bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Etnias y armas en Hispania: los escudos
Authors: García-Bellido Mª Paz
Published: July 2016

Se aborda la discusión actual sobre el concepto de etnicidad dando validez a su uso tal y como lo hicieron los griegos. Se analiza la simbología de las armas, especialmente la del escudo, como emblema étnico definitorio tanto de las poleis, las anfictionias o los estados. En muchos casos estos emblemas no han sido objetos reales sino creados a partir de un pasado heroico o de los sacra de una divinidad. Especial interés se adjudica a los escudos lusitanos, figurados en monedas romanas acuñadas en Hispania bajo Augusto.

[fr] Cet article, qui s’insère dans le débat actuel sur le concept d’ethnicité, reconnnaît une validité à celui-ci, à la manière dont l’entendaient les Grecs. Le symbolisme des armes est analysé, notamment celui du bouclier en tant qu’emblème ethnique qui définit aussi bien les poleis que les amphictyonies ou les États. Très souvent, ces emblèmes ne correspondaient pas à des objets réels, mais étaient forgés à partir d’un passé héroïque ou des sacra d’une divinité. Une attention particulière est portée aux boucliers lusitaniens fi gurant sur les monnaies romaines frappées en Hispania à l’époque d’Auguste.
GRAELLSIA 70 años después: la era digital
Authors: Martín Albaladejo Carolina , Camacho Ana I. , Ramos Marian A. , Nieves-Aldrey José Luis , Fernández José
Published: July 2016

En este artículo se pretende conmemorar los 70 años de existencia de la revista GRAELLSIA, evocando sus inicios, describiendo someramente su ya largo recorrido y dando la bienvenida a su publicación en formato digital.
Statistical quality control in concrete technology
Authors: Wogrin A.
Published: July 2016

Not available
El legado de Samuelson. La preferencia revelada
Authors: Salazar Elena Juan Carlos , Vázquez Hernández Francisco José
Published: July 2016

La fecunda obra del recientemente fallecido Paul A. Samuelson contiene aportaciones significativas en muy diversas áreas de la teoría económica. Premio Nobel de Economía en 1970 por contribuir activamente a elevar el nivel de análisis de la ciencia económica, es también conocida su labor divulgativa como autor de varios manuales que figuran entre los libros de texto universitarios más vendidos de la historia. Aunque no es fácil destacar una de sus contribuciones por encima de las demás, su teoría de la preferencia revelada abrió hace más de setenta años un fértil campo de investigación que ha sobrepasado el ámbito de la teoría del consumidor, estableciendo un puente que conduce a la reconciliación de la teoría económica con otras ciencias sociales.
¿Quién lidera y quién va a la zaga? Parlamenterias en los parlamentos autonómicos españoles
Authors: Santana Leitner Andrés , Aguilar Fernández Susana , Coller Porta Xavier
Published: July 2016

Mediante la aplicación de criterios sistemáticos, este trabajo realiza una descripción analítica de la evolución en el porcentaje de mujeres parlamentarias en los 17 parlamentos regionales españoles desde 1980 hasta 2011. Se analiza su fluctuante composición por género a través de umbrales, pautas de evolución y ritmo de los cambios. Estas dimensiones, poco estudiadas por la literatura sobre representación descriptiva, son cruciales a la hora de entender la creciente feminización del legislativo regional. El análisis identifica tres modelos de incorporación de las representantes, el precursor, el mixto y el rezagado, que proporcionan una valiosa información en relación con: a) cuándo se alcanzan las distintas ratios de mujeres frente a hombres, b) si la evolución en el número de parlamentarias es estable o no, y c) si los cambios son graduales o bruscos. Se comprueba que las cuotas legislativas de género tienen distintos efectos que dependen del modelo regional sobre el que se apliquen. Considerando el constante, y comparativamente rápido y homogéneo proceso de ‘feminización’ de los legislativos regionales, parece que su composición por género relativamente equilibrada está asegurada, así como el cumplimiento de las leyes de paridad.
Chronic Mental Illnesses and Homelessness
Authors: Kukreti Prerna , Khanna Prerna , Khanna Amit
Published: July 2016

Homelessness is a complex socio-economic problem complicated by individual attributes and risk factors. The burning issue of homelessness has been a subject of concern in the modern day world often stretching the existing administrative system to innovate and design models for managing the same. With the changing definitions of homelessness, the estimates have also varied across cultures and countries. Because of the inherent difficulty in studying homelessness, accurate estimates of the number of homeless are lacking. Most studies in the West report that approximately 288 per 10,000 people are homeless. With the accurate data on homelessness lacking, the estimates of mental illness amongst homeless is even more obscure. The prevalence of mental illness amongst homeless is higher than that compared to the general population. Researchers have theorized various stressors related to homelessness as precipitating factors of mental illness. There is dearth of literature on mental illness in homeless population which is representative of the homeless population at a national level.
Peer assessment in an Online Context
Authors: Pereira Alda , Tinoca Luis , Oliveira Isolina
Published: July 2016

In this work, making use of Tinoca, Oliveira and Pereira (2013) framework for assessment quality in digital contexts, we discuss the students' perspective about self and peer assessment practices in online environments. This research is based in the analysis of the students' perceptions in a fully online master's course being offered in a distance education university since 2007. We discuss the students' representations since that date until the present, reflecting on their roles as assessors, the challenges they faced, and the strategies they developed to overcome them. The results illustrate the participants' perceptions of self and peer assessment as innovative practices. There is a strong tendency throughout this period towards greater confidence with these practices, and increased trust in their peers' feedback and competence to share the assessment responsibility. Moreover, the transparency promoted by the sharing during the process and of the final products is recognized as crucial to support the participants' reflection process and competence development.
Designing Assessment, Assessing Instructional Design
Authors: Panke Stefanie
Published: July 2016

Assessment plays a vital role in delivering, evaluating, monitoring, improving and shaping learning experiences on the Web, at the desk and in the classroom. In the process of orchestrating educational technologies instructional designers are often confronted with the challenge of designing or deploying creative and authentic assessment techniques. For an instructional designer, the focus of assessment can be on individual learning, organizational improvement or the evaluation of educational technologies. A common question across these domains is how to translate pedagogical concepts such as authenticity and creativity into concrete practical applications and metrics. Educational technologies can support creative processes and offer connections to authentic contexts, just as well as they can curtail creativity and foster standardized testing routines. The chapter discusses theoretical frameworks and provides examples of the conceptual development and implementation of assessment approaches in three different areas: Needs assessment, impact assessment and classroom assessment.
As Life Itself
Authors: Mejías Esperanza , Monereo Carles
Published: July 2016

The authors present an innovative practice of authentic evaluation of competences carried out in the “teaching and learning strategies” course of the psychology degree. The evaluation proposal central to this course is based on a real, relevant and socializing practice context in which students have to act as counsellors to respond to a high-school teacher's request: to improve a teaching sequence or unit. In order for this authentic project to work and generate a gradual construction of learning, course teachers used a series of evaluation strategies directed at the assessment of both the result and the learning process and aimed at facilitating students' learning self-regulation and teachers' provision of educational help. Results show that students value the processes of formative assessment because they allow them to act in an authentic context. In turn, teachers are highly satisfied with the involvement and quality of the projects.
Precision and Reliability of the T-Scan III System
Authors: Koos Bernd
Published: July 2016

Precise analysis of occlusal contacts and occlusal force is a problem in functional diagnostics that has not yet been satisfactorily resolved, despite the fact that the deleterious consequences of an unbalanced occlusion are widespread and can be severe. In clinical practice, the present-day analysis of the occlusion is reduced to depicting force with color-marking foils that leave ink marks upon the teeth. However, these foils only indicate the localization of contacts, but do not describe reliably the occlusal force relationships. Precise analysis that incorporates time resolution and plots the distribution of forces within the occlusion is not possible when employing the traditional occlusal indicator methods. A detailed occlusal force and timing analysis can only be provided by performing a computer-assisted analysis, using the T-Scan III system (Tekscan, Inc. S. Boston, MA, USA), which records changing relative occlusal force levels and real-time occlusal contact sequence data with High Definition (HD) recording sensors. This chapter demonstrates the accuracy and reliability of this computer-based occlusal measurement method that reliably describes the time-dependent distribution of occlusal force evolution.
Joint Vibration Analysis (JVA)
Authors: Becker, DDS, FAGD Ray M.
Published: July 2016

This chapter describes Joint Vibration Analysis (JVA) technology that assesses pathological changes that can occur within the Temporomandibular joints. Joint Vibration Analysis (JVA) uses tissue accelerometers to objectively capture vibrations given off by structurally compromised internal TM Joint anatomy. The structural breakdown leads to altered mandibular movement patterns during chewing function. Different attributes of representative JVA vibrations have been shown to indicate the presence of various disease states often seen within the Temporomandibular Joint complex. After being recorded, the JVA software displays the various vibration waveforms for clinician analysis to determine the specific internal derangement present. This chapter provides an overview of the various vibratory waveforms that indicate TM Joint pathology and illustrates the utility of Joint Vibration Analysis as a Temporomandibular Joint diagnostic adjunct.
Study of Hardness and Corrosion Resistance of Electroless Ni-P-TiO2 Composite Coatings
Authors: Gadhari Prasanna , Sahoo Prasanta
Published: July 2016

Electroless nickel coatings are widely popular in various industrial sectors due to their excellent tribological properties. The present study considers optimization of coating parameters along with annealing temperature to improve microhardness and corrosion resistance of Ni-P-TiO2 composite coatings. Grey relational analysis is used to find out the optimal combination of coating parameters. From the analysis, it is confirmed that annealing temperature of the coating has the most significant effect and amount of titanium particles in the coating has some significant effect on corrosion properties of the coating. The same trend is observed in case of combined study of corrosion behavior and microhardness. The surface morphology, phase transformation and the chemical composition are examined using scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction analysis and energy dispersive analysis respectively. The Ni-P-TiO2 composite coating revealed nodular structure with almost uniform distribution of titanium particles and it turns in to crystalline structure after heat treatment.
A New Heuristic Function of Ant Colony System for Retinal Vessel Segmentation
Authors: Asad Ahmed Hamza , Azar Ahmad Taher , Hassanien Aboul Ella
Published: July 2016

The automatic segmentation of blood vessels in retinal images is the crucial stage in any retina diagnosis systems. This article discussed the impact of two improvements to the previous baseline approach for automatic segmentation of retinal blood vessels based on the ant colony system. The first improvement is in features where the length of previous features vector used in segmentation is reduced to the half since four less significant features are replaced by a new more significant feature when applying the correlation-based feature selection heuristic. The second improvement is in ant colony system where a new probability-based heuristic function is applied instead of the previous Euclidean distance based heuristic function. Experimental results showed the improved approach gives better performance than baseline approach when it is tested on DRIVE database of retinal images. Also, the statistical analysis demonstrated that was no statistically significant difference between the baseline and improved approaches in the sensitivity (0.7388± 0.0511 vs. 0.7501±0.0385, respectively; P = 0.4335). On the other hand, statistically significant improvements were found between the baseline and improved approaches for specificity and accuracy (P = 0.0024 and 0.0053, respectively). It was noted that the improved approach showed an increase of 1.1% in the accuracy after applying the new probability-based heuristic function.
Agricultural Productivity in Indonesian Provinces
Authors: Tan Khee Giap , Merdikawati Nurina , Rajan Ramkishen S.
Published: July 2016

Indonesia has been recognized as a country with significant potential in agriculture, not only to be self-sufficient in terms of food, but also to be the “food basket” for the world. However, given limited and competing use of resources, raising agricultural productivity is of paramount importance. To date, most of the existing work on Indonesia's agricultural sector is at the national level. Considering the extent of Indonesia's regional diversity, a provincial-level analysis of the country's agricultural sector would be more useful from a policy perspective. In this light, this paper examines agricultural productivity growth in Indonesian provinces during 2000-2011 and draws policy implications from such empirical analysis. The paper uses two methodologies, namely growth accounting and Malmquist index data envelopment analysis. Results suggest that technological change has been improving for most provinces, though there is wide variation in technical efficiency change which in turn is driving differences in total factor productivity growth across provinces.
A Based-Rule Method to Transform CIM to PIM into MDA
Authors: Rhazali Yassine , Hadi Youssef , Mouloudi Abdelaziz
Published: July 2016

The model transformation is the most interesting part into MDA. Indeed, two transformations exist between three levels of MDA. Most searches cover the transformation from PIM to PSM. However, a little of approaches allow transforming CIM to PIM. This paper represents an approach allows mastering transformation from CIM to PIM into MDA. This approach is based on good CIM level through selected rules allowing provide rich models that facilitate the transformation to PIM level. Afterwards, the authors determine a concentrated PIM level with main design models established through use case diagram, state diagram, and package diagram. Next, to ensure a semi-automatic transformation from CIM to PIM the researchers specify a set of well-chosen transformation rules. For respecting MDA approach the authors consider the business dimension in CIM level by using business modeling standards of OMG (BPMN and activity diagram). However, the researchers focus on UML diagrams to establish PIM models because UML is recommended by MDA in PIM level.
Techniques for Skin, Face, Eye and Lip Detection using Skin Segmentation in Color Images
Authors: Hajiarbabi Mohammadreza , Agah Arvin
Published: July 2016

Face detection is a challenging and important problem in Computer Vision. In most of the face recognition systems, face detection is used in order to locate the faces in the images. There are different methods for detecting faces in images. One of these methods is to try to find faces in the part of the image that contains human skin. This can be done by using the information of human skin color. Skin detection can be challenging due to factors such as the differences in illumination, different cameras, ranges of skin colors due to different ethnicities, and other variations. Neural networks have been used for detecting human skin. Different methods have been applied to neural networks in order to increase the detection rate of the human skin. The resulting image is then used in the detection phase. The resulting image consists of several components and in the face detection phase, the faces are found by just searching those components. If the components consist of just faces, then the faces can be detected using correlation. Eye and lip detections have also been investigated using different methods, using information from different color spaces. The speed of face detection methods using color images is compared with other face detection methods.
Discriminative Moment Feature Descriptors for Face Recognition
Authors: Singh Geetika , Chhabra Indu
Published: July 2016

Zernike Moment (ZM) is a promising technique to extract invariant features for face recognition. It has been modified in previous studies to Discriminative ZM (DZM), which selects most discriminative features to perform recognition, and shows improved results. The present paper proposes modification of DZM, named Modified DZM (MDZM), which selects coefficients based on their discriminative ability by considering extent of variability between their class-averages. This reduces within-class variations while maintaining between-class differences. The study also investigates this idea of feature selection on recently introduced Polar Complex Exponential Transform (PCET) (named discriminative or DPCET). Performance of the techniques is evaluated on ORL, Yale and FERET databases against pose, illumination, expression and noise variations. Accuracy improves up to 3.1% by MDZM at reduced dimensions over ZM and DZM. DPCET shows 1.9% of further improvement at less computational complexity. Performance is also tested on LFW database and compared with many other state-of-art approaches.
Adaptation of the JDL Model for Multi-Sensor National Cyber Security Data Fusion
Authors: Swart Ignatius , Irwin Barry , Grobler Marthie M.
Published: July 2016

The potential attack surface of a nation is large and no single source of cyber security data provides all the required information to accurately describe the cyber security readiness of a nation. There are a variety of specialised data sources available to assess the state of a nation in key areas such as botnets, spam servers and incorrectly configured hosts. By applying data fusion principles, the potential exists to provide a representative view of all combined data sources. This research will examine a variety of currently available Internet data sources and apply it to an adapted Joint Directors of Laboratories (JDL) data fusion model in order to illustrate the potential gains and current limitations. The JDL model has been adapted to suit national level cyber sensor data fusion with the aim to formally define and reduce data ambiguity and enhance fusion capability in a real world system. A case study highlights the results of applying available open source security information against the model to relate to the current South African cyber landscape.
Immunological Consequences of Epithelial–Mesenchymal Transition in Tumor Progression
Authors: Chockley Peter J. , Keshamouni Venkateshwar G.
Published: July 2016

Microenvironments that tumor cells encounter are different during the stages of cancer progression—primary tumor, metastasis, and at the metastatic site. This suggests potential differences in immune surveillance of primary tumor and metastasis. Epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a key reversible process in which cancer cells transition into highly motile and invasive cells for dissemination. Only a tiny proportion successfully metastasize, supporting the notion of metastasis-specific immune surveillance. EMT involves extensive molecular reprogramming of cells conferring many clinically relevant features to cancer cells and affects tumor cell interactions within the tumor microenvironment. We review the impact of tumor immune infiltrates on tumor cell EMT and the consequences of EMT in shaping the immune microenvironment of tumors. The usefulness of EMT as a model to investigate metastasis-specific immune surveillance mechanisms are also explored. Finally, we discuss potential implications of EMT for tumor immunogenicity, as well as current immunotherapies and future strategies.
A Patient-Held Medical Record Integrating Depression Care into Diabetes Care
Authors: Satoh-Asahara Noriko , Ito Hiroto , Akashi Tomoyuki , Yamakage Hajime , Kotani Kazuhiko , Nagata Daisuke , Nakagome Kazuyuki , Noda Mitsuhiko
Published: July 2016

Purpose

Depression is frequently observed in people with diabetes. The purpose of this study is to develop a tool for individuals with diabetes and depression to communicate their comorbid conditions to health-care providers.

Method

We searched the Internet to review patient-held medical records (PHRs) of patients with diabetes and examine current levels of integration of diabetes and depression care in Japan.

Results

Eight sets of PHRs were found for people with diabetes. All PHRs included clinical follow-up of diabetes and multidisciplinary clinical pathways for diabetes care. No PHRs included depression monitoring and/or treatment. In terms of an integrated PHR for a patient comorbid with diabetes and depression, necessary components include hopes/preferences, educational information on diabetes complications and treatment, medical history, stress and coping, resources, and monitoring diabetes and depression.

Conclusion

A new PHR may be suitable for comorbid patients with diabetes and depression.
In-situ and Denuder Based Measurements of Elemental and Reactive Gaseous Mercury with Analysis by Laser-Induced Fluorescence. Results from the Reno Atmospheric Mercury Intercomparison Experiment
Authors: Hynes Anthony J. , Everhart Stephanie , Bauer Dieter , Remeika James , Ernest Cheryl Tatum
Published: July 2016

Abstract. The University of Miami (UM) deployed a sequential two photon laser-induced fluorescence (2P-LIF) instrument for the in-situ measurement of gaseous elemental mercury, Hg(0), during the Reno Atmospheric Mercury Intercomparison Experiment (RAMIX) campaign. A number of extended sampling experiments, typically lasting 6–8 hours but on one occasion extending to ~ 24 hours, were conducted allowing the 2P-LIF measurements of Hg(0) concentrations to be compared with two independently operated instruments using gold amalgamation sampling coupled with Cold Vapor Atomic Fluorescence Spectroscopic (CVAFS) analysis. At the highest temporal resolution, ~ 5 minute samples, the three instruments measured concentrations that agreed to within 10–25 %. Measurements of total gaseous mercury (TGM) were made by using pyrolysis to convert total oxidized mercury (TOM) to Hg(0). TOM was then obtained by difference. Variability in the ambient Hg(0) concentration limited our sensitivity for measurement of ambient TOM using this approach. In addition, manually sampled KCl coated annular denuders were deployed and analyzed using thermal dissociation coupled with single photon LIF detection of Hg(0). The TOM measurements obtained were normally consistent with KCl denuder measurements obtained with two Tekran speciation systems and with the manual KCl denuder measurements but with very large uncertainty. They were typically lower than measurements reported by the University of Washington (UW) Detector for Oxidized Hg Species (DOHGS) system. The ability of the 2P-LIF pyrolysis system to measure TGM was demonstrated during one of the manifold HgBr2 spikes but the results did not agree well with those reported by the DOHGS system. We suggest that instrumental artifacts make a substantial contribution to the discrepancies in the reported measurements over the course of the RAMIX campaign. This suggests that caution should be used in drawing significant implications for the atmospheric cycling of mercury.
Vertical and horizontal variation of aerosol number size distribution in the boreal environment
Authors: Väänänen Riikka , Krejci Radovan , Manninen Hanna E. , Manninen Antti , Lampilahti Janne , Buenrostro Mazon Stephany , Nieminen Tuomo , Yli-Juuti Taina , Kontkanen Jenni , Asmi Ari , Aalto Pasi P. , Keronen Petri , Pohja Toivo , O'Connor Ewan , Kerminen Veli-Matti , Petäjä Tuukka , Kulmala Markku
Published: July 2016

Abstract. This study explores the vertical and horizontal variability of the particle number size distribution from two flight measurements campaigns over a boreal forest in Hyytiälä, Finland during May–June 2013 and March–April 2014, respectively. Our other aims were to study the spatial extent of new particle formation events and to compare the airborne observation with the ground measurements from the SMEAR II (Station for Measuring Ecosystem-Atmosphere Relations) field station located in Hyytiälä. The airborne measurements extended vertically 3.8 km and horizontally 30 km from the station. A Cessna 172 aircraft was used as a measurement platform. The measured parameters included the particle number concentration (> 3 nm) and particle number size distribution (10–400 nm). The airborne data used in this study were equal to 111 flight hours. The measurements showed that despite local fluctuations there was a good agreement between the on-ground and airborne measurements inside the planetary boundary layer. On median, the airborne total number concentration was found to be 10 % larger than at the ground level. The seasonal and meteorological differences between the campaigns were reflected in aerosol properties. NPF days showed areas of intensified NPF on a scale from kilometres up to couple of tens of kilometres in the planetary boundary layer. NPF was also observed frequently in the free troposphere.
Linking phosphorus and potassium deficiency to microbial methane cycling in rice
paddies
Authors: Sheng Rong , Chen Anlei , Zhang Miaomiao , Whiteley Andrew S. , Kumaresan Deepak , Wei Wenxue
Published: July 2016

Abstract. Phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) availability in soil are crucial for the growth and development of resident microorganisms, which in turn modulate local and global carbon emissions from the terrestrial biosphere. Carbon dioxide and methane are key climate active soil emissions, the latter being 25 times more active than CO2 on a per unit basis and its biological production regulated by the balance of activities of key production (methanogenic) and consumption (methanotrophic) taxa. Here, we assessed whether deficiencies in P and K modulated the activities of methanogens, methanotrophs, or both in long term (20 yr) experimental systems undergoing limitation in either one or both nutrients. Biogeochemical measures of methane production, in tandem with mcrA (methanogen) and pmoA (methanotroph) activity under nutrient limitation demonstrated that P deficiency significantly reduced methane flux rates, whereas K deficiency did not. Under P deficiency, methanotroph transcript copy number significantly increased in tandem with a decrease in methanogen transcript activity, suggesting that P deficiency reduced CH4 emissions via reduced methane production in tandem with an increased methane consumption potential. Assessments of community structures based upon transcript or gene abundance indicated transcriptional activities were more sensitive to P and K deficiency than DNA copy number, with phosphorus deficiency inducing greater shifts in the active methanotroph community than for potassium deficiency. In contrast, both phosphorus and potassium deficiencies exhibited similar community structures of active methanogens at the mRNA level, suggesting that methane emissions from paddy soils under nutrient limitation are regulated at the transcriptional level and not the methanogen/methanotroph population size.
Air-water CO2 evasion from U.S. East Coast estuaries
Authors: Goossens Nicolas , Laruelle Goulven Gildas , Arndt Sandra , Cai Wei - Jun , Regnier Pierre
Published: July 2016

Abstract. This study presents the first regional-sca–45° N). The focus is on 43 tidal estuaries, which together drain a catchment of 697 103 km2 or 76 % of the total area within this latitudinal band. The approach is based on the Carbon – Generic Estuarine Model (C-GEM) that allows simulating hydrodynamics, transport and biogeochemistry for a wide range of estuarine systems using readily available geometric parameters and global databases of seasonal climatic, hydraulic, and riverine biogeochemical information. Together, US East coast estuaries emit 1.9 TgC yr−1, which correspond to about 40 % of the carbon inputs from rivers, marshes and mangroves. Carbon removal within estuaries results from a combination of physical (outgassing of supersaturated riverine waters) and biogeochemical processes (net heterotrophy and nitrification). The CO2 evasion and its underlying drivers show important variations across individual systems, but reveal a clear latitudinal pattern characterized by a decrease in the relative importance of physical over biogeochemical processes along a North-South gradient. Finally, results reveal that the ratio of estuarine surface area to the river discharge, S/Q (which has a scale of per meter discharged water per year), could be used as a predictor of the estuarine carbon processing in future regional and global scale assessments.
Non-destructive evaluation of moisture content in wood by using Ground Penetrating Radar
Authors: Reci Hamza , Maï Tien Chinh , Sbartaï Zoubir Mehdi , Pajewski Lara , Kiri Emanuela
Published: July 2016

Abstract. This paper presents the results of a series of laboratory measurements carried out to study how the Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) signal is affected by moisture variation in wood material. The effects of the wood fiber direction, with respect to the polarisation of the electromagnetic field, are investigated. The relative permittivity of wood and the amplitude of the electric field received by the radar are measured for different humidity levels, by using the direct-wave method in Wide Angle Radar Reflection configuration, where one GPR antenna is moved while the other is kept in a fixed position. The received signal is recorded for different separations between transmitting and receiving antennas. Direct waves are compared to reflected waves: it is observed that they show a different behaviour when the moisture content varies, due to their different propagation paths.
Race, Intersectionality, and Affect in Postapartheid Productions of the “Afrikaans White Woman”
Authors: van der Westhuizen Christi
Published: July 2016

In South Africa, race has been subverted by the fall of official apartheid. Specifically, the “invisibilization” of black others is overturned and white-black relationality problematized, thereby deeply troubling whiteness. However, the logic of race continues to reverberate through social relations against a global backdrop in which this category proves remarkably adaptable as purveyor of inequality. The end of official apartheid is not the end of the power effects of the apartheid discourse. The postapartheid field is a site of contestation over previously normalized hierarchies, including over gender and class. Applying a discourse analysis to texts generated in research interviews with respondents who self-identified as women, white, Afrikaans-speaking, and middle class, this study finds attempts at re-securing race. First, the strategy of “elision and misattribution” seeks to recuperate apartheid's racial binaries to bolster present-day whiteness. Second, “intersectional shifting” of social markers aims at ameliorating the secondary status of femininity through the wielding of whiteness and middle classness. These strategies are complicated by affective practices. Particularly the social emotion shame holds transformative potential, but with a caveat. Shame brings self into relation with the other and the social and can usher white subjects into an expanded conception of being human, but only if acknowledged.
Sumário
Authors: Mendonça Francisco De Assis
Published: July 2016

Sumário
Normas para publicação
Authors: Mendonça Francisco De Assis
Published: July 2016

Normas para publicação
AS PREFEITAS EM PERSPECTIVA: REPRESENTATIVIDADE FEMININA NA POLÍTICA PARAIBANA
Authors: Rodrigues Dayanny
Published: July 2016

Consolidado o direito institucional do voto feminino a mais de oito décadas, ainda nos deparamos com uma reduzida representatividade das mulheres na política partidária, se comparado ao número de homens presentes no mesmo espaço. Estudos recentes como os de Avelar (2001), Garcia (2005), Rabay e Carvalho (2010), apontam um aumento da participação feminina na política eleitoral, principalmente a partir da década de 1980. Dentre as esferas institucionais da política, a municipal é aquela que apresenta o quantitativo mais elevado da representatividade feminina. Por diversos fatores o poder municipal se mostra mais acessível às mulheres. Dialogando com uma nova perspectiva de História Política, compreende-se que falar sobre as prefeitas, seja em âmbito nacional, regional ou local, se configura como algo desafiador e necessário na conjuntura atual. A Paraíba, estado brasileiro que proporcionalmente elegeu o maior número de mulheres nas eleições municipais de 2012, carrega em sua trajetória política, aspectos singulares. Dessa forma, este estudo tem por objetivo analisar a representação feminina no executivo municipal paraibano, tendo como base as prefeitas eleitas nas eleições de 2008 e 2012 respectivamente, pontuando aspectos que demonstram permanências de práticas e características políticas, assim como novidades portadas por algumas delas. Para a análise, foram utilizados dados disponibilizados pelo Tribunal Superior Eleitoral e Tribunal Regional Eleitoral, bem como uma releitura da bibliografia produzida sobre o tema. Para pensar essa representação, buscou-se responder alguns questionamentos, tais como: quem foram as prefeitas da Paraíba eleitas nos dois pleitos estudados? Quais as características socioeconômicas e demográficas dos municípios que as elegeram? Quais os seus partidos? Quais suas relações de parentesco? Qual a faixa etária e grau de escolaridade delas? Quais as experiências anteriores à política? Após as análises, observou-se que o quadro de gestoras é composto majoritariamente por mulheres com faixa etária acima dos 30 anos de idade, não ultrapassando os 60, maioria casada e possuidora de ensino superior completo. Destaca-se também que as mesmas governam, em especial, municípios menos desenvolvidos economicamente, emancipados recentemente, e com uma população inferior a 10.000 habitantes, tendo a maioria sido eleitas por partidos de direita e do centro.
MULHERES NA POLÍTICA: UM ESTUDO NA CÂMARA MUNICIPAL DE UMA CIDADE DO SUL DE MINAS GERAIS
Authors: Sampaio Jéssica De Martins , Paula Mariane Ferreira Pinto de , Miranda Adílio Renê Almeida
Published: July 2016

A representação das mulheres na política brasileira ainda é baixa se comparada a dos homens. Mesmo com a política de cotas nas candidaturas pelos partidos políticos, elas ainda não têm conseguido se eleger na mesma proporção em que se candidatam. Além disso, para aquelas que se elegem, há outros desafios advindos de desigualdades históricas vivenciadas por mulheres. Nesse sentido, este estudo tem como objetivo discutir a inserção e vivência de mulheres na política, no legislativo de uma cidade do sul de Minas Gerais, na perspectiva dos vereadores e vereadoras. O referencial teórico trata do significado de representação e participação feminina, bem como sobre a inserção das mulheres na política e a busca pela igualdade de gênero. A pesquisa é de natureza qualitativa. Para coleta de dados foram realizadas cinco entrevistas semiestruturadas com três vereadores, uma vereadora e uma ex-vereadora. A análise dos resultados foi feita por meio da análise de conteúdo. Os resultados mostram que os entrevistados não têm consciência quanto ao processo histórico e social de desigualdades vivenciado por mulheres e a importância da política de cotas, que visa minimizar essa questão.
POLÍTICOS PROFISSIONAIS OU NOBRES POLÍTICOS? VARIÁVEIS DA CARREIRA POLÍTICA DOS SENADORES NO BRASIL IMPÉRIO
Authors: Santos Ulisses Venâncio
Published: July 2016

Neste artigo analisamos padrões de carreira política dos senadores no Brasil Império. O tipo de carreira é um importante critério do recrutamento político, e uma proxy da profissionalização política. Uma análise prosopográfica operada com estatística descritiva revelou um padrão de carreiras longas, com muitos cargos, heterogêneas em termos de níveis de poder, e que se intensifica ao longo do período. Isso denota experiência política. O que interpretamos como indício de profissionalização política, tanto dos indivíduos, quanto do Senado. O tema remete ao quanto a política no Império era autônoma frente a outros âmbitos sociais. Os resultados nos obrigam a relativizar a hipótese que levantamos nas teses da historiografia hegemônica: de que o critério decisivo para o recrutamento para o Senado era pertencer ao séquito do Imperador. O estudo reafirma a importância de retomar os principais debates sobre elite e natureza do regime no Brasil imperial.
Addressing Quality Management System Obstacles in Jordanian Hospitals
Authors: A'aqoulah Ashraf , Kuyini Ahmed Bawa , Ajlouni Musa T.
Published: July 2016

Quality Management System (QMS) enhances management, allows more effective organisation, improves quality of services, increases staff satisfaction and commitment to the organisation, enhances co-operation among employees and management, and improve patients’ satisfaction. Therefore, all hospitals make consistent efforts to address obstacles that face their QMS.

This study aimed to explore Hospital managers’ views about how to address QMS obstacles in Jordanian hospitals. The results from semi-structure interviews with 30 managers consisting of general directors, medical directors, administrative directors, quality directors, and nursing directors showed that hospitals can address QMS obstacles through a range of measures including but not limited to rewarding talented employees, providing good salaries and benefits, and recruiting qualified and efficient hospital managers. Recommendations for improving the implementation of QMS in Jordanian hospitals are provided.
Photosynthetic Activity of Superior Varieties and Local Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) Indonesia
Authors: Amarullah Amarullah , Indradewa D. , Yudono P. , Dan Sunarminto B. H.
Published: July 2016

Productivity relates to the ability of photosynthesis. Therefore, the process of photosynthesis is important to promote growth, development and yield. There are many varieties of superior and local cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) in Indonesia either unknown of their photosynthesis character. The study aims to investigate the characteristics of photosynthesis and influences of physiological parameters associated the activity of photosynthesis in cassava plants. A study was conducted on Inceptisol soils at UGM research at altitude 113 m above mean sea level between January and November 2014. The treatment of single factor is cassava varieties consist of Adira-4, Malang-6, UJ-5, Singgah and Ketan arranged in a randomized block design with three replications. Cuttings size ±20 cm are planted upright with a distance of 1 m × 1 m (population of 10,000 plants ha-1). After six months, observation has been done of characters and physiological activities at 10 samples per plots and per varieties. The results showed that there are differences in the density of stomata, stomata aperture width, water content, chlorophyll content and photosynthesis rate between varieties of cassava. Singgah varieties have the Ksd highest with medium Lbs and varieties local of Ketan lowest Ksd. The group of superior varieties of cassava have Kkt medium, but varieties of Malang-6 have Kkt slightly higher and the highest rate of photosynthesis. Singgah varieties have lowest leaves Kkt and medium rate of photosynthesis. Local varieties of Ketan have the highest Kkt and lowest rate of photosynthesis. Group cassava superior varieties had higher photosynthesis rate than the local varieties, local varieties Singgah has a moderate rate and higher than Ketan. Stomata density and the concentration of CO2 correlated positively and significantly affect the rate of photosynthesis while transpiration increase conductivity stomatal but negatively correlated to the rate of photosynthesis.
Rice Farmers’ Attitudes toward Farm Management in Northeatern Thailand
Authors: Utaranakorn Panatda , Yasunobu Kumi
Published: July 2016

Rice production plays a key role for Thailand’s economy and for the food security and cash income of Thai small-scale farmers, especially in the Northeast region where the country’s largest area of rice cultivation is located. To increase rice production, the Thai government has introduced several strategies to support farmers such as new technologies, farm practices, and financial institutions. Achieving these strategies, the responsibility from the government and copperation from farmers are crucial. Specifically, these strategies will be more effective if they coincide with the attitudes of farmers. Accordingly, we aimed to estimate the technical efficiency of rice farms, including pure technical and scale efficiency, and to ultimately understand rice farmers’ attitudes toward farm management by comparing efficient and inefficient farms. Our findings suggested that there was significant requirement to increase technical and scale efficiencies of rice production in the study area. In addition, both efficient and inefficient rice farmers were favorable to farming, open to ideas, and strongly enjoy farm activities, such that they would cooperate with an extension officers when transferring information and/or training programs. Finally, policymaker should focus on both improving the quality of farm production and reducing production costs due to develop and establish new strategies and/or agricultural policies.
Strategies for reducing police arrest in the context of an HIV prevention programme for female sex workers: evidence from structural interventions in Karnataka, South India
Authors: Bhattacharjee Parinita , Isac Shajy , McClarty Leigh M , Mohan Haranahalli L , Maddur Srinath , Jagannath Sunitha B , Venkataramaiah Balasubramanya K , Moses Stephen , Blanchard James F , Gurnani Vandana
Published: July 2016

Introduction

Female sex workers (FSWs) frequently experience violence in their work environments, violating their basic rights and increasing their vulnerability to HIV infection. Structural interventions addressing such violence are critical components of comprehensive HIV prevention programmes. We describe structural interventions developed to address violence against FSWs in the form of police arrest, in the context of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation's India AIDS Initiative (Avahan) in Karnataka, South India. We examine changes in FSW arrest between two consecutive time points during the intervention and identify characteristics that may increase FSW vulnerability to arrest in Karnataka.

Methods

Structural interventions with police involved advocacy work with senior police officials, sensitization workshops, and integration of HIV and human rights topics in pre‐service curricula. Programmes for FSWs aimed to enhance collectivization, empowerment and awareness about human rights and to introduce crisis response mechanisms. Three rounds of integrated behavioural and biological assessment surveys were conducted among FSWs from 2004 to 2011. We conducted bivariate and multivariate analyses using data from the second (R2) and third (R3) survey rounds to examine changes in arrests among FSWs over time and to assess associations between police arrest, and the sociodemographic and sex work‐related characteristics of FSWs.

Results

Among 4110 FSWs surveyed, rates of ever being arrested by the police significantly decreased over time, from 9.9% in R2 to 6.1% in R3 (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) [95% CI]=0.63 [0.48 to 0.83]). Arrests in the preceding year significantly decreased, from 5.5% in R2 to 2.8% in R3 (AOR [95% CI]=0.59 [0.41 to 0.86]). FSWs arrested as part of arbitrary police raids also decreased from 49.6 to 19.5% (AOR [95% CI]=0.21 [0.11 to 0.42]). Certain characteristics, including financial dependency on sex work, street‐ or brothel‐based solicitation and high client volumes, were found to significantly increase the odds of arrest for participants.

Conclusion

Structural interventions addressing police arrest of FSWs are feasible to implement. Based on our findings, the design of violence prevention and response interventions in Karnataka can be tailored to focus on FSWs, who are disproportionately vulnerable to arrest by police. Context‐specific structural interventions can reduce police arrests, create a safer work environment for FSWs and protect fundamental human rights.
Clusters of synaptic inputs on dendrites of layer 5 pyramidal cells in mouse visual cortex
Authors: Gökçe Onur , Bonhoeffer Tobias , Scheuss Volker
Published: July 2016

The spatial organization of synaptic inputs on the dendritic tree of cortical neurons plays a major role for dendritic integration and neural computations, yet, remarkably little is known about it. We mapped the spatial organization of glutamatergic synapses between layer 5 pyramidal cells by combining optogenetics and 2-photon calcium imaging in mouse neocortical slices. To mathematically characterize the organization of inputs we developed an approach based on combinatorial analysis of the likelihoods of specific synapse arrangements. We found that the synapses of intralaminar inputs form clusters on the basal dendrites of layer 5 pyramidal cells. These clusters contain 4 to 14 synapses within ≤30 µm of dendrite. According to the spatiotemporal characteristics of synaptic summation, these numbers suggest that there will be non-linear dendritic integration of synaptic inputs during synchronous activation.
Ceapins are a new class of unfolded protein response inhibitors, selectively targeting the ATF6α branch
Authors: Gallagher Ciara M , Garri Carolina , Cain Erica L , Ang Kenny Kean-Hooi , Wilson Christopher G , Chen Steven , Hearn Brian R , Jaishankar Priyadarshini , Aranda-Diaz Andres , Arkin Michelle R , Renslo Adam R , Walter Peter
Published: July 2016

The membrane-bound transcription factor ATF6α plays a cytoprotective role in the unfolded protein response (UPR), required for cells to survive ER stress. Activation of ATF6α promotes cell survival in cancer models. We used cell-based screens to discover and develop Ceapins, a class of pyrazole amides, that block ATF6α signaling in response to ER stress. Ceapins sensitize cells to ER stress without impacting viability of unstressed cells. Ceapins are highly specific inhibitors of ATF6α signaling, not affecting signaling through the other branches of the UPR, or proteolytic processing of its close homolog ATF6β or SREBP (a cholesterol-regulated transcription factor), both activated by the same proteases. Ceapins are first-in-class inhibitors that can be used to explore both the mechanism of activation of ATF6α and its role in pathological settings. The discovery of Ceapins now enables pharmacological modulation all three UPR branches either singly or in combination.