.
Short Circuits
Authors: Peppler Kylie , Salen Tekinbaş Katie , Gresalfi Melissa , Santo Rafi
Published: March 2019

Tools and methods for creating electronic puppets.

Short Circuits offers students opportunities to undertake physical computing projects, providing tools and methods for creating electronic puppets. Students learn how to incorporate microprocessors into everyday materials and use them to enhance their language and writing skills with shadow puppet shows featuring their own DIY flashlights.
Connected Code
Authors: Kafai Yasmin B. , Burke Quinn
Published: March 2019

Why every child needs to learn to code: the shift from “computational thinking” to computational participation.

Coding, once considered an arcane craft practiced by solitary techies, is now recognized by educators and theorists as a crucial skill, even a new literacy, for all children. Programming is often promoted in K-12 schools as a way to encourage “computational thinking”—which has now become the umbrella term for understanding what computer science has to contribute to reasoning and communicating in an ever-increasingly digital world.

In Connected Code, Yasmin Kafai and Quinn Burke argue that although computational thinking represents an excellent starting point, the broader conception of “computational participation” better captures the twenty-first-century reality. Computational participation moves beyond the individual to focus on wider social networks and a DIY culture of digital “making.”

Kafai and Burke describe contemporary examples of computational participation: students who code not for the sake of coding but to create games, stories, and animations to share; the emergence of youth programming communities; the practices and ethical challenges of remixing (rather than starting from scratch); and the move beyond stationary screens to programmable toys, tools, and textiles.
MULTI-CRITERIA DECISION-MAKING FOR SELECTION OF RENEWABLE ENERGY SYSTEMS
Authors: Stojanovic Milica
Published: March 2019

Multi-criteria analysis involves defining each criterion using attributes, based on a suitable alternative for achieving objectives. The method used in multi-criteria analysis is Analytical Hierarchy Process. Analytical hierarchical process (AHP) is a tool in the analysis of decision making, created in order to assist decision-makers in solving complex decision problems involving large number of decision makers, large number of criteria and in multiple time periods. AHP method is used for selecting the best renewable energy systems. The aim is to, by using the method of AHP, demonstrate which of the analyzed renewable sources of energy is the most convenient to be used in a sustainable system.
Key words:energy, multi-criteria decision making, analytical hierarchy process
TRACKING THE ORIGIN OF MOISTURE OVER SERBIA USING THE LAGRANGIAN METHOD
Authors: STOJANOVIĆ MILICA , ĆIRIĆ DANICA , NIETO RAQUEL , DRUMOND ANITA , STOJILJKOVIĆ EVICA , GIMENO LUIS
Published: March 2019

In this study, we investigate the sources of moisture over Serbia using a Lagrangian method based on the FLEXPART V9.0 particle dispersion model combined with ERA-Interim reanalysis data, to track changes in atmospheric moisture. This approach computes the budget of evaporation-minus-precipitation by calculating changes in specific humidity along forward and backward trajectories. We considered a period of 34 years, from 1980 to 2014, which allowed the identification of climatological moisture sources and moisture transport towards the country. The results showed that Serbia receive moisture mainly from two sources: the Mediterranean Sea which is the dominant source during the winter (October-March) and the own region which predominate during the summer (April-September).
Key words: moisture sources, Flexpart, Lagrangian method, Serbia
MODELLING CARBON MONOXIDE EMISSION LEVEL OF DIESEL ENGINE GENERATORS IN NIGERIA
Authors: Olansunkanmi Akinyemi , Adeyemi Hezekiah Adeyemi
Published: March 2019

Diesel engines exhausts vehemently threaten the environment and are one of the significant sources of air pollution. This research paper is aimed at predicting the risk level of carbon monoxide (CO) emission produced by diesel engine generators. Emission data on the diesel engine and the emission parameters were obtained for 105 diesel engine generators. The four input variables used to develop the model were: the installed capacity, the purchase time, the operating time and the time last serviced. Multiple linear regression modeling technique was used to develop the output (risk level of emission). The adjusted coefficient of determination, R2 value of the optimum model, was 0.382 which explains about 38.2% of the variance in CO emission; also the Cook’s distance (0.131) was less than 1 which signifies minor or no problem in the sample size used. Model validation showed a strong correlation of 89.5% between the model predictions and human predictions. At a significance level of 5%, the t-test showed that there was no significant difference between the model prediction risk level and the human prediction risk level. The model in this study is useful to industry, government environmental protection agency and private users during the determination of the risk level of CO emissions from diesel engine generators.
Key words: emission, generator, regression model, risk
Using opportunistic sightings to infer differential spatio-temporal use of western Mediterranean waters by the fin whale
Authors: Torreblanca Estefanía , Camiñas Juan Antonio , Macías David , García-Barcelona Salvador , Real Raimundo , Báez José Carlos
Published: March 2019

The fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus) is a cosmopolitan species with a resident population in the Mediterranean Sea. Due to its habitat, open seas often far from ports and airfields, and its long-distance migratory behaviour, studying and monitoring its distribution is costly. Currently, many opportunistic sightings (OS) reports are available, which provide a source of potentially useful, low-cost information about the spatio-temporal distribution of this species. Since 1993, the Spanish Institute of Oceanography has compiled a dataset comprising 874 records of OS of nine species of cetaceans in the western Mediterranean Sea and adjacent waters. The aim of this study was to use this dataset to investigate the differential use of these waters by the fin whale when compared with other cetaceans. We compared the presence of fin whales with the presence of any other cetacean species in the dataset. Binary logistic regression was then used to model these occurrences according to several spatio-temporal variables expected to reflect their habitat use. Several significant models reveal that fin whales are more prone than other cetaceans to use the waters over the slope of the Gulf of Lion in summer. This finding confirms that the Gulf of Lion is an area of importance for this species and suggests that the slope of the continental shelf could be particularly important. Our study shows how OS can be a source of useful information when appropriately analyzed.
Up-regulation of Grb2-associated binder 1 promotes hepatocyte growth factor-induced endothelial progenitor cell proliferation and migration
Authors: Fan Qing , Zhang Liyu , Zhu Wenjie , Xue Sheng , Song Yisheng , Chang Qing
Published: March 2019

Objectives

Grb2-associated binder 1 (Gab1), a scaffolding adaptor protein, plays an important role in transmitting key signals that control cell growth, migration, and function from multiple tyrosine kinase receptors. This study was designed to investigate the influence of upregulation of Gab1 in endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) stimulated with hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), and the underlying molecular mechanisms.

Materials and Methods

Endothelial progenitor cells isolated from human umbilical cord blood were identified and divided into four groups. EPCs in the Control group were cultured normally; those in the Control+HGF group were treated with HGF stimulation; those in the AD-Gab1 group were transfected with adenovirus containing the Gab1 gene but not treated with HGF stimulation; and, those in the AD-Gab1+HGF group were treated with both HGF stimulation and transfection with adenovirus containing the Gab1 gene. Subsequently, Gab1 expression and proliferation and migration ability were compared for EPCs grown under different conditions. Furthermore, we measured phosphorylation levels of three key proteins Gab1, SHP2, and ERK1/2.

Results

The AD-Gab1+HGF group had the highest expression of Gab1 and higher proliferation and migration than the other three groups.

Conclusions

Upregulation of Gab1 promoted HGF-induced EPC proliferation and migration. Mechanistically, HGF stimulated Gab1 tyrosine phosphorylation in EPCs, thus leading to activation of extracellular regulated MAP kinase 1/2, which is involved in proliferation and migration signaling.
Influence of Environmental Knowledge on Small Scale Women Farmers Adoption of Conservation Agriculture Nakuru County, Kenya
Authors: Michura Eliud Garry , Michura Anne Jerotich
Published: March 2019

Adoption of any technology especially in agricultural practices depends on environmental dynamics. This paper evaluated the influence of environmental knowledge on women small-scale farmers on adoption of conservation agriculture (CA) in Nakuru County. Kenya as one of the developing countries in Africa faced with numerous problems particularly food insecurity, hunger, poverty, diseases and biodiversity loss as a result of conventional agriculture practiced under poor backdrop of environmental knowledge. To alleviate all these problems mentioned above, the alternative method of agricultural practice should now aim at improving conservation agriculture which was discouraged long time ago. But environmental Knowledge to adopt conservation agriculture is needed as better option for maximum agricultural yields and protection of the environment. It is claimed that, CA adoption in Nakuru County by women small-scale farmers was low and there was inadequate research documentation regarding this claim. To establish the claim whether true or not, find out why CA adoption was low in the study area, the research sampled three sites; Naivasha, Rongai and Njoro selected purposefully for differences in ecological characteristics. The sample size of 360 women farmers were randomly selected from a target population of 120,000 women farmers of which, 120 were selected from each of three Sub Counties.  Descriptive survey design using structured questionnaires; interview schedule, personal observation and focus group discussion were used to collect data. Statistical package for social sciences (SPSS version 20) was used in the data processing and analysis. Descriptive statistics; frequency distributions, means, proportions, percentages and inferential statistics; Chi-square, ANOVA, Bonferroni test at alpha value (p < 0.05) level were employed to test the hypothesis. The findings concluded that knowledge of the environment influenced women small scale farmers’ adoption of CA and that CA adoption uptake was low. Recommendations; Policy and decision makers use the results to develop land and agricultural policies, provide incentives to promote small-scale women farmers, use new emerging technologies to speed up knowledge on adoption of CA in order to boost food security and conservation of the environment in Nakuru County and Kenya.
Theory of Hypersurfaces yn–1 in yn Space and Geodesics on this Hypersurfaces yn–1
Authors: (Nikolay) Ivanovich Yaremenko Mikola
Published: March 2019

The hypersurface yn–1 in yn space is studied for this piece of work. We established the correlation between tensors of hypersurface yn–1 and tensors of embedding space yn . The second non-symmetrical tensor of hypersurface has been introduced, which have been obtained from the analog of Peterson-Codazzi equation in nonsymmetrical case.Also we have introduced the tensor that is associated with square of angle between normal and adjacent normal and it is represented in terms of metric and second tensors of hypersurface. The geodesics on hypersurface have been studied, and nontrivial example of geodesics on hypersurface with torsion and Euclid metric was constructed.
Prevalence and Intensity of Urinary Schistosomiasis in School-age Children in Yewa North Local Government Area of Ogun State, Nigeria
Authors: Adewoga T. O. S. , Akinboade O. A. , Emikpe B. O. , Morenikeji O. , Sobande A. I.
Published: March 2019

The study was carried out to determine the prevalence rate of the schistosomiasis in school-aged children of 4 selected primary schools in Ijoun community of Yewa North Local Government Area in Ogun State and to evaluate the distribution of infection in terms of age and gender. A total number of 184 Urine samples were collected from the pupils and examined for the presence of over of Schistosoma haematobium, 89 0f the student were positive, Yewa North local Government School 1 had the highest prevalence with 58.82%, followed by Yewa North local Government School 2 with 50.0%, followed by Ansarudeen Primary School with 48%, and Yewa North local Government School 3 recorded the least with 40.0%. Out of 100 sample collected for male 49 were positive with the rate of 49.0% and 84 samples collected for female 40 were positive with the rate of 47.61%. The prevalence of schistosomiasis in relation to age groups. Age group 10 -12 years recorded the highest prevalence with 54.21% followed by age 7-9 with 52.38%, followed by age 13-15 with 37.73% and age group 16 -18 years had the lowest rate (33.33%). From the stated hypothesis, It can be affirmed that there is a significant difference between age and gender of the children in relation to schistosomiasis. There is a need for health education in the rural areas, designed to discourage the pupil's contact with surface water sources and provision of portable water supply.
Formulation of Paint and Detergent with Pelargonium citrosum & Rosmarinus officinalis Extracts as Musca domestica Repellent Agent
Authors: Gitaari Njiema , Kareru Patrick , Githua Mercy
Published: March 2019

Use of botanical environmentally friendly and biodegradable insect repellants as opposed to chemical insecticides is increasingly becoming important as an alternative method of insect control. Housefly (Musca domestica L.) has potential of transmitting pathogen causing diseases such as typhoid, cholera, bacillary dysentery, tuberculosis, anthrax, ophthalmia, and parasitic worms. Essential oils derived from aromatic plants have exhibited biological properties and can be used to prevent and treat human diseases. The aim of this study was to formulate the housefly repellent paint and detergent. Extraction of essential oils was by hydro-distillation. Condensed oil extracts were collected in n-hexane and insect behavioral response tested using adult houseflies (Musca domestica L.). N, N-diethyl-m-toluamide (DEET) was used as the positive control and acetone as the negative control. The formulated products showed higher repellent activities against the housefly. When 1% (V/V %) insect repellent detergent and paint were compared, the housefly repellent activities occurred at 67±2.64 for detergent and 76±1.34 for the paint. When 3% (V/V%) insect repellent detergent and paint were compared, the housefly repellent activities occurred at 81±1.77 for detergent and 84±2.1 for the paint for outdoor and indoor field trials which were carried out for eight hours each day for two days. The results provide scientific rationale for traditional use of R. officinalis oil and Pelargonium citrosum in control of housefly and other common insects in the household.
Soybean (Glycine max L.) Response to Lime and Vermicompost Amelioration of Acidic Nitisols of Assosa, North Western Ethiopia
Authors: Adisu Tigist , Wogi Lemma , Feyisa Tesfaye
Published: March 2019

Acidic soils limit the production potential of crops because of low availability of basic cations and excess of hydrogen (H+) and aluminium (Al3+) in exchangeable forms. In the western part of the country such as Assosa and Wellega, soil acidity is a well-known problem limiting crop productivity. A field study was conducted to assess the effects of lime, vermicompost and their combinations on selected soil physico-chemical properties and responses of soybean grown on acidic Nitisols of Assosa area during 2016 and 2017 main cropping seasons. Soil samples were collected from the experimental site before planting and from plots after harvesting. The collected samples were analysed following the standard methods for soil physico-chemical analysis. The treatments were factorial combinations of four levels of lime (0, 1.62, 3.62 and 4.90 t ha-1) and four levels of vermicompost (0, 1.50, 3.00 and 4.50 t ha-1). The results revealed that soil pH increased from 5.31 – 5.86 pH while exchangeable acidity decreased from 5.46 - 2.85 cmol (+) kg-1 with levels of lime and vermicompost (3.26 with 3 and 4.90 with 4.5) t ha-1 respectively, which resulted in improved soil physico-chemical properties. The combined application of lime and vermicompost also significantly improved the yield related parameters of soybean. The maximum grain yield (1.95t    ha-1) was obtained from the combined application of 4.90 ton lime and 3.00 ton vermicompost ha-1 followed by combined application of 3.26 ton lime with 3.00 ton vermicompost ha-1 with non-significant variation. Therefore, the combined application of 3.26 ton lime and 3.00 ton vermicompost ha-1 is a promising alternative amendment for amelioration of acidic Nitisols of Assosa (Amba-12 Kebele) and other similar agro-ecologies for the improvement of soybean production.
Variations in the Anatomy of Sphenoid Sinus: A Computed Tomography Investigation
Authors: Joghataei Mohammad Taghi , Hosseini Amir , Ansari Javad Mohajer , Golchini Ehsan , Namjoo Zeinab , Mortezaee Keywan , Pirasteh Ebrahim , Dehghani Amirhossein , Nassiri Saeid
Published: March 2019

Aims: The sphenoid sinus is surrounded by many neurovascular structures which are very vulnerable to intrasphenoid sinus surgeries. The purpose of this study is to investigate the variation of sphenoid sinus structure by CT scan imaging.

Methodology: This is a retrospective study of 3D images of a paranasal sinus in 129 cases. In this study, three-way metering of the sphenoid sinus, additional septum, pneumatization of the period process (PP), anterior clinoid process (ACP) and greater wing of sphenoid and protrusion and dehiscence of adjacent structures will be assessed.

Results: Protrusion of internal carotid artery (ICA), a vidian nerve, maxillary nerve (V2) and optical canal were seen respectively 50.4%, 57.36%, 62.5% and 54.3% but dehiscence of this structure was seen 8.5%, 7%, 3.9% and 6.2%. penumtazition of PP, ACP and greater wing of sphenoid were seen 96.87%, 43.9% and 41.1%. Additional septum also is seen in 76% of the population.

Conclusion: This study demonstrates numerous variations in sphenoid sinus structure. Some of the variations cause many problems during intrasphenoidal surgery. Therefore, physicians should evaluate patients completely before surgery.
Analysis of the Characteristics of Monthly Rainfall Pattern in Katsina
Authors: Tikyaa Emmanuel Vezua , Anjorin Francis Oladele , Joseph Emmanuel
Published: March 2019

Aims: This paper seeks to analyse the characteristics of monthly rainfall pattern in Katsina City in a view to unveiling the trends and describing its dynamics so that adequate recommendations can be made for its modelling.

Study Design: The analysis involves a complete statistical, trend, spectral and nonlinear analysis of the monthly rainfall time series recorded in Katsina.

Place and Duration of Study: Location: Katsina City, Katsina State, Nigeria from 1990 to 2015; a period of 26 years.

Methodology: Secondary data of daily rainfall recorded in Katsina city from 1990 to 2015 was collected from the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), and monthly averages were taken to obtain the monthly rainfall data. The data was then subjected to statistical, trend, spectral and nonlinear analysis techniques to reveal the behavioural patterns in the rainfall and also to reveal its underlying dynamics for its future modelling and prediction.

Results: The outcome of this analysis indicates that the monthly rainfall in Katsina exhibits an increasing trend with high variance and right-skewed distribution requiring a maximum of 6 independent variables to model its dynamics. The correlation exponent plot reached a saturation value of 5.892 confirming that the monthly rainfall in Katsina over the last 26 years exhibits low dimensional chaotic behavior while the largest Lyapunov exponent for the monthly rainfall time series in Katsina was also computed and found to be positive, having a value of 0.006055/month confirming the presence of deterministic chaos dynamics and is predictable for the next 165 months.

Conclusion: Since from the findings of this work it is confirmed that the rainfall in Katsina exhibits chaotic behavior with an increasing trend, it is recommended that more drainages and dams be built to provide steady supply of water for agricultural and domestic purposes as well as curtail the menace of flooding and drought which may occur as a result of global warming and climate change.