bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Changes in Emotional-Social Intelligence, Caring, Leadership and Moral Judgment during Health Science Education Programs
Authors: Larin Helene , Benson Gerry , Wessel Jean , Martin Lynn , Ploeg Jenny
Published: March 2014

In addition to having academic knowledge and clinical skills, health professionals need to be caring, ethical practitioners able to understand the emotional concerns of their patients and to effect change. The purpose of this study was to determine whether emotional-social intelligence, caring, leadership and moral judgment of health science students change from the beginning to the end of their programs. Students from nursing, bachelor of health science and two physical therapy programs completed self-report questionnaires to evaluate emotional-social intelligence [BarOn Emotional Quotient Inventory: Short (EQ-i:S)], caring [Caring Ability Inventory (CAI)] and leadership [Self-Assessment Leadership Inventory] at the beginning and end of their programs. Students in three of the programs also completed a test of moral decision-making [Defining Issues Test (DIT-2)] at both time points. Two-way analyses of variance (program versus time) demonstrated significant time effects for the total score of EQ-i:S, the Knowing subscale of CAI and the N2 score of the DIT-2. There were no major differences between programs. It can be concluded that health science students show small improvements in emotional-social intelligence, caring and moral judgment from the beginning to the end of their educational programs.
Public deliberation as a teaching andragogy: Implications for adult student learning from a doctoral higher education policy course
Authors: Johnson Matthew , Partlo Margaret , Hullender Tammy , Akanwa Emmanuel , Burke Heather , Todd Jerry , Alwood Christine
Published: March 2014

Public deliberation provides an inclusive and robust mechanism for making shared decisions in community and political settings; however, its application to teaching and learning remains underutilized (McMillan & Harriger, 2007). This manuscript reports on a case study of the use of public deliberation as a teaching andragogy in a graduate level course in higher education policy, which showed that public deliberation creates greater ownership of the course, fosters critical thinking and student agency, and implicates taking action.
How Learning Works: 7 Research-Based Principles for Smart Teaching
Authors: Gauthier Launa
Published: March 2014

Publisher Description: Distilling the research literature and translating the scientific approach into language relevant to a college or university teacher, this book introduces seven general principles of how students learn. The authors have drawn on research from a breadth of perspectives (cognitive, developmental, and social psychology; educational research; anthropology; demographics; organizational behavior) to identify a set of key principles underlying learning, from how effective organization enhances retrieval and use of information to what impacts motivation. Integrating theory with real-classroom examples in practice, this book helps faculty to apply cognitive science advances to improve their own teaching.
A novel method for calibration and monitoring of time synchronization of TOF-PET scanners by means of cosmic rays
Authors: Silarski Michał , Czerwiński Eryk , Bednarski Tomasz , Moskal Paweł , Białas Piotr , Kapłon Łukasz , Kochanowski Andrzej , Korcyl Grzegorz , Kowal Jakub , Kowalski Paweł , Kozik Tomasz , Krzemień Wojciech , Molenda Marcin , Niedźwiecki Szymon , Pałka Marek , Pawlik Monika , Raczyński Lech , Rudy Zbigniew , Salabura Piotr , Sharma Neha Gupta , Słomski Artur , Smyrski Jerzy , Strzelecki Adam , Wiślicki Wojciech , Zieliński Marcin , Zoń Natalia
Published: March 2014

All of the present methods for calibration and monitoring of time-of-flight positron emission tomography (TOF-PET) scanner detectors utilize radioactive isotopes, such as 22Na or 68Ge, which are placed or rotate inside the scanner. In this article, we describe a novel method based on the cosmic rays application to the PET calibration and monitoring methods. The concept allows to overcome many of the drawbacks of the present methods and it is well suited for newly developed TOF-PET scanners with a large longitudinal field of view. The method enables also the monitoring of the quality of the scintillator materials and in general allows for the continuous quality assurance of the PET detector performance.
An experimental study and model development of poly(ethylene terephthalate) yarn morphology
Authors: Yildirim Kenan , Ulcay Yusuf
Published: March 2014

In this study, macromolecular arrangements in fibers were investigated and a novel approach based on model development for partially oriented (POY) polyethylene terephthalate (PET) yarn morphology was proposed. Differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) analysis, Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) analysis, boiling water shrinkage and tensile tests were performed through the study. DSC thermogram, FT-IR spectra, stress-strain curve, the change in the boiling water shrinkage properties and data from the literature were used to develop the model for POY PET fiber morphology. In order to make a comparison, textured PET yarn morphology was also investigated. The neck formations during tensile tests, cold crystallization on the DSC thermogram, peak formation on the FT-IR spectrum of the POY PET yarn after texturizing and shrinkage test at 971 and 845 cm-1 and shrinkage phenomenon have been explained by this model.
Effect of an anionic surfactant upon the viscosity of poly(ethylene glycol) in dilute solution
Authors: Chen Xiaoming , Ding Yi , Yang Mingdi
Published: March 2014

The reduced viscosity of poly(ethylene glycol) in solutions containing a certain concentration of sodium bis(2-ethylhexyl) sulfosuccinate (AOT) was measured. It has been found that the Huggins coefficient kH and the intrinsic viscosity [η] of polymer solution are very sensitive to the concentration of surfactants, CAOT, in solution. If CAOT is less than CMC, the critical micelle concentration of AOT, kH decreases and [η] increases rapidly with CAOT. On the other hand, if CAOT is greater than CMC, kH increases and [η] decreases rapidly with CAOT. The experimental results indicate that the inter- and intra-molecular association of poly(ethylene glycol) in solution is greatly associated with AOT interacted with polymer chain.
How to discover a metabolic pathway? An update on gene identification in aliphatic glucosinolate biosynthesis, regulation and transport
Authors: Jensen Lea Møller , Halkier Barbara Ann , Burow Meike
Published: March 2014

Identification of enzymes, regulators and transporters involved in different metabolic processes is the foundation to understand how organisms function. There are, however, many difficulties in identifying candidate genes as well as in proving their in vivo roles. In this review, we describe different approaches utilized in Arabidopsis thaliana to identify gene candidates and experiments required to prove the function of a given candidate. For example, we use the production of methionine-derived aliphatic glucosinolates that represent major defence compounds in A. thaliana. Nearly all biosynthetic genes, as well as the first sets of regulators and transporters, have been identified. An array of approaches, i.e. classical mapping, quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping, eQTL mapping, co-expression, genome wide association studies (GWAS), mutant screens and phylogenetic analyses, has been exploited to increase the number of identified genes. Here we summarize the lessons learned from the different approaches used over the years with the aim to help designing and combining new approaches in the future.
Characterizing the Adequacy, Effectiveness, and Barriers Related to Research Mentorship Among Junior Pediatric Hospitalists and General Pediatricians at a Large Academic Institution
Authors: Ragsdale Judith R. , Vaughn Lisa M. , Klein Melissa
Published: February 2014

Objective:

The purpose of this qualitative study was to characterize the adequacy, effectiveness, and barriers related to research mentorship among junior pediatric hospitalists and general pediatricians at a large academic institution.

Methods:

Junior faculty and staff physicians in hospital medicine and general pediatrics at a large academic institution were invited to participate in this qualitative study. In-depth interviews were conducted. Experienced mentors were invited to be interviewed for theoretical sampling. Interviews were conducted and analyzed by using grounded theory methodology.

Results:

Twenty-six (75%) of the eligible physicians, pediatric hospitalists representing 65% of this sample, agreed to be interviewed about their mentoring experiences. Satisfied and dissatisfied participants expressed similar mentoring themes: acquisition of research skills, academic productivity, and career development. Four experienced mentors were interviewed and provided rationale for mentoring clinicians in research. Both groups of participants agreed that institutional support is vital for promoting mentorship.

Conclusions:

Junior pediatric hospitalists and general pediatricians indicated considerable interest in being mentored to learn to do clinical research. Developing faculty and staff physicians to their utmost potential is critical for advancement in academic medicine. Mentoring clinical physicians seeking to add research skills and academic productivity to their practice merits study as an innovative path to develop clinical investigators. Hospital medicine, as a rapidly developing pediatric specialty, is well-positioned to implement the necessary infrastructure to mentor junior faculty in their academic pursuits, thereby optimizing the potential impact for individuals, families, learners, and institutions.
Novel algorithm of anemia
Authors: Egyed Miklós
Published: March 2014

The author presents a novel algorithm for anaemia based on the erythrocyte haemoglobin content. The scheme is based on the aberrations of erythropoiesis and not on the pathophysiology of anaemia. The hemoglobin content of one erytrocyte is between 28–35 picogram. Any disturbance in hemoglobin synthesis can lead to a lower than 28 picogram hemoglobin content of the erythrocyte which will lead to hypochromic anaemia. In contrary, disturbances of nucleic acid metabolism will result in a hemoglobin content greater than 36 picogram, and this will result in hyperchromic anaemia. Normochromic anemia, characterised by hemoglobin content of erythrocytes between 28 and 35 picogram, is the result of alteration in the proliferation of erythropoeisis. Based on these three categories of anaemia, a unique system can be constructed, which can be used as a model for basic laboratory investigations and work-up of anaemic patients. Orv. Hetil., 2014, 155(10), 376–382.
Strong tough gels for 3D tissue constructs
Authors: Calvert Paul , in het Panhuis Marc , Spinks Geoffrey , Gorkin Robert , Stevens Leo , Bakarich Shannon E. , Balding Paul , Kirchmajer Damian M.
Published: March 2014

The mechanical characteristics of ionic-covalent entanglement hydrogels consisting of combinations of the biopolymers gellan gum and kappa-carrageenan, and the synthetic polymers polyacrylamide and an epoxy amine were investigated. Compression testing showed that these gels exhibited “double network” behavior, i.e. strong tough gels.
The Effect of Substrate Wettability on Hydrazine-Processed CZTS Thin Films
Authors: Song Zhaoning , Phillips Adam B. , Xie Yao , Khanal Rajendra R. , Stone Jon M. , Heben Michael J.
Published: February 2014

We report a study on the wetting and spreading of hydrazine-CZTS solution on a series of solid surfaces. The work of adhesion between a hydrazine solution and soda-lime glass, Si, graphite, ITO, SnO2, ZnO, CdS, In2S3, Cu, Au, Ag, Al, Ni, Mo, and carbon single-walled nanotubes was calculated using observed contact angles and the areas of the interface. The surface roughness of drop-casted CZTS precursor films was lower on surfaces with better hydrazine wettability. This suggests that the surface roughness of solution-processed films can be controlled by altering the wetting behavior of the solution on the substrate.
High Resolution DNA Imaging by Dynamic Atomic Force Microscopy: The Effect of the Substrate and Sample Preparation
Authors: Tang Tzu-Chieh , Amadei Carlo A. , Chiesa Matteo
Published: March 2014

Adsorption of charged biomolecules onto atomically flat mica substrates is facilitated by the deposition of metal ions. Despite successfully acting as preferential anchoring sites, the presence of ions on the mica surface also changes its physicochemical characteristics something that is rarely quantified from a nanoscale point of view. In this study the nanoscale physicochemical properties of nickel-functionalized Muscovite mica are investigated by reconstructing the conservative force profile between an atomic force microscopy (AFM) tip and the surface. Various nickel ion concentrations (i.e. 1.0 mM to 20.0 mM) along with different incubation times (30 seconds and 5 minutes) are directly analyzed. Details in the spatial and temporal variations in surface properties due to the ion mediated adsorption of water are presented in details and in light of the binding efficiency of the metal ions. This insight benefits our understanding in the behavior of ion distribution that plays a crucial role in biomolecule imaging using AFM.
Molecular Mechanics of Organic Composite Materials: A Case Study of Cellulose-Adhesive System
Authors: Tam Lik-ho , Lau Denvid
Published: March 2014

Organic composite materials can be readily found in our daily life, such as plywood used in construction industry and bamboo composites as indoor and outdoor flooring materials. These organic composite material systems consist of cellulose fibers bonded with each other through adhesives, leading to a bonded system with a gradient structure that possesses a unique structural behavior which has a great potential to be used as load-bearing building materials. In view of the manufacturing process of such composite material systems and the structure in-between the cellulose fibers and the adhesives, the interfacial adhesion of such systems at multiscale would play a major role in determining their capability in load-bearing structural applications. In this research work, the interface between cellulose fiber and phenol-formaldehyde adhesive is chosen as a representative of the organic composite material system and molecular dynamics simulation is used for quantifying their mechanical properties and the corresponding interfacial adhesion. Here we demonstrate that cellulose fiber has a strong affinity to a phenol-formaldehyde adhesive with an adhesion energy of 151.3 mJ/m2. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study that reports this material property for cellulose-adhesive system, which is three times larger than that between the gecko foot’s hair and the mineral surface. The mechanism of such strong adhesion is due to the possible hydrogen bonding between the cellulose and the adhesive.
Spelling Processes of Children with Nonsyndromic Cleft Lip and/or Palate: A Preliminary Study
Authors: Mei Lee Karen Shi , Young Selena Ee-Li , Rickard Liow Susan Jane , Purcell Alison Anne
Published: March 2014

Objective

To compare the cognitive-linguistic processes underlying spelling performance of children with cleft lip and/or palate with those of typically developing children.

Design

An assessment battery including tests of hearing, articulation, verbal short-term and working memory, and phonological awareness, as well as word and nonword spelling, was administered to both groups.

Participants

A total of 15 children with nonsyndromic cleft lip and/or palate were case-matched by age and sex to 15 typically developing children. The children were aged between 6 and 8 years and were bilingual, with English the dominant language.

Results

Wilcoxon signed-rank tests revealed that the performance of children with cleft lip and/or palate was significantly poorer on phoneme deletion and nonword spelling ( P < .05) compared with typically developing children. Spearman correlation analyses revealed different relationships between the cognitive-linguistic and spelling measures for the cleft lip and/or palate and typically developing groups.

Conclusions

Children with cleft lip and/or palate underachieve in phonological awareness and spelling skills. To facilitate early intervention for literacy problems, speech-language pathologists should routinely assess the cognitive-linguistic processing of children with cleft lip and/or palate, especially phonological awareness, as part of their case management protocols.
Interpreting T-bar tests in ultra-soft clay
Authors: Sahdi Fauzan , Gaudin Christophe , White David J. , Boylan Noel
Published: February 2014

This technical note describes a simple methodology for reliably measuring the undrained strength of ultra-soft consolidating clay in the geotechnical centrifuge, using the T-bar penetrometer. This methodology relies on the T-bar resistance force owing to soil strength being equal, albeit in the opposite direction, during penetration and extraction when the soil is fully remoulded. The other components of resistance from soil buoyancy, bar self-weight and soil lateral pressure on the T-bar axial strain gauge act in the same direction regardless of the direction of bar movement. The method uses cycles of penetration and extraction to determine the correction required to eliminate these effects. The methodology was validated by comparing the strength inferred from 81 T-bar penetrometer tests with a large strain numerical simulation of consolidation and the resulting gain in soil strength.
Bacteria Community Study of Combined Periodontal‐Endodontic Lesions Using Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis and Sequencing Analysis
Authors: Li Hong , Guan Rui , Sun Jinghua , Hou Benxiang
Published: February 2014

Background: The entire microbial population and predominant microflora of root canals (RCs) and adjacent periodontal pockets (PPs) from teeth with combined periodontal‐endodontic lesions were determined and compared.

Methods: Pooled RC and PP samples were collected from the molars of 20 patients diagnosed with combined periodontal‐endodontic lesions. DNA was extracted for polymerase chain reaction–based denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR‐DGGE), cloning, and sequence analysis. A coefficient of similarity (Cs) was used to determine the similarity of the bacterial profiles from RCs and PPs.

Results: Significantly fewer bands were produced by PCR‐DGGE from RCs (5.9 ± 1.7) than from PPs (8.0 ± 1.8) (P <0.001). The average Cs of the RC and PP samples was 93.81% ± 10.26%. Overall, 60 genera/species were identified by sequencing. Of these, the predominant genera in RCs were Porphyromonas sp. (13.9%), Filifactor sp. (12.5%), and Parvimonas sp. (11.1%), similar to the genera obtained from PP samples. In total, 43 genera/species were common to the RC and PP samples. The most prevalent bacteria in both the RC and PP samples were (in descending order) Filifactor alocis, Parvimonas micra, Porphyromonas gingivalis, and Tannerella forsythia.

Conclusions: The high similarity in the sets of organisms present in both RC and PP samples in this study suggests that the pocket could be a source of RC infection. The data also demonstrate that combined periodontal‐endodontic lesions consist of a diverse and complex microbial community.
Irradiation by Gallium–Aluminum–Arsenate Diode Laser Enhances the Induction of Nitric Oxide by Porphyromonas gingivalis in RAW 264.7 Cells
Authors: Ahn Ki Bum , Kang Seok‐Seong , Park Ok‐Jin , Kim Tae‐Il
Published: February 2014

Background: Low‐level laser irradiation promotes cell viability and wound healing in periodontal tissue. However, its effect on periodontal pathogenic bacteria is unknown. The purpose of this study is to investigate the biologic effect of low‐level laser irradiation on Porphyromonas gingivalis.

Methods: A murine macrophage cell line (RAW 264.7) was cultured and treated with gallium‐aluminum‐arsenate (GaAlAs) laser‐irradiated P. gingivalis with varying levels of energy fluency. Gene expression of monocyte chemotactic protein‐1 (MCP‐1), interleukin‐6 (IL‐6), interferon‐β (IFN‐β), and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) was examined by reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction. Production of iNOS was determined by Western blot analysis, and nitric oxide (NO) release was assessed using Griess reagent. Flow cytometric analysis was performed to determine the activation of Toll‐like receptors (TLRs) in response to P. gingivalis.

Results: The laser‐irradiated P. gingivalis significantly enhanced messenger RNA and protein levels of iNOS in RAW 264.7. Although the laser irradiation on P. gingivalis did not alter the expression level of MCP‐1, IL‐6, and IFN‐β, it showed a noticeable effect on NO production in RAW 264.7. Furthermore, the laser‐irradiated P. gingivalis accelerated TLR2 activation, but not TLR4 activation.

Conclusions: This study reveals that GaAlAs laser irradiation on P. gingivalis induced iNOS expression at the transcriptional and translation levels and increased NO release in macrophages. Moreover, it is confirmed that this process was mediated specifically by TLR2 activation. These findings suggest that low‐level laser irradiation to periodontal pathogenic bacteria could be detrimental to periodontal treatments.
Enhanced‐Efficiency Fertilizer Effects on Cotton Yield and Quality in the Coastal Plains
Authors: Watts Dexter B. , Runion G. Brett , Smith Nannenga Katy W. , Torbert H. Allen
Published: March 2014

Interest in the use of enhanced‐efficiency nitrogen fertilizer (EENFs) sources has increased in recent years due to the potential of these new EENF sources to increase crop yield, while at the same time decreasing N loss from agricultural fields. The efficacy of these fertilizer sources on cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) production in southeastern U.S. upland soils has not been well documented. Thus, a field study was conducted on a Coastal Plain soil (Marvyn loamy sand; fine‐loamy, kaolinitic, thermic Typic Kanhapludult) in Central Alabama from 2009 to 2011 to compare EENFs to traditional N sources in a high‐residue conservation cotton production system. Nitrogen fertilizer sources evaluated included urea (U), ammonium sulfate (AS), urea‐ammonium sulfate (UAS), Environmentally Smart Nitrogen (ESN) (Agrium Advanced Technologies, Loveland, CO), stabilized urea (SuperU [SU] [Agrotain International, St. Louis, MO]), poultry litter (PL), poultry litter + AgrotainPlus (PLA) (KOCH Agronomic Services LLC, Wichita, KS), and an unfertilized control (C). Generally, no significant differences in cotton lint yield were observed between the traditional sources and EENFs. Nitrogen source affected fiber quality; however, effects varied among years and generally would not have impacted discount/premium values. In the present study, EENFs produced cotton lint yields similar to conventional fertilizers, suggesting their higher cost may render them uncompetitive at present. However, if EENFs reduce N loss through leaching, runoff and N2O flux from agricultural fields they could become viable alternative fertilizer sources. More research is needed on the benefits of enhanced‐efficiency fertilizer use as a tool in agricultural production systems.
Timing of Episodic Drought Can Be Critical in Cotton
Authors: Snowden Michael C. , Ritchie Glen L. , Simao Fulvio R. , Bordovsky James P.
Published: March 2014

Episodes of drought stress in upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) can be detrimental to vegetative growth, yield characteristics, and fiber quality, depending on the specific growth stage drought occurs. Growth, yield, fiber quality, and boll distribution were compared among four cotton cultivars subjected to four growth‐stage specific drought periods that were repeated in three studies over 2 yr in West Texas. Drought timings occurred at pinhead square, early bloom, and two periods of stress during peak bloom. Both years of the study were hot and dry, with minimal rainfall during the episodic drought treatments. Yield was not significantly different among cultivars, nor was there a significant cultivar × irrigation interaction related to cotton yield. However, there were differential effects on fiber quality among cultivars subjected to the different episodic drought timings. Drought stress during squaring resulted in significantly shorter plants with fewer nodes; however, yield was comparable to the highest yields among the other drought stress treatments, and fiber quality parameters were significantly improved compared to all other treatments except full irrigation. The early flowering growth stage was the most sensitive to drought stress and produced the lowest yields, the lowest fruit retention, and poor fiber quality. Drought events at peak bloom resulted in similar yield losses to those at squaring, but poorer fiber quality. This information may be crucial for producers who either have competing demands for water resources or who want to maximize profits or resources after the occurrence of a drought episode.
Synergism of Nitrogen Rate and Foliar Fungicides in Soft Red Winter Wheat
Authors: Brinkman J. M. P. , Deen W. , Lauzon J. D. , Hooker D. C.
Published: March 2014

Projected global demand for small grain cereals emphasizes the need for sustainable intensification with higher crop yields. Field studies on soft red winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) examined interactions among three fertilizer N rates, eight fungicide application strategies, and various cultivars grown in nine field environments in Ontario, Canada. A synergistic response occurred when a high rate of N was applied with a fungicide strategy that controlled disease. Overall, compared to a typical N rate of 100 kg ha−1 and no fungicide, yields increased by an average of 1.45 Mg ha−1 when N was applied at 170 kg ha−1 with the most intensive fungicide treatment pooled across sites. This yield response varied from 0.80 to 2.11 Mg ha−1 depending on field site and pooled across cultivars. Fungicide strategies that included a T2 (flag leaf timing) or T3 (anthesis timing) produced the highest yields across environments, especially at the high N rate and in most cultivars. The crop response to fungicide depended on the susceptibility of the cultivar to foliar disease and whether the field environment was favorable for disease development. High N rates increased spike numbers and kernels spike−1, whereas fungicides mainly increased kernel weight and kernels spike−1. Prior to an economic analysis, results from this study indicates clear potential for increasing wheat performance by intensifying management with increasing N and deploying fungicide application strategies, especially in some cultivars and in high yielding environments that may be favorable for disease development.
Intensifying Grain and Fodder Production in Tibet by Using Cereal‐Forage Intercrops
Authors: Paltridge N. G. , Coventry D. R. , Tao J. , Heath T. J. , Tashi N.
Published: March 2014

In the river valleys of central Tibet, farming households are active in both crop and livestock production. The emphasis is mostly placed on optimizing grain production for subsistence purposes, with little emphasis on forage production to meet livestock diets. Temperatures and rainfall favor crop growth from April to October and, with crops harvested in July or August, sufficient moisture, heat, and light resources remain unused after forage harvest. Here we report data from crop‐forage intercrop experiments that evaluated the role of using vetch (Vicia sativa L.) and lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) established by either broadcast or seeding in inter‐row spaces of cereal crops. Broadcasting vetch in early July into maturing winter sown wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) allows useful amounts of vetch forage (3 Mg ha−1) produced for little extra work with minimal grain yield penalty. The approach of sowing vetch in the inter‐row space of widely spaced winter wheat or barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) was a reliable way of establishing this forage crop. However, grain yield losses (P ≤ 0.05) of approximately 16, 22, and 37% were associated with the wider row spacing (66, 50, and 33% wheat) when vetch was grown in the inter‐row space. Based on land equivalent ratios (LERs) alone, the 33% cereal density was most productive (P ≤ 0.05). However, improved understanding of forage, dairy products, and grain markets, and of the household economy on typical Tibetan farms, will be required before judgments can be made about whether farmers can profit from such intercropping approaches.
Field‐Specific Fertilizer Nitrogen Requirements for First‐Year Corn following Alfalfa
Authors: Yost Matt A. , Russelle Michael P. , Coulter Jeffrey A.
Published: March 2014

Current fertilizer N guidelines in the midwestern and northeastern United States may not adequately account for variable N supply to corn (Zea mays L.) grown after alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.). Nitrogen supplied by alfalfa often is adequate for optimum grain yield of the subsequent corn crop, but fertilizer N sometimes is needed. Using 259 site‐years of data from midwestern and northeastern United States literature and multiple logistic regression analysis, we successfully identified binary response categories (statistically significant or nonsignificant) to fertilizer N in first‐year corn following alfalfa in 89 to 97% of the cases on fine‐textured soils and on medium‐textured soils with spring‐terminated alfalfa, and in 73 to 90% of the cases on medium‐textured soils with fall‐terminated alfalfa. Only 1 of 11 site‐years on coarse‐textured soils did not require fertilizer N, preventing separation of responsive and nonresponsive site‐years. Using multiple linear regression analysis, ≥68% of the variation in actual economically optimum nitrogen rate (EONR) across a range of price ratios (PRs) (4.48–11.2 as US$ kg−1 N/US$ kg−1 grain) was explained on fine‐, medium‐, and coarse‐textured soils by simple predictors—alfalfa termination time, alfalfa stand age, and weather conditions from October through spring. Although independent data are needed to validate the equations, this approach to field‐specific fertilizer N guidelines for first‐year corn following alfalfa appears, in many cases, to identify when no N is needed and provide improved rate estimates when N response is expected. This approach to fertilizer N recommendation may prove effective for other rotations.
Development prospects of Niska Banja
Authors: Stefanovic Vidoje , Began Milica
Published: March 2014

Strategic thinking is the base of every development and the favorite entries
in theory and management practices. In tourist complex that has a special
meaning because of the sole complexity of the phenomenon itself. In this
sense, many of the methods of strategic management and tourism development in
various areas in Serbia, SWOT analysis is one of the most reliable. For this,
Niska Banja is a true challenge.
Experiences and Outcomes of Preschool Physical Education: An Analysis of Developmental Discourses in Scottish Curricular Documentation
Authors: McEvilly Nollaig
Published: March 2014

This article provides an analysis of developmental discourses underpinning preschool physical education in Scotland's Curriculum for Excellence. Implementing a post-structural perspective, the article examines the preschool experiences and outcomes related to physical education as presented in the Curriculum for Excellence ‘health and wellbeing’ documentation. The article interrogates the ways in which developmental discourses are evident throughout this and related documentation and how these discourses might ‘work’ to produce specific effects on practitioners and children as they are deployed and taken up in Scottish preschool education contexts. This analysis involves speculating about potential consequences for practitioners' and children's experiences and subjectivities. In conclusion, it is suggested that practitioners should critically engage with the curriculum, as uncritical acceptance of the discourses underpinning it could lead to practices that may have negative consequences. Furthermore, the article proposes that future research should investigate the ways in which the discourses privileged in the Curriculum for Excellence ‘health and wellbeing’ documentation are taken up and negotiated in Scottish preschool settings.
Constructions of Early Childhood Education and Care Provision: Negotiating Discourses
Authors: Campbell-Barr Verity
Published: March 2014

Drives to increase the number of early childhood education and care places in England have relied on a mixed economy of providers. Yet this is not a free market as policy makers have sought to create a discursive truth of an entrepreneurial provider in order to secure their initial pump priming investment. However, there remain sustainability issues within the sector, and whilst it has been suggested that it is the hyper-feminisation of the workforce that has positioned early childhood education and care as outside of the entrepreneurial discourse, here it is argued that it is the romanticisation of childhood that really creates the tension with the entrepreneurial discourse due to a rejection of a commodity view of children, childhood and early childhood education and care services. There is a call for a construction of early childhood education and care services from within the sector as opposed to one from top down policy directives, but a construction that does not obscure the voice of the child.
Comparison of Metric Spectral Gaps
Authors: Naor Assaf
Published: February 2014

Let A = (aij) ∊ Mn(ℝ) be an n by n symmetric stochastic matrix. For p ∊ [1, ∞) and a metric space (X, dX), let γ(A, dpx) be the infimum over those γ ∊ (0,∞] for which every x1, . . . , xn∊ X satisfy

Thus γ (A, dpx) measures the magnitude of the nonlinear spectral gap of the matrix A with respect to the kernel dpX: X × X →[0,∞). We study pairs of metric spaces (X, dX) and (Y, dY) for which there exists Ψ: (0,∞)→(0,∞) such that γ (A, dpX) ≤Ψ (A, dpY) for every symmetric stochastic A ∊ Mn(ℝ) with (A, dpY) < ∞. When Ψ is linear a complete geometric characterization is obtained.

Our estimates on nonlinear spectral gaps yield new embeddability results as well as new nonembeddability results. For example, it is shown that if n ∊ ℕ and p ∊ (2,∞) then for every f1, . . . , fn∊ Lpthere exist x1, . . . , xn∊ L2such that

and

This statement is impossible for p ∊ [1, 2), and the asymptotic dependence on p in (0.1) is sharp. We also obtain the best known lower bound on the Lpdistortion of Ramanujan graphs, improving over the work of Matoušek. Links to Bourgain-Milman-Wolfson type and a conjectural nonlinear Maurey-Pisier theorem are studied.
Polarimetric approach for well-defined impurities detection in isotropic materials
Authors: Buono A. , Iodice M. , Rendina I. , Nunziata F. , Migliaccio M.
Published: March 2014

In this paper, a new kind of approach to reveal the presence of well-defined impurities in isotropic materials is proposed and verified against actual measurements over real samples. The rationale lies in the different polarimetric symmetry properties of inhomogeneous and isotropic materials within well-defined impurities from homogeneous ones. The underpinning physical idea is to inspect the Mueller matrix of the material sample, obtained from an ellipsometric measure: its form, in terms of symmetry, can reveal whether or not if in there are well-defined impurities in the sample.
Growth and chlorophyll fluorescence under salinity stress in sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.)
Authors: Abbas Fadi , Al-Jbawi Entessar , Ibrahim Mohammed
Published: February 2014

This study was carried out in the General Commission for Scientific Agricultural Research (GCSAR), Syria, at Der EzZour Agricultural Research Center, from 2008-2010, to examine the effect of salt conditions on some growth attributes and chlorophyll fluorescence in 10 Sugar Beet (Beta vulgaris L.) genotypes under salinity stress. Sugar beet plants were irrigated with saline water, having electrical conductivity ranged from 8.6-10 dS.m-1during first year and 8.4-10.4 dS.m-1 during second year. A randomized completely block design with three replicates was used. The results showed that all studied growth attributes, leaf area, leaf number, relative growth rate, and net assimilation rate were decreased in salinity stress conditions compared to the controlled state. The findings indicated that salinity caused a decrement of light utilizing through increased values of fluorescence origin (fo), decreased values of fluorescence maximum (fm), and maximum yield of quantum in photosystem-II (fv/fm). Genotypes differed significantly in all studied attributes except in leaf number. Under salt conditions, Brigitta (monogerm) achieved an increase in net assimilation rate, while Kawimera (multigerm) achieved the lowest decrement in quantum yield in photosystem-II. Further studies are necessary to correlate the yield with yield components under similar conditions to determine the most tolerant genotype.International Journal of Environment Vol.3(1) 2014: 1-9 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/ije.v3i1.9937
Flood forecasting in Blue Nile basin using a process-based hydrological model
Authors: Abdel-Aziz Osama R
Published: February 2014

Predictions of variations in global and regional hydrological cycles and their response to changes in climate and the environment are key problems for future human life. Therefore, basin-scale hydrological forecasts, along with predictions regarding future climate change, are needed in areas with high flood potential. This study forecasts hydrological process scenarios in Blue Nile basin using a distributed hydrological model (DHM) and predicted scenarios of precipitation from two general circulation models, CCSM3 model and Miroc3.2-hires. Firstly, river discharge was simulated by the DHM using the observed rainfall from 1976 to 1979 and then, simulating future precipitations from 2011 to 2040, discharge scenarios were predicted. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/ije.v3i1.9938 International Journal of Environment Vol.3(1) 2014: 10-21
Allelopathic interaction of pepper (Capsicum annuum) and pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum) intercropped
Authors: Radouane Leila , Rhim Thouraya
Published: February 2014

Intercropping is common practice in many regions of Tunisia, particularly in Cap-Bon where different crops such as tomato, pepper, cucumber, peanut, corn, pearl millet and sorghum are grown together in the same field and at the same time for self-sufficiency. A number of these crops and vegetables are known for their allelopathic activities. The interaction between plants could be within the individuals of the same species (intraspecific interaction or autotoxicity) or between different species (interspecific interaction or teletotoxicity). Little is known about allelopathic interaction of some of these intercropped plants in mixed farming systems in our local conditions. Therefore, the objectives of the present investigation are to evaluate, under laboratory condition, the allelopathic effect of mixed crops, which interacted positively or negatively when cultivated together in the same field. Two plant species were used to study the effects of their aqueous extract on germination and growth of each other (pepper and pearl millet). The results suggested that aqueous extracts from shoots and roots significantly inhibited germination and seedling growth and the inhibitory effects were increased proportionally with the extract concentration. The shoot and root aqueous extract also exhibited intraspecific and interspecific allelopathy. Generally, it was observed that roots were more toxic than shoots. For root extract, the highest inhibition percentage was gained from the effect of pearl millet on pepper (40%) and highest autotoxicity was observed from pearl millet (36%). The effect of shoot extract on germination indicated that the highest reduction (55%) was obtained from pepper shoot extract on pearl millet and highest autotoxicity was observed from pepper which reached (45%). In most cases autotoxicity appeared to be more severe than teletotoxicity, on seed germination of the two intercropped plant species. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/ije.v3i1.9940 International Journal of Environment Vol.3(1) 2014: 32-40
Three new records of Jungermannia species (Hepaticae, Jungermanniales) from Nepal
Authors: Pradhan Nirmala
Published: February 2014

Jungermanniaceae is the largest family of the Order Jungermanniales, which includes three subfamilies viz Jamesonielloideae, Mylioideae and Jungermannideae representing 18 genera and 71 species in Nepal. This paper deals with three new records viz. Jungermannia exertifolia Steph., J. infusca (Mitt.) Steph. and J. pumila With., which were recorded in the year 2010 and 2011 at different elevations (150 to 1300 m) in Chitwan district of central Nepal. These species were observed mostly in the mesic habitats of Sal (Shorea robusta) forest with other tree species like Dalbergia sisoo and Acacia catechue. Jungermannia pumila was recorded in broad leaved deciduous forest at 1275 m of elevation. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/ije.v3i1.9945 International Journal of Environment Vol.3(1) 2014: 85-92
Water management in mountainous Jardhar Village, Chamba Block, Uttarakhand, India
Authors: Kamble RK
Published: February 2014

An attempt has been carried out to assess water management practices adopted by Jardhar villagers in Chamba block of Uttrakhand. The rain water during rainy season got collected in chahals (mountainous tanks) on top of mountains. The rain water which got collected in these structures percolates through mountains and forms number of small streams which were perennial in nature. The water from these streams were received in a small metal tank at the end of stream in the mountain and through a steel pipe this collected water was diverted and collected into a cement tank at an elevated location at the entrance of the village. From this elevated water reservoir water was distributed at various locations in the village through public stand posts. The sustainable utilization of water in this mountainous area paved way for availability of water throughout the year and thus can sustain the population in such a topographic region. This traditional water management in Jardhar village has set an example of water management which can be adopted in such terrains throughout the world. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/ije.v3i1.9946 International Journal of Environment Vol.3(1) 2014: 93-100
Dynamic Modeling of VISSIM's Critical Gap Parameter at Unsignalized Intersections
Authors: Viti Francesco , Wolput Bart , Tampère Chris M. J. , Vandervelden Pieter
Published: February 2014

Critical gaps are essential parameters in the modeling of traffic operations at unsignalized intersections and roundabouts and are the main determinants in the calculation of intersection capacity. In microscopic simulation tools, critical gaps are basic driver-related variables; the gaps’ values and variations within the population are user defined. Errors or oversimplifications of these basic variables may yield unrealistic results in terms of total throughput, queue lengths, waiting times, and so forth. In this study, a method is proposed for the calibration of the critical gap parameter in microscopic simulations; the method is based on individual travel time observations. A simple formulation for the calculation of critical gap parameters takes into account the increasing risk taken by drivers on a minor street with increasing volumes on the major road. This new formulation provides a better match between the accepted gaps observed in reality and the actual traffic conditions. The new methodology has been used to calibrate and validate the minimum gap parameter of the software program VISSIM through the use of data taken from several unsignalized intersections in Leuven, Belgium. The results show that the volume-dependent model outperforms the conventional constant critical gap parameters.
Observations and Analysis of Multistep-Approach Lane Changes at Expressway Merge Bottlenecks in Shanghai, China
Authors: Zhao Li , Sun Jian , Zhang H. Michael
Published: February 2014

One major cause of accidents at signalized intersections is vehicles running the red light. To discourage red light running, many authorities have installed red light cameras. From numerous field observations at two expressway merge bottlenecks, this paper identifies and studies a peculiar type of lane change, referred to as the multistep-approach lane change (MALC). The characteristics and detailed maneuvers of the MALC are first described and compared with three traditional types of lane changes (normal, cooperative, and forced). Next, descriptive parameters, such as the lane-changing duration and velocity and the number of affected vehicles, are investigated and analyzed during the transline ride (TLR) period. The parameters are taken from 132 sets of vehicle trajectory data collected at two merge bottlenecks in Shanghai, China. Significant differences are found between the MALC and traditional lane changes: the MALC takes longer to complete (10 s on average), involves lower lane-changing velocity (15 km/h on average during the TLR period), and affects more vehicles (six vehicles on average). As such, the MALC poses more disruptive influences on the traffic flow and could explain the occurrences of rapid drops in capacity at expressway merge bottlenecks.
Managing without guards in a Brazilian police lockup
Authors: Darke Sacha
Published: March 2014

Brazilian prisons are typically crowded and poorly resourced, yet at the same time may be active places. Of particular interest to the sociology of prisons is institutional reliance on inmate collaboration and self-ordering, not only to maintain prison routines, but, in the most low-staffed prisons, security and prisoner conduct as well. This article explores the roles played by inmates in running one such penal institution, a men's police lockup in Rio de Janeiro. At the time of research the lockup had over 450 prisoners, but just five officers. Both on and off the wings inmates performed janitorial, clerical, and guard-like duties, mostly under the supervision not of officers but other prisoners. The lockup appeared to be operating under a relatively stable, if de facto and provisional order, premised on common needs and shared beliefs, and maintained by a hierarchy of prisoner as well as officer authority.
Acknowledgement to Reviewers of Brain Sciences in 2013
Authors: Brain Sciences Editorial Office
Published: March 2014

The editors of Brain Sciences would like to express their sincere gratitude to the following reviewers for assessing manuscripts in 2013. [...]
Entropy Estimation of Disaggregate Production Functions: An Application to Northern Mexico
Authors: Howitt Richard , Msangi Siwa
Published: March 2014

This paper demonstrates a robust maximum entropy approach to estimating flexible-form farm-level multi-input/multi-output production functions using minimally specified disaggregated data. Since our goal is to address policy questions, we emphasize the model’s ability to reproduce characteristics of the existing production system and predict outcomes of policy changes at a disaggregate level. Measurement of distributional impacts of policy changes requires use of farm-level models estimated across a wide spectrum of sizes and types, which is often difficult with traditional econometric methods due to data limitations. We use a two-stage approach to generate observation-specific shadow values for incompletely priced inputs. We then use the shadow values and nominal input prices to estimate crop-specific production functions using generalized maximum entropy (GME) to capture individual heterogeneity of the production environment while replicating observed inputs and outputs to production. The two-stage GME approach can be implemented with small data sets. We demonstrate this methodology in an empirical application to a small cross-section data set for Northern Rio Bravo, Mexico and estimate production functions for small family farms and moderate commercial farms. The estimates show considerable distributional differences resulting from policies that change water subsidies in the region or shift price supports to direct payments.