bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Case of Cardboard Boxes Likely Facilitating the Biting of a Patient by Trypanosoma cruzi-Infected Triatomine Bugs
Authors: Dolhun Eduardo P. , Antes Andrew W.
Published: September 2016

Chagas disease is a vector-borne and potentially fatal parasitic disease that is transmitted by the triatomine bug, a nocturnal feeding, flying arthropod, often referred to by its colloquial name, the “kissing bug.” Vector-borne transmission is considered the most important means of spreading Chagas disease in endemic and nonendemic areas. Corrugated cardboard boxes may accelerate the spread of these insect vectors to nonendemic areas through their ability to harbor and transport small terrestrial arthropods such as silverfish, termites, and cockroaches. We report the case of a patient living in northern California who presented to a community clinic 6 weeks after being bitten by a positively identified triatomine bug. A local pest control company identified a total of eight adult Triatoma protracta, nine nymphs, and two eggs; all within the patient's bedding. No bugs were found outside of the patient's bedroom. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed one adult female was positive for Trypanosoma cruzi via polymerase chain reaction. The patient's bedroom doubled as an office and regularly received and stored corrugated cardboard shipping boxes. Corrugated cardboard boxes have been used to trap and study the triatomine bug. This is the first documented case that provides circumstantial evidence that corrugated cardboard boxes may be an inadvertent and unrecognized factor in the spread of Chagas disease.
Severe Anemia and Lung Nodule in an Immunocompetent Adopted Girl with Strongyloides stercoralis Infection
Authors: Buonfrate Dora , Gobbi Federico , Beltrame Anna , Bisoffi Zeno
Published: September 2016

Strongyloides stercoralis is a soil-transmitted helminth widely diffused in tropical areas. Chronic infection is usually characterized by absent or mild symptoms, but immunocompromised subjects are at risk of developing a severe syndrome that can be fatal if not promptly treated. We report a case of S. stercoralis infection causing severe anemia (hemoglobin 4.9 g/dL) and a lung nodule in a 14-year-old girl of Ethiopian origin adopted by an Italian couple. Severe anemia due to strongyloidiasis has been rarely reported, and mostly in severely ill patients, whereas our patient was immunocompetent and in good general conditions. Also, lung nodules have been only occasionally described in absence of respiratory symptoms. We discuss the management of patients with these findings, and we suggest to update the screening of immigrants from countries endemic for strongyloidiasis, including serology.
An Ecological Approach to Electronic Gambling Machines and Socioeconomic Deprivation in Germany
Authors: Xouridas Stergios , Jasny Johannes , Becker Tilman
Published: September 2016

In Germany, gambling research has primarily focused on the broader population in prevalence studies, neglecting the importance and influence of the local socioeconomic context in the development and maintenance of gambling disorders. To analyze the interplay between contextual and compositional factors in the market for electronic gambling machines (EGMs) in Germany, we assessed the EGM densities and socioeconomic deprivation in 244 local communities within Baden-Wuerttemberg. Our results suggest that EGM density is statistically associated with 3 socioeconomic determinants: The shares of migrants, unemployed, and high-school-educated people in the communities are statistically significant variables in our linear regression model, whereas younger age, male gender, and marital status exhibit no statistical associations with EGM density. The share of unemployed people is the only variable of statistical and practical significance. Our analysis advocates area-based policy measures to minimize gambling-related harm. By decreasing EGM densities in communities with high levels of unemployment, we expect to protect at-risk population strata that are most vulnerable to gambling exposure.
The Hidden Lives of Nurses’ Cognitive Artifacts
Authors: Doig Alexa , Cloyes Kristin , Staggers Nancy , Blaz Jacquelyn
Published: September 2016

Standardizing nursing handoffs at shift change is recommended to improve communication, with electronic tools as the primary approach. However, nurses continue to rely on personally created paper-based cognitive artifacts - their “paper brains” - to support handoffs, indicating a deficiency in available electronic versions.

The purpose of this qualitative study was to develop a deep understanding of nurses’ paper-based cognitive artifacts in the context of a cancer specialty hospital.

After completing 73 hours of hospital unit field observations, 13 medical oncology nurses were purposively sampled, shadowed for a single shift and interviewed using a semi-structured technique. An interpretive descriptive study design guided analysis of the data corpus of field notes, transcribed interviews, images of nurses’ paper-based cognitive artifacts, and analytic memos.

Findings suggest nurses’ paper brains are personal, dynamic, living objects that undergo a life cycle during each shift and evolve over the course of a nurse’s career. The life cycle has four phases: Creation, Application, Reproduction, and Destruction. Evolution in a nurse’s individually styled, paper brain is triggered by a change in the nurse’s environment that reshapes cognitive needs. If a paper brain no longer provides cognitive support in the new environment, it is modified into (adapted) or abandoned (made extinct) for a different format that will provide the necessary support.

The “hidden lives” - the life cycle and evolution - of paper brains have implications for the design of successful electronic tools to support nursing practice, including handoff. Nurses’ paper brains provide cognitive support beyond the context of handoff. Information retrieval during handoff is undoubtedly an important function of nurses’ paper brains, but tools designed to standardize handoff communication without accounting for cognitive needs during all phases of the paper brain life cycle or the ability to evolve with changes to those cognitive needs will be underutilized.

Citation: Blaz JW, Doig AK, Cloyes KG, Staggers N. The hidden lives of nurses’ cognitive artifacts.
Dynamic Pricing with Reference Price Dependence
Authors: Chenavaz Régis
Published: September 2016

A firm that accounts for consumer behavior sets the selling price of a product considering the reference price of consumers. In the literature, a reference price is usually modeled as depending on past selling prices. That is, past selling prices implicitly constrain the current selling price of a product. In this article, the author explicitly measures this constraint with an optimal control framework. He works on the structural properties of a general demand function, which depends on both selling and reference prices. Analytical results prove the following claims. Adjusting reference prices effects increase the price elasticity of demand, the demand function becoming flatter. Thus, the reference price effect weakens the market power of the firm. Also, the reference price effect constitutes a main driver of the dynamics of the selling price. But contrary to intuition, selling price dynamics does not systematically imitate reference price dynamics.
A new statistical approach to improve the satellite based estimation of the radiative forcing by aerosol–cloud interactions
Authors: Patel Piyushkumar N. , Quaas Johannes , Kumar Raj
Published: September 2016

Abstract. In a previous, study of Quaas et al. (2008) the radiative forcing by anthropogenic aerosol due to aerosol–cloud interactions, RFaci, was obtained by a statistical analysis of satellite retrievals using a multilinear regression. Here we employ a new statistical approach to obtain the six fitting parameters, determined using a non-linear statistical approach to obtain the six fitting parameters, for the relationship between planetary albedo and cloud properties and, further, the relationship of the cloud properties and aerosol optical depth. The statistical approach is compared to the results from radiative transfer simulations over three different regions and for different seasons. We find that the results of the new approach agree well with the simulated results over both land and ocean. The new statistical approach increases the correlation coefficient of the fitted to the satellite-retrieved albedo by 21 %–23 % and decreases the error, compared to the previous approach.
Deriving clear-sky longwave spectral flux solely from hyperspectral radiance: a case study with AIRS observations
Authors: Chen Xiuhong , Huang Xianglei
Published: September 2016

Abstract. Previous studies have shown that longwave (LW) spectral fluxes have unique merit in climate studies. Using Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) radiances as a case study, this study presents an algorithm to derive the entire LW clear-sky spectral fluxes solely from hyperspectral observations. No other auxiliary observations are needed in the algorithm. A clear-sky scene is identified using a three-step detection method. The identified clear-sky scenes are then categorized into different sub-scene types using AIRS radiances at six selected channels. A previously established algorithm is then used to invert AIRS radiances to spectral fluxes over the entire LW spectrum at 10 cm−1 spectral interval. Accuracy of the algorithms is evaluated against collocated Clouds and the Earth's Radiant Energy System (CERES) observations. For nadir-view observations, the mean difference between outgoing longwave radiation (OLR) derived by this algorithm and the collocated CERES OLR is 1.52 Wm−2 with a standard deviation of 2.46 Wm−2. When the algorithm is extended for viewing zenith angle up to 45°, the performance is comparable to that for nadir-view results.
Can mud (silt and clay) concentration be used to predict soil organic carbon
content within seagrass ecosystems?
Authors: Serrano Oscar , Lavery Paul S. , Duarte Carlos M. , Kendrick Gary A. , Calafat Antoni , York Paul H. , Steven Andy , Macreadie Peter I.
Published: September 2016

Abstract. The emerging field of blue carbon science is seeking cost-effective ways to estimate the organic carbon content of soils that are bound by coastal vegetated ecosystems. Organic carbon (Corg) content in terrestrial soils and marine sediments has been correlated with mud content (i.e., silt and clay, particle sizes < 63 µm), however, empirical tests of this theory are lacking for coastal vegetated ecosystems. Here, we compiled data (n =  1345) on the relationship between Corg and mud contents in seagrass ecosystems (79 cores) and adjacent bare sediments (21 cores) to address whether mud can be used to predict soil Corg content. We also combined these data with the δ13C signatures of the soil Corg to understand the sources of Corg stores. The results showed that mud is positively correlated with soil Corg content only when the contribution of seagrass-derived Corg to the sedimentary Corg pool is relatively low, such as in small and fast-growing meadows of the genera Zostera, Halodule and Halophila, and in bare sediments adjacent to seagrass ecosystems. In large and long-living seagrass meadows of the genera Posidonia and Amphibolis there was a lack of, or poor relationship between mud and soil Corg content, related to a higher contribution of seagrass-derived Corg to the sedimentary Corg pool in these meadows. The relatively high soil Corg contents with relatively low mud contents (e.g., mud-Corg saturation) in bare sediments and Zostera, Halodule and Halophila meadows was related to significant allochthonous inputs of terrestrial organic matter, while higher contribution of seagrass detritus in Amphibolis and Posidonia meadows disrupted the correlation expected between soil Corg and mud contents. This study shows that mud is not a universal proxy for blue carbon content in seagrass ecosystems, and therefore should not be applied generally across all seagrass habitats. Mud content can only be used as a proxy to estimate soil Corg content for scaling up purposes when opportunistic and/or low biomass seagrass species (i.e., Zostera, Halodule and Halophila) are present (explaining 34 to 91 % of variability), and in bare sediments (explaining 78 % of the variability). The results obtained could enable robust scaling up exercises at a low cost as part of blue carbon stock assessments.
Wetland eco-engineering: measuring and modeling feedbacks of oxidation
processes between plants and clay-rich material
Authors: Saaltink Rémon , Dekker Stefan C. , Griffioen Jasper , Wassen Martin J.
Published: September 2016

Abstract. Interest is growing in using soft sediment as a foundation in eco-engineering projects. Wetland construction in the Dutch lake Markermeer is an example: here, dredging some of the clay-rich lake-bed sediment and using it to construct wetland will soon begin. Natural processes will be utilized during and after construction to accelerate ecosystem development. Knowing that plants can eco-engineer their environment via positive or negative biogeochemical plant–soil feedbacks, we conducted a 6-month greenhouse experiment to identify the key biogeochemical processes in the mud when Phragmites australis is used as an eco-engineering species. We applied inverse biogeochemical modeling to link observed changes in pore water composition to biogeochemical processes. Two months after transplantation we observed reduced plant growth and shriveling and yellowing of foliage. The N : P ratios of the plant tissue were low, and these were affected not by hampered uptake of N but by enhanced uptake of P. Subsequent analyses revealed high Fe concentrations in the leaves and roots. Sulfate concentrations rose drastically in our experiment due to pyrite oxidation; as reduction of sulfate will decouple Fe-P in reducing conditions, we argue that plant-induced iron toxicity hampered plant growth, forming a negative feedback loop, while simultaneously there was a positive feedback loop, as iron toxicity promotes P mobilization as a result of reduced conditions through root death, thereby stimulating plant growth and regeneration. Given these two feedback mechanisms, we propose the use of Fe-tolerant species rather than species that thrive in N-limited conditions. The results presented in this study demonstrate the importance of studying the biogeochemical properties of the situated sediment and the feedback mechanisms between plant and soil prior to finalizing the design of the eco-engineering project.
Soil nitrogen oxide fluxes from lowland forests converted smallholder rubber and oil palm plantations in Sumatra, Indonesia
Authors: Hassler Evelyn , Corre Marife D. , Kurniawan Syahrul , Veldkamp Edzo
Published: September 2016

Abstract. Oil palm and rubber plantations cover large areas of former rainforest in Sumatra, Indonesia, supplying the global demand for these crops. Although forest conversion is known to influence soil nitrous oxide (N2O) and nitric oxide (NO) fluxes, measurements from oil palm and rubber plantations are scarce (for N2O) or nonexistent (for NO). Our study aimed to (1) quantify changes in soil-atmosphere fluxes of N oxides with forest conversion to rubber and oil palm plantations, and (2) determine their controlling factors. In Jambi, Sumatra, we selected two landscapes that mainly differed in texture but both on heavily weathered soils: loam and clay Acrisol soils. Within each landscape, we investigated lowland forest, rubber trees interspersed in secondary forest (termed as jungle rubber), both as reference land uses, and smallholder rubber and oil palm plantations, as converted land uses. Each land use had four replicate plots within each landscape. Soil N2O fluxes were measured monthly from December 2012 to December 2013, and soil NO fluxes were measured four times between March and September 2013. In the loam Acrisol landscape, we also conducted weekly to bi-weekly soil N2O flux measurements from July 2014 to July 2015 in a large-scale oil palm plantation with four replicate plots for comparison with smallholder oil palm plantations. Land-use conversion to smallholder plantations had no effect on soil N-oxide fluxes (P = 0.58 to 0.76) due to the generally low soil N availability in the reference land uses that further decreased with land-use conversion. Over one-year measurements, the temporal patterns of soil N-oxide fluxes were influenced by soil mineral N and water contents. Across landscapes, annual soil N2O emissions were controlled by gross nitrification and sand content, which also suggest the influence of soil N and water availability. Soil N2O fluxes (µg N m−2 h−1) were: 7 ± 2 to 14 ± 7 (reference land uses), 6 ± 3 to 9 ± 2 (rubber), 12 ± 3 to 12 ± 6 (smallholder oil palm), and 42 ± 24 (large-scale oil palm). Soil NO fluxes (µg N m−2 h−1) were: −0.6 ± 0.7 to 5.7 ± 5.8 (reference land uses), −1.2 ± 0.5 to −1.0 ± 0.2 (rubber) and −0.2 ± 1.2 to 0.7 ± 0.7 (smallholder oil palm). The low N fertilizer application in smallholder oil palm plantations (commonly 48 to 88 kg N ha−1 yr−1) resulted in N-oxide losses of only 0.2–0.7 % of the applied N. To improve estimate of soil N-oxide fluxes from oil palm plantations in this region, studies should focus on large-scale plantations (which usually have two to four times higher N fertilization rates than smallholders) with frequent measurements following fertilizer application.
Differences in instantaneous water use efficiency derived from post-carboxylation fractionation respond to the interaction of CO2 concentrations and water stress in semi-arid areas
Authors: Zhao Na , Meng Ping , He Yabing , Yu Xinxiao
Published: September 2016

Abstract. In the context of global warming attributable to the increasing levels of CO2, severe drought can be anticipated in areas with chronic water shortages (semi-arid areas), which necessitates research on the interaction between elevated atmospheric concentrations of CO2 and drought on plant photosynthetic discrimination. As δ13C of water-soluble compounds in leaves was depleted from extracellular CO2 to primary assimilates, no explanation has been offered for 13C fractionation before leaf-exported transportation of photosynthate. Either its variation according to the CO2 concentration and/or water stress gradients, or their interaction have not yet been identified. Therefore, saplings of species typical to a semi-arid area of Northern China that have similar growth status – Platycladus orientalis and Quercus variabilis – were selected and cultivated in growth chambers with orthogonal treatments (four CO2 concentrations [CO2] × five soil volumetric water contents (SWC)). The δ13C of water-soluble compounds extracted from leaves of potted saplings was measured to determine the instantaneous water use efficiency (WUEcp) after cultivation. Instantaneous water use efficiency derived from gas exchange (WUEge) was integrated to estimate differences in δ13C signal variation before leaf-exported translocation of primary assimilates. The WUEge of the two saplings both decreased with increased soil moisture, and increased with elevated [CO2] at 35 %–80 % of Field Capacity (FC) by strengthening photosynthetic capacity and reducing transpiration. Differences in instantaneous water use efficiency (iWUE) according to distinct environmental changes differed between the species. The WUEge of P. orientalis was significantly greater than that of Q. variabilis, while the opposite results were obtained in a comparison of the WUEcp of the two species. The differences between WUEge and WUEcp were clearly species-specific, as demonstrated in the interaction of [CO2] and SWC. Rising [CO2] coupled with moistened soil generated increasing disparities between WUEge and WUEcp in P. orientalis with an amplitude of 0.0328 ‰–0.0472 ‰. Further, the differences between WUEge and WUEcp of Q. variabilis increased as CO2 concentration increased and water stress alleviated (0.0384 ‰–0.0466 ‰). The 13C fractionation in post-photosynthesis was linearly dependent on gs, and was attributed to environmental variation. Thus, cautious descriptions of the magnitude and environmental dependence of apparent post-carboxylation fractionation are worth our attention in photosynthetic fractionation.
Nordic Snow Radar Experiment
Authors: Lemmetyinen Juha , Kontu Anna , Pulliainen Jouni , Vehviläinen Juho , Rautiainen Kimmo , Wiesmann Andreas , Mätzler Christian , Werner Charles , Rott Helmut , Nagler Thomas , Schneebeli Martin , Proksch Martin , Schüttemeyer Dirk , Kern Michael , Davidson Malcolm W. J.
Published: September 2016

Abstract. The objective of the Nordic Snow Radar Experiment (NoSREx) campaign was to provide a continuous time series of active and passive microwave observations of snow cover at a representative location of the Arctic boreal forest area, covering a whole winter season. The activity was a part of Phase A studies for the ESA Earth Explorer 7 candidate mission CoReH2O (Cold Regions Hydrology High-resolution Observatory). The NoSREx campaign, conducted at the Finnish Meteorological Institute Arctic Research Centre (FMI-ARC) in Sodankylä, Finland, hosted a frequency scanning scatterometer operating at frequencies from X- to Ku-band. The radar observations were complemented by a microwave dual-polarization radiometer system operating from X- to W-bands. In situ measurements consisted of manual snow pit measurements at the main test site as well as extensive automated measurements on snow, ground and meteorological parameters. This study provides a summary of the obtained data, detailing measurement protocols for each microwave instrument and in situ reference data. A first analysis of the microwave signatures against snow parameters is given, also comparing observed radar backscattering and microwave emission to predictions of an active/passive forward model. All data, including the raw data observations, are available for research purposes through the European Space Agency and the Finnish Meteorological Institute. A consolidated dataset of observations, comprising the key microwave and in situ observations, is provided through the ESA campaign data portal to enable easy access to the data.
Improved representations of coupled soil–canopy processes in the CABLE land
surface model (Subversion revision 3432)
Authors: Haverd Vanessa , Cuntz Matthias , Nieradzik Lars P. , Harman Ian N.
Published: September 2016

Abstract. CABLE is a global land surface model, which has been used extensively in offline and coupled simulations. While CABLE performs well in comparison with other land surface models, results are impacted by decoupling of transpiration and photosynthesis fluxes under drying soil conditions, often leading to implausibly high water use efficiencies. Here, we present a solution to this problem, ensuring that modelled transpiration is always consistent with modelled photosynthesis, while introducing a parsimonious single-parameter drought response function which is coupled to root water uptake. We further improve CABLE's simulation of coupled soil–canopy processes by introducing an alternative hydrology model with a physically accurate representation of coupled energy and water fluxes at the soil–air interface, including a more realistic formulation of transfer under atmospherically stable conditions within the canopy and in the presence of leaf litter. The effects of these model developments are assessed using data from 18 stations from the global eddy covariance FLUXNET database, selected to span a large climatic range. Marked improvements are demonstrated, with root mean squared errors for monthly latent heat fluxes and water use efficiencies being reduced by 40 %. Results highlight the important roles of deep soil moisture in mediating drought response and litter in dampening soil evaporation.
Prions
Authors: Bodemer Walter
Published: September 2016

Abstract. Prions gained widespread public and scientific interest in the year 2000. At that time, the human neurological Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease (CJD) was known. However, new CJD cases were diagnosed but they could not be ascribed to one of the classical CJD categories i.e. sporadic (sCJD), hereditary or acquired. Hence, they were classified as variant CJD (vCJD). Later on, experimental evidence suggested that vCJD was caused by prions postulated as unique novel infectious agents and, for example, responsible for bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) also known as mad cow disease. The infection of humans by transmission of BSE prions also defined vCJD as a zoonotic disease. Prions, especially those associated with scrapie in sheep had been known for quite some time and misleadingly discussed as a slow virus. Therefore, this enigmatic pathogen and the transmission of this unusual infectious agent was a matter of a controversial scientific debate. An agent without nucleic acid did not follow the current dogma postulating DNA or RNA as inheritable information encoding molecules. Although numerous experimental results clearly demonstrated the infectious capacity of prions in several animal species, a model close to human was not readily available. Therefore, the use of rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) served as a non-human primate model to elucidate prion infection under controlled experimental conditions. Not the least, transmission of BSE, human vCJD, and sCJD prions could be confirmed in our study. Any prion infection concomitant with progression of disease in humans, especially vCJD, could be analyzed only retrospectively and at late stages of disease. In contrast, the prion-infected rhesus monkeys were accessible before and after infection; the progression from early stage to late clinical stages – and eventually death of the animal – could be traced. Because of the phylogenetic proximity to humans, the rhesus monkey was superior to any rodent or other animal model. For these reasons an experimental approach had been conceived by J. Collinge in London and A. Aguzzi in Zurich and performed in a cooperative study with both research groups in the pathology unit of the German Primate Center (DPZ). The study in the DPZ lasted from 2001 until 2012. Our research in the pathology unit provided a temporal monitoring of how an initial prion infection develops eventually into disease; an approach that would have never been possible in humans since the time point of infection with prions from, for example, BSE is always unknown. Telemetry revealed a shift in sleep–wake cycles early on, long before behavioral changes or clinical symptoms appeared. Pathology confirmed non-neuronal tissue as hidden places where prions exist. The rhesus model also allowed first comparative studies of epigenetic modifications on RNA in peripheral blood and brain tissue collected from uninfected and prion-infected animals. To conclude, our studies clearly demonstrated that this model is valid since progression to disease is almost identical to human CJD.
Near-real-time Arctic sea ice thickness and volume from CryoSat-2
Authors: Tilling Rachel L. , Ridout Andy , Shepherd Andrew
Published: September 2016

Abstract. Timely observations of sea ice thickness help us to understand the Arctic climate, and have the potential to support seasonal forecasts and operational activities in the polar regions. Although it is possible to calculate Arctic sea ice thickness using measurements acquired by CryoSat-2, the latency of the final release data set is typically 1 month due to the time required to determine precise satellite orbits. We use a new fast-delivery CryoSat-2 data set based on preliminary orbits to compute Arctic sea ice thickness in near real time (NRT), and analyse this data for one sea ice growth season from October 2014 to April 2015. We show that this NRT sea-ice-thickness product is of comparable accuracy to that produced using the final release CryoSat-2 data, with a mean thickness difference of 0.9 cm, demonstrating that the satellite orbit is not a critical factor in determining sea ice freeboard. In addition, the CryoSat-2 fast-delivery product also provides measurements of Arctic sea ice thickness within 3 days of acquisition by the satellite, and a measurement is delivered, on average, within 14, 7 and 6 km of each location in the Arctic every 2, 14 and 28 days respectively. The CryoSat-2 NRT sea-ice-thickness data set provides an additional constraint for short-term and seasonal predictions of changes in the Arctic ice cover and could support industries such as tourism and transport through assimilation in operational models.
Los modos de las políticas de la Integración Centroamericana
Authors: Santos Carrillo Francisco
Published: September 2016

Este trabajo revisa los modos en que se desarrollan las acciones de política regional en el Sistema de Integración Centroamericano (SICA). El impulso de esta agenda de políticas de integración positiva materializa un incipiente proceso de gobernanza regional que tiene como protagonista a las instituciones del SICA, con el apoyo de las coaliciones de grupos de interés conformados y de sus socios de la cooperación internacional, entre los cuales juega un papel destacado la Unión Europea (UE). El proceso de implementación evidencia la existencia de importantes obstáculos que superar, pero demuestra su factibilidad política, jurídica e institucional. Lo más importante es que suponen una oportunidad para afrontar retos comunes en materia de desarrollo aprovechando el creciente grado de interdependencia. Al mismo tiempo, otorga a la integración un papel de mayor relevancia como instrumento de desarrollo.
La alternancia desde el pluralismo democrático
Authors: Vargas Jean-Paul
Published: September 2016

En las democracias contemporáneas, la conquista del poder y la lucha por la sobrevivencia tiende a ser cada vez más intensa y volátil; producto en gran medida, por la capacidad y juicio de la ciudadanía sobre los asuntos públicos. Por tanto, nos enfrentamos, a una intensidad en la teatralización del poder en un contexto en el cual la ciudadanía es cada vez más crítica pero individualista. Una ciudadanía cada vez más exigente sobre la capacidad y gestión de los tomadores de decisiones, pero ausente en su vinculación con los asuntos públicos. El presente artículo contribuye a la generación de reflexión teórica sobre la alternancia política como expresión del pluralismo desde la teoría de la democracia, así como las condiciones objetivas que facilitan su desarrollo, fenómeno que raramente ha sido estudiado desde las ciencias políticas.
El nuevo régimen jurídico español de la legitimación activa y pasiva para la impugnación de acuerdos de las sociedades de capital
Authors: Baena Baena Pedro Jesús
Published: September 2016

La Ley 31/2014, de 3 de diciembre, por la que se modifica la Ley de Sociedades de Capital, ofrece un nuevo régimen jurídico, esencialmente más restrictivo, en materia de impugnación de acuerdos sociales. La reforma transforma la disciplina, principalmente, al eliminar la distinción entre acuerdos nulos y anulables y al reforzar la regulación de la impugnación de los acuerdos contrarios al orden público. Tales novedades tienen consecuencias en materia de legitimación activa (artículos 206.1, 2 y 3, 251.1 y 495.2.b).Con relación a la legitimación ordinaria para impugnar acuerdos (no contrarios al orden público), de un lado, se amplían los sujetos reconocidos, al permitirse el ejercicio de la acción de impugnación a los terceros que acrediten un interés legítimo en todos los supuestos (cuando antes sólo se les reconocía tal derecho para los acuerdos nulos); y, de otro lado, se sujeta a los socios a la restricción de la participación mínima, concediéndose a los socios minoritarios ahora excluidos el derecho de exigir a la sociedad el resarcimiento del daño que les hubiere causado el acuerdo impugnable.
The Investigation on Brand Image of University Education and Students’ Word-of-Mouth Behavior
Authors: Chen Chin-Tsu
Published: September 2016

This study aimed to find how the brand image and satisfaction of universities influence university students’ word-of-mouth behavior, including the sharing of satisfying experiencesand recommendations to others. This study conducted a questionnaire survey and distributed 400 questionnaires to students and graduates of universities in Taiwan; 336 valid questionnaires were retrieved. Data were analyzed using Structural Equation Models (SEM). According to the findings, brand image significantly and positively influences loyalty; satisfaction significantly and positively influences loyalty; loyalty significantly and positively influences haring of satisfying experience; and loyalty significantly and positively influences recommendations to others. Brand image and satisfaction can influence the sharing of satisfying experience sand recommendations to others by the moderating effect of loyalty. The loyalty effect model of higher education institutes constructed by this study could explain and predict the effects of brand image and satisfaction of higher education institutes on university students’ word-of-mouth behavior, and it could function as the criteria for marketing strategies of higher education institutes.
Facies Changes Between Kolosh and Sinjar Formations Along Zagros Fold–Thrust Belt in Iraqi Kurdistan Region
Authors: Haji Karim Ahmad Kamal
Published: September 2016

The present study is concerned with lateral and vertical facies changes between Kolosh (Paleocene) and Sinjar (or Khurmala) (Paleocene-Early Eocene) Formations in Sulaimani and Duhok area, Kurdistan Region, NE-Iraq. The latter and former formations are belonging to basinal clastic (turbidite) and reefal carbonate facies respectively. The facies changes are documented in six sections by field studies and evaluation of previous ideas and data which are critically discussed and compared to the result of the present study. The special attention is directed towards the contact between the two Formations in relation to conformity. All the studies achieved before 2002 showed conformable contact between the two formations while the most recent study found large a gap (erosional unconformity) between the two formations which persisted for 5million years. According to latter study, the sea level fall associated with this unconformity assigned to be type one and type two sequence boundaries in the east of Darbandikhan, north of Koya towns and the Bekhme gorge.Conversely, the present study has not recorded gaps in the sedimentation in the studied sections either in Sulaimani or Dohuk area. The contact can be regarded as transgressive system tract which represented by green marl or sandstone, which changes to limestone of Sinjar or Khurmala Formation (HST).The conglomerate beds that are recorded in the previous studies at the contact of the two formations are not proved in the present study. The previously recorded conglomerate is located inside the upper part of the Kolosh Formation not in the contact and it represents submarine fan feeder channel. In contrast to previous studies, neither incised valleys nor erosional unconformity are found at the contact between the two formations in the studied area. The one meter intraformational conglomerate that are found (in some previous studies) in the Bekhme gore is not found in the present study.  It is observed that the Kolosh Formation, at Bekhme Gore consists of green marl and sandstone with one bed of Khurmala Formation. The green marl is changes totally to dolomitic limestone of the latter Formation toward northwest at the north of Saru Kani village near Bujeel town. This proves that both formations are deposited in one basin and Khurmala formation has the age of Lower Paleocene to Lower Eocene.
Interaction of Strength and Stress in High, Steep Rock Slopes
Authors: Smith John Victor
Published: September 2016

The strength of rock mass and the stress in a slope are each complex fields of investigation. They are also intimately related as increasing confining stress makes a rock mass stronger and the strength of a rock mass can limit the magnitude of stress. Whereas these interactions are comparatively well understood for soils, principally through the advances of laboratory soil mechanics, the scale of rock masses, principally the presence of discontinuity surfaces, limits the capacity for laboratory investigation. The interaction of strength and stress in rock slopes is most evident in high, steep slopes where stress is typically greater. The slope angle and failure mechanisms occurring in the rock slope can reveal the ways that strength and stress interact to produce the observed morphology. McKay Bluff, near Nelson, South Island, New Zealand, is a high, steep rock slope affected by marine coastal erosion at its base. Finite element modeling illustrates sensitivities in determination of the stress magnitude in the slope. Engineering geology methods demonstrate the difficulty in precise determination of the rock mass strength. The ranges of these parameters are compared to find a compatible range for the interacting factors. The stress in a range of other high, steep slope types is reviewed and the implications for geomorphic analysis are discussed.
Conflation and Integration of Archived Geologic Maps and Associated Uncertainties
Authors: Shoberg Tom
Published: September 2016

Old, archived geologic maps are often available with little or no associated metadata.  This creates special problems in terms of extracting their data to use with a modern database.  This research focuses on some problems and uncertainties associated with conflating older geologic maps in regions where modern geologic maps are, as yet, non-existent as well as vertically integrating the conflated maps with layers of modern GIS data (in this case, The National Map of the U.S. Geological Survey).   Ste. Genevieve County, Missouri was chosen as the test area.  It is covered by six archived geologic maps constructed in the years between 1928 and 1994. Conflating these maps results in a map that is internally consistent with these six maps, is digitally integrated with hydrography, elevation and orthoimagery data, and has a 95% confidence interval useful for further data set integration.
On-reserve forest fuel management under the Federal Mountain Pine Beetle Program and Mountain Pine Beetle Initiative
Authors: Peter Brian , Milovanovic Matthew , Cataldo Nello , Scott Maureen
Published: September 2016

We report here on the achievements and program costs for on-reserve forest fuel management under the Federal Mountain Pine Beetle Program and Mountain Pine Beetle Initiative. From 2002–2010 these two programs helped 88 First Nations bands and organizations plan and carry out forest fuel management on reserves across the BC interior. In all cases, the first step in treating hazardous fuels under these programs was the development of professionally prepared fuel management plans and prescriptions. After plans were in place, approximately 2700 hectares were treated through various combinations of thinning, pruning, fuel reduction and fuel removal. Over 8000 hazard trees were removed and approximately 15 km of fuel breaks were established. Costs to implement fuel treatments varied widely based on a number of factors including size of the area treated, initial stand conditions and density, terrain, treatment details, and site-specific values requiring protection.
The influence of vegetation types on water yields in the Da Hinggan Mountains of China
Authors: Gao Jixi , Zheng Hao , Shi Zhongjie , Teng Yanguo , Yang Xiaohui , Tian Meirong , Feng Chaoyang , Wang Yan
Published: September 2016

Climate change and excessive water use are endangering water resources in many areas of the world. As a result there is an urgency to increase available water resources and to improve water supply using vegetation management in catchment areas. The objectives of this study were to determine the effects of four vegetation types (Quercus mongolica F.; QM), Larix spp. plantation; LP), Prunus sibirica L.; PS) and grassland; GL) on water yields by monitoring surface runoff, infiltration, canopy interception and evapotranspiration in the Da Hinggan Mountains, a semi-arid area of China. Surface runoff for each vegetation type was triggered by rainfall of at least 6.6 mm, with surface runoff significantly increasing with rainfall events over 15.8 mm. The QM forest had the highest amount of runoff (1.34 mm), followed by LP (1.06 mm), PS (1.01 mm) and GL (0.69 mm), this accounting for only 0.23% – 0.44% of the total water balance. Infiltration to a soil depth of 10 cm occurred with rainfall events with at least 13 mm, but the depth of infiltration rarely exceeded 30 cm during most rainfall events. More than half of the rainfall was taken up by vegetation during the growing season, with an order of LP > QM > PS > GL. Comprehensive analysis indicated that QM was the most appropriate vegetation for water conservation in this water-limited area, and this vegetation cover could effectively provide more water resources in the local area.
Greenhouse gas emission effect of suspending slash pile burning in Ontario's managed forests
Authors: Ter-Mikaelian Michael T. , Colombo Stephen J. , Chen Jiaxin
Published: September 2016

Ontario has made a commitment to reduce its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 15, 37, and 80% below 1990 levels by 2020, 2030, and 2050, respectively. Ontario's forest managers can contribute to meeting these targets by implementing changes to forestry practices that either reduce emissions from operations or increase carbon sequestration in forest ecosystems and harvested wood products. We present an analysis of the effects on GHG emissions resulting from suspending the current management practice of slash pile burning (burning harvest residue in the forest without energy recovery). The analysis was performed for each of Ontario's forest management units (FMU) with assumed suspension of slash pile burning for four different periods: 2016–2025, 2016–2050, 2016–2075, and 2016–2100. Annual and cumulative avoided emissions from suspending slash pile burning that would have occurred with current practices were estimated from planned harvest volume and area adjusted to reflect harvesting levels from 1990 to 2009, data on slash pile burning from 2008 to 2013, and emission factors for combustion and decay of wood estimated from the literature. Suspending slash pile burning was estimated to reduce GHG emissions by year 2100 in all four no-burn scenarios, with cumulative GHG emission reductions estimated at -0.7, -4.5, -14.1, and -33.4 Mt CO2eq (million tonnes of CO2 equivalent), respectively. At the same time, suspending slash pile burning for the above-listed four periods resulted in losses of forest area by 2100 estimated at 7200, 24000, 40800, and 57800, respectively. The accuracy of these projections is affected by uncertainty in estimates of several components of the analysis, of which the primary one is the historical rate of slash pile burning. Improvement in measuring and reporting procedures is needed to obtain more reliable estimates of the amount of slash burned.
Effects of sand burial and overstory tree age on seedling establishment in coastal Pinus thunbergii forests in the northern Shandong Peninsula, China
Authors: Mao Peili , Mu Hongxiang , Cao Banghua , Liu Yuhong , Fan Zhaofei , Wang Shumei
Published: September 2016

Coastal Pinus thunbergii (Japanese black pine) forests in the northern Shandong Peninsula of China recently experienced widespread natural regeneration failure. This study identifies critical factors that affect natural regeneration of P. thunbergii. Seeds from trees of various ages (13–32 years) were used to investigate the effects of age and burial depth in sand on germination and seedling establishment. Results show that seed density in 2–5 cm soil decreased with increased distance from the shoreline. Sand burial decreased seed germination but did not affect the relative growth rate of seedlings at depths from 0.5 to 3 cm. Germination, leaf mass ratio, and relative growth rates were higher with seedlings originating from older trees, all of which enhanced seedling resistance to sand burial. Tree age and seed burial were found to be determining factors for natural regeneration of the coastal P. thunbergii forest. Silvicultural treatments that promote quality of seed sources and mitigation of sand burial can be used in the future to improve the regeneration of these coastal forests.
Microbiological quality and handling practices of ice served in selected downtown Toronto food premises
Authors: Awuor Luckrezia , Thompson Sylvanus , Thompson Brian , Liberda Eric N. , Meldrum Richard
Published: September 2016

Consumable ice presents a potential hazard due to microbiological contamination. To investigate the microbiological quality and handling practices of ice served in selected food premises in downtown Toronto, Ontario, 64 ice samples were collected from 40 food establishments. The ice samples were tested for the presence/absence of total coliforms and Escherichia coli. Five samples (7.8%) tested positive for total coliforms, all of which were sampled from the customer service areas. None of the ice samples tested positive for E. coli. A visual inspection was carried out to determine general ice handling practices in the food premises sampled. Of the 40 premises sampled, 14 (35%) had dirty ice holding/storage equipment, 13 (32.5%) had inappropriately stored scoops, and 6 (15%) had visible biofilm on the ice machines. In 15 (37.5%) premises, the ice was uncovered when not in use and 4 (10%) premises had food safety violations relating to the inability to protect food from contamination. The presence of total coliforms and the lack of proper ice handling practices among several food premises suggest that consumable ice served in downtown Toronto food premises may present a potential hazard.
Obstacles lexico-sémantiques à la lecture réussie d’un texte de spécialité1
Authors: Collet Tanja
Published: September 2016

Cet article, qui se veut programmatique, dresse l’arrière-plan théorique d’un projet futur axé sur la lisibilité des textes spécialisés pour des lecteurs non experts, tels que des langagiers, qui se situent, le plus souvent, à l’extérieur des groupes socioprofessionnels dont émanent ces textes, que l’on lit à des fins professionnelles. L’article aborde la question de la lisibilité dans la perspective de la linguistique du texte et examine, en particulier, comment les termes mis en discours contribuent à la tension caractéristique et constante des textes spécialisés entre cohérence (pour les experts) et incohérence (pour les non-experts). L’article identifie au moins trois facteurs qui sont responsables de cette tension : 1) la richesse terminologique du texte et l’importance de ce facteur pour son degré de cohérence ; 2) le potentiel sémantique du terme, qui est examiné tant du point de vue de la mise en discours du terme que de son interprétation lors de la lecture ; et dans une moindre mesure, 3) la morphologie du terme. Enfin, l’article pose la question de la compréhension nécessaire et suffisante du langagier qui serait différente de celle exigée du lecteur-chercheur, mais sans y répondre toutefois. Cette question sera au coeur du projet encore à effectuer.
When a Translator Joins the Revolution: A Paratextual Analysis of Manuel García de Sena’s La independencia1
Authors: Núñez Gabriel González
Published: September 2016

During the complex period of Latin American independence, new states began to emerge and new ideas were implemented. Some of these ideas were made available in part due to the efforts of translators in the United States. Among them was Manuel García de Sena, a Venezuelan translator who published translations of North American texts. His translations enjoyed a prompt distribution. One of them became a vehicle that facilitated legal transplants from the United States to the new republics. While much has been lost to history regarding the details of the printing of this translation, its paratextual apparatus provides insights that help modern readers understand some things regarding the people involved, their ideas, and the times they lived in. By analyzing the title, the dedications, and the notes, we can see the translation’s intended function in changing the culture repertoire. In essence, the paratext allows us to see what this translator did as he joined the revolution.