bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
BECCARIA TRA DIRITTO PENALE ED ECONOMIA PUBBLICA
Authors: Massetto Gian Paolo
Published: October 2018

Beccaria between criminal law and public economics. As Mario Romani wrote in 1966: ‘the most mature and solid part of Beccaria’s work as system builder, that is, his lectures on economia pubblica delivered between 1769 and 1772, and the empirical investigations or consulte stemming from inquiries undertaken in his capacity as a member of government bodies, was for a long time wholly or partly overlooked, or entrusted to unreliable editors, who were ready to print manuscripts the Author himself had not deemed worthy of publication’. This discomfort is no longer justified. The Elementi di economia pubblica will soon be published, while the Atti di Governo have recently appeared in print. We now know the details of Beccaria’s activity in the Supremo Consiglio d’Economia, as Head of the First and then of the Second Department, and as a member of the Consiglio di Governo. We can evaluate his contribution to both theory and practice in the fields of criminal law and economics. The aim of this essay is to assess the consistency between Beccaria’s theoretical writings and his field work, with particular reference to freedom of trade (of grains in particular), free bakery, hunting, forest and mines, the Pizzighettone prison, and the Milan house of correction.
NUOVE PROSPETTIVE NEGLI STUDI ECONOMICI SULL’ILLUMINISMO LOMBARDO
Authors: Porta Pier Luigi
Published: October 2018

New perspectives in the economic studies of the Lombard enlightenment. Since World War II there has been an increasing interest in the Italian Enlightenment. This could be partly explained as a response to the emerging need for deeper understanding of the roots of Western culture and of the civic values that had been so much shattered by the traumatic experiences of a new kind of war ravaging Europe and other parts of the world. Political Economy – that was originally called Civil Economy in eighteenth century Naples – was indeed prominent in the Italian Enlightenment, although that historical fact has only been imperfectly reflected in much of recent historiography. There is, however, a new developing line of investigation that puts Political Economy at the core of research into the Italian enlightenment. The Conference sponsored by the Istituto Lombardo Accademia di Scienze e Lettere focussed precisely on the Political Economy that featured so prominent in the theoretical contributions and policy proposals of the Lombard enlightenment. This essay mainly reflects the canon of the Schumpeterian approach to the history of economic analysis. This implies the consideration of different historical periods with the aim of bringing out those research strands that contribute to the identity of the Italian tradition of economic thought and analysis.
Idee in cerca di parole Parole in cerca di idee
Authors: Lombardo Istituto
Published: October 2018

Perché il titolo. All’opera di Maurizio Vitale l’Istituto Lombardo dedica questo secondo momento di riflessione, per ripercorrere sulle sue pagine la storia della «lingua nostra» dalle Origini alla Contemporaneità. Muovere dal Medioevo delle autonomie comunali, significa analizzare i punti di attrito e di innesto della tradizione classica nel rinnovamento della cristiana res publica d’Europa, della letteratura e della grammatica di Roma in altre grammatiche e letterature, della ricezione del lessico dell’alta e rinascente, non solo infima e corrotta, latinità nei repertori dei volgari diversamente osmotici, che davano ciascuno un suo nome a non tutte le cose e a non tutte le idee, quelle proprie alla teologia dei chierici, alla scienza degli arabi, al fervore degli uomini di governo, alla industria dei mercanti e degli artigiani, allo stile degli scrittori. La lingua formata sul canone trecentesco fiorentino, che è divenuta italiana, a partire dal secolo xvi della scrittura colta, dal Risorgimento in poi della nazione, ha difeso la propria identità nelle opere letterarie storiche e scientifiche, nelle dispute accademiche e nei ludi grammaticali, nei testi legislativi e della informazione, l’ha arricchita e corretta a confronto con le emergenti classi sociali da una parte, con il quasi generale progresso ideologico e culturale dall’altra. Continua ansiosa, forse stanca, appena oltre la soglia del suo secondo millennio, gravata dal peso di molte parole tradite, dall’esaurirsi nel vacuo delle valenze semantiche, quelle identitarie e rigenerative trasmesse al nostro oggi dai sommi poeti e dai grandi pensatori anche in altra lingua, come dal disperso popolo che le ha sapientemente reagite: a chiedere che si partecipi, con voce italiana, al dialogo ecumenico. (a. s.)
SPLICING ABNORMALITIES IN MYOTONIC DYSTROPHIES
Authors: Furling Denis
Published: October 2018

Myotonic dystrophy of type 1 (DM1) is one of the most common muscular dystrophy in adults characterized by progressive muscle wasting and weakness, myotonia, cardiac conduction defects, alteration in cognitive functions as well as several other multisystemic symptoms. DM1 is an autosomal dominant inherited disease caused by an unstable CTG expansion ranging from ~50 to more than 1,000 repeats in the 3’ non-coding region of the DMPK gene. Expression of DMPK RNAs with expanded CUG repeats supports a toxic RNA gain-of-function as a pathologic mechanism for DM1. A similar or common mechanism may also be involved in DM type 2 that is caused by CCTG expansion in the first intron of the CNP (ZNF9) gene and shares similar clinical features with DM1 disease. In both myotonic dystrophies, nuclear accumulation of pathogenic CUG/CCUGexp-RNAs alters the activities of the RNA binding proteins such as MBNL1 and CUG-BP1 that leads to alternative splicing mis-regulation of a numerous of transcripts in DM tissues and ultimately, to clinical features of the disease. An overview of the DM splicing mis-regulation will be presented, with focus on mis- regulation of the BIN1 mRNA. In muscle, BIN1 plays an important role in tubular invaginations of the plasma membrane and is required for biogenesis of T-tubules, which are specialized membrane structures essential for excitation-contraction coupling. BIN1 splicing mis-regulation in DM patients due to MBNL1 loss-of-function results in the expression of an inactive form of BIN1 deprived of phosphoinositide-binding and membrane-tubulating activities. Reproducing similar BIN1 mis-splicing defect in the muscles of wild type mice is sufficient to promote T-tubule alterations and muscle strength decrease, suggesting that alteration of BIN1 splicing may contributes to muscle weakness, a prominent feature in DM.
SALUTO
Authors: Cella Carlo Maria
Published: October 2018

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On the chromatin of the immature oocyte: from morphology to function and regulatory mechanisms mediated by follicular cells
Authors: Lodde Valentina , Modina Silvia C. , Luciano Alberto M.
Published: October 2018

In her comment entitled â€˜Nuclear histochemistry: its history in fifty volumesâ€™ (Eur J Histochem 2006; 50:79-81) Maria Gabriella Manfredi Romanini referred to â€œnuclear histochemistryâ€ as a â€œreal molecular biology in situ, applied to research on dynamic processes in the nucleus, which makes the microscopic and histochemical approach absolutely irreplaceable for the progress of our understanding of cell biologyâ€. These words perfectly exemplify the research path that is elucidating the process of remodeling of chromatin configuration within the nucleus of the mammalian oocyte. This process, which occurs towards the end of the oocyte differentiation phase before meiotic resumption, has received much attention in the last decade since it has a tremendous impact on the capability of the oocyte to generate an embryo after fertilization. The study of the oocyte chromatin by means of classical morphological and histochemical approaches has given a fundamental contribution to our understanding of oocyte biology and has paved the way to functional and mechanistic studies. Several research groups worldwide, including ours, are indeed dedicating a large amount of studies to find the relationship between morphological and functional aspects of the oocyte chromatin remodeling process, to reveal the molecular mechanisms involved, as well as to clarify the contribution of the follicular compartment. Here, we summarize some studies intended to give insight into the mechanism( s) regulating this complex process, including recent findings indicating that ovarian granulosa cells and their coupling with the oocyte through gap junctions are implicated in such a process.
Clinical outcomes of intravenous levetiracetam treatment in patients with renal impairment
Authors: Lapmag Anyamanee , Lertsinudom Sunee , Chaiyakam Aporanee , Sawanyawisuth Kittisak , Tiamkao Somsak
Published: October 2018

Intravenous levetiracetam has been approved for use as an antiepileptic drug, as well as in cases of status epilepticus. There are few reports that detail the clinical data and outcomes associated with this antiepileptic drug, particularly in patients with renal impairment. This was a retrospective analytical study conducted at Khon Kaen University’s Srinagarind Hospital in Thailand. The study period was between January 1, 2010 and December 31, 2014. The inclusion criteria were that patents were over 15 years old, had renal impairment, and had received intravenous levetiracetam treatment. The main clinical outcomes were seizure control and mortality. Clinical outcomes were compared between those with and without status epilepticus. Mortality of patients with status epilepticus were compared in terms of seizure control and order of intravenous levetiracetam treatment. During the study period, there were 247 patients who met the study criteria. The average age of the patients was 58 years with nearly equal sex distribution. Of those, 90 patients (36.4%) had GRFs of less than 15 mL/min/1.73 m2 and 60 patients (24.3%) received intravenous LEVE due to status epilepticus. The seizure control rates in the status epilepticus and non-status epilepticus groups were 36.7% and 88.7%, respectively (P<0.001). The mortality rate did not differ significantly between the two groups (33.3% vs 27.8%; P=0.418). There was no significant overall difference in mortality rate between seizure-controlled and seizure-uncontrolled patients in the status epilepticus group. In the convulsive status epilepticus group, variations in terms of treatment order of intravenous levetiracetam and seizure control resulted in no significant difference in mortality rates (P=0.311). No major side effects were detected in any patients after the intravenous levetiracetam treatment. In conclusion, intravenous levetiracetam treatment was effective and safe in patients with renal impairment.
Tables of extended distances for PKP and PcP
Authors: Hodgson J H , Allen J F J
Published: October 2018

Tables of extended distances for PKP1, PKP2 and PcP are presented, for surface focus and for focal depths ranging from 0.00R to 0.12R by steps of 0.01R. The tables are based on the Jeffreys-Bullen travel-time curves for the equivalent phases. They are consistent
with earlier tables giving extended distances for P, so that the several phases can be used in a single solution.
Tables of extended distances for PP and pP
Authors: Hodgson J H , Allen J F J
Published: October 2018

This paper is the third in a series extending Byerly's method of determining the direction of faulting in an earthquake to deep focus earthquakes and permitting the use of secondary P phases. Here tables of extended distances are presented for the reflected rays
of PP and pP, for earthquakes of all focal depths down to 0.12 R. The tables are consistent with earlier ones for P, PKP, and PcP, so that the several phases can be used in a single solution.
The semper reformanda principle under scrutiny in an African context in relation to inculturation
Authors: Duncan Graham A.
Published: October 2018

The semper reformanda [always reforming] principle has been poorly promoted by all traditions since it was conceptualised following the 16th-century Reformation. A significant problem caused by the missionary movement was the imposition of a Western-style approach to theology, liturgy and polity with little regard for the cultures that were being invaded and diminished. This article examines the hermeneutical problem in the African context, as well as the concept of and practice of inculturation, and proposes a way forward on the basis of faithfulness to the semper reformanda principle.Intradisciplinary and/or interdisciplinary implications: This article is interdisciplinary in the sense that it transcends the theological disciplines of Church History, Church Polity, Dogmatics, Practical Theology, African Theology and Missiology. The topic indicates the relevance of an interdisciplinary approach in order to produce an inclusive, integrated and well-rounded approach within the broad field of hermeneutics.
The ancestors, violence and democracy in Zimbabwe
Authors: Dube Zorodzai
Published: October 2018

Are the departed silent in their graves or do their voices influence the way we participate in politics? While in other places their voices could be less loud, it is not so in Zimbabwe. Using Terrence Ranger and Eric Hobsbawm’s theory regarding invention of traditions, this study explores the deployment of ancestral voices in Zimbabwean politics as a strategy to legitimise political power and social hierarchy. In Zimbabwe, each cycle of election is characterised by constant reminder concerning the voices of the departed, reminding the voters that their democratic exercise through elections must align with the wishes of the nation’s ancestors such as Nehanda, Kaguvi, Chamunika and Mwari – the national god. The study consists of three parts: the first part looks into the belief in ancestors, focusing on the ancestral hierarchical order; the second part explores how the spiritual world of the ancestors in terms of its hierarchy is reflected through the spatial arrangement at the village and household levels; and the last section looks into how Mugabe utilises the ideology concerning the ancestors to maintain political power.Intradisciplinary and/or interdisciplinary implications: Through use of explanatory theories in religious studies and theology, this study unpacks the complexity of theorising politics and democracy within contexts in which the spiritual (in this case, ancestors or gods) takes precedence. After dialoguing and critiquing the current and dominant theories regarding religion across the continent, the article finds Terrence Ranger and Eric Hobsbawm’s theory regarding invented traditions the most plausible perspective to explain the interaction of religious canopies and political configurations in Zimbabwe.
Benefits of Gum Arabic, for a Solitary Kidney Under Adverse Conditions: A Case Study
Authors: Dashtdar Mehrab , Kardi Karima
Published: October 2018

Gum Arabic (GA, called E-414 in the EU food industry), a natural biopolymer resin is a dried exudation obtained from the stems and branches of natural strains of Acacia Senegal (L) Willdenow. It consists mainly of high molecular weight polysaccharides and their calcium, potassium, and magnesium, which on hydrolysis yield arabinose, galactose, rhamnose, and glucuronic acid. Fermentable natural fiber of gum Arabic act as probiotics improves the absorption of minerals, especially calcium and helps to maintain a healthy balance of bacteria in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Extraction, transformation, or reprocessing of nitrogenous wastes (ammonia, urea, and uric acid) by the GI tract is a potentially low-cost means of switching for missing renal function. Binding of nitrogen compounds to be inert orally by administration of gum Arabic is the safe solution either in normal renal function or renal failures. In this study, clinically, we observed a case of solitary kidney under adverse condition long-term treating with gum Arabic the vast potential of bioactive phytochemicals as a nontoxic, efficient with uric acid and bilirubin lowering agent and anti-inflammatory effects, considering the gum Arabic as a potential therapeutic supplement, beneficial in chronic renal failure, cardiovascular disease, pain management, and dental health. Despite the nonexistent background concerning the benefits of gum Arabic, for a solitary kidney under adverse conditions, our study has confirmed that long-term consumption of gum Arabic not only has no side effect but also protects multi-organs damage from drug adverse reactions and consequences of baseline disease, including renal, vascular, dental and inflammatory diseases.
A limiting absorption principle for the Helmholtz equation with variable coefficients
Authors: Cacciafesta Federico , D'Ancona Piero , Lucà Renato
Published: October 2018

We prove a limiting absorption principle for a generalized Helmholtz equation on an exterior domain with Dirichlet boundary conditions

(L+\lambda)v=f, \quad \lambda\in \mathbb{R}

under a Sommerfeld radiation condition at infinity. The operator

L

is a second order elliptic operator with variable coefficients; the principal part is a small, long range perturbation of

-\Delta

, while lower order terms can be singular and large.

The main tool is a sharp uniform resolvent estimate, which has independent applications to the problem of embedded eigenvalues and to smoothing estimates for dispersive equations.
Visceral Leishmaniasis in the Muzaffapur Demographic Surveillance Site: A Spatiotemporal Analysis
Authors: Hasker Epco , Malaviya Paritosh , Cloots Kristien , Picado Albert , Singh Om Prakash , Kansal Sangeeta , Boelaert Marleen , Sundar Shyam
Published: October 2018

In the Indian subcontinent, visceral leishmaniasis (VL) has a strongly clustered distribution. The “index case approach” is promoted both for active case finding and indoor residual spraying (IRS). Uncertainty exists about the optimal radius. Buffer zones of 50–75 m around incident cases have been suggested for active case finding, for IRS the recommendation is to cover a radius of 500 m. Our aim was to establish optimal target areas both for IRS and for (re)active case finding. We plotted incident VL cases on a map per 6-month period (January–June or July–December) and drew buffers of 0 (same household), 50, 75, 100, 200, 300, 400, and 500 m around these cases. We then recorded total population and numbers of VL cases diagnosed over the next 6-month period in each of these buffers and beyond. We calculated incidence rate ratios (IRRs) using the population at more than 500 m from any case as reference category. There was a very strong degree of spatial clustering of VL with IRRs ranging from 45.2 (23.8–85.6) for those living in the same households to 14.6 (10.1–21.2) for those living within 75 m of a case diagnosed, during the previous period. Up to 500 m the IRR was still five times higher than that of the reference category. Our findings corroborate the rationale of screening not just household contacts but also those living within a perimeter of 50–75 m from an index case. For IRS, covering a perimeter of 500 m, appears to be a rational choice.
Dynamic changes in outlet glaciers in northern Greenland from 1948 to 2015
Authors: Hill Emily A. , Carr J. Rachel , Stokes Chris R. , Gudmundsson G. Hilmar
Published: October 2018

Abstract. The Greenland Ice Sheet (GrIS) is losing mass in response to
recent climatic and oceanic warming. Since the mid-1990s, tidewater outlet
glaciers across the ice sheet have thinned, retreated, and accelerated, but
recent changes in northern Greenland have been comparatively understudied.
Consequently, the dynamic response (i.e. changes in surface elevation and
velocity) of these outlet glaciers to changes at their termini, particularly
calving from floating ice tongues, is poorly constrained. Here we use
satellite imagery and historical maps to produce an unprecedented 68-year
record of terminus change across 18 major outlet glaciers and combine this
with previously published surface elevation and velocity datasets. Overall,
recent (1995–2015) retreat rates were higher than at any time in the
previous 47 years (since 1948). Despite increased retreat rates from the
1990s, there was distinct variability in dynamic glacier behaviour depending
on whether the terminus was grounded or floating. Grounded glaciers
accelerated and thinned in response to retreat over the last 2 decades,
while most glaciers terminating in ice tongues appeared dynamically
insensitive to recent ice tongue retreat and/or total collapse. We also
identify glacier geometry (e.g. fjord width, basal topography, and ice tongue
confinement) as an important influence on the dynamic adjustment of glaciers
to changes at their termini. Recent grounded outlet glacier retreat and ice
tongue loss across northern Greenland suggest that the region is undergoing
rapid change and could soon contribute substantially to sea level rise via
the loss of grounded ice.
Horses Changing Riders: The Prehistory of Two Allegories of Mystical Union in Shihāb al-Dīn Yaḥyā Suhrawardī and Jalāl al-Dīn Rūmī
Authors: Gösken Urs
Published: October 2018

The description of the mystical union,1 whether in Islam or other religions, has often been construed as defying expression by means of language. The reason given is that language, by its very nature, is representational and conceptual, whereas mystical union by its very nature is a human status eluding both representation and conceptualization. On the other hand, given that mystical union is considered the ultimate goal of humanity, dealing with it in religious literature also becomes inevitable, which in turn is reliant on the help of language.2 One way out of this seeming dilemma seems to be the use of allegorical speech.3 It is the meaning and the history of two allegorical expressions in Islamic philosophical and mystical literature, Arabic and Persian alike, that we will discuss in this article.
Poe’s World in Hidāyat’sThe Blind Owl
Authors: Zarei Rouhollah
Published: October 2018

This article engages two precursors of modern fiction in the United States and Iran: Edgar Allan Poe and Ṣādiq Hidāyat in light of possible influences of the former on the latter or affinities between the two. Many believe that Hidāyat, who is arguably the first modern writer in Iran, had been influenced by Western authors, including Poe. In this article I attempt to shed some new light on the matter by analyzing the massive scholarship, especially on Hidāyat. The result of this study shows that remarkable similarities in Hidāyat are not necessarily the result of being influenced by Poe, but an indication that similar mentalities find similar outlets.
Validación de un Índice Breve de Religiosidad y Espiritualidad en personas mayores
Authors: Gallardo-Peralta Lorena P. , Cuadra-Peralta Alejandro , Veloso-Besio Constanza
Published: October 2018

La religión y la espiritualidad son recursos psicosociales que promueven el bienestar y la calidad de vida en la vejez. Dado esto, el siguiente estudio tiene como propósito adaptar un Índice Breve de Religiosidad y Espiritualidad, a partir del Brief Multidimensional Measure of Religiousness/Spirituality (BMMRS), en una muestra de 750 personas mayores que residen en la región de Arica y Parinacota, Chile. Los resultados indican que este índice breve es un instrumento consistente: religiosidad ɑ = ,87 y espiritualidad ɑ = ,93. El análisis factorial confirmatorio evidencia que la solución de dos factores se ajusta a los datos procedentes de la muestra chilena. De esta manera, este índice breve cuenta con propiedades psicométricas adecuadas. Las aplicaciones prácticas de este instrumento se vinculan principalmente con la evaluación y promoción de la salud en adultos mayores.
Recursos laborales como predictores de actitud hacia el cambio organizacional y bienestar
Authors: Rodríguez Díaz Viviana Alejandra , Carvajal Araneda Karla Evelyn , Montenegro de la Barrera Natalia Lourdes
Published: October 2018

Este estudio investigó el rol de recursos personales y contextuales como predictores de la actitud y el bienestar laboral del trabajador en contexto de cambio organizacional. Se hipotetizó que elevados niveles de creación de significado, autoeficacia, percepción de calidad de las comunicaciones y justicia organizacional, se asociarían a: una actitud favorable hacia el cambio organizacional, mayor bienestar psicosocial (integrado por afectos, competencias y expectativas), y bajos efectos colaterales (integrados por somatización, desgaste y alienación). Participaron 158 trabajadores pertenecientes a una institución pública de Chile, en proceso de relocalización y cambio de estructura organizacional, quienes contestaron un cuestionario de autorreporte. Los análisis se efectuaron mediante correlaciones bivariadas y regresión lineal múltiple. Los resultados indicaron que percepción de calidad de las comunicaciones y creación de significado predicen, significativamente, una actitud favorable ante el cambio. Autoeficacia, creación de significado, justifica interpersonal, procedural y distributiva, predicen un mayor bienestar psicosocial. Justicia interpersonal y distributiva predicen bajos efectos colaterales. Estos resultados contribuyen al diseño de intervenciones, dirigidas a mejorar el bienestar del trabajador y su actitud ante el cambio organizacional.
Efecto de la recuperación como modalidad de estudio en estudiantes universitarios
Authors: Pineida Alfredo , Durán Catalina , Leiva-Bianchi Marcelo , Moreno Constanza , Muñoz Pía , Oliva Cristóbal
Published: October 2018

Mediante un experimento realizado con estudiantes universitarios chilenos, se empleó el conocimiento acumulado en torno a la recuperación mediante la práctica, para mejorar el rendimiento en una prueba de recuerdo para un grupo de aprendizaje de 40 participantes estudiantes de primer año, provenientes de distintas carreras (Psicología, Ingeniería Comercial y Enfermería). Aplicando un texto de historia con 16 conceptos reconocibles y manipulando el método de estudio (relectura o recuperación), los resultados indican que quienes estudian releyendo recuerdan menos conceptos (M = 3,2) que quienes hacen el esfuerzo de recuperar el contenido antes de la evaluación final (M = 6,1); la variación en la cantidad de conceptos recordados es explicada por el método de estudio en cerca del 39%. De esta forma se comprobó el efecto de la prueba en la recuperación de información a largo plazo. Los resultados son explicados a partir del modelo de bifurcación y el aprendizaje potenciado por prueba. Además planteamos una alternativa para evaluar la reducción de la interacción test-demora a partir de una sola medición posprueba. Se discuten los resultados con base en otros planteamientos teóricos: paradigma del procesamiento de información, utilidad potencial, y zona de aprendizaje proximal.
Vinculación afectiva al agresor en la mujer joven víctima de violencia de género tras la separación
Authors: Miramontes Minia María , Mañas Iria
Published: October 2018

Un alto número de mujeres víctimas de violencia de género vuelve a la relación tras la separación. Entendemos que esta situación es consecuencia de una vinculación afectiva de dependencia al agresor equiparable a las experiencias en personas secuestradas de negación del comportamiento del maltratador versus la observación de aspectos positivos. Realizamos una aproximación a la presencia del fenómeno retomando el síndrome de Estocolmo doméstico como método evaluativo de la vinculación a través de un estudio descriptivo transversal en 104 mujeres separadas (edad media 33,4 años) atendidas por violencia de género en República Dominicana. Encontramos 38,23% de presencia del síndrome que correlaciona con edades más jóvenes (edad media 28 años), con el duelo por separación (p = ,03), pero no con la dependencia económica (p = ,534). La prevención del retorno al círculo del maltrato pasa por una intervención especializada a las mujeres que presenten este vínculo, comenzando por la identificación temprana.
Water: Turkish Prospective Biology Teachers' Conceptual Structures and Semantic Attitudes towards Water
Authors: Kurt Hakan
Published: October 2018

This study was prepared to investigate prospective biology teachers' cognitive structures related to "water". As the research design of the study, the case study was applied. The data were collected from 44 prospective biology teachers. The free word-association test, the drawing-writing technique and the semantic differential attitude scale were used as data collection instruments. The data were subject to content analysis and divided into categories through coding. In the analysis, the categories were formed and determined through the results of word-association test and drawing-writing test which were completed by the prospective biology teachers. With the help of these categories, the cognitive structures of prospective biology teachers were explained. These categories were determined as “the place and importance of water in life, the definition and chemical properties of water and water and metabolism”. It was determined that prospective biology teachers' semantic attitudes towards water were at a positive level in terms of mean scores of all adjectives considered; However based on each and every adjective, they mostly perceive water as compulsory, valuable and necessary. Moreover, the data collected through three data collection instruments indicated that prospective biology teachers had misconceptions about water considering the categories determined.
Thai Purple Sweet Potato Flours: Characteristic and Application on Puffed Starch-Based Snacks
Authors: Phomkaivon Naraporn , Surojanametakul Vipa , Satmalee Prajongwate , Poolperm Narin , Dangpium Narong
Published: October 2018

Characteristics and properties of 4 Thai purple sweet potato flours, Maejo 343, Phichit 65-3, Phichit 290-9 and Torperk were determined in terms of native and pre-gelatinized flours. Color, physicochemical properties and antioxidant activity of native and pre-gelatinized flours depend on their varieties. All native flours showed low redness (a*) and blueness (-b*) values but high pasting properties. Pre-gelatinized flours had a unique purple color and high antioxidant activity. Flours produced by Phichit 65-3 showed a deep intense purple color, high anthocyanins and good antioxidant activity. Both native and pre-gelatinized Phichit 65-3 flours were used as the main raw materials of air-puffed pre-gelatinized flours with different ratios at 10%, 30% and 50%. Increasing the content of pre-gelatinized flours improved color, expansion and antioxidant activity of snacks. Low hardness (9.55-11.65 kg) was presented in all snacks prepared from sweet potato flours. Purple sweet potato snacks prepared from 50% pre-gelatinized flour had good appearance, light texture, high anthocyanins and high antioxidant activity. Results showed that Thai purple sweet potato flours can be used to produce healthy snacks with improved appearance and texture. They also have potential as sources of natural colorants and antioxidants in food products.
Leafcutter Ants in Southern Amazon Forests, Brazil
Authors: Zanardi Odair Carlos , Cipriani Vânia Beatriz , Garlet Juliana
Published: October 2018

This study aims to identify the species of leafcutter ants, the infestation rate and the spatial distribution of anthills in forest plantations in Alta Floresta-MT. The samples were collected in five plots, with I and II being a Eucalyptus urophylla × Eucalyptus grandis hybrid plantation, III a consortium of Brazil nuts (Bertholletia excelsa) and rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis), IV and V plots of Tectona grandis. The size of the anthills were measured, obtaining the area in square meters of loose ground, were classified into size classes I: ≤ 1 m2; class II: 1.1 to 2.9 m2; class III: 3 to 8.9 m2; class IV: 9 to 25 m2 e class V: > 25 m2. To calculate dispersion, the Dispersion (DI) and Morisita Index (IϬ) were used. Only one species was observed in all plots (Atta sexdens rubropilosa Forel, 1908). 838 nests were mapped in the five sampled plots, the total average density of anthills found in the plots was 26 anthills/ha. The average total area of loose soil occupied by anthills was 590.05 m2, the distribution of anthills between size classes showed 86.87% disproportion with the anthills in class I. The distribution of the anthills in the five plots that were evaluated were of the aggregate type, following the Morisita Index and the Dispersion index.
Response of Arucula Cultivars to Saline Nutritive Solution Enriched With Potassium Nitrate
Authors: Oliveira Francisco de Assis de , Neto José de Souza Leite , Oliveira Mychelle Karla Teixeira de , Lima Luan Alves , Nascimento Luan Vitor , Cordeiro Carla Jamile Xavier , Alves Francisco Adênio Teixeira , Miranda Francisco Aparecido da Costa , Neta Helena Maria de Morais
Published: October 2018

The quality of water used to prepare a nutritive solution is a fundamental factor for plants to express their maximum yield potential, however, due to an emerging water scarcity, the use of saline water is turning into a challenge for producers and scientists. The present study was developed to evaluate the effect of potassium nitrate in two arucula cultivars fertigated with saline nutritive solutions in semi-hydroponic system. It was used a randomized block design, in factorial scheme 2 × 4, with two arucula cultivars (Cultivada and Folha Larga) and four nutritive solutions [S1-standard nutritive solution; S2-standard nutritive solution + NaCl (7.5 dS m-1); S3-S2 + 50% of KNO3; S4-100% of KNO3], with three replicates, with each experimental unit represented by a gutter of 1.5 m filled with coconut-fiber based substrate and 30 plants per replicate. Plants were collected 40 days after planting and evaluated for following variables: height, amount of leaves, leaf area, above ground fresh matter, above ground dry matter, leaf succulence, percentage of dry matter, and specific leaf area. Cultivada is more productive than Folha Larga, but presented higher sensibility to salinity. Increase of salinity in the water for preparation of nutritive solution negatively affects arucula cultivars’ development in semi-hydroponic system. The use of potassium nitrate reduced the effects of salinity on the Folha Larga’s development, but did not inhibit negative effects of salinity in any cultivar. Growth of arucula, Folha Larga, using saline water in semi-hydroponic system is feasible with addition of 50% of KNO3.
Effect of Hydroxy (HHO) Gas Injection in a Gasoline Electric Generator for Rural Areas
Authors: Nascimento Laís Fernanda Juchem do , Silveira Vander Fabio , Siqueira Jair Antonio Cruz , Souza Samuel Nelson Melegari de , Nogueira Carlos Eduardo Camargo , Zilotti Hélcio Alexandre Rodrigues , Zago Emmanuelle Albara , Tokura Luciene Kazue , Rocha Everton Ortiz , Pazuch Félix Augusto
Published: October 2018

This study aimed to evaluate how the HHO gas injection from an electrolyser, conventional bipolar type, works inside a motor-generator fueled with gasoline for utilization in rural areas. After the injection of HHO gas together with gasoline, the parameters of exhaust gases, exhaust temperature, pollution expelled, specific consumption of the engine and excess air, were checked and compared. The main results allowed the evaluation of the engine, when it was fueled with gasoline and HHO gas, which had a better performance than that when fed only with gasoline. The results showed that the engine consume less gasoline and generate fewer pollutant gases when in operation with the injection of HHO gas without the need of radical changes in the engine design.
Litter Dynamics in Eucalyptus and Native Forest in the Brazilian Cerrado
Authors: Ribeiro Fabiana Piontekowski , Gatto Alcides , Oliveira Alexsandra Duarte , Pulrolnik Karina , Ferreira Eloisa Aparecida Belleza , Carvalho Arminda Moreira de , Bussinguer Angela Pereira , Muller Artur Gustavo , Moraes Neto Sebastiao Pires de
Published: October 2018

The aim of this study was to evaluate the litter dynamics in the seasons of the year in three areas: Forest formation Cerradão (CE), and in two hybrids stands of Eucalyptus urophylla × E. grandis with different ages: E1 (34-58 months) and E2 (58-82 months). The produced litter, stored litter and the remaining mass was collected over 720 days. The evaluation of the remaining litter mass in each area was performed from the random distribution of 648 litter bags on the soil. Chemical analyzes (N, P, C) and the structural components of the cell wall (lignin, cellulose and hemicellulose) of the remaining litter were performed. The C of the litter stock was also determined. For both years of evaluation were observed higher biomass and C content in litter at E2. In contrast, the highest decomposition rate was for the CE, especially in the second year of evaluation (mass remaining at 720 days of 35%, 37% and 23% for E1, E2 and CE, respectively), attributed to the higher apparent liberation of N, soil moisture and biodiversity in the native area. Lignin contents increased, cellulose decreased, and hemicellulose remained stable throughout the 720 days. It was also observed an increase in the N and P concentration of the remaining mass and positive correlations among the remaining mass and the C:N and C:P ratios. The C:N ratio of litter was ≥ 76:1 at time 0 and ≥ 30:1 at 720 days for the three areas.
Influence of Climatic Seasonality on a Survey of Land Use and Cover in the Semi-arid Region
Authors: Maia Anthony Rafael Soares , Lopes Fernando Bezerra , Andrade Eunice Maia de
Published: October 2018

The dynamics of land use and land cover in watersheds of the Brazilian semi-arid region is not only influenced by human action, but also by the climatic seasonality of the region. Knowledge of the relationship between surveys of land use and land cover using geotechnology and the climatic seasonality of semi-arid regions is necessary. The aim of this study was to map and classify land use and cover in the watershed of the Orós reservoir (WSOR) with the help of geotechnology, and to identify the influence exerted by the climate on variations in the area of each class. The survey of land use and cover was carried out by means of the MAXVER method of classification of images from 2003, 2005, 2008 and 2013 from the LANDSAT 5 and LANDSAT 8 satellites. The areas of each class displayed dynamics influenced not only by human action but also by such factors as climate, topography and plant physiology. Years with high rainfall favoured classes such as thin scrub and dense scrub, with the opposite being seen in years considered as dry, when there was a considerable increase in areas of the anthropogenic class. Changes in the areas are caused by alterations in the deciduous vegetation; with leaf-fall during the dry season, these areas come to have the spectral response of areas with similar characteristics to the anthropogenic class. More-elevated regions favoured the presence of the dense-scrub class due to the microclimate and to the greater difficulty such areas present to human action.
Postharvest Quality of Tommy Atkins Mangoes Coated With Cassava Starch and Chitosan-Based Coatings
Authors: Oliveira T. A. , Paiva C. A. , Silva A. C. , Nascimento L. V. , Leite R. H. L. , Aroucha E. M. M.
Published: October 2018

This study aimed to evaluate postharvest quality of Tommy Atkins mangoes treated with starch cassava and chitosan based coatings. Mango fruits were collected at physiological maturity. After cleaning, weighing and identification, fruits were submitted to the respective treatments and stored for 35 days in the Laboratório de Tecnologia de Alimentos, with weekly evaluations under refrigeration 13±1 ºC and 90±5% RH. The experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design, in factorial scheme with four treatments: control, cassava starch (CS), chitosan (CH), and cassava starch/chitosan (CS/CH) at a concentration of 2%, and six storage periods (0, 7, 14, 21, 28 and 35 days) with four replications. Fruits were evaluated in: appearance, weight loss, external color: luminosity and ΔE, pulp firmness, titratable acidity, soluble solids content, starch, total soluble sugars, reducing sugars and sucrose. Data were submitted to analysis of variance using SISVAR software and compared by Scott-Knott test at 5% of probability. It was observed a reduction in appearance, pulp firmness, titratable acidity, starch and reducing sugars and increase in weight loss, luminosity, ΔE, soluble solids, total soluble sugars and non-reducing sugars during storage. CS/CH coated fruits reported higher notes of appearance, lower weight loss and maintained color. Quality of physicochemical attributes: soluble solids, starch, total soluble sugars, reducing sugars and non-reducing sugars were strongly retarded.
Sweet Corn, Explored as a Companion Plant, Mitigates Sucking Insects in Industrial Tomato Plants, Pre-flowering Stage
Authors: Silva Ana Paula , Santos Bruno Barboza dos , Netto Alírio Felipe Alves , Silva Cide Moreira da , Curvêlo Carmen Rosa da Silva , Ferreira Luiz Leonardo , Luz José Magno Queiroz , Pereira Alexandre Igor Azevedo
Published: October 2018

Plant diversification mitigates colonization by herbivorous insects in agricultural systems. Tomato and sweet corn generate raw material, for industrial processing, with outstanding production in Goiás state, Brazil. Yet, little is known about the potential of sweet corn as a companion plant for sucking insects, and natural enemies, in tomato plants. We collected pests and natural enemies in tomato (pre-flowering stage) plants under three treatments: isolated tomato plants (T1), tomato plants with sweet corn in the border (T2), and tomato plants with polyculture (garlic, lettuce, and squash) in the border (T3). The insects were collected by yellow sticky traps. Dalbulus maidis (29.52%), Frankliniella schultzei (23.90%), F. occidentalis (18.72%) and Myzus persicae (15.20%) corresponded to 87.34% of the total insects collected. Tomato plants cultivated with sweet corn on the border had lower infestation of the thrips, F. schultzei as well as the aphid M. persicae. The number of D. maidis and F. occidentalis adults did not change according to the treatments. Diabrotica speciosa and Astylus variegatus were more collected in tomato plants with adjacent sweet corn. Predators and parasitoids represented only 6.62% of the total abundance. Cycloneda sanguinea and parasitoids were more collected in tomato plants with polyculture (T3). Tomato with sweet corn or polyculture favored the abundance of the predator Sphaerophoria scripta. Considerations around the control of insect pests and the sustenance of natural enemies in tomato plants, with sweet corn acting as a companion plant, in the pre-flowering stage of that Solanaceae, are demonstrated.
Fruit of Mandacaru: Kinetics of Drying and Physical-Chemical Characterization
Authors: Moreira Inacia dos Santos , Silva Luzia Márcia de Melo , Castro Deise Souza de , Lima Jacinete Pereira , Sousa Francinalva Cordeiro de , Almeida Francisco de Assis Cardoso , Silva Wilton Pereira da , Gomes Josivanda Palmeira , Silva Cleide Maria Diniz Pereira da Silva e
Published: October 2018

The drying of the mandacaru fruit consists in an alternative way to reduce loss during its harvest and therefore minimizes its waste. The objective of this study was to physicochemically characterize the mandacaru fruit both fresh and dehydrated in an air circulation oven using three drying temperatures (40, 50 and 60 ºC), related to the water content, water activity, pH, acidity and phenolic compounds. Three empirical mathematical models were used to describe the drying (Henderson and Pabis, Midilli and Page). The Midilli’s model had the best statistical indicators, fitting better to the experimental data. The fresh fruit showed water content of 82.75%, water activity of 0.986, titratable acidity of 0.18%, pH of 4.35 and phenolic compounds of 28.35 mg.100-1g. The parameters luminosity (L), intensity of red (+a), yellow intensity (+b), hue angle (hº) and chromaticity (C*) were respectively equal to 59.84±0.08; 5.72±0.06; 89.25±0.08; 5.72±0.06. The physicochemical compounds of the fruit were influenced by the drying, in which water content was 10.83, 8.31 and 7.56%, and the water activity was 3.99. 3.24 and 2.40 for the temperatures of 40, 50 and 60 ºC, respectively. The highest temperature caused a greater removal of water in the product along the drying. The dried mandacaru pulp showed titratable acidity of 0.41, 4.86 and 4.98%, pH of 4.76, 4.86 and 4.98 and phenolic compounds of 252.26, 156.53 and 196.10 mg.100-1g, and the parameters L (19.72, 23.41 and 26.15), a* (3.13, 1.31 and 1.30), b* (7.31, 6.53 and 9.14), H* (66.79, 78.69 and 81.92) and C* (7.95, 6.95 and 9.23) at the temperatures of 40, 50 and 60 ºC, respectively. The results of the characterization suggest the technological exploitation of the dried mandacaru fruit to add nutritional value to other foods or in the development of new products.
Predicting Asian Soybean Rust Epidemics Based on Off-Season Occurrence and El Niño Southern Oscillation Phenomenon in Paraná and Mato Grosso States, Brazil
Authors: Minchio C. A. , Fantin L. H. , Caviglione J. H. , Braga K. , Silva M. A. Aguiar e , Canteri M. G.
Published: October 2018

The study aimed to propose models to predict Asian soybean rust epidemics based on both the occurrence of the disease in the period between seasons and the climate variability index, which is influenced by the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) phenomenon. The data used to develop these models were obtained from 11 crop seasons, distributed among six regions of Paraná and twelve regions of Mato Grosso which was determined by the National Institute for Space Research (INPE). The three-dimensional model was obtained from linear and quadratic polynomial regression analyses, considering the following climatic variables as independent (Y axis): Rainfall (PP), Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI), Southern Oscillation Index (SOI) and Temperature on the sea surface (SST Niño 3.4). The independent variable (X axis) was the number of occurrences of rust in the off-season, and the dependent variable (Z axis) was defined as rust occurrences during the season, which were reported by the Anti-rust Consortium. The best model that explains the epidemic of the disease during the season in Paraná state was composed by Rainfall or SST Niño 3.4 variable as the Y axis. The best model for Mato Grosso state used SST Niño 3.4 or SOI variable. The variable number of occurrences in the off-season significantly influenced the model, indicating the potential use of this variable and meteorological variables on a macro scale to predict epidemics even before the start of the season.