bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Review of Imaging Methods for Prostate Cancer Detection
Authors: Sarkar Saradwata , Das Sudipta
Published: March 2016

Imaging is playing an increasingly important role in the detection of prostate cancer (PCa). This review summarizes the key imaging modalities–multiparametric ultrasound (US), multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), MRI-US fusion imaging, and positron emission tomography (PET) imaging–-used in the diagnosis and localization of PCa. Emphasis is laid on the biological and functional characteristics of tumors that rationalize the use of a specific imaging technique. Changes to anatomical architecture of tissue can be detected by anatomical grayscale US and T2-weighted MRI. Tumors are known to progress through angiogenesis–-a fact exploited by Doppler and contrast-enhanced US and dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI. The increased cellular density of tumors is targeted by elastography and diffusion-weighted MRI. PET imaging employs several different radionuclides to target the metabolic and cellular activities during tumor growth. Results from studies using these various imaging techniques are discussed and compared.
Molecular Characterization and Bioinformatics Analysis of a Prophenoloxidase-1 (PPO1) in Plutella xylostella
Authors: Jin Ming-Hui , Zhao Xiao-Long , Li Guang-Yue , Che Xiao-Zhi , Liu Zhen-Gang , Xue Chao-Bin
Published: March 2016

Phenoloxidase (PO) is an important enzyme in insect life, which is involved in important physical functions, such as defensive encapsulation and melanization of foreign organisms and wound healing. In this study, we obtained a cDNA sequence of 2838 bp with 2049 open reading frames encoding 682 amino acids. The protein sequence deduced from the cDNA has high homology with the known PPO1 sequences of other lepidopterous insects. There were three conserved regions, including the two copper-binding sites characteristic of arthropod PPOs. The whole PxPPO1 DNA was also obtained with 7202 bp when the five fragments were stitched together and the overlapping sequences were deleted. The PxPPO1 DNA consists of 11 introns and 12 exons, and the homology is 99.9% when the exons are compared with the above cDNA. Moreover, the gene expression levels were also determined by semiquantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR), Western blotting, and real-time quantitative PCR; the results indicated that PxPPO1 transcripts in the eggs and the fourth instar larvae were more abundant, followed by the second and the third instar larvae, prepupae, and pupa.
Hofer growth of $C^1$-generic Hamiltonian flows
Authors: Kislev Asaf
Published: March 2016

We prove that on certain closed symplectic manifolds a

C^1

-generic cyclic subgroup of the universal cover of the group of Hamiltonian diffeomorphisms is undistorted with respect to the Hofer metric.
Livšic theorem for low-dimensional diffeomorphism cocycles
Authors: Kocsard Alejandro , Potrie Rafael
Published: March 2016

We prove a Livšic type theorem for cocycles taking values in groups of diffeomorphisms of low-dimensional manifolds. The results hold without any localization assumption and in very low regularity. We also obtain a general result (in any dimension) which gives necessary and sufficient conditions to be a coboundary.
Ergodic properties of equilibrium measures for smooth three dimensional flows
Authors: Ledrappier François , Lima Yuri , Sarig Omri M.
Published: March 2016

Let

\{T^t\}

be a smooth flow with positive speed and positive topological entropy on a compact smooth three dimensional manifold, and let

\mu

be an ergodic measure of maximal entropy. We show that either

\{T^t\}

is Bernoulli, or

\{T^t\}

is isomorphic to the product of a Bernoulli flow and a rotational flow. Applications are given to Reeb flows.
Minimal entropy for uniform lattices in product of hyperbolic planes
Authors: Merlin Louis
Published: March 2016

Let

M

be a quotient of

\mathbb{H}^2 \times \cdots \times \mathbb{H}^2

(product of hyperbolic planes) by a uniform lattice of

(\mathrm {PSL}_2(\mathbb{R}))^n

. We prove that, among metrics of

M

of prescribed volume, the sum of hyperbolic metrics has minimal volume entropy.
Asymptotic equivalence of symplectic capacities
Authors: Gluskin Efim D. , Ostrover Yaron
Published: March 2016

A long-standing conjecture states that all normalized symplectic capacities coincide on the class of convex subsets of

\mathbb R^{2n}

. In this note we focus on an asymptotic (in the dimension) version of this conjecture, and show that when restricted to the class of centrally symmetric convex bodies in

\mathbb R^{2n}

, several symplectic capacities, including the Ekeland–Hofer–Zehnder capacity, the displacement energy capacity, and the cylindrical capacity, are all equivalent up to a universal constant.
On Serre’s injectivity question and norm principle
Authors: Bhaskhar Nivedita
Published: March 2016

Let

k

be a field of characteristic not

2

. We give a positive answer to Serre's injectivity question for any smooth connected reductive

k

-group whose Dynkin diagram contains connected components only of type

A_n

,

B_n

or

C_n

. We do this by relating Serre's question to the norm principles proved by Barquero and Merkurjev. We give a scalar obstruction defined up to spinor norms whose vanishing will imply the norm principle for the non-trialitarian

D_{n}

case and yield a positive answer to Serre's question for connected reductive

k

-groups whose Dynkin diagrams contain components of (non-trialitarian) type

D_n

too. We also investigate Serre's question for quasi-split reductive

k

-groups.
Motivic construction of cohomological invariants
Authors: Semenov Nikita
Published: March 2016

Let

G

be a group of type

\mathrm E_8

over

\mathbb Q

such that

G_\mathbb R

is a compact Lie group, let

K

be a field of characteristic 0, and

q=\langle\!\langle -1,-1,-1,-1,-1\rangle\!\rangle

a 5-fold Pfister form. J.-P. Serre posed in a letter to M. Rost written on June 23, 1999 the following problem: Is it true that

G_K

is split if and only if

q_K

is hyperbolic?

In the present article we construct a cohomological invariant of degree 5 for groups of type

\mathrm E_8

with trivial Rost invariant over any field

k

of characteristic 0, and putting

k=\mathbb{Q}

answer positively this question of Serre. Aside from that, we show that a variety which possesses a special correspondence of Rost is a norm variety.
Formation of Reactive Nitrogen Oxides from Urban Grime Photochemistry
Authors: Baergen Alyson M. , Donaldson D. James
Published: March 2016

Abstract. Impervious surfaces are ubiquitous in urban environments and constitute a substrate onto which atmospheric constituents can deposit and undergo photochemical and oxidative processing, giving rise to "urban grime" films. HNO3 and N2O5 are important sinks for NOx in the lower atmosphere and may be deposited onto these films, forming nitrate through surface hydrolysis. Although such deposition has been considered as a net loss of NOx from the atmosphere, there is increasing evidence that surface-associated nitrate undergoes further reaction. Here, we examine the gas phase products of the photochemistry of real, field-collected urban grime using incoherent broadband cavity enhanced absorption spectroscopy (IBBCEAS). Gas phase nitrogen oxides are emitted upon illumination of grime samples and their production increases with ambient relative humidity (RH) up to 35 % after which the production becomes independent of RH. These results are discussed in the context of water uptake onto and evaporation from grime films.
Validation of the McClear clear-sky model in desert conditions with three stations in Israel
Authors: Lefèvre Mireille , Wald Lucien
Published: March 2016

Abstract. The new McClear clear-sky model, a fast model based on a radiative transfer solver, exploits the atmospheric properties provided by the EU-funded Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) to estimate the solar direct and global irradiances received at ground level in cloud-free conditions at any place any time. The work presented here focuses on desert conditions and compares the McClear irradiances to coincident 1 min measurements made in clear-sky conditions at three stations in Israel which are distant from less than 100 km. The bias for global irradiance is comprised between 2 and 32 W m−2, i.e. between 0 and 4 % of the mean observed irradiance (approximately 830 W m−2). The RMSE ranges from 30 to 41 W m−2 (4 %) and the squared correlation coefficient is greater than 0.976. The bias for the direct irradiance at normal incidence (DNI) is comprised between −68 and +13 W m−2, i.e. between −8 and 2 % of the mean observed DNI (approximately 840 W m−2). The RMSE ranges from 53 (7 %) to 83 W m−2 (10 %). The squared correlation coefficient is close to 0.6. The performances are similar for the three sites for the global irradiance and for the DNI to a lesser extent, demonstrating the robustness of the McClear model combined with CAMS products. These results are discussed in the light of those obtained by McClear for other desert areas in Egypt and United Arab Emirates.
Windthrows increase soil carbon stocks in a central Amazon forest
Authors: dos Santos Leandro T. , Magnabosco Marra Daniel , Trumbore Susan , de Camargo Plínio B. , Negrón-Juárez Robinson I. , Lima Adriano J. N. , Ribeiro Gabriel H. P. M. , dos Santos Joaquim , Higuchi Niro
Published: March 2016

Abstract. Windthrows change forest structure and species composition in central Amazon forests. However, the effects of widespread tree mortality associated with wind disturbances on soil properties have not yet been described in this vast region. We investigated short-term effects (7 years after disturbance) of widespread tree mortality caused by a squall line event from mid-January of 2005 on soil carbon stocks and concentrations in a central Amazon terra firme forest. The soil carbon stock (averaged over a 0–30 cm depth profile) in disturbed plots (61.4 ± 8.2 Mg ha−1, mean ±95 % confidence interval) was marginally higher (p =  0.09) than that from undisturbed plots (47.7 ± 13.6 Mg ha−1). The soil organic carbon concentration in disturbed plots (2.0 ± 0.17 %) was significantly higher (p < 0.001) than that from undisturbed plots (1.36 ± 0.24 %). Moreover, soil carbon stocks were positively correlated with soil clay content (r2 =  0.332, r =  0.575 and p =  0.019) and with tree mortality intensity (r2 =  0.257, r =  0.506 and p =  0.045). Our results indicate that large inputs of plant litter associated with large windthrow events cause a short-term increase in soil carbon content, and the degree of increase is related to soil clay content and tree mortality intensity. The higher carbon content and potentially higher nutrient availability in soils from areas recovering from windthrows may favor forest regrowth and increase vegetation resilience.
Evaluation of wetland methane emissions across North America using atmospheric data and inverse modeling
Authors: Miller Scot M. , Commane Roisin , Melton Joe R. , Andrews Arlyn E. , Benmergui Joshua , Dlugokencky Edward J. , Janssens-Maenhout Greet , Michalak Anna M. , Sweeney Colm , Worthy Doug E. J.
Published: March 2016

Abstract. Existing estimates of methane (CH4) fluxes from North American wetlands vary widely in both magnitude and distribution. In light of these differences, this study uses atmospheric CH4 observations from the US and Canada to analyze seven different bottom-up, wetland CH4 estimates reported in a recent model comparison project. We first use synthetic data to explore whether wetland CH4 fluxes are detectable at atmospheric observation sites. We find that the observation network can detect aggregate wetland fluxes from both eastern and western Canada but generally not from the US. Based upon these results, we then use real data and inverse modeling results to analyze the magnitude, seasonality, and spatial distribution of each model estimate. The magnitude of Canadian fluxes in many models is larger than indicated by atmospheric observations. Many models predict a seasonality that is narrower than implied by inverse modeling results, possibly indicating an oversensitivity to air or soil temperatures. The LPJ-Bern and SDGVM models have a geographic distribution that is most consistent with atmospheric observations, depending upon the region and season. These models utilize land cover maps or dynamic modeling to estimate wetland coverage while most other models rely primarily on remote sensing inundation data.
Brief Communication: Does it matter exactly when the Arctic will become ice-free?
Authors: Ridley J. K. , Wood R. A. , Keen A. B. , Blockley E. , Lowe J. A.
Published: March 2016

Abstract. Following the 2015 UNFCCC Conference of Parties in Paris there is renewed interest in understanding and avoiding potentially dangerous climate change. The loss of Arctic sea ice is one of the most directly visible aspects of climate change and the question is frequently asked: when can we expect the Arctic to be ice-free in summer? We argue here that this question may not be the most useful one to inform decisions on climate change mitigation or adaptation in the Arctic. The development of a community-wide consensus on a robust definition of "ice-free", may reduce confusion in the community and amongst the public.
Front Matter
Authors: Front Matter JLC
Published: March 2016

N/A
The Employee-Lawyer: A Candid Reflection on the True Roles and Responsibilities of in-House Counsel
Authors: Lovett Steven L.
Published: March 2016

N/A
Gender, Race, and College Major: Do They Predict Modern Racism?
Authors: Oxendine David Bryan
Published: March 2016

Gender and race have consistently been associated with racial prejudice and discrimination. This study investigates these relationships further along with college major. Looking at a college academic major that is overrepresented with a gender and racial group associated with modern racism to discover if this leads this academic major to predict modern racism attitudes and beliefs. The research participants consisted of 225 undergraduate and graduate students at an ethnically diverse regional university in the southeastern United States. As hypothesized, gender, race, and college major are significant predictors of modern racism.
Identification of Customary International Law and Other Topics: The Sixty-Seventh Session of the International Law Commission
Authors: Murphy Sean D.
Published: March 2016

The International Law Commission held its sixty-seventh session in Geneva from May 4 to June 5, and from July 6 to August 7, 2015, under the chairmanship of Narinder Singh (India). Notably, the Commission’s drafting committee completed a full set of sixteen draft conclusions on the topic of identification of customary international law, paving the way for those conclusions with commentaries to be approved by the Commission on first reading in 2016.
Active and Collaborative Learning in an Introductory Electrical and Computer Engineering Course
Authors: Kotru Sushma , Burkett Susan L. , Jackson David Jeff
Published: March 2016

Active and collaborative learning instruments were introduced into an introductory electrical and computer engineering course. These instruments were designed to assess specific learning objectives and program outcomes. Results show that students developed an understanding comparable to that of more advanced students assessed later in the curriculum.
Sustainability of International Branch Campuses in the United Arab Emirates A Vision for the Future
Authors: Franklin Angela , Alzouebi Khadeegha
Published: March 2016

The United Arab Emirates is developing higher education institutions that will contribute to an educational sector providing premium degree programs. There was a belief that the recognition and achievements these institutions attained over decades in their native land would be transferable in the implementation of international branch campuses. This research project explores the sustainability of branch campuses in the uae and determines the factors contributing to their demise, struggles, or initial success while examining their mission, vision, and strategic plan, asking: Can institutions be successfully imported into the uae without adapting to their new social, cultural, and educational terrain?
Some Thoughts on Education for Leadership and Innovation
Authors: Tellis Allwyn
Published: March 2016

Most students enter Northwestern University in Qatar (NU-Q) poorly prepared to face the challenges and seize the opportunities of an American-style education grounded in the liberal arts owing to their inadequate preparation in grade school. NU-Q's mission is to produce graduates who will be leaders and innovators in the media industry and the larger society. We must ensure that, in their four years at NU-Q, we help them to become such individuals by providing them with a curriculum, pedagogy, and activities that afford them the requisite opportunities and support to develop abilities that enhance leadership and innovation.
A Matter of Perspective Teaching International Relations in the Middle East
Authors: Burns Sean
Published: March 2016

In this article, the author looks at several popular international relations textbooks in light of his experience teaching students in the Middle East. He finds that, for their many strengths, most of the books lack some key features that would make them more useful for students abroad.
Framing Journalism Education
Authors: Abusharif Ibrahim N.
Published: March 2016

Examining the growth, incentives, and progress of overseas campuses of major American educational institutions is an important academic pursuit. To have a complete picture, one must also consider the impact these branch campuses are having on the lives of their students. The Northwestern University in Qatar's journalism program was invited to teach its curriculum, unalloyed, in a region that has had an alternative perception of the role of journalism in society. This essay offers personalized and informed reflection on these issues. Answers to the questions raised about overseas education become clearer when looking at the “classroom” and the associated symbolism.
Innovation and Idea Flow at U.S. International Campuses
Authors: Martin Justin D.
Published: March 2016

This article explores some of the components of innovation that U.S. universities abroad can seize, or in some cases have seized, upon to maximize information flow, productivity, and idea generation at their overseas institutions. Using research in psychology, education, economics, and other fields, the article identifies the following as among the contributing factors to innovation: regular congregation among members of knowledge communities, commingling with others for extended periods of time, retrieval of information from other knowledge ecosystems, and professional efficacy. Attention is given to discussing how U.S. campuses abroad are in a unique position to nourish such components of innovation.
Whose Cultural Competence? Do the Definitions Apply Beyond Western Borders?
Authors: Mills Andrew
Published: March 2016

The author looks at the traditional lofty goals set for students in study abroad programs in the United States, such as enhancing students’ intercultural skills and helping them become global citizens. But he finds that students at Northwestern University in Qatar are already multiethnic and multicultural and speak at least two languages. Therefore the learning outcomes for these students should be revised to reflect their international competencies.
With a MOOC MOOC here and a MOOC MOOC there, here a MOOC, there a MOOC, everywhere a MOOC MOOC
Authors: Zemsky Robert
Published: March 2016

Massive open online courses (moocs) are much less in the news today—but that does not mean that they are no longer important. Rather, their importance now derives from what they demonstrated about the fractured nature of college curricula. Almost all moocs were one-offs—a single instructor/performer and a well-bounded subject. moocs almost never connected either to another mooc or to another aspect of the curriculum—and that is the issue. What the fascination with moocs demonstrated was just how easily it was to conceive of the college curriculum as a series of largely disconnected events. What is needed instead is a commitment to rebuilding the connective tissue that once made college curricula in general and general education curricula in particular substantially more than the sum of their disconnected parts.
Matching the Purpose of the General Education Curriculum with the Reality of Its Implementation
Authors: Cottrell Lesley , Cottrell Scott , Wheatly Michele , Jungblut Bernadette , Dooley Elizabeth A. , DiBartolomeo Lisa
Published: March 2016

This essay examines the current general education curriculum (gec) structure at a large institution where the gec program has been remodeled often to meet student needs. Assessment of this structure has been limited. Faculty and adviser perceptions of the gec's role in the larger curriculum, strengths, areas for improvement, and impact on student learning were explored. Outcomes were observed across the sample as a whole, but the study also explored potential differences in perceptions based on the participants' advising roles and rank and whether they had “ever” taught a gec course. The findings demonstrate that familiarity with and knowledge of the gec program was greatest at the departmental level but declined when participants were asked about gec at the college or university level. This finding was also seen among those who were currently teaching a gec course. Most participants recognized the role of the gec in student learning, retention, and graduation. However, there was no consensus on how the gec should be structured (e.g., variety of courses, skill-specific). These findings will contribute to gec planning and also identify a challenge about how to raise awareness of the gec offerings across the university.
Islam is Essential for General Education
Authors: Meacham Jack
Published: March 2016

The religion of Islam is often portrayed with false and negative stereotypes. If we expect our students to understand and participate in the global world and to be informed and engaged citizens in a democratic America, then it is essential that they develop a basic and sound understanding of Islam. Furthermore, learning about Islam can facilitate the development of students' critical thinking. I describe how I engaged my students with Islam in a general education course with four hundred students and provide examples of critical thinking from students' papers. Given the importance of Islam at this point in history, America's colleges and universities should strengthen their general education programs by requiring that all students become more familiar with and knowledgeable about the religion of Islam.
Liberal Education as Adulthood
Authors: Rowe Stephen
Published: March 2016

This essay is on liberal education as a medium for the cultivation of the expanded understanding of “adulthood” so urgently required in order to address the problems we face in the global era. It argues that one element of cultivation is the reappropriation of the traditional resources oriented to this task that were so enthusiastically dismissed in the rush of modernization and, further, that this reappropriation can avoid fundamentalism and/or reactionary movements when it is conducted in dialogue with persons from other cultures who are engaging the same task. This essay, then, reports on dialogical reappropriation as it is occurring between Western Greek and Chinese Confucian traditions. It also discusses the dynamics of education as transformative practice and the challenges to education so understood in an era of accountability through metrics and managerial science—while we wait for the emergence of a more sophisticated orientation to value, efficacy, and development.
Academic Advising in Individualized Major Programs
Authors: Egan Kevin
Published: March 2016

Academic advisers play an important role in making general education relevant and meaningful to student learning by helping to facilitate the three I's of general education: interdisciplinarity, integration, and intentionality. This essay argues that the “advising as learning” model of academic advising embodies the kinds of advising practices that can contribute to the promotion of the three I's. It specifically examines the integral role that quality academic advising plays in individualized major programs. In doing so, it explores how such advising assists students with embarking on an intentional path of study that draws meaningful connections across multiple disciplines in accordance with both their learning goals and those established via general education imperatives. Finally, the essay concludes with some suggestions as to how such advising practices can be extended into other academic programs.
The Academic Adviser
Authors: Darling Ruth
Published: March 2016

In this essay, I explore the idea that “academic” advisers are “academics” who play a major role in connecting the general education curriculum to the students' experience as well as connecting the faculty to the students' holistic experience of the curriculum. The National Academic Advising Association Concept of Academic Advising is used as a framework to consider advisers as academics and to imagine how this idea can be operationalized on college and university campuses within the context of the current challenges facing higher education.
“Why Do I Have to Take This Course?”
Authors: Kirk-Kuwaye Michael , Sano-Franchini Dominic
Published: March 2016

For a variety of reasons, student engagement in general education continues to be a challenge. Perhaps one way to increase engagement is to connect general education with a deep student need: finding meaning and purpose in their lives or exploring what some have called “big questions.” Recent scholarship has defined these clusters of meaning and purpose needs as “spirituality.” General education can address these larger questions not only through “culture and belief” types of courses but also by having students study the world through multiple disciplines and perspectives. Academic advisers, who regularly talk with students about their values and goals and advise them on the entire curriculum, are in a prime position to help students make personal connections between their search for meaning and purpose and general education.
Engaging Students in Advising and General Education Requirements
Authors: Most Rachel , Wellmon Chad
Published: March 2016

The focus of this essay is to examine how general education requirements and advising are connected in the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Virginia. To do this, we begin with a brief description and history of general education requirements. We move next to a description of the advising system and general education requirements of the College of Arts and Sciences and the current requirements and advising system and conclude with an overview of where the College is headed within the next three to five years.
General Education, Advising, and Integrative Learning
Authors: Lowenstein Marc
Published: March 2016

Students' level of engagement with general education and their grasp of its goals are a problem at many institutions. Academic advising, which is often viewed as having the “signpost” function of directing students to the completion of their course requirements, has the potential instead to be a place where students learn to approach general education with intentionality and especially to see how they can fit its pieces together to form an integrated whole greater than the sum of its parts. Since this will be very difficult (albeit rewarding) work for students, inducing them to engage with it is as challenging as inducing them to engage with any other aspect of general education. A partial solution could lie in treating advising as coursework in its own right, an integral part of general education rather than external to it. This proposal creates challenges for advisers and costs for institutions—which are worth meeting if the institutions highly value integrative learning.
Rebundling Undergraduate Teaching
Authors: Sopper John R.
Published: March 2016

This essay examines the convergence between enduring ideals enshrined in the American tradition of general education that many faculty members endorse and the learning-centered approach to academic advising. In light of this convergence, and in response to the notion of “advising as teaching” advocated in the literature on academic advising, I call for restructuring of some faculty roles, responsibilities, and rewards; course and curriculum redesign; ongoing professional development; and a creative approach to institutional planning that will allow more options for careers in college teaching. This will enable at least some faculty to rebundle their scholarly, instructional, and mentoring roles in ways that are professionally more satisfying and better for student learning in general education.
My General Education: “Discovering” Amitav Ghosh
Authors: Richards Sandra L.
Published: March 2016

Asked to recommend a faculty reading that might counteract our habits of overspecialization, I nominate Amitav Ghosh's Sea of Poppies (2008), the first novel in his Ibis trilogy. Reading Ghosh has offered me not only a fascinating introduction to the Indian Ocean world but also an occasion to reflect upon the dynamics of a good classroom in which both instructor and student are called upon to acknowledge their intellectual vulnerability, commit to working with others to produce knowledge, and recognize that our efforts may result in more questions than answers or in disagreements as well as consensus. Critical generosity and a doubly attentive listening are proposed as strategies by which faculty and students may navigate Ghosh's large geographical, historical, and intellectual terrain and strengthen muscles of reflexivity, collaboration, and respect.
Student Perceptions of General Education Requirements at a Large Public University: No Surprises?
Authors: Thompson Clarissa A. , Eodice Michele , Tran Phuoc
Published: March 2016

The current study surveyed students’ knowledge of and perceptions about general education requirements at a large research-intensive university. Findings revealed that students harbored misconceptions about general education requirements and illuminated the reasons why students were choosing to take required general education courses at other institutions of higher education. Implications for better informing students about the relevance of courses and opportunities to “rebrand” general education messages for twenty-first-century students are discussed.
Cambio del uso del suelo de la Sub Cuenca del Rio Mocal, Lempira, utilizando SIG y Teledetección, comprendido del año de 1988 al 2000
Authors: Sosa Reyes Yessica Yamileth
Published: March 2016

Este estudio se enmarca en dar a conocer como, a través de las tecnologías de la información geográfica como la Teledetección y los Sistemas de Información Geográfica, son punto de partida para el desarrollo de actividades encaminadas a mejorar las condiciones de los Recursos Naturales, y resuelven considerablemente con los resultados información para tomar decisiones que contribuyen el Ordenamiento Territorial.Para el desarrollo de este estudio se utilizaron imágenes satelitales del sensor Landsat, recolectado imágenes comprendidas entre los años 1988, 1998 y 2000, las que fueron debidamente corregidas para obtener a través de una clasificación no supervisada, la cuantificación del cambio del uso del suelo del Rio Mocal, en el departamento de Lempira.Los cambios del uso del suelo fueron evidentes como resultado se observó que bosque Latífoliado va en aumento en un 18%, el bosque mixto en un 37%, el matorral tubo un aumento del 7%, el pasto tubo un descenso y la agricultura se mantiene en su rango.Revista Ciencias Espaciales, Volumen 6, Número 2 Otoño, 2013; 61-75
The role of ecological infrastructure on beneficial arthropods in vineyards
Authors: Franin Kristijan , Barić Božena , Kuštera Gabrijela
Published: March 2016

Weeds and non-cultivated plants have a great impact on abundance and diversity of beneficial arthropods in agriculture. The main aim of this work was to study the influence of the ecological infrastructure (meadows and weedy margins) on the arthropod composition in vineyard surrounding landscape. Research was carried out from May to October during three years. Sampling took place in the ecological infrastructure of three differently managed vineyards (organic, integrated and extensive). Three zones were chosen in each vineyard (3 m, 10 m, and 30 m from the edge of the vineyard). Samples were taken using a standardised sweep net method. In total, we captured 6032 spiders and 1309 insects belonging to 4 orders and 10 families. Arthropod fauna was numerically dominated by Aranea (82.1%); among insects, Coleoptera was the most abundant taxonomic group (10.6%); Neuroptera showed the lowest value (0.88%). Significant differences were found between sites and zones. Organic vineyard showed the highest abundance of arthropods (92.41% were spiders) and in the integrated vineyard there was a 23% of insects. Both the highest abundance of arthropods and the highest Shannon Index value (2.46) was found 3 m away from the edge of the vineyard. Results showed that spiders were the dominant arthropods and ladybugs the dominant insects. Weedy strips near the edge of the vineyard contained a high number of insects and spiders. Our results support the importance of weedy margins in enhancing the population of arthropods as well as in biodiversity promotion. Well-managed field margins could play important role in biological control of vineyard pests.
Do agrochemicals used during soybean flowering affect the visits of Apis mellifera L.?
Authors: Fagúndez Guillermina A. , Blettler Diego C. , Krumrick Carlos G. , Bertos Mariana A. , Trujillo Cecilia G.
Published: March 2016

In the Pampa region of Argentina, most beehives are situated near to soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] crop and honey bees (Apis mellifera L.) use its floral resources. Soybean is often sprayed with pesticides but very little is known about their repellent action against bees. This study evaluates the visit of honey bees to crop after the application of agrochemicals aiming to check for repellency of them and estimate the possible impact on crop pollination. For this, six treatments were used (glyphosate + cypermethrin; glyphosate; cypermethrin; lambda-cyhalothrin; methoxyfenocide; Bacillus thuringiensis) and developed on plots of 625 m2, located in Oro Verde (Argentina), applying two sprays during the crop flowering. The bees were captured using entomological net every 4 days in three different times from the day after the first spraying and up the end of crop flowering. The results showed very little or no repellent action of pesticides on A. mellifera, noting that it foraged on soybean flowers regardless of the temporal proximity and the type of product used in sprays. Possible causes are discussed and the need for larger studies is evident in field conditions related to pesticides repellency and mixtures. Also, further evaluation of the effects of the different chemical formulations available on the market and used regionally where the subspecies A. mellifera can be found. Simultaneously some management practices that could help minimize the risk of contamination are mentioned; the use of defensive crop products of biological origin is encouraged as well as further research in this topic.
Surplus thermal energy model of greenhouses and coefficient analysis for effective utilization
Authors: Yang Seung-Hwan , Son Jung-Eek , Lee Sang-Deok , Cho Seong-In , Ashtiani-Araghi Alireza , Rhee Joong-Yong
Published: March 2016

If a greenhouse in the temperate and subtropical regions is maintained in a closed condition, the indoor temperature commonly exceeds that required for optimal plant growth, even in the cold season. This study considered this excess energy as surplus thermal energy (STE), which can be recovered, stored and used when heating is necessary. To use the STE economically and effectively, the amount of STE must be estimated before designing a utilization system. Therefore, this study proposed an STE model using energy balance equations for the three steps of the STE generation process. The coefficients in the model were determined by the results of previous research and experiments using the test greenhouse. The proposed STE model produced monthly errors of 17.9%, 10.4% and 7.4% for December, January and February, respectively. Furthermore, the effects of the coefficients on the model accuracy were revealed by the estimation error assessment and linear regression analysis through fixing dynamic coefficients. A sensitivity analysis of the model coefficients indicated that the coefficients have to be determined carefully. This study also provides effective ways to increase the amount of STE.
Modelling the number of olive groves in Spanish municipalities
Authors: Huete Maria-Dolores , Marmolejo Juan A.
Published: March 2016

The univariate generalized Waring distribution (UGWD) is presented as a new model to describe the goodness of fit, applicable in the context of agriculture. In this paper, it was used to model the number of olive groves recorded in Spain in the 8,091 municipalities recorded in the 2009 Agricultural Census, according to which the production of oil olives accounted for 94% of total output, while that of table olives represented 6% (with an average of 44.84 and 4.06 holdings per Spanish municipality, respectively). UGWD is suitable for fitting this type of discrete data, with strong left-sided asymmetry. This novel use of UGWD can provide the foundation for future research in agriculture, with the advantage over other discrete distributions that enables the analyst to split the variance. After defining the distribution, we analysed various methods for fitting the parameters associated with it, namely estimation by maximum likelihood, estimation by the method of moments and a variant of the latter, estimation by the method of frequencies and moments. For oil olives, the chi-square goodness of fit test gives p-values of 0.9992, 0.9967 and 0.9977, respectively. However, a poor fit was obtained for the table olive distribution. Finally, the variance was split, following Irwin, into three components related to random factors, external factors and internal differences. For the distribution of the number of olive grove holdings, this splitting showed that random and external factors only account about 0.22% and 0.05%. Therefore, internal differences within municipalities play an important role in determining total variability.
Effect of space allowance during transport and fasting or non-fasting during lairage on welfare indicators in Merino lambs
Authors: Cozar Almudena , Rodriguez Ana I. , Garijo Paula , Calvo Luis , Vergara Herminia
Published: March 2016

A total of 72 male lambs of Merina breed were sampled in a 3×2 factorial design, testing three different space allowances treatment (SA) during transport [0.16 m2/animal (SAL; n=24); 0.20 m2/animal (SAM; n=24) and 0.30 m2/animal (SAH; n=24)] and two lairage treatments (TL) during 18 h previous slaughter [fasting (FAST; n=36) vs feeding (FEED; n=36)] on welfare physiological indicators. After transport, glucose and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were highest in SAM group and lowest in SAH one (p<0.05). SAL showed intermediate values for both parameters. SA did not affect the rest of the blood parameters studied. TL-FAST treatment decreased glucose values (p<0.001) while increased LDH (p<0.001). Fasting caused an increase (p<0.05) of Red Blood Cell Count values in SAM group. Feed deprivation did not affect cortisol or adrenaline values. Noradrenaline value was higher (p<0.001) in TL-FAST groups than in TL-FEED. In conclusion, under the conditions of this study, a range of space allowance during transport between 0.16 and 0.30 m2/lamb could be recommended without showing major changes on welfare physiological indicators; and feeding could be more appropriate than fasting during lairage.
Emergence dynamics of barnyardgrass and jimsonweed from two depths when switching from conventional to reduced and no-till conditions
Authors: Vasileiadis Vasileios , Froud-Williams Robert J. , Loddo Donato , Eleftherohorinos Ilias G.
Published: March 2016

A cylinder experiment was conducted in northern Greece during 2005 and 2006 to assess emergence dynamics of barnyardgrass (Echinochloa crus-galli (L.) Beauv.) and jimsonweed (Datura stramonium L.) in the case of a switch from conventional to conservation tillage systems (CT). Emergence was surveyed from two burial depths (5 and 10 cm) and with simulation of reduced tillage (i.e. by soil disturbance) and no-till conditions. Barnyardgrass emergence was significantly affected by burial depth, having greater emergence from 5 cm depth (96%) although even 78% of seedlings emerged from 10 cm depth after the two years of study. Emergence of barnyardgrass was stable across years from the different depths and tillage regimes. Jimsonweed seeds showed lower germination than barnyardgrass during the study period, whereas its emergence was significantly affected by soil disturbance having 41% compared to 28% without disturbance. A burial depth x soil disturbance interaction was also determined, which showed higher emergence from 10 cm depth with soil disturbance. Jimsonweed was found to have significantly higher emergence from 10 cm depth with soil disturbance in Year 2. Seasonal emergence timing of barnyardgrass did not vary between the different burial depth and soil disturbance regimes, as it started in April and lasted until end of May in both years. Jimsonweed showed a bimodal pattern, with first emergence starting end of April until mid-May and the second ranging from mid-June to mid-August from 10 cm burial depth and from mid-July to mid-August from 5 cm depth, irrespective of soil disturbance in both cases.
Empirical Performance of Black-Scholes and GARCH Option Pricing Models during Turbulent Times: The Indian Evidence
Authors: Bhat Aparna , Arekar Kirti
Published: March 2016

Exchange-traded currency options are a recent innovation in the Indian financial market and their pricing is as yet unexplored. The objective of this research paper is to empirically compare the pricing performance of two well-known option pricing models – the Black-Scholes-Merton Option Pricing Model (BSM) and Duan’s NGARCH option pricing model – for pricing exchange-traded currency options on the US dollar-Indian rupee during a recent turbulent period. The BSM is known to systematically misprice options on the same underlying asset but with different strike prices and maturities resulting in the phenomenon of the ‘volatility smile’. This bias of the BSM results from its assumption of a constant volatility over the option’s life. The NGARCH option pricing model developed by Duan is an attempt to incorporate time-varying volatility in pricing options. It is a deterministic volatility model which has no closed-form solution and therefore requires numerical techniques for evaluation. In this paper we have compared the pricing performance and examined the pricing bias of both models during a recent period of volatility in the Indian foreign exchange market. Contrary to our expectations the pricing performance of the more sophisticated NGARCH pricing model is inferior to that of the relatively simple BSM model. However orthogonality tests demonstrate that the NGARCH model is free of the strike price and maturity biases associated with the BSM. We conclude that the deterministic BSM does a better job of pricing options than the more advanced time-varying volatility model based on GARCH.
Determinants of Capital Structure and Testing of Applicable Theories: Evidence from Pharmaceutical Firms of Bangladesh
Authors: Imtiaz Md. Farhan , Mahmud Khaled , Mallik Avijit
Published: March 2016

The objectives of this paper are to determine the significant factors that affect the capital structure of listed pharmaceutical firms in Bangladesh and to test the capital structure theories. To achieve the intended objectives a panel dataset including 8 major pharmaceutical firms were taken over the time period from 2009 to 2013. The collected data were analyzed by employing correlated panels corrected standard error model using six variables i.e. profitability, tangibility, growth, size, liquidity and operating leverage. Among the 6 variables tangibility, profitability and operating leverage were found to be statistically significant determinants of capital structure. Profitability, tangibility, growth and operating leverage are negatively related to the capital structure while size and liquidity are positively related to the capital structure of the pharmaceutical firms of Bangladesh. The empirical analysis finds that the static trade-off theory and the pecking order theory are the most dominant capital structure theories for the pharmaceutical firms of Bangladesh. These factors must be considered by the financial manager to determine the appropriate capital structure for the company to maximize value of the firm.
International Financial Institutions and the Challenges of Global Business Ethics
Authors: Kerich Henry
Published: March 2016

Business ethics are moral principles and doctrines that determine behavior in the business world. Although the purpose of every business is to earn profits, it also ought to pay a major role in society by ensuring fair practices. Instead of fairness and equality, greed has taken over the present business scenario leading to unethical business practices. World Bank and International Monetary Fund have been criticized for harsh imposition of austerity measures on member borrower countries. IMF programs are connected with adverse social action like reduced investment in public health and education in the recipient countries resulting in ethical violation and lack of corporate social responsibility to the communities served. A number of World Bank financed projects have social and environmental effects for the people in the affected areas resulting in ethical issues criticism. The IMF and World Bank have also been criticized for violation of ethical issues of equity and fair play.
Vergoeding van integriteitsschade mede bezien vanuit een mensenrechtelijk perspectief
Authors: Overheul A.M.
Published: March 2016

Vergoeding van integriteitsschade mede bezien vanuit een mensenrechtelijk perspectief

Met vergoeding van integriteitsschade wordt een vergoeding van immateriële schade toegekend wegens een inbreuk op het zelfbeschikkingsrecht. Hiermee verschuift het juridische obstakel van de causaliteit naar het schadebegrip. De vraag is of deze ‘schadepost’ daadwerkelijk juridisch relevante ‘schade’ is. De wetgever heeft zich hierover niet uitgelaten en de Hoge Raad heeft zich op dit punt nog niet uitgesproken. De wijze waarop het EHRM omgaat met het zelfbeschikkingsrecht kan inspiratie bieden voor de invulling van het Nederlandse concept ‘integriteitsschade’. In deze bijdrage wordt daarom niet alleen stilgestaan bij de discussie in Nederland over de invulling van dit concept, maar wordt ook een vergelijking gemaakt met rechtspraak van het EHRM over de schending van het recht op informatie in medische aansprakelijkheidszaken. De vraag is met name hoe de begrenzing van deze schadepost eruit zou moeten zien.
Verkeersonveiligheid
Authors: Weijermars W.A.M.
Published: March 2016

Verkeersonveiligheid. (Personen)schade, oorzaken en maatregelen

In 2014 vielen 570 verkeersdoden en 20.700 ernstig verkeersgewonden in het Nederlandse verkeer. Ongeveer een op de vijf ernstig verkeersgewonden houdt blijvende beperkingen over aan de verwondingen. Alle verkeersongevallen samen kosten de maatschappij naar schatting € 12,5 miljard per jaar. Ernstig verkeersgewonden en fietsers vormen belangrijke aandachtsgroepen. In de kern ontstaat verkeersonveiligheid doordat verkeersdeelnemers kunnen botsen en daarbij letsel kunnen oplopen. Sommige groepen verkeersdeelnemers zijn kwetsbaarder (bijvoorbeeld ouderen) of hebben een hogere ongevalskans (bijvoorbeeld jongeren) dan gemiddeld. Ook bepaalde weersomstandigheden en risicogedrag (snelheid, alcohol, afleiding) verhogen de ongevalskans en/of letselernst. Er zijn allerlei maatregelen genomen om ongevallen te voorkomen en de letselernst te beperken.