bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Response of the carbon cycle in an intermediate complexity model to the different climate configurations of the last nine interglacials
Authors: Bouttes Nathaelle , Swingedouw Didier , Roche Didier M. , Sanchez-Goni Maria F. , Crosta Xavier
Published: March 2018

Abstract. Atmospheric CO2 levels during interglacials prior to the Mid-Brunhes Event (MBE, ∼ 430 ka BP) were
around 40 ppm lower than after the MBE. The reasons for this difference remain unclear. A recent hypothesis
proposed that changes in oceanic circulation, in response to different external forcings before and after the MBE, might
have increased the ocean carbon storage in pre-MBE interglacials, thus lowering atmospheric CO2. Nevertheless, no
quantitative estimate of this hypothesis has been produced up to now. Here we use an intermediate complexity model
including the carbon cycle to evaluate the response of the carbon reservoirs in the atmosphere, ocean and land in response
to the changes of orbital forcings, ice sheet configurations and atmospheric CO2 concentrations over the last nine
interglacials. We show that the ocean takes up more carbon during pre-MBE interglacials in agreement with data, but the
impact on atmospheric CO2 is limited to a few parts per million. Terrestrial biosphere is simulated to be less developed in
pre-MBE interglacials, which reduces the storage of carbon on land and increases atmospheric CO2. Accounting for
different simulated ice sheet extents modifies the vegetation cover and temperature, and thus the carbon reservoir
distribution. Overall, atmospheric CO2 levels are lower during these pre-MBE simulated interglacials including all
these effects, but the magnitude is still far too small. These results suggest a possible misrepresentation of some key
processes in the model, such as the magnitude of ocean circulation changes, or the lack of crucial mechanisms or internal
feedbacks, such as those related to permafrost, to fully account for the lower atmospheric CO2 concentrations
during pre-MBE interglacials.
On the mechanisms of warming the mid-Pliocene and the inference of a hierarchy of climate sensitivities with relevance to the understanding of climate futures
Authors: Chandan Deepak , Peltier W. Richard
Published: March 2018

Abstract. We present results from our investigation into the physical mechanisms through which the mid-Pliocene, with an atmospheric pCO2 of only ~ 400 ppmv, could have supported the same magnitude of global warmth as that which has been projected for the climate at the end of the 21st century when pCO2 is expected to be three times higher. These mechanisms explore changes to the radiative properties of the surface, the clouds, greenhouse gases and changes to the meridional heat transport. Furthermore, we provide a mid-Pliocene perspective on ongoing efforts to understand the climate system's sensitivity at various timescales and using multiple lines of evidence. The similarities in the boundary conditions between the mid-Pliocene and the present day, together with the globally elevated temperatures, make the mid-Pliocene an ideal palaeo time period from which to derive inferences of climate sensitivity and assess the impacts of various timescale-dependent feedback processes. We assess a hierarchy of climate sensitivities of increasing complexity in order to explore the response of the climate over a very large range of timescales. The various sensitivities that we calculate provide insight on not only how the climate responds to a given forcing over a short timescale, but also on intermediate and very-long timescales. The latter category includes the impact of the feedback from the glacial isostatic adjustment of the Earth's surface in response to the melting of the polar ice sheets. Our inference of the intermediate timescale climate sensitivity suggests that the projected warming by 2300 CE, inferred using Earth System Models of Intermediate Complexity on the basis of an extension to the RCP4.5 emission scenario in which atmospheric pCO2 stabilizes at roughly twice the PI level in year 2150 CE, could be underestimated by ~ 1 °C due to the absence of ice sheet based feedbacks.
DamaGIS: a multisource geodatabase for collection of flood-related
damage data
Authors: Saint-Martin Clotilde , Javelle Pierre , Vinet Freddy
Published: March 2018

Abstract. The present paper introduces a new database for collection of flood-related damage and assessment at the local scale. Every year in France, recurring flood events result in several million Euros of damage, and reducing the heavy consequences of floods has become a high priority. However, actions to reduce the impact of floods are often hindered by the lack of damage data on past flood events. Even if partial data were available, data sharing within the research community is very limited and closely supervised to ensure the protection of individuals' personal information. In comparison, the growth of social and online media has provided access to broad information at the local and global scales. Therefore, the DamaGIS database offers an innovative bottom-up approach to gather and identify damage data from multiple sources, including new media. This paper also presents an easily reproducible method to assess the severity of flood damage. The DamaGIS database is available at doi:10.5281/zenodo.1186623.
A fire model with distinct crop, pasture, and non-agricultural burning: use of new data and a model-fitting algorithm for FINAL.1
Authors: Rabin Sam S. , Ward Daniel S. , Malyshev Sergey L. , Magi Brian I. , Shevliakova Elena , Pacala Stephen W.
Published: March 2018

Abstract. This study describes and evaluates the Fire Including Natural & Agricultural Lands model (FINAL) which, for the first time, explicitly simulates cropland and pasture management fires separately from non-agricultural fires. The non-agricultural fire module uses empirical relationships to simulate burned area in a quasi-mechanistic framework, similar to past fire modeling efforts, but with a novel optimization method that improves the fidelity of simulated fire patterns to new observational estimates of non-agricultural burning. The agricultural fire components are forced with estimates of cropland and pasture fire seasonality and frequency derived from observational land cover and satellite fire datasets. FINAL accurately simulates the amount, distribution, and seasonal timing of burned cropland and pasture over 2001–2009 (global totals: 0.434×106 and 2.02×106 km2 yr−1 modeled, 0.454×106 and 2.04×106 km2 yr−1 observed), but carbon emissions for cropland and pasture fire are overestimated (global totals: 0.295 and 0.706 PgC yr−1 modeled, 0.194 and 0.538 PgC yr−1 observed). The non-agricultural fire module underestimates global burned area (1.91×106 km2 yr−1 modeled, 2.44×106 km2 yr−1 observed) and carbon emissions (1.14 PgC yr−1 modeled, 1.84 PgC yr−1 observed). The spatial pattern of total burned area and carbon emissions is generally well reproduced across much of sub-Saharan Africa, Brazil, Central Asia, and Australia, whereas the boreal zone sees underestimates. FINAL represents an important step in the development of global fire models, and offers a strategy for fire models to consider human-driven fire regimes on cultivated lands. At the regional scale, simulations would benefit from refinements in the parameterizations and improved optimization datasets. We include an in-depth discussion of the lessons learned from using the Levenberg–Marquardt algorithm in an interactive optimization for a dynamic global vegetation model.
Simulating atmospheric tracer concentrations for spatially distributed receptors: updates to the Stochastic Time-Inverted Lagrangian Transport model's R interface (STILT-R version 2)
Authors: Fasoli Benjamin , Lin John C. , Bowling David R. , Mitchell Logan , Mendoza Daniel
Published: March 2018

Abstract. The Stochastic Time-Inverted Lagrangian Transport (STILT) model is comprised of a compiled Fortran executable that carries out advection and dispersion calculations as well as a higher level code layer for simulation control and user interaction, written in the open source data analysis language R. We introduce modifications to the STILT-R codebase with the aim to improve the model's applicability to fine-scale (
Development and evaluation of a variably saturated flow model in the global E3SM
Land Model (ELM) Version 1.0
Authors: Bisht Gautam , Riley William J. , Hammond Glenn E. , Lorenzetti David M.
Published: March 2018

Abstract. Improving global-scale model representations of coupled surface and groundwater hydrology is important for accurately simulating terrestrial processes and predicting climate change effects on water resources. Most existing land surface models, including the default E3SM Land Model (ELMv0), which we modify here, routinely employ different formulations for water transport in the vadose and pheratic zones. In this work, we developed the Variably Saturated Flow Model (VSFM) in ELMv1 to unify the treatment of soil hydrologic processes in the unsaturated and saturated zones. VSFM was tested on three benchmark problems and results were evaluated against observations and an existing benchmark model (PFLOTRAN). The ELMv1-VSFM's subsurface drainage parameter, fd, was calibrated to match an observationally-constrained and spatially-explicit global water table depth (WTD) product. An optimal fd was obtained for 79 % of global 1.90 × 2.50 gridcells, while the remaining 21 % of global gridcells had predicted WTD deeper than the observationally-constrained estimate. Comparison with predictions using the default fd value demonstrated that calibration significantly improved prediction, primarily by allowing much deeper WTDs. Model evaluation using the International Land Model Benchmarking package (ILAMB) showed that improvements in WTD predictions did not degrade model skill for any other metrics. We evaluated the computational performance of the VSFM model and found that the model is about 30 % more expensive than the default ELMv0 with an optimal processor layout.
Structural integrity investigation for RPV with various cooling water levels under pressurized melting pool
Authors: Mao Jianfeng , Liu Yunkai , Bao Shiyi , Luo Lijia , Lu Zhiming , Gao Zengliang
Published: March 2018

Abstract. The strategy denoted as “in-vessel retention (IVR)” is widely used
in severe accident (SA) management by most advanced nuclear power
plants. The essence of IVR mitigation is to provide long-term
external water cooling in maintaining the reactor pressure vessel
(RPV) integrity. Actually, the traditional IVR concept assumed that
RPV was fully submerged into the water flooding, and the melting
pool was depressurized during the SA. The above assumptions weren't
seriously challenged until the occurrence of Fukushima accident on
2011, suggesting the structural behavior had not been appropriately
assessed. Therefore, the paper tries to address the
structure-related issue on determining whether RPV safety can be
maintained or not with the effect of various water levels and
internal pressures created from core meltdown accident. In achieving
it, the RPV structural behaviors are numerically investigated in
terms of several field parameters, such as temperature, deformation,
stress, plastic strain, creep strain, and total damage. Due to the
presence of high temperature melt on the inside and water cooling on
the outside, the RPV failure is governed by the failure mechanisms
of creep, thermal-plasticity and plasticity. The creep and plastic
damages are interacted with each other, which further accelerate the
failure process. Through detailed investigation, it is found that
the internal pressure as well as water levels plays an important
role in determining the RPV failure time, mode and site.
Projecting of wave height and water level on reef-lined coasts due to intensified tropical cyclones and sea level rise in Palau to 2100
Authors: Hongo Chuki , Kurihara Haruko , Golbuu Yimnang
Published: March 2018

Abstract. Tropical cyclones (TCs) and sea level rise (SLR) cause major problems including beach erosion, saltwater intrusion into groundwater, and damage to infrastructure in coastal areas. The magnitude and extent of damage is predicted to increase as a consequence of future climate change and local factors. Upward reef growth has attracted attention for its role as a natural breakwater, reducing the risks of natural disasters to coastal communities. However, projections of change in the risk to coastal reefs under conditions of intensified TCs and SLR are poorly quantified. In this study we projected the wave height and water level on Melekeok reef in the Palau Islands by 2100, based on wave simulations under intensified TCs (significant wave height at the outer ocean: SWHo = 8.7–11.0 m; significant wave period at the outer ocean: SWPo = 13–15 s) and SLR (0.24–0.98 m). To understand effects of upward reef growth on the reduction of the wave height and water level, the simulation was conducted for two reef condition scenarios: a degraded reef and a healthy reef. Moreover, analyses of reef growth based on a drilled core provided an assessment of the coral community and rate of reef production necessary to reduce the risk from TCs and SLR on the coastal areas. According to our calculations under intensified TCs and SLR by 2100, significant wave heights at the reef flat (SWHr) will increase from 1.05–1.24 m at present to 2.14 m if reefs are degraded. Similarly, by 2100 the water level at the shoreline (WLs) will increase from 0.86–2.10 m at present to 1.19–3.45 m if reefs are degraded. These predicted changes will probably cause beach erosion, saltwater intrusion into groundwater, and damage to infrastructure, because the coastal village is located at  ∼ 3 m above the present mean sea level. These findings imply that even if the SWHr is decreased by only 0.1 m by upward reef growth, it will probably reduce the risks of costal damages. Our results showed that a healthy reef will reduce a maximum of 0.44 m of the SWHr. According to analysis of drilled core, corymbose Acropora corals will be key to reducing the risks, and 2.6–5.8 kg CaCO3 m−2 yr−1, equivalent to  > 8 % of coral cover, will be required to keep a healthy reef by 2100. This study highlights that the maintaining reef growth (as a function of coral cover) in the future is effective in reducing the risk of coastal damage arising from wave action. Although the present study focuses on Melekeok fringing reef, many coral reefs are in the same situation under conditions of intensified TCs and SLR, and therefore the results of this study are applicable to other reefs. These researches are critical in guiding policy development directed at disaster prevention for small island nations and for developing and developed countries.
Decorrelation scales for Arctic Ocean hydrography – Part I: Amerasian Basin
Authors: Sumata Hiroshi , Kauker Frank , Karcher Michael , Rabe Benjamin , Timmermans Mary-Louise , Behrendt Axel , Gerdes Rüdiger , Schauer Ursula , Shimada Koji , Cho Kyoung-Ho , Kikuchi Takashi
Published: March 2018

Abstract. Any use of observational data for data assimilation requires adequate
information of their representativeness in space and time. This is
particularly important for sparse, non-synoptic data, which comprise the bulk
of oceanic in situ observations in the Arctic. To quantify spatial and
temporal scales of temperature and salinity variations, we estimate the
autocorrelation function and associated decorrelation scales for the
Amerasian Basin of the Arctic Ocean. For this purpose, we compile historical
measurements from 1980 to 2015. Assuming spatial and temporal homogeneity of
the decorrelation scale in the basin interior (abyssal plain area), we
calculate autocorrelations as a function of spatial distance and temporal
lag. The examination of the functional form of autocorrelation in each depth
range reveals that the autocorrelation is well described by a Gaussian
function in space and time. We derive decorrelation scales of 150–200 km in
space and 100–300 days in time. These scales are directly applicable to
quantify the representation error, which is essential for use of ocean
in situ measurements in data assimilation. We also describe how the estimated
autocorrelation function and decorrelation scale should be applied for cost
function calculation in a data assimilation system.
Ice flow velocity as a sensitive indicator of glacier state
Authors: Stocker-Waldhuber Martin , Fischer Andrea , Helfricht Kay , Kuhn Michael
Published: March 2018

Abstract. Climatic forcing affects glacier length changes, mass balance and ice flow dynamics on different time scales and also dependent on topography. The first two of these parameters are operationally used for glacier monitoring, whereas only a few time series of glacier dynamics exist with the potential to serve as long-term indicators of glacier response to climate change. With more than 100 years of measurements of ice flow velocities at stakes and stone lines on Hintereisferner (HEF) and more than 50 years on Kesselwandferner (KWF), records of annual velocity change are as long as records of glacier fluctuations. Interannual variations of ice flow velocities and shorter supporting interpretations of long-term records have been measured on Gepatschferner (GPF) and Taschachferner (TSF) for nearly 10 years. The ice flow velocities on Hintereisferner and especially on Kesselwandferner show great variations between advancing and retreating periods, with magnitudes increasing from the highest to the lowest stakes, making ice flow records at ablation stakes a very sensitive indicator of glacier state. Since the end of the latest glacier advances from the 1970s to the 1980s, the ice flow velocities have decreased continuously, a strong sign of the severe retreat of the glaciers in recent decades.
A Linguistic Exploration of the Word ‘sky’ in the Holy Quran: An Analytical Study
Authors: Al Bzour Salahaldeen Mohammad
Published: March 2018

The current research paper involves exploring the word ‘sky’ in the Holy Quran. The aims are to show the meanings of the word ‘sky’ in the Holy Quran and also to show the effect of the Quranic Surahs’ classification on the context of the verse. Thus, the analytical method has been adopted side by side with statistical analysis of the word ‘sky’ as mentioned in the surahs of the Holy Quran. The results show that the word ‘sky’ comes in four intended meanings, first, in the meaning of ‘clouds’, second, in the meaning of ‘sky’, third, in the meaning of ‘rain’, and fourth in the meaning of ‘height’. In addition, the results show that the word ‘sky’ comes in both classifications of the Quranic Surahs performing a great rhetorical role according to the place of revelation of the Quranic Surah and according to the addressee. Moreover, the results show that the context of the Quranic verse is possible to come within a group of preceding verses or following verses making one context that comes together with intended divine purposes.
Disagreement Realizations: Some Methodological Concerns
Authors: Hamdan Hady
Published: March 2018

Interlanguage pragmatics is concerned with how nonnative speakers use and develop their L2 pragmatic competence (Kasper 1996: 145). In this context, realizations of face threatening speech acts that such speakers perform are examined and contrasted with those of native speakers of the same target language. This has been done with a view to minimizing communication breakdowns and developing a better mutual cross-cultural understanding. Yet, despite the large number of studies conducted in this field, only a few have manage to achieve their purpose. This is often the case due to some methodological flaws that characterize such studies. The current study sheds light on these methodological flaws so that future research yields more representative, credible and informative findings. In particular, the researcher provides a critique of the methodological perspectives adopted in contrastive cross-cultural research on disagreement realizations by reviewing eight studies that have examined disagreement strategies in English by speakers of different language backgrounds.
Indigenous Poetics and Transcultural Ecologies
Authors: Cooke Stuart
Published: March 2018

This article outlines a transcultural fluctuation between indigenous poetics from Australia and South America in order to respond to some of the most pressing concerns in contemporary ecocritical discourse. I propose that we might turn to indigenous knowledge systems not as part of a reactionary, antimodern form of Romanticism, but as an alternative, syncretic understanding of the contemporary, in which the past is partner to the present in the formation of future possibility. I outline key features of Indigenous Australian and South American thought, including the centrality of language and poetics in the maintenance of country, before outlining an Indigenous philosophical poetics that spans the Australian and American continents. Indigenous knowledge systems, while to some extent understandable with generalized terms such as “The Dreaming” or “Pachamama” (“World Mother”), are thoroughly localized conceptions of much more extensive, transnational forces.
Design Thinking Accelerated Leadership: Transforming Self, Transforming Community
Authors: Lake Danielle , Ricco Michael E. , Whipps Judy
Published: March 2018

Higher education institutions are continually seeking to recruit nontraditional adult students yet struggle at the same time to meet their needs effectively. The following case study offers strategies to address this situation by documenting the pedagogical design and initial outcomes of an interdisciplinary, nineteen-month leadership-themed liberal studies undergraduate degree completion program at Grand Valley State University. As an innovative, accelerated, hybrid cohort model, it incorporates a wide range of high-impact practices focused on developing the skills leaders use and employers require. The curriculum integrates practices from motivational and experiential learning, community-based learning, and design thinking to scaffold students' learning across their courses. The program thereby encourages students to wrestle with the complexity of social issues in their communities and develop the skills and virtues necessary for addressing those problems. As a case study, this article is particularly relevant for educators and administrators hoping to uncover a means for catalyzing innovative co-participatory engagement projects that engage with the needs of the surrounding community in a format supportive of nontraditional learners.
Quantitative Literacy Courses as a Space for Fusing Literacies
Authors: Tunstall Samuel Luke , Matz Rebecca L. , Craig Jeffrey C.
Published: March 2018

In this article, we examine how students in a general education quantitative literacy course reason with public issues when unprompted to use quantitative reasoning. Michigan State University, like many institutions, not only has a quantitative literacy requirement for all undergraduates but also offers two courses specifically for meeting the requirement. A central goal of the courses is for students to use pertinent mathematical tools in the analysis of public issues. In teaching and observing the course, we found that students often approached public issues in complex ways, calling upon prior knowledge, a sense of justice, or other disciplinary habits. This diverse tool set simultaneously serves as a lever for insight into public issues while also potentially impeding the traditional goal of detached analysis in many mathematics classrooms. Drawing upon interviews with five students as they reasoned with media artifacts concerning public issues, we provide evidence of this tension and highlight possibilities afforded by inviting such a tool kit for full use in a general education quantitative literacy course. Our conclusion is that quantitative literacy courses that focus on public issues appear to be ideal spaces for fostering a host of skills supported in general education courses—not just mathematical content itself.
Curriculum Design for Campus-wide Learning
Authors: Hunzicker Jana , Mcconnaughay Kelly , Burge Jennifer Gruening
Published: March 2018

Professional development in higher education is traditionally viewed as occurring through participation in workshops, attending conferences, and completing learning modules. But sometimes professional learning occurs in informal and unintended ways. This article contributes to the collective understanding of informal professional learning in higher education by describing and analyzing Bradley University's multiple-year processes for campus-wide curriculum design and preparation for implementation of the Bradley Core Curriculum before offering five recommendations for other institutions interested in supporting meaningful and lasting professional development in the midst of campus-wide change.
The Posthuman and the Transhuman as Alternative Mappings of the Space of Political Possibility
Authors: Fuller Steve
Published: March 2018

This paper takes a loosely “quantum” approach to political possibility. In other words, depending on how the present is characterized, both past and future possibilities are defined simultaneously. Political history is full of such quantum moments, which revolutionize our understanding of the historical subject. It is normally assumed that some version of Homo sapiens is the historical subject. However, post-and trans-humanism challenge that assumption, albeit in rather different ways. For example, the “genetic” and the “superorganic” figure in both but are given quite different spins, neither implying that the morphology of the upright ape is inviolate. Posthumanists stress our overlap with other species and interdependency with nature, while transhumanists stress the variability and mutability of genes, which allow enhancement. Posthumanist sociology emphasizes the “superorganic” biological and evolutionary roots of social behavior, while transhumanists emphasize humanity’s extension into technology and our accelerating cultural evolution. Both posthumanists and transhumanists see our simian nature as a platform or way station that opens up into a much wider range of possible ancestors and descendants than conventional politics normally countenances.
Feminist Posthumanities in the Anthropocene: Forays Into The Postnatural
Authors: Åsberg Cecilia
Published: March 2018

In the new planetary age of the Anthropocene or the Age of Man (as it were), humanity is cast as a single geological force, a major force of environmental destruction, and one folding in on itself. The Anthropocene is famously defined by human-induced climatic, biological, and geological transformations of our planet, by a profound anthropogenic environmental impact and mass species extinctions. However, the Anthropocene risk also, as pointed out by a wide range of feminist philosophers and critical scholars, to hide troublesome differences between humans, and also to hide intimate relationships between technology, humans, and other animals. This totalization of humanity is a parallel risk in some posthuman theorizing also, and something postdisciplinary scholars of the critical humanities and feminist philosophers have paid attention to for decades. In the posthuman context of the Anthropocene, I suggest and point to postdisciplinary humanities research and theory–practices that pay careful attention to the feminist theoretical work on our equally postnatural condition as an experimental remedy.
Pagan Transhumanism: A Lyotardian Approach to the Sublimity of the Posthuman
Authors: Mazarakis Ioannis
Published: March 2018

According to the vision of the most prominent transhumanists, the posthuman is going to be the updated version of the human: Although more developed and improved, the posthuman will still pertain to the well-known intellectual being that created this civilization through its reasonable thinking and the power of its will. From this perspective, the transhumanist attempts at predicting its existential status, social behavior, and political activity are fully justifiable and necessary. However, from a Lyotardian perspective, this type of previsioning is exactly what postmodern thought criticizes: Instead of creating criteria that will guide our response to future events, we should prepare ourselves to judge without criteria—to confront the sublimity of the post- or inhuman and invent new “language games” that will be compatible with its unique characteristics. In this article, I will attempt to delineate the modernist metanarratives that frame contemporary transhumanist politics and analyze the point of its intersection with the sublimity of the posthuman. Finally, I will suggest a postmodern revision of transhumanist politics by focusing on the Lyotardian concept of paganism.
Possibility in Fashion Design Education—A Manifesto
Authors: Rissanen Timo
Published: March 2018

This manifesto presents starting points for educators to reconsider fashion as a system of satisfiers for fundamental human needs. The manifesto calls for strategic adoption of design for micro-utopias in the fashion system. The challenges facing humanity are approached as opportunities for systems renewal. Fashion design must move beyond a disciplinary model of design to facilitate deliberate societal change over time. The manifesto frames the economy as a design problem and calls for fashion design to collaborate with economists and others on designing the sociomaterial systems in which fashion is produced, used, and discarded. How does fashion repress, tolerate, or stimulate opportunities for people to fulfill their fundamental needs? How can fashion design actively facilitate satisfying fundamental human needs? The manifesto concludes with a call for design educators to be guardians of the possibility of possibility. Design needs to design design itself while concurrently designing the world at large.
Honduras ante la Corte Interamericana de Derechos Humanos: jurisdicción contenciosa y consultiva
Authors: Bonilla Cabañas Jimena
Published: March 2018

El presente artículo describe y analiza la jurisdicción contenciosa y consultiva de Honduras ante la Corte Interamericana de Derechos Humanos, dando a conocer en primer lugar, los antecedentes históricos de Honduras ante este Tribunal Internacional, en un periodo comprendido desde el año 1982-2015, analizando los diferentes derechos huma- nos violentados, en el cual se declara la responsabilidad internacional del Estado. Así mismo se presentan datos importantes en relación a las diferentes medidas de repa- ración ordenadas al Estado de Honduras, las que consisten en diversas medidas como ser: la de indemnización, satisfacción y garantías de no repetición. Posteriormente se describe, la etapa de supervisión de cumplimiento de las sentencias, en el que se realiza un análisis breve de la situación actual del número de sentencias que aún están pendientes de ser cumplidas.Finalmente se resalta la importancia del Control de Convencionalidad, en la aplicación de las normas internacionales de derechos humanos, de parte de un Poder judicial competente, independiente e imparcial.
Measuring Determinants and Effects of Firms’ Financial Structure in a Deleverage Setting: Evidence From Italy
Authors: Mustilli Mario , Campanella Francesco , D’Angelo Eugenio
Published: March 2018

Since 2011, after ten year of growth, Italian non-financial firms have heavily reduced their bank debt. Indeed, the ratio between bank credit to non-financial sector and the Italian GDP decreased from 92.5% to 83.5% in the last five years. This paper examines the determinants of this reduction using an OLS regression model performed on a sample of 12,974 Italian firms. In addition, we analyse the effect of this change in the capital structure on profitability and on debt-service. Results show that Growth, Size, Tangibility and Profitability are associated with leverage, consistently with the previous literature. Furthermore, we found that firm reduced their return on equity but improved their cash flow to debt ratio.
Microbiological vulnerability of eggs and environmental conditions in conventional and free-range housing systems
Authors: Galvão Julia Arantes , Biondo Alexander Welker , Possebon Fábio Sossai , Spina Thiago Luis Belém , Correia Letícia Borges Nunes , Zuim Caio Vaciloto , Guerra Filho João Bosco Pereira , Pantoja José Carlos Figueiredo , Pinto José Paes De Almeida Nogueira
Published: March 2018

Although Brazil is currently the world’s eighth largest egg exporter, the shift of consumers towards free-range eggs may present new sanitary challenges. This study aims to evaluate the microbiological vulnerability of eggs and environmental conditions in a farm certified for both conventional and free-range systems using two standard methods (enterobacteria counting and Salmonella spp. survey). Two high-producing farms were selected for this study, one under both conventional and free-range systems at the same place as the test farm, and another under conventional system only as a control farm. Enterobacteriaceae counts were determined for eggshells; and detection of Salmonella spp. was conducted in eggs, nest box material, feeder, and sponge samples from water dispensers, feeders, production plant, besides water samples from nipple dispensers and artesian well. The average enterobacteria count (log CFUmL-1) was 0.09 for conventional and 1.73 for free-range systems (p < 0.001). While Salmonella spp. was not detected in the conventional system but was present in one feeder and three eggshells from the free-range system. Therefore, the conventional system demonstrated better hygiene-sanitary status than the free-range one. Moreover, controlling food safety should always be considered when improving animal welfare.
Ultrasound in the postharvest treatment of grapes: impact on the extractability and phenolic composition of juice and wine
Authors: Comarella Carine Glaucia , Sautter Claudia Kaehler , Dossin Mariana Ferneda , Penna Neidi Garcia
Published: March 2018

Ultrasound has gained attention from the food industry because its properties, including chemical and physical reactions, enable a wide range of commercial applications. One of the most popular applications is the optimization of extraction of bioactive substances. Among the most recent applications is its use in postharvest of fruits and vegetables, wherein ultrasound functions as a possible elicitor agent promoting the synthesis of phenolic compounds. These substances are important in defining the chemical and sensory characteristics of juices, wines and other grape products because the concentration and extraction capacity of these compounds in grapes directly influence the product quality. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the application of ultrasound in American and vinifera grapes of different harvests with regard to its effects on fruit extractability and concentration of phenolic compounds in elaborated juice and wine. The results indicated that, under certain conditions, ultrasound could lead to a significant increase in the anthocyanin concentration in ‘Isabella’ grapes and its juice. On the other hand, in ‘Cabernet Sauvignon’ grapes, most of the treatments did not indicate positive results in the tested parameters and tended to promote degradation of anthocyanins at significant levels. However, the observed effects varied depending on the harvest conditions and cultivar characteristics.
Risk factors associated to canine visceral leishmaniasis in Uruguaiana city, Brazil
Authors: Escobar Taiane Acunha , Döwich Gabriela , Zuravski Luísa , Cantele Letícia Carvalho , Duarte Claudia Acosta , Lübeck Irina
Published: March 2018

The present study aimed to evaluate factors associated with canine visceral leishmaniasis (CVL) in areas with higher seroprevalence of it in Uruguaiana city, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil, during the year of 2012. A semi-structured questionnaire with socioeconomic and environmental questions was applied in Leishmania endemic regions of the city. The survey data were analyzed by multivariate statistics and the associations between them were presented as odds ratio within a 95% confidence limit. The relationships between the studied variables showed no statistically significant difference between the dwellings with positive and negative dogs. However, when analyzing the odds ratio, the presence of green areas larger than 10m² turned the house into an area of potential risk for CVL (OR= 2.53). There was no difference among the socioeconomic variables education and income, though the groups with lower education and income showed a higher seroprevalence of CVL. The city of Uruguaiana is already located within the CVL broadcasting area and is taken as an endemic region of the disease, with seropositive dogs in all neighborhoods. Thus, the determinants for an increased Leishmania sp. infection could not be indicated, even so, the maintenance of green areas around the households represented a risk factor for being a potential vector shelter.
Zootechnical and economic performance indexes of dairy herds with different production scales
Authors: Ferrazza Rodrigo De Andrade , Lopes Marcos Aurélio , Bruhn Fabio Raphael Pascoti , Moraes Flavio De
Published: March 2018

This study aims to estimate the zootechnical and economic benchmarks of milk production systems, analyze production scale effects on dairy farming returns, and identify the system components that best represent the total and effective operational costs. We analyzed 22 size, zootechnical and economic performance indexes from 61 dairy farms located in Minas Gerais state, Brazil. The sample of herds were clustered according to three production strata. The results were compared using analysis of variance (normal distribution) and Kruskal-Wallis (non-normal distribution) tests, and post-hoc comparisons were undertaken with Fisher's least significant difference test. The relationship between some variables was tested using the Pearson correlation test. The production scale was best defined by the number of lactating cows (r=0.96) in comparison to the area (r=0.83). The production scale proved to be a suitable criterion for the analyses between different groups of producers, and it is more easily obtained and probably provides more accurate results. The milk production systems studied presented higher zootechnical indexes than those found in average of Brazilian farms, but lower than international indices or technologically advanced farms from other Brazilian regions. A greater production scale is a desirable condition, although it failed to ensure the economic efficiency of the herds studied. The components of total and effective operating costs that had the greatest representativeness were, in descending order, food and labor.
Severity of leaf diseases in maize inbred lines with different kernel hardness in two sowing seasons
Authors: Spada Cecília Aparecida , Faria Marcos Ventura , Mendes Marcelo Cruz , Zaluski Welton Luiz , Gava Emanuel , Silva Carlos Augusto da , Marck Diego Fernando de , Faria Cacilda Márcia Duarte Rios
Published: March 2018

Resistance of maize inbred lines to major leaf diseases should be characterized for the development of new hybrids in breeding programs. Thus, this study aimed to assess the severity of leaf diseases in maize inbredlines with different kernel hardnessand two sowingseasons. We assessed four inbred lines and one check hybrid with dent kernels and four inbred lines and a check hybrid with flint kernels. Treatments were conducted in two sowing seasons, one in October, and another in December 2013. The symptoms of gray leaf spot (Cercospora zeae-maydis), northern leaf blight (Exserohilum turcicum), and white leaf spot (a complex of Phaeosphaeria maydis and Pantoea ananatis) were assessed every 10 days from flowering. The area under the disease progress curve was also calculated. Severity level of the diseases was higher in inbred lines when compared to the check hybrds (AG8041 PRO and P30R50YH), regardless of kernel hardness. Dent-kernel inbred lines showed a higher severity of northern leaf blight symptoms when compared to flint-kernelones. It is worth mentioning that disease severity increased as sowing was delayed.
Growth and carcass characteristics of different crosses of broiler chickens reared under an alternative system
Authors: Cruz Fábio Loures , Saraiva Lorena Katheryne Vieira , Silva Grace Ellen , Nogueira Tatiane Mendonça , Silva Ana Paula , Faria Peter Bitencourt
Published: March 2018

This study aimed to assess the effect of different breeds and crosses of broiler chickens and sex on growth, carcass characteristics, and tissue composition. The experimental design was a completely randomized design in a 6 × 2 factorial scheme, with six genotypes (New Hampshire – NHS, Jersey Black Giant – JBG, Rodhe Island Red – RIR, Indigenous Giant – IG, and the hybrids IG × NHS and IG × JBG) and two sexes (male and female). Each treatment was composed of five replications with three broiler chickens, totaling 180 broiler chickens. Zootechnical performance and growth were assessed through the Gompertz equation parameters. After slaughtering at 105 days, the characteristics of carcass and main cuts were determined by means of weight, yield, and proportion of tissue constituents (meat, bone, and skin). Regarding the Gompertz equation parameters, the genotype NHS presented a higher growth potential. Males presented higher live weight and carcass weights, except for IG. No difference was observed between genotypes and sexes (P > 0.05) for carcass yield. The genotype JBG presented the highest average for breast yield (24.4%). Males presented the highest average for leg yield (30.5%). The genotype IG presented the highest value of breast meat yield (71.2%), being similar to the genotypes from the crosses IG × NHS, and IG × JBG (68.9 and 68.3%, respectively). For meat to breastbone ratio, the genotype IG presented the highest value (3.4) and, considering the sex, females presented a higher average (3.2) for this characteristic. Regarding the proportion of leg meat, an effect was observed for genotype and sex (P < 0.05) with the highest values observed for the hybrid IG × JBG and females (66.3 and 66.0%, respectively). For meat to leg bone ratio, the genotypes NHS, JBG, RIR, and IG × NHS presented the highest values (2.6, 2.7, 2.6, and 2.6, respectively), with females presenting the highest value (P < 0.05) (2.7). The genotypes IG, IG × NHS and IG × JBG presented the best growth and carcass characteristics, being recommended to be reared under an alternative system. Females presented the highest breast yield and, proportionally, the highest amount of leg meat, which are important attributes in a chicken meat production system.
Net energy for 60 to 120 kg pigs fed low crude protein diets
Authors: Barbosa Lívia Maria dos Reis , Ferreira Soraia Viana , Soares Marcos Henrique , Gomes Maykelly Da Silva , Valente Júnior Dante Teixeira , Saraiva Alysson
Published: March 2018

Two experiments were conducted to determine the effects of dietary net energy content (NE) on performance and carcass traits of finishing barrows fed low crude protein (CP) diets. Pigs (60.0 ± 2.41 kg, Exp. 1; 90.0 ± 2.96 kg, Exp. 2) were allotted in randomized design to four dietary treatments. Exp. 1 had nine pens treatment-1 and Exp. 2 had eight pens treatment-1, with two pigs in all pens. The treatments were as follows: 179 g kg-1 CP and 2589 kcal NE kg-1, 134 g kg-1 CP and 2631 kcal NE kg-1, 134 g kg-1 CP and 2589 kcal NE kg-1, and 134 g kg-1 and 2589 kcal NE kg-1 (pair-feeding to 179 g kg-1 CP and 2589 kcal NE kg-1) in Exp. 1 and 166 g kg-1 and 2604 kcal NE kg-1, 123 g kg-1 CP and 2645 kcal NE kg-1, 123 g kg-1 CP and 2604 kcal NE kg-1, and 12.34% CP and 2604 kcal NE kg-1 (pair feeding to 166 g kg-1 CP and 2604 kcal NE kg-1) in Exp. 2. In Exp. 1, there was no effect of CP or NE on any performance and carcass traits evaluated. In Exp. 2, the greatest result of average daily gain was obtained with 123 g kg-1 CP and 2645 kcal NE kg-1. There was no effect of CP or NE on any other performance and carcass traits evaluated. For 60 to 90 kg barrows, reducing the CP of the diet from 179 g kg-1 to 134 g kg-1, adjusting or not adjusting the NE content of the diets with 134 g kg-1 CP does not compromise performance or carcass traits. For 90 to 110 kg barrows, reducing the CP of the diet from 16.62 to 123 g kg-1, while maintaining the same NE content (2604 kcal kg-1) of the diet with 166 g kg-1 CP does not compromise performance or carcass traits.
Genotype-environment interaction, genetic trends, and performance dissimilarity of Nellore herds raised in three different environmental gradients
Authors: Souza Julio Cesar de , Fialho Fabio Rafael Leão , Rezende Marcos Paulo Gonçalves , Machado Carlos Henrique Cavallari , Alencar Mariana Pereira , Souza Carolina Fregonesi de , Ferraz Filho Paulo Bahiense , Ferraz André Luiz Julien
Published: March 2018

The objectives of this work were to evaluate the genotype-environment interaction, and estimate genetic parameters, genetic trends, and performance dissimilarity-weight gain from birth to weaning (WGBW), adjusted weight to 205 days (W205), weight gain from weaning to 18 months of age (WG18), and adjusted weight to 550 days (W550)-in Nellore animals born between 1986 and 2012, and raised in pasture-based system in three different environmental gradients in Brazil. Data of 62,001 animals-11,729 raised in the Alto Taquari/Bolsão region (ATBR), 21,143 raised in the Campo Grande/Dourados region (CGDR) and 29,129 raised in the western São Paulo/Paraná region (SPPR) in Brazil-were used. The contemporary groups were defined by sex, location, and birth year and season, with at least nine individuals, two different environments, and breeding bulls with at least five progenies. The statistical model contained the direct additive and residual genetic effects (random effects), and environmental and contemporary group effects (fixed effects). Genetic parameters, genotype-environment interaction and genetic trends were estimates using animal model (uni- and/or bi- traits). The level of similarity between regions was evaluated using principal components. The animals raised in the CGDR had superior performance regarding the traits evaluated. The direct heritability estimates ranged from 0.39 to 0.44 (WGBW), 0.41 to 0.45 (W205), 0.42 to 0.55 (WG18) and 0.60 to 0.62 (W550). The maternal heritability of the traits ranged from 0.20 (WGBW), 0.12 to 0.18 (W205), 0.00 to 0.06 (WG18) and 0.02 to 0.22 (W550). According to the Spearman correlation, the ranking of the breeding bulls in the regions evaluated were different. The mean of Euclidean distance indicated low similarity between ATBR and CGDR (43.20), and ATBR and SPPR (29.24). CGDR and SPPR presented similarity of 17.84. The breed values increased over the years in the traits evaluated. The cumulative variance percentage of the first two main components explained 99.99% variation among the regions, and the weight gains of the animals were the most important to differentiate the regions. A genotype-environment interaction was found for the traits evaluated, thus, the breeding bull selected with superior genetic merit for one region might not be the best for others.