bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Tradução intersemiótica de literatura infanto-juvenil: vivências em sala de aula
Authors: Albres Neiva Aquino
Published: December 2015

http://dx.doi.org/10.5007/2175-7968.2015v35nesp2p387Nos últimos anos, houve crescimento de Literatura infanto-juvenil e grande incentivo à educação bilíngue para surdos, propiciando a abertura para a tradução de obras em português para a Libras. Como consequência direta desse fenômeno, houve mudança significativa na compreensão de como se traduzir materiais multimodais. Com isso, o objetivo principal deste artigo é discutir/analisar episódios (vídeo gravação) que focalizaram a mediação da professora-pesquisadora, em contextos de trabalho de tradução dos alunos, no intuito de verificar quais são as mudanças na construção dos sentidos segundo os textos apresentados nesses materiais, sob a luz da Análise de Discurso (BAKHTIN, 1999). Sugere-se que esse tipo de atividade, de tradução coletiva, possa ser desenvolvida com alunos de tradução, de tal modo que ela forneça condições para que os alunos, ao traduzir o texto multimodal, possam se conscientizar da complexidade e da especificidade das escolhas linguísticas e discursivas envolvidas no processo tradutório.
Proposta de organização de verbete em glossários terminológicos bilíngues - língua brasileira de sinais e língua portuguesa
Authors: Tuxi Patricia
Published: December 2015

http://dx.doi.org/10.5007/2175-7968.2015v35nesp2p557Este trabalho, que se insere na linha de pesquisa da Tradução e Terminologia, apresenta como objeto de estudo os termos base utilizado nos discursos políticos e educacionais que permeiam os eventos de conferências nacionais. Em respeito à Lei 10436/2002 e o Decreto 5626/2005 é direito do Surdo ter acesso às informações em Língua Brasileira de Sinais – Libras. Uma das formas de garantir esse direito é a presença do tradutor e do intérprete que ao atuar em áreas com temas especializados devem deter o conhecimento das terminologias específicas utilizadas em contextos diversos. O estudo em curso tem como base a Metodologia para elaboração dicionários e glossários de Faulstich (1995). A pesquisa segue a abordagem da Socioterminologia e, como procedimento: i) reconhecimento e identificação do público-alvo; ii) delimitação da área pesquisada; iii) coleta e organização dos dados; iv) organização do glossário e teste de validade. O resultado da pesquisa é a apresentação de uma proposta de organização de verbete de um Glossário Bilíngue de Terminologia voltado para a área de conferências, que possa servir como fonte de consulta e formação dos tradutores e dos intérpretes que atuam nos eventos de conferências nacionais.
Da formação comunitária à formação universitária (e vice e versa): novo perfil dos tradutores e intérpretes de língua de sinais no contexto brasileiro
Authors: Martins Vanessa Regina de Oliveira , Nascimento Vinícius
Published: December 2015

Neste artigo, objetiva-se realizar uma discussão sobre o novo perfil de tradutores e intérpretes de língua de sinais que está se constituindo no Brasil a partir das políticas públicas de incentivo à formação deste profissional. Analisa-se, qualitativamente, um questionário semiaberto respondido por alunos de um curso de Bacharelado em Tradução e Interpretação em Libras e Língua Portuguesa de uma universidade federal localizada no Estado de São Paulo. Os resultados apontam para uma busca pela área não mais marcada pela relação prévia com os surdos ou para a diplomação de uma atividade já praticada, mas pela opção de pontuação atribuída na lista de escolha profissional do Sistema de Seleção Unificado (SISU). Isso remonta a hipótese de um novo perfil profissional distinto do das décadas de 1980, 1990 e 2000. Com a visibilidade e disseminação da língua de sinais os ingressantes têm enxergado nesta língua mais uma opção de formação para o mercado profissional. Problematiza-se, então, a necessidade de se promover uma formação que congrega, desde o primeiro ano, sujeitos não falantes da Libras, bem como seus desafios didáticos e pedagógicos na formação e, com isso, na promoção da acessibilidade comunicacional das comunidades surdas brasileiras.
The Question of Racism: How to Understand the Violent Attacks on Indian Students in Australia?
Authors: Baas Michiel
Published: December 2015

For the past ten years I have been involved in research on the topic of Indian student-migrants in Australia. What started in India in 2004 with the ostensibly simple questions why there was such a surge in Indian students’ enrolments in Australia, turned into a study which had the question of migration at the heart of its investigation. Realising that the majority of Indian students based their decision for Australia on the relatively easy pathway the country offered towards permanent residency my research focused on understanding how such trajectories from students to migrants took shape. However, as I argued in Imagined Mobility (Anthem Press, 2010), while the propensity to apply for PR may be high, permanently residing in Australia was often not the objective. Instead many Indian students saw a PR as facilitating the start of transnational existence. In this paper I will draw upon a vast collection of newspaper articles as well as ethnographic material collected over this period in order to produce a personalised account of how I, as an academic researcher, observed the discourse about Indian students in Australia ‘migrate’ from them being welcome international students and would-be migrants to unwelcome profiteers whose place in Australian cities was highly contested. Questions I will focus on are: how did the violent attacks and subsequent debate about their racist nature impact the lives and trajectories of Indian student-migrants as starting transnationals; how did they themselves reflect on these attacks especially in relation to them now being ‘permanent residents’; and finally, what role do ‘Indian students’ continue to play in Australia’s skilled migration debate?
The Production of the Indian Student: Regimes and Imaginaries of Migration, Education, Labour, Citizenship and Class
Authors: Robertson Shanthi
Published: December 2015

The so-called Indian student ‘crisis’ of 2009 and 2010 is often analysed in the context of how the violence against students challenged Australian multiculturalism and revealed both underlying racism and denial of racism in Australian society (see, for example, Mason 2012, Dunn, Pelleri & Maeder-Han 2011, Singh 2011). Some analyses further interrogate the incidents in relation to Australia’s relationship to India as one of its Asia-Pacific neighbours and key trading partners (Mason 2012). Yet there was a far wider context of global transformations to regimes of immigration, education, labour and citizenship that shaped the experience of Indian students in Australia leading up to and after the ‘crisis’ itself. The local context and local responses to the crisis are analysed thoroughly in other papers of this volume. What I seek to do in this chapter is to situate the very presence (and the subsequent vulnerabilities) of Indian students in Australia within several intersecting political, economic and cultural forces operating at national, regional and global scales. The focus of this paper is thus not on the violent incidents or their immediate consequences, but rather on the specific ways that transforming immigration and citizenship regimes, global labour markets, and global imaginaries of mobility and class facilitated Indian students’ mobility into Australia and shaped elements of their lives while they were here. In particular, I focus on how national mobility regimes, influenced by global processes, crafted and re-crafted the subjectivities of Indian students as by turns desirable and problematic.
Attacks on Indian Students and the Harris Park Protests: A Consul General Looks Back
Authors: Dasgupta Amit
Published: December 2015

From the end of May 2009, for about a year, academics and scholars, media, educationists, parents, students, diplomats on both sides, and the governments of India and of Australia were focused on a single issue: attacks on Indian students in Australia. It is no exaggeration to say that the frequency and number of attacks and, in some cases, the uncalled-for viciousness, was disturbing, confusing and totally unanticipated. Perhaps the single biggest failure was the collective inability of all stakeholders to anticipate the problem and to act in time. The system failure ought to have been recognized well before the keg burst. Once it exploded, it overwhelmed the system like a tsunami.
Why does surface ozone peak before a typhoon landing in southeast China?
Authors: Jiang Y. C. , Zhao T. L. , Liu J. , Xu X. D. , Tan C. H. , Cheng X. H. , Bi X. Y. , Gan J. B. , You J. F. , Zhao S. Z.
Published: December 2015

Abstract. A high O3 episode with the large increases in surface ozone by 21–42 ppbv and the nocturnal surface O3 levels exceeding 70 ppbv was observed in the region between Xiamen and Quanzhou over the southeastern coast of China during 12–14 June 2014, before the Typhoon Hagibis landing. Variations in the surface O3, NO2, CO and meteorology during the Typhoon Hagibis event clearly suggest a substantial impact of the peripheral downdrafts in the large-scale typhoon circulation on such an O3 episode excluding the contributions of photochemical production and the horizontal transport. The influence of vertical O3 transport from the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere (UTLS) region on high surface O3 levels is further confirmed by a negative correlation between surface O3 and CO concentrations as well as dry surface air observed during the O3 episode. This study provides observational evidence of typhoon-driven intrusion of O3 from the UTLS region to surface air, revealing a significant effect of such a process of stratosphere–troposphere exchange (STE) of O3 on tropospheric O3 and ambient air quality.
Global biogenic volatile organic compound emissions in the ORCHIDEE and MEGAN models and sensitivity to key parameters
Authors: Messina P. , Lathière J. , Sindelarova K. , Vuichard N. , Granier C. , Ghattas J. , Cozic A. , Hauglustaine D. A.
Published: December 2015

Abstract. A new version of the BVOC emission scheme has been developed in the global vegetation model ORCHIDEE (Organizing Carbon and Hydrology in Dynamic EcosystEm), including an extended list of biogenic emitted compounds, updated emission factors (EFs), a dependency on light for almost all compounds and a multi-layer radiation scheme. For the 2000–2009 period, we estimate with this model, mean global emissions of 465 Tg C yr-1 for isoprene, 107.5 Tg C yr-1 for monoterpenes, 38 Tg C yr-1 for methanol, 25 Tg C yr-1 for acetone and 24 Tg C yr-1 for sesquiterpenes. The model results are compared to state-of-the-art emission budgets, showing that the ORCHIDEE emissions are within the range of published estimates. ORCHIDEE BVOC emissions are compared to the estimates of the Model of Emissions of Gases and Aerosols from Nature (MEGAN), largely used throughout the biogenic emissions and atmospheric chemistry community. Our results show that global emission budgets are, in general, in good agreement between the two models. ORCHIDEE emissions are 8 % higher for isoprene, 8 % lower for methanol, 17 % higher for acetone, 18 % higher for monoterpenes and 39 % higher for sesquiterpenes compared to MEGAN estimates. At the regional scale, the largest differences between ORCHIDEE and MEGAN are highlighted for isoprene in northern temperate regions, with the ORCHIDEE emissions being higher by 21 Tg C yr-1, and for monoterpenes being higher by 10 and 18 Tg C yr-1 in northern and southern tropical regions compared to MEGAN. The geographical differences, between the two models, are mainly associated with different EF and PFT distribution, while differences in the seasonal cycle are mostly driven by differences in the Leaf Area Index (LAI). Sensitivity tests are carried out for both models to explore the response to key variables or parameters such as LAI and Light Dependent Fraction (LDF). The ORCHIDEE and MEGAN emissions are differently affected by LAI changes, with a response highly sensitive to the considered compound. When the LAI is scaled by a factor of 0.5 (1.5), the global emission change is −21 % (+8 %) for ORCHIDEE and −15 % (+7 %) for MEGAN regarding isoprene, and is −43 % (+40 %) for ORCHIDEE and −11 % (+3 %) for MEGAN regarding monoterpenes. We find that MEGAN is more sensitive to variation of LDF parameter than ORCHIDEE. Our results highlight the importance and the need to further explore the BVOC emission estimate variability and the interest of using models to investigate the estimate uncertainties.
Metrology of ground-based satellite validation: co-location mismatch and smoothing issues of total ozone comparisons
Authors: Verhoelst T. , Granville J. , Hendrick F. , Köhler U. , Lerot C. , Pommereau J.-P. , Redondas A. , Van Roozendael M. , Lambert J.-C.
Published: December 2015

Abstract. Comparisons with ground-based correlative measurements constitute a key component in the validation of satellite data on atmospheric composition. The error budget of these comparisons contains not only the measurement errors but also several terms related to differences in sampling and smoothing of the inhomogeneous and variable atmospheric field. A versatile system for Observing System Simulation Experiments (OSSEs), named OSSSMOSE, is used here to quantify these terms. Based on the application of pragmatic observation operators onto high-resolution atmospheric fields, it allows a simulation of each individual measurement, and consequently, also of the differences to be expected from spatial and temporal field variations between both measurements making up a comparison pair. As a topical case study, the system is used to evaluate the error budget of total ozone column (TOC) comparisons between GOME-type direct fitting (GODFITv3) satellite retrievals from GOME/ERS2, SCIAMACHY/Envisat, and GOME-2/MetOp-A, and ground-based direct-sun and zenith–sky reference measurements such as those from Dobsons, Brewers, and zenith-scattered light (ZSL-)DOAS instruments, respectively. In particular, the focus is placed on the GODFITv3 reprocessed GOME-2A data record vs. the ground-based instruments contributing to the Network for the Detection of Atmospheric Composition Change (NDACC). The simulations are found to reproduce the actual measurements almost to within the measurement uncertainties, confirming that the OSSE approach and its technical implementation are appropriate. This work reveals that many features of the comparison spread and median difference can be understood as due to metrological differences, even when using strict co-location criteria. In particular, sampling difference errors exceed measurement uncertainties regularly at most mid- and high-latitude stations, with values up to 10 % and more in extreme cases. Smoothing difference errors only play a role in the comparisons with ZSL-DOAS instruments at high latitudes, especially in the presence of a polar vortex due to the strong TOC gradient it induces. At tropical latitudes, where TOC variability is lower, both types of errors remain below about 1 % and consequently do not contribute significantly to the comparison error budget. The detailed analysis of the comparison results, including the metrological errors, suggests that the published random measurement uncertainties for GODFITv3 reprocessed satellite data are potentially overestimated, and adjustments are proposed here. This successful application of the OSSSMOSE system to close for the first time the error budget of TOC comparisons, bodes well for potential future applications, which are briefly touched upon.
ACTRIS ACSM intercomparison – Part 1: Reproducibility of concentration and fragment results from 13 individual Quadrupole Aerosol Chemical Speciation Monitors (Q-ACSM) and consistency with co-located instruments
Authors: Crenn V. , Sciare J. , Croteau P. L. , Verlhac S. , Fröhlich R. , Belis C. A. , Aas W. , Äijälä M. , Alastuey A. , Artiñano B. , Baisnée D. , Bonnaire N. , Bressi M. , Canagaratna M. , Canonaco F. , Carbone C. , Cavalli F. , Coz E. , Cubison M. J. , Esser-Gietl J. K. , Green D. C. , Gros V. , Heikkinen L. , Herrmann H. , Lunder C. , Minguillón M. C. , Močnik G. , O'Dowd C. D. , Ovadnevaite J. , Petit J.-E. , Petralia E. , Poulain L. , Priestman M. , Riffault V. , Ripoll A. , Sarda-Estève R. , Slowik J. G. , Setyan A. , Wiedensohler A. , Baltensperger U. , Prévôt A. S. H. , Jayne J. T. , Favez O.
Published: December 2015

Abstract. As part of the European ACTRIS project, the first large Quadrupole Aerosol Chemical Speciation Monitor (Q-ACSM) intercomparison study was conducted in the region of Paris for 3 weeks during the late-fall – early-winter period (November–December 2013). The first week was dedicated to the tuning and calibration of each instrument, whereas the second and third were dedicated to side-by-side comparison in ambient conditions with co-located instruments providing independent information on submicron aerosol optical, physical, and chemical properties. Near real-time measurements of the major chemical species (organic matter, sulfate, nitrate, ammonium, and chloride) in the non-refractory submicron aerosols (NR-PM1) were obtained here from 13 Q-ACSM. The results show that these instruments can produce highly comparable and robust measurements of the NR-PM1 total mass and its major components. Taking the median of the 13 Q-ACSM as a reference for this study, strong correlations (r2 > 0.9) were observed systematically for each individual Q-ACSM across all chemical families except for chloride for which three Q-ACSMs showing weak correlations partly due to the very low concentrations during the study. Reproducibility expanded uncertainties of Q-ACSM concentration measurements were determined using appropriate methodologies defined by the International Standard Organization (ISO 17025, 1999) and were found to be 9, 15, 19, 28, and 36 % for NR-PM1, nitrate, organic matter, sulfate, and ammonium, respectively. However, discrepancies were observed in the relative concentrations of the constituent mass fragments for each chemical component. In particular, significant differences were observed for the organic fragment at mass-to-charge ratio 44, which is a key parameter describing the oxidation state of organic aerosol. Following this first major intercomparison exercise of a large number of Q-ACSMs, detailed intercomparison results are presented, along with a discussion of some recommendations about best calibration practices, standardized data processing, and data treatment.
Carbonate saturation state of surface waters in the Ross Sea and Southern Ocean: controls and implications for the onset of aragonite undersaturation
Authors: DeJong H. B. , Dunbar R. B. , Mucciarone D. , Koweek D. A.
Published: December 2015

Abstract. Predicting when surface waters of the Ross Sea and Southern Ocean will become undersaturated with respect to biogenic carbonate minerals is challenging in part due to the lack of baseline high-resolution carbon system data. Here we present ~ 1700 surface total alkalinity measurements from the Ross Sea and along a transect between the Ross Sea and southern Chile from the austral autumn (February–March 2013). We calculate the saturation state of aragonite (ΩAr) and calcite (Ω Ca) using measured total alkalinity and pCO2. In the Ross Sea and south of the Polar Front, variability in carbonate saturation state (Ω) is mainly driven by algal photosynthesis. Freshwater dilution and calcification have minimal influence on Ω variability. We estimate an early spring surface water ΩAr value of ~ 1.2 for the Ross Sea using a total alkalinity–salinity relationship and historical pCO2 measurements. Our results suggest that the Ross Sea is not likely to become undersaturated with respect to aragonite until the year 2070.
Sale of the Crown of Beer: A Study Based on the Strategy Tripod of Mike Peng
Authors: G.Vargas-Hernandez José
Published: December 2015

The main objective of this study is to analyze through tripod strategy Peng, the basics of why the acquisition and sale of Grupo Modelo (which it is the largest brewer in Mexico with the highest market share) through analysis of the annual reports of the company. The analysis will be supported under three main theories: theory of industry, theory of resources and capabilities and ultimately theory of institutions. The paper concludes with a compilation and analysis of information giving rise to answer the question why Grupo Modelo sold? And if have you had a positive result in the acquisition of Grupo Modelo by the company ABI?
Use of organic mulch to enhance water-use efficiency and peach production under limiting soil conditions in a three-year-old orchard
Authors: Lordan Joan , Pascual Miquel , Villar Josep M. , Fonseca Francisco , Papió Josep , Montilla Victor , Rufat Josep
Published: December 2015

Mulching techniques have emerged in recent years to overcome soil constraints and improve fruit tree productivity. The object of this study was to evaluate the effects of a low-cost organic mulch application in a newly planted peach orchard under a ridge planting system. Three treatments were performed in 12 elementary plots using a randomized complete block design. The orchard was drip-irrigated. Mulch was applied in two treatments, which differed in fertigation (none vs. multi-nutrient fertigation), while the third treatment did not include either mulch or fertigation and served as the control. Treatments were compared in terms of their effects on the physical properties of the soil, crop response, and water-use efficiency. Mulch treatments did not alter the soil bulk density. However, the mulch significantly (p=0.0004) increased the water infiltration rate (2.21 mm/h vs. 121 mm/h), which is a key issue when working in high frequency irrigation systems under soil limiting conditions. Similarly, mulched treatments showed a more favorable water status both in the second and the third year, which was translated in a better crop response. Thus, mulched treatments recorded higher yields both in the second (+155%, p=0.0005) and the third year (+53%, p=0.0007) of the experiment. Water use efficiency (WUEagr) was higher in the mulch treatments (+50% in average, p=0.0007) than in the control in the third year of the study. On the basis of our results, we propose that organic-mulching techniques should be considered as a beneficial practice to apply in fruit-trees production under limiting soil conditions.
Simulating future wheat yield under climate change, carbon dioxide enrichment and technology improvement in Iran. Case study: Azarbaijan region
Authors: Mansouri Hamed , Raei Yaghoub , Nokhbe Zaeim Abdolreza
Published: December 2015

Climate change and technology development can affect crop productivity in future conditions. Precise estimation of crops yield change as affected by climate and technology in the future is an effective approach for management strategies. The aim of this study was to estimate the impacts of climate change, technology improvement, CO2 enrichment, and overall impacts on wheat yield under future conditions. Wheat yield was projected for three future time periods (2020, 2050 and 2080) compared to baseline year (2011) under two scenarios of IPCC Special Report on Emission Scenarios (SRES) including SRES-A2 as regional economic scenario and SRES-B1 as global environmental scenario in Azarbaijan region (NW of Iran). A linear regression model, describing the relationship between wheat yield and historical year, was developed to investigate technology development effect. The decision support system for agro-technology transfer (DSSAT4.5) was used to evaluate the influence of climate change on wheat yield. The most positive effects were found for wheat yield as affected by technology in all studied regions. Under future climate change, the SRES projected a decrease in yield, especially in West Azarbaijan region. When the effects of elevated CO2 were considered, all regions resulted to increase in wheat yield. Considering all components effect in comparison with baseline (2011), yield increase would range from 5% to 38% across all times, scenarios and regions. According to our findings, it seems that we may expect a higher yield of wheat in NW Iran in the future if technology development continues as well as past years.
Tillering and yield formation of a temperate Japonica rice cultivar in a Mediterranean rice agrosystem
Authors: Martinez-Eixarch Maite , Català M. del Mar , Tomàs Núria , Pla Eva , Zhu Defeng
Published: December 2015

Rice tillering is a crucial stage for yield formation. Deep understanding of the relationship between tillering dynamics and yield formation in a particular agrosystem is crucial to boost rice productivity. Research on rice tillering is mainly focused on tropical agrosystems whereas less is done in the Mediterranean, with direct water-seeding and Japonica cultivars. This study aims at characterizing tillering dynamics and identifying the main explanatory tillering traits of yield in a Mediterranean rice agrosystem, Ebro Delta (Northern Spain). A temperate Japonica cultivar grown in Spain, Gleva, was utilized. Plants and tillers were tagged to assess emergence and fertility ratios and grain yield; while changes in tillering number over time, yield and yield components for unit area were measured. Plant and tillering dynamics in the Ebro Delta rice fields can be accurately predicted through equations herein provided, which are based either on thermal time or leaf development. Plants grown under regional standard agricultural practices produced up to eight primary tillers of which two or three become productive. Maximum tiller number was the main explanatory variable of yield while high-yielding tillers within a plant are located on nodes with the highest emergence ratios and, after the main stem, they are the major contributors to yield. The decisive role of tiller development on yield along with the predictability of tiller dynamics raises options to optimize grain yield through tillering modulation. In this sense, results from this study suggests the promotion of early tillering followed by inhibition of late tillering as a strategy of tillering regulation.
Assessment of greening and collective participation in the context of agri-environmental schemes: The case of Andalusian irrigated olive groves
Authors: Villanueva Anastasio J. , Gómez-Limón José A. , Arriaza Manuel , Rodríguez-Entrena Macario
Published: December 2015

Agri-environmental schemes (AES) in irrigated olive groves (IOG) in southern Spain were assessed based on farmers’ preferences toward these schemes. A choice experiment was used in this ex-ante assessment, with the inclusion of some innovative elements, such as collective participation and ecological focus areas (EFA). The results showed that farmers’ mean willingness to accept (WTA) participation in collective rather than individual AES was €124.5/ha. Their mean WTA for an additional 1% of EFA was €64.6/ha, while regarding the use of other agri-environmental practices, they showed a WTA of €6.3/ha and €114.7/ha for an additional 1% in the use of cover crops (CC) in olive grove areas and restrictive management of CC, respectively. These estimates were strongly influenced by farmers’ expectations and socio-economic characteristics, as well as farm management. We obtained that farmers’ expectations of no farm takeover reduce WTA for collective participation, whereas agricultural training and having at least a secondary-school education reduce farmers’ WTA for EFA and restrictive management of the CC, respectively. Conversely, harvesting ground olives increased farmers’ WTA for a high proportion of the area under CC. The analysis of the AES scenarios showed moderately high estimates of total WTA (€101-349/ha), especially when collective participation is required (€225-474/ha). The results supported the argument that there are efficient ways to encourage public goods provision, overcoming trade-offs with private goods provision by identifying the type of joint production.
Effects of feeding dry glycerol on milk production, nutrients digestibility and blood components in primiparous Holstein dairy cows during the early postpartum period
Authors: Kafilzadeh Farokh , Piri Vahid , Karami-Shabankareh Hamed
Published: December 2015

The aim of this study was to evaluate the glucogenic property of glycerol supplementation in the dairy cow’s diet. Sixty primiparous cows (control, n=30, and glycerol supplemented, n=30) were used to measure milk yield and components, blood hormone and metabolite profiles, and body condition score. Feed intake and apparent total-tract digestibility were also measured using 10 primiparous cows (control, n=5, and glycerol supplemented, n=5). Dry glycerol was top dressed at 250 g/day/cow from parturition to 21 days postpartum. Average feed intake, milk yield and components were not affected by glycerol supplementation. Apparent total–tract digestibility of organic matter and neutral detergent fibre were not influenced by dry glycerol supplementation, but lipid digestibility was greater (p=0.01) in cows fed glycerol. The serum concentration of glucose and insulin tended to be higher in dry glycerol-supplemented cows (p=0.1; p=0.06, respectively). While, serum concentrations of nonesterified fatty acids and β-hydroxybutyrate were not affected. Supplemented cows had lower body condition loss during weeks 1 to 5 after calving (p=0.09). The glucogenic effect of glycerol did not affect milk yield during the first 3 weeks of lactation. However, daily milk yield during the 13 weeks recording period was higher in the glycerol-supplemented cows (28.5 vs. 30.3 kg, p<0.001). Percentages of cows cycling at the planned breeding date was greater (p=0.01) for cows fed dry glycerol. The results demonstrated that feeding dry glycerol as a glucogenic supply could be useful in saving body reserves and improving energy balance of primiparous Holstein dairy cows during the early postpartum period.
Performance of machinery in potato production in one growing season
Authors: Zhou Kun , Jensen Allan L. , Bochtis Dionysis D. , Sørensen Claus G.
Published: December 2015

Statistics on the machinery performance are essential for farm managers to make better decisions. In this paper, the performance of all machineries in five sequential operations, namely bed forming, stone separation, planting, spraying and harvesting in the potato production system, were investigated during one growing season. In order to analyse and decompose the recorded GPS data into various time and distance elements for estimation of the machinery performance, an automatic GPS analysis tool was developed. The field efficiency and field capacity were estimated for each operation. Specifically, the measured average field efficiency was 71.3% for bed forming, 68.5% for stone separation, 40.3% for planting, 69.7% for spraying, and 67.4% for harvesting. The measured average field capacities were 1.46 ha/h, 0.53 ha/h, 0.47 ha/h, 10.21 ha/h, 0.51 ha/h, for the bed forming, stone separation, planting, spraying, and harvesting operations, respectively. These results deviate from the corresponding estimations calculated based on norm data from the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE). The deviations indicate that norms provided by ASABE cannot be used directly for the prediction of performance of the machinery used in this work. Moreover, the measured data of bed forming and stone separation could be used as supplementary data for the ASABE which does not provide performance norms for these two operations. The gained results can help farm managers to make better management and operational decisions that result in potential improvement in productivity and profitability as well as in potential environmental benefits.
Mastitis diagnosis in ten Galician dairy herds (NW Spain) with automatic milking systems
Authors: Castro Angel , Pereira Jose M. , Amiama Carlos , Bueno Javier
Published: December 2015

Over the last few years, the adoption of automatic milking systems (AMS) has experienced significant increase. However, hardly any studies have been conducted to investigate the distribution of mastitis pathogens in dairy herds with AMS. Because quick mastitis detection in AMS is very important, the primary objective of this study was to determine operational reliability and sensibility of mastitis detection systems from AMS. Additionally, the frequency of pathogen-specific was determined. For this purpose, 228 cows from ten farms in Galicia (NW Spain) using this system were investigated. The California Mastitis Test (CMT) was considered the gold-standard test for mastitis diagnosis and milk samples were analysed from CMT-positive cows for the bacterial examination. Mean farm prevalence of clinical mastitis was 9% and of 912 milk quarters examined, 23% were positive to the AMS mastitis detection system and 35% were positive to the CMT. The majority of CMT-positive samples had a score of 1 or 2 on a 1 (lowest mastitis severity) to 4 (highest mastitis severity) scale. The average sensitivity and specificity of the AMS mastitis detection system were 58.2% and 94.0% respectively being similar to other previous studies, what could suggest limitations for getting higher values of reliability and sensibility in the current AMSs. The most frequently isolated pathogens were Streptococcus dysgalactiae (8.8%), followed by Streptococcus uberis (8.3%) and Staphylococcus aureus (3.3%). The relatively high prevalence of these pathogens indicates suboptimal cleaning and disinfection of teat dipping cups, brushes and milk liners in dairy farms with AMS in the present study.
Vertical integration and profitability of the agrifood industry in an economic crisis context
Authors: Grau Alfredo J. , Reig Araceli
Published: December 2015

In a setting of economic and financial crisis, most companies experienced a reduction in their profitability. Thus, our study allows us to identify vertical integration strategies developed by companies to overcome the crisis. This paper is aimed at unveiling the determining factors of the profitability of Spanish agrifood firms, depending on whether they are backwards vertically integrated or not. In order to attain our objective, we implemented a first difference regression model. The main contributions of the article lie in the incorporation of a variable that distinguishes integrated firms from the rest and the separate analysis of the two groups of firms. The results suggest that firms that seek to differentiate themselves, either through offering a specific product or through providing higher quality with a view to maintaining their reputation, are more likely to adopt vertical integration due to the higher transaction costs of relations with suppliers. The grouping carried out in this study is shown to be highly relevant as asset structure implies different strategies for actions aimed at increasing profitability.
Colostrum production of Alentejano and Large-White × Landrace sows: consumption, passive immunity and mortality of piglets
Authors: Charneca Rui , Vila-Viçosa Maria J. , Infante Paulo , Nunes José , Le Dividich Jean
Published: December 2015

Colostrum production and composition of 45 Alentejano (AL) and 45 crossed (Large–White × Landrace, LL) sows together with consumption and passive immunization of piglets, were evaluated. Piglets were weighed at birth, 24h, and 21 and 28 days of age. Colostrum was collected, chemically analysed and immunoglobulin G (IgG) determined. On piglets, serum IgG concentrations were determined at 2d and 28d of age. Alentejano piglets consumed 19% less colostrum than LL piglets (267 vs 328 g; p<0.001), but when adjusted for birth weight, the difference between genotypes was not significant (p=0.891). Alentejano sows produced less colostrum (1985±139 g vs 3761±139 g, p<0.001) than LL sows, even after adjustment for litter birth weight. IgG concentrations were higher in AL colostrum at 12 h and 36 h after the onset of farrowing. They were higher in AL than in LL piglets (p=0.025) and higher at 2d than at 28d of age (p<0.001). Mortality rate of piglets until d21 post–farrowing was higher in AL genotype (27% vs 16.1%, p<0.001). In both genotypes main factors influencing piglet mortality were birth weight and colostrum intake (g/kg birth weight). Higher mortality in AL than in LL genotype was attributable to the higher proportion (28.7% vs 11.6%, p<0.001) of light piglets. It is concluded that for similar birth weight, both AL and LL piglets have a similar ability to ingest colostrum and that AL sows are less able to produce colostrum than LL sows. IgG concentrations of colostrum and of piglets serum were higher in AL than in LL genotype.
Nitric oxide and nitrous oxide emissions from cattle-slurry and mineral fertiliser treated with nitrification inhibitor to an agricultural soil: A laboratory approach
Authors: Pereira José , Coutinho João , Fangueiro David , Trindade Henrique
Published: December 2015

The application of organic and mineral fertilisers to soil can result in increased gaseous emissions to the atmosphere such as nitric oxide (NO) and nitrous oxide (N2O) gases. The aim of this study was to evaluate under laboratory conditions the effects on mineral N dynamics and NO and N2O emissions of application to soil of cattle slurry derived liquid fraction (LF) obtained by screw press and mineral fertiliser (MF), both treated with or without the nitrification inhibitor 3,4-dimethylpyrazole phosphate (DMPP). An aerobic laboratory incubation was performed over 93 days with a Dystric Cambisol amended with mechanically separated LF or mineral fertiliser ammonium sulphate only or combined with DMPP. Two additional treatments were included: soil only and soil amended with DMPP. Nitrogen immobilisation was the dominant process with MF amendment, whereas N mineralisation has been observed with LF. The application of LF reduced significantly NO emissions by 80% relative to mineral but no differences were observed with N2O emissions. The addition of DMPP to MF induced a decrease of 18 and 29% in NO and N2O emissions whereas DMPP combined with LF reduced (numerically but not statistically) these emissions in 20 and 10%, respectively. Results obtained in our study suggest that N (NO + N2O) losses can be mitigated by adding DMPP to mineral fertilisers or replacing mineral fertiliser by LF.
Short communication: Influence of subclinical endometritis on the reproductive performance of dairy cows
Authors: Barrio Mónica , Vigo Marcos , Quintela Luis A. , Becerra Juan J. , García-Herradón Pedro J. , Martínez-Bello Daniel , Fernandez-Sanchez Francisco I. , Prieto Alberto , Cainzos Juan , Peña Ana I.
Published: December 2015

The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of subclinical endometritis (SE) on the reproductive performance of dairy cows. Ninety-four dairy cows of parity 1 to 8, distributed in 25 herds, were examined once between 30 and 45 days in milk using transrectal palpation, vaginoscopy and ultrasonography. A cytological sample of the endometrium was taken only from cows with an apparent healthy uterus (n=65). Serum glucose, total cholesterol, triglycerides, non-esterified fatty acids, β-hydroxybutyrate, total proteins, albumin, urea and hepatic enzymes were analyzed. Reproductive indexes were recorded during the next 11 months. Endometrial cytology was considered indicative of SE if percentage of polymorphonuclear neutrophils was superior to 5% of all cells present in the smear, except erythrocytes. Results indicated that 14.9% of the cows sampled for uterine cytology had SE, and that healthy cows become pregnant significantly before than those with SE (hazard ratio=2.35; 95% confidece interval: 1.05-5.3). From all the metabolic and productive variables analyzed, only triglycerides affected negatively to reproduction; serum albumin concentration, body condition score and milk production had positive effects on the reproductive performance. In conclusion, our results indicate that SE has a negative impact on reproductive performance and uterine cytology is necessary to diagnose it since almost 15% of the affected animals were not detected by other diagnosis methods.
Short communication: Short and long-term efficacy and phytotoxicity of phosphine against Rhynchophorus ferrugineus in live Phoenix canariensis palms
Authors: Dembilio Óscar , Jaques Josep A.
Published: December 2015

The red palm weevil, Rhynchophorus ferrugineus, is a palm borer native to South Asia which has spread mainly due to the unintended movement of infested planting material. As a result, this species has become the most destructive palm pest in the world. The difficulty of detecting the early stages of infestation due to its cryptic life cycle has led many countries to implement, strict pre- and post-entry quarantine regulations to prevent further spread. However, there are no quarantine protocols to ensure that palm material for planting is free of R. ferrugineus. The aim of this study has been to determine the efficacy of aluminium phosphide as a safe quarantine treatment against different stages of R. ferrugineus and the possible phytotoxic effects on live Phoenix canariensis palms. Our results confirm that a dose of 1.14 g/m3 for 2 days is enough to kill all stages of R. ferrugineus in live palms with no phytotoxic effects on treated palms for up to one year after the treatment. This procedure, which could be easily applied in sealed containers used for palm trade, could drastically reduce risks associated to palm movement worldwide.
Is it possible to detect G×E interactions in GWAS when causal exposure is unobserved?
Authors: Alarcon Flora , Perduca Vittorio , Nuel Gregory
Published: December 2015

Background: It is generally acknowledged that most complex diseases are affected in part by interactions between genes andgenes and/or between genes and environmental factors. Taking into account environmental exposures and their interactionswith genetic factors in genome-wide association studies (GWAS) can help to identify high-risk subgroups in the population andprovide a better understanding of the disease. For this reason, many methods have been developed to detect gene-environment (G×E) interactions. Despite this, few loci that interact with environmental exposures have been identified so far. Indeed, themodest effect of G×E interactions as well as confounding factors entail low statistical power to detect such interactions. Anotherpotential obstacle to detect G×E interaction is the fact that true exposure is seldom observed: Indeed, only proxy effects aremeasured in general. Furthermore, power studies used to evaluate a new method often are done through simulations that give anadvantage to the new approach over the other methods.Methods: In this work, we compare the relative performance of popular methods such as PLINK, random forests and linearmixed models to detect G×E interactions in the particular scenario where the causal exposure (E) is unknown and only proxycovariates are observed. For this purpose, we provide an adapted simulated dataset and apply a recently introduced method for H1simulations called waffect.Results: When the causal environmental exposure is unobserved but only a proxy of this exposure is observed, all the methodsconsidered fail to detect G×E interaction.Conclusions: The hidden causal exposure is an obstacle to detect G×E interaction in GWAS and the approaches considered inour power study all have insufficient power to detect the strong simulated interaction.
Multi-Criteria Decision Making Approach Regarding the Choice of University for Postgraduate Studies
Authors: Cvetkoska Violeta , Spasevska Dragana
Published: December 2015

The problem set in this paper regards how to make the choice of University for postgraduate studies. The multi-criteria decision making approach is suggested to be used for solving this problem. The idea is to decompose the problem into the following elements: goal-choice of University for postgraduate studies; criteria that contribute to achieving the goal and that can be of quantitative or qualitative nature; and alternatives-Universities that the choice will be made from. For such problem a hierarchical model can be built, and it can be solved by using the analytic hierarchy process (AHP). The objective of this research, which will be conducted in the form of a questionnaire among the best fourth-year students from Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, Faculty of Economics-Skopje, is to determine how many of them will continue their education in postgraduate studies, and where, as well as to identify the criteria that are important in their opinion when choosing a University. Once the participants’ answers are received, two groups of criteria that are important regarding the choice of University (in Macedonia and abroad) will be created, and thus two groups of participants will be formed. The choice of criteria will be made according to the arithmetic mean, and if the number is high then factor analysis will be used for their reduction. Afterwards, the participants will be introduced to the AHP method and for combining the individual judgments in group judgment; the geometric mean will be used. The University that is the best choice for each of the participants will come as a result of the ranking of the overall priorities of the alternatives.
Determinants of Accounting Student Evaluations of Teaching Scores
Authors: Albuloushi Saad S. , Alfraih Mishari M.
Published: December 2015

Given the prevalent use of the student evaluations of teaching (SET) as a measure of teaching effectiveness, this study aims to investigate the determinants of SET scores among students attending the College of Business Studies at the Public Authority for Applied Education and Training (PAAET), Kuwait. A total of 678 SET were analysed using univariate and multiple regression analyses. It was found that SET scores were significantly and positively biased by expected grade, student age and course level. In contrast, class size and faculty experience were found to be significantly and negatively related to SET. Expected grade had the strongest impact on SET scores. The study findings raise concerns about the reliability and validity of the SET as well as their suitability for evaluation purposes. As SET scores have an important assessment function and serve as formative and summative measures in personnel decisions, the incentives for faculty to compromise their grading standards to receive good teaching evaluations increase. Accordingly, administrators should devote more effort to ensure a careful and complete understanding and interpretation of SET if they want to effectively incorporate them into the faculty evaluation process. To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study to explore determinants of student evaluations of teaching scores in Kuwait.
Cultural Value Dimensions and Ethnicity within Kenya
Authors: Ketter Christopher K. , Arfsten Michael C.
Published: December 2015

The study compared the cultural values along the seven World Values Survey dimensions. Subjects were 811 males, age 18 to 35, proportionately representing the 11 largest ethnic groups in Kenya. The study extended research in cultural differences between ethnic identities within a country, supplemental to cultural differences between countries. Significant differences are found between the Kenyan ethnic groups on the dimensions of masculinity, uncertainty avoidance, indulgence vs. restraint, and long-term orientation. Post-hoc analyses differentiated between individual ethnic groups on the cultural dimensions. Implications for management are presented to acknowledge ethnic differences in world orientation based on cultural dimension differences of ethnicities within Kenya.

 

 