bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
DAMPAK PROGRAM BANTUAN SOSIAL TERHADAP PERTUMBUHAN EKONOMI DAN KEMISKINAN KABUPATEN TERTINGGAL DI INDONESIA
Authors: Putra Edo Pramana , Purnamadewi Yeti Lis , Sahara S
Published: September 2016

The issue of underdeveloped areas and the problems of inequality of

development is the disparity problem areas that endanger national unity. The purpose of this study is to examine the dynamics of poverty and the dynamics of social aid in underdeveloped areas, to analyze the effect of social aid Ministry of underdeveloped areas to economic growth in underdeveloped areas, and to analyze the relationship between economic growth and poverty reduction in underdeveloped area in Indonesia. The results showed the increase dynamics and decline of poor people in underdeveloped areas in Indonesia within the period 2010-2013. From the results of regression analysis of panel data model of economic growth known that variable social and cultural institutional support, infrastructure support, and help the world economy and a significant effort to increase economic growth in under dev eloped areas, while the human resources aid and specific support area is not significant in improving economic growth in underdeveloped regions. The results of the regression analysis poverty panel data model known that the variable number of unemployed, IPM, and the share of the services sector significantly affect to the level of poverty in underdeveloped areas, while the variable PDRB, the share of agriculture and industry sector share is not significant in influencing to the poverty level in underdeveloped area.
Optimization of people evacuation plans on the basis of wireless sensor networks
Authors: Amirgaliyev Yedilkhan , Yunussov Rassul , Mamyrbayev Orken
Published: September 2016

This paper introduces the optimization process for people salvation in critical situations by organizing their evacuation plan from enclosed areas using modern approaches of data acquisition on the basis of wireless sensor networks. The proposed technology allows the ability to gather information about people density on the surveyed area by the usage of wireless sensor networks, consistently covering the enclosed territory. It enables the update of the evacuation plan on the basis of people density information inside the enclosed areas online. It is proposed to use common video surveillance cameras as sensors. The advantage of visual surveillance using cameras is that it does not require additional technological equipment for the area and much more important does not impose rules and restriction on the surveillance objects (people in this case). Next tasks are to be solved: creation of mathematical model of optimal enclosed area surveillance by wireless sensors, database and data interrogation modelling of wireless sensor network, creation of algorithmic model for automated people counting using video signal for the covering area; creation of dynamic people evacuation model on the basis of maximum flow problem [1, 2].
Photoacoustic tomography with spatially varying compressibility and density
Authors: Belhachmi Zakaria , Glatz Thomas , Scherzer Otmar
Published: September 2016

This paper investigates photoacoustic tomography with two spatially varying acoustic parameters, the compressibility
and the density. We consider the reconstruction of the absorption density parameter (imaging parameter of Photoacoustics)
with complete and partial measurement data.
We investigate and analyze three different numerical methods for solving the imaging problem and compare the results.
Zur Reduzibilität und Irreduzibilität des Sozialen in der Handlungs- und der Systemtheorie
Authors: Greve Jens
Published: September 2016

Während die Systemtheorie mit der Annahme verbunden ist, dass sich Soziales nicht auf Individuelles reduzieren lässt, wird in der Handlungstheorie in der Regel unterstellt, dass eine solche Reduktion möglich ist. Der Beitrag setzt sich mit der Position eines nicht-reduktiven Individualismus auseinander, der quer zu dieser Einschätzung liegt, da seine Vertreter davon ausgehen, dass es trotz einer individualistischen Basis des Sozialen nicht-reduzierbare soziale Eigenschaften gibt. Mittels eines Argumentes, das Kim in der Philosophie des Geistes an einer analogen Position vorgebracht hat, lässt sich nachweisen, dass der nicht-reduktive Individualismus keine widerspruchsfreie Position ist. Es wird dann gezeigt, dass die Kritik an der Irreduzibilitätsthese im nicht-reduktiven Individualismus nicht dazu führt, die Irreduzibilitätsthese der Systemtheorie ebenfalls zurückweisen, da diese den individualistischen Ausgangspunkt des nicht-reduktiven Individualismus nicht teilt. Luhmanns Fassung des Verhältnisses von psychischen und sozialen Systemen steht aber vor der Herausforderung zu zeigen, dass es keinen substantiellen Dualismus oder Parallelismus enthält. Es wird abschließend ausgeführt, dass Luhmanns Ausführungen keine hinreichend bestimmte Antwort auf diese Herausforderung geben.
Götter, Herren und Verwandte. Frühe mesopotamische Sozialsysteme und ihre Umwelten
Authors: Götzelt Thomas
Published: September 2016

Der Aufsatz versucht, den offenbaren evolutionären Erfolg segmentärer Differenzierung zu beschreiben und zu erklären. Es wird vorgeschlagen, ihn als Wiedereintritts- und Strukturbildungsfähigkeit der segmentären System-Umwelt- Unterscheidung zu konzipieren. Der Systeminnenseite zugeordnet ist dabei Egalität, der Umwelt dagegen Ungleichheit in Form hierarchischer Unterscheidungen der »Tempel«- und »Palast«-Organisationen Mesopotamiens. Als Fallbeispiel werden segmentäre Systeme des 3. und 2. Jahrtausends Mesopotamiens gewählt. Problemlagen segmentärer Differenzierung werden anhand ethnologischer Begriffe und Befunde schärfer gefasst.
Zur Rekonstruktion und Rehabilitation eines absonderlichen Funktionssystems – Medizin und Krankenbehandlung bei Niklas Luhmann und in der Folgerezeption
Authors: Pelikan Jürgen M.
Published: September 2016

Niklas Luhmann hat seine Theorie der Funktionssysteme am Beispiel verschiedener konkreter Systeme entwickelt, bestimmte Aspekte auch in Die Gesellschaft der Gesellschaft systematisiert. Der Krankenbehandlung (Medizin) hat er zwar den Charakter eines großen Funktionssystems zuerkannt, diesem aber nur drei kleinere randständige Ausätze gewidmet und deren Ergebnisse auch nicht in Die Gesellschaft der Gesellschaft aufgenommen. Er bestimmt, vor allem gestützt auf semantische Kriterien, Krankenbehandlung (Medizin), als ein »absonderliches« System, mit einem »perversen« Code, und der Abwesenheit einer Reflexionstheorie, eines symbolisch generalisierten Kommunikationsmediums und eines symbiotischen Mechanismus. Für drei dieser Kriterien wird eine »Normalisierung« angeboten, um Krankenbehandlung (Medizin) soziologisch adäquater zu beschreiben und neue systemtheoretische Optionen für ein entstehendes »Gesundheitssystems« zu eröffnen. Mit »krank / nichtkrank « wird - in Abweichung von Luhmanns Vorschlag, aber konsistent mit seinen theoretischen Ansprüchen - ein eigener Codevorschlag gemacht und begründet. Für die angeblichen Defizite, Kommunikationsmedium und symbiotischer Mechanismus, werden ebenfalls konkrete Vorschläge entwickelt.
Zur immunologischen Funktion literarischer Kommunikation
Authors: Türk Johannes
Published: September 2016

Eine Möglichkeit, die Funktion von Kunst zu bestimmen, liegt darin, in ihr ein Medium zu sehen, das Konflikte beobachtet. Literatur induziert Sensibilität, lenkt Aufmerksamkeit und bildet Gefühle, die Widersprüchen bearbeiten. Sie gibt Konflikten eine Form, die in der Lage ist, strukturelle Risiken zu antizipieren und abzufedern. Kontradiktorische Ereignisse blockieren das System nicht mehr, vielmehr werden sie zu einer Sequenz seiner Fortsetzung. Daher hat Literatur eine Immunfunktion, die an der Grenze von Kommunikation und Bewusstseinssystem angesiedelt ist. Ausgehend von Niklas Luhmanns Überlegungen zur Immunologie lassen sich insbesondere die Tragödie und der Bildungsroman als immunologische Einrichtungen beschreiben.
Der Professionsansatz von Niklas Luhmann
Authors: Kurtz Thomas
Published: September 2016

Während für Talcott Parsons der professionelle Komplex die bedeu­tendste Einzelstruktur in der modernen Gesellschaft darstellte, werden die Professio­nen heute nicht mehr als wichtiger Mechanismus gesellschaftlicher Strukturbildung angesehen - in den neueren Gesellschaftstheorien etwa tauchen sie gar nicht mehr auf. Eine Ausnahme bildet hier die Systemtheorie mit den Schriften von Rudolf Stich­weh. Weniger bekannt ist, dass auch Niklas Luhmann insbesondere in den 1970er Jahren im Kontext der Entwicklung seiner Theorie der Gesellschaft ein Professions­konzept ausgearbeitet hat. Der Beitrag fragt dabei, was Luhmann unter Professionen verstand und wie und wo er sie in seine Theoriearchitektur eingebaut hat.
Raum als Kontingenzformel der Geographie. Zu den Ausdifferenzierungsbesonderheiten und -schwierigkeiten einer Disziplin
Authors: Goeke Pascal , Moser Evelyn
Published: September 2016

Die (Human-)Geographie ist eine bemerkenswerte Disziplin. Organisatorisch ist sie relativ gut etabliert, doch ihre Forschungsbeiträge spielen in der Wissenschaft eine untergeordnete Rolle. Diese Leistungs- und Erfolgsdifferenz legt grundsätzlich eine stärkere Differenzierung zwischen dem Forschungsfeld einer Disziplin und ihrer Etablierung als Fach nahe. Vor dem Hintergrund dieser Unterscheidung kann erstens verdeutlicht werden, dass es der Geographie auf der Grundlage ihrer Kontingenzformel Raum nicht gelungen ist, ihre Gegen standsorientierung durch eine distinkte forschungsfeldkonstituierende Problemstellung zu ersetzen. Diese Schwierigkeit lässt sich aus systemtheoretischer Perspektive auf die Dualität von Raum als Medium und Materie sowie auf das Primat funktionaler Differenzierung und den damit verbundenen thematischen Zuständigkeiten sozial wissen schaftlicher Disziplinen in der modernen Gesellschaft zurückführen. Ausgehend von der Annahme der steten Relevanz von Raum erscheint die Geographie stattdessen als Disziplin multipler Orientierung. Ihre dennoch erfolgreiche Etablierung als Fach, so die zweite These, fußt auf außerwissenschaftlichen Anlehnungskontexten (hauptsächlich Bildung), über die gesellschaftliche Legitimität hergestellt wird.
Political deparadoxification through structural coupling in the EU: a reinterpretation of the Stability and Growth Pact
Authors: Broquet Julien
Published: September 2016

Der Aufsatz schlägt vor, auf der Basis der Luhmannsschen Theorie eine Reinterpretation des Stabilitäts- und Wachstumspakts der EU vorzunehmen. Die Argumentation basiert auf theoretischen Weiterentwicklungen, die innerhalb der neueren Systemtheorie im Zuge der Beschäftigung mit europäischen Studien vorgenommen worden sind. Es wird argumentiert, dass »ungleiche Europäisierung« sozialer Systeme (Jachtenfuchs) als ein anderer Ausdruck für funktionale Differenzierung zu strukturellen Änderungen innerhalb sozialer Systeme führt und zu einer Redefinition von Kopplungsprozessen in Europa. Der Stabilitäts- und Wachstumspakt ist ein besonders augenfälliges Beispiel dafür. Deshalb wird der Eurostabilitätspakt im vorliegenden Text als eine strukturelle Kopplung von ökonomischem und politischem System analysiert. Ein genauerer Blick auf seine Entstehung führt dabei zu einer Verteidigung der Ansicht, dass es fruchtbar sein könnte, ihn aus einer polykontexturalen Perspektive zu betrachten, wie es im europäischen Kontext generell sinnvoll erscheint, strukturelle Kopplungen verstärkter in den Blick zu nehmen. Auf der Basis des Luhmannsschen Konzepts der Entparadoxierung sozialer Systeme durch die Bezugnahme auf ihre Umwelt wird eine Interpretation des Eurostabilitätspakts vorgenommen, nach der der Ausgangspunkt des Pakts trotz einer vermeintlichen ökonomischen Intention im Wesentlichen in dem politischen Prozess einer Entparadoxierung durch die Bezugnahme auf das ökonomische System liegt.
The world as narrative Reconfiguring vision in early modern Eurasia
Authors: Juneja Monica
Published: September 2016

Dieser Aufsatz behandelt Prozesse einer sich formenden und sich neu konfigurierenden Visualität in der frühen Neuzeit, betrachtet unter dem Aspekt der Schaffung und Narrativierung der Welt. Er fragt danach, in welchem Maße die Begegnung mit der Welt über das gemalte Bild vermittelt und gedeutet wurde. Infolgedessen betrachtet er die unterschiedlichen Weisen, in denen Bilder selbst durch ihre spezifischen Produktionsprozesse zum Ort der Herstellung von Weltlichkeit werden. Obwohl sein primärer Fokus auf Südasien liegt, stellt er die Erforschung künstlerischer Praktiken der Visualisierung der Welt in einen transkulturellen Bezugsrahmen, um das konstitutive Potenzial von Beziehungen über geographische und kulturelle Grenzen hinweg zu untersuchen, die durch die Wanderung von Gegenständen, handelnden Personen, Bildern, mythischen Idealen und Praktiken vermittelt werden. Das Bild der Welt und die verschiedenen Weisen seiner Darstellung werden auf zwei verschiedenen, aber miteinander in Verbindung stehenden Ebenen untersucht: erstens die abstrakte Darstellung der Welt durch einen Gegenstand, den Globus, und zweitens das Narrativ der Welt, das untrennbar ist von dem perspektivischen Blick, welcher eine Weltsicht im gemalten Bild neu konfiguriert. Dieses funktioniert dann als Raum kosmopolitischer Erfahrung aufgrund seines Potenzials, das andere visuell festzuschreiben und gleichzeitig zu zähmen.
Cell-Autonomous Regulation of Dendritic Spine Density by PirB
Authors: Vidal George S. , Djurisic Maja , Brown Kiana , Sapp Richard W. , Shatz Carla J.
Published: September 2016

Synapse density on cortical pyramidal neurons is modulated by experience. This process is highest during developmental critical periods, when mechanisms of synaptic plasticity are fully engaged. In mouse visual cortex, the critical period for ocular dominance (OD) plasticity coincides with the developmental pruning of synapses. At this time, mice lacking paired Ig-like receptor B (PirB) have excess numbers of dendritic spines on L5 neurons; these spines persist and are thought to underlie the juvenile-like OD plasticity observed in adulthood. Here we examine whether PirB is required specifically in excitatory neurons to exert its effect on dendritic spine and synapse density during the critical period. In mice with a conditional allele of PirB (PirBfl/fl), PirB was deleted only from L2/3 cortical pyramidal neuronsin vivoby timedin uteroelectroporation of Cre recombinase. Sparse mosaic expression of Cre produced neurons lacking PirB in a sea of wild-type neurons and glia. These neurons had significantly elevated dendritic spine density, as well as increased frequency of miniature EPSCs, suggesting that they receive a greater number of synaptic inputs relative to Cre–neighbors. The effect of cell-specific PirB deletion on dendritic spine density was not accompanied by changes in dendritic branching complexity or axonal bouton density. Together, results imply a neuron-specific, cell-autonomous action of PirB on synaptic density in L2/3 pyramidal cells of visual cortex. Moreover, they are consistent with the idea that PirB functions normally to corepress spine density and synaptic plasticity, thereby maintaining headroom for cells to encode ongoing experience-dependent structural change throughout life.
The Inside-Out Museum/The Inside-Out University
Authors: Hood Walter , Jackson Shannon
Published: September 2016

From their origins, the University of California, Berkeley and The Oakland Museum of California (OMCA) were established in different geographical, cultural, and political contexts.

In a course sponsored by the Global Urban Humanities Initiative, artist, designer and Landscape Architecture Professor Walter Hood asks students to examine the museum and its neighborhoods in order to come up with proposals for change. He works on projects ranging from city-scale master plans to site plans to art installations and is known for his focus on the human element in design. UC Berkeley Associate Vice Chancellor for the Arts and Design, Shannon Jackson, recently spoke with Walter Hood at his Oakland studio about how the arts and humanities and design can work together to illuminate urban experience. This is the accounting of the conversation.
What Are the Urban Humanities?
Authors: Cascardi Anthony , Dear Michael
Published: September 2016

Efforts in the university that fly under the ‘‘urban humanities’’ flag represent larger phenomena that have emerged across humanistic disciplines for the past two decades. Hybrid initiatives have appeared alongside broad interdisciplinary efforts highlighting challenges involved in attempting to transform the knowledge and practices within stable institutional configurations. Yet our experience, where “place” comes into analytic focus, has shown that urban humanities produce superior understandings of the structure/agency connection by a self-conscious, simultaneous engagement with social theory, human experience, and social action.
Monumental Hydraulics
Authors: Tiffany Rafael , Moffat Susan
Published: September 2016

Water system infrastructure and the monuments that commemorate it in California and Mexico are evidence of similarities in their cultures’ water regimes. Mexico’s Lerma Waterworks site argues the importance of reliable water provision for Mexico City’s modern identity. The mid-20th c. architecture and the murals designed by Diego Rivera, entitled “Agua, Origen de la Vida,” narrate the journey of water as it flows continuously from the indigenous past and into the modern present. Along the way, Rivera represents water as bridging distinct locations, cultures, and social classes. This mythic rendering, however, does not account for today’s disparity in water access in the city today.
Estimation of Organic Vapor Breakthrough in Humidified Activated Carbon Beds: —Application of Wheeler‐Jonas Equation, NIOSH MultiVapor™ and RBT (Relative Breakthrough Time)
Authors: Abiko Hironobu , Furuse Mitsuya , Takano Tsuguo
Published: September 2016

Objectives

In the use of activated carbon beds as adsorbents for various types of organic vapor in respirator gas filters, water adsorption of the bed and test gas humidity are expected to alter the accuracy in the estimation of breakthrough data. There is increasing interest in the effects of moisture on estimation methods, and this study has investigated the effects with actual breakthrough data.

Methods

We prepared several activated carbon beds preconditioned by equilibration with moisture at different relative humidities (RH=40%‐70%) and a constant temperature of 20°C. Then, we measured breakthrough curves in the early region of breakthrough time for 10 types of organic vapor, and investigated the effects of moisture on estimation using the Wheeler‐ Jonas equation, the simulation software NIOSH Multi‐ Vapor™ 2.2.3, and RBT (Relative Breakthrough Time) proposed by Tanaka et al.

Results

The Wheeler‐Jonas equation showed good accordance with breakthrough curves at all RH in this study. However, the correlation coefficient decreased gradually with increasing RH regardless of type of organic vapor. Estimation of breakthrough time by MultiVapor showed good accordance with experimental data at RH=50% . In contrast, it showed discordance at high RH (>50%). RBTs reported previously were consistent with experimental data at RH =50%. On the other hand, the values of RBT changed markedly with increasing RH.

Conclusions

The results of each estimation method showed good accordance with experimental data under comparatively dry conditions (RH≤50%). However, there were discrepancies under high humidified conditions, and further studies are warranted.
Does pain deteriorate working life expectancy in aging workers?
Authors: Lee Wanhyung , Hong Kwanyoung , Lim Sung‐Shil , Yoon Jin‐Ha
Published: September 2016

Objectives

Many aging workers wish to continue working as long as they can for a better life in the future. However, symptoms of pain are a key obstacle in the continuation of work among older workers. The impact of pain on work is understudied. Thus, we investigated the relationship between pain characteristics (total site and severity) and aging workers’ working life expectancy scale (WoLES) in Korea.

Methods

We included 1,979 participants (1,175 men and 804 women) from a well‐established survey of a nationally representative population: the Korean Longitudinal Study of Ageing. A self‐questionnaire was used to assess pain characteristics and WoLES. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the lower‐WoLES group were calculated using multiple logistic regression models.

Results

Compared with the absence of pain, ORs and 95% CIs of the lower‐WoLES group were increased, as follows: 1 pain site, 1.75 (1.20‐2.55); 2 pain sites, 1.99 (1.32‐3.03); 3 or more pain sites, 2.28 (1.51‐3.42); mild pain, 1.74 (1.32‐2.61); moderate pain, 2.02 (1.28‐3.22); and severe pain, 2.12 (1.46‐3.08). The statistical trend was significant in both total sites and severity of pain (p<0.001).

Conclusions

There was a significant association between WoLES and both total pain sites and severity of pain, even after adjusting for potential confounding factors.
Generation rate and particle size distribution of wood dust by handheld sanding operation
Authors: Ojima Jun
Published: September 2016

Objectives

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and Japan Society for Occupational Health (JSOH) classified wood dust as a human carcinogen. Former studies have suggested that sanding with a portable sander is one of the processes that are liable to cause highest exposure to wood dust. However, the wood dust by sanding operation has not been investigated sufficiently. In this study, the generation rate and the particle size distribution of the wood dust produced by handheld sanding operation were observed by laboratory experiments.

Methods

Beech and cypress were taken as typical hard and soft wood specimen respectively, and sanded with a portable sander. Three grades of sand paper (coarse, medium, fine) were attached to the sander in turn to be tested. The quantity of the wood dust produced by the sander was measured by weighing the specimen before and after the sanding and then the generation rate of the dust was calculated.

Results

Soft wood generated more dust than hard wood due to the difference in abrasion durability. A coarse sand paper produced more dust than a fine sand paper. The particles of less than 1 μm diameter were scarcely observed in the wood dust. When the specimens were sanded with afine sand paper, the mass median aerodynamic diameters of beech dust and cypress dust were 9.0 μm and 9.8 μm, respectively.

Conclusions

Respirable wood dust is able to be controlled by general ventilation with more than 0.7‐4.2 m3/min ventilation rate.
What is the purpose of the Stress Check Program?
Authors: Sugawara Norio , Saito Manabu , Nakamura Kazuhiko
Published: September 2016

Since December 1, 2015, the Japanese government has required employers to conduct the Stress Check Program. The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare announced that this program should focus on the primary prevention of mental health problems. Although employers are obliged to perform screening for mental health problems and a physician's interview, employees are not mandated to participate in this program. Classical occupational health studies have accumulated evidence indicating that quantitative or qualitative workload is associated with mental health problems. Therefore, workload reduction is a major approach proposed for individuals with mental health problems; however, this approach exacerbates conflicts between mental health professionals and employers. We cannot achieve employers’ understanding by only emphasizing that hard work can cause depression. Recently, the concepts of work engagement and organizational justice have spread in Japanese workplaces. Organizational justice is one of the necessary conditions for promoting positive mental health and can serve as a guiding compass for improving the work environment. If we can apply the Stress Check Program for the promotion of work engagement and organizational justice, the launch of this program could constitute a chance to improve this working environment. The Stress Check Program is not a process to search for and eliminate individuals with mental disorders.
Influencia de la proporción sexual y del ambiente en la tasa de crecimiento poblacional de Callinectes bellicosus (Decapoda: Portunidae) del Golfo de California
Authors: Rodríguez-Felix Demetrio Angel , Cisneros-Mata Miguel Angel , Aragón-Noriega Eugenio Alberto , Arreola-Lizárraga José Alfredo
Published: September 2016

The brown swimming crab (Callinectes bellicosus) is an economically important species in the Gulf of California, and its fishing activity, held in Sonora from 1986, has been affected by a 20-year declining trend in its biomass. With the aim to understand the possible reasons of this species population changes along time, we estimated population growth rate (r) and sex ratio of C. bellicosus, and combined them with three parameters describing its habitat: sea temperature, wetland extension and habitat size in four areas along the coast of Sonora. For this, monthly mean sex ratio was estimated from crabs samples obtained from commercial catches during 1998-2002 and 2012; mean sea surface temperature for the spawning period (May-August) were derived from remote sensors for the same years; while wetland coverages were obtained from published reports, and habitat size was estimated as the fishing surface. For each area, r was estimated using a method developed for limited data situations using commercial landings (t) from 1986-2013. With data from the four areas, simple and multiple linear regression models were developed to ascertain theoretical sensitivities of r to variations in sex ratio and environmental parameters. A total of 24 556 crabs were sampled; males dominated (68.8 %) over females during the study period and in all areas; a cluster analysis identified two groups according to sex ratio: a Northern group with zones 1 and 2, and a Southern group with zones 3 and 4. r values were different in all zones (P<0.001) as was sex ratio (P=0.037); no differences in temperature were identified within the study years (P>0.995). Both the estimated data and sensitivity analyses suggest the existence of a direct and positive dependence of r on the proportion of female crabs and wetland size. We hypothesize that excess fishing of females caused the declining biomass trend of the brown swimming crab in Sonora, and concluded on the convenience of implementing harvest refugia inside coastal wetlands to protect females during the spawning season.
Influencia de los sedimentos y trazas de tungsteno en la estructura del esqueleto de Pseudodiploria un coral escleractinio constructor de arrecifes del Parque Nacional Sistema Arrecifal Veracruzano, México
Authors: Colín-García Norberto A. , Campos Jorge E. , Tello-Musi Jose L. , Arias-González Jesús E.
Published: September 2016

Los arrecifes de coral se encuentran bajo condiciones intensas de estrés causado por las actividades antropogénicas y el incremento de las poblaciones humanas en las zonas costeras. Las descargas de aguas de origen urbano e industrial transportan sedimentos y contaminantes que afectan a las poblaciones de corales, induciendo la bioerosion, el aumento de enfermedades en los corales y promueven el desarrollo de algas que compiten por espacio con los corales. En el Parque Nacional Sistema Arrecifal Veracruzano (NPVRS) los arrecifes de coral son afectados fuertemente por las actividades humanas que se llevan a cabo en la zona. Los arrecifes Gallega y Galleguilla son de los más afectados por las descargas de aguas residuales provenientes de la industria (petroquímica y metalúrgica) y de áreas urbanas que desembocan sus aguas en las proximidades de los arrecifes. Para evaluar el posible impacto de las descargas de aguas en los corales del NPVRS, se realizó un estudio de la composición química y morfología de 76 colonias de Pseudodiploria en los arrecifes Gallega, Galleguilla, Isla Verde e Isla de Enmedio. Se recolectaron fragmentos de ~10 cm2, el tejido del esqueleto fue removido utilizando ácido bórico al 0.5 %. Una vez limpia la muestra, la morfología fue analizada con un microscopio electrónico de barrido (SEM), posteriormente, para analizar la composición química de las muestras, realizamos una espectroscopia de dispersión de energía o micro-análisis químico de rayos X (EDSX) en el SEM. Encontramos que los corales de los arrecifes Gallega y Galleguilla que se encuentran ubicados cerca de poblaciones humanas, presentan altos niveles de tungsteno y el esqueleto exhibe múltiples agujeros. En contraste, los corales de los arrecifes más lejanos (Isla Verde e Isla de En medio) mostraron niveles más bajos de tungsteno y un menor número de agujeros en su esqueleto. Nuestros resultados demuestran que las actividades antropogénicas en el NPVRS, están afectando el esqueleto de los corales y promueven la bioerosión. Las descargas de grandes cantidades de contaminantes hacia las zonas costeras, promueven el crecimiento de especies dañinas que crecen y se desarrollan dentro del esqueleto de los corales, causando bioerosión del esqueleto, haciéndolos susceptibles a enfermedades y daños físicos. Debido a que este estudio es la primera evidencia de los efectos de la contaminación sobre esta especie de corales, son necesarios más estudios para determinar el impacto de la contaminación sobre su biología y la supervivencia de los corales.
Recurso polínico y ciclo estacional de Thygater aethiops (Hymenoptera: Apidae) en un ambiente urbano (Bogotá-Colombia)
Authors: Pinilla-Gallego Mario Simon , Nieto Valentina , Nates-Parra Guiomar
Published: September 2016

Thygater aethiops is a native bee that can be found in parks and gardens in diverse urban areas such as those in the city of Bogotá (Colombia). However, little is known about its biology as well as ecological adaptations to urban areas. This study aimed to describe the seasonal cycle and daily foraging activities of T. aethiops, as well as identify the pollen resources used by this bee over a year in a population nesting in an aggregation in the “Parque Nacional Enrique Olaya Herrera” in Bogotá. Changes in the nest activity were monitored weekly by counting the number of active nests in the aggregation between December/2012 and February/2014. To determine the daily foraging activity, the numbers of bees entering their nests over a period of 10 minutes every hour between 8:00 and 14:00 h were recorded. Females with pollen loads entering to their nest were captured weekly, between September/2012 and August/2013, and their pollen loads analyzed. Three nesting peaks occurred after the precipitation peaks, but the number of active nests was not correlated with precipitation. The nesting activities stopped in a large number of the active nests (20-50 % of nests) after an anthropic disturbance was registered in the nesting area. Bees forage for nectar and pollen between 8:00 and 14:00 h, with a peak at 10:00 h. Daily foraging activity changed during the study period due to anthropic disturbance. There was not a significant relationship between air temperature and the number of females entering their nests. Foraging activities did not change between the dry and rainy seasons. A total of 26 pollen types were found in 169 pollen loads. Ulex europaeus (Fabaceae) and Solanum laxum (Solanaceae) were the most abundant plants represented on the pollen load across the study period. According to these results, T. aethiops would be considered a mesolectic species. The ability of T. aethiops to use different pollen resources both native and exotic, as well as to presumably recover its population after disturbances, are characteristics that may have allowed this bee to adapt to urban environments. Knowledge on the floral resources as well as other biological features of this bee species is important to promote its conservation in urban areas.
Dung removal by dung beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) and macrocyclic lactone use on cattle ranches of Yucatan, Mexico
Authors: Basto Estrella Gertudis S. , Rodríguez Vivas Roger I. , Delfín González Hugo , Navarro Alberto Jorge A. , Favila Mario E. , Reyes Novelo Enrique
Published: September 2016

The expanded use of macrocyclic lactones (ML) to treat endo- and ectoparasites in cattle in tropical regions, can reduce dung beetle populations, and thus interrupt the dung removal process in cattle pasture ecosystems. During the reproductive period (the rainy season) of two functional groups of dung beetles (paracoprid and telocoprid Scarabaeinae), we compared dung removal amount in ranches where ML are and are not used in Yucatan, Mexico, through exclusion traps baited with 500 g of ML-free cow dung. On each ranch, two transects (separated by 500 m) with six traps each, were set up for 24 hours. After this time, all the dung remnants in each trap were obtained and weighed in order to record the dung removal. Results showed that dung removal amounts were similar in ranches with and without ML use. Dung beetles removed 40.1 % of all cow dung weighed. Paracoprids removed 87.46 % and telocoprids 12.54 % of all the dung that was removed. Our results indicated that the ecological function of dung beetles in the pastures studied, does not seem to be affected by the ML use, and that paracoprid species removed most of the dung. For both types of ranch, further studies that take into account the population dynamics and movement of the most important dung beetle species in the region are required, coupled with laboratory studies evaluating the effect of ML on their reproductive success. This could give some light on the effect of ML on the ecological function of this important insect group in the sustainability of cattle production systems.
Changes in abundance and composition of a Caribbean coral reef zooplankton community after 25 years
Authors: Carrillo Baltodano Allan Martin , Morales Ramírez Álvaro
Published: September 2016

Coral reef zooplankton represents a key community in coral ecosystems, as they are involved in trophic and biogeochemical dynamics, and recruitment processes. Zooplankton abundance, composition and biomass were surveyed at six stations within the coral reef at Cahuita National Park, Limon, Costa Rica, in order to compare with the only previous study conducted during 1984. Samples were collected monthly (September 2010-August 2011). Seston biomass (0.49-85.87 mg/m3) and total abundance (1 145-112 422 ind./m3) fluctuated among the months and the stations. Higher values of these two variables were found in the rainiest months (November 2010 and May 2011). A total of 38 taxa were identified, of which calanoid copepods abundance dominated year round (66 %), followed by appendicularians (12 %). Zooplankton mean abundance in this survey resulted 20 times higher (13 184 ± 4 104 ind./m3)than in 1984 (645 ± 84 ind./m3). Copepods and appendicularians were the groups that differed the most, relative to the 1984 study, resulting in 63 and 170 times more abundant overall, respectively. An increase in terrestrial runoff and nutrient input during the past 30 years could explain these differences. High abundances of zooplankton may constitute an important food source for coral reef organisms in Cahuita ecosystem. In addition, zooplankton abundances here reported for Cahuita are among the worldwide highest coral reef zooplankton abundances, and further trophic models can help elucidate its role in coral reef resilience in the Caribbean Coast of Central America.
Cambios en la cobertura de manglares en Bahía Culebra, Pacífico Norte de Costa Rica (1945-2010)
Authors: Benavides Varela Catalina , Samper Villarreal Jimena , Cortés Jorge
Published: September 2016

Despite the economic and environmental services that mangroves provide, they continue to be threatened by overexploitation, pollution, and land use change. Costa Rica has mangrove areas on the Pacific and Caribbean coasts, and cover has been declining since the 1980s. However, data on mangrove coverage are not continually updated and are often based on inaccurate estimates. It is therefore necessary to assess the current extension and variation of the mangrove cover in recent years, to determine changes. The mangrove cover was analyzed in two mangrove forests located in Bahía Culebra, North Pacific: Iguanita and Playa Panamá. For this, aerial photographs and satellite imagery were used to study changes for a 65 year period (1945-2010). Spatio-temporal changes were found in mangroves coverage, and adjacent forests and areas without vegetation. Lower mangrove cover occurred during the 1970s (28.4 ha in Iguanita and 4.8 ha in Playa Panamá); but increased in recent years (38.9 ha in Iguanita and 12.0 ha in Panamá). Changes in forest cover by the Iguanita and Playa Panama mangroves were related to the history of land use around Bahía Culebra. Before 1980, there was extensive and intensive cattle ranching, increasing the deforestation rate; after that year, these practices were abandoned and secondary forest coverage increased until 2000. To ensure the adequate protection of mangroves, it is not only important to protect mangrove forests, but it is also necessary to establish buffer zones on their surroundings, to mitigate and/or reduce possible impacts.
Efecto del manejo forestal en la herpetofauna de un bosque templado del occidente de Oaxaca, México
Authors: Aldape López César Tonatiuh , Santos Moreno Antonio
Published: September 2016

The development of silvicultural techniques has as main objective to maximize the production of timber, whereas at the same time minimize the impact generated during and after forest intervention in the local diversity. However, these activities change local climate, and this, in turn, alter the composition of natural communities. The effect of these changes may be greater in those taxonomic groups with high sensitivity to habitat disturbance, such as amphibians and reptiles, which are the unique terrestrial ectothermic vertebrates. The present study aims to know the differences in diversity of amphibians and reptiles in a temperate forest under two silvicultural treatments, one of low and the other of high intensity, as well as from one, five and ten years of regeneration since the last logging event, Sierra Sur of Oaxaca, Mexico. Records of 21 species of herpetofauna (six amphibians and 15 reptiles) were obtained. The total species richness was similar in both treatments; however, the composition varied between sites with different recovery times. Higher abundance of amphibian was presented on sites with the low-intensity treatment, while reptiles were more abundant at sites with intensive treatment. Compared to a mature forest without management, sites with intensive treatment have more rare species, although the values of true diversity of amphibians were similar between treatments with different intensities, while for reptiles sites under treatment showed less diversity that unmanaged site: 33 % for intensive treatment and 28 % at sites with low intensity with respect to one control site. Complementary Analysis showed a difference of 86 % between the compositions of species in sites with intensive treatment. The treatment intensity was associated with an increase in the number of species, but the way they respond to changes in habitat depends largely on the population characteristics of each species and its ability to adapt to new conditions.
Effects of terrestrial runoff on the coral communities in Santiago Bay, Colima, Mexican Pacific Coast
Authors: Liñán-Cabello Marco Agustín , Olivos-Ortiz Aramis , Quijano-Scheggia Sonia , Muñiz Anguiano Daniela , Reséndiz-Flores María Luisa , Ortega-Ortiz Christian D.
Published: September 2016

Coral reef ecosystems are under stress of different origins, from factors including sedimentation, fragmentation, overfishing, and tourism, depending on their geographical location, depth, and proximity to recreation areas. In this study of Juluapan Lagoon, we examined the relationship between various water-quality attributes and the status indicators of the coral community at La Boquita reef. During 2011 (12 months of sampling), six monitoring stations in the Juluapan lagoon were established in order to observe the gradient of the distribution of the physicochemical parameters: three stations on the upper part, or BI, (S4 to S6) and three more in the lower part, or BII, (S1 to S3). A control station (CS) was located in the coral reef close to the lagoon channel, and where dissolved inorganic nutrients and cellular carbon content were determined. Additionally, we considered the monitoring of three of the eight largest coral structures/headlands of this community: the first was the station closest to the channel communicating with Juluapan lagoon (C1), the second was in the intermediate region with respect to that lagoon (C2), and the third was farthest from the channel (C3). Three line intercept transects (LIT) 30 m in length and perpendicular to the coast provenance were established in each station, and the parameters indicative of the status of corals were evaluated in an area of 60 m2 on each transect (180 m2 by the station). Turbidity, evidence of fishing, signs of settling, algal coverage, abundance of fish, rate of sediment, and coral health records (as for CoralWach chart) were determined in situ and from digital photographs and videos. Considering various community status indicators used in the reef area, we could recognize a state of general deterioration, which was reflected in the loss of 17 % of coral coverage. The main anthropogenic disturbances in adjacent areas to La Boquita reef included wastewater discharges into the lagoon, tourist developments in the coastal zone, deforestation and erosion resulting from inappropriate development, and the runoff of nutrients from agricultural lands nearby the lagoon. All these significantly contributed to the nutrient-enriched waters of the lagoon, especially in summer, with negative effects on the coral community. Continued exposure to these factors, coupled with the lack of control over other anthropogenic components, has promoted the maintenance of a chronic stress state in the studied coral community. Our findings highlight the need for the development of appropriate coastal management and conservation policies for the coral reefs of the Mexican Pacific Coast.
A living fossil fig wasp (Hymenoptera, Agaoninae) developing in extant Neotropical fig species (Moraceae: Ficus, section Pharmacosycea)
Authors: Ramirez-Benavides William
Published: September 2016

The aim object of this work was to study five Tetrapus wasps, whose females have two mandibular appendages and hexapodous males, their fig host association and phylogenetic position in the family Agaonidae. The question of which group of fig pollinating wasps and associated figs are the sister to the rest of the pollinating agaonids and figs respectively remain open. I report about a group of New World extant Tetrapus wasps (Agaonidae:Agaoninae) assigned to Hexapus subg. nov. ined. Morphologically, ecologically, geographically and historically Hexapus seems to be the most ancestral clade of the extant Agaoninae, including Tetrapus s.s. It develops in fig species of subsection Petenenses (section Pharmacosycea). In the know extant Tetrapus s.s., the females have one mandibular appendage and the males have reduced one or two short-lobe atrophied non-functional midlegs (tetrapodous). On the contrary, Hexapus females have two functional mandibular appendages; while the males have five segmented functional mid-legs (hexapodous). Molecularly Hexapus seems to be the most ancestral clade of extant Agaoninae; e.g., Hexapus sp. of Ficus crassivenosa was molecularly placed as the most ancestral clade of 101 species, representing 19 recognized world-wide Agaoninae genera including four Tetrapus s. s. species, by other author. Two females (T. apopnus and T. delclosi) preserved in Early Miocene (Burdigalian) amber from the Dominican Republic, also have two mandibular appendages and the general morphology of extant Hexapus. It is suggested that Hexapus stands up as a living fossil and as the sister clade of Tetrapus s.s. The presence of extinct and extant Hexapus; and extant Tetrapus s.s. and their fig host species, especially in South America supports a southern Gondwanaland origin for both of them, a non-trans-Pacific migrating connection with tropical America for Pharmacosycea, long oceanic dispersal, high levels of stem extinction of Tetrapus s.s. and Atlantic land connections, as proposed by other authors. However lastly, it has been assumed that figs and their pollinators arose simultaneously in Eurasia during early Tertiary and spread southwards.
Profile of plasmatic progesterone on pregnancy, and the postpartum estrus of Dasyprocta prymnolopha (Rodentia: Dasyproctidae)
Authors: Guimarães Diva Anelie , Ohashi Otavio Mitio , Singh Michele , Vale William
Published: September 2016

The agouti (Dasyprocta sp.) is a hystricomorph rodent found in some regions of the Americas. It is an important cynegetic species, which indicates that the overhunting is a threat to their conservation. Very little is known about this wildlife in relation to what already has been studied in domestic animals. Thus, the knowledge on reproduction of wildlife becomes necessary and essential for the management and conservation of these natural resources. Specifically, studies regarding hormonal monitoring are important as a basic tool for research in modern reproductive biotechnology, and currently, there is no information on the progesterone changes during pregnancy of Dasyprocta sp., compared to other hystricomorphs. The aim of this study was to describe the profile of plasmatic progesterone during pregnancy, and report the restart of ovarian cycle in agouti after parturition. For this purpose, 18 black-rumped agoutis (Dasyprocta prymnolopha) born in captivity were used, and one or more consecutive pregnancies were observed. Copulation was confirmed by the presence of spermatozoa observed in the colpocytological examination. Blood samples were collected two times per week, and concentrations of progesterone, assessed in ten agoutis, were determined by radioimmunoassay. The onset of ovarian activity in six females was observed daily by colpocytological examination, starting on the seventh day postpartum. The gestational period observed in this study was 104.04 days (SD = 1.31) (101-106 days) (Number of cases, N = 26), and the interval between births was 126.03 days (SD = 18.40) (109-184 days). The plasmatic profile of progesterone during pregnancy showed a progressive increase from the 1st to the 5th week. The higher progesterone levels over this period (6.88 ng / mL, SD = 3.01) were detected in the 5th week. This value was similar (One-Way ANOVA, p > 0.05) to that observed in the 4th and 6th weeks, but was statistically different (One-Way ANOVA, p < 0.05) when compared to the other weeks. After the 6th week there was a progressive decrease in plasmatic progesterone levels. The animals showed a postpartum estrus of 12.04 days (SD= 4.29) (7-24 days) (N= 23). It was observed that 80.95 % (N= 19) of copulations during this period were fertile. This work contributed to understanding the dynamic changes in the progesterone levels during the pregnancy in agouti. Nevertheless, more studies are needed for a better appreciation of other endocrine and biological changes, in the mother and feto-placental unit of the agouti.