bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Vulnerabilidad y riesgo sísmico de los edificios residenciales estudiados dentro del Plan Especial de evaluación del riesgo sísmico en la Comunidad Valenciana
Authors: Serrano-Lanzarote B. , Temes-Córdovez R.
Published: September 2015

Se presenta un estudio sobre la vulnerabilidad sísmica de edificios residenciales en la Comunidad Valenciana, como parte del Plan Especial frente al riesgo sísmico que dicha comunidad tiene obligación de elaborar al tener poblaciones con intensidades sísmicas superiores a VII grados, según la Escala Macrosísmica Europea. Se exponen los resultados y metodología seguida para identificar las características constructivas de la región, antigu.edad de sus edificios, asignar clases de vulnerabilidad sísmica, estimar daños potenciales ocasionados por un probable sismo, así como cartografiar el riesgo derivado. Se destaca la estimación de un daño grave del 13 % del número de edificios para la provincia de Alicante, disminuyendo en las provincias de Valencia y Castellón hasta el 8 % y el 0,2 %, respectivamente. Para la gestión de la información se ha creado una geodatabase, administrada por un Sistema de Información Geográfica, herramienta que ha resultado muy eficaz, especialmente para la respuesta inmediata a preguntas multicriterio.
Corruption in Latin America and How It Affects Foreign Direct Investment (FDI)
Authors: Godinez Jose
Published: September 2015

Foreign direct investment has aided in a significant manner the economic development of Latin America since the early 1990s because capital in this region is limited (Blanco, 2012). Despite some criticism literature on FDI has overwhelmingly demonstrated that FDI has positive effects on host countries (Tan & Meyer, 2011) especially in Latin America (Wooster & Diebel, 2010). Authors researching the effects of FDI in Latin America have stated that this investment helps to growth on productivity (Blonigen & Wang, 2005) and thus, might help developing countries to begin their road to development. Therefore, scholars have devoted great efforts to understanding the determinants of FDI to Latin America and a brief overview will be provided in this study.This paper will present a detailed account of FDI flows to the region, a clear definition of corruption and how it is manifested in Latin America. After these definitions, suggestions are provided to deal with the problem of corruption in the region.
Foreign Direct Investment from China and Latin America
Authors: Godinez Jose , Terpstra Theodore
Published: September 2015

Historically, Chinese corporations have been relatively unknown in Latin America. Total foreign direct investment (FDI) in Latin America was 18.1% of the world total in 2012 (UNCTAD, 2013). However, Chinese FDI in Latin America has averaged about US$10 billion per year since 2010, only a small part of Latin America's total FDI inflows (ECLAC, 2013). Yet the presence and economic leverage of Chinese corporations has become very substantial in several industries in the region, particularly the oil and mining industries. Trade between China and Latin America has also grown dramatically since 1999 (Luo, et al., 2010). Despite the growing economic connectivity between Latin America and China, the motivation, strategy and procedures behind China's FDI in the region have not yet been fully understood.
Building Trust in Politics
Authors: Lobina Michele , Bottone Marco
Published: September 2015

This chapter studies the process of trust building in politics by using large data set on political behaviour in Latin America. The results yielded by developed models indicate specific elements as the most influential on the popular trust in institutions. These observed determinants were enclosed in five macro classes: cohesion of society; economic factors; electoral transparency; efficiency of judicial organs; and crime diffusion. The analysis of the public support in governments and parliaments revealed that certain variables have a direct impact on the stability of the Latin American democracies, while other factors merely determine the likelihood of a government's reappointment.
Social Media Literacy of Agricultural Librarians in the Philippines
Authors: Yap Joseph M.
Published: September 2015

The emergence of online collaborative learning and knowledge sharing is pervasive. Social media tools became a trend that libraries have to adapt to maintain user interaction. The study determines the technical competencies of agricultural librarians in the Philippines. It defines the social media literacy level of agricultural librarians in the country. This chapter is a derivative work on the acquired knowledge, perceptions and attitudes of medical and health librarians towards Library 2.0 in the Philippines. A former study on the level of awareness and gaps among medical and health librarians in the use, creation, and adaptation of Web 2.0 tools specifically in the Philippines were already confirmed in the past. This study established that agricultural librarians are highly experienced in certain competencies such as creating content and interacting with users while others have reached expert level in most of the competencies.
Organizing the Cartographic Series
Authors: Arnaud Jean-Luc
Published: September 2015

First of all, the author points out that the map materials are badly treated in the libraries. Then it presents the reasons why the cartographic series are so poorly cataloged. After this introduction, the chapter is divided into five parts. The first presents the general features, the history and the peculiarities of the cartographic series. The second part is mostly devoted to a particular category of document: the sheet indexes. It exposes how they are an essential tool to understand the geographic organization of each series. The third part deals with the statements printed on the sheets. It shows that they can be very useful but that, sometimes, they are misleading. The fourth part exposes how the new website CartoMundi takes a step forward in the world of the map libraries. To finish, the fifth part points out the futures issues of the map libraries in a changing context.
Holistic Perspective of Standardization Strategies
Authors: Baporikar Neeta
Published: September 2015

Industry has become increasingly interested in assessing its economic efficiency, and thus is more interested in the role of standardization. Standardization is a premise of international communication improvement and the information transfer increase directly connected with the results of technological development. Standardization represents a way to confer superior value to product through price, quality, and distribution. Standardization brings confidence to consumer regarding certain producer's offer. Globalization has dramatically changed the international business environment. Systematic and reliable results can only be attained on a common basis. Since there is greater pressure on industry to rationalize, the costs and benefits of standardization must be examined from both economic and strategic viewpoint. This paper through grounded theory approach aims to analyze not only the economic benefits to the various stakeholders but also develop a holistic perspective of standardization strategies in the current environment.
Bitcoin Mining
Authors: Ramachandran Hari Krishnan , Saketh Sai , Vaibhav Marichetty Venkata Teja
Published: September 2015

Cryptocurrency, a form of digital currency that has an open and decentralized system and uses cryptography to enhance security and control the creation of new units, is touted to be the next step from conventional monetary transactions. Many Cryptocurrencies exist today, with Bitcoin being the most prominent of them. Cryptocurrencies are generated by mining, as a fee for validating any transaction. The rate of generating hashes, which validate any transaction, has been increased by the use of specialized machine such as ASICs, running complex hashing algorithms like SHA-256, thereby leading to faster generation of Cryptocurrencies. With more people venturing into the world of virtual currency, generating hashes for this validation has become far more complex over the years, with miners having to invest huge sums of money on employing and maintaining multiple high performance ASICs. This paper throws light on the nuances of Cryptocurrency mining process, the issues of traditional mining machines and the implication of incorporating cloud technology to current mining infrastructure.
Enterprise Systems and Data Analytics
Authors: Sellitto Carmine , Hawking Paul
Published: September 2015

In sport there has been a reluctance to adopt new forms of technology unless it is associated with improving performance. However, in recent times, professional sport bodies have commenced using enterprise systems and data analytics for off-field activities. The authors use a case study approach in the paper to document the manner in which the National Football League (NFL) made available its vast array of historical and contemporary data to Fantasy Football participants through the adoption of an enterprise system that included in-memory processing and data analytics capabilities. Through a new player comparison tool, optimum player selections are made, enabling people to make more informed decisions on the management of their fantasy team. Furthermore, by making available its unique assortment of data to fantasy players, the NFL was able to expand its Fantasy Football platform. The paper provides insight into how other sporting bodies might be able to leverage their data capabilities.
Green Business Practices for Software Development Companies
Authors: Sambhanthan Arunasalam , Potdar Vidyasagar
Published: September 2015

This paper reports the findings of a text analysis of the corporate sustainability reports of eleven large scale Indian Software Development Businesses for the period of 2012 to 2014. The results shows that there are twenty two reported components of software development sustainability namely green buildings, green energy, green factory, green data centres, green infrastructure, green initiatives, green innovation, green packaging, green portfolio, green power, green practices, green procurement, green products, green program, green rating, green solutions, green space, green team, green tech and green supply chain which are addressed in the published reports of Indian software development businesses. The reports were further analysed to infer some knowledge on how the software development companies could contribute to green environment and the possible environmental impacts of these contributions. Finally a number of generalised conclusions were derived and followed by a set of implications for best practices in green software development as the outcome of the research reported in this paper.
An Analysis of Interdepartmental Relations in Enterprise Resource Planning Implementation
Authors: Esendemirli Ebru , Turker Duygu , Altuntas Ceren
Published: September 2015

Enterprise resource planning (ERP) has become one of the most popular information systems among companies that want to continue and expand their operations in the long run. The purpose of this study was to analyze the impact of interdepartmental relations, conceptualized as frequency of interaction, trust, coordination and power, on departmental performance from a social capital perspective. The findings of the study revealed that three components of interdepartmental relations (frequency of interaction, trust, and coordination) only emerged as significant factors in departmental performance when ERP was used effectively within the department.
Activity of the Elderly in an Eight-Week Case Study
Authors: Kuoremäki Reija , Poskiparta Marita
Published: September 2015

This study explores the engagement of the elderly with a new health-enhancing mobile-optimised web-service: An eight-week case study was carried out. Participants of the study were elderly people: 45 females and 19 males with the average age of 72.3 (SD 5.2) years. Their baseline information and communication technology experiences were evaluated, the data of using each service component was saved to a server and the usability of the service was evaluated. The majority of the users remained active throughout the study. The most frequently used components in the study were memory puzzles and physical exercise. The usability of the components was correlated with the age of the participants. Their total activity was not correlated with the baseline technological activity or age. Inexperienced technology users might benefit from the service, which is easy to use and the contents of which are interesting. Their relatively short training may have a major positive influence on engagement to service use.
Analysing E-Services and Mobile Applications with Companied Conjoint Analysis and fMRI Technique
Authors: Heinonen Jarmo
Published: September 2015

Previous research has shown that neuromarketing and conjoint analysis have been used in many areas of consumer research, and to provide for further understanding of consumer behaviour. Together these two methods may reveal more information about hidden desires, expectations and restrains of consumers' brain. This paper attempts to examine these two research methods together as a companied analysis. More specifically this study utilizes fMRI and conjoint analysis as a tool for analysing consumer's preferences and decision making in e-health and ITC products. This paper provides theoretical background with short history of conjoint analysis and contributions for the audience of consumer research: 1. how conjoint evaluation models works; 2. different conjoint models; 3. counting attribute interactions in conjoint analysis; and 4. brain activation triggers in fMRI and connection to conjoint analysis. Researchers of consumer behaviour may learn a new method for understanding user´s preferences and decision making from e-services and mobile applications. E-services and mobile applications need to be successfully analysed for various marketing segments of new products. An application might appeal well to consumer, but what is known about the attributes that makes consumer act? The customer might orally request other than her brain will inform. Needs could be derived from product parts or attribute bundles of mobile applications. The knowledge will help the producer to target new applications to relevant marketing segments.
Analysis of foreign matter in foodstuffs using the light filth test: report 2012-2013
Authors: Tilocca Maria Giovanna , Caneglias Elisa , Vodret Bruna , Mancuso Maria Rosalba , Zimmardi Antonina , Manno Claudia , Schiavo Maria Rita
Published: September 2015

The European legislation set the new hygiene standards in food chain with the purpose to ensure high levels of public health protection in relation to food production. In order to guarantee excellent hygiene standards in food chain, particular attention must be paid to the presence of foreign matter, like light solid impurities of mineral, vegetable or animal origin. The light filth test is a suitable method used to detect and count light solid impurities applicable to different foodstuffs. We report the results of the analysis of 93 foodstuffs official samples investigated for the presence of foreign matter at the Institute for Experimental Veterinary Medicine of Sardinia, from 2012 to 2013. Insect fragments were found in a sample of semolina and in a sample of canned tomato; plastic fragments were found in a sample of grated bread.
Prevalence of L. monocytogenes in environmental samples collected in dairy plants of Sassari Province, Italy
Authors: Terrosu Giovanni , Fadda Antonio , Frongia Giorgio , Sanna Antonietta , Melillo Rita
Published: September 2015

Listeria (L.) monocytogenes is frequently isolated from food production environment and often persists in dairy plants despite vigorous sanitation regimes. In recent years several alert notifications were sent to Rapid Alert System for Food Products system as a consequence of Listeria monocytogenes contamination of ricotta cheese. After the alert of 2012, competent authority (Local Health Unit of Sassari Province) organised an environmental monitoring plan with the partnership of the Institute for Experimental Veterinary Medicine of Sardinia to verify analysis of dairy plants own-check according to Regulation (EC) N° 2073/05 and further modifications. In 2014 n. 665 processing areas samples of n. 50 dairy plants of Sassari Province were examined. UNI EN ISO 11290-1:2005 for detection of L. monocytogenes was used. Non-compliance in n. 5 diary plants are observed (n. 8 positive samples). Post-non-compliance environmental sanitisation was efficient and own-check plans included appropriate corrective actions.
Carcinosarcoma with Choriocarcinomatous and Osteosarcomatous Differentiation in a Patient with Juvenile Polyposis Syndrome
Authors: Parra-Medina Rafael , Correa Patricia López , Moreno Julian Jiménez , Lucero Paula Moreno , Yaspe Edgardo , Polo Fernando
Published: September 2015

Juvenile polyposis syndrome (JPS) is an infrequent autosomal dominant hereditary predisposition to the occurrence of hamartomatous polyps in the colon and rectum. We describe the case of a 12-year-old boy with JPS associated with an abdominal tumor. Histological sections of the abdominal tumor showed components of adenocarcinoma, osteosarcoma, and choriocarcinoma. Immunohistochemistry was AE1/AE3, CK7, HCG and SALL4 positive. Juvenile polyposis syndrome patients are at increased risk of colorectal adenocarcinoma. However, we present a case of an adenocarcinoma associated with other unusual components. This association has not been reported before.
Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma Masquerading as a Primary Ovarian Mass in a Post-Operative Case of Meningioma and Renal Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Bohara Sangita , Dey Biswajit , Agarwal Swapnil , Bharti Jyotsna Naresh , Khurana Nita , Sachdeva Poonam
Published: September 2015

The clinical presentation of metastatic renal cell carcinoma to ovary is extremely rare as well as confusing due to its close resemblance to primary ovarian tumors, especially clear cell carcinoma. We present a case of metastatic renal cell carcinoma diagnosed in a 48-year-old female, who had renal cell carcinoma of the right kidney and right sphenoid wing meningioma of transitional type.
A.G. van Aarde en historiese Jesus-navorsing
Authors: Van der Merwe Gerrit-Daan
Published: September 2015

A.G. van Aarde and historical Jesus research. A.G. van Aarde’s contribution to historical Jesus research is mainly expressed in his book Fatherless in Galilee: Jesus as Child of God. The book was the result of five years of Jesus research. Van Aarde is an ordained minister of the Netherdutch Reformed Church of Africa (NRCA). Since the book’s publication in 2001, the NRCA has experienced an immense dispute regarding the book in particular but also regarding the subject of historical Jesus research in general. This dispute has publicly escalated since 2010. It has often centred on Van Aarde’s notion of Jesus’ fatherlessness. This article will focus on said book in order to ascertain what is meant by the concept ‘the fatherless Jesus’. This is done to illustrate that Van Aarde’s research, as it converges in the scrutinised publication, remains of relevance to the NRCA.
Jesus se Woorde vir Mans
Authors: Heystek P.H.
Published: September 2015

No abstrac available.
An analysis of the influence of logistics activities on the export cold chain of temperature sensitive fruit through the Port of Cape Town
Authors: Goedhals-Gerber Leila L. , Haasbroek Laura , Freiboth Heinrich , Van Dyk F. Esbeth
Published: September 2015

Background: South Africa exports a large variety of different fruit types and cultivars worldwide. Yet, there is concern in the South African fruit industry that too much fruit and money is lost each year due to breaks along the fresh fruit export cold chain.Objective: The objective of this article was to identify the influence of logistics activities on breaks along the South African fruit export cold chain. The focus is specifically on temperature sensitive fruit, exported in refrigerated containers to Europe and the United Kingdom through the Port of Cape Town. This supply chain was selected as this was the most accessible supply chain in terms of retrieving the necessary temperature data.Method: The cold chain was investigated from the cold store, through all segments, until the Port of Cape Town. Temperature data collected with temperature monitoring devices from different fruit export supply chains of grapes, plums and pome fruit (apples and pears) were analysed to identify the percentage of temperature breaks and the length of temperature breaks that occur at each segment of the cold chain.Results: The results show that a large number of breaks are experienced along South Africa’s fruit export cold chain, specifically at the interface between the cold store and the truck. In addition, the findings also show that there has been an improvement in the number of breaks experienced in the Port of Cape Town following the implementation of the NAVIS and Refcon systems.Conclusion: This article concludes by providing the fruit industry with areas that require addressing to improve operational procedures along the fruit export cold chain to help ensure that the fruit arrives at its final destination at optimal quality.
Provincial logistics costs in South Africa’s Western Cape province: Microcosm of national freight logistics challenges
Authors: Havenga Jan H. , Goedhals-Gerber Leila L. , De Bod Anneke , Simpson Zane
Published: September 2015

Background: Logistics costs are most commonly measured on a national level. An understanding of the provincial logistics landscape can add significant value both to provincial and national policy interventions; such measurements are however scarce. South Africa’s national freight logistics survey points to significant challenges in the structure of the freight transport market, most importantly the dominance of road freight transport on dense, longdistance corridors. The Cape Town-Gauteng corridor is the main economic artery linking the Western Cape province to the rest of the country.Objectives: The provincial government commissioned this research to develop an understanding of the province’s contribution to the national logistics challenges in order to alleviate both provincial and national logistics challenges.Results: The research results provide a distinct description of the key action required – to provide an intermodal solution for the dense flows of fast-moving consumer goods on the Cape Town-Gauteng corridor in order to reduce the significant transport and externality costs related to these flows and reduce exposure to exogenous cost drivers.Conclusion: Collaborative research between government and private industry into appropriate intermodal technologies must be prioritised within the ambit of South Africa’s socioeconomic environment. This shift can be further supported through the internalisation of road transport externalities to enable a total cost decision between modes, as well as through appropriate regulation of the freight transport industry.
Die pedagogie van inheemse kennis as sosiale konstruk
Authors: Fraser William J. , Ferreira Ronél
Published: September 2015

This article explains indigenous knowledge, firstly as a social construct, and subsequently in terms of the value it holds for educational practice. Indigenous knowledge (IK) often constitutes the basis of learners’ first experiences and links such experiences, via spontaneous conceptualisation, with scientific phenomena. IK also serves as the primary organiser of learning, with a view to further conceptualisation and schematisation. The exclusion of indigenous knowledge from formal curricula is usually not intentional, and its actual inclusion in learning material can make a valuable contribution towards linking existing knowledge and new information. The article claims that the indigenous knowledge of local populations should be acknowledged to empower curriculum developers and learners. Seeing that indigenous knowledge is interwoven with the social constructs of society, participatory research strategies are suggested to gather, quantify and verify information for curriculum development purposes.
Ganglioglioma of the Spinal Cord
Authors: Oppenheimer Daniel C , Johnson Mahlon D , Judkins Alexander R
Published: September 2015

Ganglioglioma is a rare tumor consisting of neoplastic glial and neuronal elements. It accounts for only 0.5% of all primary central nervous system (CNS) neoplasms. We report an unusual case of extensive intramedullary thoracic spinal cord ganglioglioma in a 14-month-old girl who underwent subtotal resection followed by adjuvant chemotherapy. The epidemiology, histopathologic features, imaging findings, treatment, and prognosis are subsequently reviewed.
Ectodermal dysplasia
Authors: Gothwal Sunil , Nayan Swati
Published: September 2015

ABSTRACT

Ectodermal dysplasia (ED) results from abnormalities of the ectodermal structures such as hairs, teeth, nails, sweat glands, craniofacial structures, digits and other parts of the body. More than 200 different syndromes have been identified. It inherits as autosomal dominant or recessive or fresh mutations. Diagnosis is usually clinical with confirmation done by genetic studies. We report a newborn female baby delivered with sparse hair, poor skin pigmentation, dysmorphism, and absence of sweating, clinically diagnosed as ED. Her elder 3-year-old male sibling was a diagnosed case of ED, alive and healthy. Early diagnosis, multidisciplinary approach, and precautions during summer may be helpful in minimizing dehydration episodes and decrease in morbidity and mortality. Antenatal diagnosis is helpful in limiting the birth with ED.
Diffusion tensor imaging study of brain structural integrity in patients with posttraumatic stress disorders
Authors: Xie Bing , Zhang Jingna , Zhang Ye , Zhang Shaoxiang , Qiu Mingguo
Published: September 2015

ABSTRACT

Objective:

To explore the changes of brain structural integrity in patients with posttraumatic stress disorders (PTSD) using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI).

Patients and Methods:

Twenty PTSD patients who underwent a traffic accident and 20 non-PTSD patients were selected from the Department of Rehabilitation, Southwest Hospital of the Third Military Medical University in Chongqing, China, between January 2007 and December 2013. Using voxel-based analysis, we investigated fractional anisotropy (FA) and mean diffusivity (MD) in PTSD patients. Linear correlation analysis was employed to detect the relationship between FA and MD in regions of interest, and to obtain PTSD Checklist-Civilian Version scores.

Results:

When compared with the non-PTSD group, the FA of PTSD patients significantly decreased in bilateral middle frontal gyrus, right superior frontal gyrus, and left putamen (P < 0.005). The MD of PTSD patients increased mainly in bilateral middle frontal gyrus, anterior cingulate cortex, left amygdala, left insula, and left globus pallidus (P <0.005). Pearson correlation analysis revealed that the FA value of right middle frontal cortex (MFC) had a significant negative correlation with the PTSD score (r = −0.628, P = 0.039), while the MD value of right MFC and left amygdala had a significant positive correlation with the PTSD score (r = 0.630, P = 0.047; r = 0.632, P = 0.041, respectively).

Conclusion:

The abnormalities of structural integrity in the amygdala and middle frontal gyrus may be the structural foundation of emotional and memory dysfunction in PTSD.
Clinical and academic uses of smartphones among medical residents
Authors: Haseeb Muhammad , Altaf Mir T. , Kour Aneet , Ahmed Firdous , Jahan Alamgir , Bijyal Arpan
Published: September 2015

ABSTRACT

Background and Objective:

A smartphone is a cellular phone with an integrated computer that enables it to perform a wide array of tasks in addition to its primary purpose. Technological growth has been paralleled by a similar rise in the capabilities of modern day smartphones. And they have found their way into medical education as well as practice. iOS and Android based phones constitute the bulk of the smartphones. Together with their associated applications (apps), these devices have become an indispensable tool for the medical resident and practicing physician. The aim of this study is to make an objective assessment of the status of smartphones as a learning aid and practice tool among medical residents.

Materials and Methods:

The study was conducted on post-graduate trainees in the largest teaching hospital in Jammu province. The residents were approached in the hospital and requested to fill a pre-formulated questionnaire. 90 residents from different specialities were approached over a period of seven days.

Results:

80% of the interviewees said they possessed a smartphone. The percentage was lower in first year trainees and highest in third year trainees. Android and iOS based phones were the devices most commonly used. 90% of those with smartphones said they used it for clinical or academic purposes in the hospital.

Conclusion:

A fairly large percentage of medical residents own smartphones. Most of them use these for clinical and academic purposes. Online resources and pre-installed apps are the two common resources accessed. There is a need for improving the credibility of online resources, and development of more medical apps for smartphones.
Preliminary study of the individual variability of the sexual receptivity of rabbit does
Authors: Theau.Clément M. , Tircazes A. , Saleil G. , Monniaux D. , Bodín L. , Brun J.M.
Published: September 2015

The aim of this preliminary experiment was to investigate the individual variability of the sexual receptivity of a rabbit doe in the presence of a buck (lordosis position, 0-1  variable). Twenty primiparous does maintained without reproduction were tested over 4 mo (3 tests per week at a 2- or 3-day interval) after their first kindling. Out of 48 tests, the receptivity rate was 52.5±50.0% on average and varied from 20.0 to 73.3% depending on the test day. The does were lactating at the beginning of the test period and a strong receptivity decrease was revealed at the peak of lactation. Receptivity did not vary according to the tester buck or to the test operator. The individual receptivity of does varied from 8.6 to 81.3%; three of them had a receptivity rate lower than 30% and four of them a receptivity rate greater than 70%. No relationship was revealed between average receptivity and body weight or body weight variations around first litter weaning. The repeatability of sexual receptivity of non-lactating does was 23.2%. Lowly receptive does had a shorter average oestrus time (<2 tests) and a longer dioestrus time (≥6 tests), whereas highly receptive does had a longer oestrus time (>4 tests) and a shorter dioestrus time (≤3 tests). The correlation between average receptivity and average oestrus time was 0.80. These results indicate a fairly high individual variability of the expression of rabbit sexual receptivity and of its duration, and justify the exploration of an eventual genetic origin in a subsequent experiment.
Staphylococcus aureus nasal carriage could be a risk for development of clinical infections in rabbits
Authors: Selva Martínez Laura , Viana David , Corpa Arenas Juan Manuel
Published: September 2015

Although nasal carriage has been described as a risk factor for Staphylococcus aureus infections in humans, there is a scarcity of studies about S. aureus nasal carriers in animals. In rabbits, S. aureus is one of the most important pathogens responsible for a number of different types of infections. This study was designed to determine the extent of staphylococcal nasal carriage and to establish whether a relationship exists between nasal carriage and development of lesions. One hundred and sixteen rabbits with and without chronic signs of staphylococcosis from 6 industrial rabbitries were monitored. Nasal swabs for microbiological assessments were obtained from all animals. Microbiological results showed that 56% of the animals carried S. aureus in their nasal cavities with significantly higher incidence in animals with staphylococcal-related lesions (84.2%) compared to apparently healthy animals (28.8%). Additionally, the S. aureus strains isolated from the nasal cavity and lesions were clonally related in 91.7% of animals. This suggests that nasal carriage of S. aureus in rabbits could be a risk for development of clinical infections.
Stimulate feed intake before weaning and control intake after weaning to optimise health and growth performance
Authors: Read Tehya , Combes Sylvie , Gidenne Thierry , Destombes Nicolas , Grenet Luc , Fortun-Lamothe Laurence
Published: September 2015

Post-weaning feed restriction is a common practice in rabbit farming to reduce mortality, but results in lower growth performance and slaughter weights. This study aimed to assess the influence of 2 diets both rich in fibre and low in starch, with high or low digestible energy (DE) and digestible protein (DP) contents for a constant DP/DE ratio offered from 18 to 70 d of age, on the growth performance and health parameters of rabbits. Eight hundred rabbit kits were divided in 2 experimental groups differing in the feed offered from 18 to 70 d: a high concentrate diet (HC group; 10.37 MJ DE/kg DM and 102 g DP/kg DM) or low concentrate diet (LC group; 9.63 MJ DE/kg DM and 95 g DP/kg DM). Feed was offered ad libitum before weaning (35 d) and from 63 to 70 d, while feed offered from 35 to 63 d was controlled to obtain similar DE intake in both groups. Feed intake, animal weights and health status were recorded weekly. Mortality was recorded daily. Feed intake was similar in both groups before weaning (P=0.204), and consequently the DE intake was higher in the HC group compared to the LC group before weaning (3.91 vs. 3.39 MJ, respectively; P=0.017). Feed intake from 63 to 70 d was lower in the HC than in the LC group (229 vs. 239 g/d/kit, respectively; P<0.001).
Total DE ingested after weaning was similar in both groups (45.44 MJ; P=0.143). Kits were heavier in the HC group throughout the study (P<0.05). A higher average daily gain during the periods of 18-28, 35-42 and 56-63 d was seen in the HC group (+8.1%, +16.8% and +4.5%, respectively; P<0.05). Mortality and morbidity rates were similar between groups throughout the study (P=1.0 and P=0.104, respectively). Our results suggest that when the feed intake after weaning is controlled, i) the feeding strategy before weaning determines the weight at weaning and at slaughter age; and ii) rabbits fed a diet more highly concentrated but rich in fibre increase their growth performance without negative consequences on their digestive health.
Análisis de la estructura y distribuciones diamétricas en bosques templados bajo la perspectiva del régimen potencial de fuego
Authors: Rubio-Camacho Ernesto A. , González-Tagle Marco A. , Alanís-Rodríguez Eduardo , Chávez-Durán Álvaro A. , Aguirre-Calderón Oscar A.
Published: September 2015

El papel ecológico del fuego en los ecosistemas puede estudiarse a través del régimen de incendios. El objetivo del estudio fue evaluar la estructura y composición de especies en un área con régimen potencial de incendios frecuentes y de baja severidad bajo dos escenarios de frecuencia en Iturbide, Nuevo León. Se establecieron dos parcelas de 1 ha con distinta carga de combustible (P1 = menor carga, P2 = mayor carga) y se registraron las especies, diámetro, altura y cobertura del arbolado mayor y menor. Las variables dasométricas se analizaron para obtener la composición actual del bosque. En el arbolado mayor, el grupo Pinus domina en ambas parcelas; esta especie tiene mayores valores de densidad y cobertura en la P1, caso contrario de los grupos Quercus y Otras (latifoliadas). En el arbolado menor, todos los grupos mostraron valores mayores de cobertura en P1, indicando regeneración activa en el área de menor periodo de ausencia de fuego. Las distribuciones diamétricas se ajustaron a la distribución Weibull y constituyen un reflejo del régimen de fuego en estos ecosistemas. Los resultados aportan conocimiento del régimen de incendios, por lo cual se recomienda la implementación de un programa de manejo integral del fuego que integre los efectos benéficos de los incendios.
INTEGRATION OF BUILDING KNOWLEDGE INTO BINARY SPACE PARTITIONING FOR THE RECONSTRUCTION OF REGULARIZED BUILDING MODELS
Authors: Wichmann A. , Jung J. , Sohn G. , Kada M. , Ehlers M.
Published: September 2015

Abstract. Recent approaches for the automatic reconstruction of 3D building models from airborne point cloud data integrate prior knowledge of roof shapes with the intention to improve the regularization of the resulting models without lessening the flexibility to generate all real-world occurring roof shapes. In this paper, we present a method to integrate building knowledge into the data-driven approach that uses binary space partitioning (BSP) for modeling the 3D building geometry. A retrospective regularization of polygons that emerge from the BSP tree is not without difficulty because it has to deal with the 2D BSP subdivision itself and the plane definitions of the resulting partition regions to ensure topological correctness. This is aggravated by the use of hyperplanes during the binary subdivision that often splits planar roof regions into several parts that are stored in different subtrees of the BSP tree. We therefore introduce the use of hyperpolylines in the generation of the BSP tree to avoid unnecessary spatial subdivisions, so that the spatial integrity of planar roof regions is better maintained. The hyperpolylines are shown to result from basic building roof knowledge that is extracted based on roof topology graphs. An adjustment of the underlying point segments ensures that the positions of the extracted hyperpolylines result in regularized 2D partitions as well as topologically correct 3D building models. The validity and limitations of the approach are demonstrated on real-world examples.
Attributing trends in extremely hot days to changes in atmospheric dynamics
Authors: García-Valero J. A. , Montávez J. P. , Gómez-Navarro J. J. , Jiménez-Guerrero P.
Published: September 2015

Abstract. This paper presents a method for attributing regional trends in the frequency of extremely hot days (EHDs) to changes in the frequency of the atmospheric patterns that characterize such extraordinary events. The study is applied to mainland Spain and the Balearic Islands for the extended summers of the period 1958–2008, where significant and positive trends in maximum temperature (Tx) have been reported during the second half of the past century. First, the study area was split into eight regions attending to their different temporal variability of the daily Tx series obtained from the Spain02 gridded data set using a clustering procedure. Second, the large-scale atmospheric situations causing EHDs are defined by circulation types (CTs). The obtainment of the CTs differs from the majority of CT classifications proposed in the literature. It is based on regional series and on a previous characterization of the main atmospheric situations obtained using only some days classified as extremes in the different regions. Three different atmospheric fields (SLP, T850, and Z500) from ECMWF reanalysis and analysis data and combinations of them (SLP–T850, SLP–Z500, and T850–Z500) are used to produce six different CT classifications. Subsequently, links between EHD occurrence in the different regions and CT for all days have been established. Finally, a simple model to relate the trends in EHDs for each region to the changes in the CT frequency appearance has been formulated. Most regions present positive and significant trends in the occurrence of EHDs. The CT classifications using two variables perform better. In particular, SLP–T850 is the best for characterizing the atmospheric situations leading to EHD occurrences for most of the regions. Only a small number of CTs have significant trends in their frequency and are associated with high efficiency causing EHD occurrences in most regions simultaneously, especially in the northern and central regions. Attribution results show that changes in circulation can only explain some part of the regional EHD trends. The percentage of the trend attributable to changes in atmospheric dynamics varies from 15 to 50 %, depends on the region and is sensitive to the selected large-scale variables.
Imaging air volume fraction in sea ice using non-destructive X-ray tomography
Authors: Crabeck O. , Galley R. J. , Delille B. , Else B. G. T. , Geilfus N.-X. , Lemes M. , Des Roches M. , Francus P. , Tison J.-L. , Rysgaard S.
Published: September 2015

Abstract. Although the presence of a gas phase in sea ice creates the potential for gas exchange with the atmosphere, the distribution of gas bubbles and transport of gases within the sea ice are still poorly understood. Currently no straightforward technique exists to measure the vertical distribution of air volume fraction in sea ice. Here, we present a new fast and non-destructive X-ray computed tomography technique to quantify the air volume fraction and produce separate 3-D images of air-volume inclusions in sea ice. The technique was performed on relatively thin (4–22 cm) sea ice collected from an experimental ice tank. While most of the internal layers showed air-volume fractions < 2 %, the ice–air interface (top 2 cm) systematically showed values up to 5 %. We suggest that the air volume fraction is a function of both the bulk ice gas saturation factor and the size of the brine channel. We differentiate micro bubbles (∅ < 1 mm), large bubbles (1 < ∅ < 5 mm) and macro bubbles (∅ > 5 mm). While micro bubbles were the most abundant type of air inclusions, most of the air porosity observed resulted from the presence of large and macro bubbles. The ice microstructure (granular and columnar) as well as the permeability state of ice are important factors controlling the air volume fraction. The technique developed is suited for studies related to gas transport and bubble migration and can help considerably improving parameterization of these processes in sea ice biogeochemical models.
Young People and Urban Public Space in Australia-Creating Pathways to Community, Belonging and Inclusion
Authors: DEE Mike
Published: September 2015

Cities and urban spaces around the world are changing rapidly from their origins in the industrialising world to a post-industrial, hard wired surveillance landscape. This kind of monitoring and surveillance connects with attempts by civic authorities to rebrand urban public spaces into governable and predictable arenas of consumption. In this context of control, a number of groups are excluded from public space, such as some children and young people. This article discusses the surveillance, governance and control of public space environments used by children and young people in particular, and the capacity for their ongoing displacement and marginality, as well as possible greater inclusion.
The First Globalized Economy: Privateers, Joint-Stock Companies, Commerce and the Rise of the United Provinces
Authors: Economou Emmanouil M. L. , Kyriazis Nicholas C.
Published: September 2015

In this paper we analyse the reasons of the rise of the United Provinces (UP) or alternatively, the Dutch Republic, as the first modern European economy since 1500 and afterwards. We focus on some major institutional innovations that were developed in the UP, such as joint-stock companies, privateering, commercial and banking activities, and the first ever recorded stock market. We argue that all these institutions flourished under a political system which was functioning through a series of many democratic elements. Lastly, we argue that the paradigm and the institutions of the UP could be seen as an inspiration for the development and the further political and economic integration of the European Union.
Engaging Students in Critical Thinking and Problem Solving: A Brief Review of the Literature
Authors: McCormick Nancy J. , Clark Linda M. , Raines Joan M.
Published: September 2015

Problem solving and critical thinking skills are beneficial across all fields of collegiate studies and provide lasting value in the workplace and everyday life.  In problem solving, students employ critical thinking skills in the analyses of problems and the synthesis and applications of previously learned concepts.  For decades, researchers and academics have deliberated on ways to engage students in the classroom to train them in these skills.  The collective research on teaching critical thinking and problem solving reveal overarching themes, which include student involvement, learning styles, student motivation, and instructor perceptions and behaviors.
RESGATE DE MUDAS DE Lychnophora pohlii COMO ALTERNATIVA PARA RECUPERAÇÃO E CONSERVAÇÃO DE CAMPO RUPESTRE
Authors: Ferreira e Silva Nathália , Marinho Pereira Israel , Titon Miranda , Oliveira Márcio Leles Romarco de , Laia Marcelo Luiz , Araújo Luana Cristielle
Published: September 2015

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o efeito do tamanho da planta resgatada e dos níveis de redução foliar na sobrevivência, crescimento e emissão de folhas em mudas de arnica obtidas via resgate em um remanescente de campo rupestre. Foram resgatados 240 indivíduos, os quais foram divididos em duas classes de altura (Classe I – 2,5 a 20 cm e Classe II – 25 a 55 cm) e submetidos a três intensidades de redução foliar (0%, 50% e 100%). As medições de altura, diâmetro e emissão de novas folhas foram realizadas em nove tempos (0, 15, 30, 45, 60, 75, 90, 105 e 120 dias) e a avaliação da sobrevivência aos 120 dias. A taxa média de sobrevivência foi de 49,2%, sendo maior na Classe I e não apresentando diferença estatística quanto aos três tipos de redução foliar. A emissão de folhas foi maior nos indivíduos que sofreram redução foliar, observando-se uma diminuição ao longo do tempo, ao contrário das mudas com 0% de redução, que tiveram um crescimento linear. Portanto, é aconselhável que o resgate de mudas de arnica seja realizado para plantas com tamanho entre 2,5 e 20 cm, sem necessidade de redução foliar.AbstractEvaluation of the arnica plant rescue as an alternative to conservation and restoration of campo rupestre ecosystems. The objective of this research was to evaluate the effect of rescued plant size and  levels of reduction in leaf survival, growth, and insertion of leaves in seedlings of Arnica obtained via salvage in a remnant of Campo Rupestre. We rescued 240 individuals and these were divided into two classes’ height (Class I - 2.5 to 20 cm and Class II - 25 - 55 cm) and subjected to three levels of reduction leaf (0%, 50% and 100%). The measurements of height and diameter and new leaves emission were collected at nine times (0, 15, 30, 45, 60, 75, 90, 105 and 120), and evaluation of survival at 120 days. The average survival rate was 49.2%, higher in Class I and had no significant difference regarding the three types of leaf reduction. The emission sheet was higher in subjects experiencing a leaf reduction observing a decrease over time, unlike the seedling with 0% reduction, which increased linearly. Therefore, it is advisable a size between 2.5 and 20 cm for the rescue of arnica seedling plant, without leaf reduction. Keywords: Lychnophora pohlii; seedlings production; leaf reduction; height class.