bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Efficient Technology for Introduction Catch-Crops Into Soil
Authors: Cesnieks А. , Vilde А. , Cesnieks S. , Liepiņš J. , Ausmane М. , Melngalvis I. , Adamovich А.
Published: December 2016

A sharp decrease in the number of cattle in Latvia has essentially affected the possibilities to introduce organic fertilizers into soil. A solution of this problem may be growing catch-crop plants. The purpose of this study is to clarify the factors, technologies and machinery ensuring good and widespread introduction of catch-crops (winter rape, spring rape, red clover, fallow) without their previous shredding. It is found that unthreaded catch- crop plants may be qualitatively introduced into soil using a combined aggregate by orienting them in the direction of the movement of the aggregate and inclining them towards the surface of the field (rolling with the roller) and simultaneously plugging in with a plough which has a disk knife in front of each body to cut the inclined plants and a greater width (50 cm), and adjustable mouldboard curvature having improved skimmers to avoid clogging and to turn over the arable strips in a better way and to ensure more complete plugging of plants into soil. The technology of introducing catch-crops into soil without previous disintegration has been tested in practice and it is an environment-saving means of preserving and raising soil fertility. It is economically efficient in comparison with the introduction of previously shredded plants presently used on farms. It is possible to raise the introduction quality of unthreaded plants (also long-stalked ones) to 96-98%. Optimization the technology and the plough completion allow save labor – 1.4-1.8 men h ha-1, fuel 6-8 kg ha-1 and financial means 5,60-7,20 Ls ha-1.
INVESTIGATION AND USE OF THE LITHUANIAN FLAX GENETIC RESOURCES IN THE BREEDING PROGRAMS
Authors: Bacelis Kęstutis , Jankauskiene Zofija
Published: December 2016

The profusion, diversity and value of genetic resources significantly contribute to the success of flax breeding. Of special value are genotypes of local origin, highly adapted to the local climatic and soil conditions. Storage of genetic resources in Lithuania was started in 1994-1995. During the period 1995-1997 25 flax varieties and local accessions were studied at the Upytė Research Station of LIA. In 1998-2000 we tested 21 varieties and breeding lines, in 2001-2002 18 accessions, in 2003-2004 12 accessions. The best genotypes were included in flax breeding programs. About 50 genotypes have been transferred to the Gene Bank of the Lithuanian Institute of Agriculture after assessment for biological-agronomical characters following UPOV descriptors.
TENTATIVE LEVELS OF POPS IN LITHUANIAN ENVIRONMENT
Authors: Bergqvist Per-Anders , Kauneliene Violeta , Cicenaite Aurelija , Jegorova Ilona , Katkevičiūte Jolita
Published: December 2016

Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) are chemical substances that persist in the environment, bioaccumulate through the food web, and pose a risk of causing adverse effects to human health and the environment. The Stockholm Convention is a global treaty to protect human health and the environment from POPs. In implementing the Convention, Governments will take measures to eliminate or reduce the release of POPs into the environment. This study was done in order to evaluate tentative POPs levels in Lithuania.Limited amount of PAHs and PCBs were analyzed in Šiauliai air, in two biggest Lithuanian rivers – Nemunas and Neris, and in one of the biggest waste landfill in Lapes. Sampling was done using semi permeable membrane devices (SPMDs). The same procedure of sampling and analyses was used to ensure data comparability. In general, POPs pollution levels were compared with results from other studies.
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT MANAGEMENT AND TRANSFRORMATION OF PLANNED ECONOMY TO MARKET ECONOMY
Authors: Ciegis Remigijus , Pareigis Rimantas
Published: December 2016

In the article the main requirements for sustainable economic development management system were formed using theoretical approach. According to the collected theoretical material, approaches of sustainable management of economic systems from the viewpoint of principles of sustainability are reviewed. The article evaluates the content and issues related to the environmental indicators, including the environmental space and the ecological footprint concepts, applied in sustainability measurement, as well.
SIMPLE METHODS OF ENGINEERING CALCULATIONS FOR SOLVING TRANSFER PROBLEMS OF MULTI – SUBSTANCES IN HORIZONTAL LAYER
Authors: Kalis Harijs , Kangro Ilmārs
Published: December 2016

We consider the simple algorithms in the modelling of the transfer problem of different substances (concentration, heat, moisture, and e. c.) in plate. The approximations of corresponding initial – boundary value problem of the system of the partial differential equations (PDE) is based on the finite volume method. This procedure allows one to reduce the 2-D transfer problem described by a PDE to initial value problem for a system of ordinary differential equations (ODE) of the first or second order. In the stationary case the exact finite – difference vector scheme is obtained.
DEVELOPMENT OF INTELLIGENT DECISION MAKING MODEL FOR STOCK MARKETS
Authors: Nenortaite Jovita , Simutis Rimvydas
Published: December 2016

This paper is focused on the development of intelligent decision making model which is based on the application of artificial neural networks (ANN) and swarm intelligence technologies. The proposed model is used to generate one-step forward investment decisions. The ANN are used to make the analysis of historical stock returns and to calculate one day forward possible profit, which could be get while following the model proposed decisions, concerning the purchase of the stocks. Subsequently the Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) algorithm is applied in order to select the „global best” ANNs for the future investment decisions and to adapt the weights of other networks towards the weights of the best network. The experimental investigations were made considering different number of neural networks, moving time intervals and commission fees. The experimental results presented in the paper show that the application of our proposed methodology lets to achieve better results than the average of the market.
VEGETABLE OILS AS RAW MATERIAL FOR PRODUCTION OF SUITABLE PRODUCTS
Authors: Seržane Rasma , Strēle Maija , Zihmane Kristīne , Gudrieniece Emīlija
Published: December 2016

Importance of vegetable oils in food industry is fast growing due to rising popularity of the wholesome food. Application of vegetable oils in different technical branches is connected with tendency to promote utilization of renewable raw materials and production of environmentally friendly products. Vegetable oils can be used for frying and salads as well as spices extracts, food additives, for massages, aromtherapy a.o. Wide field for utilization of vegetable oils is production of biodiesel fuel (fatty acid methyl- and ethylesters). Investigations about stabilization of pumpkin seed and oilseed pumpkin oils with BHT, ascorbylpalmitate and ascorbic acid were carried out. Investigations on oxidative stabilization of rape oil methyl- and ethylesters RME, REE (biodiesel fuels) with antioxidants at room and 60 oC temperature were carried out. Investigations about antioxidant properties of rosemary, basil and ginger extracts were carried out.
ECOLOGICALLY SAFE GROWING TECHNOLOGIES FOR SPRING BARLEY ON ORGANIC FARMING
Authors: Švarta Agrita , Vigovskis Jānis
Published: December 2016

Field trials were carried out on organic farming fields at the Research Institute of Agriculture of the Latvia University of Agriculture (LUA). The content of nitrates in soil, the influence of previous plants (red clover, winter rue, bare fallow, fallow and green manure), use of stable manure (60 t ha-1 or without) and harrowing (without harrowing, before shooting, at the stage of clustering, before shooting and at the stage of clustering) on the yield and weediness of spring barley „Sencis” were tested during 2003-2004. The content of nitrates in soil was 8-79 mg kg-1. Previous plants and stable manure influenced barley grain yields. Harrowing increased the yields of barley only after winter rye for green manure by using stable manure, but the time of harrowing had no influence on the yield of barley. The quality of grain was satisfactory. 1000 thousand weight was medium – 33.5–38.4 g, medium was also volume weight – 609.0–633.5 g. The content of total protein was satisfactory to good – 9.6 – 11.7 %.
DIFFERENT BIOLOGICALLY ACTIVATED SYSTEMS RESISTANCE TO INHIBITION
Authors: Račys V. , Kliaugaite D. , Jankūnaite D. , Urniežaite I.
Published: December 2016

Biologically activated sorbent (BAS) are believed to be more efficient than separate conventional activated sludge and sorbents systems in removing phenols and others persistant organic pollutants from wastewater. These days, applications of biological activated systems treatment for various kinds of industrial wastewater are attracting greater attention as one of the efficient technologies. But the process is not very good understood, and there is not much parameter, which could describe stability and reliability of system and which could compare different BAS systems. The aim of this study was to investigate the resistance of different biologically activated sorbents to inhibition using respirometric measurements. To choose the most resistant to inhibition biologically activated system from five BAS: BAS-A, BAS-B, BAS-C, BAS-D and conventional activated sludge for comparing. Also to evaluate potential applicability of respirometric method for monitoring bioactivity in BAS systems. The pesticide 3,5-dichlorenol was chosen as inhibitor compound for experiment. The respiratory inhibition measurements were done with different biologically activated systems using different concentration of pesticide. The experiment was accomplished using respiratory inhibition method which described in Lithuanian normative document for environmental protection (Land 45-2001): activated sludge respiratory inhibition test. In parallel saprophyte bacterial counts were determined by spread plate technique and calculated as amount of saprophyte in one litter. The results from both tests showed that the most resistance system to respiratory inhibition was BAS-A. Respirometric method is applicable for monitoring bioactivity in BAS systems.
CHANGES OF ECOLOGICAL-GEOCHEMICAL STATE OF TOPSOIL AND RIVER SEDIMENTS IN VILNIUS
Authors: Zinkute Rimante , Taraškevičius Ričardas , Radzevičius Alfredas
Published: December 2016

The changes of environmental quality were revealed according to temporal differences of additive contamination indices calculated for topsoil and sediments of N eris and V okė r ivers i n V ilnius. T opsoil contamination indices were calculated on the basis of Ag, Ba, Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Sn, V and Zn contents for 2 different periods (1985 and 1996-2002) and their comparison was realised on 237.86 sq. km territory of the first sampling. The areas, where topsoil ecological-geochemical state has worsened have been determined. Part of them with unallowable topsoil pollution level indicates the quarters, where population health risk increase is possible. Monitoring is necessary there, also health protection measures. The tendency of improvement of ecologicalgeochemical state of river sediments is observed, but potential sources of secondary pollution in sediments can be hazardous for downstream segments.
LIMESTONE - AN INERT MODEL SYSTEM OF CEMENT?
Authors: Bassioni Ghada
Published: December 2016

The adsorption of small organic anions like those of benzoate, tartrate, citrate and glutamate on Portland composite cements СЕМ II and CEM III can be influenced by the present limestone (industrial СаСОз). Therefore, the replacement of ordinary Portland cement СЕМ I is not a trivial matter, although using these materials reduces the cement production and hence the C02 emission providing the solution of an up-to date environmental problem. A systematic study is shown here by zeta potential determination on the CaC03 suspension containing the organic anions. The effect of increasing pH leas' further considered and correlated to the adsorption on CaC03 surface. The study gives an insight on the compatibility between cement and organic additives in presence of limestone that has very similar surface properties to cement.
USE OF PEATY ELIXIR ON SPRING RAPE AND POTATO SOWINGS FOR IMPROVEMENT OF PRODUCTION FERTILITY AND QUALITY
Authors: Боровко Лилия
Published: December 2016

Our research target was to investigate how the Latvian-made humin substance for harvest and production quality can influence the seed-tuber pre-sowing treatment and the sprinkle of vegetative plants of spring rape and potatoes. Using the Peaty elixir under conditions of biologic farming f o r the pre-sowing treatment of spring rapeseeds provided a remarkable increase in the seed yield 0,19-0,31 t ha ‘. The crude intent within the seeds increased, on average, to 1,01-2,26%, and crude f a t to 1,57-1,88%. Treatment of the spring rape vegetative plants resulted the increase in the seed yield to 0,37 t ha ‘, increasing the crude fat content in the seeds to 1,45%>. The treatment of seed-tubers and vegetative potato plants provided a remarkable yield increase, and increased the starch content, decreasing nitrates in the production. Most effective the Peaty elixir, however, is when used together with mineral fertilizers.
NUMERICAL MODELLING A STREAM OF NOT COMPRESSED LIQUID IN A PIPE UNDER INFLUENCE OF A VORTICAL FIELD
Authors: Buiķis Andris , Kalis Harijs , Kangro Ilmārs
Published: December 2016

The article features the system of three partial differential equations, which describes the stream stationary axial - a symmetric incompressible liquid in a pipe. The developed technique allows reduce the system of PDE to the difference equations which have been solved due to the grid method. Using computer program MAPLE different values of pressure’s difference in the following cases were calculated: a) a smooth pipe; b) the liquid is poured in inside a pipe through the reduced part o f a pipe; c) the liquid is poured in inside a pipe through a ring. The liquid’s flux modeling in a pipe is investigated at different values of parameter Re (Reynolds number), T (parameter of rotation) and A (whirlwind’s intensity). The considered technique is applicable in specific targets and processes of formation of whirlwinds, for example, a stream o f a liquid or gas in pipelines,, in automobile mufflers, etc.
ENVIRONMENTAL KUZNETS CURVES: ECONOMIC IMPLICATIONS
Authors: Ciegis Remigijus , Streimikiene Dalia , Pareigis Rimantas , Gineitiene Dalia
Published: December 2016

The results of empirical studies on Kuznets environmental curves are discussed in the article as well as economic implications of findings of these studies. The relationship of economic growth and environmental impact has spurred fierce debates between growth optimists referring to the phenomenon of the environmental Kuznets curve, and pessimists referring to the limits to growth. The article draws some hints from a critical assessment of the literature on the environmental Kuznets curve. In particular it is argued that the optimistic implications of this literature on the sustainability management are not granted. However, environmental Kuznets curves analysis allows clarification of a few basic conditions to achieve pollution reduction with economic growth. These conditions can be met by implementing a systematic and strict environmental policy strategy aimed at shifting Kuznets relations downward.
LIVING NATURE AS A SOURCE OF IDEAS FOR NEW PRODUCT SOLUTIONS
Authors: Hill Bernd
Published: December 2016

The future of enterprises depends among other things also on its rate of innovation. Particularly for the development of product ideas the innovation potential of living nature is used hardly or insufficiently during the construction process. Development teams orient themselves still too little at the evolution regularities and structure principles of biological systems. Orienting at the regularities of the evolution of biological systems as well as at the efficient principles of operation, structure and organization of living nature could supply various suggestions for new product ideas. For this reason the author of this contribution conceived a construction bionics, which helps the development engineer to use living nature systematically and purposefully as source of inspiration.
STEM CRUSHING - AN ECO-FRIENDLY WAY TO EFFECT ON FLAX DEW-RETTING
Authors: Jankauskiene Zofija , Endriukaitis Algimantas , Balčiūnas Marius
Published: December 2016

Preparation of flax raw material - retted straw - is becoming more and more problematical since the straw is prepared by way of dew-retting, because this run under the open sky and fully couldn’t be controlled, and this concludes in insufficient fibre quality. Besides of this, during the flax pulling process part of the stems is caught by the belts of the pulling combine LKV-4T and consequently is damaged (crushed). Thus fibre separation in this part of the stem usually runs more quickly and the quality of flax fibre along the stem becomes uneven. Top-part of the stem is damaged by thrashing apparatus. Furthermore, we should remember that the shape offlax stem is a cone, and dew-retting process at flax foot part takes much longer than at the top or at the strongly damaged middle part of the stem. The influence of crushing of fibre flax stems and desiccation was investigated at the Upyte Research Station of LIA in 2003. Special crushing apparatus was assembled on the flax combine LKV-4T. Desiccated with glyphosate and non-desiccated flax stems were crushed during pulling. The quality of fibre after stem crushing was higher.
ESTIMATION OF HOMOGENEITY STAGE OF BIOMASS MIXTURES
Authors: Kakitis Aivars , Nulle Imants
Published: December 2016

Components of mixtures .have to be in required proportion and homogeneous mixed to provide good quality (density, durability, and burning properties) of briquettes or pellets. For estimation of proportion of components and homogeneity several methods can be used: density o f briquettes; durability of briquettes; proportion of the components in a determined volume; visual estimation. Visual estimation is a picture analyzing when quality tests through processing of digital pictures are performed. Standard deviation of the visual estimation of area occupied by mixture component particles does not exceed 5%. Standard deviation of the distance between straw particles has good correlation with increased peat proportion. Coefficient of determination is 0.98.
THE GRAIN CROP YIELD IN DIFFERENT CROP ROTATION AND EFFICIENCY OF HERBICIDES AND FUNGICIDES TREATMENT
Authors: Lejiņš Andris , Lejiņa Biruta
Published: December 2016

Complex field experiments were carried out in Agricultural research institute in 1969. The field trials included five different crop rotation systems. In each 6-field rotation system the specific percentage of cereals (%) varied from 50 to 100%, perennial grass (clover+ timothy) - 16.7 to 33.3%. The highest winter rye yields were obtained from crop rotation systems with cereal proportion up to 66%. Including buckwheat in the crop rotation winter rye cultivation is highly productive in crop rotation systems with cereal proportion even up to 83%. Yield of winter rye in long-term monocultural sowings decreases even up to 0.74h-1. Winter ryetreatment with herbicide Grodil increases its yield up to 0.40 ha'1. Foreplants of barley according to their good influence on barley yield (descending): buckwheat, oats, winter lye. Barley yield in long-term monocultural sowings decreases for up to 1.17 t ha-1.Oats in crop rotation systems with cereal proportion up to 83% had very low yield amount alterations after different foreplants. Essential oat yield decreasement was noticed in perennial monocultural sowings. The best foreplants for spring wheat are buckwheat and lupine. The highest yield of buckwheat is get from monocultural sowings, but using potatoes as buckwheat foreplant gives essential yield decreasement. Distribution of perennial weeds, especially quickgrass, is 7,4 times more in crop rotation systems with high cereal proportion than in systems where also buckwheat and potatoes are cultivated. Treatment of herbicides and fungicides is more effective in monocultural sowings than in crop rotational systems, however increasement of crop yield after pesticide treatment is less remarkable than if we follow right crop rotation and choose optimal foreplants for each culture. Latest results from years 2002 to 2004 are shown in this article and are considered to be an addition to previous publications.
ECOLOGICAL EXPEDITION AS EFFECTIVE FORM OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND ECOLOGICAL EDUCATION
Authors: Matisovs Ivars
Published: December 2016

The paper deals with ecological expedition as effective form of environmental research and ecological education. Since 1997 Rēzekne Higher education institution organizes ecological expeditions for study programme “Environmental engineering” students in the Eastern Latvia region. Students realize integrated assessment of environmental quality with different methods. Article summarize experience of 10- years long period. Also show main goals and tasks of ecological expeditions, describe field research methods and cameral processing of data.
TRANSFORMATION OF URBAN LANDSCAPEIN LATGALE REGION ON CHANGE OF 20- 21 CENTURIES
Authors: Matisovs Ivars
Published: December 2016

The paper deals with transformation of urban landscape in the 2 cities and 12 towns of Latgale region on change of 20-21 centuries, in the period from 1990 to 2007. Article provides information about factors and social economics processes that have influence on urban landscape structure and quality. The paper have a look at changes of land use structure, demographical processes, urban environmental quality, dynamics of urban transportation system and intensity of construction works in the cities and towns of Latgale region. The results establish disparities between scopes and directions of urban landscape transformation among different ranks of urban settlements.
PREDICTION OF THE TECTONIC PROCESSES AT A SELECTED AREAS FOR DISPOSE RADIOACTIVE WASTE
Authors: Morozov Vladislav , Belov Sergey , Kolesnikov Ilya , Tatarinov Victor
Published: December 2016

The possibility of using deep geological formations to dispose of high-level radioactive waste (HLW) is a subject raising heated debate among scientists. In Russia, the idea of constructing HLW repository in the Niznekansky granitoid massif (NKM) in Krasnoyarsk area is widely discussed. To solve this problem we are elaborating a technology associated with time - space stability prediction of the geological environment, which is subject to geodynamic processes evolutionary effects. It is based on the prediction of isolation properties stability in a structural tectonic block of the Earth’s crust for a given time. The danger is in the possibility that the selected structural block may be broken by new tectonic faults or movements on a passive fault may be activated and thus underground water may penetrate to HLW containers.
THE ESTIMATION OF ERRORS OF AREA MODELS DESCRIBED BY THE SHAPE FUNCTIONS BY THE MEANS OF NEURAL NETWORKS
Authors: Mrowczynska Maria
Published: December 2016

The article deals with the issue of estimation of the area models errors determined on the basis of a discrete points set with the given values of space coordinates (x, y, z). The object was assumed to be described by shape functions in the form of the elliptic paraboloid and the hyperbolic paraboloid. The digital task accomplishment consisted in the statistic verification of errors of the models determined by neural networks and by the accomplishment of adjustment tasks. Modeling by the means of neural networks was carried out by the unidirectional multilayer networks with the application of gradient methods of optimalization and by Resilientback Propagation algorithm (RPROP). The obtained results were compared with the following results of approximation of the second and the third degree of polynomial, the b-spline function and the kriging’s method.
THE SURFACE MINER SUSTAINABLE TECHNOLOGY INTRODUCTION FOR OIL-SHALE MINING IN ESTONIA
Authors: Nikitin Oleg , Väli Erik , Sabanov Sergei , Pastarus Jyri-Rivaldo
Published: December 2016

The paper introduces a high-selective oil-shale mining technology and the first results of surface miner Wirtgen 2500SM tests. The technology allows to decrease oil-shale loses from 10-15% up to 5-7%. Mining process of the surface miner has a lower disturbing impact, which is topical in open pits and quarries especially in densely populated areas. The low level of dust and noise emissions and also very’ low vibration are arguments to mine oil shale with surface miner instead of drilling-blasting operations. The risk analysis for testing technology was elaborated.
BASIS OF OPTIMAL MINERAL INORGANIC WASTE PROCESSING METHODS
Authors: Noviks Gotfrīds
Published: December 2016

Inorganic waste materials are important part of total waste amount in the world and must be utilized in the best optimal way. Among the inorganic materials there are such different materials as quarry byproducts from screening, settling ponds, baghouse fines, coal fly ash, sewage sludge ash and so on. Any proposal to incorporate a waste or by product materials into technologies requires engineering evaluation. At first, it is necessary to analyze chemical composition of waste materials, then- structure and particle size distribution, chemical and physical properties. The paper presents results of analyzes and collection of chemical and structural characteristics mentioned above inorganic materials and by-products. The presented data will serve for next investigations in finding better way for their utilization.
DATA PREPROCESSING METHODS FOR INTERVAL BASED NEURAL NETWORK PREDICTION
Authors: Zorins Aleksejs
Published: December 2016

The paper examines a task of forecasting stock prices of Riga Stock exchange by the use of interval value prediction approach, which is carried out by modified Kohonen neural network learning algorithm. The data preprocessing methods are analyzed and implemented here to solve stock prices prediction task. The proposed data preprocessing methods has been experimentally tested with two types of artificial neural networks.
If I Had a Hammer: Introduction
Authors: Huynh Kim
Published: December 2016

The installation is an abstract representation of significant aspects of dominant minority relationships in Canadian history.
December is Winter
Authors: Dabydeen Cyril
Published: December 2016

Poem
Los Millennials y el consumo de café: el caso de Costa Rica. (The Millennials and coffee consumption: the case of Costa Rica)
Authors: Aguirre González Juan Antonio
Published: December 2016

Resumen

La generación Y, o millennials, parece ser clave en el futuro consumo de café. El objetivo de este estudio es conocer las razones que motivan a los millennials a consumir esta bebida. La investigación fue hecha mediante una encuesta telefónica a 1199 personas. De esta encuesta fueron segregadas 395 personas, o sea, las correspondientes a quienes se encontraban entre los 18 y 29 años de edad, es decir los millennials. Los resultados muestran que los factores que estarían determinando el consumo de café son: el género, el efecto energizante, la marca, cuánto paga y la familia; por otra parte, como fuentes de información se tiene: la televisión, las redes sociales, la radio, las revistas y la familia. Factores como el aroma y la calidad resultan importantes para los millennials, quienes parecen estar dispuestos a pagar por ellos. El efecto energizante es el segundo aspecto importante después del género, y está relacionado con la salud. El consumidor estudiado parece buscar una experiencia de consumo en lugar de una simple socialización. Cómo se puede lograr esta experiencia es el reto que enfrentará la industria en los próximos años.

 

Abstract

Generation Y seems to be key in the future consumption of coffee. The aim of the study is to determine the reasons behind their coffee consumption. The survey was done via telephone. A group of 395 surveys, composed by 18 to 29 years old interviewees, was segregated from a larger number of surveys. The results show that the most important factors in determining coffee consumption are: gender, energizing effect, brand, price paid and family; and, as sources of information, television, social networks, radio, magazines and family. Aroma and quality are also important to millennials, who are willing to pay for them. Gender is the most important factor, followed by the energizing effect. The health effect is present in a very clear fashion.

The millennial consumer seems to seek an experience rather than simple socialization, and this will become a new challenge for the coffee industry in the coming years.
Un modelo de opciones barreras para estimar las probabilidades de fracasos financieros de empresas. Barrier options model for estimate firm´s probabilities for financial distress
Authors: Milanesi Gastón S.
Published: December 2016

Resumen

Asimilar el valor del patrimonio como una opción de compra sobre los activos permitió desarrollar un conjunto de modelos dinámicos para predecir fracasos financieros empresariales. No obstante, el concepto presenta una importante debilidad: la relación directa y positiva entre valor del capital (prima) y el nivel de volatilidad del activo subyacente. El razonamiento anterior indica que a mayor riesgo de la firma mayor debe ser su valor, lo que conduce a una lógica inconsistente para estimar probabilidades de fracasos financieros. Las opciones denominadas “exóticas barreras” constituyen un modelo alternativo para predecir dificultades financieras y su estructura se ajusta mejor a la relación valor-volatilidad en las empresas. El trabajo propone un modelo de opción barrera “operativo”, ya que simplifica la estimación de las inobservables variables: valor y riesgo del activo. Primero, se desarrolló formalmente los modelos de opción de compra simple y opción barrera para valorar el patrimonio de la firma y la estimación de probabilidades de fracaso financiero. Con un caso hipotético, se propuso un ejercicio de sensibilidad sobre volatilidades y plazos. Similar ejercicio se aplicó a dos firmas de capitales argentinos con diferentes grados de endeudamiento, gracias al cual se confirmó la consistencia entre volatilidad-valor-probabilidad de fracasos financieros del modelo propuesto. Finalmente se exponen las principales conclusiones.

 

 

Abstract

Assimilation of the capital value as a call option over firm’s assets allows to develop a group of dynamic models to predict corporate financial distress. However, the concept shows an important weakness: the direct and positive relationship between the capital value (call) with the level of underlying’s volatility. This reasoning indicates that the higher the risk is, the higher the value must be for the firm, leading to a weak rationality, in particular to estimate probabilities of financial distress. The exotic barrier options make an alternative approach for predicting financial distress, and its structure fits better to the firm valuevolatility relationship. The paper proposes a “naive” barrier option model, because it simplifies the estimation of the unobservable variables, like firm asset’s value and risk. First, a simple call and barrier option models are developed in order to value the firm’s capital and estimate the financial distress probability. Using an hypothetical case, it is proposed a sensibility exercise over period and volatility. Similar exercise is applied to estimate the capital value and financial distress probability over two firms of Argentinian capitals, with different leverage degree, confirming the consistency in the relationship between volatility-value-financial distress probability of the proposed model. Finally, the main conclusions are shown.
Selección teórica de adsorbentes potenciales naturales de bajo costo para la remoción de arsénico en el agua de consumo humano en Costa Rica
Authors: Acuña-Piedra Andrea , Araya-Obando Andrés , Romero-Esquivel Luis G.
Published: December 2016

El arsénico presente en agua puede llegar a causar serios problemas en la salud de los consumidores. En Costa Rica, se han identificado aguas de consumo humano con concentraciones mayores al límite permitido (10 µg/L). La adsorción del arsénico por un material adsorbente ha sido utilizada en otros países con éxito. Para ello, se han utilizado gran variedad de materiales adsorbentes sintéticos, naturales o subproductos de procesos industriales o agrícolas. Los adsorbentes sintéticos, por lo general, presentan alta capacidad de adsorción pero representan altos costos adquisitivos, contrariamente a los materiales naturales y de residuos de procesos que aunque tienen capacidades de adsorción menores, son más baratos y se encuentran más fácilmente. En el marco del contexto en mención, se presenta un análisis de las opciones de materiales naturales de origen local y de bajo costo adquisitivo, con un contenido relativamente alto de óxidos de hierro, aluminio y titanio, que podrían ser utilizados para remover arsénico del agua. Los materiales identificados son biotita, piedra caliza, diatomita, arenas ricas en magnetita y rocas piroclásticas de composición basáltica. Todos esos materiales son originarios de la zona de Guanacaste, afectada por la presencia de arsénico en agua.
Aplicación de la disciplina de Administración de Procesos de Negocio en la elaboración de una propuesta metodológica dirigida al Centro de Investigaciones en Computación (CIC) del Instituto Tecnológico de Costa Rica, para la prestación de servicios a organizaciones externas
Authors: Torres-Ruiz Herberth , Schmidt-Peralta Jeff
Published: December 2016

El proyecto “Propuesta de metodología para prestación de servicios del Programa GoTouch a organizaciones” tiene como objetivo la documentación de los procesos necesarios para llevar a cabo la prestación de servicios de consultoría o capacitación a clientes externos, como parte de un programa de investigación dentro del Instituto Tecnológico de Costa Rica (TEC).

En otras palabras, el objetivo de la propuesta es el de sistematizar la prestación de los servicios para favorecer la generación de ingresos que serán reinvertidos para el desarrollo y crecimiento del programa, así como la compra de equipo y activos que son necesarios para las investigaciones que se realizan.

La propuesta de metodología consiste en la descripción detallada y el modelado de los procesos necesarios para la ejecución de los servicios por medio de dos fundaciones, FUNDATEC y FUNCENAT, encargadas del manejo administrativo y financiero de los proyectos, lo cual permitirá que los profesores se concentren en las actividades académicas y de investigación-extensión. 

Para el desarrollo del proyecto, se aplicó la disciplina de Gestión de Procesos de Negocio, pues en esta se trabajan los procesos integrados en una estructura, lo cual permite optimizarlos y alcanzar mayores niveles de productividad, eficacia y eficiencia.

Dentro de la metodología de investigación, lo primero que se hizo fue entender bien el contexto de la ejecución y los pasos necesarios. Luego, se  describieron  los procesos actuales; se elaboró un diagrama en notación propia de la Administración de  Procesos de Negocio (BPMN por sus siglas en inglés), y se identificaron las oportunidades en cada actividad por medio de un método de optimización que consiste en cuestionarse para cada actividad la necesidad de que se ejecute, el lugar, el tiempo, el encargado, y el método empleado.

Posteriormente, se realizó el diagramado del proceso que permitirá implementar las mejoras identificadas, detallando cómo debe ser este y las recomendaciones para cubrir las deficiencias encontradas en el proceso actual.

Aún queda pendiente la implementación de las mejoras identificadas, así como la utilización de indicadores para evaluar la ejecución de los procesos optimizados.
Redes de Turismo Rural Comunitario: La experiencia de Argentina y Costa Rica
Authors: Murillo-Soto Valeria
Published: December 2016

En este artículo se presenta parte de los resultados de una investigación que se realizó a finales del año 2014, la cual tuvo como objetivo determinar la vinculación existente entre emprendedores en el área de Turismo Rural Comunitario (TRC) y las Organizaciones de Base Comunitaria (OBC) que los apoyan. De estas organizaciones se seleccionaron dos para el estudio: la Alianza de Turismo Alternativo (ACTUAR), de Costa Rica, y la Red Argentina de Turismo Rural Comunitario (RATURC), de Argentina. Esta se determinó por medio de una encuesta realizada a emprendedores pertenecientes a las dos redes de apoyo mencionadas, empleando variables demográficas, datos generales del emprendimiento, la comercialización y la comunicación entre redes y afiliados. 

Los resultados indicaron, para ambos casos, que los emprendedores perciben a las redes como facilitadores de herramientas para mejorar su desempeño. En el caso de Argentina, el apoyo del Estado y la vinculación con él son más evidentes que en Costa Rica. Por otra parte, probaron que existe personal capacitado para la atención de turistas en ambos casos.
New Method of Environmental Assessment and Monitoring of Cu, Zn, As, and Pb Pollution in Surface Soil Using Terricolous Fruticose Lichens
Authors: Sueoka Yuri , Sakakibara Masayuki , Sano Sakae , Yamamoto Yoshikazu
Published: December 2016

Levels of trace element pollution in surface soil can be estimated using soil analyses and leaching tests. These methods may reveal different results due to the effect of soil properties such as grain size and mineral composition on elemental availability. Therefore, this study advocates an alternative method for monitoring and assessment of trace element pollution in surface soil using terricolous fruticose lichens. Lichens growing at abandoned mine sites and unpolluted areas in Southwest Japan and their substrata were analyzed using inductively-coupled plasma-mass spectrometry and X-ray fluorescence spectrometry to clarify the relationships between Cu, Zn, As, and Pb concentrations in lichens and soils, including their absorption properties. Concentrations of these elements in the lichens were positively correlated with those in the soils regardless of lichen species, location, habitat, or conditions of soils. The analyzed lichens had neither competitive nor antagonistic properties in their elemental absorption, which made them good biomonitors of trace element pollution in surface soil. The distribution maps of average Cu, Zn, As, and Pb concentrations at each sampling region detected almost all of the Cu, Zn, and As pollution of the soils. Therefore, lichens could be used in practical applications to monitor Cu, Zn, and As pollution in soils.
Improving Hydro-Climatic Projections with Bias-Correction in Sahelian Niger Basin
Authors: Oyerinde Ganiyu Titilope , Hountondji Fabien C.C. , Lawin Agnide E. , Odofin Ayo J. , Afouda Abel , Diekkrueger Bernd
Published: December 2016

Climate simulations in West Africa have been attributed with large uncertainties. Global climate projections are not consistent with changes in observations at the regional or local level of the Niger basin, making management of hydrological projects in the basin uncertain. This study evaluates the potential of using the quantile mapping bias correction to improve the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP5) outputs for use in hydrology impact studies. Rainfall and temperature projections from 8 CMIP5 Global Climate Models (GCM) were bias corrected using the quantile mapping approach. Impacts of climate change was evaluated with bias corrected rainfall, temperature and potential evapotranspiration (PET). The IHACRES hydrological model was adapted to the Niger basin and used to simulate impacts of climate change on discharge under present and future conditions. Bias correction significantly improved the accuracy of rainfall and temperature simulations compared to observations. Nash coefficient (NSE) for monthly rainfall comparisons of 8 GCMs to the observed was improved by bias correction from 0.69 to 0.84. The standard deviations among the 8 GCM rainfall data were significantly reduced from 0.13 to 0.03. Increasing rainfall, temperature, PET and river discharge were projected for all GCMs used in this study under the RCP8.5 scenario. These results will help improving projections and contribute to the development of sustainable climate change adaptation strategies.
Chemical Fingerprint Analysis and Quantitative Analysis of Rosa Rugosa by UPLC-DAD
Authors: Mansur Sanawar , Abdullab Rahima , Ayubicb Amatjan , Aisa Haji Akbar
Published: December 2016

A method based on ultra performance liquid chromatography with diode array detector (UPLC-DAD) was developed for quantitative analysis of five active compounds and chemical fingerprint analysis of Rosa rugosa. Ten batches of Rosa rugosa collected from different plantations in the Xinjiang region of China were used to establish the fingerprint. The feasibility and advantages of the used UPLC fingerprint were verified for its similarity evaluation by systematically comparing chromatograms with professional analytical software recommended by State Food and Drug Administration (SFDA) of China. In quantitative analysis, the five compounds showed good regression (R2=0.999 5) within the test ranges and the recovery of the method was in the range of 94.2–103.8%. The similarities of the fingerprints of 10 batches of the samples were more than 0.981. The developed UPLC fingerprint method is simple, reliable and validated for the quality control and identification of Rosa rugosa. Additionally, simultaneous quantification of five major bioactive ingredients in the Rosa rugosa samples was conducted to interpret the consistency of the quality test. The results indicated that the UPLC fingerprint as a characteristic distinguishing method combining similarity evaluation and quantification analysis, can be successfully used to assess the quality and to identify the authenticity of Rosa rugosa.
A Review on Phytochemistry and Pharmacology of Cortex Periplocae
Authors: Li Yang , Li Jin , Zhou Kun , He Jun , Cao Jun , An Ming-Rui , Chang Yan-Xu
Published: December 2016

Cortex Periplocae, as a traditional Chinese herbal medicine, has been widely used for autoimmune diseases, especially rheumatoid arthritis. Due to its potential pharmaceutical values, more studies about the biological activities of Cortex Periplocae have been conducted recently. Meanwhile, the adverse reaction of Cortex Periplocae is not a negligible problem in clinic. In this article, we reviewed a series of articles and summarized the recent studies of Cortex Periplocae in the areas of phytochemistry and pharmacology. More than 100 constituents have been isolated and identified from Cortex Periplocae, including steroids, cardiac glycosides, terpenoids, and fatty acid compounds. The crude extracts of Cortex Periplocae and its active compounds exhibit various biological activities, such as cardiotonic effect, anticancer action, and anti-inflammatory effect. This paper aims to provide an overall review on the bioactive ingredients, pharmacological effect, and toxicity of this plant. Furthermore, this review suggests investigating and developing new clinical usages according to the above pharmacological effects.
Islam Nusantara: A Middle Way?
Authors: Nurhisam Luqman , Huda Mualimul
Published: December 2016

Islam Nusantara is not a new thing. The word "Islam" combined with "Nusantara" is not only confirmed the name, but also the characters to show the pattern of a heterogeneous entity. The concept of Islam Nusantara face (vis a vis) with Islam in the Middle East (Islam Arab). Diversity as a typology of Islam Nusantara is the result of the struggle that the length between religion and dimensions of life (social, economic, politic, culture and etc.), the text of the context that complement one another so that spawn Islam friendly, peaceful, anti-radical, harmony and rahmatan lil 'alamin. Departing from the historical and epistemological approach, this article tries to provide a long discourse that was raised again in the "Declaration of Nahdlatul Ulama" at the International Conference of Islamic Leaders Moderate (ISOMIL) which took place from 9 to 11 May in Jakarta. The purpose of writing this article is actually also want to answer the issues pointed out that Islam Nusantara models reflect the teachings of Islam are not singular.
MULTICULTURAL EDUCATION IN THE DIVERSITY OF NATIONAL CULTURES
Authors: Miftah Muhammad
Published: December 2016

This article tries to explain about the importance of tolerance, respecting the diversities among the society by multicultural education. The diversity of national culture will be lost by the time goes by if it is not supported by Indonesian human resource ability in maintaining and conserving the existing culture. Multicultural education is kawah candradimuka in maintaining the plural cultures to avoid the conflict leading to dispute and split of united Nation of Indonesian Republic (NKRI).
ISLAMIC EDUCATION OF CHILDREN WITH PARENTS AS INDONESIAN MIGRANT WORKERS (Case Study in Karangwotan Village, Pati, Central Java)
Authors: Suciati Suciati
Published: December 2016

Many parents who decided to work abroad as International migrant workers. They work for financial fulfilment. On the other hand, their children do not get more attention from them because the children are usually left by father/mother or both of them to work abroad and the children are at home just with their mothers or grandparents. This qualitative research was conducted in Karangwotan village, Pati, Central Java. The data showed three result: (1) problems faced by the children with parents as immigrant in getting Islamic education are that they do not have the real model in the family and there was no father/mother or both of them who teach and educate in the family; (2) there is just little parents’ influence to children’s islamic education. It is just such kind of order, suggestion and advice; and (3) for getting the islamic education,  the children with parents as immigrant workers join several islamic programs. They are Taman Pendidikan Qur’an (TPQ) or Program of Qur’an Education, Madrasah Ibtidaiyyah or Islamic Elementary School, and the islamic courses.
Knowledge of Playing-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders Among Classical Piano Students at Tertiary Institutions in Malaysia
Authors: Ling Chia-Ying , Loo Fung-Chiat , Hamedon Titi Rahmawati
Published: December 2016

Performance injuries among musicians have been widely discussed for decades. However, despite the growing number of classical pianists, this is still a new issue in Malaysia. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the level of knowledge of playing-related musculoskeletal disorders
(PRMDs) among tertiary music students in Malaysia. A survey was conducted among classical piano students at tertiary institutions of Kuala Lumpur and Selangor. Out of 192 respondents, 76% knew that piano playing can cause PRMDs. Slightly over three-quarters of respondents (77.1%) learned about
PRMDs from music educators. The survey revealed that the belief in “no pain, no gain” was still ingrained in their minds, as 50.5% respondents believed that pain experienced while playing the piano was normal and 51.6% of them considered that pain must be experienced to improve
their piano skill. The respondents were also scored on questions on terminologies of pianist injury and specific PRMD examples: 7.8% of respondents scored high in the questions on the general terminology, while 99.5% of them scored low in the questions on the specific examples of PRMDs. This
finding indicated a lack of knowledge of specific musicians’ injuries among classical piano students. The attitudes to pain and the level of understanding of the significance of potential injuries indicate that increasing PRMD awareness and introducing courses on PRMD prevention at tertiary
institutions are warranted.