bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
ÉTICA NO CURSO DE ADMINISTRAÇÃO E A PRÁTICA DOCENTE: DILEMAS ENTRE O ENSINO E O EXERCÍCIO PROFISSIONAL DO EGRESSO
Authors: Guimarães Jairo de Carvalho , Oliveira Renato José
Published: December 2015

Este ensaio tem o objetivo de analisar como o construto ético é tratado no âmbito da academia, cujo profissional desenvolve pragmaticamente o seu ofício. A proposta encaminha-se ora pelo viés que define as estratégias do processo de ensino-aprendizagem, ora pela discussão da temática na perspectiva de atuação dos egressos. Vale pontuar que, diante dos movimentos socioeconômicos vigentes, cabe às organizações – públicas, privadas e do terceiro setor – o papel de difundir as ações de caráter ético, tendo, do ponto de vista dos stakeholders, o respeito como determinante da conduta. Busca-se, ainda, identificar em que medida a questão ética é conduzida pelos professores, visando desenvolver perspectivas epistemológicas inspiradoras para a problematização desse conceito na vida profissional dos alunos. A abordagem do tema apropria indicadores sobre esse conceito no ambiente acadêmico – tomando como parâmetro o modelo didático-pedagógico – e sua expectativa prática – se as orientações em sala contribuem para o exercício ético da profissão de administrador.
Aesthetics and social interactions in MMOs: The gamification of music in Lord of the Rings Online and Star Wars: Galaxies
Authors: Sweeney Mark
Published: December 2015

This article argues that the dichotomization of aesthetic and social experiences is reductive. Music in popular Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Games (MMORPGs) provides a provocative and relevant perspective on aesthetic experiences that are simultaneously social. A case study will consider music as both a gameplay mechanic and as a performative art in The Lord of the Rings Online (2007–), with Star Wars: Galaxies (2003–2011) as a point of comparison. This provides a more nuanced understanding of the interrelatedness of aesthetic and social experience, and touches on wider-ranging issues pertinent to the fields of ludomusicology, video game studies and performance studies, as well as musicology and aesthetic theory. In particular, the article will address the gamification of music, and the emerging possibilities of video games as both mass culture and aesthetic art.
From mixtapes to multiplayers: Sharing musical taste through video games
Authors: Austin Michael L.
Published: December 2015

In the late twentieth century, the mixtape was a popular way in which fans shared their taste in music with others in their social network; the author of a mixtape would record a compilation of music, often an assortment of works by various artists, onto an audio cassette, and presented this playlist as a curated, thematic listening experience for the recipient of the mixtape. Since then, the mixtape has moved beyond tangible recording media to online peer-to-peer file sharing services (such as Napster) and shared, user-curated playlists on commercial music streaming services such as Spotify. In recent years, these playlists have been gamified – elements of competition, achievement and self-expression have been added to curated listening experiences in games wherein players create in-game musical playlists, share these playlists with others, challenge other players to quiz games about songs in their favourite genre, etc. Viewing social video games as transmutations of the mixtape, the article focuses on ways in which these games are emerging as vehicles of self-expression and taste sharing by examining the various degrees and methods of curatorial control afforded to players (and game creators) regarding the selection and sharing of musical content in gameplay and extending into ‘real life’.
Reviews
Authors: Hennigan Keith , Kamp Michiel
Published: December 2015

A Composer’s Guide to Game Music, Winifred Phillips (2014) Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, 288 pp., ISBN: 9780262026642, h/bk, £20.95

Sound Play, William Cheng (2014) Oxford and New York: Oxford University Press, 240 pp., ISBN: 9780199969968, h/bk, £65.00 ISBN: 9780199969975, p/bk, £16.99
La docencia como un fractal: de la experiencia al modelo
Authors: Compañ-Rosique Patricia , Molina-Carmona Rafael , Satorre-Cuerda Rosana , Llorens-Largo Faraón
Published: December 2015

El objetivo de este trabajo es tratar de mejorar el aprendizaje de los estudiantes diseñando un modelo docente que intenta aumentar su motivación por adquirir nuevos conocimientos. Para poder diseñar el modelo, la metodología empleada se ha basado en el estudio de la opinión de los estudiantes sobre distintos aspectos que pensamos que afectan en gran medida a la calidad de la docencia (tales como la masificación de las aulas, el tiempo previsto para la asignatura, el tipo de aula en el que se imparten las clases), y en nuestra experiencia a lo hora de realizar distintas actividades de forma experimental en clase (por ejemplo, la corrección entre compañeros y las presentaciones orales en clase). Además de conocer la opinión de los alumnos, es fundamental basarse en la experiencia y reflexiones de los docentes que han estado impartiendo la materia varios años. De ahí hemos entresacado algunos aspectos clave, que en nuestra opinión, deben tenerse en cuenta al diseñar la propuesta docente: motivación, evaluación, progresividad y autonomía. Como resultado hemos obtenido un modelo docente basado en el diseño instruccional así como en los principios de la geometría fractal, en el sentido de que se plantean diferentes niveles de abstracción para las diversas actividades formativas y estas son auto similares, es decir, se descomponen una y otra vez. En cada nivel una actividad se descompone en tareas de un nivel inferior junto con su evaluación correspondiente. Con este modelo se fomenta la retroalimentación y la motivación del estudiante. Estamos convencidos de que una mayor motivación supondrá un aumento en el tiempo de trabajo de los estudiantes y en su rendimiento. Aunque el estudio se ha hecho sobre una asignatura, los resultados son totalmente generalizables a otras materias.
Providing pervasive Learning eXperiences by Combining Internet of Things and e-Learning standards
Authors: Taamallah Aroua , Khemaja Maha
Published: December 2015

Nowadays, learning is more and more taking place anywhere and anytime. This implies that e-learning environments are expanded from only virtual learning environments to both virtual and physical ones. Thanks to the evolution of Internet, ICT (Information and Communication Technology) and Internet of Things, new learning scenarios could be experienced by learners either individually or collaboratively. These learning scenarios are Pervasive in such a way that they allow to mix virtual and physical learning environments as well. They are therefore characterized by possible interactions of the learner with the physical environment, the Learner's contextual data detection as well as the adaptation of pedagogical strategies and services according to this context. This paper aims to take advantage of this trend and keep up also with existing e-Learning standards such as IMS LD and LOM. The solution proposed is therefore to extend these standards models with that of Internet of Things and to provide an adaptation approach of learning activities based on learner's context and her/his track using the eXperience API. In this context and in order to allow both reasoning capabilities and interoperability between the proposed models Ontological representations and implementation are therefore proposed. Moreover a technical architecture highlighting the required software components and their interactions is provided. And finally, a relevant pervasive learning scenario is implemented and experimented.
Validez Factorial de un Cuestionario para Evaluar la Percepción Inicial de los Estudiantes Universitarios sobre la Evaluación de los Aprendizajes
Authors: Doménech Betoret Fernando , Fortea Bagán Miguel Angel
Published: December 2015

Introducción. La investigación educativa ha comprobado ampliamente que la percepción del estudiante sobre el sistema de evaluación de la asignatura va a jugar un papel fundamental en su implicación (enfoque profundo vs. enfoque superficial) en el proceso de enseñanza/aprendizaje de la asignatura. El objetivo del presente trabajo consistió en examinar la validez factorial y fiabilidad de una escala para evaluar la percepción de los estudiantes universitarios, al inicio de curso, sobre el sistema de evaluación de la asignatura que van a cursar.Método. La escala fue creada a partir de los debates y reflexiones llevados a cabo en grupos de discusión de un seminario sobre evaluación educativa desarrollado en la Universitat Jaume I, organizado por la Unitat de Suport Educatiu (USE) durante los cursos 2012/13 y 2013/14, y en el que participaron un total de 18 profesores/as que impartían docencia en diferentes asignaturas y titulaciones. El cuestionario se aplicó a una amplia muestra de 435 estudiantes universitarios de diferentes asignaturas y titulaciones.Resultados. Los resultados obtenidos a través de un análisis factorial confirmatorio y del test alpha de Cronbach revelaron: a) que el cuestionario posee una estructura tridimensional, es decir, está formado por tres factores independientes que se refieren a tres constructos importantes relacionados con la calidad evaluativa de los aprendizajes y b) que posee buenas propiedades psicométricas de validez y fiabilidad.Conclusión. Las implicaciones prácticas que se pueden derivar de la utilización de este instrumento en el contexto universitario se discuten en el artículo.
Navigation and Comprehension of Digital Expository Texts: Hypertext Structure, Previous Domain Knowledge, and Working Memory Capacity
Authors: Burin Debora I. , Barreyro Juan P. , Saux Gastón , Irrazábal Natalia C.
Published: December 2015

Introduction. In contemporary information societies, reading digital text has become pervasive. One of the most distinctive features of digital texts is their internal connections via hyperlinks, resulting in non-linear hypertexts. Hypertext structure and previous knowledge affect navigation and comprehension of digital expository texts. From the Cognitive Load framework, working memory capacity would have a role in supporting decisions about navigation, and in situation model construction for comprehension. The present study assessed text structure, previous domain knowledge, and working memory capacity effects on comprehension and navigation of digital expository texts.Method. Fifty-six participants completed a working memory capacity measure, read four digital texts and answered questions about them. Hyperext structure (hierarchical vs. network) and previous thematic knowledge (high vs. low) were manipulated in a within-subjects design. Navigation behavior was indexed taking into account total time spent on each text, total number of pages per text, number of returns to the initial page, and number of nonlinear links clicked.Results. High previous knowledge, and high working memory capacity, led to better comprehension. Participants who read under network interfaces followed less structured navigation paths than those who read hierarchically organized interfaces. On the other hand, high previous knowledge texts led to more pages visited, more non-linear jumps in reading, and more returns to the overview in the Home page in the network condition. Also, total time spent on each text was longer for high working memory participants reading high previous knowledge texts.Discussion. Overall, this pattern of results adds to the literature about the beneficial effects promoted by hierarchical interfaces and concept maps; and the disorientation effects network hypertexts have for low domain knowledge students. On the other hand, given good previous knowledge and high working memory, a more variable pattern of navigation would help readers engage in more active reading processes.
Lecturer perspectives on dyslexia within one Greek university: A pilot study
Authors: Stampoltzis Aglaia , Tsitsou Elisavet , Plesti Helen , Kalouri Rani
Published: December 2015

Introduction. Dyslexia is a learning difficulty which affects people in different ways. During the last decades the number of students with dyslexia entering higher education increased steadily.Method. This paper reports a pilot study exploring the attitudes, views and experiences of faculty members at one small size Greek university regarding students with dyslexia. Data were collected through a three-part questionnaire focusing on academic staff knowledge of dyslexia, approaches towards effective tuition and attitudes towards dyslexic students.Results. Results indicated that lectures hold mainly positive attitudes and genuine interest for dyslexic students but they also have concerns about ‘the fairness’ of teaching and other accommodations for students with dyslexia.Discussion. Following the social model of disability, the paper moves to the direction of making teaching environments as inclusive as possible for students with ‘hidden’ disabilities. The present study can provide useful ideas about the improvement of provision for students with dyslexia in Greek higher education institutions.
JUDICIÁRIO E POLÍTICAS PÚBLICAS: UM EXEMPLO POSITIVO
Authors: Pamplona Danielle Anne , Melo de Mesquita Eduardo
Published: December 2015

O presente ensaio tem como objetivo escandir o debate acerca da inserção do Poder Judiciário no âmbito das decisões políticas, a partir de uma situação concreta. A análise gira em torno do constitucionalismo contemporâneo e do modelo de democra-cia deliberativa, partindo-se de posições doutrinárias que defen-dem a intervenção judicial sempre que a decisão política afete direito individual. Enfrenta-se a questão portuária no Brasil como política pública, para apreciar a interferência do Poder Judiciário nessas políticas, com enfoques na doutrina alemã acerca do tema. A decisão que motivou a reflexão demonstra a nocividade da de-cisão política que frustra a participação popular em debate sobre política pública, pondo em cheque a norma constitucional que regula a participação dos interessados. Isso foi o que despertou o interesse de usar o caso para demonstrar a essencial inserção do Judiciário para restaurar a efetividade da norma constitucional.
PARADOXO E MEIO AMBIENTE: UMA PERSPECTIVA LUHMANIANA
Authors: Weyermüller André Rafael , Severo Rocha Leonel
Published: December 2015

O desenvolvimento contínuo da sociedade globalizada baseada na técnica e na exploração indiscriminada dos recursos naturais revela uma relação paradoxal entre a sociedade e a na-tureza. A complexidade dessa realidade exige a construção de al-ternativas mais adequadas para o enfrentamento dos problemas causado pela fé inabalável na técnica. O reconhecimento e a com-preensão dessa realidade paradoxal são o passo mais importante para lastrear mudanças realmente significativas.
METAMORFOSES DO DIREITO: EXIGÊNCIAS CONSTITUCIONAIS A PARTIR DA FRATERNIDADE E DA SOLIDARIEDADE
Authors: Bacega de Bastiani Ana Cristina , Pellenz Mayara , Fernandes de Aquino Sérgio Ricardo
Published: December 2015

O valor Fraternidade é encarado como base à afirmação do princípio de Solidariedade, previsto pela Constituição Federal de 1988. Tem-se nesses valores princípios constitucionais que re-querem maior atenção quanto à sua normatividade. O objetivo da pesquisa é determinar se as categorias Fraternidade e Soli-dariedade podem ser observadas como categorias jurídicas, do-tadas de exigibilidade em razão de sua previsão constitucional. Entende-se que Fraternidade e Solidariedade devem ser posturas humanas a serem incorporadas nas atitudes diárias perante o out-ro, em que o ser humano seja capaz de observar o quão relevante para a vida em comunidade é a experiência de uma vida menos individualista. O Direito pode auxiliar nessa condição, na medida em que esses princípios têm previsão constitucional. O método utilizado para este estudo é o indutivo, e as técnicas empregadas para a pesquisa são a pesquisa bibliográfica, categorias e concei-tos operacionais.
BREVES REFLEXÕES SOBRE OS DEVERES FUNDAMENTAIS SOCIOAMBIENTAIS
Authors: Molinaro Carlos Alberto
Published: December 2015

Os deveres fundamentais são posições subjetivas ex lege. Como posições subjetivas ex lege, ora se apresentam com caráter material, como, e.g., os direitos e os deveres contidos no manda-mento “preservar e restaurar os processos ecológicos essenciais”, ora instrumentais, como aqueles que objetivam a execução de di-reitos e obrigações materiais, e.g., estudo prévio de impacto ambi-ental, ou com vínculos tipicamente processuais, e.g., ação popular, inquérito civil, termos de ajustamento, etc. Na dimensão objetiva, ou prestacional, sempre que não correspondam a qualquer direito subjetivo, os deveres fundamentais socioambientais, seja o desti-natário o Estado, ou os particulares, revelam-se como fronteiras no exercício dos direitos. Direitos e deveres fundamentais socioambi-entais são importantes balizadores do poder político, notadamente o Poder do Estado, pois estes têm de respeitar os limites que lhe são impostos, isto é, a sujeição ao espaço de autonomia da cidada-nia, ou ativamente na intervenção mediante prestações específicas na conformação dos direitos e dos deveres atribuídos a essa mes-ma cidadania. O exposto neste ensaio, no textual e no contexto da narrativa, implicou a utillização de metódica de pesquisa no ambiro das descritivas e exploratórias, metódica essa que possibilitou uma visão ampla do tema objeto da interrogação do pesquisador.
Assessing Performance Outcomes in Marketing
Authors: Katsikeas Constantine S. , Morgan Neil A. , Leonidou Leonidas C. , Hult G. Tomas M.
Published: December 2015

Research in marketing has increasingly focused on building knowledge about how firms’ marketing contributes to performance outcomes. A key precursor to accurately diagnosing the value firms’ marketing creates is conceptualizing and operationalizing appropriate ways to assess performance outcomes. Yet, to date, there has been little conceptual development and no systematic examination of how researchers in marketing should conceptualize and measure the performance outcomes associated with firms’ marketing. The authors develop a theory-based performance evaluation framework and examine the assessment of such performance outcomes in 998 empirical studies published in the top 15 marketing journals from 1981 through 2014. The results reveal a large number of different performance outcome measures used in prior empirical research that may be only weakly related to one another, making it difficult to synthesize findings across studies. In addition, the authors identify significant problems in how performance outcomes in marketing are commonly conceptualized and operationalized. They also reveal several theoretically and managerially important performance areas in which empirical knowledge of marketing's impact is limited or absent. Finally, they examine the implications of the results, provide actionable guidelines for researchers, and suggest a road map for systematically improving research practice in the future.
On interpolation and curvature via Wasserstein geodesics
Authors: Kell Martin
Published: December 2015

In this article, a proof of the interpolation inequality along geodesics
in p-Wasserstein spaces is given. This interpolation inequality
was the main ingredient to prove the Borel–Brascamp–Lieb inequality
for general Riemannian and Finsler manifolds and led Lott–Villani
and Sturm to define an abstract Ricci curvature condition. Following
their ideas, a similar condition can be defined and for positively
curved spaces one can prove a Poincaré inequality. Using Gigli’s
recently developed calculus on metric measure spaces, even a q-Laplacian
comparison theorem holds on q-infinitesimal convex spaces.
In the appendix, the theory of Orlicz–Wasserstein spaces is developed
and necessary adjustments to prove the interpolation inequality along
geodesics in those spaces are given.
Partial Hölder continuity of minimizers of functionals satisfying a VMO condition
Authors: Goodrich Christopher S.
Published: December 2015

For a bounded, open set${\Omega\hskip-0.569055pt\subseteq\hskip-0.569055pt\mathbb{R}^{n}}$we consider the partial regularity of vectorial minimizers${u\hskip-0.853583pt:\hskip-0.853583pt\Omega\hskip-0.853583pt\rightarrow\hskip-% 0.853583pt\mathbb{R}^{N}}$of the functional

$u\mapsto\int_{\Omega}f(x,u,Du)\,dx,$

where${f:\Omega\times\mathbb{R}^{N}\times\mathbb{R}^{N\times n}\rightarrow\mathbb{R}}$. The principal assumption we make is thatfis asymptotically related to a function of the form${(x,u,\xi)\mapsto a(x,u)F(\xi)}$, whereFpossessesp-Uhlenbeck structure and the partial maps${x\mapsto a(x,\cdot\,)}$and${u\mapsto a(\,\cdot\,,u)}$are, respectively, of class VMO and${\mathcal{C}^{0}}$. We demonstrate that any minimizer${u\in W^{1,p}(\Omega)}$of this functional is Hölder continuous on an open set${\Omega_{0}}$of full measure. Finally, we show by means of an example that our asymptotic relatedness condition is very general and permits a large class of functions.
Rules Lurking at the Heart of Aristotle’s Virtue Ethics
Authors: Curzer Howard J.
Published: December 2015

Aristotle speaks often of orthos logos which might be translated “right rule.” Nevertheless, many contemporary interpreters and translators avoid the term “rule” and similar terms. I shall show that Aristotle does indeed provide numerous rules including right rules for all of the virtues on his list in the Nicomachean Ethics. But these rules do not undermine Aristotle’s credentials as a founder of virtue ethics or of moderate particularism.
Why are clinical practice guidelines not followed?
Authors: Barth Julian H. , Misra Shivani , Aakre Kristin Moberg , Langlois Michel R. , Watine Joseph , Twomey Patrick J. , Oosterhuis Wytze P.
Published: December 2015

Clinical practice guidelines (CPG) are written with the aim of collating the most up to date information into a single document that will aid clinicians in providing the best practice for their patients. There is evidence to suggest that those clinicians who adhere to CPG deliver better outcomes for their patients. Why, therefore, are clinicians so poor at adhering to CPG? The main barriers include awareness, familiarity and agreement with the contents. Secondly, clinicians must feel that they have the skills and are therefore able to deliver on the CPG. Clinicians also need to be able to overcome the inertia of “normal practice” and understand the need for change. Thirdly, the goals of clinicians and patients are not always the same as each other (or the guidelines). Finally, there are a multitude of external barriers including equipment, space, educational materials, time, staff, and financial resource. In view of the considerable energy that has been placed on guidelines, there has been extensive research into their uptake. Laboratory medicine specialists are not immune from these barriers. Most CPG that include laboratory tests do not have sufficient detail for laboratories to provide any added value. However, where appropriate recommendations are made, then it appears that laboratory specialist express the same difficulties in compliance as front-line clinicians.
‘We Don’t Need No Education’. A Case Study About Pastoral Datoga Girls in Tanzania
Authors: Bihariová Emília
Published: December 2015

The topic of this paper reflects the reasons why formal education is not in accord with Datoga pastoral life in Tanzania and why this marginalized Nilotic tribe hesitates to send children to schools. In an attempt to grasp different reasons of avoiding education, the paper is focused especially on education of girls, which is less preferred than that of boys. The discussion reveals the impact of formal/informal education on traditional life of mobile Datoga and how norms, habits are slowly weakened. The suggestion is offered that unless the communication between pastoral Datoga and the government regarding school attendance and better conditions takes the cultural context, Datoga will remain outside the schooling process and their marginal position in the society will not change and neither their image of savage people.
Current Manifestations of the Ethnic Identity of Transylvanian Saxons
Authors: Drs Tomáš
Published: December 2015

The study ‘Current Manifestations of the Ethnic Identity of Transylvanian Saxons’ presents this ethnic minority in Romania. Based on the theoretical concepts of T. H. Eriksen, it deals with the issues of the ethnic identity and its contemporary manifestations in the culture of Transylvanian Saxons. Information gathered during the qualitative field research make it possible to capture changes in the manifestations of the ethnic identity and the relationship between the minority and the majority culture. As a result of modernization processes and large-scale emigration, there has been a change of the group’s mentality, with traditional behaviour patterns and models of social coexistence disintegrating. The need has arisen to revise the ethnic identity of the community. The observed aspects of the ethnic identity include ethnicity and Saxon self-concept, Saxon dialect, Saxon Evangelical Church, festivities, minority education and interethnic relations. Attention is also paid to the opinions of Saxon politicians and intellectuals of the current situation of the society and its future direction.
Mode of action of brown rot decay resistance of thermally modified wood: resistance to Fenton’s reagent
Authors: Hosseinpourpia Reza , Mai Carsten
Published: December 2015

The resistance of heat treated (HT) wood to brown rot fungi has been investigated, while the role of the Fenton reaction (FR) in the initial phase of degradation was in focus. Micro-veneers made of Scots pine, were HT with various intensities and their mass losses (MLHT) were determined before soaking with a solution of Fenton’s reagent containing Fe ions and hydrogen peroxide. The mass loss of the veneers treated that way (MLFT), their tensile strength loss (TSLFT) and the H2O2 decomposition were observed. The MLFT, TSLFT, and H2O2 loss decreased with increasing MLHT of the veneers. Soaking of the veneers in acetate buffer containing only Fe without H2O2 revealed that the heat treatment (HT) strongly reduces the Fe uptake by the cell walls. FTIR spectroscopy indicated oxidation of the unmodified control veneers but did not reveal predominant decay of cell wall components; the HT veneers were not changed at all due to FR. It was concluded that the reason for the enhanced resistance of HT wood to FR is attributable to hindered diffusion of Fe ions into the wood cell wall.
A Generic Approach for Assessing Compatibility Between Task Descriptions and Interactive Systems: Application to the Effectiveness of a Flight Control Unit
Authors: Fayollas Camille , Martinie Célia , Navarre David , Palanque Philippe
Published: December 2015

Task models are a very powerful artefact describing users’ goals and users’ activities and contain numerous information extremely useful for designing usable interactive applications. Indeed, task models is one of the very few means for ensuring effectiveness of the application i. e. that the application allows users to reach their goals and perform their tasks. This paper presents a tool-supported framework for exploiting task models throughout the development process and even when the interactive application is deployed and used. To this end, we introduce a framework for connecting task models to an existing, executable, interactive application. The main contribution of the paper lies in the definition of a systematic correspondence between the user interface elements of the interactive application and the low level tasks in the task model. Depending on the fact that the code of the application is available or not, the fact that the application has been prepared at programming time for such integration or not, we propose different alternatives to perform such correspondence (in a toolsupported way). This task-application integration allows the exploitation of task models at run time bringing in the benefits listed above to any interactive application. The approach, the tools and the integration are presented on a case study of a Flight Control Unit (FCU) used in aircraft cockpits. This paper extends the article entitled ‘A Generic Tool-Supported Framework for Coupling Task Models and Interactive Applications’ which have been presented at the 7th ACM SIGCHI Symposium on Engineering Interactive Computing Systems (EICS 2015). In this expanded version, the detailed description of the correspondence between annotations in the program of the interactive application and interactive tasks in the task models has been added. The complete version of the case study has also been integrated so that the application of each step of the proposed validation process is presented.
Is the possibility of replacing seed dressings containing neonicotinoids with other means of protection viable in major Polish agricultural crops?
Authors: Matyjaszczyk Ewa , Sobczak Joanna , Szulc Magdalena
Published: December 2015

Following the limitations regarding the use of the neonicotinoids: clothianidin, thiamethoxam and imidacloprid there are no currently available insecticide seed dressings for oilseed rape in Poland. For maize here is only one seed dressing containing methiocarb available with a very narrow registered scope of use. The impact of limitations on protection possibilities of other major Polish agricultural crops is either negligible or non-existent. In consequence a group of economically important insect pests of maize [dungbeetles (Melolonthidae); click beetles (Elateridae); noctuid moths (Agrotinae)] and oilseed rape [leaf miners (Agromyzidae), turnip sawfly (Athalia colibri Christ.), cabbage weevils (Curculionidae), cabbage root fly (Hylemyia brassicae Bche.), diamond-back moth (Plutella maculipennis Curt.)] is left without any legal possibility of chemical control. For the other important pests of the early growth stage of oilseed rape development, there are only pyrethroids available together with one product containing chloropiryfos that can be applied once per vegetation season. Since both maize and oilseed rape are grown in Poland on the area of approximately 1 million ha (each crop), this situation raises concerns about production possibilities as well as development of pest resistance.
Light and Transmission Electron Microscopical Changes Associated with Leiurus Quinqestriatus Venom in Rabbits
Authors: Afifi Salah H. , El-Kashef Reham , Seddek A. Sh. , Salem Diefy A.
Published: December 2015

Thirty California female rabbits were obtained from the Animal Care Center, College of Agriculture, South Valley University and acclimated to laboratory conditions for one week. The Leiurus quinquestriatus (LQ) venom was collected from mature scorpions by electrical stimulation of the telson. A single dose of crude venom of 0.4 ml/kg (diluted in normal saline with a ratio of 1:1) was injected into a peripheral ear vein. The lungs, brains, hearts, kidneys, were sampled and fixed in 10% formalin from rabbits sacrificed at zero, 30 minutes, 1hr, and 4hrs, post-envenomation (three animals at each sacrifice). Respiratory distress and neurological manifestations were the main clinical signs. Congestion of the lungs was started at one hour post-envenomation. Vascular changes including hyperemia and hemorrhage were also observed till 24 hours post-envenomation. The main histopathological changes of the lungs were edema, hemorrhage, emphysema, and eosinophilic bronchitis. Transmission electron microscopy revealed several eosinophils with abundant granules and breakdown of their membranes suggesting degranulation. The cerebrum showed malacia and edema. Myocardial damage expressed by focal area of myolysis at half-hour post-envenomation and interstitial edema by at 1, and 4 hour post-envenomation was also evident. In conclusion, scorpion venom induced consistent and relevant histopathological changes in all examined organs.
Finite Mixed Sums wih Harmonic Terms
Authors: Sofo Anthony
Published: December 2015

In the spirit of Euler sums we develop a set of identities for finite sums of products of harmonic numbers in higher order and reciprocal binomial coefficients. The new results complement some Euler sums of the type
Generalized Derivations as a Generalization of Jordan Homomorphisms Acting on Lie Ideals and Right Ideals
Authors: Dhara Basudeb , Sahebi Shervin , Rahmani Venus
Published: December 2015

Let R be a prime ring with center Z(R) and extended centroid C, H a non-zero generalized derivation of R and n ≥ 1 a fixed integer. In this paper we study the situations:

(1) H(u2)n−H(u)2n ∈ C for all u ∈ L, where L is a non-central Lie ideal of R;

(2) H(u2)n − H(u)2n = 0 for all u ∈ [I, I], where I is a nonzero right ideal of R.
Generalized Derivations on Lie Ideals and Power Values on Prime Rings
Authors: Scudo Giovanni , Ansari Abu Zaid
Published: December 2015

Let R be a non-commutative prime ring of characteristic different from 2, U the Utumi quotient ring of R, C the extended centroid of R, L a non-central Lie ideal of R, G a non-zero generalized derivation of R.

If [G(u), u]n = [G(u), u], for all u ∈ L, with n > 1, then one of the following holds:

(1) R satisfies the standard identity s4(x1, . . . , x4) and there exist a ∈ U and α ∈ C such that G(x) = ax + xa + αx for all x ∈ R;

(2) there exists γ ∈ C such that G(x) = γx for all x ∈ R.
The Solvability of a Nonlocal Boundary Value Problem
Authors: Szymańska-Dȩbowska Katarzyna
Published: December 2015

In this paper we consider the following boundary value problem

where f : [0, 1]×ℝk×ℝk → ℝk and the integral is meant in the sense of Riemann- Stieltjes. We give conditions for the existence of a solution for this boundary value problem using the properties of the Leray-Schauder topological degree. Our result extends some results in the references
On Null Lagrangians
Authors: Saunders D. J.
Published: December 2015

We consider Lagrangians for parametric variational problems defined on velocity manifolds and show that a Lagrangian is null precisely when its shadow, a family of vector forms, is closed. We also show that a null Lagrangian can be recovered (to within a constant) from its shadow, and therefore that such a Lagrangian is (again to within a constant) a sum of determinants of total derivatives.
Principal Eigenvalues for Systems of Schrödinger Equations Defined in the whole Space with Indefinite Weights
Authors: Cardoulis Laure
Published: December 2015

We present in this paper some results for the existence of principal eigenvalues for equations or systems defined in RN involving Schrödinger operators with indefinite weight functions and with potentials which tend to infinity at infinity.
Convergence of Series on Large Set of Indices
Authors: Głąb Szymon , Olczyk Michał
Published: December 2015

We prove that if

an = ∞ and (an) is non-decreasing, then

an = ∞ for any set A ⊂ ℕ of positive lower density. We introduce a Cauchy-like definition of I-convergence of series. We prove that the I-convergence of series coincides with the convergence on large set of indexes if and only if I is a P-ideal. It turns out that I-convergence of series

an implies I-convergence of (an) to zero. The converse implication does not hold for analytic P-ideals and it is independent of ZFC that there is I ideal of naturals for which I-convergence of (an) to zero implies I-convergence of series

an = ∞ for every sequence (an).
Trace metal concentrations in free-ranger, tube-dweller chironomid larvae and a weakly polluted fluvial sediment
Authors: Grzybkowska Maria , Dukowska Małgorzata , Michałowicz Jaromir , Leszczyńska Joanna
Published: December 2015

The objective of this study was to analyze macroinvertebrate assemblages dominated by Chironomidae (Diptera) and to assess the protective nature of these midges’ larval tubes against trace metals in the weakly polluted Bzura River. This low order lowland river flows through the Łódź City Municipal Area and is supplied by a large amount of organic matter from ecotones and a polluted roadside. Determination of metal content in sediments and chironomid tissue and tubes was conducted using atomic absorption spectroscopy. Our study has shown that the composition of chironomid assemblages was not determined by trace metals but rather by high organic enrichment, which caused the dominance of two species representing the same trophic group − gathering collectors − but differing in behavior. One of them belongs to free-rangers (Prodiamesa olivacea), while the other (Chironomus riparius) to tube-dweller larvae. Although the accumulation of certain trace metals in the tubes was found, the larvae of both types of behavior had a similar concentration of metals in their tissues, which proves effective metal detoxification in these insects.
Small water ponds as reservoirs of algae biodiversity
Authors: Paczuska Bogna , Paczuski Ryszard
Published: December 2015

The areas of northern Poland are typical examples of recently formed post-glacial landscapes with a very large number of small ponds. Phycology of these ponds has been seldom studied, especially when compared to data collected from lager post-glacial lakes. The aim of our study was to determine the importance of small ponds to the biodiversity of algae.

In 1996-2002 and 2012-13, we carried out phycological studies in 20 small ponds located in fields and forests. During the study period, we recorded the presence of 503 taxa of algae. The flora of algae was unique in each pond. Another important and frequent observation was the total and rapid “rebuilding” of algal flora.

Statistical analyses revealed some other important facts, including the importance of small ponds to algal biodiversity. The average number of taxa recorded during the studies of individual water reservoirs was 56, thus much less than usually recorded in typical large lakes. But when we take the large number of small ponds into consideration, it appears that they represent more than 97% of the populations of algae and for this reason they are important to the biodiversity of algae.
The use of biopreparations in lake restoration − experimental research
Authors: Dunalska Julita A. , Sieńska Justyna , Szymański Daniel
Published: December 2015

The experiment was established in a set of containers. Every container held a 10 cm thick layer of profundal sediments and water from a badly polluted lake. The following five preparations were tested (brand names): AQUAKALGON+, BIOGEN REMEDIANT, BIODENN K, ECOTABS 1(TABLETS), ECOTABS 2(POWDER). The biological preparations were applied twice: phase I lasted 56 days and phase II was continued for 21 days. The research results demonstrated that considerably higher values, compared to the control, were initially (day 3) obtained for TOC after the application of ECOTABS 1, for total nitrogen − after BIODENN K and ECOTABS 1, and for total phosphorus − after BIODENN K, ECOTABS 1 and BIOGEN REMEDIANT. Multiplying bacteria might have been an additional source of organic matter in water, which was subsequently deposited in the bottom sediments as implicated by a higher percentage (by 1 to 7% of d.w.) of organic matter in the sediments at the termination of the experiment. Our preliminary experiment did not provide any justification for using the tested preparations in lake restoration efforts. Subsequent studies should focus on the question whether mineral phosphorus released to the lake water or a drastic change in the environmental conditions would not lead towards the dominance of invasive and highly toxic cyanobacteria.
A brief look at the free-living Nematoda of the oxic/anoxic interface with a new genus record (Trefusia) for the Black Sea
Authors: Ürkmez Derya , Brennan Michael L. , Sezgin Murat , Bat Levent
Published: December 2015

In order to provide the first comparative source of nematofaunal data at the oxic/anoxic interface off the Sinop Peninsula, the southern Black Sea, a survey of meiofauna and nematode fauna was conducted in August 2011 aboard the exploration vessel (E/V) Nautilus with ROV during the Black Sea Expedition NA012. Higher meiofaunal taxa and nematode composition were investigated. Free-living marine nematodes were the most abundant group at each site. A total of 84 species were found, belonging to 23 families. The suboxic zone was dominated by the nematode Trefusia aff. longicauda (42%). This is the first record of the genus Trefusia De Man, 1893 for the Black Sea. Although many factors are likely to influence the changes in the meiofaunal abundance and the composition of nematode assemblages, we suggest that oxygen reduction indeed affected the meiofaunal abundance and the nematode composition, however, a particular preference of several taxa for extreme conditions may be suggested.
A Note on a Methodological Issue Pertaining to the Empirical Specification of the Probability of Crisis Initiation
Authors: Carlson Lisa J. , Dacey Raymond
Published: December 2015

This note examines a methodological issue pertaining to the empirical specification of the probability of crisis initiation. We show that the empirical specification of the probability of crisis initiation encounters an insurmountable methodological problem, and, by example, that the problem leads empirical researchers to incorrect conclusions regarding the relationship between regime type and crisis initiation, in particular.
On the Dynamics of Extremist Violence
Authors: Kıbrıs Arzu , Kıbrıs Özgür
Published: December 2015

Many modern armed conflicts contain more than two fighting parties, or armed opposition groups that have factions within them. It is the moderates in an armed opposition that governments negotiate with. But the agreement’s fate depends on the approval of all other significant actors within the opposition. We construct a dynamic model of conflict in which such an actor is to decide whether to accept a peace agreement signed by the moderates or not. Using this model we analyze the behavior of our decision maker, focusing on outcomes like the optimal settlement strategy, expected duration of the conflict, and the decision maker’s expected payoff from conflict. We then determine how these outcomes are affected by changes in the conflict environment. Finally, we extend our model to analyze the implications of commitment problems, and the possibility that the conflict ends with military victory of either side.
Distributed and Dynamic Neural Encoding of Multiple Motion Directions of Transparently Moving Stimuli in Cortical Area MT
Authors: Xiao Jianbo , Huang Xin
Published: December 2015

Segmenting visual scenes into distinct objects and surfaces is a fundamental visual function. To better understand the underlying neural mechanism, we investigated how neurons in the middle temporal cortex (MT) of macaque monkeys represent overlapping random-dot stimuli moving transparently in slightly different directions. It has been shown that the neuronal response elicited by two stimuli approximately follows the average of the responses elicited by the constituent stimulus components presented alone. In this scheme of response pooling, the ability to segment two simultaneously presented motion directions is limited by the width of the tuning curve to motion in a single direction. We found that, although the population-averaged neuronal tuning showed response averaging, subgroups of neurons showed distinct patterns of response tuning and were capable of representing component directions that were separated by a small angle—less than the tuning width to unidirectional stimuli. One group of neurons preferentially represented the component direction at a specific side of the bidirectional stimuli, weighting one stimulus component more strongly than the other. Another group of neurons pooled the component responses nonlinearly and showed two separate peaks in their tuning curves even when the average of the component responses was unimodal. We also show for the first time that the direction tuning of MT neurons evolved from initially representing the vector-averaged direction of slightly different stimuli to gradually representing the component directions. Our results reveal important neural processes underlying image segmentation and suggest that information about slightly different stimulus components is computed dynamically and distributed across neurons.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTNatural scenes often contain multiple entities. The ability to segment visual scenes into distinct objects and surfaces is fundamental to sensory processing and is crucial for generating the perception of our environment. Because cortical neurons are broadly tuned to a given visual feature, segmenting two stimuli that differ only slightly is a challenge for the visual system. In this study, we discovered that many neurons in the visual cortex are capable of representing individual components of slightly different stimuli by selectively and nonlinearly pooling the responses elicited by the stimulus components. We also show for the first time that the neural representation of individual stimulus components developed over a period of ∼70–100 ms, revealing a dynamic process of image segmentation.
Sequential Retraction Segregates SGN Processes during Target Selection in the Cochlea
Authors: Druckenbrod Noah R. , Goodrich Lisa V.
Published: December 2015

A hallmark of the nervous system is the presence of precise patterns of connections between different types of neurons. Many mechanisms can be used to establish specificity, including homophilic adhesion and synaptic refinement, but the range of strategies used across the nervous system remains unclear. To broaden the understanding of how neurons find their targets, we studied the developing murine cochlea, where two classes of spiral ganglion neurons (SGNs), type I and type II, navigate together to the sensory epithelium and then diverge to contact inner hair cells (IHCs) or outer hair cells (OHCs), respectively. Neurons with type I and type II morphologies are apparent before birth, suggesting that target selection might be accomplished by excluding type I processes from the OHC region. However, because type I processes appear to overshoot into type II territory postnatally, specificity may also depend on elimination of inappropriate synapses. To resolve these differences, we analyzed the morphology and dynamic behaviors of individual fibers and their branches as they interact with potential partners. We found that SGN processes continue to be segregated anatomically in the postnatal cochlea. Although type I-like fibers branched locally, few branches contacted OHCs, arguing against synaptic elimination. Instead, time-lapse imaging studies suggest a prominent role for retraction, first positioning processes to the appropriate region and then corralling branches during a subsequent period of exuberant growth and refinement. Thus, sequential stages of retraction can help to achieve target specificity, adding to the list of mechanisms available for sculpting neural circuits.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTDuring development, different types of neurons must form connections with specific synaptic targets, thereby creating the precise wiring diagram necessary for adult function. Although studies have revealed multiple mechanisms for target selection, we still know little about how different strategies are used to produce each circuit's unique pattern of connectivity. Here we combined neurite-tracing and time-lapse imaging to define the events that lead to the simple binary wiring specificity of the cochlea. A better understanding of how the cochlea is innervated will broaden our knowledge of target selection across the nervous system, offer new insights into the developmental origins of deafness, and guide efforts to restore connectivity in the damaged cochlea.