bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Selecting Demolition Waste Materials Disposal Alternatives Using Fuzzy TOPSIS Technique
Authors: Marzouk Mohamed , El-Razek Mohamed Abd
Published: October 2019

This article describes how in developing countries, millions of tons of construction and demolition wastes (CDWs) are lost every year due to lack of knowledge of recycling significance and/or procedures. Despite the high value of CDWs, high percentage of this waste is either dumped illegally or disposed in the landfills. Disposal methods should consider saving natural resources and maintaining the environmental conditions through maximizing the value of CDWs. This article aims at choosing the most sustainable disposal alternative using Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) Process, considering several sustainability measure indicators. The research introduces a list containing the most relevant and significant sustainable indicators that affect the selection of alternative for disposal of CDWs. Then, fuzzy TOPSIS technique is applied considering the significant indicators on each alternative to rank and choose the best alternative for disposal of CDWs.
The Role of Engineers and Their Tools in the Transport Sector after Paradigm Change
Authors: Knoflacher Hermann
Published: October 2019

On the contrary to other fields of human progress, transport is creating more problems with increasing wealth. Congestion, traffic victims, noise and air pollution are direct unwanted effects, not been solved so far. The cause is the lack of system understanding in the professional world. the existing paradigm in Transport is based on assumptions and extrapolations and not on solid science. The new scientific based paradigm, need also new tools for the sustainable future of transport and cities.
The Influence of Pornography on Romantic Relationships of Emerging Adults
Authors: Young-Petersen Bonnie , Willoughby Brian J.
Published: October 2019

Scholars have studied emerging adults and pornography extensively, but to date there is no research on how pornography influences how emerging adults approach and act in relationships. The purpose of this chapter is to explore the nature of pornography use among emerging adults, as well as to look at the relationship between pornography use and pornography-related relational anxiety among emerging adults. The authors describe existing research on pornography and emerging adults, introduce their own study, and explain the results and implications.
Digital Divide, Data Trash, and the Commodification of Information
Authors: Sewchurran Anusharani
Published: October 2019

In an attempt to build a theoretical framework for new media within the African context, this chapter considers terminology that routinely surface around ICTs. Terms such as knowledge economy, information poverty, the digital divide, information, knowledge and data though used interchangeably or roughly to mean similar things, they are laden with value, meaning and reflect power relations within a global and local context. Routinely used terms in a field create discourses which in turn reveal sociocultural, economic practices and power relations which reflect certain hegemonies. This chapter attempts to review some of the terms in the field of ICTs in order to make visible the sociocultural and economic power relations embedded in them. The digital divide offers a key entry point into ICT discourses and the opportunities and challenges presented by new media technology within the context of Africa. The theoretical concepts of the digital divide are reviewed within the larger context of global constructions of information wealth and information poverty.
Assessing Robustness of Asian Countries Ranking
Authors: Chakrabarty Nilanjana , Bhattacharjee Dibyojyoti
Published: October 2019

The term ‘digital divide' refers to the gap between individuals, households, businesses and geographic areas with regard to both their opportunities to access Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) and to their use of Internet. Composite indicators are regularly used for measuring the divide and in benchmarking the country's performance. But often it creates controversies regarding the subjectivity that is connected with their construction methodology more specifically the weighting and aggregation issues. The paper attempts to assess the robustness of the ranks generated by the composite digital divide index using different weighting and aggregation schemes in case of Asian countries. Here four weighting techniques Iyengar-Sudarshan Method, Benefit of Doubt Method, Principal Component Analysis and Unobserved Component Model and three techniques of aggregation viz. Linear Aggregation, Geometric Aggregation and Weighted Displaced Ideal Method are used for mutual comparison.
Re-Examining the Impact of Financial System on Economic Growth
Authors: Altay Bülent , Topcu Mert
Published: October 2019

Recent developments in panel data econometrics allow researchers to estimate heterogeneous parameters. Given this novelty, the goal of this paper is to revisit the financial development-economic growth nexus for a panel of 76 developing counties using recent heterogeneous panel time series estimation methods. Findings indicate that results are very volatile across different empirical specifications. Overall, results provide a strong support of a negative impact that banking development on growth. At regional level, however, there is relatively little evidence of such relationship. On the side of the stock market, there is no much indication in favor of stock market-led growth hypothesis either at pooled panel or at regional level.
The Impact of Corruption on Economic Growth
Authors: Farrag Noha A. , Ezzat Asmaa M.
Published: October 2019

Even though corruption is correlated to political and moral degradation, there is no consensus on the impact of corruption on economic growth. Although, theory leans to the view that corruption has negative impact on growth, still empirical evidence and counter arguments show that there might be positive implications for corruption. This paper compares the corruption impact on growth in 17 developed European countries vs. 15 developing MENA countries using a pooled OLS model and a random effects model for the period (1999-2012). This paper contributes to the literature by examining the impact of corruption on growth in scarcely examined countries in Europe and MENA. Also, the paper findings are intriguing because they show that the region, as a proxy to degree of development, significantly influences the effect of corruption on economic growth.
Empirical Analysis of the Relationship Between Energy Consumption, CO2 Emissions and Economic Growth in Tunisia
Authors: Jouini Sana Essaber , Labidi Etidel
Published: October 2019

This paper examines the long run and causal relationship issues between economic growth, energy consumption and carbon emissions by using vector error correction model for the case of Tunisia within 1970-2010. Empirical results using time series data suggest an evidence of a long-run relationship between the variables at 5% significance level in Tunisia. A Granger causality analysis is conducted amongst the variables. The overall results indicate bidirectional causality between energy consumption and CO2 emissions and a unidirectional causality running from pollutant emissions to economic growth. But there is no direct relation between energy consumption and economic growth. Thus, our results reveal that in short term energy conservation policies, such as rationing energy consumption have no effect on the real output growth of Tunisia.
A Take on Employee Welfare Facilities and Employees' Efficiency
Authors: Patro Chandra Sekhar , Kamakula Madhu Kishore Raghunath
Published: October 2019

Looking back into the history of welfare facilities for employees in an organization, they have always and will keep playing a pivotal role in enhancing employee morale. The welfare schemes in every organization facilitate impetus for employee and employer relations. Employees' welfare is inherent core component, as they act as life blood for achieving the objectives of an organization. The main intention behind implementing the welfare facilities, is to secure the employee force by providing proper human condition of work and minimizing its hazardous effect on the life of the employees and their family members. Welfare facilities are provided in every organization either public or private sector as these would go a long way to cherish their ultimate vision. The present study is an attempt to determine the various welfare facilities implemented with its impact on the work efficiency over different public and private sector organizations. This paper also draws an empirical evidence by studying the influence of welfare facilities on the employee's efficiency.
An Assessment Relationship between Social Exclusion and Transportation
Authors: Ozkazanc Seher , Sonmez Nihan Ozdemir
Published: October 2019

Having been used extensively since the 1980s, the concept of social exclusion has given a new impetus to the discussions of poverty and disadvantageousness. The concept of social exclusion, which can be defined as the condition in which certain individuals or social groups cannot integrate into the society either socially or economically or politically, leads to social cohesion problems. This triggers segregation of the society, particularly in large cities, in both social and spatial terms. In the context of accessibility, “urban transport” appears as one of the most important factors determining level of social inclusion/exclusion of the individuals or groups. In this study relation between social exclusion and transport has been evaluated as an attempt to identify socio-spatial segregation pattern of Ankara.
Challenging the De-Politicization of Food Poverty
Authors: Howarth Anita
Published: October 2019

Austerity food blogs have come to the fore with the emergence of a neoliberal ideology of austerity, which in Britain has seen cuts to welfare benefits legitimized through individual failure explanations of poverty and the stigmatizing of benefit claimants. The consequence has been to distance ministers from food poverty and de-politicize it. Austerity food blogs, written by those forced to live hand-to-mouth, are a hybrid form of digital culture that merge narratives of lived experience, food practices and political commentary in ways that challenge the dominant views on poverty so re-politicize it. A Girl Called Jack did this by breaking the silence that the stigma of poverty imposes, by personalizing hunger through Jack Monroe's narratives of her lived experience of it and inviting the pity of the reader. Monroe also challenged austerity through practices derived during the struggle to survive and eat healthily on £10-a-week food budget. Her blog resonated powerfully but also revealed a British society deeply uneasy and polarized over modern poverty.
Design, Implementation and Evaluation of MOOCs to Improve Inclusion of Diverse Learners
Authors: Sanchez-Gordon Sandra , Luján-Mora Sergio
Published: October 2019

This chapter presents accessibility requirements that need to be considered in the design, implementation and evaluation of Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) to ensure they are inclusive. Accessibility requirements take in account particular needs, preferences, skills and situations of diverse learners, e.g. people with disabilities, elderly people and foreign students. The accessibility needs have to be considered in the design and implementation of MOOCs' interfaces, contents and learning/assessment activities. Due to its open and massive nature, with an adequate implementation, MOOCs can overcome inclusion barriers for the benefit of potential learners worldwide, both able and disabled. For evaluation, there are accessibility evaluation tools that identify accessibility problems in the content, semantic and structural elements of a website that can be used to evaluate the level of accessibility of MOOCs. Additional expert-based and user-based evaluations are always recommended in order to achieve valid results.
Leveraging Professional Development to Prepare General and Special Education Teachers to Teach within Response to Intervention Frameworks
Authors: Benedict Amber Elizabeth , Brownell Mary T. , Griffin Cynthia C. , Wang Jun , Myers Jonte A
Published: October 2019

This chapter examines the role professional development (PD) plays in preparing teachers to teach within Response to Intervention (RTI) frameworks, and how future PD efforts might be leveraged to strengthen the preparation of general and special education teachers to coordinate instruction and teach more effectively within multi-tiered instructional systems. This chapter highlights two PD approaches that directly address these issues. Prime Online and Project InSync are two PD innovations that have specifically addressed how PD can be designed to support general and special education teachers in deepening their shared knowledge and improving their ability to enact coordinated instruction across instructional tiers within RTI frameworks.
Implementing Effective Student Support Teams
Authors: Crosby-Cooper Tricia , Pacis Dina
Published: October 2019

Pre-service teachers in a K-12 setting, encounter students in need of academic and behavioral supports. One method of providing supports to struggling students in the general education and special education setting is through the problem-solving process of pre-referral intervention, hence forth referred to as Student Support Teams (SST) within Response-to-Intervention. During the SST process, student's academic and/or behavioral difficulties are considered through a multidisciplinary approach. Research demonstrates the use of a multi-tiered problem solving approach as a means to provide supports for students prior to special education eligibility and placement. Additionally, there are concerns regarding implementation and teacher perceptions (Powers, 2001) on the effectiveness of the intervention and collaboration between general education and special education teachers (Graden, 1989). This chapter discusses historical aspects, purpose and process, best practices, and challenges of SSTs, while presenting strategies for teachers and educators to effectively implement the SST process.
Best Practices Implementing Special Education Curriculum and Common Core State Standards using UDL
Authors: Keough Penelope Debs , Pacis Dina
Published: October 2019

The purpose of this chapter is to provide a model for collaboration between general education and special education teachers using Universal Design for Learning (UDL) to align common core state standards with instruction for students with special needs. A history of how UDL came to be and how it is now a strategic tool to support all learners is explored. Best practices are offered as supportive instructional strategies. An example of how UDL can be aligned with Common Core State Standards and the goal(s) found in an Individual Educational Plan (IEP) will also be provided. This model supports collaboration between general education and special education teachers in an effort to ensure that general education curriculum can be accessed by students with special needs.
Marginality and Mattering
Authors: Hadley Wanda , Hsu Jennifer , Addison Mark Antony , Talbot Donna
Published: October 2019

Students with learning disabilities are the fastest growing at-risk population transitioning to higher education institutions. This chapter explores the academic adjustment issues students with learning disabilities experience in their transition to the college environment. Their experiences are explored and reported through the context of student development theory of marginalization. The chapter discusses students' access and adjustment to the campus culture and how this experience influences their identity development.
Understanding Nonverbal Learning Disabilities in Postsecondary Students with Spina Bifida
Authors: Russell Carol
Published: October 2019

Transitioning to life after high school can be challenging for most young adults, even more so for individuals with a nonverbal learning disability (NLD). However, careful planning can lead to success. Friends, family members, employers, college instructors, therapists, and other service providers need information and methods to support individuals with NLD, particularly those with spina bifida (SB). A review of NLD characteristics, effects on student learning, non-awareness and misconceptions of NLD, and effective supports for individuals with NLD (e.g., accommodations, agendas and checklists, assistive technology) will be illustrated via the example of one young college student with NLD and SB. MAP (Making Action Plans) and PATH (Planning Alternative Tomorrows with Hope)—research-based strategies and tools for transition planning and progress monitoring of teens and young adults with NLD and SB—as well as methods to self-advocate to obtain assistance from others academically, physically, socially, and emotionally will be demonstrated.
The Educational Rights of Students with Chronic Disease
Authors: Gibbon Thomas C. , Cline Jenifer , Schwilk Christopher L. , Hosfelt Patricia D. , Bateman David F.
Published: October 2019

Effective implementation of services for students with chronic disease in any school district relies on a solid understanding of the rules and regulations governing the educational rights of those with disabilities. This chapter enumerates the history of the educational rights of students with disabilities, describes the key laws as promulgated by the federal government, provides a definition of a disability based on these laws, possible categories of special education services and the qualification process for 504 or special education services. This chapter discusses the consideration for education in the least restrictive environment, and key components in the development of both IEP's and Section 504 plans, issues related to providing a free appropriate public education, and the Family and Educational Rights Privacy Act. It concludes with a discussion of working with related services personnel. The two main ways students with chronic disease receive services is under IDEA in the category of Other Health Impaired or under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.
Educating Students with Chronic Illness
Authors: Tseng Margaret , Pluta Rebecca Magee
Published: October 2019

Students with chronic illness have historically received an education via home and hospital instruction during their absences. This instruction is significantly inferior in both quality and quantity when compared with the educational experience of students able to attend school. This case study details the experiences of a middle school student in the mid-Atlantic Region of the United States whose chronic illness presented unique and multifaceted challenges that could not be met by her district's inflexible policies and disconnected resources. This case illuminates the need for schools to break away from the traditional administrative special education mold when responding to the challenges of educating frequently absent students with chronic illness. The educational Civil Rights of these students can be preserved, however, by utilizing affordable, available technology to minimize the impact of frequently missed classes, provide continuity of instruction and allow educational access regardless of a student's physical location during their absences from school.
Critical Practices for Teaching and Learning in Global Contexts
Authors: Lopez Ann E. , Olan Elsie L.
Published: October 2019

This chapter examines critical practices and agency of teachers as they wrestle with issues of diversity in the teaching and learning process. Using a framework of transcultural education and culturally responsive teaching it draws on research conducted in Southern Ontario, Canada and Central Florida, areas with large and growing diverse populations. We posit that schools are sites of social learning and cultural border crossing, where dominant discourses must be disrupted and the lived experiences of diverse students brought into the center of the teaching and learning process. Through the use of narratives and critical reflection teachers critically examined ways to develop agency and take action to create change. The findings highlighted in this chapter have significance for experienced and novice teachers, teacher educators and faculties of education and school leaders who are seeking to address issues of diversity and equity in critical ways.
The Role of Multi-Media in Expanding Pre-Service Teachers' Understanding of Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Classrooms and Furthering Their Professional Identities
Authors: Mary Latisha , Young Andrea
Published: October 2019

This chapter details a qualitative study conducted with pre-service elementary school student teachers enrolled in a Masters course on cultural and linguistic diversity at one university teacher education institute in France. The study aimed to evaluate the impact of the course on the student teachers' understanding of culturally and linguistically diverse classrooms and questioned whether the use of multi-media resources throughout the course could contribute to fostering a greater sense of empathy towards their future culturally and linguistically diverse students. The data analysis reveals that the use of video in particular, in combination with theoretical readings, was highly instrumental in helping the students to understand the concepts linked to second language acquisition and in providing them with strategies for their linguistically and culturally diverse classrooms. The authors question whether the use of multi-media is sufficient to foster a sense of empathy in students and suggest further pedagogical interventions.
A Forensic Psychological Perspective on Racism in Schools of Educational Leadership
Authors: Johnson Ronn , Lee Jojo Yanki , Kim Ji Youn Cindy
Published: October 2019

Schools theoretically operate under a shared value of fairness in the workplace. The fairness includes a notable sense of egalitarian beliefs, values, and people who hold themselves out to be unprejudiced. When defensible and culturally responsive justice measures are applied in schools of education, leadership in Schools of Education must consistently demonstrate clear and convincing evidence of fairness. The chapter is an analysis of aversive or unconscious racism and in the ways that it might manifest itself through individuals in leadership positions. Evaluating the impact of the institutional racism. In the analysis of forensic psychological perspective, ways of using a forensic psychological approach to assess the stakeholders in the School of Education as it pertains to the experience of racism will be discussed. A forensic psychological portrait of racism in schools of education is examined. Finally, implications for practice, training, and research are discussed.
Channeling Race
Authors: Roth Kenneth Robert , Ritter Zachary S.
Published: October 2019

The late Stuart Hall argued depictions of race in media most appropriately should be examined as ideology, since a main sphere of media operation is the production and transformation of ideologies. These ideologies are not isolated concepts but articulations of a variety of cultural signifiers into a chain of meanings that are often presented as statements of nature. Such meanings can produce troubling outcomes on U.S. college campuses when arriving international students' first and often only exposure to race in America is the nation's continued struggle with equality as portrayed in exported film and news spectacles portraying blackness as a social threat. This chapter examines how media representations can flavor cross-cultural interactions, and the implications these interactions may have for campus climate, diversity initiatives, and the increasingly multicultural and globalized work place.
Cultivating Communities of Inclusive Practice
Authors: Curran Christina M. , Hawbaker Becky Wilson
Published: October 2019

Significant disparities in educational outcome, opportunity, and achievement endure for students with disabilities and those from culturally and linguistically diverse groups. A need for effective, responsive, and inclusive practices in schools is imperative. Educators are at the heart of providing the challenging, responsive education that each child and adolescent deserves. Professional development is the lever of change, but can or help or hinder educators in improving instructional and school practices that result in improved outcomes for all students. This chapter examines the evidence base surrounding professional development and inclusive practice. Four approaches to professional development supporting more transformative professional learning and change are featured: inquiry groups (teacher study groups and lesson study); coaching, Professional Learning Communities; and Professional Development Schools. Snapshots to practice are included with each approach to provide integrated descriptive examples of varied inclusive professional development practices.
Optimization of Energy Efficiency in Wireless Sensor Networks and Internet of Things
Authors: El Alami Hassan , Najid Abdellah
Published: October 2019

Energy consumption is a constraint in the design architecture of wireless sensor networks (WSNs) and internet of things (IoT). In order to overcome this constraint, many techniques have been proposed to enhance energy efficiency in WSNs. In existing works, several innovative techniques for the physical, the link, and the network layer of OSI model are implemented. Energy consumption in the WSNs is to find the best compromise of energy consumption between the various tasks performed by the objects, the detection, the processing, and the data communication tasks. It is this last task that consumes more energy. As a result, the main objective for the WSNs and the IoT is to minimize the energy consumed during this task. One of the most used solutions is to propose efficient routing techniques in terms of energy consumption. In this chapter, the authors present a review of related works on energy efficiency in WSNs and IoT. The network layer routing protocols are the main concerns in this chapter. The interest is focused on the issue of designing data routing techniques in WSNs and IoT.
The Role of Market Orientation and Organizational Capabilities of Family Businesses on Competitive Advantage
Authors: Atılgan Özgür
Published: October 2019

Family businesses are described as organizations owned by one or more members of the same family. Most of the business organizations in the world consists of family firms. However, although they constitute a larger share in almost all of the economies, in their first 5 years of operation, 90% of the family businesses disappear. Of the remaining 10%, 67% die or change ownership after first generation. Only 12% survive under current ownership past the third generation. Therefore, in order to maintain the continuity of the business, family businesses have to achieve competitive advantage. One way to achieve competitive advantage is through becoming market oriented. In this connection, the purpose of this chapter is to identify the role of market orientation and the four basic organizational capabilities (entrepreneurial ability, management ability, global ability, and building partnerships ability) on gaining competitive advantage by systematically reviewing relevant concepts, thereby contributing to the existing literature.
Family Firm Competitiveness and Organizational Ambidexterity
Authors: Boronat-Navarro Montserrat , García-Joerger Alexandra
Published: October 2019

Long-term survival is one of the main goals of family business. Nevertheless, very few firms survive to the third generation. The concept of organizational ambidexterity could add insights into the explanation of family firm (FF) survival. In the literature, organizational ambidexterity is defined as the capability to explore new knowledge, processes, and opportunities while exploiting current ones to achieve a greater competitive advantage and ensure the survival of the firm. The aim of this chapter is to review the literature that analyzes relationships between FF specificities and organizational ambidexterity to propose a framework of the antecedents of ambidexterity in this context. This could be a useful tool to better identify FF specificities that will support long-term survival through their influence on organizational ambidexterity.
The Accumulation of Distinctive Competences in Family Firms
Authors: Camisón César , Puig-Denia Alba
Published: October 2019

Taking as its basis the resource- and capability-based view of the firm, this study provides an in-depth exploration of the ability of the family tourism firm to accumulate and develop the distinctive competences that are key to its success. Specifically, the analysis centres on how the family tourism firm acquires distinctive competences through the development of managerial capabilities. Using structural equation modelling (SEM), the empirical analysis focuses on a sample of 1,019 Spanish tourism firms. The results of the study suggest that family businesses face certain problems in accumulating distinctive competences. Moreover, the study indicates that such problems are due in part to the difficulties of developing efficient managerial capabilities in this type of company, which is an obstacle to the accumulation and management of other distinctive competences.
Technological Innovation in Family Firms
Authors: Ossorio Mario
Published: October 2019

This chapter illustrates the main issues with respect to innovation process within family firms. In the first part, it describes the main theories underlying the innovation process of family firms (agency theory, altruism, portfolio theory, stewardship theory, socioemotional wealth perspective). In the second part, it exposes the R&D underinvestment problem in large companies with a focus on the effect of the family ownership on the R&D investments. In the third part, it describes the effect of family ownership on the innovation output with a focus on the kind of innovation (radical vs. incremental). In the fourth section, studies exploring the innovation strategies of family firms (prospectors, analysers, defenders, reactors) are examined. In the fifth section, it sheds light on the innovation management process of family firms. In this part, it explores the issues of internal innovation process (functional vs. cross-functional structure) and of the partnerships with external actors aimed to generate innovation.
Mathematical Simulation of Anthropogenic Load on Forested Territories for Point Source
Authors: Baranovskiy Nikolay Viktorovich
Published: October 2019

An anthropogenic load is the main cause of forest fires in the vicinity of settlements and various objects of transport or industrial infrastructure. It is proposed to mark out linear and point sources of anthropogenic load. For the numerical simulation, the similarity in the processes of propagation of anthropogenic load and diffusive heat transfer was used. The quantitative characteristic of the anthropogenic load is the virtual (possible) number of forest fires in the controlled forest area. A mathematical model to predict the distribution of anthropogenic load from a point source is presented. Distributions of the virtual number of forest fires for model data from a point source of anthropogenic load are obtained. Conclusions about the patterns of the distribution of anthropogenic load from a point source are formulated. The prospects for the further development of these results are described.
Dynamic Spatial-Distributed Fire Risk Analysis
Authors: Zharikova Maryna Vitalievna
Published: October 2019

The chapter develops a dynamic spatial-distributed model of forest fire risk. The structure of forest fire risk is represented by two interrelated groups of components describing a potential of forest fire and describing valuable objects being under fire influence. The concept of fire risk which contains the probability of forest fire occurrence, its intensity, and effect, is extended using the threat as the additional prognostic spatial-temporal component that has a predictive property and allows forecasting the possibility of losses at any time. The model of fire risk is based on three stages: potential risk, the source of which is described by fire danger; risk of threat of active forest fire which hasn't covered valuable object yet; risk of destruction when the active fire has covered valuable object. Representation of risk as a process based on three stages allows describing the dynamics of risk in real-time systems, getting insight into risk nature, as well as diagnosing the situation in real time.
Assessing the Territory According to the Degree of Thunderstorm Danger
Authors: Karanina Svetlana Yurevna , Kocheeva Nina Alekseevna , Karanin Andrey Vladimirovich , Belikova Marina Yurevna
Published: October 2019

This chapter studies the dynamics of lightning activity in the mountains of southern Siberia. The information base for the studies was data on lightning discharges for 2011-2016, recorded by WWLLN. Daily and seasonal courses in the number of lightning discharges are analyzed. Maps show the average annual density and the coefficient of variation of the number of lightning discharges for the plots with dimensions of 10 × 10 km. A cluster analysis of lightning discharges during the passage of individual thunderstorms in the territories of Altai Republic and the Republic of Buryatia was performed. During the study, the daily course of the number of lightning discharges was detailed. Sites with a high average annual density of lightning discharges were identified as lightning-hazardous areas of the mountains of southern Siberia. An analysis of the spatial distribution of lightning-discharge clusters made it possible to trace the dynamics of thunderstorm focus.
Spore abundance and morphological root modifications of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi-infected black pepper (Piper nigrum L) plants in reddish brown latesolic soil of Matale in Sri Lanka
Authors: Weerawardena T. E. , Bandara W. M. S. B.
Published: October 2019

Arbuscular Mycorrhizae (AM) is a symbiotic association between fungi and roots of higher plants, which enhances plant growth and production. Black pepper (Piper nigrum L: Family Piperaceae), the second most valuable spice crop in Sri Lanka, is also identified as a host crop of mycorrhizae. However, existing indigenous AM species, their spore abundance and root colonization is not yet well studied or documented. Therefore, the present study was conducted to collect data on AM spore density and morphological features of modified roots due to infection of existing AM species in black pepper fields. Rhizosphere soils of randomly selected, 20 well-grown black pepper plants in RBL soils of Matale in Sri Lanka were evaluated for pH, moisture and major nutrients while AM spore abundance and AM colonization in stained roots were examined microscopically. The soil pH (4.7-5.9), total N (0.18-0.23 %), and organic C (1.57-1.75%) levels in study sites were preferable for biological activities while variability was observed in available P (4.4-29 ppm), exchangeable K (188-788 ppm) and volumetric moisture (9.8-24%). The AM spore (size >50 μm) density in examined soils were high and ranged from 1600-9000 spores kg-1 soil. Both live (slight yellowish to dark brown in colour) and dead (black) spores were present and globular or spherical in shape without any special hyphal attachments. About 95% of examined roots were infected with AM with modifications such as arbuscules or vesicles or both. Networks of non-septate, extra-radical hyphae and branched intra-radical hyphae could be seen. Arbuscules observed were in different maturity and highly branched. Both inter or intracellular vesicles found were oval or ellipsoid in shape. Thus, most of the mature black pepper plants in RBL soils of Matale were found infected with indigenous vesicular arbuscular mycorrhizae (VAM) and morphological features of their spores, hyphae, arbuscules and vesicles were similar to fungi of order Glomerales, which consisted with Glomus spp.
Climate variability and adaptation of Homegardens in South Asia: case studies from Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and India
Authors: Marambe Buddhi , Weerahewa Jeevika , Pushpakumara Gamini , Silva Pradeepa , Punyawardena Ranjith , Premalal Sarath , Miah MD. Giashuddin , Roy Joyashree , Jana Sebak
Published: October 2019

This study assessed the climate variability, vulnerability of Homegardens (HGs), and elements that influence the adaptation decisions of homegardeners in selected regions in South Asia. Study sample comprised 148 HGs in three sites in Sri Lanka, 120 HGs in Bangladesh and 100 HGs in India. Variability in temperature and rainfall in the sites from 1961 to 2010, and changes in the onset of cultivating seasons during two decades (1991-2010) were analyzed. The socio-economic data of the homegardeners, agronomic data of HGs, diversity of trees and farm animals, and adaptation strategies used in HGs for perceived variability in climate during 1991-2010 were collected using a questionnaire survey. The annual rate of rise in night-time minimum temperature in the three Sri Lankan study sites (0.012 to 0.022 °C; R2 = 0.251 to 0.589; p<0.05) and in the Indian study site (0.041 °C; R2 = 0.324; p<0.05) more pronounced than the increase in day-time maximum temperature. The average annual day-time minimum and maximum temperatures in Bangladesh study site did not show a significant variation (p>0.05). The annual cumulative rainfall did not reveal any discernible trend in all study sites (p>0.05). From 1991-2010, 85 % of Maha seasons in Sri Lanka (September to February) have not been set on time (p<0;05), whereas in Bangladesh and Indian study sites, the onset of the majority of cultivating seasons was not delayed. The HGs in Sri Lankan sites were mainly crop-based while those from India and Bangladesh had a rich blend of crops and farm animals. The homegardeners have made changes to planting dates of annual crops, agronomic practices, technology used (new annual crop varieties and irrigation equipment) and soil and water conservation measures to adapt to climate variability. Probit analysis showed that the type of employment, age, education level of the household head, experience in farming, HG size (extent), presence of farm animals and tree density of the HGs have significantly influenced the decision of homegardeners to adopt any adaptation strategy. Homegardeners who perceived climate variability were more adaptable and adaptation strategies were location specific.
Do drought vulnerable farmers adapt more to drought? a case of dry zone paddy farmers in Sri Lanka
Authors: Tharsika R. , Hemachandra Dilini , Sharunya G.
Published: October 2019

Frequent droughts in Sri Lanka have caused production losses in considerable amounts due to reduced water supply for irrigation. Drought adaptation has become imperative. It is important to understand the drought vulnerability and adaptation of farmers in order to propose amicable solutions. This study assessed droughtvulnerability of farmers in major and minor irrigation schemes and the relationship of drought vulnerability with adaptation level. Secondary data from Sri Lankan Environmental and Agricultural Decision-making Survey (SEADS) carried out under the Agricultural Decision Making and Adaptation to Precipitation Trends in Sri Lanka project (ADAPT-SL) and meteorological data were used for the study. Based on the definition of Inter-Governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the integrated approach was used to conceptualize the framework of drought vulnerability where a vulnerability index was defined using adaptive capacity, sensitivity and exposure to drought. IPCC’s concept of adaptation was used to measure the adaptation level. Correlation tests were done to find the relationship among vulnerability and adaptation level and mean comparison tests were carried out to compare farmers in the major and minor irrigation schemes. The study finds that, while farmers in major irrigation scheme are low in drought exposure they are high in adaptive capacity and sensitivity. In contrast, farmers in minor irrigation scheme while high in drought exposure are low in adaptive capacity and sensitivity. According to correlation tests, we find that the vulnerable farmers are low in adaptation level. The mean comparison results showed that the farmers in minor irrigation scheme are highly vulnerable but show low adaptation level to drought than the farmers in major irrigation scheme.
Intellectual property rights (IPRs) for plant breeders: a review on theoretical framework and employment of DNA-based varietal authentication for claiming IPR
Authors: Wijesundara W. W. M. U. K. , Ananda G. K. S. , Ranaweera L. T. , Udawela U. A. K. S. , Weebadde C. K. , Sooriyapathirana S. D. S. S.
Published: October 2019

Plant patents (PPs) and Plant Breeders’ Rights (PBR) are two forms of Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) granted to improved novel crop varieties. The government of the state of authority issues PPs and PBR after confirming the uniqueness of varietal identity. The uniqueness relies on distinctiveness, uniformity, and stability of the new variety. Morphological, physiological and biochemical descriptors are less capable in varietal discrimination to obtain IPR in the presence of large number of closely related varieties as the reference collections, but advanced molecular tools such as DNA fingerprinting and sequencing have high potentials to detect the uniqueness. DNA fingerprinting and sequencing have identified varietal identities of many crops such as rice, apple, wheat, and soybean revealing the potential of the successful use of molecular descriptors in granting patents or PBR. The novelty verification is the first step in the process of allowing patents or PBRs. The patent or plant variety protection office requires an application from the breeder that includes all the details of the plant variety fulfilling all statutory requirements to grant varietal ownership via a patent certificate or a plant variety protection certificate. Currently, Sri Lanka has no developed system of IPRs to allow PBR or patents for improved crop varieties. The efforts made by breeders in developing novel varieties can be justified and appreciated by granting plant varietal ownerships. For this purpose, molecular descriptors must be used instead of inefficient morphological, physiological and biochemical characters to avoid ambiguities and to clearly define the inventor of a particular variety.
Suitability of foliage plants for indoor decoration based on CO2 emission and absorption rate and stomata density
Authors: Karunananda D. P. , Abeysinghe W. K.
Published: October 2019

Use of foliage plants for indoor decoration is pursuing tradition in several cultures. With contemporary living patterns, frequent replacement of indoor plants has become impractical. Therefore, this experiment was conducted to identify indoor plants with low carbon dioxide (CO2) emission or CO2 absorption ability in nights to be kept continuously indoors. Five common indoor plants (Cryptanthus sp., Dieffenbachia seguine, Dracaena sanderiana, Sansevieria trifasciata and Zamioculcas zamiifolia) were placed separately in 1000 L airtight chambers for 12 h in the dark. The CO2 level in each chamber was measured before and after the experiment and the difference was calculated. The stomatal count of both adaxial and abaxial surfaces was taken in each plant type to determine the relationship between CO2 emission/absorption efficiency and stomatal density of tested ornamental species. From the test plant species, D. seguine, D. sanderiana and Z. zamiifolia, showed positive CO2 equilibrium in the chambers and the CO2 increments were 0.16 ppm cm-2, 0.39 ppm cm-2 and 0.18 ppm cm-2 of leaf area, respectively. Both Cryptanthus sp. and S. trifasciata showed negative CO2 equilibrium at around -0.20 ppm cm-2 of leaf area. Sansevieria trifasciata and D. sanderiana possessed stomata in both adaxial and abaxial surfaces, while stomatal number in adaxial surface of other three test plant species was negligible. The average number of stomata Cryptanthus sp. was 5.56x10⁴ cm⁻2, D. seguine 5.03x10⁴ cm⁻2, D. sanderiana 9.05x10⁴ cm⁻2, S. trifasciata 5.25x10⁴ cm⁻2 and Z. zamiifolia 3.51x10⁴ cm⁻2. Stomata in Cryptanthus sp. and S. trifasciata close during day time and open at night. Present study concludes that potted Cryptanthus sp. and S. trifasciata (plants with CAM photosynthesis pathway) used for indoor decoration absorb CO2 during the night, and hence, are safe to keep indoors during day and night.
Transient global amnesia: Isolated event or healthy predictor? Clinical experience of an Italian Emergency Department
Authors: Barbieri Greta , Cipriano Alessandro , Luly Simona , Del Nista Viola , Orsitto Eugenio , Santini Massimo
Published: October 2019

Transient global amnesia (TGA) is a clinical syndrome characterized by reversible anterograde amnesia, in which the patient is alert, self-awareness appears intact and other neurological symptoms are absent. The diagnosis is based on the following criteria: i) witnessed event; ii) acute onset of anterograde amnesia; iii) no accompanying neurological symptoms; iv) no alteration of consciousness; v) no epileptic features; vi) resolution within 24 hours; vii) exclusion of other causes. We conducted a cohort study at the Department of Emergency Medicine on 119 patients with TGA diagnosis from 2010 to 2014, with follow-up evaluation by telephone interview. The objectives of our study were to evaluate the frequency of subsequent episodes, to identify predisposing factors, and to investigate whether TGA is a possible predictor of neurological disease. The frequency of comorbidity in our population was in line with literature. We observed a recurrence rate of 9.5%, with a prevalence for the male gender, while no other factor correlates with TGA recurrence. TGA was not a predictor of further neurological diseases. In conclusion, TGA is a benign pathology with a low probability of relapse. Accordingly, management in Emergency Department should be based on a correct initial clinical classification for rapid discharge.
Il compleanno di un Codice di Deontologia medica / The birthday of a Medical Ethics Code
Authors: Fiori Angelo
Published: October 2019

Non disponibile / Not available
Il porre fine alla vita di neonati handicappati Dal Protocollo di Groningen al regolamento nazionale olandese
Authors: Eijk Willem J.
Published: October 2019

Dal 2004, nei Paesi Bassi e al di fuori di essi, con il Protocollo di Groningen è stato messo nell’agenda del dibattito pubblico concernente l’eutanasia il porre fine alla vita di neonati. Nel frattempo, il governo olandese ha redatto un regolamento nazionale che è in vigore dal 2006. Ogni vita umana, quindi anche quella del neonato, è un valore intrinseco che non può essere sacrificato, nemmeno per porre termine alla sofferenza. La sofferenza insopportabile e senza prospettive non può essere usata come criterio per giustificare la soppressione attiva della vita. La sofferenza insopportabile pare essere giudicata dai medici in modo diverso. Anche sulla valutazione della sofferenza senza prospettive, le opinioni dei medici sembrano divergere notevolmente. La sedazione palliativa può essere una soluzione per riportare la sofferenza a proporzioni sopportabili. Può considerarsi legittimo rinunciare ad una terapia che prolunghi la vita, anche se così ne viene accelerata la fine. ---------- From 2004 through the Groningen Protocol the termination of life of neonates was put on the agenda of the debate concerning euthanasia inside and outside the Netherlands. In the meantime Dutch government has established the national regulations, effective from 2006. Every human life, including that of the neonate, is an intrinsic value, which may not be sacrificed, also not in order to end suffering. The being unbearable and the hopelessness of suffering may not be used as a criterion for justifying active termination of life. The opinions regarding the hopelessness of suffering also appears to differ among physicians. Palliative sedation may be a solution in order to reduce suffering to bearable proportions. It may be legitimate to renounce life prolonging treatment, also when the end of life is accelerated by doing so.