bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Disponibilização de nutrientes via decomposição da serapilheira foliar em um plantio de Eucalyptus urophylla × Eucalyptus globulus
Authors: Viera Márcio , Schumacher Mauro Valdir , Araújo Elias Frank
Published: October 2014

Este estudo teve como objetivo avaliar a disponibilização de nutrientes via decomposição da serapilheira foliar, em um plantio de híbrido de Eucalyptus urophylla × Eucalyptus globulus em Eldorado do Sul-RS. Foi utilizada a técnica de litter bags para a avaliação da decomposição. Ao todo, foram utilizados 648 litter bags, com coletas mensais de 18 amostras, durante o período de 36 meses. A perda de massa foliar apresentou correlação positiva com a concentração de nutrientes, indicando que, quanto maior a perda de massa, maior a concentração dos elementos no folhedo remanescente. A decomposição da serapilheira foliar apresentou inicialmente imobilização de P, Fe, Mn e Zn, e disponibilização dos demais nutrientes. O P tornou-se disponível a partir do segundo ano, enquanto o Mn e o Zn, somente a partir do terceiro ano.
Uso de imagens orbitais no geoprocessamento algébrico da microrregião da Campanha Ocidental, Rio Grande do Sul
Authors: Silva Emanuel Araújo , Pereira Rudiney Soares , Silva Caroline Kist da , Goergen Laura Camila de Godoy , Schuh Mateus Sabadi
Published: October 2014

Para analisar a transformação temporal da cobertura e do uso das terras de Campanha Ocidental no Rio Grande do Sul, utilizou-se um mosaico de imagens do satélite LANDSAT 5 (sensor Thematic Mapper), que recobre a região de estudo nos períodos de 1985, 1996 e 2011. Essas imagens foram processadas e analisadas no aplicativo SPRING 5.2.1, onde pelo qual o cruzamento dos mapas temáticos, com o auxílio da programação LEGAL (Linguagem Espacial para Geoprocessamento Algébrico), foi realizado. A agricultura e o campo foram as classes que mais influenciaram as mudanças de Uso da Terra.
Análise de modelos troposféricos no posicionamento baseado em redes usando o conceito de VRS
Authors: Oliveira Adeliton Da Fonseca De , Alves Daniele Barroca Marra , Ferreira Luiz Danilo Damasceno
Published: October 2014

Nos últimos anos, várias técnicas de posicionamento GPS (Global Positioning System) vêm sendo desenvolvidas e/ou aprimoradas com interesse de alcançar alta acurácia e produtividade em tempo real. O conceito de redes de estações de referência além de possibilitar aos usuários das comunidades civis e científicas qualidade e confiabilidade no posicionamento, permite estudos sobre a modelagem da refração troposférica na região da rede. Além disso, dentre as formas de transmissão das correções geradas pela rede ao usuário, destaca-se o conceito de VRS (Virtual Reference Station). Neste método, os dados de uma estação virtual são gerados nas proximidades do usuário, permitindo realizar posicionamento relativo em linhas de base curta com receptor de simples frequência. Neste artigo é descrita a metodologia para geração de dados da VRS com diferentes modelos troposféricos. Foram realizados testes comparativos nas quatro estações do ano com os modelos troposféricos de PNT/INPE (Previsão Numérica de Tempo/Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais) e Hopfield. Na análise de qualidade dos dados da VRS, o método PPP (Posicionamento por Ponto Preciso) proporcionou resultados satisfatórios. Foram observadas melhorias entre os modelos de PNT/INPE e Hopfield de 9,75% e 24,2% em média para dias secos e úmidos, respectivamente.
Uso de sombras na correção do efeito vinhete
Authors: Imai Nilton Nobuhiro , Polidório Airton Marco , Tommaselli Antonio Maria Garcia , Barros Anderson de Freitas
Published: October 2014

Variações do valor de brilho de alvos da superfície podem ocorrer no registro realizado por sensores imageadores. A variação desses valores de brilho que ocorrem em função da distância do pixel ao centro da imagem é conhecida como efeito vinhete e sua correção tem como objetivo oferecer um ajuste de brilho homogêneo na imagem. A proposta deste trabalho é apresentar uma metodologia para determinar um modelo de minimização desse efeito vinhete com base numa função ajustada pelo método dos mínimos quadrados, a partir dos valores de brilho de sombras. Uma das hipóteses adotadas é de que as variações de brilho registrados em pixels de sombra sejam adequadas para representar os efeitos do vinhete. Considerando que o efeito vinhete possa ser modelado como uma tendência de variação espacial dos valores de brilho da imagem foi realizada a análise de superfície de tendência de um conjunto de pixels amostrados em regiões de sombras. Foram adotadas duas abordagens para representar os valores de sombras que foram processados. A primeira, baseada nos componentes R, G e B da imagem colorida; e a segunda estratégia, do componente I da imagem HSI. A fim de avaliar a metodologia realizou-se um estudo de caso com uma imagem aérea colorida. Os experimentos mostraram que o melhor resultado foi obtido pela aplicação do modelo nas componentes RGB, permitindo concluir que o efeito vinhete pode ser modelado com base em superfícies de tendência ajustadas aos valores RGB das sombras.
Early Surgical Complications after Primary Cleft Lip Repair: A Report of 3108 Consecutive Cases
Authors: Schönmeyr Björn , Wendby Lisa , Campbell Alex
Published: October 2014

Objective

To analyze short term surgical complications after primary cleft lip repair.

Patients and Design

A total of 3108 consecutive lip repairs with 2062 follow-ups were reviewed retrospectively through medical records. Patients were aged 3 months to 75 years at the time of surgery, with a median of 7 years.

Setting

Guwahati Comprehensive Cleft Care Center, Assam, India.

Intervention

Primary cleft lip repair.

Main Outcome Measures

Documented complications in terms of dehiscence, necrosis, infection, and suture granuloma were compiled. Logistic regression was used with dehiscence (yes/no) or infection (yes/no) as binary dependant variables. Age, cleft type, and surgeon (visiting/long term) were used as covariates.

Results

Among the 2062 patients who returned for early follow-up, 90 (4.4%) had one or more complications. Dehiscence (3.2%) and infection (1.1%) were the most common types of complication. Visiting surgeon, complete cleft, and bilateral cleft were significantly associated with wound dehiscence, and complete cleft was associated with wound infection according to the logistic regression analysis. Of patients with bilateral complete clefts, 6.9% suffered from some degree of wound dehiscence.

Conclusion

In a setting where presurgical molding is unavailable and patients present at all ages, lip wound dehiscence is a relatively common complication in patients with bilateral complete clefts. The risk of dehiscence, however, is reduced when these cases are assigned to surgeons with experience with these types of clefts. We also found that the incidence of wound infection can be kept relatively low, even without the use of postoperative antibiotics.
Growth Plasticity of Junglerice (Echinochloa colona) for Resource Use When Grown with Different Rice (Oryza sativa) Planting Densities and Nitrogen Rates in Dry-Seeded Conditions
Authors: Awan Tahir Hussain , Chauhan Bhagirath Singh , Sta. Cruz Pompe C.
Published: October 2014

Junglerice is one of the world's most problematic C4grass weeds present in dry-seeded rice in many countries. A screenhouse study was conducted to determine the effect of four rice planting densities (0, 100, 200, and 400 plants m−2) and four nitrogen (N) rates (0, 50, 100, and 150 kg ha−1) on the growth and morphological plasticity of junglerice. Junglerice plant height was reduced by 15 to 35%, tiller number by 54 to 77%, leaf number by 61 to 85%, leaf area by 69 to 90%, leaf biomass by 63 to 88%, stem biomass by 70 to 92%, and inflorescence biomass by 66 to 94% at rice planting densities ranging from 100 to 400 plants m−2relative to the junglerice plants grown alone. However, all these growth parameters increased with increasing N rates. Junglerice biomass increased by 125 to 472%, whereas rice biomass increased by 122 to 285% with the application of 50 to 150 kg N ha−1. Additional N favored junglerice biomass production relative to rice. Rice crop interference (200 to 400 plants m−2) reduced junglerice growth and biomass and overshaded the junglerice plants when no N was applied. Increasing N application resulted in taller plants and higher biomass of junglerice, while it reduced root-shoot weight ratio. These results suggest that increasing N rate increased the competitive ability of the junglerice over rice regardless of crop planting density. Information generated in this study could be useful in devising appropriate combinations of planting density and fertilizer management strategies for cultural junglerice management, particularly in situations where junglerice species are more responsive than rice to N.
Effect of Cry3Bb Bt Corn and Tefluthrin on Postdispersal Weed Seed Predation
Authors: DiTommaso Antonio , Ryan Matthew R. , Mohler Charles L. , Brainard Daniel C. , Shuler Rachel E. , Allee Leslie L. , Losey John E.
Published: October 2014

Indirect effects of insect control strategies on weed populations are important to consider when developing robust integrated pest management strategies. Weed seed predation rates were investigated in corn managed under three contrasting treatments based on control practices for corn rootworm: (1) the transgenic crop Cry3Bb Bt corn, (2) the broad-spectrum insecticide tefluthrin, and (3) no insecticide control. This 2-yr field study conducted near Ithaca, NY, involved quantifying seed loss from velvetleaf, common lambsquarters, and giant foxtail in arenas with and without vertebrate exclosures. Velvetleaf and giant foxtail were unaffected by the insecticide treatment; however, average seed predation of common lambsquarters was lower in both the Bt corn (11.9%) and insecticide-treated plots (11.8%) compared with control plots (17.5%) that did not receive any insecticide. Seed predation of common lambsquarters was not affected by the vertebrate exclosure. Lower seed predation in the transgenic Bt corn and insecticide treatments was likely due to nontarget effects on carabids (Coleoptera: Carabidae). Although the reduction in seed predation was modest and limited to only one of the three weed species tested, our results highlight the need for greater risk assessment that includes the ecosystem service of weed seed predation when considering insect pest management options.
Improving Provider Compliance in the Use of an Asthma Action Plan for Patients With Asthma in an Outpatient Setting
Authors: Bundy Elaine Y. , Murphy Lyn Stankiewicz
Published: October 2014

Problem: Improved patient asthma outcomes have been demonstrated through the use of a symptom-based written asthma action plan (AAP) in reducing acute care visits (Gibson & Powell, 2004). However, despite the research and guideline recommendations that support the use of AAPs, these plans are routinely not used by providers. The aim of this quality improvement (QI) project was to improve provider compliance in the use of a symptom-based AAP. Methods: A QI project was conducted in an outpatient setting involving an educational in-service on the use of an AAP. A retrospective medical record review was conducted following an educational in-service to assess the use and completeness of the AAP (N = 42). The rate of proportional change in compliance in the use of an AAP after the educational in-service and system procedural change was analyzed and reported. Results: A statistically significant improvement in provider compliance to the use and completion of a symptom-based AAP was found at 8 weeks following an educational in-service and system procedural change. Discussion: This QI project demonstrated the effectiveness of an educational in-service in improving provider compliance in the use of and the completion of a symptom-based AAP.
Lambl’s Excrescence: An Uncommon Cause of Cardioembolic Stroke
Authors: Veloria Evangeline N.
Published: October 2014

Lambl’s excrescences are long, hypermobile, filiform structures occurring at sites of valve closure. These are thought to originate from fibrin deposition over the injured endothelium. Lambl’s excrescences have been previously associated with acute embolic stroke. Herein, the case of a previously healthy 25-year-old man found to have Lambl’s excrescence after presenting with acute ischemic stroke is described. Localization, morphology, pathogenesis, differential diagnosis, prevalence, clinical significance, and treatment options are also reviewed.
An Active Surveillance and Referral Program to Ensure Respiratory Syncytial Virus Prophylaxis for the Pediatric Congenital Heart Disease Population: A Quality Improvement Project
Authors: DeMare Carman R. , O’Keefe Catherine
Published: October 2014

Background: Congenital heart disease (CHD) is the leading cause of death within the first year of life because of birth defects. Complications related to respiratory infection caused by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) increase risks in the CHD population. Prevention is key to minimizing risk, and administration of RSV prophylaxis, palivizumab, is recommended for infants with hemodynamically significant heart disease. Objective: Use the electronic medical record (EMR) to identify and ensure appropriate referral of CHD patients eligible for RSV prophylaxis. Design: Comparative, cross-sectional study design. Setting: Cardiac specialty clinic of a regional children’s hospital. Population: CHD patients younger than 24 months of age eligible for RSV prophylaxis. Intervention: Use the EMR to develop a method for identifying CHD patients eligible for RSV prophylaxis and implement a referral process. Results: Similar number of patients in the 2 RSV seasons studied. Rates of eligibility for RSV prophylaxis over the 2 seasons were the same. Improvements in documentation of eligibility by the provider from the first season to the second. Limitations: Inability to determine referral rates. Initial EMR search did not identify patients eligible for RSV prophylaxis. Inconsistent EMR data entry. Conclusions: Ongoing education on eligibility for RSV prophylaxis. Need for automated EMR referral. Ongoing evaluation of EMR systems identifying patients eligible for RSV prophylaxis.
Radio-continuum emission from the young galactic supernova remnant G1.9+0.3
Authors: de Horta , Filipovic M.D. , Crawford E.J. , Stootman F.H. , Pannuti T.G. , Bozzetto L.M. , Collier J.D. , Sommer E.R. , Kosakowski A.R.
Published: October 2014

We present an analysis of a new Australia Telescope Compact Array (ATCA)
radio-continuum observation of supernova remnant (SNR) G1.9+0.3, which at an
age of ~181?25 years is the youngest known in the Galaxy. We analysed all
available radio-continuum observations at 6-cm from the ATCA and Very Large
Array. Using this data we estimate an expansion rate for G1.9+0.3 of
0.563%?0.078% per year between 1984 and 2009. We note that in the 1980's
G1.9+0.3 expanded somewhat slower (0.484% per year) than more recently
(0.641% per year). We estimate that the average spectral index between 20-cm
and 6-cm, across the entire SNR is ?={0.72?0.26 which is typical for younger
SNRs. At 6-cm, we detect an average of 6% fractionally polarised radio
emission with a peak of 17%?3%. The polarised emission follows the contours
of the strongest of X-ray emission. Using the new equipartition formula we
estimate a magnetic field strength of B?273?G, which to date, is one of the
highest magnetic field strength found for any SNR and consistent with
G1.9+0.3 being a very young remnant.
Touch, Fear, and Child Protection: Immoral Panic and Immoral Crusade
Authors: Piper Heather
Published: October 2014

This contrarian article revisits the concept of moral panic as applied by the author in previous writing on intergenerational touch, child abuse, and child protection, in terms of its current utility in analysing related policy and practice. Engagement in the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) Seminar Series, Revisiting Moral Panics prompted a reconsideration of the author's deployment of the concept, supported by some historic and more recent theoretical debates. To this end the article: refers to the author's research focusing on touch in various in loco parentis contexts; revisits various approaches to moral panic to inform current understanding; and considers the applicability in related contexts of focusing on the notion of ‘crusade’ rather than on ‘panic’. Finally the paper explores the author's current conception and understanding of these phenomena, prompting an argument that not only is the notion of ‘panic’ inadequate, but the use of ‘moral’ is also questionable; suggesting the label ‘immoral’ to be more appropriate.
Education for Power: English Language in the Workplace
Authors: Hunter Judy , Cooke David
Published: October 2014

Developed countries around the world are increasingly competing for highly skilled, educated immigrants. A case in point is Aotearoa New Zealand (NZ). The NZ Immigration Service actively encourages skilled migrants, and around the country there are numerous English language programmes focussing on English for employment. The dominant focus of these programmes is on migrants' acquisition of correct, appropriate language form, with some attention to intercultural communication. In the view of the authors, this focus is reductionist and provides inadequate preparation for communication in the workplace. This article considers ambiguity and power relations in positioning and interpreting migrant employees in the workplace. Two sets of data are drawn upon. First, a workplace ethnography in a ‘migrant friendly’ NZ engineering office reveals a management culture that exercises the power of the dominant Anglo-Saxon population to control and exclude a Japanese migrant engineer. Second, a published analysis of immigrant employees' interactions is revisited in order to interrogate the interpretation of workplace texts and underlying discourses of ‘appropriate’ workplace language. The analysis traces implications for both formal and informal education, and the discussion raises larger questions of social justice concerning migrants.
Post-Identitarian Postgraduate Pedagogy: Deleuzian Mediation and Resistance to ‘Measuring Up’
Authors: Done Elizabeth J. , Murphy Mike , Knowler Helen
Published: October 2014

’Measuring up’ in postgraduate education implies correctness, correspondence and conformity to institutional and governmental imperatives. Following Deleuze, such imperatives are conceptualised in this article as neoliberal striation of educational space. Two corollaries of the marketisation of higher education and neoliberal instrumentalism are fearful compliance and a lexicon in which truth or freedom has no place. The authors explore the affective dimension of learning which neoliberal educational discourse renders invisible. Deleuze, like Foucault, defines truth as unhiddenness or the making visible of things that would otherwise remain hidden. Deleuzian truth-telling is the production of a problem that must be recognised as such and mediation is an essential feature of praxis as resistance. The authors explain the role of mediators using examples drawn from their own academic and teaching practices. Going beyond critique is an important theme of this article. The authors problematise a recent implicit suggestion that teacher educators disregard fearful compliance and instead prioritise the conceptualisation of the joy in learning in the present. A later characterisation of good academic research, as research which shows us that we are freer than we think we are, is endorsed as it mediates transgression of neopositivist orthodoxies. Mediation implies a field of sub-personal intensities in which, following Foucault, being oneself no longer makes sense or, following Deleuze, subjectivity is paradoxically both collective and individual.
Association between oral health status and retrovirus test results in cats
Authors: Kornya Mathew R. , Little Susan E. , Scherk Margie A. , Sears William C. , Bienzle Dorothee
Published: October 2014

Objective—To determine associations between oral health status and seropositivity for FIV or FeLV in cats.

Design—Cross-sectional survey.

Animals—5,179 cats.

Procedures—Veterinarians at veterinary clinics and animal shelters completed online training on oral conditions in cats and then scored oral health status of cats with no known history of vaccination against FIV. Age, sex, and results of an ELISA for retroviruses were recorded. Results were analyzed by means of standard logistic regression with binary outcome.

Results—Of 5,179 cats, 237 (4.6%) and 186 (3.6%) were seropositive for FIV and FeLV, respectively, and of these, 12 (0.2%) were seropositive for FIV and FeLV. Of all 5,179 cats, 1,073 (20.7%) had gingivitis, 576 (11.1%) had periodontitis, 203 (3.9%) had stomatitis, and 252 (4.9%) had other oral conditions (overall oral disease prevalence, 2,104/5,179 [40.6%]). Across all age categories, inflammatory oral disease was associated with a significantly higher risk of a positive test result for FIV, compared with the seropositivity risk associated with other oral diseases or no oral disease. Stomatitis was most highly associated with risk of FIV seropositivity. Cats with any oral inflammatory disease were more likely than orally healthy cats to have a positive test result for FeLV. Increasing age was associated with a higher prevalence of oral disease in retrovirus-seronegative cats.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Inflammatory oral disease was associated with an increased risk of seropositivity for retroviruses in naturally infected cats. Therefore, retroviral status of cats with oral inflammatory disease should be determined and appropriate management initiated.
Outcome and prognostic factors for osteosarcoma of the maxilla, mandible, or calvarium in dogs: 183 cases (1986–2012)
Authors: Selmic Laura E. , Lafferty Mary H. , Kamstock Debra A. , Garner Alana , Ehrhart Nicole P. , Worley Deanna R. , Withrow Stephen J. , Lana Susan E.
Published: October 2014

Objective—To describe the biological behavior, clinical outcome, and prognostic factors of osteosarcoma of the maxilla, mandible, or calvarium in dogs.

Design—Retrospective case series.

Animals—183 client-owned dogs with osteosarcoma of the maxilla, mandible, or calvarium.

Procedures—Medical records for dogs treated for osteosarcoma of the maxilla, mandible, or calvarium from 1986 through 2012 were reviewed. Dogs with a histopathologic diagnosis of osteosarcoma and treated for a primary tumor arising from these bones of the head were included.

Results—Mean age was 9.3 years, and body weight was 31.8 kg (70.0 lb). Most dogs (124/183 [67.8%]) were purebred, and the most common primary tumor site was the maxilla (80 [43.7%]). Treatments included palliative medical treatment only (11/183 [6.0%]), coarsely fractionated radiation therapy (RT; 12 [6.6%]), fractionated or stereotactic RT (18 [9.8%]), surgery (135 [73.8%]), and both surgery and fractionated RT (7 [3.8%]). Eighty-three (45.4%) dogs received adjuvant chemotherapy. Local recurrence or progression occurred in 80 of 156 (51.3%) dogs, and 60 of 156 (38.5%) dogs developed distant metastases. Median survival time for all dogs was 239 days. Dogs that underwent surgery had a median survival time of 329 days. Histologically tumor-free surgical margins were associated with significantly decreased hazards of progression or recurrence (hazard ratio [HR], 0.4) and death (HR, 0.5). Dogs with osteosarcoma of the calvarium had a significantly greater hazard of local recurrence or progression (HR, 2.0).

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—In this study, tumor excision in dogs with histologically tumor-free margins resulted in better local control and longer survival time than did other treatment types.
Dynamics of tree layer composition, tree age and large
diameter trees in Habitats Directive Annex I forest
habitats in Estonia on the basis of monitoring data
collected from 2010–2012
Authors: Palo Anneli , Gimbutas Mark
Published: October 2014

The protection of late-succession forest habitats and continuous woodlands
is the primary goal in Estonian forest nature conservation. Therefore ecological
qualities of almost all forest stands in Estonian protected areas are described. Forest
patches will be mapped and protected as Annex I forest habitats if they have enough
structural and functional qualities. The member states of the European Union report
in every six years about the conservation status of European Habitats Directive Annex
I habitats. Changes in area as well as changes in habitat type’s structure and
functions are also declared. In the present paper the dynamics in tree species composition,
stand age and larger diameter trees of monitored Annex I forest habitats
is analyzed. The mean age of stands is older than the Estonian mean value, but it
is only slightly higher than the cutting age of the corresponding tree species. The
mean diameter of larger living trees is in general larger than dead wood, which
is indicative of the forest succession and historical low-intensive forest management.
Currently, conservation activities support natural succession in forests that
formerly were managed economically. Therefore, changes in the composition of
tree layer species are to be expected. The dominance of spruce and the abundance
of broad-leaved trees are increasing in non-managed forest habitats. In contrast, the
proportion of pine, birch and aspen decreases significantly. In general the number
of tree species in habitat patches will increase; thereby the dominance of certain
species will decline. According to the Estonian interpretation of the forest types in
the Manual of the Habitats Directive, some stands with changed main tree species
will need to be reclassified. Therefore the area of some forest habitat types may
increase in the future. On contrary the area and functional quality of some other
habitat types may decrease.
Optimal Control of Mobile Agents for Monitoring of Points on a Network
Authors: Sgurev V. , Drangajov S.
Published: October 2014

This paper concerns the problems of finding optimal trajectories between nodes on a network, which must be periodically surveyed, and probably serviced. It is shown, that such trajectories may be generated if optimal Hamiltonian cycles are used between the separate network nodes under inspection. It is known that the Hamiltonian path problem is NP-complete, but an edge decomposition of the network is proposed. This is performed by reducing in a particular way to network flow circulations. The requirements and the equations for describing such circulation are pointed out. Defining of the optimal circulations of the mobile agents is reduced to network flow programming problems. A numerical example is presented for solving a similar class of monitoring problems by mobile agents.
Adaptive Tuning Functions Tracking Control with Nonlinear Adaptive Observers
Authors: Mishkov R. , Petrov V.
Published: October 2014

The paper is dedicated to the derivation of a unified approach for nonlinear adaptive closed loop system design with nonlinear adaptive state and parameter observers combined with tuning functions-based nonlinear adaptive control for trajectory tracking. The proposed approach guarantees asymptotic stability of the closed loop nonlinear adaptive system with respect to the tracking and state estimation errors and Lyapunov stability of the parameter estimator. The advantages of the approach are the lack of over-parametrization, resulting in a minimal number of estimator equations and the preservation of the overdamped performance specifications of the closed loop nonlinear adaptive system in its whole range of operation. The application of the approach to a permanent magnet synchronous motor driven inverted pendulum concludes with simulation of the closed loop nonlinear adaptive system time responses.
General Forms of a Class of Multivariable Regression Models
Authors: Efremov A.
Published: October 2014

There are two possible general forms of multiple input multiple output (MIMO) regression models, which are either linear with respect to their parameters or non-linear, but in order to estimate their parameters, at a certain stage it could be assumed that they are linear. This is in fact the basic assumption behind the linear approach for parameters estimation. There are two possible representations of a MIMO model, which at a certain level could be fictitiously presented as linear functions of its parameters. One representation is when the parameters are collected in a matrix and hence, the regressors are in a vector. The other possible case is the parameters to be in a vector, but the regressors at a given instant to be placed in a matrix. Both types of representations are considered in the paper. Their advantages and disadvantages are summarized and their applicability within the whole experimental modelling process is also discussed.
New indicators to compare and evaluate harmful drug use among adolescents in 38 European countries
Authors: Mammone Alessia , Fabi Francesco , Colasante Emanuela , Siciliano Valeria , Molinaro Sabrina , Kraus Ludwig , Rossi Carla
Published: October 2014

Aims

New trends in drug consumption reveal increasing polydrug use. Epidemiological indicators in the current use are based on the prevalence and the associated potential harm of a single “main” substance. We propose new indicators to evaluate frequency and potential harm of polydrug use. The indicators are used to compare drug use among countries based on survey data on adolescents' substance use in 38 European countries.

Methods

The approach is based on analysis of the frequency of use in the various population samples: lifetime use, twelve months use or last thirty days, depending on available data, and on the risk of harm for the substances used. Two indicators are provided: the frequency of use score (FUS) by summing the frequency of use of each substance, and the polydrug use score (PDS) that weight all the substances used by their risk.

Results

The indicators FUS and PDS were calculated and the distribution functions were used to characterise substance use across ESPAD countries. The analysis shows important differences in poly-substance use severity among countries presenting similar prevention policies.

Conclusions

Systematic analysis of substance use and the related risk are of paramount interest. The proposed indicators are designed to better monitor and understand consequences of polydrug use and to measure the resulting risk at country or population level. The indicators may also be used to assess the effects of policy interventions.
Cannabis use and Drug Related Problems among Adolescents in 27 European Countries: The Utility of the Prevention Paradox
Authors: Romelsjö Anders , Danielsson Anna-Karin , Wennberg Peter , Hibell Björn
Published: October 2014

Aims

To study the prevalence of cannabis use and drug-related problems among European adolescents and the utility of the prevention paradox.

Methods

Survey data from the European School Survey Project on Alcohol and Other Drugs (ESPAD) in 2007 in the 27 countries with information about drug use and drug-related problems was used. We analysed the proportion of all drug-related problems that occurred in a high risk group and among others who had used cannabis in the previous 12 months. The cut-off for the high risk group was chosen to include 10-15 % of the most frequent cannabis users.

Results

The high risk groups accounted for a substantial, but a minority, of drug-related problems among boys as well as girls. A minority of those who had used cannabis reported any drug-related problem. The proportion of adolescents with drug-related problems and the average number of problems increased with frequency of cannabis use.

Conclusions

We find support for policy measures of more general character, supported by the prevention paradox. However, this does not exclude a policy supporting frequent drug users if they can be identified
Demographic and social correlates of tobacco, alcohol and cannabis use among 15-16-year-old students in Albania: Results of the ESPAD survey
Authors: Toçi Ervin , çanaku Dorina , Bregu Arjan , Kakarriqi Eduard , Roshi Enver , Burazeri Genc
Published: October 2014

Aims

Our aim was to assess the demographic and social factors associated with lifetime use of tobacco, alcohol and cannabis among school students aged 15-16 in Albania in order to make information and knowledge available for health promotion specialists working on substance use prevention.

Design

This cross-sectional study was conducted in March-May 2011 in the framework of the European School Survey Project on Alcohol and Other Drugs (ESPAD). In total, 3189 students born in 1995 participated in the survey. The standardised ESPAD questionnaire was used to collect data about substance use.

Results

Our multivariable adjustment analysis showed that being a male and having easy access to cigarettes were the only universal factors significantly increasing the likelihood of ever using tobacco, alcohol or cannabis. Own smoking was strongly and significantly associated with alcohol and cannabis use. The associations of own substance use with peer substance consumption were weak to moderate.

Conclusions

Own smoking seems to be the most important single independent risk factor which strongly and significantly predicted alcohol and cannabis use among Albanian school students. Policy makers need to strengthen the rule of law whereas health promotion professionals should firmly address smoking in adolescence through target interventions.
Assessment of professional competency and need of smoking cessation counseling for dental students
Authors: Dable Rajani A. , Wasnik Pradnya B. , Pawar Babita R. , Bopardikar Sujit S. , Nagmode Sunilkumar N.
Published: October 2014

Purpose: The aim of this study was to analyze the smoking prevalence among dental students and to assess the need for promoting tobacco education and intervention by exploring their knowledge about smoking related risk factors. The study also examined the attitudes and practices of the students toward tobacco consumption, and their responsibilities toward the community. Methods: In total, 53 male students participated in the study (21 juniors and 32 seniors). The training program was divided into three modules, and the questionnaire was administered before and after the counseling sessions, which provided the comparative data on the students’ views about smoking cessation. Results: The most commonly practiced mode of tobacco consumption was found to be cigarette smoking (90.6 %), while a few consumed Gutkha (9.4%). All the junior students (100%) reported to have been benefitted by the counseling program, while 68.8% of the students from the senior group reported the same. Bivariate statistical analysis was conducted using the Pearson’s chi-square test for testing the difference across the age groups. P-values less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant. Conclusion: Curbing tobacco influence on dental students in their initial days can ensure a smoke-free life for them, as well as prevents them from feeling embarrassed or experiencing a lack of confidence while seeing their patients. Thus, tobacco education and intervention programs can motivate the students and increase their potential to be credible advisors regarding smoking cessation.
Efficient Assessment of Social Hotspots in the Supply Chains of 100 Product Categories Using the Social Hotspots Database
Authors: Norris Catherine , Norris Gregory , Aulisio Deana
Published: October 2014

Data collection, or the inventory step, is often the most labor-intensive phase of any Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) study. The S-LCA Guidelines and numerous authors have recommended generic assessment in this first phase of an S-LCA. In an effort to identify the social hotspots in the supply chains of 100 product categories during just a few months’ time, adopting a streamlined approach was essential. The Social Hotspots Database system was developed by New Earth over 5 years. It includes a Global Input Output (IO) model derived from the Global Trade Analysis Project, a Worker Hours Model constructed using annual wage payments and wage rates by country and sector, and Social Theme Tables covering 22 themes within five Social Impact Categories—Labor Rights and Decent Work, Health and Safety, Human Rights, Governance and Community Impacts. The data tables identify social risks for over 100 indicators. Both the ranking of worker hour intensity and the risk levels across multiple social themes for the Country Specific Sectors (CSS) within a product category supply chain are used to calculate Social Hotspots Indexes (SHI) using an additive weighting method. The CSS with the highest SHI are highlighted as social hotspots within the supply chain of the product in question. This system was tested in seven case studies in 2011. In order to further limit the number of hotspots, a set of prioritization rules was applied. This paper will review the method implemented to study the social hotspots of the 100 product categories and provide one detailed example. Limitations of the approach and recommended research avenues will be outlined.
Maxima and Octave in Development of Online Applications: Service Based Approach
Authors: Zakova Katarina
Published: October 2014

The paper shows a way for fast development of interactive online applications that can be used in teaching process. It introduces the web service implemented in PHP programming language for two free computer algebra systems Maxima and Octave. It can be later used for building web applications that need to solve some mathematical tasks during their running. The example of such implementation is also shown.
Enhancing the Interoperability of Multimedia Learning Objects Based on the Ontology Mapping
Authors: Chaker Jihad , Khaldi Mohamed , Aammou Souhaib
Published: October 2014

This article addresses the interoperability between the semantic learning platforms and the educational resources banks, more precisely between the LOM and MPEG-7 standards. LOM is a set of metadata associated with e-learning content, while MPEG-7 is a standard for describing multimedia content. The use of educational resources has become an essential component to meet the learning needs. Given the multimedia nature of these resources, such use causes problems in the interoperability of multimedia learning objects in e-Learning environments, indexing and retrieval of digital resources. Faced with these problems, we propose a new approach for the multimedia learning objects by using the ontology mapping between the LOM and MPEG-7 ontologies.
Open Educational Resources as a Tool to Improve Language Education Effectiveness in the Russian Higher Institutions
Authors: Sidorenko Tatiana
Published: October 2014

An attempt of Russian universities to move forward to the leading positions in the world rankings has resulted in some initiatives to enhance their activities on the market of education services. Under these conditions, foreign language proficiency is no longer a luxury and it is becoming an important tool to implement goals of university development. In this regard, new methods and techniques of foreign language teaching are highly demanded, which would significantly improve the language competency of both students and faculty members. A search for effective methods to enhance foreign language teaching makes analyze Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) open educational platforms and consider an opportunity for these platforms to be integrated into the existing system of foreign language teaching in Russian higher education institutions. Based on the research findings, the author concludes that it is irrational to use the resources as embedded components without significant adjustment to the conditions existing in the current higher education system.
Making Sense of Science
Authors: El-Farargy Nancy
Published: October 2014

This review outlines a research-informed teaching case study based on adult learners of chemistry within the Scottish Further Education (FE) sector. It provides some strategies for success in supporting non-major chemistry students and provides some practical ways forward for improving attitudes to learning chemistry and in studying the subject further. An overview of why science, and in particular chemistry, may be perceived to be difficult to learn is discussed, as well as links to the evidence base that outlines the facilitation of meaningful and relevant learning. Through a chemistry curriculum redesign, discussions on the shift of attitudes, perceptions of learning, difficulties, and preferred topics in lessons are discussed. In addition, a general overview of the science education scene in Further Education is presented. Based on research evidence and educational neuroscience, there are suggested implications for educators in supporting adult students learning non-major science courses.
Implementing the Understanding by Design Framework in Higher Education
Authors: Alhamisi Judy , Glimps Blanche Jackson , Okezie Chukwunyere E.
Published: October 2014

This chapter describes an organizational initiative to develop and implement the Understanding by Design (UbD) curriculum-planning framework to improve learning outcomes for teacher candidates and their students during clinical experiences and in their future classrooms. This case study explores a pedagogical approach that has met with success in working with teacher candidates. The focus is on a narrow range of knowledge, skills, and dispositions related to effective teaching in science education: the ability to design, plan, and implement curriculum. Curriculum design using the Understanding by Design (UbD) Framework is a high priority when moving from simply covering subject matter to ensuring deep understanding. Using “Backward Design” helped many teacher candidates develop skills to plan effective science curriculum, units, and lessons. The experiences of two teacher education programs in building teacher candidates' skills in planning and implementing science education curriculum using the UbD Framework are presented in this case study.
Transdisciplinary Research in Sustainable Scientific Education in the Field of Urbanism and Architecture
Authors: Perović Svetlana
Published: October 2014

The chapter presents a case study based on transdisciplinary research, which was conducted at the Faculty of Architecture in Podgorica and is an innovation in architectural and urban practice of higher education in Montenegro. The study is based on the view that autonomous action of disciplines in the case of architecture and urbanism as multidisciplinary activities is limited, and an integrated approach to solving complex problems in the urban system is required. A global approach to research and solving urban issues is an important actor of sustainable development, where universities are central in this process. Collaborative educational discourses with a high degree of cooperation can develop an adequate platform for responses to the complex issues of the urban system. Producing experts with a developed awareness of a comprehensive understanding of the problem and transdisciplinary collaborative knowledge can strongly contribute to sustainable improvement, control, and management of urban spaces.
Pre-Service Teachers' Self-Efficacy and Attitudes toward Learning and Teaching Science in a Content Course
Authors: Smith-Walters Cindi , Barker Heather L.
Published: October 2014

Science teaching is approached with hesitation by many PreK-8 teachers. This chapter explores the research on attitudes toward science and learning science as well as the perceived science efficacy of elementary pre-service teachers. It also describes a content-based, pedagogically rich life science course for pre-service preK-8 teachers that incorporates active and interactive teaching techniques in lieu of the traditional science methods course. Using evidence from this project and other research studies, the chapter argues for the inclusion and modeling of these approaches when preparing teachers of science and proposes that this non-traditional approach for teaching content-based courses for preparing teachers be considered in place of traditional science methods courses.
Research Institutions
Authors: Williams K. Y.
Published: October 2014

Students that have been educated from online institutions do not readily receive the hands-on experience needed to make an easy transition into research-based institutions, research-intensive laboratories, or into the workforce. Online instruction does not cultivate the knowledge that comes from hands-on experience and experimentation. This type of experience is better facilitated via in-person interaction. In online institutions students only receive interaction via email, online discussion boards, or through phone calls. This does not allow for instructors to sufficiently improve upon the student's skills, assist in the development of their knowledge, or evaluate students' hands-on abilities within the science field. Within this case study, the author outlines some of the basic items that students should have been exposed to within their programs of study and state some of the issues that students in online institutions face when they are educated in an online setting and then transition to research-intensive settings. The author also outlines ways to assist students with these transitions and the types of facilities needed to assist students.
From Ancient Chinese Sages to Modern People Management Principles
Authors: Zheng Connie
Published: October 2014

This chapter reviews the legacy of several ancient Chinese sages (i.e. Guanzi, Hanfeizi, Shangyang, Xunzi, and Yanzi) and explores their thinking of ruling the state and managing the people. The thoughts of the old are compared with those known in the mainstream Western management texts. Striking similarities in thoughts and key organization and management issues of old and new are identified. For contemporary organizations to be successful, essential people-management principles must be espoused to sustain organizations for a long term as to preserve ancient states. Nonetheless, the world is in ceaseless change, dynasties and nations rise and fall as organizations acquire, merge, die, or emerge as new. Despite perpetual principles, management techniques require constant adaptation to meet modern challenges.
The Practice of Open Innovation in Chinese Enterprises
Authors: Chen Jin , Chen Yufen
Published: October 2014

Along with the increasing pace and complexity of technology, the importance of external knowledge exploitation has been acknowledged by many researchers and practitioners. How to manage the innovation efficiently is an important issue for firms to enhance competitiveness. Based on the essentials of open innovation, this chapter describes the conditions of openness in the process of innovation in Chinese enterprises. This chapter summarizes some modes for the organization of open innovation in Chinese enterprises, including all employees participate in the innovation process, users involve in the innovation, suppliers participate in the innovation, collaborations with firms in other industries and competitors, cooperation with universities and research institutes, and also intellectual property licensing. Finally, this chapter introduces a case of open innovation practice in Baosteel, which is a famous manufacturing enterprise in China.