bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of Throughfall Exclusion, Soil Texture and Spatial Continuity on Soil Water Repellency in Fichtel Mountains, Germany
Authors: Fishkis Olga , Müller Karoly , Hable Robert , Huwe Bernd
Published: June 2016

Core Ideas

Drought reduces soil wettability even after eliminating the effect of soil moisture

Sand and clay content significantly decreased, while silt content increased WDPT

WDPT shows low spatial dependence on mesoscale at lags from 0.6 m to 5.2 m

The occurrence of soil water repellency (SWR) in soil is controlled by soil organic matter (SOM) composition and is strongly soil‐moisture dependent. During drying the reduction of water content in soil has been shown to induce the outward orientation of nonpolar ends of organic compounds and hence the increase in SWR. A prolonged drought can however also induce changes in SOM composition which in turn can affect SWR. In this study, we eliminate differences in water content after prolonged throughfall exclusion and a control treatment by oven‐drying of the soil samples, to test if a prolonged drought affects SWR even after excluding the direct effect of soil moisture. In addition, the relevance of soil texture variability and spatial dependence of SWR for prediction of soil wettability distribution over the study area was explored. The samples of the upper mineral soil horizon were taken from six plots in Fichtel Mountains, subjected to a throughfall exclusion or control treatments, oven‐dried and analyzed for soil texture and water drop penetration time (WDPT). A linear model with spatially correlated random effects was used to quantify the effects of soil texture and treatment on the persistence of the SWR and to simultaneously evaluate the spatial structure of the SWR. Based on estimated parameters the persistence of SWR was calculated on unsampled locations by robust kriging with external drift. The throughfall exclusion treatment significantly increased the log(WDPT) (p< 0.01) of the oven‐dried soil by 0.46. The clay content and the sand content had highly significant (p< 0.001) negative effects, while silt content had positive effects on the log(WDPT). The variogram parameter with a range of 5.2 m, a nugget of 0.25, and a sill of 0.45 indicated a rather low degree of spatial dependence of log(WDPT). The main outcome of this study is that the positive effect of throughfall exclusion on SWR cannot be fully attributed to water content reduction. Most probably the drought‐induced changes in SOM composition and microbial community were responsible for the observed increase in SWR.
Flood early warning system on the Đetinja river Basin in Serbia
Authors: Drobnjak Aleksandar , Zlatanović Nikola , Stefanović Milutin , Milojević Mileta , Đapić Milica
Published: June 2016

The Đetinja river basin, in Užice, western Serbia, is ungauged. Many torrential floods have occurred there over the past decades. In the city of Užice, there are no rainfall intensity gauges, and it is impossible to provide the data needed to monitor torrential floods or make a timely response, which is a precondition for successful defense from them. An early warning system for torrential floods was designed, with three key elements: measuring devices in the basin and river, a server application and a web-client application. A hydrologic study was made to assess multiple scenarios, focusing on the analysis of real data to determine alarm criteria for oncoming floods. Alarm criteria were proposed, based on analysis of previous floods and measurements. Using the direct relationship between runoff, rainfall depth and intensity, the alarm criteria are based on precipitation and river stage. There are three levels: the first level ‘warning’, the second ‘regular flood defense’, and the third ‘emergency flood defense’. The earliest possible warning is of great importance, due to the nature and speed of onset of the process. The system plays a key role in active flood control and prevention, by providing the lead time to secure and strengthen the flood defense system, thereby minimizing the adverse impacts of torrential floods.
Application of a rainfall-runoff model for regional-scale flood inundation mapping for the Langat River Basin
Authors: Mirzaei Majid , Faghih Mina , Pei Ying Tan , El-Shafie Ahmed , Feng Huang Yuk , Lee Juneseok
Published: June 2016

Rapid growth in recent decades has changed engineering concepts about the approach to controlling storm water in cities. Over the past years flood events have occurred more frequently in several countries in the tropics. In this study the behavior of Langat River in Malaysia was analyzed using the hydrodynamic modeling software (HEC-RAS) developed by the ‘Hydrologic Engineering Center, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’, to simulate different water levels and flow rates corresponding to different return periods from the available database. The aim was to forecast peak flows, based on rainfall data and the maximum rate of precipitation in different return periods in storms of different duration. The maximum flows were obtained from the Automated Geospatial Watershed Assessment tool for the different return periods, and the peak flows from extreme rainfall were applied to HEC-RAS to simulate different water levels and flow rates corresponding to different return periods. The water level along the river and its tributaries could then be analyzed for different flow conditions.
Protein recovery by selective separation using ceramic membranes
Authors: Nguyen L. Q. T. , Engelhart M. , Wagner M. , Cornel P.
Published: June 2016

Processing of shrimp shells for the production of chitin makes commercial use of shell waste with economic benefits. Although chitin possesses the valuable properties of a biopolymer, with many useful applications, significant environmental pollution during its production hampers growth opportunities for industrial processing. In this study, a filtration process at different molecular weight cut-offs is assessed for protein recovery from the discharged alkaline processing stream of an industrial chitin manufacturing unit. Three tubular ceramic membranes (0.1 μm, 450 D and <300 D) have been investigated under a constant temperature of 70 °C, at chosen trans-membrane pressures of 1.3–5 bar, high cross flow velocities of 3.3–3.5 m/s, and at a volumetric concentration factor of 5. Results of concentration runs indicate a significant increase of recovered proteins, between 7 and 16%, can be achieved in the concentrate stream by reducing the chosen membrane cut-offs. A second product the permeate stream – solid-free hydroxide sodium solution – can be re-utilized in the chitin production line. Retention of the organic load led to a 56% decrease of chemical oxygen demand and total bound nitrogen in the permeate stream.
Decadal review of residential water demand analysis from a practical perspective
Authors: Tanverakul Stephanie A. , Lee Juneseok
Published: June 2016

Residential water demand has been extensively studied over more than four decades, but as yet there is no consensus on the best or most appropriate model from a practical perspective. Conservation and sustainability programs with new metering incentives have increased the necessity for an easy to use forecasting model for water resource management based on a better understanding of the factors driving residential water demand. Analytical techniques have increased in complexity, advancing with new tools for computing and data collection such as GIS and remote sensing. This paper presents a decadal review of how the residential water demand analysis have evolved over time with changes in price policies, conservation attitudes, technological improvements, and other factors explaining water demand. This paper will help provide the knowledge base for the future studies and recommendations are made for addressing/bridging the gap between drinking water industry and research community.
A stochastic model for daily residential water demand
Authors: Gargano Rudy , Tricarico Carla , del Giudice Giuseppe , Granata Francesco
Published: June 2016

Residential water demand is a random variable which influences greatly the performance of municipal water distribution systems (WDSs). The water request at network nodes reflects the behavior of the residential users, and a proper characterization of their water use habits is vital for the hydraulic system modeling. This study presents a stochastic approach for the characterization of the daily residential water use. The proposed methodology considers a unique probabilistic distribution – mixed distribution – for any time during the day, and thus for any entity of the water demanded by the users. This distribution is obtained by the merging of two cumulative distribution functions taking into account the spike of the cumulative frequencies for the null requests. The methodology has been tested on three real water distribution networks, where the water use habits are different. Experimental relations are given to estimate the parameters of the proposed stochastic model in relation to the users number and to the average daily trend. Numerical examples for a practical application have shown the effectiveness of the proposed approach in order to generate the time series for the residential water demand.
Occurrence of phosphorus, iron, aluminum, silica, and calcium in a eutrophic lake during algae bloom sedimentation
Authors: Li Guolian , Xie Fazhi , Zhang Jin , Wang Jingrou , Yang Ying , Sun Ruoru
Published: June 2016

Phosphorus (P) in a water body is mainly controlled by the interaction between surface sediment and the overlying water column after the complete control of external pollution. Significant enhancement of P in a water body would cause eutrophication of lakes. Thus, a better understanding is needed of the occurrences of P between the sediment and water column in eutrophic lakes. Here, we measured total phosphorus (TP) and major elements (Fe, Al, Ca, Mn, Si) in the water column, and total nitrogen, organic matter, TP and major oxides (Fe2O3, Al2O3, CaO, SiO2) in surface sediment of Chaohu Lake, a continuously eutrophic lake. The results showed that the rank of TP levels was western lake > eastern lake > southern lake. There were significantly positive correlations between TP (including water TP and sedimentary TP) and Fe, Al, Mn, while the correlation coefficients between water TP and sedimentary TP were −0.43, −0.41 and 0.18 for the western, eastern and southern lake respectively. The negative and significant correlations of water TP and sedimentary TP may indicate that the risk of sedimentary P release was great in the western and eastern lake during algae bloom sedimentation, while the southern lake showed weak P exchange between the sediment and water column.
Impacts of dyebath auxiliaries on the reductive discoloration of Acid Orange 7 dye by high-carbon iron filings
Authors: Kumar Raja , Sinha Alok
Published: June 2016

This study proposed that the physicochemical effects of common dyebath auxiliaries on the bulk dye solution as well as on the iron surface can influence the reductive discoloration of effluent containing Acid Orange 7 (AO7) dye using high-carbon iron filings. Sodium chloride increased the discoloration rate because of the pitting corrosion on the iron surface, triggered by chloride anion. ‘Salting out’ effect of ammonium sulfate improved the reaction rate up to a certain concentration, beyond which it could compete with dye molecules for the reactive sites, as revealed by formed sulfite and sulfide. Urea drastically reduced the discoloration rates by its chaotropic effect on the bulk solution and by wrapping around the iron surface. Organic acids, namely acetic acid and citric acid, stimulated iron corrosion to improve the discoloration rates. The discoloration reaction was biphasic with an initial fast reaction phase, where in every case more than 70% discoloration was observed within 5 min of reaction, preceding a slow reaction phase. The experimental data could be well described using biphasic kinetics equation (R2> 0.997 in all cases) and a biphasic equation was developed considering the individual impact of co-existing auxiliaries on AO7 discoloration.
Apresentação
Authors: Galvão Tavares Giovana
Published: June 2016

Revista do Mestrado Multidisciplinar em Sociedade, Tecnologia e Meio Ambiente.
A PROPÓSITO DA HIDROVIA ARAGUAIA-RIO DAS MORTES-TOCANTINS
Authors: Teixeira Neto Antônio
Published: June 2016

Até um passado recente, sempre se considerava o Araguaia como via  da redenção econômica de Goiás e Tocantins. Isolado do litoral, o território goiano-tocantinense buscava uma saída para o mar por água – Belém, no norte do país era o porto mais próximo e mais viável –, por isto a hidrovia seria o caminho mais curto e, economicamente, o mais viável. Infelizmente, fracassaram os projetos e as tentativas práticas de se fazer do grande rio uma via navegável e o caminho da riqueza econômica dos goaino-tocantinenses. Volta e meia esse assunto vem à tona nos meios empresariais, políticos e administrativos. Mas, sem muito refletir sobre o assunto, imaginam que, sem muito esforço, épossível implantar hidrovias num fechar e abrir de olhos, sem atentar para os problemas que disso decorre principalmente os de natureza social e ambiental. Mesmo diante da existência de estudos mostrando a inviabilidade do grande projeto – agora rebatizado de Hidrovia Araguaia-Tocantins-Rio das Mortes e ressuscitado pelo Senado Federal –, os nossos políticos insistem nesta obra, que pode morrer no nascedouro, e as razões são principalmente de ordem técnica e, não menos importante, sociais e ambientais, como mostraremos a seguir.
Apresentação
Authors: Galvão Tavares Giovana
Published: June 2016

Revista do Programa de Pós-Graduação em Sociedade, Tecnologia e Meio Ambiente.
Natureza, recursos minerais e sertão goiano nas obras de Zoroastro
Authors: . Artiaga , Galvão Tavares Giovana
Published: June 2016

Este texto expõe a trajetória de vida e a produção cultural e/ou científica de Zoroastro Artiaga (1891-1972) entre as décadas de 1930 e 1940, entendo-o enquanto divulgador que buscou, por meio de discussões sobre recursos minerais, apresentar o sertão goiano a Nação brasileira, utilizando-se dos meios de comunicação regional e nacional. Para esse fim, recorre-se à historiografia da ciência que estabelece diálogo com a História Cultural. Esse diálogo permite que objetos e personagens “escondidos”, ou seja, aqueles que anteriormente eram desconsiderados pela historiografia, entrem na pauta de discussão.
Propostas de Fontes para Mirar os Rios na Perspectiva da História Ambiental: O caso dos rios Parnaíba e São Francisco
Authors: Silvério Gandara Gercinair
Published: June 2016

Há uma pluralidade de fontes de natureza técnica, literária e historiográfica. Minha  pretensão aqui é apresentar e discutir as diferentes fontes condizentes com as abordagens da História  Social e Ambiental, para mirar os rios tendo como exemplo desse cenário os rios Parnaíba e São  Francisco objetos da pesquisa que desenvolvo no Programa Nacional de Pós-Doutorado. As “cidades-beira” pela importância que assumem ao longo dos rios se destacam como fontes privilegiadas e  imprescindíveis. Destarte busco compreender as influências que ambos os rios e a navegação em fase  promissora em seus dorsos exerceu na vida cotidiana urbana, política e administrativa das/nas cidades que lhes margeiam.
Saúde na Comunidade de Paises de Língua Portuguesa: Aspectos de internacionalização da pesquisa na malária
Authors: Estólio do Rosário Virgílio
Published: June 2016

A internacionalização através da língua pode em muito facilitar a execução de um programa de apoio ao desenvolvimento de um País, sobretudo a nível do ensino superior. A velocidade com que a tecnologia social tem servido o mundo, inclui também o denominado terceiro mundo/em desenvolvimento em que a pobreza e a falta de condições sanitárias são causa de elevada morbidade e mortalidade, ressurgimento de epidemias por agentes conhecidos, e onde as doenças respiratórias/nutrição são das maiores causas de mortalidade.Equilibrar os diversos factores em jogo na saúde inclui a necessidade de criar redes de interacção entre departamentos governamentais diferentes, sejam secretarias de Estado sejam ministérios, das quais obviamente citamos os da Saúde, Educação Superior, Ciência e Tecnologia, Industria e Ambiente. Nestas redes deve-se integrar as instituições e fundações privadas e mesmo as missões religiosas com enorme papel nas regiões por vezes remotas.Raramente estão estes serviços em sintonia pelo que o trabalho do pesquisador que deseja ver aplicado seu conhecimento na melhoria da saúde dos povos se torna difícil. Alguns destes aspectos serão apresentados com comentários sobre a experiência do autor na criação de Rede de Pesquiza e Desenvolvimento tendo por base a Língua Portuguesa.
Risks and Benefits with International Technology Transfer from Brazil to Angola
Authors: Vaisman Rafael
Published: June 2016

Thanks to the transfer of technology from Brazil, Angola is entering the sucroalcooleiro sector with multiple aims. These include creating jobs in rural areas, diversifying the energy mix and boosting exports. Angola is one of the countries that has envisioned international technology transfer as a strategy to increase participation in the global market, while decreasing its dependence on sugar imports. While the production of ethanol and sugar can bring about some benefits, technology transfer in this area is not without risks. It needs to be carefully crafted and executed, especially in accordance with the principles of sustainable development, which is by the government plan of Angola to include, rather than exclude, the rural poor. This study shows that stakeholders presented different opinions in relation to Biocom and sustainable development. The main reason is linked to the distinction between global, national and local levels. On the global level, ITT and Biocom are seen as alternative renewable sources of energy (ethanol) to fossil fuels, on the local level there is a concern with the socio-environmental issues which local communities might face, indeed ITT and Biocom are perceived as a risk in case locals  lose their lands and do not receive compensation. On the national level, while there is the expectancy of employment, infrastructure development and attraction of investments in the country, there is a lack of trust in governance by Angolan civil society; which argues that Angolan government and enterprises do not encourage public participation nor allows it to happen. Technology transfer is perceived as a business and geopolitical strategy driven by private and state interests, undermining environmental and social costs. On the other hand technology transfer is seen as a key to foster economic opportunities towards sustainable development.
O Papel do Congresso Nacional no Processo de Formulação do Programa Nacional de Produção e Uso do Biodiesel (PNPB)
Authors: Pietrafesa Pedro Araújo , Pietrafesa José Paulo
Published: June 2016

O presente artigo tem o objetivo de analisar a participação parlamentar no processo de formulação do Programa Nacional de Produção e Uso do Biodiesel. O argumento central é que os congressistas são proativos e não apenas reativos às preferências da presidência da República, possuindo capacidades e competências para participarem da tomada de decisão dos órgãos de governo quanto às melhores alternativas referentes ao desenho das políticas públicas formuladas no interior do Executivo, e, dessa forma, desenvolvem ações e fazem determinadas escolhas no que diz respeito aos recursos, tempo e atenção que dedicarão às atividades de formulação de políticas públicas governamentais. A triangulação de metodologia permitirá observar com mais precisão a participação parlamentar no processo de formulação da política de introdução de uma nova matriz energética de combustíveis renováveis...Palavras-Chaves: Programa Nacional de Produção e Uso do Biodiesel; formulação de políticas públicas; relação Executivo-Legislativo; atuação parlamentar; redes de políticas públicas.
Princípios de Preservação Ambiental a Partir do Antigo Testamento da Bíblia Sagrada
Authors: Lima Fabrício Wantoil , Reimer Haroldo
Published: June 2016

O artigo apresenta o diálogo entre o Direito Ambiental e os textos bíblicos do antigo testamento da Bíblia Hebraica. Ousa-se propor novos princípios ambientais ou reformular alguns princípios nessa área, com fundamento na Bíblia Sagrada, na esperança de que possam contribuir com o Direito Ambiental contemporâneo. Os recursos naturais estão amplamente elencados nas escrituras sagradas e devem ser preservados para as presentes e futuras gerações. É irrefutável que o tema proposto é de suma importância. O presente artigo é proveniente de uma pesquisa do tipo bibliográfica e qualitativa, na área do Direito Ambiental e das Ciências da Religião. Definiu-se pelo seguinte problema: As dimensões ambientais dos textos bíblicos podem contribuir para a formação de princípios no âmbito do Direito Ambiental hodierno?Palavras-Chaves: Princípios. Direito Ambiental. Escrituras Sagradas. Meio Ambiente.
Les Élites Politiques et la Ville: Le réseau urbain du Goiás dans les domaines portugais de l’Amérique
Authors: Lemes Fernando Lobo
Published: June 2016

Dans cet article nous proposons d´analiser les mecanismes utilisés pour les élites politiques de Vila Boaqui ont comme but élargir leurs pouvoirs à l'intérieur de laville. Envisageant cet objectif, la stratégie mise en scène pour les officiers municipaux considère sourtout les mécanismes de pression sur les économies des autres noyaux urbains, éparpillés sur le territoire du Goias pendant le XVIIIe siècle. Autour de cette configuration, il est indispensable élargir notre champ d’observation afin de comprendre les événements et les relations tissées dans le champ politique du Goiás. En fait, un vrai réseau urbain s'ouvrait avec toutes les possibilités virtuelles de domination économique, s'ajoutant aux autres activités qui agissaient en tant qu’éléments attractifs pour les groupes politiques locaux...Mots-Clés: Élites Politiques; Réseau Urbain du Goiás; Portugais de l’Amérique.
Medo e Polidrogadição como Consequências do Uso de Crack por Moradores de Rua
Authors: Spadoni Lila , Br Sandra , Machado Junior Cilas , Souza Jonatan Martins , Silva Neto Conjeto , Carvalho Jéssica , Gonçalves Carol
Published: June 2016

Estudos indicam que a drogadição é praticada por moradores de rua, aumentando a vulnerabilidade de acesso ao crack. O objetivo deste artigo é identificar as sensações e os sentimentos que usuários de crack, vivendo em situação de rua, possuem quando usam essa droga. Trata-se de pesquisa qualitativa, descritivo-exploratória, tendo como sujeitos do estudo moradores de rua atendidos em comunidade terapêutica. O Grupo Focal foi o método de coleta de dados, os quais foram submetidos à análise temática de conteúdo, segundo Bardin. Foram organizados quatro grupos focais com 6 a 7 participantes por grupo, num total de 26...Palavras-Chave: Moradores de Rua; Abuso de Drogas; Medo.
Pré-História no Cerrado: Análises antracologicas dos abrigos de Santa Elina e da Cidade de Pedra (Mato Grosso)
Authors: Bachelet Caroline
Published: June 2016

Estudo de macro-restos vegetais carbonizados descobertos em contexto arqueológico fornecem dados importantes sobre os comportamentos de subsistência e o ambiente onde as populações pré-históricas viviam. Este artigo apresenta os resultados das análises antracologicas de fogueiras, concentrações de carvões e tições, de cinco abrigos localizados no sul do Mato Grosso, datados do final do Pleistoceno até o Holoceno. A partir das identificações taxonômicas, os objetivos são de reconstruir os diversos aspectos da utilização dos recursos vegetais por caçadores-coletores (práticas de coleta, espécies coletadas, critérios de seleção, área de abastecimento, etc.) e a paleovegetação ao redor dos sítios. Os resultados indicam que os grupos praticavam uma coleta de lenha oportunista nas formações vegetais próximo dos abrigos, e principalmente focada sobre a madeira seca. A paisagem e o clima eram provavelmente parecidos do que caracteriza a região atualmente, o seja uma flora típica do bioma Cerrado e um clima tropical sazonal.Palavras-Chave: Antracologia; Paleoetnobotânica; Pré-Historia; Brasil.
Pesquisa em História da Educação: Acervos, arquivos e a utilização de fontes
Authors: Vasconcelos Maria Celi Chaves
Published: June 2016

O artigo apresenta procedimentos metodológicos utilizados em investigações realizadas na área de história da educação, reunindo dois campos do conhecimento, a história e a pedagogia, com a finalidade de demonstrar possibilidades de trabalho com acervos, arquivos e fontes. Nessa perspectiva, tem como objetivo abordar aspectos da pesquisa documental, averiguando suas contribuições à investigação histórica, por meio de categorias significativas para estudos qualitativos, entre elas, a literatura, a imprensa periódica, a iconografia e egodocumentos, tomados como fontes. Além disso, discute-se a educação feminina, nas dimensões que possibilitam sua investigação, considerando que, normalmente, esses registros encontram-se velados, especialmente quando se trata de instituições católicas, seculares, existentes desde tempos já não mais testemunhados...Palavras-Chave: Pesquisa histórica; História da educação; Acervos; Arquivos; Fontes de pesquisa.
Expressões da Violência na Escola: Rupturas e desafios em debate
Authors: Santos Sheila Daniela Medeiros
Published: June 2016

Esta pesquisa objetivou analisar o modo como as crianças representam a violência na escola, assim como o impacto da experiência de violência nas relações que se instauram no contexto escolar. Para concretizar esse estudo utilizou-se os dados de uma pesquisa qualitativa (Lüdke e André 1986) realizada anteriormente em uma escola pública de ensino fundamental, localizada em Campinas, São Paulo. As análises do material empírico, ancoradas na perspectiva histórico-cultural em Psicologia (Vigotski 1999), evidenciaram fundamentalmente dois aspectos: as crianças recorrem a diferentes modos de linguagem (produções gráficas: desenhos e escrita; gestos;...Palavras-Chave: Violência; Linguagem; Escola; Crianças; Pesquisa Qualitativa.
Game Analysis on Urban Rail Transit Project Under Governmental Investment Regulation
Authors: Yuan Liangliang , Wang Yousong , Huang Honghui
Published: June 2016

Urban rail transit is the construction project under the planning and huge investment of the government. How to effectively conduct investment regulation and control becomes the core question that the government departments are concerned about. In this paper, the relations among government, owner and contractor are studied and the static and dynamic game model is built for behaviors among each subject from the perspective of governmental investment regulation through game theory. Game analysis result shows: (1) the lower the governmental regulation cost the heavier the government's punishment for the owner due to its fail in due diligence and the more the owner's possibility of strict scrutiny; (2) the higher the owner's examination the less willing the owner to conduct narrow examination and the more contractor’s possibility to choose fraudulent conducts; (3) In case of higher income of owner and contractor under their collusion strategy and lower cost of governmental regulation, the owner and contractor can adopt collusion strategy while the government can adopt regulatory strategy. In case of lower income of owner and contractor under their collusion strategy and higher cost of governmental regulation, the owner and contractor should not adopt collusion strategy while the government should adopt regulatory strategy. The research result provides theoretical basis for the government to formulate relevant policies for investment regulation of urban rail transit project.
Cancer Patient’s Contribution to Reduce Chemotherapy Related Burden of Travel: What Would Chemotherapy Patients Agree to Do?
Authors: Groux P. , Anchisi S. , Szucs T.
Published: June 2016

Objective:

Many patients describe travel to cancer treatment as inconvenient and a practical hardship and it may be perceived or experienced as a barrier to treatment. We investigated whether all patients who came for chemotherapy would theoretically accept an alternative solution to reduce the number of journeys. The aim was to characterize and quantify the acceptance of these alternatives and to identify groups of patients who could be interested in alternative solutions.

Method:

All patients coming in February 2012 for chemotherapy to one of the four centres of the hospital or to the unique private practice were asked to answer a survey. Eight options to reduce the number of travels were proposed to patients undergoing chemotherapy with five possible answers “Yes”, “rather yes”, “rather no”, “No” and “I don’t know”. Impact of travel time, gender, age and the number of persons living in the same household on the results was analysed.

Results:

130 patients (62%) answered all requested questions. Acceptance of offered options varies from not acceptable at all to acceptable for a small majority of patients. Distance to travel impacts the answers for some options.

Conclusion:

Some alternatives were acceptable for some groups of patients. Particularly the transfer of the drug intake to the practice of the family doctor or preferably at home of the patient enjoyed some acceptance. These options should be investigated in further studies.
Different wavelengths of light on GnRH mRNA, LH, steroid hormones and egg lay in the ageing hens (Gallus gallus domesticus).
Authors: Ippala* Janardhan Reddy , Mishra Ashish , S. Mondal , C. David G. , G. Ravi Kiran , Awachat Vaibhav
Published: June 2016

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of red spectrum of light (650nm, treated n=12) and normal spectrum of light (450nm control=12) on circulating concentrations of luteinizing hormone (LH), progesterone (P4), estradiol (E2β), GnRH mRNA, pause days and egg production in birds later in the reproductive period from 92-102weeks of age. Twenty-four White Leghorn birds of same age group were divided into two groups of 12 in each as control and treated. Birds in the control group were exposed to normal spectrum of light (450nm of length) and birds in the treated group were exposed to red spectrum of light (650nm, treated n=12). Egg production and inter sequence pauses were recorded daily from both the groups. Plasma LH, E2β and P4 concentrations were estimated in blood samples collected at weekly intervals. At 97th weeks of age, blood samples from treated and control birds were obtained every 3 h for 36 h to study the surges of LH. It was found that plasma GnRH was higher (p < 0. 01) in treated birds with high concentrations of LH, its 3 h LH surges, E2β and P4 in plasma. Higher egg production, less pause days in treated birds may be the result of high GnRH associated with positively correlated responses of high concentrations of LH (with regular interval and duration of LH surges), E2β and P4 concentration required for completion of egg formation and oviposition. In conclusion, red spectrum of light enhanced GnRH mRNA (p < 0. 01), increased (p < 0. 01) steroid hormones and LH surges, for egg formation and oviposition and enabled the birds to lay more eggs even later in the productive period with the available resources under normal husbandry practices.
Age and growth pattern of the thin-lipped mullet Liza Ramada in the Eastern coast of Libya.
Authors: Khalifa Manal M. , Ali Ramadan A. S. , Elawad* Abdalla N. , ElMor Mohammad El.
Published: June 2016

Age and growth characteristics of the thin-lipped Grey Mullet (Liza ramada) were investigated in Eastern coast of Libya. Aging was done by two methods: counting annuli on scales and by length frequency distribution, a total of 218 scales were studied for age determination, in addition of 334 fishes specimen for length frequency distribution reading. Four age groups were determined from scale reading, and five age groups from length frequency distribution methods, the parameters of the Von Bertalanffy growth equation for both sex of all individuals were estimated at 35.4 cm, 0.187 per year, -1.14 years and 2.4, for male were estimated at 35.7 cm, 0.17 per year, -1.367 and 2.3, for female were 38.6 cm, 0.156 per year, -1.383 and 2.4, for L∞, k and t0, and φ′, respectively.
Flocculent Settling of Food Wastes
Authors: Chowdhury Mohammad Monirul Islam , Kim Mingu , Haroun Basem Mikhaeil , Nakhla George , Keleman Michael
Published: June 2016

This study evaluated the flocculent settling in water and municipal wastewater (MWW) in a 10.6 ft deep column. A total of eight runs at three different testing conditions involving MWW alone, food waste (FW) alone, and FW in MWW (FW+MWW) were conducted. Total suspended solid (TSS), total BOD (TBOD), total COD (TCOD), total nitrogen (TN), and total phosphorous (TP) removal efficiencies after 3 hours of settling were 62%, 46%, 49%, 46% and 62% for FW, and 50%, 43%, 39%, 37% and 24% for MWW. Removal efficiencies of particulate COD (PCOD) and particulate BOD (PBOD) at the lowest surface overflow rate (SOR) of 1.1 m3/m2/hr corresponding to the longest settling time of 3 hours were 59% and 64% for FW, and 65% and 70% for FW with MWW samples. On the other hand, no significant variation between FW and FW with MWW was observed for PN removal after 3 hours of settling.
O-GlcNAcylation of Orphan Nuclear Receptor Estrogen-Related Receptor γ Promotes Hepatic Gluconeogenesis
Authors: Misra Jagannath , Kim Don-Kyu , Jung Yoon Seok , Kim Han Byeol , Kim Yong-Hoon , Yoo Eun-Kyung , Kim Byung Gyu , Kim Sunghoon , Lee In-Kyu , Harris Robert A. , Kim Jeong-Sun , Lee Chul-Ho , Cho Jin Won , Choi Hueng-Sik
Published: June 2016

Estrogen-related receptor γ (ERRγ) is a major positive regulator of hepatic gluconeogenesis. Its transcriptional activity is suppressed by phosphorylation signaled by insulin in the fed state, but whether posttranslational modification alters its gluconeogenic activity in the fasted state is not known. Metabolically active hepatocytes direct a small amount of glucose into the hexosamine biosynthetic pathway, leading to protein O-GlcNAcylation. In this study, we demonstrate that ERRγ is O-GlcNAcylated by O-GlcNAc transferase in the fasted state. This stabilizes the protein by inhibiting proteasome-mediated protein degradation, increasing ERRγ recruitment to gluconeogenic gene promoters. Mass spectrometry identifies two serine residues (S317, S319) present in the ERRγ ligand-binding domain that are O-GlcNAcylated. Mutation of these residues destabilizes ERRγ protein and blocks the ability of ERRγ to induce gluconeogenesis in vivo. The impact of this pathway on gluconeogenesis in vivo was confirmed by the observation that decreasing the amount of O-GlcNAcylated ERRγ by overexpressing the deglycosylating enzyme O-GlcNAcase decreases ERRγ-dependent glucose production in fasted mice. We conclude that O-GlcNAcylation of ERRγ serves as a major signal to promote hepatic gluconeogenesis.
Nck2 Deficiency in Mice Results in Increased Adiposity Associated With Adipocyte Hypertrophy and Enhanced Adipogenesis
Authors: Dusseault Julie , Li Bing , Haider Nida , Goyette Marie-Anne , Côté Jean-François , Larose Louise
Published: June 2016

Obesity results from an excessive expansion of white adipose tissue (WAT) from hypertrophy of preexisting adipocytes and enhancement of precursor differentiation into mature adipocytes. We report that Nck2-deficient mice display progressive increased adiposity associated with adipocyte hypertrophy. A negative relationship between the expression of Nck2 and WAT expansion was recapitulated in humans such that reduced Nck2 protein and mRNA levels in human visceral WAT significantly correlate with the degree of obesity. Accordingly, Nck2 deficiency promotes an adipogenic program that not only enhances adipocyte differentiation and lipid droplet formation but also results in dysfunctional elevated lipogenesis and lipolysis activities in mouse WAT as well as in stromal vascular fraction and 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. We provide strong evidence to support that through a mechanism involving primed PERK activation and signaling, Nck2 deficiency in adipocyte precursors is associated with enhanced adipogenesis in vitro and adiposity in vivo. Finally, in agreement with elevated circulating lipids, Nck2-deficient mice develop glucose intolerance, insulin resistance, and hepatic steatosis. Taken together, these findings reveal that Nck2 is a novel regulator of adiposity and suggest that Nck2 is important in limiting WAT expansion and dysfunction in mice and humans.
‘‘Silver Sagebrush Community Associations in Southeastern Alberta, Canada’’: A Response
Authors: Jones Paul F. , Penniket Roy , Fent Livio ,   Society for Range Management
Published: June 2016

Habitat, or resource selection, studies are a keystone discipline in wildlife conservation and management. Historically, resource selection studies were completed at a single scale, usually the site level, because of a lack of landscape-level data. With the advent of faster computers and geographical information systems, analysis at more than one scale is possible and desirable (Manly et al. 2002). For greater sage grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus ) in Alberta, Canada,the analysis of resource selection has been completed at the site scale (Aldridge 2000; Aldridge and Brigham 2002). A lack of spatial data, characterizing ecological sites or habitat types, impeded the analysis of resource selection by sage grouse at the landscape level.
Soil Attributes in a Sierra Nevada Riparian Meadow as Influenced by Grazing
Authors: Blank Robert R. , Svejcar Tony , Riegel Gregg ,   Society for Range Management
Published: June 2016

Data on the effects of livestock grazing on soil nutrient availability are virtually nonexistent for meadow systems. We measured the effect of livestock grazing on soil, emphasizing soil-solution chemistry, in a Sierra Nevada riparian meadow. Treatments were livestock exclusion (begun in 1989) and grazing to leave 1 000 kg ha-1 of vegetation. Ceramic tension lysimeters were placed in the treatments (2 replicates) by landscape position (stream edge, midfloodplain, and forest edge), and by depth (approximately 0.1, 0.6, and 1.2 m below the soil surface). Lysimeter water was extracted twice monthly in April, May, and June of 1990 through 1993, and cations and anions were quantified. In addition, KCl-extractable NO3 and NH4+– bicarbonate-extractable ortho-P; available Mn, Cu, Fe, and Zn; and root-length density (RLD) were quantified in soils by treatment, landscape position, and soil depth in July 1991 and September 1993. RLD was not affected by grazing. Significant (P 0.05) treatment effects were largely limited to the forest edge. The grazed treatment had greater lysimeter-extractable Na+, Ca+2, Mg+2, and NO3; higher pH; and less K+ and NH4+ than the excluded treatment. Compared with corresponding excluded treatments, bicarbonate-extractable P was significantly greater on the grazed forest edge, and available Mn was significantly greater at the grazed stream-edge position in 1991. Extractable NO3 was significantly higher in the 0-25 cm depth increment of the grazed treatment, and available Zn was significantly greater on the grazed midfloodplain position in 1993. Grazing did not result in more anoxic soil conditions than the excluded treatment. Grazing effects were most pronounced at the forest edge, possibly as a result of spatial transfer of nutrients via cow urine and feces. Management goals to sustain high-elevation meadows should emphasize maintenance of high RLD to sequester soil nutrients.
Book Review: Dragonflies and Damselflies of Texas and the South-Central United States, John C. Abbott
Authors: Scarnecchia David L. ,   Society for Range Management
Published: June 2016

Book Review: Dragonflies and Damselflies of Texas and the South-Central United States, John C. Abbott. Princeton University Press, Princeton, New Jersey (2005).
Grass Repellency to the Red Imported Fire Ant
Authors: Strenberg Troy , Perry Gad , Britton Carlton ,   Society for Range Management
Published: June 2016

The red imported fire ant (Solenopsis invicta Buren) is an invasive pest that causes ecological disturbance and economic damage to habitats worldwide. Since its introduction to the United States 75 years ago, the ant has spread across the southeast through Texas into California and causes over 6.5 billion in damages. Conventional control techniques have not proven effective or long-lasting, leading to a search for alternative methods. We examined the ability of WW-B.Dahl Old World bluestem (Bothriochloa bladhii [Retz] S.T. Blake), increasingly used in pastures, to limit or reduce ant infestations. Pastures planted with WW-B.Dahl had about one-third the fire ant mounds found in adjacent pastures of native grass or coastal bermuda (Cynodon dactylon [L.] Pers) grass, and the difference is statistically significant (P = 0.0006). No difference was found in the number of ants collected in bait cups or in mound vitality ratings, suggesting that more than one measure of ant infestation is needed to accurately assess ant populations. A reduction in fire ant mounds can improve the efficiency of haying operations and reduce wildlife impacts, suggesting broad uses for WW-B.Dahl in ant-infested areas.
Individual Animal Selection Has the Potential to Improve Uniformity of Grazing on Foothill Rangeland
Authors: Bailey Derek W. , VanWagoner Harv C. , Weinmeister Robin ,   Society for Range Management
Published: June 2016

Uneven grazing distribution is a concern in rugged topography, because resources may be adversely impacted if livestock concentrate in gentle terrain near water. A study was conducted to determine if removing cattle with undesirable distribution patterns has the potential to increase uniformity of grazing. Before the study, 2 herds of cattle were observed by horseback observers during early mornings to establish terrain use patterns of individual animals. Cows were ranked on slope use and observed vertical and horizontal distance to water. Based on these rankings, cows were assigned to 1 of 2 treatments, hill climbers (observed on steeper slopes and farther from water) or bottom dwellers (used gentler slopes near water). Hill climber and bottom dweller cows grazed similar, but separate, pastures at 2 ranches during the 3-year study for a total of 8 comparisons. Based on a normalized and integrated index of terrain use from visual observations, hill climber cows used steeper and more distant areas from water (P = 0.06) than bottom dwellers. Hill climber cows tracked by global positioning system collars used steeper and more distant areas from water than bottom dwellers (P 0.09) during the first 4 weeks of the 6 weeks that pastures were grazed based on a normalized index of terrain use. Forage utilization was more uniform (P < 0.05) across slopes and varying horizontal distances to water in pastures grazed by hill climbers than by bottom dwellers. Stubble heights in riparian and coulee bottom areas were higher (P = 0.01) when grazed by hill climber cows (13.3 cm) than by bottom dwellers (8.1 cm). This study demonstrates that cattle with divergent grazing patterns when observed in the same pasture continue to use different terrain when separated, and it suggests that individual animal selection has the potential to increase uniformity of grazing.
Fragmentation Effects on Soil Aggregate Stability in a Patchy Arid Grassland
Authors: Bestelmeyer Brandon T. , Ward Judy P. , Herrick Jeffrey E. ,   Society for Range Management
Published: June 2016

Soil aggregate stability (AS) has been promoted as a primary indicator of soil-surface function and a key metric in state-and-transition models. There are few studies, however, that relate indices of AS to the process of grassland degradation. In a Chihuahuan Desert rangeland, we measured variation in AS across vegetated-bare patch boundaries within six plot types reflecting a hypothesized fragmentation/transition sequence. We also examined wetting front depth and pH along this sequence. We found that AS exhibited consistent and interpretable variation across the patch boundaries of the different plot types. Average AS was highest in grass patches adjacent to small to medium-sized (0.5-1.5 m) bare patches and was low in grass patches adjacent to large (> 3 m) bare patches. AS of bare ground was also lowest when bare patches in continuous grassland were large and when bare ground formed an interconnected matrix. Wetting depth after a large storm decreased and pH increased along the fragmentation sequence. The results suggest that AS has interpretable relationships with grassland fragmentation and transitions among states. Careful attention to patchiness within states and stratification, however, is important and simple classifications of strata, such as ‘‘bare interspace’’ and ‘‘plant,’’ may not be sufficient to document variation in soil function.
Comparison of Comparative Yield and Stubble Height for Estimating Herbage Standing Crop in Annual Rangelands
Authors: George Melvin R. , Barry Sheila J. , Larson Stephanie R. ,   Society for Range Management
Published: June 2016

We compared calibration equations for estimating herbage standing crop (HSC) from comparative yield (CY) rank or stubble height (SH) to determine 1) if CY rank is a better estimator than SH of standing crop, 2) if addition of SH to CY rank will improve the estimation of standing crop, 3) if there is a seasonal effect on CY rank or SH, and 4) if botanical composition influences the prediction of HSC from CY. The results of this study indicate that CY is a slightly better predictor of HSC than is SH. Addition of SH to CY did not improve the prediction of HSC. Models that predict HSC from CY in summer were weaker than models for winter, early spring, and late spring. Thus the CY method can be used with confidence throughout the year. The presence of filaree (Erodium cicutarium L.) in winter and early spring resulted in steeper calibration equations than were present in nonfilaree quadrats.
Can Abundant Summer Precipitation Counter Losses in Herbage Production Caused by Spring Drought?
Authors: Heitschmidt R. K. , Vermeire L. T. ,   Society for Range Management
Published: June 2016

Drought is an inherent trait of most rangelands and sound management necessitates managers address two fundamental questions when facing a drought situation. The first question is, ‘‘what is the probability that a useful amount of precipitation will be received over the period of concern?’’ and the second question is, ‘‘if it does rain, what will the impact be in terms of quantity and quality of herbage produced?’’ The objective of this study was to address the second question. Our hypothesis was that herbage growth response to above normal summer precipitation (i.e., 23 in July and August) would be limited in the northern Great Plains because of a general absence of productive warm-season species. Study plots were twelve 5 X 10-m non-weighing lysimeters. Treatments were: 1) simulated (i.e., rainout shelter imposed), severe spring drought (i.e., 1 May - 1 July) followed by ambient precipitation thereafter; 2) simulated, severe spring drought followed by ambient precipitation thereafter plus summer irrigation (i.e., July and August); 3) ambient precipitation only; and 4) ambient precipitation plus summer irrigation. Results indicated substantial herbage production can be expected in this region during summer when precipitation is well above average because of the positive growth response of blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis [H.B.K.] Lag. ex Griffiths), the dominant warm-season grass growing in this region. However, results also showed that level of production in the study situation (i.e., spring drought, wet summer) was only about 50% of that attained in a normal (i.e., wet spring/dry summer) year. Moreover, long-term weather data shows the probability of receiving 23 normal precipitation in both July and August (i.e., our irrigation treatments) is < 1%. Thus, although these rangelands possess the capacity to respond favorably to summer precipitation, the low probability of receiving substantial levels of summer precipitation ensures levels of ecological and economic risk remain high.