bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Revisiting Participatory Forest Management and Community Livelihoods in the Kilum-Ijim Montane Forest Landscape of Cameroon
Authors: Kimengsi Jude Ndzifon , Ngala Moteka Paul
Published: March 2018

The natural resource –livelihood sustenance link has received significant scientific attention. Specifically, the question of how forests should be managed in relation to the livelihoods of adjacent communities has been one of the burning issues in the field of conservation and rural development. Thus, participation in forest management is not a recent issue in human history. The concept has evolved significantly since the 1970s due to the alarming rate of deforestation and forest degradation which was registered in most forest regions of the world. Given the significant interest, several approaches to forest management have been applied. For instance, the leviathan approach compelled adjacent communities to adhere to conservation considerations with limited consideration for community livelihoods. Participatory Forest Management (PFM) as a concept has been applied in different contexts with diverse outcomes. Although it is considered relevant in conservation and poverty alleviation, in the context of humid montane forest ecosystems such as the Kilum-Ijim, a scientific analysis of its potential contribution to rural livelihoods is required against the backdrop of increasing demographic pressure and the need to secure livelihoods. In this study, we undertake a systematic sample involving 250 household representatives around the Kilum-Ijim forest Landscape. This was complemented by field observations, interviews of local conservation groups and the consultation of secondary data sources. The data were analysed using the Z-test. The results showed that at 0.05 level of significance, a significant relationship does not exist between aspects of participatory forest management such as tree planting and nursery establishment, and the generation of income in the Kilum-Ijim montane forest landscape. Equally at 0.05 level of significance, a link was established between the creation of forest management institutions and employment generation. Finally, at 0.05 level of significance, there is significant relationship between the exploitation of forest resources and standards of living of communities adjacent to Kilum-Ijim montane forest landscape. The conclusion drawn is that considering the inextricable link between the forest and livelihoods, local coordination efforts should be stepped up to restrict further encroachment into the forest. In addition, trees that are economically and environmentally attractive should be considered during re-afforestation as they can support livelihoods.
An Optimality Analysis and Treatment of Phonological Disorders in the Speech of Jordanian Children: A Case Study
Authors: Yaseen Maha S. , Mahadin Radwan S.
Published: March 2018

This paper presents a case study of a Jordanian child with phonological speech disorders. It seeks to investigate functional phonological disorders and their treatment among Jordanian children within an Optimality Theoretic (OT) perspective. It aims to provide treatment for children’s speech errors within a constraint-based system. The analysis of the data identifies seven error patterns in the child’s productions, namely: fronting, lateralization, stopping, devoicing, de-emphasization, syllable deletion and cluster reduction. Furthermore, OT is employed at the end of the study as a guideline to select the priority of treatment goals by demoting responsible markedness constraints below faithfulness constraints.
Gender Impact on Translation of Particular Textual Aspects in Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice based on Robinson’s Model of Criterion-Referenced Rating Scale
Authors: Sahar Maleki, , Razieh Eslamieh,
Published: March 2018

The present paper means to study the impact of gender on specified textual aspects of the translated text limiting to degree of naturalness, explicitation, content, register, vocabulary, terminology, translation brief and orientation to target text type based on Robinson’s model of Criterion-referenced rating scale. Jane Auston’s world famous classic work, Pride and Prejudice along with two Farsi translations rendered by a male and a female translator compose the corpus of this study. Assuming that particular textual aspects are more likely to come under the influence of the translator's gender, the basic assumption was that there is a possibility that the male translator would not transfer the minutes of the narrative of a female writer. The findings revealed that the female translator in terms of Cultural Specific Items and terminology, triumphs on explicitation, in terms of language, style and tone, she triumphs on ethics of formality and totally she has more footnotes and more omissions. The male translator, more informal in tone and style, utilizes more slang equivalents. The male translator has very few number of footnotes and no omissions. However, in terms of transference of meaning there appeared no meaningful difference between the two translators. In other words, the differences were on the level of form and aesthetic aspects rather than meaning and message. The present paper was based on one case study. Doing the same research on more cases, the findings have the potentiality of generalization.
Personal Knowledge Management Capability of Apprentices in Malaysian Technical and Vocational Education and Training
Authors: Sha’ari Iszurin , Kassim Norliya Ahmad , Baharuddin Kasmarini
Published: March 2018

The purpose of the study is to investigate the Personal Knowledge Management (PKM) capability of apprentices in a Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institute. This study was conducted at the Institut Latihan Perindustrian Kuala Lumpur (ILP-KL) due to its maturity and long existence in Malaysia’s TVET landscape. A quantitative research survey method was employed and questionnaire was distributed to a sample of 234 apprentices of ILP-KL. Data gathered from the survey was analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) application. The finding indicated an average mean score of 3.901 for PKM capability. Differences on PKM capability were compared from the selected demographic group of gender, age, region of origin and education level. The results of Mann-Whitney U Test and Kruskal-Wallis Test indicated that the perception on Personal Knowledge Management Capability (PKMC) differs among the age group. The findings in this study led to the notion that ILP-KL has positive room for improvement to be made further in its apprentices’ personal knowledge management initiatives. The study is also able to furnish the institution with details on areas or dimensions that could be effectively strategized for improving initiative and efforts.
Aesthetic Relational Knowledge of the Field: A Revised Concept of Awareness in Gestalt Therapy and Contemporary Psychiatry
Authors: Lobb Margherita Spagnuolo
Published: March 2018

This article supports the need for psychotherapy and psychiatry to overcome the fragmentation of scientific knowledge. The author focuses briefly on the evolving relationship between psychotherapy and society, providing a brief overview of today's clinical needs. She then proposes a new development in the clinical concept of awareness from the optics of the field: aesthetic relational knowledge as a clinical tool that emerges from the phenomenological, aesthetic, relational, and process-oriented approach that is the Gestalt method. Therapeutic competence, in other words, is empathic and resonates with the client in a cocreated field. A clinical example will demonstrate how the concept of aesthetic relational knowledge can be used in a Gestalt therapy setting.
Being Smart Is Not Enough to Ensure Success: Integrating Personal Development into a General Education Course
Authors: Whitehall Anna Petra , Hill Laura G. , Yost Denise M. , Kidwell Kimberlee K.
Published: March 2018

Life skills, including conflict management, flexibility in response to change, and effective communication, are critical to success in college and career. Most university administrators and employers believe that students should learn foundational life skills in college, but for the most part universities do not explicitly teach these skills as part of the general undergraduate education experience. The goal of the present study was to examine whether personal development can be effectively fostered in a general education course. It reports on a theory-based course designed to increase leadership, adaptive coping skills, and mental well-being. It also demonstrates through a quasi-experiment that participation in this course is related to social and psychological outcomes such as increased adaptability to change and social integration. These skills will support students in being successful in college and beyond.
Psychometric Properties of the Inventory of Student Experiences in Undergraduate Research
Authors: Cater Melissa , Ferstel Sarah D. , O'Neil Carol E.
Published: March 2018

Student participation in undergraduate research (ugr) may be influenced by interest in research, future career and educational plans, perceived value of undergraduate research experiences, or perceived competence in research skills. The purpose of this study was to develop a questionnaire that could be used to validly and reliably assess students' perceived value of undergraduate research and perceived confidence in their research skills. Undergraduate student participants ranged in age from seventeen to fifty-two years. Respondents were predominantly female, white, and nonparticipants in ugr. Thirteen items were generated. The internal structure of the instrument was established by extracting two latent constructs using exploratory factor analysis. The cumulative percentage of variance explained by the constructs was approximately 55 percent. Results from the confirmatory factor analysis corroborated the internal structure of the instrument. The most parsimonious model was a twelve-item, two-factor solution with adequate fit. Reliability estimates were generally above 0.80. Initial assessment of the psychometric properties of the Inventory of Student Experiences in Undergraduate Research suggests that it may be a viable tool for undergraduate research programs to use in assessing the results of efforts to increase the value of ugr as well as student confidence in their own research skills.
“The Spirit of the Builder”: The Library Career of Julia Carson Stockett
Authors: Lindell Lisa R.
Published: March 2018

The personal history of Julia Carson Stockett contributes to and interweaves with the larger story of American women professional librarians in the early twentieth century. Stockett's experiences illuminate the achievements made by professional women in support and encouragement of one another. Throughout her career, Stockett sustained a commitment to her professional status and responsibilities and her vision of librarianship. The diversity of libraries and populations she served, notably in the West and Midwest, mark her work as exceptional. At the heart of her vocational choices were her facility for organization and her desire to bring books and reading to those lacking access. An examination of her correspondence, her published articles, contemporary newspaper accounts, and other sources expands the historical scholarship on the central and diverse roles of early professional women librarians as they carried forward the work of developing libraries and shaping a profession.
One Staff, Two Branches: The Queens Borough Public Library and New York City's Fiscal Crisis of the 1970s
Authors: Kroessler Jeffrey A.
Published: March 2018

During the fiscal crisis of the 1970s, New York City imposed deep budget cuts on the three library systems: the New York Public Library, the Brooklyn Public Library, and the Queens Borough Public Library. As the city cut budgets, the public demanded that libraries be kept open, and elected officials struggled to do both. The Queens Library's staff was reduced from over 1,100 to barely 700, with branches open only two or three days a week, with one staff serving both. New buildings remained vacant because the library lacked funds to operate them. When the library proposed closing some branches, the NAACP successfully sued. In the late 1970s, the three systems came to rely upon federal monies for the first time for basic operations. In the early 1980s the city regained its financial footing and library services stabilized, but the budgeting process for the libraries has remained politicized.
Fashion Triumphant and the Mechanism of Tautology in Two Nineteenth-Century Dystopias
Authors: Galant Justyna
Published: March 2018

The article offers an analysis of two nineteenth-century dystopias as texts exceptional in their treatment of fashion as a phenomenon central to plot and character development, a feature that breaks with the tradition of seeing clothing as a relatively minor element in the structure of alternative eutopian and dystopian realities. A consideration of the two novels—J. L. Collins's Queen Krinaleen (1874) and Walter Besant's The Inner House (1888)—in view of Baudrillard's and Barthes's theories of fashion results in a semiotic reading that highlights the tautological function of the vestimentary code, which proves its strength by radically transforming the societies and determining the meaning formation mechanisms in both texts.
The scope of children’s scope: Representation, parsing and learning
Authors: Lidz Jeffrey
Published: March 2018

This paper reviews some developmental psycholinguistic literature on quantifier scope. I demonstrate how scope has been used as a valuable probe into children’s grammatical representations, the nature of children’s on-line understanding mechanisms, and the role that experience plays in language acquisition. First, children’s interpretations of certain scopally ambiguous sentences reveals that their syntactic representations are hierarchical, with the c-command relation playing a fundamental role in explaining interpretive biases. Second, children’s scope errors are explained by incremental parsing and interpretation mechanisms, paired with difficulty revising initial interpretations. Third, a priming manipulation reveals that children’s clauses, like those of adults, are represented with predicate-internal subjects. Finally, data on scope variation in Korean reveals that in the absence of disambiguating evidence, parameter setting is an essentially random process. Together, these discoveries reveal how the developmental psycholinguistics of scope has proved a valuable tool for probing issues of grammar, parsing and learning.
Legislación con enfoque de Derechos Humanos para la gestión de Desarrollo Humano Sostenible en Honduras
Authors: López Padilla Javier David
Published: March 2018

El presente trabajo tiene como propósito principal aportar, desde la Ciencia Jurídica, argumentos para desarrollar una propuesta que contribuya a mejorar las oportunidades del Desarrollo Humano Sostenible (en adelante DHS) en Honduras. Esta contribución académica nace del reconocimiento de la función de la Ley, como categoría jurídica y social ordenadora de las relaciones humanas en un contexto histórico determinado. Dicho reconocimiento sobre la función social de la Ley se refiere al marco de atribuciones y restricciones al que el estado de Honduras (en su carácter de organización política) debe ajustar sus decisiones, especialmente en la planificación del DHS.El objetivo principal de esta investigación es fortalecer al sistema jurídico nacional, reconociendo la relación entre las normas legales y el DHS en su condición de derecho humano, enfatizando la necesidad de proveer criterios para la generación de comunicación de las demandas sociales en el proceso de creación normativa por medio del enfoque de derechos humanos.El proceso de investigación desarrollado en el presente documento toma el enfoque del tridimensionalismo jurídico, en el cual se destacan elementos propios de las investigaciones socio-jurídicas cualitativas, de análisis crítico social del discurso legal constitucional, con inclusión de aplicaciones propias del Derecho Comparado.Uno de los principales hallazgos de este trabajo, alude a que la mayor cantidad de leyes en Honduras están enfocadas en los ámbitos administrativo-fiscal, mercantil y civil; y en cuarto lugar lo penal. Es necesario considerar que estos cuerpos normativos regulan en esencia la dimensión económica de la sociedad; para el caso, desde el punto de vista fiscal, se establecen los criterios que orientan al Estado en su función de recaudación de impuestos, la que a su vez está relacionada con la capacidad adquisitiva de los contribuyentes. La imposición de tributos es una prerrogativa de los Estados basada en la contribución que todos los ciudadanos de un país están llamados a prestar para mejorar las condiciones de vida social de la comunidad a la que pertenecen. En el caso de las esferas mercantil y civil, sus contenidos normativos regulan las actividades de las personas en su ámbito privado, y en especial, en la relación con el ejercicio del Derecho de Propiedad. Esto quiere decir que históricamente, la preocupación del legislador ha estado concentrada en la actividad económica de las personas que regula mediante las normas que promulga, ya sea en razón del ejercicio del derecho de propiedad para el uso, goce y disposición privada de los bienes sobre los que ejerce este derecho, o para la regulación de la explotación masiva del mismo y/o para la imposición de tributos en razón del patrimonio de las personas.
Changes in the content of edible and non-edible components and distribution of tissue components in cockerels and capons
Authors: Zawacka Magdalena , Gesek Michal , Michalik Danuta , Murawska Daria
Published: March 2018

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of castration and age on the content of edible and non-edible components, and the distribution of tissue components in the carcasses of cockerels and capons. The study was conducted on 200 birds (Green-legged Partridge), divided into two sex categories (with 5 replications per group and 20 birds per replication), raised to 28 wk of age. At 8 wk of age, 100 birds were surgically castrated and afterwards at 12 wk of age and at four-wk intervals, 10 intact cockerels and 10 capons were selected randomly and slaughtered. Cockerels, compared with capons, were characterized by a higher proportion of edible components at 24 and 28 wk of age, and a more desirable carcass tissue composition due to a higher content of lean meat in total body weight (BW). Capons had higher abdominal fat content than cockerels, which resulted in a higher percentage of non-edible components in their BW at 24 and 28 wk of age. Differences in the distribution of lean meat in the carcass were noted from 20 wk of age in both castrated and intact birds. The content of breast muscles increased in capons, and the content of leg muscles (thigh and drumstick) increased in cockerels. The results of this study indicate that in view of the optimal lean meat content of the carcass and the optimal distribution of major tissue components, Green-legged Partridge capons should be fattened for a maximum period of 24 wk.
Polioencephalomalacia in ruminants from the semi-arid region of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil
Authors: Câmara Antônio Carlos Lopes , Batista Jael Soares , Soto-Blanco Benito
Published: March 2018

The present study aimed to describe epidemiological, clinical, laboratorial, and pathological findings of polioencephalomalacia (PEM) in ruminants from the semi-arid region of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil. A total of seven ruminants (five sheep, one cattle, and one goat) with pathological diagnosis of PEM were included. Four cases were associated with thiamine deficiency, on account of chronic ruminal acidosis caused by diets rich in carbohydrate, with mainly concentrates, ground soybean hulls, and melon. Three ruminants from an outbreak of petroleum poisoning presented macro and microscopic lesions consistent with changes of malacia and edema in deep structures of the brain, as described in ruminants with PEM associated with sulfur intoxication. Major macroscopic changes included congestion of cerebral vessels, edema, and herniation of the cerebellum. The most observed microscopic lesions, among all assessed cases, were laminar and segmental neuronal necrosis at different regions of the brain, spongiosis, nuclear pyknosis, and red nucleus neurons. Cerebrospinal fluid analysis revealed nonspecific alterations, requiring its association with epidemiological, clinical, and pathological findings, as the results described here are similar to those reported in toxic diseases with neurological manifestations, such as botulism.
Productive performance of pigs in different breeding stages, housed in a Wean-to-Finish system, with several stocking rates
Authors: Consoni Wagner , Gabardo Michelle De Paula , Lazaroto Juliana , Zandonai Alencar Dante , Santos Valdecir Nunes dos , Traverso Sandra Davi , Thaler Neto André , Cristani José
Published: March 2018

The objective of the current study was to analyze the productive parameters of pigs housed in single and double capacity in the nursery, growth, and finishing phases in the Wean-to-Finish (WF) system. The research was carried out in the pig sector of the Centro de Ciências Agroveterinárias (CAV) at the Universidade do Estado de Santa Catarina (UDESC), in Lages, Santa Catarina. Ninety male castrated pigs weaned at 28 days of age and with an initial mean weight of 7.91 kg were used. They were housed in a WF shed and divided into two treatments: T1 with three animals per pen, 1.5 m2 of space per animal and 0.38 m of feeder space from weaning until slaughter; and T2 with six animals per pen, 0.75 m2 of space per animal and 0.19 m of feeder space in the nursery phase (up to 63 days old); and three animals per pen, with 1.5 m2 of space per animal and 0.38 m of feeder space for the growth and termination phases. The animals were individually weighed and the average daily feed intake (ADFI), average daily weight gain (ADWG), and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were calculated and a randomized design with a total of 10 replicate pens per treatment (with each pen considered an experimental unit) were used. Animals were slaughtered at 161 days of age. The design was completely randomized. We found no significant difference in ADWG, ADFI, or FCR in either the nursery or growth/finish phases and also found no significant difference in carcass yield. Our results show that double stocking pigs in pens is a viable alternative that allows for the best use of facilities during the nursery period on farms that use the WF system.
Effect of different Bacillus thuringiensis strains on the longevity of Africanized honey bee
Authors: Libardoni Gabriela , Gouvea Alfredo De , Costa-Maia Fabiana Martins , Lozano Everton Ricardi , Freitas Patrícia Franchi de , Colombo Fernanda Caroline , Raulino Fernanda , Maciel Rodrigo Mendes Antunes , Potrich Michele
Published: March 2018

The aim of this study was to assess the effects of three strains of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) on the longevity of workers of Africanized honey bee. Solutions at a concentration of 3 × 108 spores.mL-1 (dosage) were prepared for each strain of Bt (IPS 82, BR 81, and BR 147). Three bioassays were performed as follows: spraying on the bees, contact with the sprayed surface, and candy paste incorporated with Bt. The bees of the Bt bioassay were submitted to histological analysis of the mesenteron. The longevity of workers was assessed from one to 120 hours using different ranges. It was found that the bees that were exposed to the strain of Bt IPS 82, in the spraying test, exhibited a reduced longevity. In the contact test, the BR 147 strain reduced the longevity of the bees. In the food test, in turn, the three studied strains reduced the longevity of the bees as follows: Bt IPS 82: 64.5 hours; Bt BR 81: 64.5 hours; and Bt BR 147: 60.0 hours. The Bt BR 81 strain was considered the most selective of the evaluated strains on Apis mellifera, reducing the longevity of this bee only when it came into contact by the method of ingestion.
Molybdenum application associated with nitrogen fertilization on yield and physiological potential of wheat seeds
Authors: Bazzo José Henrique Bizzarri , Costa Denis Santiago da , Barbizan Thamiris , Barbosa André Prechlak , Oliveira Eli Carlos de , Zucareli Claudemir
Published: March 2018

Molybdenum (Mo) is a micronutrient that plays a fundamental role in the assimilation of nitrogen (N) in plants, and top-dressing N fertilization associated with different forms of molybdenum application can increase the yield and physiological potential of wheat seeds. The objective of this study was to evaluate the yield and physiological potential of wheat seeds treated with different forms of Mo application associated with N fertilization. The experiment was performed using the wheat cultivar CD150 in randomized blocks in split plots, with four replicates. Plots were evaluated for four forms of Mo application: 0 g ha-1 of Mo, seed treatment with 40 g ha-1 of Mo, foliar treatment with 40 g ha-1 of Mo, and seed + foliar treatment each at 20 g ha-1. In the subplots, four N rates (0, 30, 60, and 90 kg ha-1 N) were applied at the start of the tillering phase. We evaluated the following parameters: seed yield, mass of one thousand seeds, germination, first germination count, seedling root and shoot length, electrical conductivity, seedling emergence in sand, emergence speed index, and crude and soluble protein contents. The yield of wheat seeds increased with increasing rates of N in the top-dressing. Nitrogen fertilization associated with different forms of Mo application did not interfere with the crude and soluble protein contents or with any of the parameters related to the physiological potential of wheat seeds.
Del "estilo" a la "dirección" la representación política en el Congreso de los Diputados y en los Parlamentos autonómicos
Authors: Camacho-Ávila Beatriz
Published: March 2018

En esta nota de investigaciónse presenta la categoría de la direcciónde la relación entre los representantes y los representados como una nueva forma de conceptualizar la representación política. Los modelos tradicionales de análisis empírico de la representación utilizan el estilo, una categoría de análisis incompatible con las recientes aportaciones de la teoría política y de la investigación empírica, que describen la representación como un proceso bidireccional. En la primera parte de esta nota se exponen las críticas al estiloy las ventajas de su sustitución por la dirección. En la segunda parte, se utiliza la base de datos CONREP-2012 para analizar las concepciones de los parlamentarios/as españoles acerca de la direcciónde la representación, y poner de manifiesto la utilidad de esta nueva categoría de análisis.
Electronic Health Records Functionalities in Saudi Arabia: Obstacles and Major Challenges
Authors: Jabali A. Karim , Jarrar Mu'taman
Published: March 2018

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES: Despite the innovative technology availability, however, the functionalities of usefulness are limited and not been explored in Saudi Arabian hospitals. This study aims to determine the extent and diffusion of Electronic Health Records (EHR) in public hospitals in Saudi Arabia and to explore the main obstacles, and problems of adopting EHR in these hospitals.METHODS: A comprehensive survey was developed and sent to the medium and large size hospital stakeholders to collect their opinions on the current status of the adoption and usage of EHR. Cluster random sampling has been used. The study has been conducted in the eastern province.RESULTS: Based on the 15 hospitals surveyed in the Eastern Province (EP), Saudi Arabia, a total of seven hospitals (46.6%) had an EHR system and the implementation is running. EHR is mostly used for order entry (51.11%) and char review (41.11%) in the EP in Saudi Arabia with obstacles to be used for decision support, documentation functions, communication tools. Despite the “secured” EHR system, the results shows that security mechanism did not cover all threats.CONCLUSION: The results suggest that more public hospitals are required to adopting more and more EHR and EHR functionalities. A periodic assessment of EHR status should be performed in addition to or part of an encouraging/ enforcing policies that can significantly increase the rate of adoption of EHR systems. Managers and policymakers can benefit from the study by facing obstacles and general challenges of problems like resistance to change from the medical staff in using the information technology, low and weak financing, and train technical supporting staff for adopting EHR.
Impact of Corporate Governance on Value Creation and Corporate Productivity: Evidence from Tunisian Context
Authors: Ayari Rim , Regaieg Boutheina
Published: March 2018

The governance practices and the value of the company have ancient origins but still relevant. Faced with economic, social and environmental upheavals, the Tunisian company is subject to contradictory injunctions and must redefine its role in society. Today there is a general consensus that governance has a significant impact on the value of the company. The areas on which governance can act to create value are many and varied and there can be no question of looking at them exhaustively. The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of governance mechanisms on the value creation of Tunisian firms, particularly measured by total factor productivity. Based on a sample of 28 corporations listed on Tunisian stock market during the period 2008-2014, our study employs regression analysis to test the impact of governance mechanisms on firm value as measured by productivity. As predicted by the theory, empirical data show (i) that debts have a negative and significant effect on productivity such as measured by the ratio of total debt to total assets. (ii) the presence of institutional investors on boards of directors also increases the value of the company. (iii) However, contrary to previous studies, the duality that combines the functions of the Chairman of the Board and the Chief Executive Officer has no effect on the value creation of Tunisian companies.
An Empirical Analysis of the Monetary Transmission Mechanism of Developing Economies: Evidence from Ghana
Authors: Nyumuah Felix S.
Published: March 2018

Policymakers need a clear understanding of their monetary transmission mechanisms for effective implementation of monetary policy. The aim of this study is to carry out an econometric analysis of the channels of monetary transmission mechanism in less developed economies so as to determine their effectiveness. The study uses Ghana macroeconomic data and finds the money supply channel to be the strongest in the long run while the exchange rate channel seems the strongest in transmitting monetary impulses in the short run. The interest rate and the bank credit to private sector channels emerge as very weak channels of monetary transmission.
Characterization of Social Capital Using a Nested Latent Class Model: Case of Rural Areas in Central Malawi
Authors: Dzanja Joseph
Published: March 2018

Social capital relates to capital created when a group of individuals or organizations develop the ability to work together for mutually productive gain. Gains in economic performance and innovative capacity depend on the institutional effectiveness of these relationships as measured by the available stock of social capital. Studies on social capital have however, been criticized for failing to account for the multi-dimensional and latent nature of the concept. Using household survey data from Malawi, this study uses latent class analytical methods to explore social capital and how it relates to welfare of people in rural communities in Malawi in Africa. It highlights the usefulness of latent class analytical methods for providing statistically valid information about the characteristics and determinants of social capital. Using the social capital dimensions of trust, participation and volunteering a four class LCA typology was constructed. Around 30% of the sample were classified as ‘trusty participants’, reporting active participation in the socio-economic activities of their communities and a high degree of community and institutional trust. Multinomial logistic regression revealed the covariates of the different typologies of social capital.
Impacts on Productivity through Sustainable Fertilization of Nopal (Opuntia Ficus-Indica) Crops Using Organic Compost
Authors: Tavera-Cortés Maria Elena , Escamilla-García Pablo Emilio , Pérez-Soto Francisco
Published: March 2018

This paper shows the results obtained when evaluating current practices in cultivation processes of nopal. Production of nopal in the borough of Milpa Alta in Mexico City has been based for more than 40 years on the use of high doses of fresh cow manure (up to 600 t ha-1). It is necessary to consider the effects that this type of fertilization could have on the environment. In order to compare the effect of different fertilization methods on the production, quality and shelf-life of cladodes, three-year-old cactus plants were fertilized with compost, compost leachate, fresh manure cow and synthetic fertilizer; plants treated with water served as a control. The plants fertilized with compost (leached or solid) tended to a higher yield (g) per plant, although there were no significant statistical differences between treatments. Cladodes produced with solid compost or fresh manure showed a lower pH (4.7) than those produced with water to the soil. Cladodes produced with synthetic fertilizers showed higher shear strength than those produced with manure. Cladodes produced with synthetic fertilizer and compost leachate took more days to show shelf darkening (oxidation) than those produced with soil water. In addition, the use of compost showed a significant impact on cost reduction during the production nopal given a lower cost against manure and synthetic fertilizer.
Technical and Economic Viability of Wheat with Forms of Application and Doses of Boron
Authors: Galindo Fernando S. , Teixeira Filho Marcelo C. M. , Buzetti Salatiér , Boleta Eduardo H. M. , Rodrigues Willian L. , Santini José M. K. , Rosa Alexandre R. M. , Ludkiewicz Mariana G. Z. , Silva Vinicius M.
Published: March 2018

Boron is one of the most limiting micronutrients in grains production system in Brazil. In this way, the objective was to evaluate the effect of forms of application and doses of boron in irrigated wheat grain yield evaluating the economic terms in Cerrado region. The experiment was conducted in no-tillage system in an Oxisol with clay texture in Selvíria, MS, Brazil. The experimental design was a randomized block design with four replicates, arranged in a 4 × 3 factorial scheme: four doses of boron (0, 1, 2 and 4 kg ha-1) with boric acid source (B = 17%); and three apllication forms: a) in desiccation of the predecessor straw, together with herbicide; b) at the time of sowing, in soil along with the formulated fertilization seeding and c) via leaf tissue with the application of post emergent herbicide. The application of 2 kg ha-1 provides greater grain yields, but the highest economic return was obtained at the dose of 1 kg ha-1, with application in soil, ensuring profitability from production of irrigated wheat in the Cerrado.
Chemical and Physical Characterization of Peanut Powder Extracts
Authors: Silva Luzia Marcia de Melo , Almeida Francisco de Assis Cardoso , Sousa Francinalva Cordeiro de , Castro Deise Souza de , Moreira Inácia dos Santos , Lima Jacinete Pereira , Neto Acácio Figueiredo
Published: March 2018

The production of lyophilized foods is a market with great growth potential, for providing important preservation characteristics, such as stability at ambient temperature, versatility of the product and preservation of the chemical compounds. Given the functional effects of peanut powder extracts, this study aimed to quantify the bioactive compounds and determine physical and chemical characteristics, comparing samples with and without skin. After obtaining the aqueous peanut extract the samples were frozen at -18 °C for 24 h. The formulated extracts were dried in a benchtop lyophilizer operating at temperature of -55 °C for a period of 48 hours. The powder extracts were disintegrated in a multiprocessor for 30 seconds and the samples were physically and chemically evaluated. The powder extracts were classified as non-hygroscopic, exhibiting poor fluidity and intermediate cohesiveness in samples with skin, and high cohesiveness in samples without skin. The powders showed agglomerated particles, with irregular and non-uniform shape. Potassium was the mineral found in largest amounts, as well as oleic and linoleic fatty acids. The particles of the powders exhibit a spherical shape, showing the presence of amorphous surfaces, in which there is no repetition of geometric forms. The peanut powder extracts are classified as non-hygroscopic, have poor fluidity, intermediate cohesiveness in samples with skin and high cohesiveness in samples without skin.
Separation of Cultivars of Soybeans by Chemometric Methods Using Near Infrared Spectroscopy
Authors: Panero João S. , Silva Henrique E. B. da , Panero Pedro S. , Smiderle Oscar J. , Panero Francisco S. , Faria Fernando S. E. D. V. , Rodriguez Anselmo F. R.
Published: March 2018

Near Infrared (NIR) Spectroscopy technique combined with chemometrics methods were used to group and identify samples of different soy cultivars. Spectral data, collected in the range of 714 to 2500 nm (14000 to 4000 cm-1), were obtained from whole grains of four different soybean cultivars and were submitted to different types of pre-treatments. Chemometrics algorithms were applied to extract relevant information from the spectral data, to remove the anomalous samples and to group the samples. The best results were obtained considering the spectral range from 1900.6 to 2187.7 nm (5261.4 cm-1 to 4570.9 cm-1) and with spectral treatment using Multiplicative Signal Correction (MSC) + Baseline Correct (linear fit), what made it possible to the exploratory techniques Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Hierarchical Cluster Analysis (HCA) to separate the cultivars. Thus, the results demonstrate that NIR spectroscopy allied with de chemometrics techniques can provide a rapid, nondestructive and reliable method to distinguish different cultivars of soybeans.
Abscisic Acid Sprayed on Olive Tree (Olea europaea L.) Affects the Phenolic Composition of Olive Fruit Cultivars
Authors: Blanch Gracia Patricia , Flores Gema , Gómez-Jiménez Maria C. , Castillo Maria Luisa Ruiz del
Published: March 2018

The aim of this research was to study the effect of abscisic acid pre-harvest treatment on the phenolic composition of olive fruits. To that end we applied abscisic acid (i.e., 50 mg/L and 100 mg/L) on Arbequina and Picual olive trees. Two different days of harvesting (i.e., day 3 and 6 after treatment) were also included in the study. Although the results obtained depended on the cultivar and on the day of harvesting a general trend was established. The treatment with 50 mg/L of abscisic acid resulted in higher total phenol content but significant decrease in the DPPH activity. In contrast, olives treated with 100 mg/L abscisic acid resulted in higher total phenol content, DPPH activity and contents of oleuropein, hydroxytyrosol and phenolic acids as compared with controls. The best values of total phenol content and IC50 were obtained for treated Picual olives (727.75 mg gallic kg-1 and 889.72 µg/ml, respectively) whereas the highest values of oleuropein and hydroxytyrosol were measured for treated Arbequina olives (508.94 and 559.67 mg kg-1, respectively). Phenolic acid content was also higher in Picual olives treated with 100 mg/L of abscisic acid. Particulary, values ranged from 7.26 mg kg-1 for caffeic acid to 92.38 mg kg-1 for chlorogenic acid. Exogenous abscisic acid applied to olive trees is a promising agronomic practice to obtain olives enriched in antioxidants.
Plant Components of Agroforestry System Have Different Contributions to Soil Fertility
Authors: Do Nascimento Carla Danielle Vasconcelos , Costa Mirian Cristina Gomes , Toma Raul Shiso , Cooper Miguel
Published: March 2018

The objective was to evaluate soil fertility in agrosilvopastoral system in an area influenced by plant components. The study was carried out in the semi-arid region, in the municipality of Sobral (Ceará State, Brazil). The studied treatments were three plant components: shrub (Leucaena leucocephala), tree (Poincianera pyramidalis), crop (Zea mays) and an area of natural regeneration, all at four soil depths. The main chemical attributes were evaluated in the soil samples. The plant components contribute differently to the chemical attributes, especially the tree component, promoting improvements even without the addition of inputs.
Reviewer Acknowledgements for Journal of Agricultural Science, Vol. 10, No. 4
Authors: Brown Anne
Published: March 2018

Reviewer acknowledgements for Journal of Agricultural Science, Vol. 10, No. 4, 2018.
Nitrogen Mineralization Potential (No) in Three Kenyan Soils: Andosls, Ferralsols and Luvisols
Authors: Karuku George , Mochoge Benson O.
Published: March 2018

Nitrogen mineralization potential is important so as to prevent over-fertilization that could lead to groundwater contamination or under-fertilization that could lead to poor nutrient provision by crops leading to low yields. Three soil types were selected on the basis of groups, agro-ecological zone, organic matter content and land use. The soil samples were taken from the 0-15 and 15-30 cm depth. The samples were placed in incubation bags, water added to field capacity, sealed and incubated in laboratory at room temperature. The bags were opened at intervals of two weeks and soil sub-samples taken for analysis of mineral N for a period of 17 weeks. The calculated mineralizable N was 138.8 μg N and 116.4 μg N/g for Gituamba andosols, 46.0 μg N and 46.4 μg N/g for Kitale ferralsol and 260.1 μg N and 197.3 μg N/g soil for Katumani luvisols in the 0-15 and 15-30 cm depth, respectively. These calculated values compared well with the actual cumulative mineralizable N for Gituamba andosols at 127 μg N and 74.1 μg N/g, for Kitale ferralsols at 48.0 μg N and 64.1 μg N/g and for Katumani 80.6 μg N and 47.7 μg N/g soil in the 0-15 and 15-30 cm depth, respectively. The time taken for 50% of potentially mineralizable N to be mineralized (t½) ranged from 6.3 weeks for Katumani luvisols 15-30 cm to 30.1 weeks for Kitale ferralsols 0-15 cm soil depths. The soils with highest rate constant (k) had the least. For example, 15-30 cm depth of Katumani luvisols with of 6.3 weeks had the highest k of 0.112 week-1 compared with Kitale ferralsols 0-15 cm depth with t½ of 30.1 weeks and the lowest k of 0.023 week-1. The observed data indicates that 50% of N would be mineralized in all the soil types with the exception of Kitale ferralsols (0-15 cm depth) within the growing period of the crops which is approximately 20 weeks.
Generation Mean Analysis in Cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.] under Flower Thrips infestation
Authors: Sobda Gonné , Atemkeng Fonji Maureen , Boukar Ousmane , Fatokun Chistian , Tongoona Pangirayi Bernard , Ayertey Jonathan , Offei Samuel Kwame
Published: March 2018

Two sets of six generations (P1, P2, F1, F2, BC1P1, BC1P2) of cowpea were developed from crosses of contrasting inbred lines VYA (susceptible) × SANZI (resistant) and LORI (susceptible) × SANZI (resistant). The aim of this study was to determine the inheritance and elucidate the genetic control of cowpea resistance to thrips. The first set (VYA × SANZI) was evaluated under natural thrips infestation in the field in a completely randomized block design with three replications. The second set (LORI × SANZI) was screened using artificial thrips infestation in the screen house. In each trial, data were recorded on 150 individual plants. These included the score of thrips damages using the scale of one to nine, number of thrips per flower, number of pods per plant, pod weight per plant and grain weight per plant. The generation mean analysis revealed that both additive and non-additive types of gene effects were significant. Dominance × dominance was the most predominant type of gene effects for thrips resistance, suggesting that breeders should delay selection to late generations to allow advancement of as many high-potential recombinants as possible during hybridization. The number of genes that control the expression of number of thrips per flower was three and ranged from three to four, for score of thrips damages. High broad sense and moderate narrow sense heritability were observed ranging from 0.53 to 0.65 and 0.14 to 0.36, respectively for all of the traits measured.
Las prácticas científicas en infantil. Una aproximación al análisis del currículum y planes de formación del profesorado de Galicia
Authors: Mosquera Bargiela Inés , Puig Blanca , Blanco Anaya Paloma
Published: March 2018

Se presenta un estudio sobre las prácticas científicas en el marco curricular y formación de maestros/as de infantil en ciencias. Las preguntas de investigación son: 1) ¿cómo se integran las prácticas científicas en el currículum de educación infantil?, y 2) ¿qué formación inicial y permanente recibe el profesorado de infantil para promover las prácticas científicas en el aula? Específicamente, ¿qué importancia reciben estas prácticas en su formación? La práctica de indagación es la de mayor presencia en el currículum de infantil, seguida de la modelización y argumentación. El análisis de los planes de formación inicial revela que solo dos materias de los grados en Maestro/a de Educación Infantil incluyen en sus programas las prácticas científicas. En el Plan Anual de Formación Permanente encontramos una actividad dirigida a la formación científica de este profesorado, aunque no menciona las prácticas científicas.
DIAGNÓSTICO DOS RESÍDUOS SÓLIDOS GERADOS NO CEAGESP DE PRESIDENTE PRUDENTE- SP
Authors: de Jesus Figueiredo Nayara , Garcia Furuya Danielle , Oliveira Bruna , Garcia Balarim Nelissa
Published: March 2018

The generation of solid residues on the Companhia de Entrepostos e Armazéns Gerais de São Paulo (CEAGESP) happen due to the big quantity of commercialized products. Nowadays there is not a proper treatment for these residues that are produced within the company. Therefore, this research had as an objective to make the diagnosis of the production of solid residues in the Ceagesp Presidente Prudente, since the generation until the final destination. To accomplish it, some visits occurred from 17/02 to 07/03/2017 at Ceagesp to obtain information about the functioning and generation of residues. It was observed a big quantity of organic origin residues, and in minor scale are generated recyclable residues. Some of these wastes are stored in dumpsters and bags, but is usual to find a part outside of the dumpsters and mixed with all the kinds generated. Currently the dump of Presidente Prudente is the final destination of all the residues, which is contrary to the National Solid Residues Policy. Some residues need to be recycled, while the organics can be reused
Pollen- and Non Pollen Palynomorphs- Analyses from Svalbard
Authors: Jankovská Vlasta
Published: March 2018

We analysed fifteen samples of a shallow profile “Sverrefjellet Volcano “, located in the NW part of Svalbard – Bockfjord region (see Fig.1). Frequency of pollen grains, spores and NPP (Non Pollen Palynomorphs) was quite low. Only the local taxa (e.g. Salix and Cyperaceae) produced pollen in greater abundance. The pollen spectrum was considerably varied, although pollen grains and spores of most taxa were present in low abundances. This was due to low pollen and spores productivity of the Arctic flora, which propagates mostly in a vegetative way. To obtain as much information from the profile under study as possible, we analysed the non- pollen palynomorphs as well. We succeeded above all in determination of eggs, buccal tubes and claws of the Tardigrada phylum (Jankovská 1991). The determination has been recently verified by specialists in the field, prof. L. Kaczmarek and dr. M. Roszkowska (in Jankovská et al. 2016). The results of the pollen- and NPP analysis are presented in pollen- and NPP diagram, which represents a picture of the species-poor Arctic flora.