bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Formação de Professores/as e de Educadores/as Ambientais: Aproximações e Distanciamentos
Authors: Matos Mauricio Dos Santos
Published: December 2015

Este artigo pretende refletir sobre os distanciamentos e aproximações dosconceitos, princípios e orientações de formação de professores/as em relação àformação de educadores/as ambientais. O foco assumido nesta reflexão parte dealgumas observações expressas no relatório final do Grupo de Discussão dePesquisas sobre formação de educadores/as ambientais, apresentado no VEncontro de Pesquisa em Educação Ambiental (V EPEA) no ano de 2009.Compreendemos que os conceitos, princípios e orientações propostos pordiferentes autores da área educacional podem ser úteis na compreensão doprocesso formativo de educadores/as ambientais, independentemente daespecificidade do sujeito ecológico e da multiplicidade de sujeitos por detrás dafigura do/a educador/a ambiental.
Framing Research: Conceptualization, Contextualization, Representation and Legitimization
Authors: Payne Phillip G.
Published: December 2015

Nos países anglófonos do Norte e do Ocidente, tem havido demonstrações depreocupação quanto à identidade, ao valor e à utilidade da pesquisa em educaçãoambiental. À medida que a educação ambiental se globaliza, torna-se possível parao Sul aprender lições referentes às tendências da educação ambiental praticada noNorte e às questões emergentes na pesquisa em educação ambiental. AIntrodução deste artigo esboça os riscos envolvidos na explicação de como a educação ambiental e a sua pesquisa estão configuradas. Em primeiro lugar,resumem-se as grandes correntes do currículo em educação ambiental e daspráticas pedagógicas; em segundo lugar, destacam-se algumas das maisimportantes implicações da pesquisa em educação ambiental. Introduz-se a noçãode “enquadramento” a fim de dotar os pesquisadores de um conjunto deconceitos que lhes possibilite examinar de modo mais criativo as hipóteses queeles mesmos abordam no seu trabalho de pesquisa, ao mesmo tempo que seencoraja um maior grau de reflexividade sobre o futuro do campo. É possível queesse futuro incorpore uma estética à ética e à política de pesquisa e, ao fazer isso,forneça respostas mais sensíveis à necessidade de se dar mais atenção aodesenvolvimento da tríade ontologia-epistemologia-metodologia no contexto dapesquisa em educação ambiental e da sua práxis. Uma ênfase na arte e na técnicado enquadramento convida o(s) pesquisador(es) a avaliar criticamente, por umlado, a conceitualização, contextualização, representação e legitimação do“trabalho” de pesquisa, e, por outro lado, a identidade, o valor e a utilidade tantodo pesquisador em sua individualidade quanto do campo. Exemplos da pesquisadeste autor são usados para ilustrar a noção de enquadramento. Uma versãoprévia deste artigo foi entregue no V EPEA (Encontro de Pesquisa em EducaçãoAmbiental), “Configuração do Campo de Pesquisa em Educação Ambiental”,realizado entre os dias 30 de outubro e 2 de novembro de 2009. Essa versãoretoma algumas considerações oriundas de uma oficina de pré-conferênciarealizada pelo autor na Universidade Federal de São Carlos ao longo de três dias.
Um olhar para a produção de pesquisa em educação ambiental a partir do GT Ambiente, Sociedade e Educação, da ANPPAS
Authors: Avanzi Maria Rita , Carvalho Isabel Cristina de Moura , Jr Luiz Antonio Ferraro
Published: December 2015

Este artigo traz uma sistematização e análise da produção de pesquisa emeducação ambiental (EA) a partir do levantamento dos trabalhos apresentados noGrupo de Trabalho (GT) Ambiente, Sociedade e Educação. O GT integra o Encontroda Associação Nacional de Pesquisa e Pós-Graduação em Ambiente e Sociedade(ANPPAS), que ocorre desde 2002 com periodicidade bianual. A análise buscaidentificar ênfases temáticas e teórico-metodológicas presentes no GT e, dessaforma, contribuir para a reflexão a respeito da produção de pesquisa em EA noâmbito dessa associação.
Pensando a educação ambiental sob o enfoque didático de natureza socioconstrutivista: contribuições do Projeto Acre 2000 de Educação Ambiental
Authors: Panzeri Carla Gracioto , Compiani Maurício , Junior Laerte Alberto
Published: December 2015

Este trabalho aborda a relevância do enfoque didático de naturezasocioconstrutivista na formação continuada de professores emeducação ambiental. Nesse sentido, restringimos nossas discussões aosprincípios socioconstrutivistas norteadores das práticas formativasrealizadas no âmbito do Projeto Acre 2000 de Educação Ambiental, asaber: a) articulação entre conhecimentos cotidianos e científicos naconstrução do conhecimento escolar, b) zona de desenvolvimentoproximal e a prática docente e c) construção de conceitos à luz damediação dialógica. Afirmamos que os resultados da adoção desseenfoque na formação de professores em educação ambiental foram: oacesso às ideias que os envolvidos no processo formativo possuíamsobre as questões ambientais enfocadas, o estabelecimento de umprocesso dialógico entre os diversos conhecimentos que os indivíduospossuíam sobre as questões e entre esses conhecimentos e aquelesproduzidos pela ciência e a possível conexão entre o processo dialógicoexterno e o diálogo interno, no que diz respeito à construção deconceitos.
El perfil de la educación ambiental en América Latina y el Caribe: Un corte transversal en el marco del Decenio de la Educación para el Desarrollo Sustentable
Authors: Gaudiano Edgar J. González , Quintanilla Julio C. Puente
Published: December 2015

El artículo presenta los resultados de un estudio sobre latrayectoria actual de la educación ambiental realizado en nueve paísesde la región de América Latina y el Caribe, durante 2008 y 2009. Laintención era evaluar los efectos regionales del plan de aplicacióninternacional del Decenio de la Educación para el DesarrolloSustentable, a cinco años de haber entrado en operación, paracaracterizar las tendencias y oportunidades regionales en el campo dela educación ambiental, y delinear estrategias apropiadas para sufortalecimiento y consolidación, a la luz de las tensiones que origina laaparición del campo de la educación para el desarrollo sustentable
Homem e natureza: o lugar paradigmático do princípio ético de Hans Jonas na Educação Ambiental
Authors: Barreto Sônia , Garção Elvira Suzi
Published: December 2015

O artigo trata do princípio ético da responsabilidade proposto pelofilósofo Hans Jonas, com base no qual intentamos demonstrar aviabilidade teórica da formulação de uma proposta pedagógica decaráter interdisciplinar para a educação ambiental. Considerando a éticacomo princípio norteador, o texto situa a crise ambiental no âmbito daexistência humana e assinala que a preocupação com as geraçõesfuturas nos impõe o mais alto dever de conservar a natureza, o queindica a necessidade de uma educação dinâmica, voltada para aresponsabilidade social, enquanto dever que se impõe à práxis coletiva.
Concepções de educação ambiental e suas abordagens políticas: análise de trabalhos dos Encontros de Pesquisa em Educação Ambiental (I, II e III EPEAs)
Authors: Junta Viviane Da Silva , Santana Luiz Carlos
Published: December 2015

Este artigo analisa os trabalhos apresentados nos I, II e III Encontrosde Pesquisa em Educação Ambiental (EPEAs). Tem como corpusdocumental 61 trabalhos, definidos através de uma amostragem aleatóriaestratificada a partir das edições dos eventos. Seus objetivos são: ainvestigação do entendimento dado à dimensão política da educaçãoambiental, a caracterização das concepções de educação ambiental e aidentificação das abordagens políticas dessas concepções. Trata-se de umaanálise documental de abordagem qualitativa. A análise foi realizadaatravés das categorias: concepção emancipatória de educação, concepçãotransformadora da relação sociedade-natureza (que configuram umaconcepção transformadora de EA), concepção conservadora de educaçãoe concepção conservadora da relação sociedade-natureza (que definemuma concepção conservadora de EA). Sessenta e quatro por cento dostrabalhos foram compreendidos como concepção transformadora e os36% restantes foram considerados portadores de uma concepçãoconservadora. Dos 61 trabalhos, 18 relacionam educação ambiental com adimensão política.
A educação ambiental na escola básica: diretrizes para a divulgação dos conhecimentos científicos
Authors: Reis Marília Freitas de Campos Tozoni , Talamoni Jandira Liria Biscalquini , Ruiz Sonia Silveira , Neves Juliana Pereira , Teixeira Lucas André , Cassini Luciana Falcon , Festozo Marina Battistetti , Janke Nadja , Maia Jorge Sobral da Silva , Santos Helena Maria da Silva , Cruz Lilian Giacomini , Munhoz Regina Helena
Published: December 2015

O estudo que originou este artigo teve como objetivo compreender as fontes de informação dos(as) professores(as) da educação básica sobre educação ambiental (EA) para contribuir para a inserção desta na escola básica. Foi um estudo qualitativo na modalidade pesquisa de campo e os dados para análise foram coletados por observações e entrevistas com cerca de trezentos professores e professoras em catorze municípios da região central do estado de São Paulo. Apresentamos aqui as conclusões finais do estudo: a sistematização de diretrizes para publicações mais adequadas para a inserção da EA na educação básica. Apontamos, nesse sentido, a necessidade de problematizar com a comunidade científica essas diretrizes, como também de criar, na formação inicial e permanente dos(as) professores(as), espaços de discussão de formas adequadas de busca de informações sobre educação ambiental.

 
Projetos de Educação Ambiental de escolas públicas e particulares do Distrito Federal: uma análise comparativa
Authors: Neta Milca Vieira de Barros , Fonseca Bárbara Medeiros
Published: December 2015

Este trabalho teve como objetivo comparar projetos de Educação Ambiental (EA) desenvolvidos em escolas públicas (PU) e particulares (PA) do Distrito Federal (DF), Brasil, quanto às seguintes características: temáticas, metodologias empregadas, grau de interesse dos participantes, envolvimento dos diferentes componentes da comunidade escolar e parcerias. O estudo foi realizado no primeiro semestre de 2009. Foram contatadas 80 PU e 30 PA, das quais dez e oito, respectivamente, apresentavam projetos de EA já concluídos ou em desenvolvimento há pelo menos um ano. Dessas, foram realizadas entrevistas estruturadas em cinco PU e três PA. Em geral, os projetos foram semelhantes quanto às atividades desenvolvidas. Entre as instituições entrevistadas, as PU se apresentaram melhores do que as PA em relação ao número de pessoas envolvidas e ao índice de participação e interesse, mostrando maior preocupação com as questões ambientais.
A inserção da pesquisa em Educação Ambiental na pós-graduação brasileira: o debate a partir do PPGEA/FURG
Authors: Caporlingua Vanessa Hernandez
Published: December 2015

No VI Encontro de Pesquisa em Educação Ambiental (EPEA), ocorrido em setembro de 2011, debateu-se a inserção da pesquisa na pós-graduação brasileira em mesa-redonda que oportunizou conhecer e refletir sobre diferentes realidades dos programas presentes, os quais apontaram características, desafios e perspectivas para a continuidade da pesquisa em Educação Ambiental no Brasil. O debate problematizou a ambientalização dos currículos, das linhas de pesquisa e das disciplinas de maneira a questionar quais foram, são e serão as mudanças na compreensão da pesquisa em Educação Ambiental. Portanto, este artigo trata de tema debatido durante o evento citado com o propósito de ampliar as reflexões referentes à inserção da pesquisa em Educação Ambiental.
Sobre conflitos ambientais e educação ambiental
Authors: Malagodi Marco Antonio Sampaio
Published: December 2015

O presente artigo apresenta e discute algumas possibilidades de abordagem dos conflitos ambientais a partir de uma educação ambiental crítica, contextualizando as trajetórias e escolhas políticas e metodológicas que favorecem alguma convergência entre ambos os campos de pesquisa e ação. Para tanto, considero os conflitos ambientais como conflitos sociais, apresento três diferentes visões sobre os conflitos e elejo uma delas como a mais próxima da vertente da educação ambiental crítica, provocando uma reflexão sobre democracia e política, diferenciando as noções de pluralidade social e desigualdade social. A partir destes pressupostos, destaco uma das possibilidades de conceituação dos conflitos ambientais. Na ultima parte, levanto algumas questões metodológicas para maior coerência na aproximação destes campos e aponto alguns eixos para o debate, sugerindo também materiais e outras fontes de informações para aprofundamento.
Initial training of teachers in science education activity: Exploring non-formal environments.
Authors: Araújo Cecília Santiado do Carmo , Ferreira Juliana Simião , Faquim Ruan Carlos Pires , Dos Passos Carollinny Vilas Boas , Dos Santos Anna Claudia , De Santana Herick Soares , Braga Ramilla Dos Santos , De Oliveira Gislene Lisboa
Published: December 2015

Conceptions of Science influence educational practices and interpretations about the construction of scientific knowledge. Therefore, this study aimed to use scientific practice to test the efficiency of non-formal educational environments in training candidates for teacher certification in Biological Sciences. Training of candidates was performed in four meetings held on the State University of Goiás in Anápolis, which features an interpretative trail for environmental education. To test the hypothesis that the training was effective, a paired t-test was performed on the grades obtained in the questionnaires before and at the end of the activities (pretest and post-test). The test showed that the course was effective and led to an increase in students’ knowledge of the content covered (t test: t = 2.95, df = 16, p = 0.01), showing that on average, the scores of students increased in the post-test. This denotes a cognitive gain at the end of the course.

KEYWORDS: Science education. Interpretative trails. Pre- and post-tests.
Educação Ambiental Não Formal: uma Análise de sua Importância sob a Ótica de Profissionais de Meio Ambiente Atuantes na Região Carbonífera Catarinense
Authors: Souza Gláucia Cardoso de , Milioli Geraldo
Published: December 2015

A região carbonífera catarinense é uma região bastante industrializada. Entretanto, apresenta uma realidade bastante complexa no que se refere aos impactos ambientais cumulativos decorrentes de tal atividade ao longo dos anos. Em contrapartida, a região conta com profissionais da área ambiental, cuja formação é norteada pela educação ambiental e pela busca por padrões mais sustentáveis. Nesse sentido, diante da degradação ambiental característica da região e da contribuição potencial desses profissionais para a reversão do atual cenário, investigou-se qual a importância atribuída à educação ambiental para engenheiro ambiental em suas atividades cotidianas. Os egressos concordam que a mesma compreende um instrumento muito importante, que pode contribuir para a melhoria da qualidade socioambiental da região, empregada preferencialmente por meio de campanhas ou como uma disciplina obrigatória nas escolas. A grande maioria dos entrevistados a emprega em suas atividades cotidianas com frequência, seja atrelada aos processos de licenciamento ou à gestão ambiental.

Palavras-chave: Educação ambiental. Desenvolvimento sustentável. Região Carbonífera Catarinense.
HIV/AIDS, The Health Of Men And Women In Their Reproductive Ages In Ekiti State, Nigeria
Authors: Osakinle E. O.
Published: December 2015

In an attempt to find ways of preventing the spread of HIV/AIDS in Ekiti State, the study investigated the health problems of men and women of reproductive ages in Ekiti State, Nigeria. The sample consisted 1000 men and women selected using multistage and simple random sampling from four Local Government Areas of the State. The research instrument was a self-constructed questionnaire. It was used to collect data on variables of male and female, location and reproductive age. The validity and reliability coefficient were found to be 0.65 and 0.68 at 0.05 level of significance respectively. Pearson Product Moment Correlation analysis were used to analyse the data collected. Results revealed that there was no significant relationship in the health problem of men and women and their reproductive ages as well as location. The findings show there are no health problems among men and women and even location of men and women. It was concluded that the campaigns of the state government, LGs and NGOs are making people change their sexual behaviours and people tend to be living healthier for a better future.
Marketing To Health Information Seekers: A Critical Look At The Principal Assumptions
Authors: Erdem S. Altan
Published: December 2015

As the Internet gained more significance in various dimensions of our lives and dealings with others, it was just a matter of time for the world of healthcare to incorporate the Internet-use into its routines.  We are now seeing tangible examples of this use in many facets of healthcare industry.  Both providers and patients have been pursuing Internet-related strategies, remedies, routines, and etc. for a while now.  It has been stated that majority of the Americans who are online are looking for health information.  Healthcare information is accessed more than sports, stocks, and shopping.  Some believe that this growing use of online health information sources is able to bridge the gap between what patients know and what they are told.  In other words, these patients can visit their physicians armed with knowledge obtained on the Web and pursue rather educated discussions with their physicians about their medical issues.  Of course, this is true based on the assumptions that the websites that these patients use provide accurate information and the patients comprehend this information properly.  The purpose of this paper is to very briefly review some of the ongoing trends in this field and review the practicality of the two assumptions listed above.  It is hoped that inquiries like this result in a better understanding of the components required for a proper use of online options to improve the efficiency of healthcare practices.
The Emergence Of Specialty Medical Homes In The U.S. Health Care System: Initial Financial Performance Data & The Financial Implications For Provider Organizations
Authors: Mackie James , Oss Monica
Published: December 2015

The U.S. health care system is in the midst of significant change in both service delivery model and financing.     Rising costs are driving payers – public and private alike – to rethink the current financing and care management strategies.  One significant shift in policy is around the structure of care coordination for insured individuals – particularly individuals with complex health service and social support needs.  These individuals, while small in number, are responsible for a large proportion of health care spending.   Traditionally, the care of individuals with complex conditions has been left to a wide range of medical specialists – and rarely been coordinated across all specialties.  But in the past four years, health payers have moved toward ‘integrating’ care coordination with a health care team responsible for all services regardless of specialty. This integrated care coordination model  – referred to as a medical home – has been rapidly adopted by many payers.  And, a specialized version of the medical home model – referred to as a heatlh home or specialty medical home – has been developed for consumers with complex needs.  The model has changed both the relationship of the insured individual to the payer and to their medical specialists. It is early in the adoption of specialty medical homes and two key financial questions are yet unanswered.  The first, do specialty medical homes reduce health care spending for complex consumers.  The second, what are the financial implications of a specialty medical home model for heatlh care provider organizations.  This research examines the available research literature and other published data for preliminary answers to these questions of financial impact of this emerging heatlh care system model.
Spontaneous Ruptures of the Distal Biceps and Rotator Cuff Tendons Secondary to Syringomyelia
Authors: Phelps Kevin D. , Hamid Nady
Published: December 2015

Case:

We present a case of ipsilateral spontaneous ruptures of the distal biceps and rotator cuff tendons secondary to syringomyelia of the cervical spine. The distal biceps tendon ruptured first and underwent successful repair. Six months postoperatively, the patient was found to have an ipsilateral massive acute-on-chronic rotator cuff tear following minimal trauma, with a well-maintained glenohumeral joint space. He was subsequently diagnosed with a syrinx and underwent neurosurgical decompression. Five months later, a successful lower trapezius transfer was performed.

Conclusion:

Orthopaedic surgeons should maintain a high index of suspicion for a neurologic etiology in the setting of relatively atraumatic tendon ruptures in otherwise healthy young patients.
Pyoderma Gangrenosum in Revision Total Hip Arthroplasty: Clinical and Histopathological Findings with a Seven-Year Follow-up
Authors: Burnett R. Stephen J. , Nair Rajesh , Sawyer Douglas M. , Zbar Ariella Z. , Mathers James W.
Published: December 2015

Case:

We describe the clinical and histopathological findings associated with a case of pyoderma gangrenosum (PG) after revision total hip arthroplasty. The patient developed an expanding purple-red, necrotic, ulcerative lesion at the surgical site, which was initially suspected to be either a surgical-site infection or warfarin-induced skin necrosis. After treatment with empiric intravenous antibiotics, surgical debridement, and vacuum-assisted closure of the wound, the patient had a painless hip with a remodeled scar and was asymptomatic at the seven-year follow-up.

Conclusion:

Confirmation of the diagnosis of surgical-site PG requires clinical-pathological correlation and familiarity with the PG skin lesion. Treatment of PG differs from treatment of infection; therefore, misdiagnosis and surgical treatment may exacerbate the clinical findings in PG.
Turn-up Plasty for Salvage of Transtibial Amputations: An Illustrated Description of the Surgical Technique
Authors: Polfer Elizabeth M. , Potter Benjamin K.
Published: December 2015

Case:

We present the operative technique for turn-up plasty with a transtibial amputation in three patients with combat-related open tibial fractures who ultimately required amputation. Unaugmented amputation would have resulted in residual limbs of 7 cm; however, with use of the turn-up plasty technique, resultant limbs averaged 14 cm. All three patients achieved union at the osteosynthesis site and regular ambulation with a below-the-knee prosthesis.

Conclusion:

Transtibial turn-up plasty for length and level salvage is a sound option to provide robust, sensate soft-tissue coverage with additional osseous length when limb salvage fails and primary amputation would result in either an extremely short transtibial amputation or a more proximal level amputation.
Dam breach modelling: influence on downstream water levels and a proposal of a physically based module for flood propagation software
Authors: Macchione Francesco , Costabile Pierfranco , Costanzo Carmelina , De Lorenzo Gianluca , Razdar Babak
Published: December 2015

The influence exerted by the method used for computing the dam breach hydrograph on the simulated maximum water levels throughout the downstream valley is essential for selecting a specific computing module to be implemented in the numerical codes used by practitioners. This module should be able to balance the need for a reasonable physical description of the phenomenon and, at the same time, limit as much as possible the maximum number of parameters. In order to feed a debate on this field, in this paper the performances of some parametric models used for the dam breach module implemented in the popular HEC-RAS software, and a simplified but physically based model have been analysed. The performances of the dam breach models have been assessed with reference to the historical event of the Big Bay dam, using both one-dimensional and two-dimensional (1-D and 2-D) flood propagation modelling. The results show that the physically based model considered here, without any operations of ad hoc calibration, has provided the best results in predicting computation of that event. Therefore, it may be proposed as a valid alternative to parametric models, which need the estimation of some parameters that can add further uncertainties in studies like these.
Helping farmers and regulators manage and assure the cumulative flood safety of agricultural dams: a cost-effective regionalised review/design tool from Australia
Authors: Pisaniello John D.
Published: December 2015

In Australia and other countries, small private dams in agricultural catchments pose both disastrous individual and cumulative dam failure flood threats to downstream communities; threats that can be exacerbated by increased rainfall intensities caused by climate change. This paper addresses the need for a low cost, scientifically acceptable mechanism and policy guidance to help dam owners and governments better understand and manage these risks and assure community safety. To this end an innovative, cost-effective farm dam flood safety review/design tool is developed and tested in Australia, including hydrology-diverse Tasmania, to complement best practice dam safety assurance policy. The tool's development involved generating complex catchment data to represent hydrologically homogenous regions using best practice water engineering methods, to derive simple regionalised dam flood capability prediction relationships of acceptable accuracy. Results demonstrate the tool's successful development and potential transferability to different hydrological regions; how the relationships can be refined by future research and potentially made to account for climate change; and how the tool can be applied within a best practice dam safety assurance policy which includes additional farmer-friendly elements. The findings are potentially transferable to any region to assure communities that cumulative safety threats posed by rural catchment dams are minimised.
A tool for evaluation of lifecycle cost of water production for small-scale community projects
Authors: Kumar Shivendra , Groth Andrew , Vlacic Ljubo
Published: December 2015

The aim of this study is to develop an analytical tool to estimate lifecycle cost for water service provision for small-scale community water projects. The primary objective is to provide an analytical estimation tool to governments, funding agencies and communities to ensure sustainability of water projects. The secondary objective is to use the tool as an industry benchmarking aid to empower governments, funding agencies and technology developers to support technologies that would further lower the cost of water production. The tool firstly considers capital expenditure required for a given water service system, focusing on equipment manufacturing costs in detail. Thereafter, it considers the operational expenditure associated with ongoing functioning of the water treatment plant. The developed tool is validated using five simulation scenarios. Results shows that the tool can be used to evaluate the performance of a water service system even if the water services systems are operated using varying strategies. The developed tool also enables effective decision making by testing alternatives and addressing the water service system lifecycle aspects and, thus, making the cost of water production manageable. This paper also introduces the web version of the tool, which is available to communities, governments, technology developers and funding agencies to use.
The Western Balkans: The fate of an European periphery
Authors: Djukanovic Dragan
Published: December 2015

The paper analyzes what is the current position of the Western Balkans in the
context of contemporary European trends and events. The author considers the
European and Euro-Atlantic integration a certain attempt to ?relocate? the
whole region of the Western Balkans from an obvious periphery to a
semi-periphery position. The focus of analysis is on numerous problems such
as continued revitalization of the local ethno-nationalisms, structural
economic crisis, the presence of high levels of organized crime and
corruption. The author points out that, so far, numerous attempts of the most
influential members of the international community primarily the United
States and the European Union have failed to promote the improvement of the
relations between new-formed countries and to establish a sort of regional
identity. The author argues that the creation of the antagonistic identities
of the states and nations of the Western Balkans during the breakup of the
former Yugoslav federation was the main obstacle to the creation of the
common identity. The author concludes that, in view of the new growing trends
of ethnic nationalisms and certain forms of extremism and radicalism, the
?relocation? of the Western Balkans from European periphery to the
semi-periphery will not be short-term or easy, as evidenced by numerous
internal problems and problems in bilateral relations.
Using Data-Dependent Priors to Mitigate Small Sample Bias in Latent Growth Models
Authors: McNeish Daniel M.
Published: December 2015

Mixed-effects models (MEMs) and latent growth models (LGMs) are often considered interchangeable save the discipline-specific nomenclature. Software implementations of these models, however, are not interchangeable, particularly with small sample sizes. Restricted maximum likelihood estimation that mitigates small sample bias in MEMs has not been widely developed for LGMs, and fully Bayesian methods, while not dependent on asymptotics, can encounter issues because the choice for the factor covariance matrix prior distribution has substantial influence with small samples. This tutorial discusses differences between LGMs and MEMs and demonstrates how data-dependent priors, an established class of methods that blend frequentist and Bayesian paradigms, can be implemented within M plus 7.1 to abate the small sample bias that is prevalent with LGM software while keeping additional programming to the bare minimum.
Function Optimization and Parameter Performance Analysis Based on Gravitation Search Algorithm
Authors: Wang Jie-Sheng , Song Jiang-Di
Published: December 2015

The gravitational search algorithm (GSA) is a kind of swarm intelligence optimization algorithm based on the law of gravitation. The parameter initialization of all swarm intelligence optimization algorithms has an important influence on the global optimization ability. Seen from the basic principle of GSA, the convergence rate of GSA is determined by the gravitational constant and the acceleration of the particles. The optimization performances on six typical test functions are verified by the simulation experiments. The simulation results show that the convergence speed of the GSA algorithm is relatively sensitive to the setting of the algorithm parameters, and the GSA parameter can be used flexibly to improve the algorithm’s convergence velocity and improve the accuracy of the solutions.
Perceived Self-Efficacy and Adaptation to Climate Change in Coastal Cambodia
Authors: Ung Mengieng , Luginaah Isaac , Chuenpagdee Ratana , Campbell Gwyn
Published: December 2015

In response to climate change at different spatial scales, adaptation has become one of the focal points of current research and policy developments. In the context of coastal Cambodia, there is little research on local level adaptation to climate change. Using ordinal logistic and logistic regression analyses, this study examines the relationship between perceived self-efficacy and anticipatory and reactive adaptation to climate change among 1823 households in coastal communities in Cambodia. Findings indicate that individuals who reported higher categories of self-efficacy were more likely to report both anticipatory (OR = 1.74, p < 0.001) and reactive adaptation (OR = 3.61, p < 0.001) measures. Similary, tndividuals who had higher education had higher odds of reporting anticipatory adaptation (OR = 1.71, p < 0.001) and reactive adaptation (OR = 1.63, p < 0.05) when compared with those without formal education. Participants who have been living in their current residence for six years or more were more likely to report anticipatory adaptation (OR = 1.09, p < 0.05) and reactive adapation (OR = 1.22, p < 0.001) compared with those who had lived there for a shorter duration of time. Region of residence was positively associated with both anticipatory and reactive adaptation. In this context, it is important to note that individuals in the most agriculture-dependent and climate sensitive province reported the least anticipatory and reactive adaptation measures. Policy makers should target empowerment of the most vulnerable population to facilitate better adaptation behavior, and mainstreaming of knowledge on climate change adaptation through both formal and informal education at the community level.
Reduced Numerical Model for Methane Hydrate Formation under Conditions of Variable Salinity. Time-Stepping Variants and Sensitivity
Authors: Peszynska Malgorzata , Medina Francis , Hong Wei-Li , Torres Marta
Published: December 2015

In this paper, we consider a reduced computational model of methane hydrate formation in variable salinity conditions, and give details on the discretization and phase equilibria implementation. We describe three time-stepping variants: Implicit, Semi-implicit, and Sequential, and we compare the accuracy and efficiency of these variants depending on the spatial and temporal discretization parameters. We also study the sensitivity of the model to the simulation parameters and in particular to the reduced phase equilibria model.
Interpretation and Semiparametric Efficiency in Quantile Regression under Misspecification
Authors: Lee Ying-Ying
Published: December 2015

Allowing for misspecification in the linear conditional quantile function, this paper provides a new interpretation and the semiparametric efficiency bound for the quantile regression parameter β ( τ ) in Koenker and Bassett (1978). The first result on interpretation shows that under a mean-squared loss function, the probability limit of the Koenker–Bassett estimator minimizes a weighted distribution approximation error, defined as \(F_{Y}(X'\beta(\tau)|X) - \tau\), i.e., the deviation of the conditional distribution function, evaluated at the linear quantile approximation, from the quantile level. The second result implies that the Koenker–Bassett estimator semiparametrically efficiently estimates the quantile regression parameter that produces parsimonious descriptive statistics for the conditional distribution. Therefore, quantile regression shares the attractive features of ordinary least squares: interpretability and semiparametric efficiency under misspecification.
Consequences of Shifts in Abundance and Distribution of American Chestnut for Restoration of a Foundation Forest Tree
Authors: Dalgleish Harmony , Nelson C. , Scrivani John , Jacobs Douglass
Published: December 2015

Restoration of foundation species, such as the American chestnut (Castanea dentata) that was devastated by an introduced fungus, can restore ecosystem function. Understanding both the current distribution as well as biogeographic patterns is important for restoration planning. We used United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service Forest Inventory and Analysis data to quantify the current density and distribution of C. dentata. We then review the literature concerning biogeographic patterns in C. dentata. Currently, 431 ± 30.2 million stems remain. The vast majority (360 ± 22 million) are sprouts <2.5 cm dbh. Although this number is approximately 10% of the estimated pre-blight population, blight has caused a major shift in the size structure. The current-day population has a larger range, particularly west and north, likely due to human translocation. While climate change could facilitate northward expansion, limited seed reproduction makes this unlikely without assisted migration. Previous research demonstrates that the current, smaller population contains slightly higher genetic diversity than expected, although little information exists on biogeographic patterns in the genetics of adaptive traits. Our research provides a baseline characterization of the contemporary population of C. dentata, to enable monitoring stem densities and range limits to support restoration efforts.
A Simple Stochastic Parameterization for Reduced Models of Multiscale Dynamics
Authors: Abramov Rafail
Published: December 2015

Multiscale dynamics are frequently present in real-world processes, such as the atmosphere-ocean and climate science. Because of time scale separation between a small set of slowly evolving variables and much larger set of rapidly changing variables, direct numerical simulations of such systems are difficult to carry out due to many dynamical variables and the need for an extremely small time discretization step to resolve fast dynamics. One of the common remedies for that is to approximate a multiscale dynamical systems by a closed approximate model for slow variables alone, which reduces the total effective dimension of the phase space of dynamics, as well as allows for a longer time discretization step. Recently, we developed a new method for constructing a deterministic reduced model of multiscale dynamics where coupling terms were parameterized via the Fluctuation-Dissipation theorem. In this work we further improve this previously developed method for deterministic reduced models of multiscale dynamics by introducing a new method for parameterizing slow-fast interactions through additive stochastic noise in a systematic fashion. For the two-scale Lorenz 96 system with linear coupling, we demonstrate that the new method is able to recover additional features of multiscale dynamics in a stochastically forced reduced model, which the previously developed deterministic method could not reproduce.
RUCAM in Drug and Herb Induced Liver Injury: The Update
Authors: Danan Gaby , Teschke Rolf
Published: December 2015

RUCAM (Roussel Uclaf Causality Assessment Method) or its previous synonym CIOMS (Council for International Organizations of Medical Sciences) is a well established tool in common use to quantitatively assess causality in cases of suspected drug induced liver injury (DILI) and herb induced liver injury (HILI). Historical background and the original work confirm the use of RUCAM as single term for future cases, dismissing now the term CIOMS for reasons of simplicity and clarity. RUCAM represents a structured, standardized, validated, and hepatotoxicity specific diagnostic approach that attributes scores to individual key items, providing final quantitative gradings of causality for each suspect drug/herb in a case report. Experts from Europe and the United States had previously established in consensus meetings the first criteria of RUCAM to meet the requirements of clinicians and practitioners in care for their patients with suspected DILI and HILI. RUCAM was completed by additional criteria and validated, assisting to establish the timely diagnosis with a high degree of certainty. In many countries and for more than two decades, physicians, regulatory agencies, case report authors, and pharmaceutical companies successfully applied RUCAM for suspected DILI and HILI. Their practical experience, emerging new data on DILI and HILI characteristics, and few ambiguous questions in domains such alcohol use and exclusions of non-drug causes led to the present update of RUCAM. The aim was to reduce interobserver and intraobserver variability, to provide accurately defined, objective core elements, and to simplify the handling of the items. We now present the update of the well accepted original RUCAM scale and recommend its use for clinical, regulatory, publication, and expert purposes to validly establish causality in cases of suspected DILI and HILI, facilitating a straightforward application and an internationally harmonized approach of causality assessment as a common basic tool.
Epigenetic Regulation of Epidermal Stem Cell Biomarkers and Their Role in Wound Healing
Authors: Saldanha Sabita , Royston Kendra , Udayakumar Neha , Tollefsbol Trygve
Published: December 2015

As an actively renewable tissue, changes in skin architecture are subjected to the regulation of stem cells that maintain the population of cells responsible for the formation of epidermal layers. Stems cells retain their self-renewal property and express biomarkers that are unique to this population. However, differential regulation of the biomarkers can initiate the pathway of terminal cell differentiation. Although, pockets of non-clarity in stem cell maintenance and differentiation in skin still exist, the influence of epigenetics in epidermal stem cell functions and differentiation in skin homeostasis and wound healing is clearly evident. The focus of this review is to discuss the epigenetic regulation of confirmed and probable epidermal stem cell biomarkers in epidermal stratification of normal skin and in diseased states. The role of epigenetics in wound healing, especially in diseased states of diabetes and cancer, will also be conveyed.
Improvement of Mooring Configurations in Geraldton Harbour
Authors: Van der Molen Wim , Scott Doug , Taylor David , Elliott Trevor
Published: December 2015

Ports exposed to high energy long wave conditions can experience significantly reduced berth operability. Geraldton is perhaps one of the best known examples. Recent studies to mitigate the problems have concentrated on the reduction of the long waves by extending the breakwater. However, this is quite costly. Various countermeasures related to the mooring configuration are defined and analysed in this paper. The analysed alternatives are use of shore-based mooring lines, installation of softer fenders, a combination of these two, and deployment of Cavotec MoorMaster™ units. These alternatives were compared with the existing mooring configuration and with the option to extend the breakwater. The best improvement (50% increase of threshold long wave height inside the harbour) is reached by installing a combination of pneumatic fenders and constant tension winches set to 30 t, or nylon breast lines on a brake winch with a pretension of 25 t. In this way, the vessel is pulled into the fenders and fender friction prevents excessive surging of the ship along the berth.
Identification of Critical Region Responsible for Split Hand/Foot Malformation Type 3 (SHFM3) Phenotype through Systematic Review of Literature and Mapping of Breakpoints Using Microarray Data
Authors: Li Catherine , Angione Katie , Milunsky Jeff
Published: December 2015

Split hand/foot malformation (SHFM) is a limb malformation with underdeveloped or absent central digital rays, clefts of hands and feet, and variable syndactyly of the remaining digits. There are six types of SHFM. Here, we report a boy with SHFM type 3 having normal 4th and 5th digits, absent 2nd and 3rd digits, and a 4th finger flexion deformity, as well as absent 2nd, 3rd and 4th toes bilaterally. His father, two paternal uncles, and two paternal first cousins have similar phenotype. Chromosome analysis showed a normal male karyotype. A 514 kb gain at 10q24.31–q24.32 (chr10:102,962,134–103,476,346, hg19) was identified using 6.0 Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) microarray, resulting in the duplication of nine genes, including BTRC and FBXW4. A detailed systematic review of literature and mapping of breakpoints using microarray data from all reported cases in PubMed and DECIPHER were conducted, and exon 1 of BTRC gene was identified as the critical region responsible for the SHFM3 phenotype. The potential mechanism and future studies of this critical region causing the SHFM3 phenotype are discussed.
Solubilization Behavior of Polyene Antibiotics in Nanomicellar System: Insights from Molecular Dynamics Simulation of the Amphotericin B and Nystatin Interactions with Polysorbate 80
Authors: Mobasheri Meysam , Attar Hossein , Rezayat Sorkhabadi Seyed , Khamesipour Ali , Jaafari Mahmoud
Published: December 2015

Amphotericin B (AmB) and Nystatin (Nys) are the drugs of choice for treatment of systemic and superficial mycotic infections, respectively, with their full clinical potential unrealized due to the lack of high therapeutic index formulations for their solubilized delivery. In the present study, using a coarse-grained (CG) molecular dynamics (MD) simulation approach, we investigated the interaction of AmB and Nys with Polysorbate 80 (P80) to gain insight into the behavior of these polyene antibiotics (PAs) in nanomicellar solution and derive potential implications for their formulation development. While the encapsulation process was predominantly governed by hydrophobic forces, the dynamics, hydration, localization, orientation, and solvation of PAs in the micelle were largely controlled by hydrophilic interactions. Simulation results rationalized the experimentally observed capability of P80 in solubilizing PAs by indicating (i) the dominant kinetics of drugs encapsulation over self-association; (ii) significantly lower hydration of the drugs at encapsulated state compared with aggregated state; (iii) monomeric solubilization of the drugs; (iv) contribution of drug-micelle interactions to the solubilization; (v) suppressed diffusivity of the encapsulated drugs; (vi) high loading capacity of the micelle; and (vii) the structural robustness of the micelle against drug loading. Supported from the experimental data, our simulations determined the preferred location of PAs to be the core-shell interface at the relatively shallow depth of 75% of micelle radius. Deeper penetration of PAs was impeded by the synergistic effects of (i) limited diffusion of water; and (ii) perpendicular orientation of these drug molecules with respect to the micelle radius. PAs were solvated almost exclusively in the aqueous poly-oxyethylene (POE) medium due to the distance-related lack of interaction with the core, explaining the documented insensitivity of Nys solubilization to drug-core compatibility in detergent micelles. Based on the obtained results, the dearth of water at interior sites of micelle and the large lateral occupation space of PAs lead to shallow insertion, broad radial distribution, and lack of core interactions of the amphiphilic drugs. Hence, controlled promotion of micelle permeability and optimization of chain crowding in palisade layer may help to achieve more efficient solubilization of the PAs.