bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Development Of Technical Education In Pakistan
Authors: Inamullah Hafiz Muhammad , Naseeruddin M. , Hussain Ishtiaq , Shah S. Iftikhar
Published: March 2016

The main objectives of this study were to highlight the present profile of technical education in NWFP, Pakistan, to pinpoint the physical facilities problems of technical education, to highlight the academic problems in technical education, and to recommend strategies for the improvement of technical education in Pakistan.
Sector Analysis And Portfolio Optimisation: The Indian Experience
Authors: Gupta Rakesh , Basu Parikshit K.
Published: March 2016

With changing global financial environment and emergence of new economic powers in recent decades, diversification of investment portfolios at country and sector levels assumed additional significance. Optimum portfolio selection within a capital market is primarily based on the best risk-return trade-off among the industry sectors. Literature suggests that much of market volatility can be attributed to substantial increase in sector specific and sub-sector specific risks. This research has estimated the dynamics of correlations of stock market returns between industry sectors in India using Asymmetric DCC GARCH model and tested efficient portfolios that generates returns above the market average. Analysis of daily and monthly market data for the period April 1997 to April 2007 on a sample of 10 industry sectors selected randomly indicates that investors can substantially improve their reward to risk as compared with the market returns. Major contributions of this research are two fold. It used a computationally efficient model for estimating correlations that can incorporate the changes in correlations over time and it applied the model for the Indian market where research is extremely inadequate.
Management Implications Of A Czech National Identity In The European Union
Authors: Budden Heather L. , Budden Connie B.
Published: March 2016

The unique Czech identity played a role in the countrys joining the European Union. There are a number of distinct characteristics of the Czech identity that are actually quite compatible to membership in the Union. The history of the Czech nation which has a significant impact on the national identity of the country is discussed along with an explanation or definition of national identity. The Czech identity and the European identity are compared and contrasted. Finally, management implications of the Czech identity are discussed.
Entrepreneurial Attitudes Of MBA Students In The United States Relative To The CIS: The Case Of Armenia
Authors: Claar Victor V. , TenHaken Vicki R. , Frey Robery
Published: March 2016

This paper compares the entrepreneurial attributes of MBA students in Armenia to those in the United States. If entrepreneurial attributes are more learned cultural behaviors and not only inherent personality factors, business students in a recently-privatized economy such as Armenia would not score as high on an entrepreneurial personality index as would business students in the U.S. where both models of entrepreneurship and expectations of certain proactive characteristics in individuals entering the business world are widespread.
An Empirical Study Of It Development In The Banking Industry Of Taiwan
Authors: Lin Cho-Pu , Chang Hsing-Yun , Lin Yen-Ting , Yang Wen-Hui
Published: March 2016

The focal point adopted in the present study is Customer Relationship Management (CRM) and its adoption in Taiwans banking industry. Since the current challenge banks are facing is in implementing and supporting new technological solutions that will enable them to be more responsive and flexible to their clients, a quantitative research methodology was employed in the present study in an attempt to answer the following research question: What are the critical factors that explain the degree of success in the deployment of CRM systems in Taiwans banking industry? First, based on the findings from the previous studies, an exploratory study consisting of focus-group interviews was conducted to uncover the nature of the problems confronting the banks in adopting CRM. Second, based on the findings from this preliminary investigation, a quantitative analysis using survey and statistical methods was conducted to identify possible answers to the research question. The research done with the present study has uncovered a number of factors which can be used to guide companies for a successful CRM deployment. These factors include primacy of customer service, customizing CRM functions/modules, discovering customers needs, maintaining employees moral, conducting a decision support system. If the major goal of implementing a CRM system is to improve the overall CRM deployment, the management in Taiwans banking industry should then emphasize three of two factors: primacy of customer service and customizing CRM functions/modules.
The Impact Of Employee Stock Bonus On Equity Market Value
Authors: Shih Niensu
Published: March 2016

This paper explores the relation between equity market value and the expense of employee stock bonus that is disclosed but not recognized under Taiwans law. Employing the regression analyses, and to investigate the effects of employee stock bonus on the firms share price. We find that the market value of employee stock bonus has a negative effect on the firms share price. The result indicates the negative side of employee stock bonus is its dilution of the existing shareholders equity rights.
Evaluation of Intelligent Grouping Based on Learners’ Collaboration Competence Level in Online Collaborative Learning Environment
Authors: Muuro Maina Elizaphan , Oboko Robert Obwocha , Wagacha Peter Waiganjo
Published: March 2016

In this paper we explore the impact of an intelligent grouping algorithm based on learners’ collaborative competency when compared with (a) instructor based Grade Point Average (GPA) method level and (b) random method, on group outcomes and group collaboration problems in an online collaborative learning environment.  An intelligent grouping algorithm has been added in a Learning Management System (LMS) which is capable of forming heterogeneous groups based on learners’ collaborative competency level. True experiment design methodology was deployed to examine whether there is any association between group formation method and group scores, learning experiences and group problems.  From the findings, all groups had almost similar mean scores in all group tests, and shared many similar group collaboration problems and learning experiences. However, with the understanding that GPA group formation method involves the instructor, may not be dynamic, and the random method does not guarantee heterogeneity based on learner’s collaboration competence level, instructors are more likely to adopt our intelligent grouping method as the findings show that it has similar results. Furthermore, it provides an added advantage in supporting group formation due to its guarantee on heterogeneity, dynamism, and less instructor involvement.
Connectivism in Learning Activity Design: Implications for Pedagogically-Based Technology Adoption in African Higher Education Contexts
Authors: Kizito Rita Ndagire
Published: March 2016

This paper examines the possible characteristics and the value of designing learning activities grounded in connectivism—an emerging learning theory. It is an exploratory attempt to connect the theory to the prevailing technology adoption archetypes used in African contexts with the aim of extracting influences that could shape pedagogical technology adoption in African higher education contexts. A reflection on the process of designing learning activities that employ blogging in an experimental training intervention provides a unique context in which to try and infuse connectivist principles while outlining the challenges that surface. The questions driving the argument in this paper include: What do connectivist perspectives offer learning activity design and practice? What can the prevailing technology adoption models used in African contexts offer to learning activity design? Can we combine connectivist perspectives and African-based technology adoption models to inform pedagogical technology adoption in African higher education contexts? These questions are exploratory and are based on one single subjective experience of the author. They are part of an argument put forward as a proposal which is yet to be tested in practice.
Preservice Teachers’ Perception and Use of Personal Learning Environments (PLEs)
Authors: Şahin Sami , Uluyol Çelebi
Published: March 2016

Personal learning environments (PLEs) are Web 2.0 tools and services by which users’ access, construct, manage, and share educational contents in order to meet their learning needs. These environments enable users to manage their learning according to their own personal preferences. They further promote socialization and collaboration with their broad user networks and interaction facilities. In this study, with a case sample from a public university in Turkey, student teachers’ PLE use and their perceptions regarding these environments are examined. For data collection, the PLE Perception Scale and PLE Use Scale developed by the researchers were used. It was observed that all participants used various PLEs and found them easy and practical on the whole. However, it was found that this utilization mostly had the aim of access and sharing knowledge in learning, while use of constructing and managing it remained limited. Emailing, social networking, file sharing, video sharing, Internet searching, and social encyclopedias were found most commonly used PLEs. Our findings also show that gender and grade level do not have an effect on the perception and use of PLEs.
Posisi Perempuan Perspektif Ulama Klasik
Authors: Baehaqi Baehaqi
Published: March 2016

One of the Islamic facets that attracts much attention and provokes debates among Muslim intellectuals is discourse of women’s position in classical Islamic doctrines: women’s position in private and public areas. Women are often seen as peripheral, second class citizen, marginal and victims of injustice constructed by society’s perceptions. Considering that, classic Muslim scholars are mainly blamed for women inequality because of their interpretation on Al-Qur’an and Hadis. Consequently, societies often view that women’s tasks are limited to domestic areas: kitchen, well, and bed. Therefore, Muslim thinkers should reinterpret Al-Qur’an and Hadis focusing on Islamic spirits that emphasize Islam as rahmat for all people, women and men, in all aspects of life.
Kepuasan Masyarakat terhadap Pers Berbahasa Sunda
Authors: Sitompul Parulian , Dirgahayu Dida
Published: March 2016

The 1960s could be called the golden age of Sunda press. At the present time the press Sunda suffered a setback in a various of activities. While in the middle of advancements in printing and layout technology, Sundanese language press is currently lagging far behind the national press. The research problem is how people's satisfaction to Sundanese language press. Therefore, the purpose of the study was to determine the motive, knowledge, and community satisfaction of the Sundanese language press. Method used is descriptive quantitative. Sample of 50 respondents which is 10% of the entire community reading Sundanese language press in the two districts of Bogor City. The results showed that the communitiy's motivation to read the Sundanese language press because of the Sundanese language used, and used by all members of the family. In addition, community already knows the function of the Sundanese language press. Eventhough it has not met their expectations, but the people are satisfied with the existence of Sundanese language press that they read.
Kesiapan Stasiun Televisi Lokal Batam Sebagai Media Penyabaran Informasi Publik
Authors: Arifuddin Arifuddin
Published: March 2016

This research is related to the readiness of local TV stations in Batam as  a media dissemination of public information in the border region in maintaining local identity of Batam, Riau (Kepri). This study is aimed to determine and identify the readiness of local TV Batam as media dissemination of public information in the border region in maintaining local identity. Study was conducted with qualitative research using case study method. The results of study indicated that four existing local TV stations in Batam, two of which, namely Batam TV and Urban TV expressed the readiness in hardware and software deployment as a dissemination medium for public information in maintaining the identity of the border region local and already using local content with sufficient volume in Network Station System (SSJ). While two other are Barelang TV and Penisula TV, is off the broadcast because the investment limitations and weak competitiveness against other local TV and national TV.
Book Review: Counseling for people with severe mental illness - Theory and case study. Young, K.W., Commercial Press (Hong Kong), 2013
Authors: Zhu Lan-ying , Tsui Man C.M. , Li Da
Published: March 2016

Globally, severe mental illness (SMI) causes both short-term and long-term disabilities (Royal College of Psychiatrists, 2009). In China, there are about 16 million people with SMI (Phillips et al., 2009). Secondary handicaps due to social stigma are common which result in severe deprivation of community re-integration (Social Exclusion Unit, 2004). Such alarming situations further highlight the pressing needs of developing culturally sensitive counseling strategies and practices.
Height at First RRT and Mortality in Children
Authors: Ku Elaine , Fine Richard N. , Hsu Chi-yuan , McCulloch Charles , Glidden David V. , Grimes Barbara , Johansen Kirsten L.
Published: March 2016

Background and objectives

Poor linear growth is common in children with CKD and has been associated with higher mortality. However, recent data in adult dialysis patients have suggested a higher risk of death in persons of tall stature. In this study, we aimed to examine the risk of all-cause and cause-specific mortality in children at both extremes of height at the time of first RRT.

Design, setting, participants, & measurements

Using the US Renal Data System, we performed a retrospective analysis of 13,218 children aged 2–19 years, who received their first RRT (dialysis or transplant) during 1995–2011. We used adjusted Cox models to examine the association between short (<3rd percentile) and tall (>3rd percentile) stature and risk of death, compared with less extreme heights.

Results

Over a median follow-up of 7.1 years, there were 1721 deaths. Risk of death was higher in children with short (hazard ratio, 1.49; 95% confidence interval, 1.33 to 1.66) and tall stature (hazard ratio, 1.32; 95% confidence interval, 1.03 to 1.69) in adjusted analysis. In secondary analyses, there was a statistically significant interaction between height and body mass index categories (P=0.04), such that the association of tall stature with higher mortality was limited to children with elevated body mass index (defined as ≥95th percentile for age and sex). Children with short stature had a higher risk of cardiac- and infection-related death, whereas children with tall stature had a higher risk of cancer-related death.

Conclusions

Children with short and tall stature are at higher mortality risk, although this association was modified by body mass index at time of first RRT. Studies to further explore the reasons behind the higher risk of mortality in children with extremes of height at the time of first RRT are warranted.
Indo-Caribbean Women from Trinidad and Guyana: Hardships, Conflict, and Resiliency
Authors: Despot Odessa D.
Published: March 2016

This study contributes to the literature on Asian Indian women who have emigrated from Trinidad and Guyana (Indo-Caribbeans) and who are now residing in the US. Using a qualitative design comprised of four ninety-minute interviews, I explored the experiences of immigration, ways of coping, and feelings regarding empowerment for a group of seven women between the ages of forty and forty-nine. Findings were similar to previous research on Asian Indian women and revealed negative experiences with gender inequality, domestic violence, spousal alcohol abuse, and increased role strain following immigration. The women reported that their relationships with other women were helpful and psychologically supportive and enabled them to cope with various hardships. These findings contrast with research findings that have described women's relationships as primarily competitive and undermining of one another. The findings further suggest that clinicians working with Indo-Caribbean women should explore stresses of immigration, cultural differences between the women's country of origin and the host country, and identifying ways of coping.
Transnational Adoption and Life-Writing: Oppressed Voices in Jane Jeong Trenka's The Language of Blood
Authors: Seethaler Ina C.
Published: March 2016

Jane Jeong Trenka's adoption memoir received harsh criticism for its negative stance against transnational adoption. Within a small yet growing group of life-writing works on transnational adoption, I see Trenka as an important voice in challenging the dominant cultural imaginary of the altruistic adoption process. This article analyzes how Trenka's stylistic choices, such as a musical and a stand-up comedy routine, capture many Korean adoptees' life experiences. Adoptees like Trenka use life-writing to express a doubled self and to give a platform to those who are rarely heard, like their biological mothers.

Through a reconceptualization of Gayle Rubin's theory of patriarchal exchange, among other methodologies, my discussion of The Language of Blood from a feminist perspective brings together literary analysis, sociological approaches, and theories of ethnicity and gender. It reveals how adoption memoirs challenge fixed identities based on stereotypes to present suppressed, female perspectives on adoption and immigration processes that oppose patriarchal hierarchies. This work contributes to our understanding of what autobiography represents for female transnational adoptees and gives further insight into the identity-formation of transracially adopted children.
Archiving the Door of No Return in Dionne Brand's At the Full and Change of the Moon
Authors: Gantz Lauren J.
Published: March 2016

This article argues that in her novel, At the Full and Change of the Moon (1999), Dionne Brand uses archives/archiving as a trope by which to trace slavery's aftereffects on the Caribbean and its diasporas. African diasporic authors and critics have long emphasized the necessity of what Erica Johnson has recently termed the “neo-archive”: works of art and literature that “create history in the face of its absence.” Brand, significantly, adopts the practice not only for purposes of historical recovery, but also to document the psychological and emotional risks of such work. At the Full suggests that though neo-archives can reconstruct silenced histories, such reconstructions cannot always provide catharsis. For instance, Brand's character Eula desires a coherent record of her family's past, yet this desire is thwarted by the scarcity and illegibility of written documents. Her longing for documentary proof only serves to emphasize how much of her history has been lost forever, and her efforts at reconstruction become a source of grief. I argue that Brand's novel suggests that other means of dealing with painful histories—such as compartmentalization or attempting to forget—should be recognized as survival strategies for African diasporic subjects. At the Full depathologizes these strategies, offering them a place within the neo-archive and incorporating them into the history of black life in the New World.
Cutting across Imperial Feminisms toward Transnational Feminist Solidarities
Authors: Deb Basuli
Published: March 2016

Photography, not only by imperial men but also by imperial women, has played a significant role in portraying the Muslim woman as the apolitical exotic of orientalist fantasies. The legacy of colonial photography by European women travelers continues to haunt the media of the global North even today. Such imperial feminist discourse on women in Egypt was blatant in Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's December 2011 announcement of the National Action Plan on Women, Peace, and Security at Georgetown University, as well as in the rhetoric of Laura Bush, Cherie Booth, and Condoleezza Rice on the War on Terror and Afghan and Iraqi women.

In contrast, this article draws on the photographic counter-narratives, like “the girl in the blue bra,” that transnational feminists circulated through social media during the people's uprising in Egypt beginning in 2011 to evoke powerful images of women from the global south. It also examines the figure of the pan-Arab feminist Huda Shaarawi, who in 1919 organized the largest women's anti-British demonstration, and became in 1935 the vice president of the International Alliance of Women for Suffrage and Equal Citizenship, and in 1945 the founding president of the Arab Feminist Union. Bringing these figures into conversation with Angela Davis's encounter with women in Egypt in her book Women, Culture, and Politics opens up new spaces for cross-border feminisms that cut across imperial legacies that continue to define relationships between women of the global North and the global South.
Longitudinal Antarctica: A Continent in the Abstract
Authors: Myers Nicholas
Published: March 2016

The history of the Antarctic is one of hypothesis and abstraction. Aristotle and James Cook, both prominent figures in Antarctic historiography, never laid eyes on the continent. Despite further exploration and accurate mapping of the continent during the “Heroic Age” of the early twentieth century, competing territorial claims continued to render Antarctica in the abstract. The continent became a space of contested ideology, serving as a canvas for both nationalist pride and imperial might.
Community-Based Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Program: Developmental Framework and Process Evaluation
Authors: Sandt Laura , Marshall Stephen W. , Ennett Susan T.
Published: March 2016

Limited research exists on the process, partners, and resources needed to develop and implement programs addressing pedestrian and bicycle safety. Before communities can evaluate program effectiveness, they first need more guidance on what efforts could theoretically lead to fewer crashes, the extent of program delivery needed before changes in behavior or other outcomes can be measured, and how to assess and improve program delivery. The Watch for Me NC (WFM) intervention is a multifaceted, community-based pedestrian and bicycle safety program implemented in North Carolina. This paper describes the WFM intervention development, assesses program delivery through implementation records, and identifies successes and challenges in implementing behavioral interventions to promote pedestrian and bicycle safety. As a process evaluation, this study proceeds and complements research of program effects on intended outcomes (in progress). The nature, duration, and frequency of the delivery of key program components—including outreach, officer training, law enforcement operations, and media engagement—as well as program costs and partnerships are detailed. Funding, intra-agency partnerships, and data to support decision making were instrumental in WFM implementation. Key program delivery challenges included limited resources (including law enforcement time) to effectively saturate a large, dispersed population and loss of program novelty over time. These results and lessons can help guide researchers and decision makers in developing and evaluating similar programs. These results also suggest process measures that can be used to increase the consistency and comparability of program delivery.
Evaluating Pedestrian Level of Service at Signalized Intersections in China: Intercept Survey Method
Authors: Ling Ziwen , Cherry Christopher R. , Ni Ying , Li Keping
Published: March 2016

Approximately 1.24 million people die annually in road traffic deaths around the world, and more than 90% of those deaths occur in low-income and middle-income countries, such as China. Pedestrians are the most vulnerable components of road traffic; therefore, it is important to develop more refined methods of improving their walking experience. With use of an intercept survey (IS) method, the influence of pedestrians' characteristics, traffic design, and operation factors on pedestrian level of service (LOS) was evaluated. Factors related to pedestrians' perception and traffic operation had significant impacts on pedestrian LOS. When possible effects of other variables were held constant, significant factors included age, travel purpose, single-step crossing, nearside crossing, and conflicts with left-turning vehicles. Perceived and actual waiting times were compared, and when actual waiting time exceeded 60 s, the perceived waiting time increased faster than the actual waiting time. At 120 s, perceived waiting time was 50% longer than was actual waiting time. An ordered logit model of pedestrian LOS was constructed to evaluate pedestrian LOS in China. This study found several factors more influential in and specific to China than did other international LOS studies. The IS approach was compared with other LOS methods that are part of a series of studies of pedestrian LOS in China. Suggestions are provided on the applicability of IS, contingent field survey, and pedestrian crossing video simulation methods. IS was found to be more suitable for crosswalks of moderate to high levels of pedestrian LOS. Pedestrian crossing video simulation is not recommended for crosswalks with a high possibility of red light crossing.
Probit-Based Pedestrian Gap Acceptance Model for Midblock Crossing Locations
Authors: Mamidipalli Shrikanth V. , Sisiopiku Virginia P. , Schroeder Bastian J. , Elefteriadou Lily , Salamati Katy , Rouphail Nagui M.
Published: March 2016

Pedestrian gap acceptance has not been explored to the same degree as vehicle gap acceptance. Although the two are similar in concept, there are a variety of pedestrian characteristics and caveats in the interaction between the pedestrian and vehicle modes that require separate pedestrian gap acceptance models. The objective of this research was to analyze empirical observations collected at 27 sites in Alabama, Florida, and North Carolina and to develop pedestrian gap acceptance models at midblock crossings. Goodness-of-fit tests showed that a probit-based, single-lane gap acceptance model, drawn from a noncontrolled pedestrian crossing data set, yielded the best results (max-rescaled R2 = .69). This model involved only two parameters: the size of the gap length in seconds and a binary variable that distinguished between gaps and lag events (first-arriving vehicle, without a prior lead vehicle, to open the gap). An increase in gap length was associated with an increased probability that a pedestrian would cross, whereas a lag event had a negative coefficient, which meant that a pedestrian was less likely to accept a lag than a gap, given the same length in seconds. Other variables that described crosswalk characteristics as well as pedestrian and driver behavior did not emerge as significant factors in the model. The research reported in this paper offers a new, robust pedestrian gap acceptance model that can be used in traffic operational analysis. The model can be incorporated into microsimulation packages and thus improve the accuracy of pedestrian behavior modeling at midblock crossings in the future.
Economic Viability of Bus Bridging Reserves for Fast Response to Unplanned Passenger Rail Disruption
Authors: Pender Brendan , Currie Graham , Shiwakoti Nirajan , Delbosc Alexa
Published: March 2016

A new approach explores the economic viability of dedicated bus reserves purely for bus bridging purposes. The approach estimates feet costs and user benefits of reduced delay by improving the response to unplanned rail disruption. The feasibility of dedicated bus reserves has not been considered in previous research. Sourcing buses for bus bridging purposes is problematic during weekday peak periods, which coincide with the highest demand for rail travel. At all other times spare buses are available. Consequently, a dedicated bus reserve would exist mainly to provide bus bridging in the peak. Results suggest that a dedicated bus bridging reserve can be economically viable. Of 18 corridors studied, a dedicated reserve was feasible for 78%. Economically viable corridors have a benefit–cost ratio ranging between 1.5 and 9.7 (average, 4.5). Reserves were not feasible where existing rail demand, disruption likelihood, or both were low. Sensitivity tests explored viability with more conservative assumptions. In each test, the dedicated bus reserve in most corridors remained economically viable. The research suggests that a dedicated bus reserve should be considered by rail operators worldwide because of strong net economic benefits. However, reserves are a net cost (with no income), so investment must be based on economic, not financial, benefits. This aspect suggests that government authorities, rather than commercial operators, may find a dedicated reserve more feasible. This approach illustrates where reserves might best be allocated to maximize investment returns.
Impact of Crime Statistics on Travel Mode Choice
Authors: Halat Hooram , Saberi Meead , Frei Charlotte Anne , Frei Andreas Rolf , Mahmassani Hani S.
Published: March 2016

Whether crime or the perception of it has any direct and significant influence on travelers’ mode choice is a topic for which the evidence remains inconclusive. Studies have revealed various, and in some cases counterintuitive, roles that safety concerns can play in individuals’ travel behavior. In addition, characteristics of the physical environment such as land use and walkability are also influential factors in travelers’ decisions. This study explored these questions through the study of individual travel behavior by using discrete choice models applied to the reported home-based work trips in the Chicago household travel survey. Mode choice was modeled as functions of variables such as sociodemographics, neighborhood crime density (as a safety measure), and walk score (as a measure of walkability). Different crime types were examined, and a crime index was introduced. Results suggest that both walk score and the crime index at the destination can be considered meaningful predictors of individuals’ mode usage. The crime index at origin, however, does not show a significant and meaningful effect.
Traffic Flow Characteristics of Heterogeneous Pedestrian Stream Involving Individuals with Disabilities
Authors: Sharifi Mohammad Sadra , Stuart Daniel , Christensen Keith , Chen Anthony
Published: March 2016

Walking facilities such as walkways and stairs are important infrastructure that must be designed to accommodate pedestrian behavior to be effective. Heterogeneity in pedestrian composition is one important factor generally overlooked in guidelines and handbooks for walking facility design. Specifically, individuals with different types of disabilities are often overlooked because of the lack of available data. In response, a controlled large-scale research project was conducted at Utah State University to study the performance of various walking environments under heterogeneous pedestrian streams involving individuals with visual and mobility impairments. These environments included a passageway, types of angles (right and oblique), bottlenecks, queuing areas, and stairs. The goals of this study were ( a) to investigate macroscopic characteristics of heterogeneous pedestrian streams in various walking environments by using traffic flow fundamental diagrams and ( b) to analyze the walking speeds of different pedestrian groups with consideration of congestion. The performance of facilities was evaluated by using macroscopic parameters estimated from calibrated traffic flow models. Speed analyses showed similarities and differences between the behaviors of pedestrian groups. Exploring traffic flow characteristics of a heterogeneous pedestrian stream in various walking facilities may improve the planning and design of such facilities.
Agent-Based Microsimulation Approach for Design and Evaluation of Flexible Work Schedules
Authors: Zhu Zheng , Xiong Chenfeng , Chen Xiqun , He Xiang , Zhang Lei
Published: March 2016

The policy of a flexible work schedule has been practiced for years in order to stimulate the redistribution of departure time of commuters. However, its potential influence on travelers’ departure time shifts is infrequently seen in existing studies. This study extended an agent-based positive departure time choice model to gain perspective on travelers’ dynamic reaction toward the flexible work schedule policy. Unlike most rational behavior models, the positive model emphasizes the bounded rationality in people's actual behavior and allows for heterogeneity among travelers. Dynamic traffic assignment is integrated with this proposed model to build up a feedback loop between individual choice (demand side) and network performance (supply side). Scenarios of different percentages of the population with a flexible work schedule are analyzed. It is found that travelers with flexibility in their work schedules tend to depart for work later to avoid peak periods in the morning. The average travel time in the network will decrease by at most 22% when 60% of the travelers have flexible work schedules.
In Search of Arcadia: Agrarian Values and the Homesteading Tradition in the Ozarks, USA
Authors: Campbell Brian C.
Published: March 2016

The Ozark Highlands’ karst topography of caves and hollows has provided refuge and escape for myriad peoples seeking to evade mainstream society throughout history, ranging from displaced Native Americans to counter-cultural back-to-the-landers. This ethnographic and ethnohistorical research moves beyond the popular misconception that the back-to-the-land movement merely represented an offshoot of the countercultural revolution of the 1960s and 1970s, and situates it within a deeper historical context. In this paper, I present the Arcadian evocations in various Ozark-related media and how they relate to homesteading in the region, and demonstrate the shared agrarian values among diverse waves of agrarian Ozark homesteaders, recent and historical.
The Building of a Dam: Value Conflicts in Public Decision-Making
Authors: Costa Ana , Caldas José Castro , Coelho Ricardo , Ferreiro Maria De FáTima , Gonçalves Vasco
Published: March 2016

Public decisions concerning large projects with detrimental environmental or heritage impacts involve value conflicts which stem from the diverse interests and variety of ways of evaluating the costs and benefits of such projects. They are also framed by institutionalised procedures and practices which favour certain concerns to the detriment of others. This paper aims to contribute towards a better understanding of how these procedures and practices, namely decision support tools such as the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), tend to shape public decision-making processes in particular ways. It draws on a study of the public controversy surrounding the Foz Tua dam in Portugal, with a focus on the values upheld by the different parties in the controversy and their interplay in the production of justifications, specifically the actors’ positions on values and value conflicts and the restrictions posed by institutionalised public decision-making procedures on the expression and consideration of certain values.
Representing Wealth in a Changing Pastoral Economy: A Comparison of Traditional and New Metrics in Maasailand, Kenya
Authors: BurnSilver Shauna
Published: March 2016

East African pastoralism faces complex challenges. Responses include diversification and intensification strategies. Herd size as a measure of pastoral 'wealth' is hypothesised as insufficient to reflect emergent patterns of wellbeing. Wealth distributions of Maasai households are compared across four wealth metrics - highlighting different socio-economic criteria. Using Kappa statistics, a TLU-based 'wealth' distribution is compared to measures of: 1) qualitative wealth; 2) improved-breed TLUs; and 3) diversified wealth. Livestock remain important within this system. Trajectories of diversification and intensification for wealthy versus poor pastoral households emerged. Mixed methods for assessing wealth are necessary to understand livelihood changes and better target development.
Effect of nitrogen on different genotypes of mungbean as affected by nitrogen level in low fertile soil
Authors: Razzaque MA , Haque MM , Karim MA , Solaiman ARM , Rahman MM
Published: March 2016

A pot experiment was conducted at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University, Gazipur during kharif- II season (August to November) of 2010 to find out the nitrogen acquisition and yield of mungbean genotypes affected by different levels of nitrogen fertilizer in low fertile soil. Ten mungbean genotypes viz. IPSA-12, GK-27, IPSA-3, IPSA-5, ACC12890053, GK-63, ACC12890055, BARI Mung-6, BUmug- 4 and Bina moog- 5 and six nitrogen fertilizer levels viz. 0, 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100 kg N ha-1 were included as experimental treatments. Results indicated that increasing applied nitrogenous fertilizer in low fertile soil increased nitrogen acquisition of mungbean which increased number of pods plant-1 and seeds pod-1 and finally increased yield of mungbean upto 60 kg N ha-1 irrespective of genotype and thereafter decreased. Genotype IPSA -12 produced the highest seed yield (14.22 g plant-1) at 60 kg N ha-1. The lowest yield (7.33 g plant -1) was recorded in ACC12890053 in control. From regression analysis, the optimum dose nitrogen for mungbean cultivation in the low fertile soil is 54 kg ha-1.Bangladesh J. Agril. Res. 40(4): 619-628, December 2015
Efficacy of some insecticides against insect pests of mungbean (Vigna radiata L.)
Authors: Hossain Md Altaf
Published: March 2016

Efficacy and profitability of insecticidal management practices using different insecticides were tested against insect pests of mungbean at Pulses Research Center, Ishurdi, Pabna, Bangladesh during two consecutive seasons of kharif-1 2013 and 2014. Insect infestations were reduced significantly by the application of synthetic insecticides. Spraying of Imidachloprid (Imitaf 20 SL) @ 0.5 ml/l of water showed the best efficacy in reducing flower infestation and thrips population followed by Fipronil (Regent 50 SC). Spraying of Thiamethoxam + Chlorantraneliprol (Voliam flexi 300 SC) @ 0.5 ml/l of water showed the best efficacy in reducing pod borer and flea beetle infestations. Spraying of Fipronil (Regent 50 SC) performed highest efficacy against stemfly infestation. The yield and the highest net return were obtained from Voliam flexi 300 SC, the highest benefit was obtained from Regent 50 SC treated plots. This might be due to the higher cost of Voliam flexi that reduced the profit margin and showed the lower marginal benefit cost ratio (MBCR) compared to Regent. Therefore, considering the efficacy and benefit, spraying of Fipronil (Regent 50 SC) @ 0.5 ml/l is the most profitable insecticidal management approach against insect pests of mungbean followed by Imidachloprid (Imitaf 20 SL) at the same dose.Bangladesh J. Agril. Res. 40(4): 657-667, December 2015
Genetic divergence in pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata L.) Genotypes
Authors: Sultana S , Kawochar MA , Naznin S , Raihan H , Mahmud F
Published: March 2016

Genetic diversity using Mahalanobiss D2 technique was studied for yield and its components on twenty one genotypes of pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata L.). Quantification of variability for each character was done using the Shannon Weaver Diversity Index. High degree of variation was exhibited within the collection, as reflected by mean diversity index value of 0.80. Data were subjected to principal component analysis (PCA), principal coordinate analysis (PCO), canonical variate analysis (CVA) and non-hierarchical clustering to identify suitable parents having distant relationship for hybridization program. The genotypes were grouped into five different clusters. Cluster IV contained the maximum number of seven genotypes whereas cluster I contained least number having only one genotype. The lowest inter-genotypic distance (0.75) was found between BD-2174 and BD-9489 where the highest (47.46) was between BARI Mistikumra-1 and BD-2150. The maximum inter cluster distance was observed between cluster II and III (17.922) and the minimum inter cluster distance was observed between cluster II and IV (6.825). The maximum intra cluster distance was noticed for the cluster V (0.261) and the minimum intra cluster distance was found in cluster I (0.00). Cluster I contained the highest mean values for pedicel length of male flower, number of male flowers/plant, fruit length, fruit breadth, single fruit weight and fruits/plant. Cluster II contained the highest mean values for days to first male and female flowering. Cluster III contained the highest mean values for leaf breadth, pedicel length of female flower and number of female flowers/plant. Leaf breadth, pedicel length of male flower, number of male flowers/plant and fruits/plant were the important components of genetic divergence in the studied materials. Based on inter cluster distance, inter genotypic distance and consideration of desirable characters for high yield potential, the genotypes G19 (BARI mistikumra-1) and G20 (BARI mistikumra-2) from cluster II; G21 (BD-2150) from cluster I and G1 (BD-2151) and G13 (BD-266) from cluster III can be selected as better parents for future hybridization program.Bangladesh J. Agril. Res. 40(4): 683-692, December 2015
Efficacy of fungicides and botanicals in controlling foot and root rot of lentil
Authors: Shahiduzzaman Md
Published: March 2016

Abstract not availableBangladesh J. Agril. Res. 40(4): 711-715, December 2015
Eco-Friendly Synthesis and Antimicrobial Activity of Silver Nanoparticles Using Dracocephalum moldavica Seed Extract
Authors: Haghighi Pak Zahra , Abbaspour Hossein , Karimi Naser , Fattahi Ali
Published: March 2016

This paper reports a novel green approach for the synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using aqueous seed extract of Dracocephalum moldavica (L.) under ambient conditions. Processes such as Ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) spectrometer, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were carry out to characterize AgNPs. The presence of AgNPs in the prepared solution was approved by a peak to occur at 443 nm. XRD pattern indicated the crystalline structure of the nanoparticles (NPs) while the FTIR spectra confirm the attendance of plant residues adsorbed by these NPs. TEM images revealed a near spherical shape of these NPs, and EDX provided the expected elemental composition. The synthesized AgNPs showed excellent antimicrobial activities against Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Serratia marcescens, Staphylococcus epidermidis and Bacillus subtilis.
Computational Study of Quasi-2D Liquid State in Free Standing Platinum, Silver, Gold, and Copper Monolayers
Authors: Yang Li-Ming , Ganz Ariel , Dornfeld Matthew , Ganz Eric
Published: March 2016

Recently, freestanding atomically thick Fe metal patches up to 10 atoms wide have been fabricated experimentally in tiny pores in graphene. This concept can be extended conceptually to extended freestanding monolayers. We have therefore performed ab initio molecular dynamics simulations to evaluate the early melting stages of platinum, silver, gold, and copper freestanding metal monolayers. Our calculations show that all four freestanding monolayers will form quasi-2D liquid layers with significant out-of-plane motion and diffusion in the plane. Remarkably, we observe a 4% reduction in the Pt most likely bond length as the system enters the liquid state at 2400 K (and a lower effective spring constant), compared to the system at 1200 and 1800 K. We attribute this to the reduced average number of bonds per atom in the Pt liquid state. We used the highly accurate and reliable Density Functional Theory (DFT-D) method that includes dispersion corrections. These liquid states are found at temperatures of 2400 K, 1050 K, 1600 K, and 1400 K for platinum, silver, gold, and copper respectively. The pair correlation function drops in the liquid state, while the bond orientation order parameter is reduced to a lesser degree. Movies of the simulations can be viewed online (see Supplementary Material).
Minimal Length, Measurability and Gravity
Authors: Shalyt-Margolin Alexander
Published: March 2016

The present work is a continuation of the previous papers written by the author on the subject. In terms of the measurability (or measurable quantities) notion introduced in a minimal length theory, first the consideration is given to a quantum theory in the momentum representation. The same terms are used to consider the Markov gravity model that here illustrates the general approach to studies of gravity in terms of measurable quantities.
Efficient Photovoltaic System Maximum Power Point Tracking Using a New Technique
Authors: Seyedmahmoudian Mehdi , Horan Ben , Rahmani Rasoul , Maung Than Oo Aman , Stojcevski Alex
Published: March 2016

Partial shading is an unavoidable condition which significantly reduces the efficiency and stability of a photovoltaic (PV) system. When partial shading occurs the system has multiple-peak output power characteristics. In order to track the global maximum power point (GMPP) within an appropriate period a reliable technique is required. Conventional techniques such as hill climbing and perturbation and observation (P&O) are inadequate in tracking the GMPP subject to this condition resulting in a dramatic reduction in the efficiency of the PV system. Recent artificial intelligence methods have been proposed, however they have a higher computational cost, slower processing time and increased oscillations which results in further instability at the output of the PV system. This paper proposes a fast and efficient technique based on Radial Movement Optimization (RMO) for detecting the GMPP under partial shading conditions. The paper begins with a brief description of the behavior of PV systems under partial shading conditions followed by the introduction of the new RMO-based technique for GMPP tracking. Finally, results are presented to demonstration the performance of the proposed technique under different partial shading conditions. The results are compared with those of the PSO method, one of the most widely used methods in the literature. Four factors, namely convergence speed, efficiency (power loss reduction), stability (oscillation reduction) and computational cost, are considered in the comparison with the PSO technique.