bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Environmental enrichment for primates in laboratories
Authors: Buchanan-Smith H. M.
Published: June 2011

Abstract. Environmental enrichment is a critical component of Refinement, one of the 3Rs underlying humane experimentation on animals. In this paper I discuss why primates housed in laboratories, which often have constraints of space and study protocols, are a special case for enrichment. I outline a framework for categorising the different types of enrichment, using the marmoset as a case study, and summarise the methods used to determine what animals want/prefer. I briefly review the arguments that enrichment does not negatively affect experimental outcomes. Finally I focus on complexity and novelty, choice and control, the underlying features of enrichment that makes it successful, and how combined with a thorough understanding of natural history we can put effective enrichment into practice in laboratories. Throughout the paper I emphasise the need to evaluate enrichment to ensure it is having the desired effect.
Soil moisture initialization effects in the Indian monsoon system
Authors: Asharaf S. , Dobler A. , Ahrens B.
Published: June 2011

Abstract. Towards the goal to understand the role of land-surface processes over the Indian sub-continent, a series of soil-moisture sensitivity simulations have been performed using a non-hydrostatic regional climate model COSMO-CLM. The experiments were driven by the lateral boundary conditions provided by the ERA-Interim (ECMWF) reanalysis. The simulation results show that the pre-monsoonal soil moisture has a significant influence on the monsoonal precipitation. Both, positive and negative soil-moisture precipitation (S-P) feedback processes are of importance. The negative S-P feedback process is especially influential in the western and the northern parts of India.
Homogenising time series: beliefs, dogmas and facts
Authors: Domonkos P.
Published: June 2011

Abstract. In the recent decades various homogenisation methods have been developed, but the real effects of their application on time series are still not known sufficiently. The ongoing COST action HOME (COST ES0601) is devoted to reveal the real impacts of homogenisation methods more detailed and with higher confidence than earlier. As a part of the COST activity, a benchmark dataset was built whose characteristics approach well the characteristics of real networks of observed time series. This dataset offers much better opportunity than ever before to test the wide variety of homogenisation methods, and analyse the real effects of selected theoretical recommendations. Empirical results show that real observed time series usually include several inhomogeneities of different sizes. Small inhomogeneities often have similar statistical characteristics than natural changes caused by climatic variability, thus the pure application of the classic theory that change-points of observed time series can be found and corrected one-by-one is impossible. However, after homogenisation the linear trends, seasonal changes and long-term fluctuations of time series are usually much closer to the reality than in raw time series. Some problems around detecting multiple structures of inhomogeneities, as well as that of time series comparisons within homogenisation procedures are discussed briefly in the study.
What controls biological productivity in coastal upwelling systems? Insights from a comparative modeling study
Authors: Lachkar Z. , Gruber N.
Published: June 2011

Abstract. The magnitude of the biological productivity in Eastern Boundary Upwelling Systems (EBUS) is traditionally viewed as directly reflecting the upwelling intensity. Yet, different EBUS show different sensitivities of productivity to upwelling-favorable winds (Carr and Kearns, 2003). Here, using a comparative modeling study of the California Current System (California CS) and Canary Current System (Canary CS), we show how physical and environmental factors, such as light, temperature and cross-shore circulation modulate the response of biological productivity to upwelling strength. To this end, we made a series of eddy-resolving simulations of the California CS and Canary CS using the Regional Ocean Modeling System (ROMS), coupled to a nitrogen based Nutrient-Phytoplankton-Zooplankton-Detritus (NPZD) ecosystem model. We find the nutrient content of the euphotic zone to be 20 % smaller in the Canary CS relative to the California CS. Yet, the biological productivity is 50 % smaller in the latter. This is due to: (1) a faster nutrient-replete growth in the Canary CS relative to the California CS, related to a more favorable light and temperature conditions in the Canary CS, and (2) the longer nearshore water residence times in the Canary CS which lead to larger buildup of biomass in the upwelling zone, thereby enhancing the productivity. The longer residence times in the Canary CS appear to be associated with the wider continental shelves and the lower eddy activity characterizing this upwelling system. This results in a weaker offshore export of nutrients and organic matter, thereby increasing local nutrient recycling and enhancing the coupling between new and export production in the Northwest African system. Our results suggest that climate change induced perturbations such as upwelling favorable wind intensification might lead to contrasting biological responses in the California CS and the Canary CS, with major implications for the biogeochemical cycles and fisheries in these two ecosystems.
Impact of oceanic processes on the carbon cycle during the last termination
Authors: Bouttes N. , Paillard D. , Roche D. M. , Waelbroeck C. , Kageyama M. , Lourantou A. , Michel E. , Bopp L.
Published: June 2011

Abstract. During the last termination (from ~18 000 yr ago to ~9000 yr ago) the climate significantly warmed and the ice sheets melted. Simultaneously, atmospheric CO2 increased from ~190 ppm to ~260 ppm. Although this CO2 rise plays an important role in the deglacial warming, the reasons for its evolution are difficult to explain. Only box models have been used to run transient simulations of this carbon cycle transition, but by forcing the model with data constrained scenarios of the evolution of temperature, sea level, sea ice, NADW formation, Southern Ocean vertical mixing and biological carbon pump. More complex models (including GCMs) have investigated some of these mechanisms but they have only been used to try and explain LGM versus present day steady-state climates. In this study we use a climate-carbon coupled model of intermediate complexity to explore the role of three oceanic processes in transient simulations: the sinking of brines, stratification-dependant diffusion and iron fertilization. Carbonate compensation is accounted for in these simulations. We show that neither iron fertilization nor the sinking of brines alone can account for the evolution of CO2, and that only the combination of the sinking of brines and interactive diffusion can simultaneously simulate the increase in deep Southern Ocean δ13C. The scenario that agrees best with the data takes into account all mechanisms and favours a rapid cessation of the sinking of brines around 18 000 yr ago, when the Antarctic ice sheet extent was at its maximum. Sea ice formation was then shifted to the open ocean where the salty water is quickly mixed with fresher water, which prevents deep sinking of salty water and therefore breaks down the deep stratification and releases carbon from the abyss. Based on this scenario it is possible to simulate both the amplitude and timing of the CO2 increase during the last termination in agreement with data. The atmospheric δ13C appears to be highly sensitive to changes in the terrestrial biosphere, underlining the need to better constrain the vegetation evolution during the termination.
Carbon monoxide as a tracer for tropical troposphere to stratosphere transport in the Chemical Lagrangian Model of the Stratosphere (CLaMS)
Authors: Pommrich R. , Müller R. , Grooß J.-U. , Konopka P. , Günther G. , Pumphrey H.-C. , Viciani S. , D'Amato F. , Riese M.
Published: June 2011

Abstract. Variations in the mixing ratio of trace gases of tropospheric origin entering the stratosphere in the tropics are of interest for assessing both troposphere to stratosphere transport fluxes in the tropics and the impact on the composition of the tropical lower stratosphere of quasi-horizontal in-mixing into the tropical tropopause layer from the mid-latitude stratosphere. Here, we present a simplified chemistry scheme for the Chemical Lagrangian Model of the Stratosphere (CLaMS) for the simulation, at comparatively low numerical cost, of CO, ozone, and long-lived trace substances (CH4, N2O, CCl3F, and CO2) in the lower tropical stratosphere. The boundary conditions at the ground are represented for the long-lived trace substances CH4, N2O, CCl3F, and CO2 based on ground-based measurements. The boundary condition for CO in the free troposphere is deduced from MOPITT measurements. We find that the zonally averaged tropical CO anomaly patterns simulated by this model version of CLaMS are in good agreement with observations. The introduction of a new scheme in the ECMWF integrated forecast system (Tompkins et al., 2007) for the ice supersaturation after September 2006, results in a somewhat less good agreement between observed and simulated CO patterns in the tropical lower stratosphere after this date.
Skewness as measure of the invariance of instantaneous renormalized drop diameter distributions – Part 1: Convective vs. stratiform precipitation
Authors: Ignaccolo M. , De Michele C.
Published: June 2011

Abstract. We investigate the variability of the instantaneous distribution shape of the renormalized drop diameter making use of the third order central moment: the skewness. Disdrometer data, collected at Darwin Australia, are considered either as whole or as divided in convective and stratiform precipitation intervals. We show that in all cases the distribution of the skewness is strongly peaked around 0.64. This allows to identify a most common distribution of renormalized drop diameters and two main variations, one with larger and one with smaller skewness. The distributions' shapes are independent from the stratiform vs. convective classification.
The sensitivity of land emissivity estimates from AMSR-E at C and X bands to surface properties
Authors: Norouzi H. , Temimi M. , Rossow W. B. , Pearl C. , Azarderakhsh M. , Khanbilvardi R.
Published: June 2011

Abstract. Microwave observations at low frequencies exhibit more sensitivity to surface and subsurface properties with little interference from the atmosphere. The objective of this study is to develop a global land emissivity product using passive microwave observations from the Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer-Earth Observing System (AMSR-E) and to investigate its sensitivity to land surface properties. The developed product complements existing land emissivity products from SSM/I and AMSU by adding land emissivity estimates at two lower frequencies, 6.9 and 10.65 GHz (C- and X-band, respectively). Observations at these low frequencies penetrate deeper into the soil layer. Ancillary data used in the analysis, such as surface skin temperature and cloud mask, are obtained from International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project (ISCCP). Atmospheric properties are obtained from the TIROS Operational Vertical Sounder (TOVS) observations to determine the small upwelling and downwelling atmospheric emissions as well as the atmospheric transmission. A sensitivity test confirms the small effect of the atmosphere but shows that skin temperature accuracy can significantly affect emissivity estimates. Retrieved emissivities at C- and X-bands and their polarization differences exhibit similar patterns of variation with changes in land cover type, soil moisture, and vegetation density as seen at SSM/I-like frequencies (Ka and Ku bands). The emissivity maps from AMSR-E at these higher frequencies agree reasonably well with the existing SSM/I-based product. The inherent but small discrepancy introduced by the difference between SSM/I and AMSR-E frequencies and incidence angles has been examined and found to be small. Large differences between emissivity estimates from ascending and descending overpasses were found at the lower frequencies due to the inconsistency between the thermal IR skin temperatures and passive microwave brightness temperatures which can come from below the surface. This issue must be addressed in future studies to improve the accuracy of the emissivity estimates at lower frequencies.
Regional frequency analysis of extreme storm surges along the French coast
Authors: Bardet L. , Duluc C.-M. , Rebour V. , L'Her J.
Published: June 2011

Abstract. A good knowledge of extreme storm surges is necessary to ensure protection against flood. In this paper we introduce a methodology to determine time series of skew surges in France as well as a statistical approach for estimating extreme storm surges. With the aim to cope with the outlier issue in surge series, a regional frequency analysis has been carried out for the surges along the Atlantic coast and the Channel coast. This methodology is not the current approach used to estimate extreme surges in France. First results showed that the extreme events identified as outliers in at-site analyses do not appear to be outliers any more in the regional empirical distribution. Indeed the regional distribution presents a curve to the top with these extreme events that a mixed exponential distribution seems to recreate. Thus, the regional approach appears to be more reliable for some sites than at-site analyses. A fast comparison at a given site showed surge estimates with the regional approach and a mixed exponential distribution are higher than surge estimates with an at-site fitting. In the case of Brest, the 1000-yr return surge is 167 cm in height with the regional approach instead of 126 cm with an at-site analysis.
Looking for evidence of climate change impacts in the eastern Irish Sea
Authors: Esteves L. S. , Williams J. J. , Brown J. M.
Published: June 2011

Abstract. Although storminess is often cited as a driver of long-term coastal erosion, a lack of suitable datasets has only allowed objective assessment of this claim in a handful of case studies. This reduces our ability to understand and predict how the coastline may respond to an increase in "storminess" as suggested by global and regional climate models. With focus on 16 km of the Sefton coastline bordering the eastern Irish Sea (UK), this paper analyses available measured datasets of water level, surge level, wave height, wind speed and barometric pressure with the objective of finding trends in metocean climate that are consistent with predictions. The paper then examines rates of change in shoreline position over the period 1894 to 2005 with the aim of establishing relationships with climatic variability using a range of measured and modelled metocean parameters (with time spans varying from two to eight decades). With the exception of the mean monthly wind speed, available metocean data do not indicate any statistically significant changes outside seasonal and decadal cycles. No clear relationship was found between changes in metocean conditions and rates of shoreline change along the Sefton coast. High interannual variability and the lack of long-term measurements make unambiguous correlations between climate change and shoreline evolution problematic. However, comparison between the North Atlantic Oscillation winter index (NAOw) and coastline changes suggest increased erosion at times of decreasing NAOw values and reduced erosion at times of increasing NAOw values. Erosion tends to be more pronounced when decreasing NAOw values lead to a strong negative NAO phase. At present, anthropogenic changes in the local sediment budget and the short-term impact of extreme events are still the largest threat likely to affect coastal flooding and erosion risk in the short- and medium-term. Nevertheless, the potential impacts of climate change in the long-term should not be ignored.
Occurrence analysis of daily rainfalls through non-homogeneous Poissonian processes
Authors: Sirangelo B. , Ferrari E. , De Luca D. L.
Published: June 2011

Abstract. A stochastic model based on a non-homogeneous Poisson process, characterised by a time-dependent intensity of rainfall occurrence, is employed to explain seasonal effects of daily rainfalls exceeding prefixed threshold values. The data modelling has been performed with a partition of observed daily rainfall data into a calibration period for parameter estimation and a validation period for checking on occurrence process changes. The model has been applied to a set of rain gauges located in different geographical areas of Southern Italy. The results show a good fit for time-varying intensity of rainfall occurrence process by 2-harmonic Fourier law and no statistically significant evidence of changes in the validation period for different threshold values.
Extraction of spatial-temporal rules from mesoscale eddies in the South China Sea Based on rough set theory
Authors: Du Y. , Fan X. , He Z. , Su F. , Zhou C. , Mao H. , Wang D.
Published: June 2011

Abstract. In this paper, a rough set theory is introduced to represent spatial-temporal relationships and extract the corresponding rules from typical mesoscale-eddy states in the South China Sea (SCS). Three decision attributes are adopted in this study, which make the approach flexible in retrieving spatial-temporal rules with different features. Spatial-temporal rules of typical states in the SCS are extracted as three decision attributes, which then are confirmed by the previous works. The results demonstrate that this approach is effective in extracting spatial-temporal rules from typical mesoscale-eddy states, and therefore provides a powerful approach to forecasts in the future. Spatial-temporal rules in the SCS indicate that warm eddies following the rules are generally in the southeastern and central SCS around 2000 m isobaths in winter. Their intensity and vorticity are weaker than those of cold eddies. They usually move a shorter distance. By contrast, cold eddies are in 2000 m-deeper regions of the southwestern and northeastern SCS in spring and fall. Their intensity and vorticity are strong. Usually they move a long distance. In winter, a few rules are followed by cold eddies in the northern tip of the basin and southwest of Taiwan Island rather than warm eddies, indicating cold eddies may be well-regulated in the region. Several warm-eddy rules are achieved west of Luzon Island, indicating warm eddies may be well-regulated in the region as well. Otherwise, warm and cold eddies are distributed not only in the jet flow off southern Vietnam induced by intraseasonal wind stress in summer-fall, but also in the northern shallow water, which should be a focus of future study.
Spectrophotometric high-precision seawater pH determination for use in underway measuring systems
Authors: Aßmann S. , Frank C. , Kötzinger A.
Published: June 2011

Abstract. Autonomous sensors are required for a comprehensive documentation of the changes in the marine carbon system and thus to differentiate between its natural variability and anthropogenic impacts. Spectrophotometric determination of pH – a key variable of the seawater carbon system – is particularly suited to achieve precise and drift-free measurements. However, available spectrophotometric instruments are not suitable for integration into automated measurement systems (e.g. FerryBox) since they do not meet the major requirements of reliability, stability, robustness and moderate cost. Here we report on the development and testing of a new indicator-based pH sensor that meets all of these requirements. This sensor can withstand the rough conditions during long-term deployments on ships of opportunities and is applicable on the open ocean as well as in coastal waters with complex background and highly variable conditions. The sensor uses a high resolution CCD spectrometer as detector connected via optical fibers to a custom-made cuvette designed to reduce the impact of air bubbles. The sample temperature can be precisely adjusted (25 °C ± 0.006 °C) using computer-controlled power supplies and Peltier elements thus avoiding the widely used water bath. The overall setup achieves a measurement frequency of 1 min−1 with a precision of ± 0.0007 pH units and an average offset of +0.0018 pH units to a pH reference during shipboard operation. Application of this sensor allows monitoring of seawater pH in autonomous underway systems, providing a key variable for characterization and understanding the marine carbon system.
Native American lithic procurement along the international border in the boot heel region of southwestern New Mexico
Authors: Zeigler K. E. , Hogan P. , Hughes C. , Kurota A.
Published: June 2011

Abstract. Multidisciplinary field projects can be very useful to a more fundamental understanding of the world around us, though these projects are not as common as they should be. In particular, the combination of archeology and geology combines our understanding of human behavior and human use of the landscape with an intimate knowledge of geologic processes and the materials available for human use in order to gain a broader understanding of human-Earth interaction. Here we present data from a cross-disciplinary project that uses a common dataset, archeological artifacts, to explore the anthropological and geologic implications of useage patterns. Archeological excavations and surveys conducted by the Office of Contract Archeology in 2007 along the route of the proposed international border fence reveal patterns of use of geologic materials by Archaic, Formative and Protohistoric Native Americans in the Boot Heel of southwestern New Mexico. Thousands of artifacts were recorded in multiple sites from Guadalupe Pass in the southern Peloncillo Mountains to the Carrizalillo Hills west of Columbus. We identified the lithologies of artifacts, ranging from projectile points to groundstones, and then constructed material movement maps based on either known procurement sites ("quarries") or outcrops identified as the closest source to a given site for each lithology. Not unexpectedly, the majority of the rock types utilized by native peoples are local siliceous volcanic materials. However, several artifacts constructed from obsidian were transported into the region from northern Mexico and eastern Arizona, indicating long-distance travel and/or trade routes. We also examine useage pattern difference between Archaic, Formative and Protohistoric sites. Additionally, a dramatic change in distribution of sources for geologic materials occurs between one pre-Spanish site and one post-Spanish site that are adjacent to one another.
The surface energy balance of a polygonal tundra site in northern Siberia – Part 2: Winter
Authors: Langer M. , Westermann S. , Muster S. , Piel K. , Boike J.
Published: June 2011

Abstract. In this study, we present the winter time surface energy balance at a polygonal tundra site in northern Siberia based on independent measurements of the net radiation, the sensible heat flux and the ground heat flux from two winter seasons. The latent heat flux is inferred from measurements of the atmospheric turbulence characteristics and a model approach. The long-wave radiation is found to be the dominant factor in the surface energy balance. The radiative losses are balanced to about 60 % by the ground heat flux and almost 40 % by the sensible heat fluxes, whereas the contribution of the latent heat flux is small. The main controlling factors of the surface energy budget are the snow cover, the cloudiness and the soil temperature gradient. Large spatial differences in the surface energy balance are observed between tundra soils and a small pond. The ground heat flux released at a freezing pond is by a factor of two higher compared to the freezing soil, whereas large differences in net radiation between the pond and soil are only observed at the end of the winter period. Differences in the surface energy balance between the two winter seasons are found to be related to differences in snow depth and cloud cover which strongly affect the temperature evolution and the freeze-up at the investigated pond.
Long-Term Close Follow-up of Chorioretinal Lesions in Presumed Ocular Tuberculosis
Authors: Ducommun Mai-Anh , Eperon Simone , Khonkarly Mona B. , Cavassini Matthias , Guex-Crosier Yan
Published: June 2011

Purpose

To evaluate the long-term outcome (up to 7 years) of presumed ocular tuberculosis (TB) when the therapeutic decision was based on WHO guidelines.

Methods

Twelve out of 654 new uveitic patients (1998-2004) presented with choroiditis and positive tuberculosis skin test (TST) (skin lesion diameter >15 mm). Therapy was administered according to WHO recommendations after ophthalmic and systemic investigation. The area size of ocular lesions at presentation and after therapy, measured on fluorescein and indocyanine green angiographies, was considered the primary outcome. Relapse of choroiditis was considered a secondary outcome. The T-SPOT TB test was performed when it became available.

Results

Visual acuity significantly improved after therapy (p=0.0357). The mean total surface of fluorescein lesions at entry was 44.8±20.9 (arbitrary units) and decreased to 32.5±16.9 after therapy (p=0.0165). The mean total surface of indocyanine green lesions at entry was 24.5±13.3 and decreased to 10.8±5.4 after therapy (p=0.0631). The T-SPOT TB revealed 2 false TST-positive results. The mean follow-up was 4.5±1.5 years. Two relapses out of 10 confirmed ocular TB was observed after complete lesion healing, 2.5 years and 4.5 years after therapy, respectively.

Conclusions

A decrease of ocular lesion mean size and a mean improvement of VA were observed after antituberculous therapy. Our long-term follow-up of chorioretinal lesions demonstrated relapse of ocular tuberculosis in 10% of patients with confirmed ocular TB, despite complete initial retinal scarring.
Prehospital Peripheral Venous Catheters: A Prospective Study of Patient Complications
Authors: Göransson Katarina E. , Johansson Eva
Published: June 2011

Purpose

To investigate prehospital peripheral venous catheters (PVCs) in relation to the frequency of thrombophlebitis.

Method

Data in this prospective study were collected using three types of data source: a study-specific questionnaire, a PVC observation instrument (PVC assess), and electronic patient records. The questionnaire was distributed to ambulance crews who had inserted a PVC before bringing the patient to an emergency department at a level one trauma centre in Sweden during 10 weeks in 2008–2009. Patients admitted to hospital ward were followed-up daily by registered nurses using the PVC assess until the PVC was removed. Patient record data were collected by means of auditing.

Results

Of the 83 patients available for follow-up, 45 (54%) developed thrombophlebitis. Quick PVC removal was performed in 32 (71%) of these patients while 13 (29%) PVCs were left in situ for 1–8 days. No association was found between the occurrence of thrombophlebitis and potential risk factors.

Conclusions

Although thrombophlebitis frequently occurred in PVCs inserted in a prehospital setting, early removal of the device with complication was common. Further studies are warranted to identify the optimal in situ time for PVCs inserted by prehospital emergency teams.
Blake's Jerusalem as Perennial Utopia
Authors: Ferrara Mark S.
Published: June 2011

William Blake's poem Jerusalem (1804–20), like all Perennial utopias, achieves a dialectical synthesis of the ideal and the actual through the narrative focalization of a religious experience at the level of character, one that is at once transhistorical and universal. By reading the poem through the lens of the Perennial paradigm, we discover that the temporal aspects of Jerusalem are intimately tied to the religious dimensions of Blake's utopian vision. In addition to giving us a new way to understand the well-documented distinctiveness of Blake's religious message, the Perennial paradigm shows Blake's soteriology in Jerusalem to be utopian rather than salvationist (that is to say, individual-religious as opposed to collective-political). Because of the ultimately subjective nature of apprehension of the Divine Vision, Blake's utopian thought is not “clearly a forward-directed anticipatory and visionary concept,” as Magnus Ankarsjö has recently argued (15). Blake does not rally the reader towards some “ensuing peaceful millennium” (15) but rather to find enlightenment in the eternal moment. In light of Blake's suspicion of ratiocination, combined with his deliberate use of narrative focalization of Albion's religious vision, reading Jerusalem as a Rational utopia grounded in Judeo-Christian of notions of Apocalypse is to miss Blake's core religious message.
Seeking Emptiness:
Authors: Bach Ulrich E.
Published: June 2011

Theodor Herzl once contemptuously remarked that he regards Freiland as a joke. This statement surprises if one compares his novel Altneuland (Oldnewland) to Theodor Hertzka's Freiland. To say the least, both utopias share many themes and narratives structures. While Altneuland (1902) became the world-renowned manifesto of Zionism, Freiland (1890) cherished popularity only at the time of its publication. Both novels are products of Vienna's fin-de-siècle modernism. Herzl's utopia is set in Palestine, Hertzka places Freiland in the empty space of East Africa. His vision of a new civilization in Africa coincided with European colonialism, nationalism and the surge of anti-Semitism in Vienna. In the following, the essay investigates if Hertzka merely criticizes the culture of fin-de-siècle Vienna, or, if he produces a unique alternative?
Utopia Is in the Blood:
Authors: Reid Mandy A.
Published: June 2011

“Utopia Is in the Blood: The Bodily Utopias of Martin R. Delany and Pauline Hopkins” considers how Delany and Hopkins employ the discourse of racial science in order to construct their own racial utopias. Focusing on Hopkins' Of One Blood and Delany's Principia of Ethnology, Reid argues that the genre of utopian writing enables both authors to refute contemporary scientif ic claims at the same time that they use the discourse of science to establish the utopian past (and, Hopkins argues, the future) of Ethiopia. Both Delany and Hopkins reconf igure nineteenth-century and turn-of-the-century American racial science in their ethnological texts and reveal an epistemological (re)vision of the scientif ic meaning(s) of blackness through a utopian understanding of “black” blood.
On the Maximal Eccentric Distance Sums of Graphs
Authors: Zhang Jianbin , Li Jianping
Published: June 2011

If G is a simple connected graph with vertex V(G), then the eccentric distance sum of G, denoted by ξd(G), is defined as ∑v∈V(G)ecG(v)DG(v), where ecG(v) is the eccentricity of the vertex v and DG(v) is the sum of all distances from the vertex v. Let n≥8. We determine the n-vertex trees with, respectively, the maximum, second-maximum, third-maximum, and fourth-maximum eccentric distance sums. We also characterize the extremal unicyclic graphs on n vertices with respectively, the maximal, second maximal, and third maximal eccentric distance sums.
Análise de Critérios de Sucesso em Projetos de Engenharia, Suprimentos e Construção (EPC)
Authors: Bahia Fabio Dias , De Farias Filho José Rodrigues
Published: June 2011

Os projetos na indústria do petróleo (óleo, gás e derivados) se caracterizam por sua complexidade técnica e gerencial. São planejados e executados por equipes numerosas, distribuídas geograficamente e com conhecimentos multidisciplinares, que buscam implantar soluções inovadoras que permitirão explorar e produzir óleo e gás, localizados em campos de águas profundas e longe da costa (Offshore). Uma revisão da literatura referente a “Projetos EPC (Engineering, Procurement and Construction)” e a “Sucesso em Projetos” e as respostas de 37 profissionais experientes, com atuação em 24 organizações diferentes do setor, permitiu identificar os principais objetivos ou critérios de sucesso (Custo, Tempo, Qualidade, Escopo, Satisfação do Cliente, Segurança, Satisfação da Equipe e Satisfação dos Acionistas) para esses projetos, no Brasil. Deve-se destacar que esse artigo discute sucesso em Projetos EPC Offshore, do ponto de vista das empresas contratadas ou, como chamadas no Brasil, empresas “EPCistas”.
Estudo da Maturidade de Projetos na Cooperação Universidade-Empresas Farmacêuticas
Authors: Barrenha Monique , Takahashi Vania Passarini
Published: June 2011

As relações entre universidades e empresas possibilitam a melhor difusão e transferência de novos conhecimentos e tecnologia, além de promover a criação de empregos e aumento de renda. Para ocorrer uma transferência de conhecimento de tecnologia entre universidade e empresa, deve haver uma série de compatibilidades entre as duas instituições. Antes, eles devem ter um mínimo de maturidade em gerenciamento de um projeto dessa natureza, pois se busca minimizar riscos e cumprir prazos. O estudo objetivou analisar fatores que influenciam a maturidade do gerenciamento de projetos de transferência de tecnologia no âmbito da cooperação universidade-empresa. Para isso, foi aplicado o modelo setorial de maturidade de gestão de projetos de Prado - MMGP, adaptado a projetos de transferência. Consiste em pesquisa de natureza descritiva-exploratória, que fez o uso de estudos de casos. Os casos estudados envolveram projetos de transferência de tecnologia feitos entre empresas farmacêuticas nacionais e universidades brasileiras; os resultados apontam que a falta de investimentos em treinamentos internos, o não alinhamento dos projetos de transferência aos negócios da empresa e o atraso de conscientização da importância de gerenciar um projeto podem ser nocivos à evolução do nível de maturidade do gerenciamento dos projetos das empresas e, como consequência, prejudicar sua capacidade de inovação e competitividade.
A Transferência de Conhecimento na Implantação de um Escritório de Gerenciamento de Projetos
Authors: Nascimento Fabiano Cézar Gomes , Coelho Jr. Thalmo De Paiva , Dubke Alessandra Fraga
Published: June 2011

A transferência de conhecimento na implantação de um escritório de gerenciamento de projetos (EGP) é muito preocupante, pois o mercado encontra-se cada vez mais competitivo e exigindo rapidez e assertividade nos projetos desenvolvidos nas organizações, contemplando menores prazos, custos e escassez de mão de obra qualificada e equipamentos para apoio ao projeto. A gestão do conhecimento organizacional na implantação de um EGP é fundamental para garantir um diferencial competitivo, juntamente ao comprometimento da alta administração, a qual subsidia esta implantação. O objetivo deste artigo é descrever como transferir conhecimento na implantação de um EGP, considerando a maturidade da aprendizagem ao longo da implantação e utilizando como estudo de caso uma empresa do segmento siderúrgico, pertencente a um grande produtor de aço mundial.
Fatores do Ambiente de Hotéis e a Experiência de Consumo: Uma Pesquisa Qualitativa com Homossexuais de Recife
Authors: Silva Juliana Pinheiro da , Leite Yákara Vasconcelos Pereira
Published: June 2011

Este estudo tem o objetivo de descrever os fatores do ambiente de hotéis que mais influenciam a experiência de consumo dos homossexuais entrevistados em Recife. Buscando descobrir as perspectivas dos respondentes do gênero masculino residentes na cidade do Recife, desenvolveu-se uma pesquisa qualitativa com entrevista semi estruturada. Os resultados indicaram que a iluminação, a limpeza e o aroma (condições ambientais); a cama, a área de preferência e a funcionalidade (espaço e funcionalidade); a decoração (sinais, símbolos e artefatos); o café da manhã e a TV a cabo (benefícios extrínsecos); e os funcionários dos hotéis (fator social do ambiente de hotéis) são os elementos que mais influenciaram a experiência de consumo dos homossexuais entrevistados.

DOI: 10.5585/remark.v8i1.2126
Marketing de Relacionamento e Operação de Call Center: Análise Comparada do Posicionamento de Operadoras de Telefonia Celular em São Paulo
Authors: Telles Renato , Romboli Silton , Siqueira João Paulo Lara de
Published: June 2011

O presente trabalho aborda o Marketing de Relacionamento, que vem conquistando destaque nas organizações em razão do crescente reconhecimento da relevância do conhecimento dos clientes e de suas necessidades. A partir dessa perspectiva, investigou-se as estratégias de Telemarketing de organizações de telefonia móvel celular do Estado de São Paulo, a fim de comparar a orientação e o posicionamento dessas empresas. O estudo também faz uma avaliação comparativa entre as organizações, tomando como base a relação entre Call Center, posicionamento, estratégias e objetivos corporativos. Quanto à metodologia adotada, optou-se por uma pesquisa qualitativa, de caráter exploratório, partindo-se da análise de conteúdo das entrevistas.

DOI: 10.5585/remark.v8i1.2129
Segmentação Psicográfica e Estilos de Vida de Consumidores de Venda Direta por Catálogo
Authors: Modanez Patricia Sawa , De Camargo Silvia Helena Carvalho Ramos , Spers Valéria Rueda Elias , Sacomano Neto Mario
Published: June 2011

Este estudo aborda a segmentação psicográfica de mercado e analisa estilos de vida de consumidores do canal de venda direta que compram por meio de catálogo. A pesquisa, de caráter quali-quanti, dividiu-se em três fases. A primeira, qualitativa exploratória, objetivou conhecer a organização estudada, além de pesquisar o perfil de suas consumidoras. Para isso, utilizaram-se técnicas de estudo de caso, focus group associada à técnicas projetivas e entrevistas. A segunda fase desenvolveu-se por meio de uma pesquisa quantitativa descritiva, com o objetivo de quantificar e descrever as consumidoras que compram por catálogos. A amostra constituiu-se de 150 consumidoras da cidade de São Paulo e algumas cidades do interior do Estado. Após o processamento dos dados, por meio do software SPSS e da análise de cluster, os resultados das fases qualitativa e quantitativa foram comparados, possibilitando a realização da terceira fase. Esta última, qualitativa exploratória, envolveu a técnica de brainstorming. Para isso, gestores da empresa foram convidados para apresentação dos resultados e para discutirem estratégias a serem propostas à empresa. Como resultado, a empresa passou a conhecer seu público-alvo, permitindo uma retroalimentação referente ao planejamento do mix de produtos, comunicação e marketing.

DOI: 10.5585/remark.v8i1.2130
Estratégias Mercadológicas e Associativismo na Indústria de Plásticos
Authors: Alves Márcia Cristina , Galeano Ronie , Da Silva Dirceu , Ishida Wenceslau
Published: June 2011

As micros, pequenas e médias empresas representam a grande maioria das organizações no mundo empresarial. Estima-se que cerca de 90% delas compõem esse universo e disputam o mercado com grandes empresas nacionais e multinacionais. Dessa forma, verifica-se que elas desempenham um papel fundamental no desenvolvimento econômico e no social.. A pesquisa junto às micros, pequenas e médias empresas do setor de moldadores justifica-se pelo fato de poderem competir com igualdade no mercado, criando uma maior competitividade para o setor, ou seja, criar vantagem competitiva para o segmento e fortalecer-se no mercado. Outro aspecto importante que justifica a pesquisa é que essas empresas podem servir melhor aos mercados limitados ou tipicamente fragmentados se comparadas com grandes organizações. O objetivo desta pesquisa é identificar as estratégias mercadológicas utilizadas por cinco empresas filiadas à AMPLAST, além de identificar quais são as influências do associativismo sobre essas estratégias. Optou-se pelo método de multicasos. Assim, cinco empresas do ramo de moldagem de plásticos localizadas na Zona Leste de São Paulo compõem o estudo. Os resultados demonstraram que o direcionamento estratégico dessas empresas é focado na capacitação tecnológica e gerencial de seus associados.

DOI: 10.5585/remark.v8i2.2134
Marketing Virtual: Separando o Joio do Trigo... Os Riscos Inerentes e Manipulados no E-commerce
Authors: Kovacs Michelle Helena , Farias Salomão Alencar de , Barbosa Maria de Lourdes Azevedo , Souza Anderson Gomes de
Published: June 2011

O objetivo desta investigação foi realizar uma análise sobre os riscos inerentes e os manipulados na compra pela internet. A pesquisa teve o intuito de averiguar a necessidade de separação desses riscos, visto que, em grande parte dos estudos, não é realizada essa distinção, sendo agrupados os riscos de uma maneira geral. O estudo teve um caráter exploratório-descritivo de corte transversal, tendo sido realizado em duas etapas. Inicialmente foram conduzidas entrevistas com 20 compradores do varejo eletrônico. Posteriormente foi realizado um levantamento, em que foi estabelecida uma parceria com a E-bit, tendo o link do instrumento de coleta de dados sido enviado para 2.000 usuários cadastrados no banco de dados da instituição. Foram obtidos 692 questionários válidos. As análises fatoriais empregadas indicaram a necessidade da divisão dos riscos em inerentes e manipulados, reforçando a teoria inicial de Bettman (1973). A presente pesquisa traz, como principal contribuição, a recomendação aos futuros investigadores dessa área sobre a importância de considerar e, principalmente, empregar separadamente a análise dos riscos inerentes e a análise dos riscos manipulados em estudos do comportamento do consumidor nas compras on-line.

DOI: 10.5585/remark.v8i2.2139
Gestão de Marcas Emocionais: Um Estudo Exploratório no Setor Automotivo de Veículos Leves
Authors: De Oliveira Marcel Eduardo Rodrigues , Attadia Galli Lesley Carina do Lago , Cônsoli Matheus Alberto , E Castro Luciano Thomé
Published: June 2011

Este estudo investigou se empresas que administram suas marcas por meio de apelos emocionais apresentam melhores condies para assegurar uma identidade de marca diferenciada e manter sua posio de mercado. Para tanto, realizou-se levantamento bibliogrfico e, posteriormente, desenvolveu-se pesquisa exploratria quantitativa em empresas do setor automotivo. Como resultado observou-se que as empresas analisadas utilizam a administrao de marcas e acreditam que essas atividades colaboram para o estabelecimento de uma imagem forte e para o desenvolvimento de um elo emocional com o consumidor. DOI: 10.5585/remark.v9i1.2152
Fatores Determinantes da Qualidade Percebida em uma Instituição Bancária da Cidade de Ribeirão Preto - SP
Authors: Salatta Renato Luiz , Nascimento Carlos Alberto Xavier do , Brogiato Luiz Santo , Mendonça Paulo Sérgio Miranda
Published: June 2011

A pesquisa realizada neste trabalho teve a finalidade de analisar a qualidade percebida pelos clientes de uma agncia bancria da Caixa Econmica Federal na cidade de Ribeiro Preto/SP, pois, atravs dessa anlise, ser possvel identificar os fatores que levam os clientes a perceberem qualidade nos servios oferecidos pela agncia bancria e, dessa forma, alm de poder ter a mensurao da qualidade dos servios ora oferecidos, tambm poder gerar novas polticas de melhoria contnua de qualidade. Para tanto foi realizada pesquisa com 120 clientes dentro da prpria agncia, ou seja, no momento em que o cliente usa do servio oferecido, ou ainda, como trata a literatura, no momento do encontro do servio. Depois de realizada a pesquisa, foi feita uma anlise descritiva e uma anlise fatorial, em que a primeira descreve o cenrio em relao aos dados dos respondentes. A segunda, foi utilizada por ser considerada a mais apropriada quando se trata de anlise de comportamento de consumidor, haja vista sua abrangncia em extrair correlaes existentes dentre as questes aplicadas. Os resultados expressaram os fatores determinantes da qualidade percebida na viso dos clientes, evidenciando a participao dos funcionrios em todos os fatores extrados na anlise, enfatizando assim a importncia dos funcionrios no contexto de anlise. DOI: 10.5585/remark.v9i1.2156
“Não Preciso de Coleira Eletrônica!”: Um Estudo Sobre o Movimento de Resistência ao Celular em Blogs e Comunidades Virtuais
Authors: Bernardo da Silva Tatiana Maria
Published: June 2011

Atualmente os consumidores esto mais aptos a resistir s aes de marketing das organizaes. O presente trabalho trata de uma pesquisa qualitativa que pretende analisar os comportamentos e as razes de resistncia ao celular em fruns na web. Para cumprir tal objetivo, foi escolhida a netnografia como meio de investigao do comportamento dos participantes dessas comunidades. Foram escolhidos e investigados quatro blogs nacionais e uma comunidade do site de relacionamento Orkut. A imerso da pesquisadora nestes permitiu que dados fossem copiados dos fruns e a partir das observaes das interaes em tais fruns, das entrevistas realizadas com os donos dos blogs investigados e da anlise do discurso, foram identificados os motivos para a resistncia ao celular: o aprisionamento; a falta de educao; o consumismo; e, o uso incmodo. DOI: 10.5585/remark.v9i2.2171
Aplicação da Ferramenta Planejamento de Experimentos como Suporte à Decisão: Um Estudo em Pequenos Empreendimentos Varejistas
Authors: Fontão Henio , Lopes Eloisa De Moura
Published: June 2011

Este artigo aplicou a ferramenta Planejamento de Experimentos para buscar evidncias de sua potencial contribuio para a tomada de deciso, neste caso em pequenos empreendimentos. Para atingir este propsito estudou-se a importncia que determinadas variveis socioeconmicas tem para a qualidade dos servios prestados por pequenos empreendimentos, principalmente os supermercados. Foram selecionadas unidades de pequenos supermercados varejistas em trs municpios do Vale do Paraba Paulista. Os dados foram coletados por meio de um questionrio estruturado e analisados pelo mtodo experimental estatstico inferencial e modelo experimental fatorial fracionado, por meio da matriz de Plackett-Burman N=20. Com relao ao municpio A, os resultados mostraram que a faixa etria e o local de residncia dos clientes estudados possuem significncia para a qualidade dos pequenos supermercados, enquanto que para os municpios: B e C, os fatores que tem significncia, so respectivamente, clientes que trabalham e possuem carro. Pode-se concluir que o Planejamento de Experimentos adequado s pequenas empresas varejistas e, capaz de auxiliar os gestores a tomar decises sustentadas por maior grau de confiabilidade. DOI: 10.5585/remark.v9i3.2176
Valores Pessoais das Mulheres Empresárias: Aplicação da Escala LOV
Authors: Almeida Ivana Carneiro , Vilas Boas Luiz Henrique De Barros , Sette Ricardo De Souza , De Oliveira Alessandro Silva
Published: June 2011

O papel dos valores pessoais como padres ou critrios que influenciam as escolhas dos indivduos sugere o relacionamento dos valores com o comportamento. Com base neste entendimento, o conceito de valores humanos tem sido utilizado nas cincias sociais para entender diversos assuntos como o uso de mdia, comportamento religioso e poltico, as preferncias e o comportamento do consumidor. Baseado nesta perspectiva, este estudo tem como objetivo analisar os valores das mulheres empresrias tendo como base a escala List of Values LOV (Kahle et al., 1986). A administrao da escala a uma amostra de mulheres empresrias permitiu verificar que os valores Diverso, Sentido de realizao e Respeito Prprio foram aqueles que mereceram classificaes mais altas. Atravs da analise de componentes principais extraram trs dimenses da escala: Valores individuais e Valores Coletivos. Sendo que o valor Senso de Realizao a maioria das mulheres identifica como o muito importante. Portanto, o grupo de mulheres empresrias atribuiu diferentes graus de importncia aos valores pessoais como guias de conduta em suas vidas. DOI: 10.5585/remark.v9i3.2181