bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The influence of market and entrepreneurial orientation on strategic marketing choices: the cases of Dutch farmers and horticultural growers
Authors: Verhees Frans J.H.M. , Lans Thomas , Verstegen Jos A.A.M.
Published: November 2012

Farmers and horticultural growers are expected by society to increase production to meet the demand for food and other agricultural produce, and, simultaneously, reduce negative effects on the physical and social environment. Whether farmers and horticultural growers choose to develop their businesses this way, is not clear. A market orientation (MO) and entrepreneurial orientation (EO) of farmers and horticultural growers is propagated to increase farm profitability and stimulate the economic vigour of rural areas. An MO is a firm owners’ belief that the best way to achieve the firm’s objectives is to satisfy customers more effective and efficient than competitors do. An EO is a firm owners’ willingness to innovate to rejuvenate market offerings, take risks to try out new and uncertain products, services and markets, and be more proactive than competitors towards new marketplace opportunities. However, it is not clear how MO and EO influence farmers’ and horticultural growers’ choices about how to develop their business. In this study a model is developed with hypotheses about the influence of EO and MO on strategic marketing choices of farmers. The model is tested on a sample of 588 Dutch farmers and horticultural growers. Four strategic groups were identified. A strategic group is a group of firms that have made similar choices about how to develop their business. Results show that higher levels of EO and MO are found in strategic groups that emphasise cooperating with buyers, increasing prices, and starting new activities. Lower levels of EO and MO are found in strategic groups that emphasize reducing costs and decreasing debts. EO and MO, however, have different influences on individual elements of strategy.
Educational Strategies to Promote Professional Nursing in Long-Term Care: An Integrative Review
Authors: Fox Jodie R.
Published: November 2012

This integrative review investigates various strategies in professional nursing education that facilitate positive attitudes toward working with older adults in long-term care (LTC) environments, including nursing homes. Nine studies contained strategies that increased positive attitudes of nurses toward older adults. The barrier most frequently identified is lack of gerontological knowledge by faculty and students, suggesting increased knowledge in faculty may ensure that older adults receive quality care. Early introduction of students to people who are aging successfully may dispel bias against older adults. Lack of current nursing role models in LTC settings may reinforce negative stereotypes.
“Iris-Assisted,” Open-sky, Continuous Curvilinear Capsulorhexis Technique for Combined Cataract Extraction and Corneal Transplantation
Authors: Kim Eun Chul , Kang Nam Yeo , Bonfadini Gustavo , Jun Albert S.
Published: November 2012

The authors describe “iris-assisted,” open-sky, continuous curvilinear capsulorhexis (CCC) in a triple procedure combining corneal transplantation, cataract extraction, and intraocular lens implantation. They do not use miotics or mydriatics. Patients receive oral acetazolamide (250 mg), intravenous mannitol (5 mL/kg), and Honan balloon at 30 mm Hg for 20 to 30 minutes before surgery. After trephination and excision of recipient cornea, the pupil assumes a mid-dilated position. After injection of 2.3% hyaluronic acid into the anterior chamber, a central linear incision is made in the anterior capsule using a cystotome needle and a CCC is made (approximately 5.5 mm) along the pupillary margin with CCC forceps. The mid-dilated iris can “assist” by resisting posterior pressure to reduce the risk of capsular extension. The nucleus passes through the capsulorhexis following hydrodissection. The keratoplasty is completed followed by cortex removal and in-the-bag intraocular lens implantation, which are facilitated by the CCC in a closed system.
Electron Micrograph Characteristics of Persistent
Enterococcus faecalis
Organisms on Surgically Removed Capsular Bag
Authors: Braich Puneet S. , Miller Darlene , Flynn Harry W. , Schefler Amy C.
Published: November 2012

This article details a case of culture-proven
Enterococcus faecalis
endophthalmitis that presented clinically years after trabeculectomy and cataract surgery with three different distinct episodes of fulminant infection with clinically quiescent periods between episodes. During the third episode, the patient underwent vitrectomy with removal of the capsular bag. Electron microscopy of the capsular bag confirmed
E. faecalis
organisms. This is the fifth reported case of recurrent
E. faecalis
endophthalmitis and the first to document numerous high magnification electron micrographic characteristics from a surgical specimen. This study suggests that recurrences of this rare form of endophthalmitis may occur months after apparently successful initial clinical therapy. To prevent recurrence, removal of the capsular bag and intraocular lens should be considered in cases of endophthalmitis caused by
E. faecalis.
A Consumer Perception Research on the Subject of a New Technology in a Developing Dynamic Market
Authors: Atici Bünyamin , Bati Ugur
Published: November 2012

The amount of demand for new products like 3G is related to adoption and spread of innovations. Research suggests that innovativeness is related to consumer behavior and characteristics. Research shows that new technologies like 3G are not evaluated by only its functional sides in the consumer perception. Consumers also perceive symbolic sides to this type of technology. This study measures the interests of the population that live in the urban area of Turkey and economically active and working for the 3G technology, their product purchasing criteria, product using habits, brand recognition levels, brand preferences, and tendencies for purchasing products and services in the near future. The research is performed with the participation of 612 persons in 12 provinces. The demographic characteristics belonging to the consumers who participate in the survey study, the reliability analysis results concerning the scale, t test, factor analysis, frequency analysis, correlation analysis, and variance analyses are performed in this chapter of the research. Findings show that the dynamic Turkish consumer gives significant importance to this new technology as functional and symbolic.
Towards High Maturity in SaaS Applications Based on Virtualization
Authors: Liu Shijun , Zhang Yong , Meng Xiangxu
Published: November 2012

This paper proposes a high level maturity in SaaS applications based on virtualization technologies, in which the hardware virtualization focuses on providing the flexible on-demand hosting environment, the application virtualization used to meet the scalable application deployment requirements and data virtualization solves data integration and unified data access problems to ensure multi-tenant efficiency. In order to realize the configurability, a method based on metadata and JMX is used to manage the metadata so that changed metadata can be hot deployed immediately during runtime. A case study of a SaaS application for supply business in automobile industry is introduced with the discussion of approaches to higher level maturity model.
Sustainability in Service Operations
Authors: Wolf Frank , Mujtaba Bahaudin G.
Published: November 2012

This paper aims to set the stage for the development of an index that measures progress towards sustainability in the service sector. A review of the academic literature reveals history and theories on the subject, while a look at the trade literature describes what is happening in each of 13 different service sector industries. A framework for the development of a sustainability index for a commercial enterprise is developed. This framework is aligned with triple bottom line corporate reporting, and measures progress towards sustainability in terms of profit, people, and planet on the principle of continuous improvement.
Call Center Operational Performance Indicators and Customer Satisfaction
Authors: Oliveira Alexandre Ferreira , Joia Luiz A.
Published: November 2012

This article purports to investigate the relationship – in an empirical way – between the various operational indicators currently used for the management of call centers in Brazil and customer satisfaction. In this context, a set of call centers rendering services to a telecommunications company will be analyzed in order to verify which of their indicators are positively associated with customer satisfaction. A methodological approach based on surveys as well as stepwise multiple linear regressions is developed and applied in order to achieve the objective of this paper. The “First-Contact Resolution Rate” and the “Average Handle Time After the Call” indicators present a statistically significant relationship with customer satisfaction. Some alternative call center operational performance indicators are proposed, in an exploratory way, so as to convey an enhanced relationship between call center performance and customer satisfaction.
Performance Management through Societal Performance Indicators
Authors: White Joe
Published: November 2012

Performance management is tied to external forces and stakeholders whose assessment of performance is more focused on societal outcomes than purely financial outcomes. Government, corporate, and even personal performance measurement should take into account societal indicators that link these disparate yet intertwined spheres of influence. New initiatives in both government and commercial sectors are bringing greater understanding of how societal indicators can measure performance. This paper highlights how societal indicators are used to measure performance in corporate and government sectors. Corporate societal indicators are explored primarily though literary research. Government societal indicators are explored through an examination of the EPA and Superfund program. The paper demonstrates that there is synergy between corporate, government, and personal government performance measures and how business intelligence tools are making these relationships more transparent.
Intelligent Analytics
Authors: Iyer Lakshmi S. , Raman Rajeshwari M.
Published: November 2012

Organizations use web analytic tools and technologies to measure, collect, analyze, and report web usage data to help optimize websites. Traditionally, most of this data tends to be non-transactional and non-identifiable. In this regard, there has not been much integration with transactional data that is collected, stored, analyzed, and reported through Business Intelligence (BI). Emerging trends in web analytics provide organizations the ability to aggregate and analyze web analytics data with transactional data to provide valuable insights for building better customer relationship strategies. In this paper, the authors give an overview of web analytics tools, key players, new technology trends and capabilities to integrate web analytics with BI so organizations can leverage intelligent analytics for new marketing initiatives. While the benefits are significant, there are some challenges associated with the integration and a few possible solutions to address.
Test-Driven Development of Data Warehouses
Authors: Schutte Sam , Ariyachandra Thilini , Frolick Mark
Published: November 2012

Test-driven development is a software development methodology that has recently gained a great deal of traction in the software development community. It focuses on creating software-based test cases that define the business requirements of an application before beginning the coding of the application itself. This paper proposes that test-driven development could be a useful methodology for data warehouse projects, in that it could help team members avoid some of the major pitfalls of data warehousing, and result in a higher-quality end product.
Agile Development in Data Warehousing
Authors: Rahman Nayem , Rutz Dale , Akhter Shameem
Published: November 2012

Traditional data warehouse projects follow a waterfall development model in which the project goes through distinct phases such as requirements gathering, design, development, testing, deployment, and stabilization. However, both business requirements and technology are complex in nature and the waterfall model can take six to nine months to fully implement a solution; by then business as well as technology has often changed considerably. The result is disappointed stakeholders and frustrated development teams. Agile development implements projects in an iterative fashion. Also known as the sixty percent solution, the agile approach seeks to deliver more than half of the user requirements in the initial release, with refinements coming in a series of subsequent releases which are scheduled at regular intervals. An agile data warehousing approach greatly increases the likelihood of successful implementation on time and within budget. This article discusses agile development methodologies in data warehousing and business intelligence, implications of the agile methodology, managing changes in data warehouses given frequent change in business intelligence (BI) requirements, and demonstrates the impact of agility on the business.
Financial Reporting of Intellectual Capital and Company’s Performance in Indian Information Technology Industry
Authors: Pal Karam , Soriya Sushila
Published: November 2012

This paper examines the relationship between Financial Reporting of Intellectual Capital and Company’s Performances in Indian Information Technology Industry. For the purpose of this study, sixty companies listed on NSE were taken for a period of 1999-00 to 2008-09. Value Added Intellectual Co-efficient (VAICTM) method developed by Pulic (1998) was used for the analysis of the data. The present study uses VAICTM model and regression equation for the evaluation of intellectual capital and their relationship with productivity, profitability, and market valuation of the companies. The result of the study supports the hypothesis that profitability of the company can be explained by the intellectual capital. However, there is no significant association of intellectual capital with productivity and market capitalization of the companies for the selected time period of year 1999-00 to 2008-09.
The Globalisation of Firms as a Social Evolutionary Process
Authors: Borghoff Thomas
Published: November 2012

From a social systems theory perspective, globalisation can be conceptualised as an evolutionary social process. By fusing systems theories, evolutionary theories, and organisation theories, globalisation becomes apparent as a historical social process, which encompasses the emergence and reproduction of social systems such as firms or other organisations within the wider process of the globalisation of society. The conceptualisation of firms as social systems also opens new perspectives on methodological issues such as how to study their globalisation process.
A Reflection on the History of Educational Technology and Evolving Pedagogies
Authors: Juneau Karen R.
Published: November 2012

Educational technology has developed from five basic approaches toward technology use: (1) the technical perspective, (2) the objectivist perspective, (3) the constructivist perspective, (4) the collaborative perspective, and (5) the social-ethical perspective. Each perspective has distinctly impacted educational technology. Every one of these threads has roots in a related field and no single thread can form the foundation for educational technology. The unique element of online instruction is the potential for a truly non-sequential model of learning. This is the only element that can be better designed online; all the other characteristics that have been reviewed can be implemented by other methods, or as adaptations of other methods used in other formats. For this reason, it is recommended that future efforts at designing pedagogy for online learning make non-sequential instructional design central to the theoretical model. This is an issue that technology leaders must consider when planning technology integration.
Assessment, Evaluation, and Revision of a Technology Plan
Authors: Chapman Debra L. , Bynog Melinda , Yocom Howard
Published: November 2012

To assess, evaluate, and revise a technology plan, the first task is to collect data that is an integral component of a technology plan. How the data is collected, the types of data needed, and who should be consulted during the data collection process are all very important questions that must be addressed when creating a technology plan. The interpretation of valid and reliable data is the basis for the successful integration of technology into the educational institution. This chapter provides information concerning methodologies to be used during the data collection process for technology planning. Additionally, the chapter addresses both formative and summative assessments, as well as the kinds of evaluations associated with technology plans. The chapter includes tables and exemplars of technology milestones and survey tools, which are important factors in the development of a technology plan.
Defining Professional Development for Technology
Authors: Gruich Madelon Reed
Published: November 2012

Professional development for technology implementation is a critical component of achieving successful learning outcomes in educational settings. The use of technology in all teaching disciplines and administration requires the systematic training of every individual within the organization. Technology tools often provide the catalyst for skill development and attainment of expertise to ensure organizational successes. Through proven and research-based training opportunities, administrators and instructors can receive and ultimately share quality learning experiences that guarantee optimal learning achievement for school districts and specific instructional programs as technology is integrated into curricula. Planning professional development that creates seamless technology assimilation at all levels of use helps to guarantee that instructional design parallels desired learning outcomes.
Implementing the Professional Development Program
Authors: Parker Donna
Published: November 2012

As education is transformed through technology, teachers must be armed with knowledge and the capability of using technological tools to strengthen and enhance learning environments. Technology is the vehicle that assists in delivering meaningful and deeper educational experiences in today’s classrooms. However, not all teachers are comfortable or competent in successfully integrating technology into their curricula and classrooms. School’s technology plans now have an obligation to include professional development as an integral component that ensures technology integration training for faculty, staff, and administrators at all educational levels. Implementation of effective professional development requires technology leaders to formulate plans employing various methods and incentives to motivate teachers to learn the importance of technology integration while giving them the necessary equipment and support to effectively utilize technology in their content areas.
Implementing a Website Portal Using PortfolioVillage.com to Evaluate Professional Credentials
Authors: DiMarco John
Published: November 2012

This chapter offers suggestions and discussion on implementing a website portal to create e-portfolios and Web portfolios. The need to evaluate professional credentials is evident in academia and business, especially for technology leaders assessing whether learning has occurred through professional development. The e-portfolio/Web portfolio has promise as a platform for assessment of students, employees, faculty, and job applicants. Navigating decisions on Web portal solutions and systems can be difficult due to the varying needs of administrative and academic stakeholders. This chapter includes a brief case study discussion of a portfolio portal project and an overview of the various tools available, which is focused on providing insight to technology leaders.
The Query is Just the Beginning
Authors: Maidel Veronica , Epstein Dmitry
Published: November 2012

Web search has become an integral part of everyday online activity. Existing research on search behavior offers an extensive and detailed account of what searchers do when they encounter the search results pages. Yet, there is limited inquiry into what drives the particular search decisions that are being made and what contextual factors drive this behavior. This study provides a user-centric inquiry focused on in-depth detailed investigation of search-related decision-making processes. It builds on data collected through analysis of structured observations of young adults performing searches on their personal laptops. It focuses explicitly on the decisions the users make after completing a query and facing a list of search results. The study reveals a pattern of sophisticated use of a variety of explicit cues, tacit and contextual knowledge, as well as employment of an incremental search strategy.
The Special Case of Youth and Digital Information Credibility
Authors: Metzger Miriam J. , Flanagin Andrew J. , Medders Ryan , Pure Rebekah , Markov Alex , Hartsell Ethan
Published: November 2012

The vast amount of information available online makes the origin of information, its quality, and its veracity less clear than ever before, shifting the burden on individual users to assess information credibility. Contemporary youth are a particularly important group to consider with regard to credibility issues because of the tension between their technical and social immersion with digital media, and their relatively limited development and life experience compared to adults (Metzger & Flanagin, 2008). Although children may be highly skilled in their use of digital media, they may be inhibited in terms of their ability to discern quality online information due to their level of cognitive and emotional development, personal experience, or familiarity with the media apparatus compared to adults. This chapter presents the findings of a large-scale survey of children in the U.S. ages 11-18 years examining young people’s beliefs about the credibility of information available online, and the strategies they use to evaluate it. Findings from the study inform theoretical, practical, and policy considerations in relation to children’s digital literacy skills concerning credibility evaluation.
Press C→ to Play the Ocarina
Authors: Lawrence Dan W.
Published: November 2012

The purpose of this chapter is to investigate the intersection where digital media studies meet rhetoric and rhetoric is re-introduced to musicology. In the recent academic excitement surrounding game studies, the music of games has been overshadowed. The author would like to call attention to the significance of game music and to consider a rhetorical method to approaching it that calls upon a rekindling of the history of coupling rhetoric with music. The author builds on this history by suggesting the foundation of a rhetorical framework for understanding the argumentative power of video game songs. He then moves to offer an approach for evaluating the ethos of game music that consists of assessing worlds and how they are carried through, and by, music. While 17th century baroque composers thought music to be fundamentally an issue of affections—and especially played off of emotional binaries such as joy/sadness as a rhetorical approach—the author hope to here revive this lost art of applying rhetoric to music through broadening the discussion beyond the matter of human emotion. This rhetorical approach allows the individual a framework with which to evaluate the ethos of game music as it now appears through numerous mobile operating systems, online environments, and as remediated forms manifesting in/as cultural artifacts. As games become ubiquitous, so do their songs.
The “Mental Revolution” of the Public Procurement Specialist
Authors: Roman Alexandru V.
Published: November 2012

This chapter suggests an original perspective for delineating the role played by procurement specialists within the context of the efforts to redefine digital public procurement as a major pylon in the transformation of governance. Although in the last two decades scholars have provided an abundance of quality academic accounts addressing the possible transformative benefits of e-procurement, more often than not, public procurement specialists remain a mere afterthought within such discussions. In this chapter, it is argued that the digitalization of public procurement will sustain the desired transformative returns only if these efforts are accompanied by a reformative evolution of public procurement professionals. Paradoxically, transformation at the individual level is found to be the key element for instituting genuine changes and effectively employing digital decision-making support systems in public procurement.
The Rationale behind Implementation of New Electronic Tools for Electronic Public Procurement
Authors: Pomazalová Nataša , Rejman Stanislav
Published: November 2012

This chapter focuses on the effective implementation of new electronic tools for Public e-Procurement in public sector organizations. While an analysis of the characteristics of transformation processes necessary for the development of e-Government and the choice between Public e-Procurement tools is theoretically already well developed, there are still a number of ambiguities in the approaches of rationalization implementation of these. A deeper understanding of the decision-making phenomenon in general is provided. Flexibly adjusting the e-Government strategy on dynamics of the development of Public e-Procurement tool ex ante or leading in an effort to change the organizational structures, information flows, and constraints in which public sector organizations operate in the area of Public e-Procurement. Public e-Procurement tools are selected for the analysis, because interesting progress is expected here. Results from the nature of the dynamic transformation processes and decision-making show the need to support changes in the environment arising from the development of e-Government.
Public Procurement in the Czech Republic
Authors: Novosák Jirí , Hájek Oldrich , Machu Jirí
Published: November 2012

Relations between public procurement, regional development, and e-procurement are discussed in this chapter. First, main themes of the debate are reviewed. Subsequently, some relations between public procurement, regional development, and e-procurement are discussed. The Czech Republic is used as a case study in this regard. The authors’ findings confirm the potential of public procurement to stimulate development of Czech regions. Spatially, public procurement may not be regarded as a suitable tool for reduction of regional disparities. However, there seems to be an important impact of public procurement on the development of local small and medium enterprises. In addition, the authors’ findings point at some links between public procurement and the concepts of sustainable development and competitiveness. Nevertheless, the dominant position of price as evaluation criterion indicates that the linkages are rather weak. Finally, the increasing interest of the Czech Republic in e-procurement was documented.
Capacity Building for Different Abilities Using ICT
Authors: Freeman Ina , Freeman Aiofe
Published: November 2012

Social enterprises are expected to contribute to the well-being of society. One way this is done is through assisting individuals to become productive citizens. For those enterprises that work with individuals with disabilities, this is accomplished through education and assistance with various daily tasks. The disability population is increasing as the population ages and faces an increased potential for disability through disease and biological events as well as higher rates of diagnosis of developmental disability throughout the life span. When coupled with the increasing integration of individuals with disabilities into the community, there is a greater need for ways by which these individuals are included and supported. While technology is prevalent in today’s society, there is little training for those working with clients and little money to purchase the technology, leading to limited access. With few purchasers, little effort is expended to enhance the accessibility of existing technology and create more productive forms of technology. To decrease the costs to society, the role of social enterprises might research the necessary technology to further develop and facilitate the engagement of individuals with disabilities into society.
The Effects of ICT on Sports Fan Management
Authors: Ruta Dino , Imperatori Barbara , Cavenaghi John
Published: November 2012

This contribution studies the role of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in the fan engagement process and the role ITC can play in enabling the reconfiguration of a sports organization. This approach combines social enterprise, sports context, and ICT theories in discussing the concepts of fan quantity, feedback, and involvement. The study highlights the value of fans as relevant stakeholders in sports organizations and as key players in the creation of value. Sport organizations as social enterprises simultaneously seek sporting, economic as well as social results. ICT can increase the value of fans as assets, reinforcing the integration of these three forms of results. Three emblematic case histories describe and exemplify the theoretical argument presented in this chapter and offer stimuli for the discussion of both theoretical and managerial implications.
Creative remediation of Pynstiller by Fanie Viljoen: From short story to graphic novel
Authors: Greyling S.F.
Published: November 2012

In the Transgressions and boundaries of the page project, artists and writers were invited to create artist’s books and thereby to transcend the possibilities of the codex form of the book. This article discusses one of the projects, namely the creative remediation by Fanie Viljoen of his own short story (word), Pynstiller [‘Painkiller’], which deals with the phenomenon of selfmutilation among teenagers, into a graphic novel (word and image). The creative process and product are investigated according to the concepts of media, narratology, picture book and comic book theory. With reference to the two versions of the text, it is indicated how the narrative and theme of the short story are emphasised or extended in the graphic version, and particularly how access to the experienced world of the first-person narrator has been broadened. It appears that the visual narrative elements and the interaction between word and image together contribute towards the narrative, characterisation, portrayal of the theme and the subsequent effect on the reader-viewer. Finally, Fanie Viljoen’s remediation of Pynstiller confirms the premise that the artist’s book is an ideal medium to challenge and transcend boundaries.
The South African pig carcass classification system.
Authors: Siebrits Francois K. , Hambrock Berno W. , Pieterse Elsje
Published: November 2012

The current regression equations for the prediction of pig carcass lean content in South Africa were calculated in 1992 and had not been updated since, whilst pig carcasses became much leaner and often heavier than the 90 kg originally used. It therefore became necessary to critically evaluate the classification regressions to establish whether the genetic improvement had a substantial effect on lean prediction and whether the same regression may be extrapolated to heavier carcasses. Ultimately, it must be established whether the producer is fairly remunerated. Eighty-one pigs, consisting of five representative genotypes and three sexes (gilts, boars and barrows) at a live mass between 20 kg and 30 kg, were allocated to eight slaughter groups, fed a standard diet ad libitum and slaughtered at live masses ranging from 74 kg to 160 kg. Fat measurements were taken on the carcasses using a Hennessy Grading Probe® and an Intrascope®, whereafter the left sides were divided into wholesale cuts and dissected into lean, fat, skin and bone. Fat measurements were also taken on the live animals prior to slaughter using a Renco Lean Meater®. Stepwise linear regression analysis was used to calculate regression equations between lean percentage and fat measurements as well as eye muscle diameter. Although the original equations still hold, even for heavier carcasses, alarming deviations from frequencies of observed carcass classifications were observed. This implies that either the producers are paid less than what they deserve, or the meat trade and consumer pay more than what they should. However, the price differences between both the two leanest classes and the two fattest classes are too small to have a significant effect on the price of pork.
In situ estimation of foliar nitrogen in wild blueberry using reflectance spectra
Authors: Maqbool R. , Percival D. C. , Adl M. S. , Zaman Q. U. , Buszard D.
Published: November 2012

Maqbool, R., Percival, D. C., Adl, M. S., Zaman, Q. U. and Buszard, D. 2012. In situ estimation of foliar nitrogen in wild blueberry using reflectance spectra. Can. J. Plant Sci. 92: 1155–1161. Remote sensing techniques have the potential to serve as an important nutrient management tool in wild blueberry. The potential of visible (VIS), near infrared (NIR) and shortwave infrared (SWIR) spectroscopy was evaluated during 2006 (sprout/vegetative phase of production) to estimate foliar nitrogen (N). Canopy reflectance measurements were taken from two nutrient management experimental sites located in Nova Scotia (NS) and New Brunswick (NB). Partial least squares regression (PLSR) estimated foliar N, giving the coefficients of determination (R2) values ranging from 0.69 to 0.85, and root mean square errors of cross validation (RMSECV) from 0.16% (±8.29% of mean) to 0.24% (±12.43% of mean) for different spectral ranges used in this study. The green peak region located in the VIS region best estimated foliar N. The tested spectral ranges differed in their predictive ability, but generally followed the biochemical basis. Variable importance in projection scores (VIP), regression vector coefficients and PLSR loading weights (LWs) plots highlight the importance of wavebands (∼550 nm, ∼610 nm, 1510 nm, ∼1690 nm, ∼1730 nm, ∼1980 nm and ∼2030 nm) for in situ foliar N estimations. Thus, it was concluded that reflectance spectra may be used to estimate and ultimately map foliar N in wild blueberry production. The results illustrated the ability of multivariate techniques, such as PLSR to explore hyperspectral data and estimate leaf tissue nutrient content.
Assessment of genetic diversity in 35 Pisum sativum accessions using microsatellite markers
Authors: Ahmad Sajjad , Singh Manjit , Lamb-Palmer Neil Dylan , Lefsrud Mark , Singh Jaswinder
Published: November 2012

Ahmad, S., Singh, M., Lamb-Palmer, N. D., Lefsrud, M. and Singh, J. 2012. Assessment of genetic diversity in 35 Pisum sativum accessions using microsatellite markers. Can. J. Plant Sci. 92: 1075–1081. Field pea is an important Canadian pulse crop and therefore developing high-performing cultivars is critical for Canadian pea growers. Information about genetic diversity is a key component for the creation of novel and desirable germplasm to develop elite pea breeding lines. The objective of the present study is to assess genetic diversity in 35 diverse Pisum accessions using 15 polymorphic microsatellites located on different pea chromosomes. Microsatellites were found to be polymorphic, amplifying a total of 41 alleles and were able to differentiate all 35 Pisum genotypes. These markers were scored by their polymorphic information content (PIC), ranging from 0.055 (AA206) to 0.660 (AB72) with an average of 0.460, and by their discriminating power (D), which varied from 0.057 (AA206) to 0.679 (AB 72) with an average of 0.475. Genetic similarity values ranged from 0.074 (between Maple pea NZ and Line 45760) to 0.875 (between Galena and Dakota) with an average of 0.336. Unweighted pair group method with arithmetic averages (UPGMA) cluster analysis grouped the 35 pea accessions into two major clusters and eight sub-clusters. The majority of Canadian and European genotypes were grouped separately, suggesting both these groups are from genetically distinct gene pools. The genetically diverse groups identified in this study can be used to derive parental lines for pea breeding.
Genotype and environment influence gamma aminobutyric acid concentration in short-season soybean
Authors: Morrison M. J. , Frégeau-Reid J. A. , Cober E. R.
Published: November 2012

Morrison, M. J., Frégeau-Reid, J. A. and Cober, E. R. 2012. Genotype and environment influence gamma aminobutyric acid concentration in short-season soybean. Can. J. Plant Sci. 92: 1093–1100. Gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA) is a four-carbon, non-structural protein found ubiquitously in life forms on the planet. In plants, it is produced in the cytosol in response to stresses, via the α-decarboxylation of glutamate by the enzyme glutamate decarboxylase. In studies, foods made from soybean (Glycine max L. Merr), with high GABA concentration, have reduced high blood pressure. Our objective was to determine if there were genotypic differences for GABA concentration among a series of short-season soybean cultivars. A historical series of 16 cultivars released from 1934 to 2000 was grown in a randomized complete block design with four replications across 3 yr at the Central Experimental Farm in Ottawa, Canada. Seed was harvested for yield and a sample taken to determine seed weight, protein, oil, L-glutamate (L-Glu) and GABA concentrations. There were significant differences among cultivars for all parameters and significant differences among years for all parameters except L-Glu. GABA was positively correlated with protein concentration, L-Glu and seed yield. There was a threefold difference in GABA concentration between the highest and lowest cultivars, but no clear relationships to weather parameters were identified. GABA concentration was determined to be moderately heritable (44%) indicating that new cultivars with higher concentrations could readily be developed. Soybean cultivars with higher GABA concentration, as part of the diet, may provide a means to reduce or prevent hypertension.
On the separation profile of infinite graphs
Authors: Benjamini Itai , Schramm Oded , Timár Ádám
Published: November 2012

Initial steps in the study of inner expansion properties of infinite Cayley graphs and other infinite graphs, such as hyperbolic ones, are taken, in a flavor similar to the well-known Lipton–Tarjan

\sqrt{n}

separation result for planar graphs. Connections to relaxed versions of quasi-isometries are explored, such as regular and semiregular maps.
Cohomological invariants and the classifying space for proper actions
Authors: Gandini Giovanni
Published: November 2012

We investigate two open questions in a cohomology theory relative to the family of finite subgroups. The problem of whether the

\mathbb{F}

-cohomological dimension is subadditive is reduced to extensions by groups of prime order. We show that every finitely generated regular branch group has infinite rational cohomological dimension. Moreover, we prove that the first Grigorchuk group

\mathfrak{G}

is not contained in Kropholler’s class

{\scriptstyle{\rm H}}\mathfrak F

.
A non-trivial example of a free-by-free group with the Haagerup property
Authors: Gautero François
Published: November 2012

The aim of this note is to prove that the group of Formanek–Procesi acts properly isometrically on a finite dimensional CAT(0) cube complex. This gives a first example of a non-linear semidirect product between two non abelian free groups which satisfies the Haagerup property.
Existence, covolumes and infinite generation of lattices for Davis complexes
Authors: Thomas Anne
Published: November 2012

Let

\Sigma

be the Davis complex for a Coxeter system

(W,S)

. The automorphism group

G

of

\Sigma

is naturally a locally compact group, and a simple combinatorial condition due to Haglund–Paulin and White determines when

G

is nondiscrete. The Coxeter group

W

may be regarded as a uniform lattice in

G

. We show that many such

G

also admit a nonuniform lattice

\Gamma

, and an infinite family of uniform lattices with covolumes converging to that of

\Gamma

. It follows that the set of covolumes of lattices in

G

is nondiscrete. We also show that the nonuniform lattice

\Gamma

is not finitely generated. Examples of

\Sigma

to which our results apply include buildings and non-buildings, and many complexes of dimension greater than 2. To prove these results, we introduce a new tool, that of “group actions on complexes of groups”, and use this to construct our lattices as fundamental groups of complexes of groups with universal cover

\Sigma

.
Modelling coral polyp calcification in relation to ocean acidification
Authors: Hohn S. , Merico A.
Published: November 2012

Abstract. Rising atmospheric CO2 concentrations due to anthropogenic emissions induce changes in the carbonate chemistry of the oceans and, ultimately, a drop in ocean pH. This acidification process can harm calcifying organisms like coccolithophores, molluscs, echinoderms, and corals. It is expected that ocean acidification in combination with other anthropogenic stressors will cause a severe decline in coral abundance by the end of this century, with associated disastrous effects on reef ecosystems. Despite the growing importance of the topic, little progress has been made with respect to modelling the impact of acidification on coral calcification. Here we present a model for a coral polyp that simulates the carbonate system in four different compartments: the seawater, the polyp tissue, the coelenteron, and the calcifying fluid. Precipitation of calcium carbonate takes place in the metabolically controlled calcifying fluid beneath the polyp tissue. The model is adjusted to a state of activity as observed by direct microsensor measurements in the calcifying fluid. We find that a transport mechanism for bicarbonate is required to supplement carbon into the calcifying fluid because CO2 diffusion alone is not sufficient to sustain the observed calcification rates. Simulated CO2 perturbation experiments reveal decreasing calcification rates under elevated pCO2 despite the strong metabolic control of the calcifying fluid. Diffusion of CO2 through the tissue into the calcifying fluid increases with increasing seawater pCO2, leading to decreased aragonite saturation in the calcifying fluid. Our modelling study provides important insights into the complexity of the calcification process at the organism level and helps to quantify the effect of ocean acidification on corals.
Revisiting factors controlling methane emissions from high-arctic tundra
Authors: Mastepanov M. , Sigsgaard C. , Tagesson T. , Ström L. , Tamstorf M. P. , Lund M. , Christensen T. R.
Published: November 2012

Abstract. Among the numerous studies of methane emission from northern wetlands the number of measurements carried on at high latitudes (north of the Arctic Circle) is very limited, and within these there is a bias towards studies of the growing season. Here we present results of five years of automatic chamber measurements at a high-arctic location in Zackenberg, NE Greenland covering both the growing seasons and two months of the following freeze-in period. The measurements show clear seasonal dynamics in methane emission. The start of the growing season increase in CH4 fluxes were strongly related to the date of snow melt. The greatest variation in fluxes between the study years were observed during the first part of the growing season. Somewhat surprisingly this variability could not be explained by commonly known factors controlling methane emission, i.e. temperature and water table position. Late in the growing season CH4 emissions were found to be very similar between the study years (except the extremely dry 2010) despite large differences in climatic factors (temperature and water table). Late-season bursts of CH4 coinciding with soil freezing in the autumn were observed at least during three years between 2006 and 2010. The accumulated emission during the freeze-in CH4 bursts was comparable in size with the growing season emission for the year 2007, and about one third of the growing season emissions for the years 2009 and 2010. In all three cases the CH4 burst was accompanied by a~corresponding episodic increase in CO2 emission, which can compose a significant contribution to the annual CO2 flux budget. The most probable mechanism of the late season CH4 and CO2 bursts is physical release of gases, accumulated in the soil during the growing season. In this study we investigate the drivers and links between growing season and late season fluxes. The reported surprising seasonal dynamics of CH4 emissions at this site show that there are important occasions where conventional knowledge on factors controlling methane emissions is overruled by other processes, acting in longer than seasonal time scales. Our findings suggest the importance of multiyear studies with continued focus on shoulder seasons.
Gender Comparison of the Performance of Secondary Level Institutional Heads in DIK, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Authors: Jamil Dr Asif , Ramzan Amina , Atta Malik Amer , Younis Muhammad , Kareem Uzma , Jan Tahirullah
Published: November 2012

This study was done keeping in view importance of the role of administrators in the success of educational institutions. The prime focus was comparison of the effectiveness of male and female Institutional heads working in different secondary schools of district Dera Ismail Khan, situated in the south of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan. Major areas of comparison remained percepts, leadership styles and efficiency of the Institutional heads, perceived by the teachers appointed in respective schools. Findings of the study revealed that female Institutional heads prove to be comparatively better administrators showing keen interest in institutional administration, motivating their team for hard work and keeping coordinal relationship with staff and parents. KEYWORDS: Gender, Performance, Secondary Level, Institutional Heads
The United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia: Republic of Argentina v. B.G. Group PLC
Authors: Ryan Christopher M. , Greenblatt Jonathan L.
Published: November 2012

On January 17, 2012, the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia (‘‘D.C. Circuit’’) issued its decision in Republic of Argentina v. B.G. Group PLC, overturning a final award of a United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (‘‘UNCITRAL’’) arbitral tribunal issued in favor of BG Group PLC (‘‘BG Group’’). According to the Court, the arbitral tribunal exceeded its authority by taking jurisdiction over the dispute when BG Group failed to first submit its claims to the courts of Argentina for a period of eighteen months, as required by the Agreement Between theGovernment of the UnitedKingdomof Great Britainand Northern Ireland andthe Government of the Republic of Argentina for the Promotion and Protection of Investments (the ‘‘U.K.-Argentina BIT’’).