bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Simple, Transparent, and Less Burdensome: Re-Envisioning Core Assessment at a Regional Public University
Authors: Colson Tori , Berg Bartell , Hunt Tamara , Mitchell Zane
Published: November 2018

This article discusses how a faculty-driven process utilized the mantra of “simple, transparent, and less burdensome” to reform assessment at a regional Midwestern university. We detail how an assessment task force transformed an unwieldy, cumbersome, and disjointed assessment scheme into a systematic, specific, and actionable assessment plan that also began to cultivate a culture of assessment that focuses on improving student learning instead of assessment focused on compliance, that is, meeting accreditation requirements.
The Truth Is Terrible
Authors: Leiter Brian
Published: November 2018

The “terrible” existential truths about the human situation raise Schopenhauer's question: why continue living at all? Nietzsche's answer is that only viewed in terms of aesthetic values can life itself be “justified” (where “justification” really means restoring an affective attachment to life). But how could the fact that life exemplifies aesthetic value restore our attachment to life in the face of these terrible existential truths? I suggest that there are two keys to understanding Nietzsche's answer: first, his assimilation of aesthetic pleasure to a kind of sublimated sexual pleasure; and second, his psychological thesis that powerful affects neutralize pain, and thus can “seduce” the sufferer back to life. Life can supply the requisite kind of aesthetic pleasure only if it features what I call the “spectacle of genius,” the spectacle represented by the likes of Beethoven, Goethe, and Napoleon. Since such geniuses are not possible in a culture dominated by “morality” (in Nietzsche's pejorative sense), the critique of morality is essential to the restoration of an affective attachment to life.
Nietzsche on Loneliness, Self-Transformation, and the Eternal Recurrence
Authors: Remhof Justin
Published: November 2018

Nietzsche's presentation of the eternal recurrence in Gay Science 341 is often viewed as a practical thought experiment meant to radically transform us. But exactly why and how we are supposed to be transformed is not clear. I contend that addressing these issues requires taking a close look at the psychological setting of the passage. The eternal recurrence is presented in our “loneliest loneliness.” I argue that facing the eternal recurrence from a state of profound loneliness both motivates self-transformation and contributes toward helping us succeed at that project.
Why (and How) We Read Nietzsche
Authors: Huddleston Andrew
Published: November 2018

This essay is one of ten contributions to a special editorial feature in The Journal of Nietzsche Studies 49.2 (Autumn 2018), in which authors were invited to address the following questions: What is the future of Nietzsche studies? What are the most pressing questions its scholars should address? What texts and issues demand our urgent attention? And as we turn to these issues, what methodological and interpretive principles should guide us? The editorship hopes this collection will provide a starting point for discussions about the most fruitful directions for Nietzsche scholarship to take and the most promising avenues for building on the best recent work.
More Modesty, Less Charity
Authors: Janaway Christopher
Published: November 2018

This essay is one of ten contributions to a special editorial feature in The Journal of Nietzsche Studies 49.2 (Autumn 2018), in which authors were invited to address the following questions: What is the future of Nietzsche studies? What are the most pressing questions its scholars should address? What texts and issues demand our urgent attention? And as we turn to these issues, what methodological and interpretive principles should guide us? The editorship hopes this collection will provide a starting point for discussions about the most fruitful directions for Nietzsche scholarship to take and the most promising avenues for building on the best recent work.
Short communication: Use of a new form of protected sodium butyrate to control Salmonella infection in fattening pigs
Authors: Casanova-Higes Alejandro , Andrés-Barranco Sara , Mainar Jaime Raúl C.
Published: November 2018

A field trial on a commercial pig farm was carried out to assess the efficacy of the addition in the diet of fattening pigs of a new form of sodium butyrate protected with a sodium salt of coconut fatty acid distillate (3 kg/ton of feed) to control Salmonella spp. infection. Around 50 pigs were assigned to treatment group and 50 kept as controls. During the fattening period pigs were monthly sampled (serum and feces), and after slaughter fecal and mesenteric lymph nodes samples were collected. No differences in the proportion of shedders were observed between the sodium butyrate and the control groups, but a significant reduction in the number of infected pigs (61% vs. 4%; p<0.01) and in the median ELISA Optical Density percentage values (55.9% vs. 19.4%; p<0.01) at slaughter was observed in pigs under treatment compared to the controls. In addition, an overall significant association between seropositivity and Salmonella shedding and infection was detected. Results from this study add more evidences on the positive effect of butyrate on the control of pig salmonellosis.
Vector Analysis and Optimal Control for the Voltage Regulation of a Weak Power System with Wind Energy and Power Electronics
Authors: Schinas Nick
Published: November 2018

This paper deals with the voltage regulation in a weak system which contains large inductive loads and wind turbines using Doubly Fed Induction Generators (FDIGs). The DFIGs demand large amounts of reactive power from the grid and as a result, there is a voltage drop in the system which may be extra deteriorated if large inductive loads and motors are also present in the same line.  The problem of the voltage regulation in these cases is treated with the installation of a Static Var Compensator (SVC) besides the capability of the DFIGs to partially regulate the voltage themselves. In this paper, new modeling procedures based on optimal control are developed for the design of the SVC controller and a novel strategy for the grid side converter of the DFIG is presented. The nonlinear system is simulated in the SIMULINK software so that the performance of the new controllers is validated. 
The Physical Nature of Velocity
Authors: Li Zhonggang
Published: November 2018

Matter and energy are made up of the same basic particles. Why, then, is there a significant difference between matter and energy? This is because their basic particle compositions differ. The basic particle is the basic unit of mass and energy. Mass and energy conservations are essentially basic particle conversions. The basic particle is a vector, moving at the maximum velocity of the universe; however, after a substance tangibly solidifies, this velocity becomes zero. The velocity of a moving object is, thus, the ratio between the basic particles contributing to energy and those contributing to mass, and the direction of its velocity is determined by the basic particle directions. Electrons, photons, neutrons, protons, neutrinos, and other microscopic particles consist of basic particles. The total mass of a moving body increases with increasing velocity. This added mass is composed of basic particles provided by an external system. As relativity is a mathematical model, its equations may satisfy mathematical principles even though some of them may not represent objective physical facts; instead, these may simply be mathematical solutions without physical meanings.
Analyzing the Preparation and Properties of Silver Nanoparticles; A Photo-Acoustic Study
Authors: Aldosari F. M. , Azzeer A. M. , Hassib A. M.
Published: November 2018

Metal nanoparticles have garnered recent attention due to their potential for use in various mechanical, electrical, chemical and optical applications. This study aimed to investigate the synthesis of silver nanoparticles using pulsed photo-acoustic (PA) spectroscopy techniques. The results indicated a linear relationship between absorbance and concentration. Additionally, stability of silver colloids was seen at room temperatures, with no aggregation. The nanoparticles were spherical and between 2-40 nm in diameter. Nanoparticle size and PA signal were inversely proportional. Furthermore, lack of nanoparticle stability was found to weaken the PA signal. Lastly, nanoparticle absorption was inversely proportional to fluorescence. Further studies are needed for exploring the rationale in the relationship between fluorescence and absorption of the nanoparticles.
Low Resolution Rotational Spectra of Phenol
Authors: Qajar Ch. O. , Kazymova S. B. , Menzeleyev M. R. , Gasanova A. S.
Published: November 2018

The modeling of low-resolution (LR) microwave spectra of phenol C6H5OH molecule has been provided in the frequency regions of 0-700 GHz basing on high-resolution (HR) microwave spectral data. The frequency ranges of most intensive absorption level of low-resolution microwave spectra determined. The most intensive spectral lines forming spectra extremums are developed. The recommendations related to perspectives of practical use of achieved results are given.
Kepler´s Ellipse Observed from Newton´s Evolute (1687), Horrebow´s Circle (1717), Hamilton´s Pedal Curve (1847), and Two Contrapedal Curves (28.10.2018)
Authors: Stavek Jiri
Published: November 2018

Johannes Kepler discovered the very elegant elliptical path of planets with the Sun in one focus of that ellipse in 1605. Kepler inspired generations of researchers to study properties hidden in those elliptical paths. The visible elliptical paths belong to the Aristotelian World. On the other side there are invisible mathematical objects in the Plato´s Realm that might describe the mechanism behind those elliptical paths. One such curve belonging to the Plato´s Realm discovered Isaac Newton in 1687 - the locus of radii of curvature of that ellipse (the evolute of the ellipse). Are there more curves in the Plato´s Realm that could reveal to us additional information about Kepler´s ellipse? W.R. Hamilton in 1847 discovered the hodograph of the Kepler´s ellipse using the pedal curve with pedal points in both foci (the auxiliary circle of that ellipse). This hodograph depicts the moment of the tangent momentum of orbiting planets. Inspired by the hodograph model we propose newly to use two contrapedal curves of the Kepler´s ellipse with contrapedal points in both the Kepler´s occupied and Ptolemy´s empty foci. Observers travelling along those contrapedal curves might bring new valuable experimental data about the orbital angular velocity of planets and a new version of the Kepler´s area law. Based on these contrapedal curves we have defined the moment of the normal momentum. The first derivation of the moment of the normal momentum reveals the torque of the ellipse. This torque of ellipse should contribute to the precession of the Kepler´s ellipse. In the Library of forgotten works of Old Masters we have re-discovered the Horrebow´s circle (1717) and the Colwell´s anomaly H (1993) that might serve as an intermediate step in the solving of the Kepler´s Equation (KE). Have we found the Arriadne´s Thread leading out of the Labyrinth or are we still lost in the Labyrinth?
Reviewer Acknowledgements for English Language Teaching Vol 11 No 12
Authors: Yu Gavin
Published: November 2018

Reviewer acknowledgements for English Language Teaching, Vol. 11, No. 12, 2018
Carbon and Nitrogen Dynamics of Soil Organic Matter Fractions in Thickets and Intergrowth Areas of Sudanian Savannah Grasslands, Bondoukuy, Western Burkina Faso
Authors: YONI Moise , SAKO Aboubakar , ABBADIE Luc , SERPANTIE Georges
Published: November 2018

Soil organic carbon (SOC) and total nitrogen (TN) play a central role in physico-chemical fertility of a soil, and thus promoting agricultural productivity. Yet little is known about SOC and TN dynamics in tropical ferruginous soils of Sub-Saharan Africa. In this study, thicket and intergrowth soil samples, under both cultivation and perennial grass fallow (Andropogon gayanus), were collected in Bondoukuy, western Burkina Faso. The samples were fractionated and their SOC and TN contents in six organo-mineral fractions were analyzed. Because of the high labile organic matter pools in coarse sand fractions, SOC (~630 µg C g –1 soil) associated with these fractions appeared to be more accessible to soil microbes than recalcitrant and occluded pools (~440 µg C g –1 soil) within the fine fractions of the fallow soils. The results also indicated that clay fractions are likely to represent a source of the available nitrogen to crop following long fallow periods (~20 years). In contrast, the differences in TN contents were not significant (p>0.05) between ploughed plots and young fallow lands (~10 years). The substantial decrease in C/N ratios from coarse particulate organic matter pools (C/N=68) to fine pools (C/N=10) suggested an increase in the SOC decomposition rate in the fine fractions. This indicates a substantial decrease in microbial activities following a reduction in particulate organic matter sizes. The SOC contents were relatively high in coarse (~930 µg C g –1 soil) fractions of the thicket soils compared to those of the adjacent intergrowth soils (~620 µg C g –1 soil). A similar SOC distribution pattern was also observed in fine fractions of the thicket and the intergrowth soils. Total nitrogen also exhibited a high distribution pattern in fine sand and very fine sand fractions. The findings of this study demonstrated that SOC and TN restoration in semi-arid tropical savannah soils is a function of particulate organic matter sizes, vegetation type and soil management practices.
Extreme Temperature Events and Rice Production in Bangladesh
Authors: Maniruzzaman M , Biswas J C , Hossain M B , Haque M M , Naher U A , Kalra N
Published: November 2018

The extreme climatic events are increasing because of climate change impacts and thus likely to influence global agricultural production. Regional assessments on various abiotic factors and its influences on biological entities in diverse geographic locations are needed for understanding uncertainties. Rice grain yields and daily temperature data from 1971–2015 were used to quantify extreme temperature events in different regions of Bangladesh and their impacts on rice yields growing in three seasons of Bangladesh. The regional averaged trends in temperature extremes were consistent with global warming. The occurrence summer days (SU), tropical nights (TR), warm days (TX90), and nights (TN90) and a warm spell duration indicator (WSDI) increased by 0.388 (P0.00001), 0.103 (P0.19), 0.520 (P0.00000), 0.269 (P0.0004), 0.147 (P0.0001), days yr-1, respectively. The frequencies of cold days (TX10) and nights (TN10), and cold spell duration indicator (CSDI) showed decreasing trends of −0.143 (P0.0006), −0.254 (P0.001), and −0.04 (P0.227) day yr-1, respectively. Sharp increases of TR and TN90 indices took place in 1985–2000. Principal component analysis showed that SU, TX90, TN90, WSDI, TX10, TN10 and diurnal temperature range (DTR) were the main influencing factors for seasonal variations in rice yield. Warm and cold nights played a vital role in reducing rice yields. It can be concluded that extreme temperature events will be increased in Bangladesh and thus necessitating heat and cold tolerant rice varieties with appropriate management options for sustained future rice production in Bangladesh.
The Impact of Metacognitive Strategies on Jordanian EFL Learners’ Writing Performance
Authors: Al-Jarrah Tamer Mohammad , Mansor Noraien , Rashid Radzuwan Ab
Published: November 2018

One of the most challenging aspects of foreign language learning is writing. Writing is the most demanding and complicated aspect of language system. Writing requires the collective effort of orthographic, graphomotor and other linguistic skills with the inclusion of semantics, syntax, spelling, and writing conventions without being restricted to the aforementioned skills. The Improvement of cognitive psychology, metacognition has drawn the focus of an increasing number of researchers’ and paved way for recent dimensions on EFL writing, particularly in the aspect of writing achievement. Due to the fact that the method possesses a highly-placed executive aptness which comprises of formulation, supervision, and assessment, this study attempts to investigate the influence of using metacognitive strategies on Jordanian EFL learners' writing performance. Forty four students were randomly selected from secondary school level to partake in experimental control of the study. The researcher made use of the intervention program based on CALLA model of teaching in classroom. The experimental group (EG) received metacognitive strategies-based writing instruction whereas the control group (CG) received only the routine writing instruction (Product Approach). After five weeks of instruction, both groups were post-tested and at the end of program which lasted for twelve weeks, the students carried out another post-test. Data were submitted to the independent Mann-Whitney U test followed by Wilcoxon Signed-Rank test analysis. The results showed that there was a positive effect in the experimental group's writing performance. The findings of this study have implications for pedagogy as well as for future research.
Reviewer acknowledgements for International Journal of English Linguistics, Vol. 8, No. 7
Authors: Xu Diana
Published: November 2018

Reviewer acknowledgements for International Journal of English Linguistics, Vol. 8, No. 7, Special Issue, 2018. 
Pilot Study on the Relationship of Test Anxiety to Utilizing Self-Testing in Self-Regulated Learning
Authors: Weissgerber Sophia C. , Reinhard Marc-André
Published: November 2018

Whether or not test-anxious students leverage the power of testing as potent learning tool is unclear. In a pilot study we investigated the relation of test anxiety to the utilization of testing activities and academic performance in self-regulated learning. We hypothesized that increased cognitive test anxiety would relate to less self-reported use of self-testing in favor of repetition strategies, and thus relate in turn to lower self-reported exam grades. To examine this idea, we created a scale contrasting self-testing and repetition strategies, which showed sufficient preliminary reliability and validity. The findings support our notion with respect to the cognitive interference component of test anxiety: More interference was associated with less self-testing, and the link of interference with exam grades was fully mediated by the reported degree of self-testing. Although our findings are preliminary and limited in generalizability due to small sample size and lack of factor analysis of the created scale, the results hint at one potential reason why test-anxious students may underperform. Consequently, educators might motivate their test-anxious students to rely more on effective study approaches.
Reviewer Acknowledgements for Journal of Education and Learning, Vol. 7, No. 6
Authors: Lin Grace
Published: November 2018

Reviewer Acknowledgements for Journal of Education and Learning, Vol. 7, No. 6, 2018
Galectin Secretion and Modulation in Sheep Blood
Authors: Osei Bertha , Worku Mulumebet , Adjei-Fremah Sarah , Asiamah Emmanuel , Ekwemalor Kingsley , Eluka-Okoludoh Eboghoye , Mulakala Bharath
Published: November 2018

Galectins (GAL) are β-galactoside binding proteins that can modulate both pregnancy and the response to pathogens. Increased susceptibility to infection by pathogens is linked to periparturient immune suppression and a periparturient rise (PPR) in parasite eggs on pasture. The possible role of GAL in periparturient immune relaxation and PRR needs definition.  The objective of this study was to evaluate galectin secretion and its relationship to measures of the immune relaxation and PRR in periparturient sheep. Samples were collected from pregnant St. Croix sheep (n=6) weekly at days -21 to + 21 relative to lambing. Fecal samples were collected and evaluated for strongyle and coccidia parasite eggs. The concentration of IgA and IgE coproantibodies, total microbial DNA, Bifidobacteria and Lactobacillus levels in fecal samples were used as indicators of gut health.  Blood samples were collected by jugular venipuncture and assessed for Packed Cell Volume (PCV), total and differential white blood cell counts. Total protein concentrations and protein profile were evaluated in serum. Secretion of GAL 1, 3, 9 and 14 were evaluated using ELISAs. Data were analyzed by one-way ANOVA and statistical significance was declared at P <0.05. Galectins tested were secreted in sheep blood. Differential modulation of GAL secretion and correlation with periparturient immune suppression and parasite infection was observed. Galectin secretion was modulated by the periparturient period, type and status of parasite infection. This first insight into a possible role of secreted galectins in periparturient immune relaxation and PRR improves the understanding of the immune response, informs development of management programs and therapeutics and presents Galectin profiles as biomarkers with diagnostic potential.
Reviewer Acknowledgements for Journal of Mathematics Research, Vol. 10, No. 6
Authors: Wang Sophia
Published: November 2018

Journal of Mathematics Research wishes to acknowledge the following individuals for their assistance with peer review of manuscripts for this issue. Their help and contributions in maintaining the quality of the journal is greatly appreciated.

Many authors, regardless of whether Journal of Mathematics Research publishes their work, appreciate the helpful feedback provided by the reviewers.

Reviewers for Volume 10, Number 6

 

Abdessadek Saib, University of Tebessa, Algeria

Ahmed Saad Rashed, Zagazig University, Egypt

Arman Aghili, University of Guilan, Iran

Denis Khleborodov, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Russia

Gabriela Ciuperca, University Lyon 1, France

Gane Sam Lo, Universite Gaston Berger de Saint-Louis, Senegal

Gener Santiago Subia, NUeva Ecija University of Science and Technology, Philippines

Hayat REZGUI, Ecole normale Supérieure de Kouba, Algeria

Kuldeep Narain Mathur, University Utara Malaysia, Malaysia

Marek Brabec, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Czech Republic

Meltem Erden Ege, Manisa Celal Bayar University, Turkey

Mohammad Sajid, Qassim University, Saudi Arabia

Nik Mohd Asri Nik Long, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Malaysia

Philip Yordanoff Philipoff, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Bulgaria

Rami Ahmad El-Nabulsi, Athens Institute for Education and Research, Greece

Rovshan Bandaliyev, National Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan, Azerbaijan

Sanjib Kumar Datta, University of Kalyani, India

Sergiy Koshkin, University of Houston Downtown, USA

 

Sophia Wang

On behalf of,

The Editorial Board of Journal of Mathematics Research

Canadian Center of Science and Education
Legal Benefit: A Comparative Study between Legislation and Islamic Jurisprudence
Authors: Al-Khazaleh Shams El-Din Qassem
Published: November 2018

The study dealt with the legal benefit in both: the legislations, specifically the Jordanian law, and the Islamic jurisprudence through the jurisprudence magazine. The study dealt with how to deal with the legal benefit in these legislations to reach the result of a discrepancy between these legislations and Islamic jurisprudence, it concluded that what is stated in Islamic jurisprudence is the best to apply. Results also showed the following:

the Jordanian legislator did not provide for taking it into any of the unified or dual legal systems if the work is mixed, which caused a difference in the provisions of the judiciary

The texts related to interest in Jordan are texts distributed between the Ottoman Murabaha system, the law of usury, the Jordanian trade law, the law of the Central Bank of Jordan, the Jordanian civil law and the Jordanian Code of Civil Procedure.

All of the laws referred to above allow for the application of interest except the Civil Code, as article 640 states that: "If the loan contract provides an additional benefit to the contract, it is only to document the lender's right to the condition and validity of the contract", that is, the interest rate in loans is not considered.

The provisions of the special laws referred to in respect of interest are applicable, without regard to the title of either party to the contract (that is, whether a trader or a non-trader), without regard also to the transactions of the parties to the contract by commercial transactions or related to the merchant's business needs or not related to those transactions especially considering some of the provisions of these special laws acts of banks as a commercial operation of banks and their customers.
Impact of the Subject of Political Science on Students Awareness in Petra University: A Case of Jordan
Authors: Al-Amero Qasem Jameel Al-Thubetat
Published: November 2018

The study aimed at recognizing the impact of the subject of political science on students’ awareness at Petra University. There are a grip of questions raised to be answered, and a sample of the study, consisted of (131) students had been chosen. These students were registered at three sections on the commencement of the academic year 2012/2013. A questionnaire had been organized for the sake of collecting information. This questionnaire leaned on (30) items and distributed. Just 87 items were valid and analyzed. The degree of political awareness among students was high at an arithmetic mean of (3.70), added to differences with statistical significance at the degree of the impact of political awareness at students due to their view and the variable of sex, opposite to differences of the faculty variable and its grade average-GPA. In the shadow of the results, the researcher recommends for further more studies on the very subject to disseminate the subject of politics at all universities which do not have this subject in their curriculums.
International Law, Sovereignty and the Responsibility to Protect: An Overview
Authors: Botchway Thomas Prehi
Published: November 2018

This paper is an attempt at analysing the intricacies between international law, the concept of Responsibility to Protect and its implications for the sovereignty of modern states. The paper examines how the concept of responsibility to protect (as stipulated by the International Commission on Intervention and State Sovereignty (ICISS)) impacts on the sovereignty of states. It adopts the essay style of writing and reviews a number of documents on the subject of international law, sovereignty and the responsibility to protect.

The paper consequently argues that though the ICISS claims that its “purpose is not to license aggression with fine words, or to provide strong states with new rationales for doubtful strategic designs” (ICISS, 2001, p. 35), the Commission’s very attempt to exempt the permanent five and other so-called major powers from intervention does just that whether intentionally or unintentionally. It consequently recommends that much effort should be made to address the inequalities within the international system through the formulation of appropriate policies and international regulations that address the sovereign equality of states in the international system, especially on the question of intervention.
The Role of Emergency Arbitrator in Commercial Arbitration (Comparative Study)
Authors: Tubishat Bassam Mustafa , Qandah Khaldon Fawzi
Published: November 2018

This study dealt with the arbitrator of emergency in commercial arbitration and this development is the most innovative in the rules of commercial arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce in Paris in 1912, where a new trend was adopted with regard to interim and urgent measures before the final form of the arbitral tribunal. The International Chamber of Commerce has already adopted the rules of this system before the Arbitration Institute of the Stockholm Chamber of Commerce.

The emergence of new systems in commercial arbitration needs to be examined in order to understand, interpret and check its suitability to the needs of the parties to the dispute in the framework of commercial arbitration. Among the most important new systems are the rules of emergency arbitrator, which have been taken by many commercial arbitration centers because of the advantages of one or both parties when it needs urgent and incidental measures that cannot wait until the formation of the arbitral tribunal. Therefore, the appointment of an emergency arbitrator may be requested for such measures. Many of the centers have organized such rules as Stockholm Rules of Arbitration in Sweden and ICC in Paris and others.

The study concluded with a set of results, the most important of which was that the emergency arbitrator is one of the modern rules that serve commercial arbitration, which began by relying on Western legal systems not Arab laws.
Urban Gardening in Florence and Prato: How a Science Shop Project Proposed by Citizens Has Grown into a Multi-Disciplinary Research Subject
Authors: Bagnoli Franco , Baldi Ada , Bardi Ugo , Clauser Marina , Lenzi Anna , Orlandini Simone , Pacini Giovanna
Published: November 2018

Urban gardening mainly means growing edible vegetables in a town. This practice has been traditionally used for economic reasons (subsistence agriculture), but now it has also acquired educational, nutraceutical, therapeutic and social relevance. The educational aspect of urban gardening has been the subject of a proposal for the newly born Science Shop in Florence (Italy). In the spirit of action-research, in our project we first decided to involve all (or many) potentially interested people. This has brought into light the galaxy of different aspects related to urban gardening and allowed the establishing of promising research lines. We discovered that this is a multi-disciplinary subject that touches themes dealing with agriculture, botany, psychology, chemistry, city planning and politics. We examine here the various aspects of urban gardening in the towns of Florence and Prato, two very different urban environments despite their proximity.
The Study of Dynamic of Coastal Resource Community-Based Management in Wabula Village of Buton Regency
Authors: Nalefo La , Bahtiar Bahtiar , Salahuddin Salahuddin
Published: November 2018

Lesson learned on some of traditionally marine resource management had proven that full involvement and authority of traditional institutions are the key to optimum management and sustainability of the agreeable resources, despite the fact that the marine resources is an open access. On the other hand, national government initiative of more centralistic management regime and omitting the role of long existing traditional institutions had not been successful in sustaining the resources. Therefore, this research aims at finding a more adaptive and accommodative community-based maritime resource management, through qualitative approach by description 1) the dynamic of coastal management’s implementation on coastal community, 2) the execution of basic principal of coastal management-based on community, on program, and on combinations of community-based and program-based; and 3) key factors in contributing the existence of community-based and program-based coastal management.

Result show that coastal community-based management is constructed and development through continuing socio-cultural changes over time. On the other hand, the dynamic of coastal program-based management is more on the level of community’s need and sustainability of the ecosystem. Result also show that the execution of basic principal on coastal management by community is more dynamic and set up locality. The key factors influencing the existence of coastal management are based on the level of community’s authority, as well as level of community’s participation in management process. Based on the finding, this research recommended an adaptive and accommodative coastal resource management by acknowledging the coastal community capacity supported by the access and control of the government.
Carbon Footprint Based on Household Consumption: Case Study on Cocoa Farmer’s Household in Polewali Mandar
Authors: Rifai Muhamad Amin , Nuryartono Nunung , Irfany Mohammad Iqbal
Published: November 2018

Sustainable development has become an interesting issue in the 21st century. The main pillar of sustainable development is the economic sustainability, social, and environmental. Since the industrial revolution, there is a trade-off between economic growth and environment. The main environmental problem nowadays is a huge amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. This study aims to analyze the determinant of carbon footprint formation through household consumption approach, with the case of cacao farmers in Polewali Mandar. This study employed OLS and quantile regression as the method. A combined GTAP-E data, I-O, and the calculation of carbon footprint survey used in this study. The result shows that fuel light consumption and transportation are the most carbon footprint formers. Furthermore, household income determines the most carbon footprint. The higher household income, the higher carbon footprint produced. The control variables that influence the carbon footprint are marriage status, poverty level and household size.
Impact of Gliricidia Fertilizer Tree Technology on Smallholder Farmers Economic Livelihood in Malawi: Case of Kasungu District
Authors: Mgomezulu Wisdom Richard , Edriss Abdi-Khalil , Machila Kennedy
Published: November 2018

Agriculture plays a huge role in farmer’s livelihoods in Africa. With the adverse effect of climate change on agricultural productivity, developing agricultural technologies that are adaptive to climate change is one of the perquisites for agricultural development. Gliricidia intercropping is one of the climate smart agricultural innovations; that is being promoted by most researchers. Gliricidia intercropping has many benefits. Despite evidence of such benefits, there exists some missing literature on the impact of Gliricidia intercropping on farmer’s economic livelihoods. The study used cross sectional data collected by ICRAF in Kasungu district which sampled 406 households and employed a Propensity Score Matching method to analyze the effect of Gliricidia intercropping on smallholder farmer’s incomes. Results showed that among the observable factors used to match participants and non-participants, hired labour, age, education level, soil type, perception of soil fertility and access to extension services significantly affected participation in Gliricidia intercropping. The Average Treatment Effect on the Treated showed that Gliricidia intercropping improves the economic livelihoods of farmers by increasing household monthly income by MWK 38,565.83 ($54) at 1 percent significant level. The study went further to conduct sensitivity analysis using the Rosenbaum bounds, and found that unobserved heterogeneity has to increase the odds ratio of participating in Gliricidia intercropping by 10-60 percent before it can negate the estimated ATT. The study then recommends promoting the adoption of Gliricidia intercropping by capitalizing on the factors that influence participation or adoption of Gliricidia intercropping in order to improve smallholder farmers’ incomes and hence their livelihoods.
Passenger Vehicle Emissions in Indonesia: Future Projections
Authors: Pratama Abdi , Tokai Akihiro
Published: November 2018

This study examines the effect of the low-cost green car (LCGC) policy that was introduced to control emissions from passenger vehicles in Indonesia. We examine the policy’s effectiveness by estimating the level of emissions of CO, HC, NO, CO2 under two scenarios: with and without LCGCs. The affordable price of LCGCs and the strict enforcement of the vehicle purchase system led us to estimate the growth in the number of vehicles using minimum annual income as a measure of people’s ability to buy a new car. An annual income of US$4,500–$10,000 was considered to represent the people who could buy an LCGC. Annual travel distance was obtained from a survey of drivers, and the deterioration factor from the Euro 2 standard was used. The results showed that the LCGC policy will potentially cause a significant increase in emissions of CO, HC, and NO by 2030. The LCGC scenario predicted 1,389.7, 31.0, and 279.5 tons of CO, NO, and HC, respectively, compared with 670.3, 15.1, and 136.6 tons, respectively, for the scenario without LCGCs, an increase of 51.7%, 48%, and 51.2%, respectively. For amount of CO2, although LCGC policy could save more than 104,881 tons, the gap is increasing until end of projection in 2030, 3.3 times bigger between corresponding year, 49,411 tons and 14,892 tons for with and without LCGC policy, respectively.
Certified Organic Farming: Awareness of Export Oriented Small-Scale Farmers in Sri Lanka
Authors: Karalliyadda S. M. C. B. , Kazunari Tsuji
Published: November 2018

This study aimed at investigating Sri Lankan small-scale Certified organic (CO) farmers’ awareness on their adopted organic standards, the third-party certification body, internal control system, Fairtrade certification, and conditions of contracts with coordinating organizations. A cross sectional survey was conducted among a randomly selected sample of 202 CO farmers who were linked with five coordinating organizations. Primary data was collected using a structured questionnaire along with key informant discussions and field observations. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics to generate simple summaries and tendencies. According to the results, CO farmers are organized as farmer organizations that were initiated as out-grower groups of coordinating organizations. All CO farmers were unaware of the adopted organic standard. The majority were unaware of the third-party certification body (83%), and the internal control system (81.7%). This perhaps due to their exclusion in managing certification related aspects. Thus, showed submissive decision-making behavior. However, many of them were aware of Fairtrade certification (56.4%) as it provides a wide spectrum of additional benefits covering production, marketing, and farmers’ welfare. Farmers were also aware of their contracts (verbal or written) with coordinating firms (62.2%) but hardly conscious of their conditions. In some contracts, conditions were unfairly distributed among stakeholders. Therefore, the study recommends enhancing small-scale farmers knowledge not only the production aspects but also certification, quality assurance, administration, and marketing as well. Meanwhile, mediating the partnership among stakeholders by a government body is also recommended to avoid power abuses among stakeholders.
Reviewer Acknowledgements for Journal of Sustainable Development, Vol. 11, No. 6
Authors: Sun Sherry
Published: November 2018

Reviewer Acknowledgements for Journal of Sustainable Development, Vol. 11, No. 6, 2018
Developing a Methodology for Estimating Transport-Related CO2 Emissions for Food Commodities
Authors: Fresan Ujue , Harwatt Helen , Sabate Joan
Published: November 2018

There is a significant and growing interaction between the transport sector and the food sector as globalized markets continue to increase the demand for ‘food miles’ i.e. the number of miles a food item travels throughout its life cycle. The concept of ‘food miles’ has become interesting to the public and policy makers as a way to assess the relative carbon footprint of food choices. However, there is currently a lack of information available about the transport-related greenhouse gas emissions that would allow to accurately differentiate between food items. To help address these current knowledge gaps, this paper presents a transferable methodological approach to estimating the transport related CO2 emissions of 10 popular food commodities transported from the farm gate to the retailer. The methodology combines GIS, data from the scientific literature and detailed commodity specific data from personal communication with one of the largest food retailers in California. To travel from the farm gate to the retailer, the amounts of CO2 emissions varied amongst the 10 foods, ranging from 47 g CO2/kg oranges, to 78 g CO2/kg almonds. While California was used as a case study, this method would be replicable across other locations and food life cycle assessments.
Smallholder Farmers’ Responses to Scientific Early Warning on Weather in the Okavango Delta, Botswana
Authors: Kolawole Oluwatoyin Dare , Motsholapheko Moseki Ronald , Ngwenya Barbara Ntombi , Moses Ananias , Makebea Melda Nonhle , Kaisara Matshidiso Tshidi
Published: November 2018

Although formal channels of communication exist for conveying early warning scientific weather messages, it is widely believed that small-scale farmers continue to utilize traditional practices in obtaining weather information. This study identifies and assesses the factors which influence the uptake of scientific early warning weather information by small farmers in the Okavango Delta, Botswana. A descriptive-analytical design was used to study 90 farmers in Kareng and Bodibeng communities situated within the delta basin. A multi-stage sampling procedure was used to select the sample from an existing household listing. A semi-structured interview and focus group discussion (FGD) were used to elicit information from the respondents. Findings show that most farmers (68.9%) moderately utilize scientific weather information, while 16.7% had a low uptake of the messages. Nonetheless, 14.4% of farmers had a high uptake of weather information. There was significant positive correlation, at p≤0.01 confidence level, between uptake of early warning scientific weather information and educational level, age, traditionalism and fatalism. The uptake of scientific weather information or messages had a strong association with information sources such as Kgotla meetings, TV, print media, agricultural extension agents and the radio. The uptake of modern scientific weather information needs to be promoted through these modes of communication, coupled with well-resourced extension services, and in ways that may not be perceived to denigrate indigenous knowledge. Sectoral departments should collaborate in addressing existing challenges for appropriate climate response action.
Predicting Attitudes towards Protected Area Management in a Developing Country Context
Authors: Tumusiime David Mwesigye , Byakagaba Patrick , Tweheyo Mnason , Turyahabwe Nelson
Published: November 2018

Biodiversity conservation through use of protected areas relies significantly on the attitudes of local adjacent communities. Some studies suggest that attitudes are often shaped by the associated positive and negative externalities and socio-demographic and economic characteristics of local communities living adjacent to protected areas. The current study sought to identify useful predictors of local attitudes towards protected area management. It was conducted at Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda where several interventions in form of benefits to improve local people’s attitudes towards the park have been implemented for the last 30 years. The study examined the extent to which these benefits can influence local people’s attitude towards management of the Protected Area (PA). A household survey was conducted among 190 randomly selected respondents and Generalised Linear Mixed Models (GLMMs) fitted where the dependent variable was a binary “Good” or “otherwise” response to how the respondent considered own relationship with park management. Socio-economic attributes of the respondents were used as control variables. The importance of cost variables (e.g. crop raiding) was also examined. The study found that only direct and material benefits were consistent predictors of a positive attitude towards management. Non-material and indirect benefits as well as the socio-economic factors and costs did not influence the attitude of local communities towards management. It can be concluded that positive attitude towards protected area management is determined by access to direct and material benefits by local communities and not socio-economic factors or costs incurred. Interventions intended to influence local communities to have a positive attitude towards management ought to emphasize direct and material benefits.
Beschouwing rapport Commissie-Koops: strafvordering in het digitale tijdperk
Authors: Oerlemans J.J.
Published: November 2018

Beschouwing rapport Commissie-Koops: strafvordering in het digitale tijdperk

De Commissie-Koops heeft onderzocht of het conceptwetsvoorstel Boek 2 voldoende rekening houdt met het digitale tijdperk anno 2018 en in de nabije toekomst. Dit artikel is een beschouwing op het rapport van de Commissie, waarbij de aanbevelingen met betrekking tot openbronnenonderzoek en het beslag op gegevensdragers uitgebreid besproken worden. Daarnaast wordt ingegaan op het fenomenen van de ‘dataficering’ van het opsporingsproces. In het artikel wordt antwoord gegeven op de vraag welke bijdrage het rapport heeft geleverd aan de modernisering van het Wetboek van Strafvordering.
Un libro poco edificante. Historia de un niñito bueno. Historia de un niñito malo de Mark Twain
Authors: Carranza Marcela
Published: November 2018

Definitions of humour, especially black humour, are based on its transgressive power against hierarchies and the rules that organise reality. Humour questions and destabilises established orders. There are no truths, dogmas or laws that cannot be brought into question through a humorous interjection. Words that demystify, downplay and unmask those other words: the ones that claim to express unquestionable, universal truth. From the moment children's literature is produced, as it is disseminated and read, it is subjected to a series of restrictions, all of which stem from historical and cultural conceptions regarding child readers. The dubious and arbitrary nature of such restrictions is not always acknowledged and the limits imposed on children's books are often claimed to be universal and natural, and therefore defining, definitive and unquestionable. There is a children's literature, whether written specially for them or subsequently adopted by them, which undermines the principles regarding content and literary procedures that condition the production and reception of texts for children. Much of this literature relies on the irreverence of humour, especially in its most unrestrained form: black humour. One example of this literature that reflects on itself and on the connections that we, as adults, make with children through the literary word, is Mark Twain's book: The Story Of A Good Little Boy. The Story Of A Bad Little Boy.
Ajustes conversacionales para el aprendizaje de contenidos en L2
Authors: De Dios Garcia Berta
Published: November 2018

This article pursues to describe conversational adjustments among students in CLIL classes. We wonder if there is a link between the characteristics of the interactions and the learning of non-linguistic contents and, if there is, what kind of adjustments promote such learning. CLIL classes are the ideal environments to study the link between conversational adjustments and the learning of contents because, since they are not in the students’ mother tongue, conversational adjustments occur more frequently than in classes in mother tongue.