bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Understanding, action, and the use of the cane in Sri Lankan schools
Authors: Kannangara Chathurika Sewwandi , Griffiths David 
Published: November 2014

Purpose
– The purpose of this paper is to consider the use of corporal punishment in schools in Sri Lanka, and to offer reflections on how cybernetics could shed light on its persistence despite initiatives to ban it.

Design/methodology/approach
– The ASC 2013 Heinz von Foerster Award for the most significant contribution to the conference was awarded following discussion of the use of the cane in Sri Lankan schools. This paper provides a personal account of difficulties in overcoming the use of corporal punishment in a school in Sri Lanka.

Findings
– The Sri Lankan education system is introduced. The response of the ASC 2013 is discussed. The feedback between social forces and the education system is seen as being too complex for analysis, and Bateson's conception of ethos is proposed as an appropriate starting point for making progress on this issue.

Social implications
– The use of corporal punishment has been forbidden by the Ministry of Education, but the practice evidently continues and there is evidence that this has negative impact on young people. The paper offers an approach to understanding the reasons for the prevalence and persistence of corporal punishment, as a first step towards designing measures to eliminate it.

Originality/value
– The paper takes a new approach to understanding the persistence of corporal punishment in Sri Lanka by applying Bateson's concepts of ethos and schismogenesis.
Triple-loop learning and conversing with reality
Authors: Reynolds Martin 
Published: November 2014

Purpose– Three levels of learning developed by Gregory Bateson in the tradition of second-order cybernetics have in-part been translated in terms of double-loop and triple-loop learning (TLL), particularly in the tradition of systems thinking. Learning III and TLL have gained less popularity since they deal with less tangible issues regarding virtues of wisdom and justice, respectively. The purpose of this paper is to provide a learning device – the systems thinking in practice (STiP) heuristic – which helps to retrieve the cybernetic concern for wisdom in association with an often forgotten systems concern for real-world power relations.Design/methodology/approach– Using “conversation” as a metaphor the heuristic is introduced based on three orders of conversation. Drawing on ideas of systemic triangulation, another heuristic device – the systemic triangulator – is used to surface issues of power in the three orders of conversation. Some manifestations in using the STiP heuristic for supporting postgraduate systems learning are demonstrated.Findings– Some key complementarities between conventionally opaque cybernetic issues of wisdom and systems issues of power are revealed, and used proactively to explore more effective coaching of STiP.Research limitations/implications– Cybernetics and systems thinking may benefit from being grounded more in understanding, engaging with, and transforming social realities. The heuristics provide practical experiential and meaningful learning through conversation, and more social premium for the study of cybernetics and systems thinking.Originality/value– The heuristics – STiP, and the systemic triangulator – provides an innovative cyber-systemic space for learning and action.
A genetic programming hyper-heuristic for the multidimensional knapsack problem
Authors: Drake John H , Hyde Matthew , Ibrahim Khaled , Ozcan Ender 
Published: November 2014

Purpose– Hyper-heuristics are a class of high-level search techniques which operate on a search space of heuristics rather than directly on a search space of solutions. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the suitability of using genetic programming as a hyper-heuristic methodology to generate constructive heuristics to solve the multidimensional 0-1 knapsack problemDesign/methodology/approach– Early hyper-heuristics focused on selecting and applying a low-level heuristic at each stage of a search. Recent trends in hyper-heuristic research have led to a number of approaches being developed to automatically generate new heuristics from a set of heuristic components. A population of heuristics to rank knapsack items are trained on a subset of test problems and then applied to unseen instances.Findings– The results over a set of standard benchmarks show that genetic programming can be used to generate constructive heuristics which yield human-competitive results.Originality/value– In this work the authors show that genetic programming is suitable as a method to generate reusable constructive heuristics for the multidimensional 0-1 knapsack problem. This is classified as a hyper-heuristic approach as it operates on a search space of heuristics rather than a search space of solutions. To our knowledge, this is the first time in the literature a GP hyper-heuristic has been used to solve the multidimensional 0-1 knapsack problem. The results suggest that using GP to evolve ranking mechanisms merits further future research effort.
Effects of variety reduction and amplification in circular feedback systems
Authors: Fischer Thomas 
Published: November 2014

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to present the result of an experiment examining the effects of changing input and output channel variety in an optical feedback system and their potential to give rise to novelty, as some non-trivial systems do.Design/methodology/approach– The experimental design is based on a digital computer connected to a digital photo camera (input channel), and to a monitor screen (output channel). The camera is pointed at the monitor to form a circular feedback system. Monitor and camera resolutions constitute the variable input and output variety of the system, allowing the visual investigation of effects of variety reduction and variety amplification in circular feedback systems.Findings– Results suggest that variety amplification in input and/or output channels promotes the emergence of discernible novelty in the apparent absence of a creative/generative capability or agenda within the recursive system.Research limitations/implications– An analogy between an optical feedback system and human novelty generation is shown, while generalisability of observations made beyond the described experiment remains to be established.Originality/value– A new approach to the computational modelling of aspects of human creativity is presented. Photographic investigation of variety reduction and variety amplification is new, and hoped to be of value to those wishing to examine these theoretical concepts in concrete terms.
An approach to hesitant fuzzy multi-stage multi-criterion decision making
Authors: Liao Huchang , Xu Zeshui , Xu Jiuping 
Published: November 2014

Purpose
– The purpose of this paper is to develop some weight determining methods for hesitant fuzzy multi-criterion decision making (MCDM) in which the preference information on attributes is collected over different periods.

Design/methodology/approach
– Based on the proposed weight determining methods and dynamic hesitant fuzzy aggregation operators, an approach is developed to solve the hesitant fuzzy multi-stage multi-attribute decision-making problem where all the preference information of attributes over different periods is represented in hesitant fuzzy values.

Findings
– In order to determine the weights associated with dynamic hesitant fuzzy operators, the authors propose the improved maximum entropy method and the minimum average deviation method.

Research limitations/implications
– This paper does not consider the multi-stage multi-criteria group decision-making problem.

Practical implications
– An example concerning the evaluation of rangelands is given to illustrate the validation and efficiency of the proposed approach. It should be stated that the proposed approach can also be implemented into other multi-stage MCDM problems.

Originality/value
– The concept of hesitant fuzzy variable (HFV) is defined. Some operational laws and properties of the HFVs are given. Moreover, to fuse the multi-stage hesitant fuzzy information, the aggregation operators of hesitant fuzzy sets are extended to that of the HFVs.
Virus infection influences host plant interactions with non‐vector herbivores and predators
Authors: Mauck Kerry E. , Smyers Erica , De Moraes Consuelo M. , Mescher Mark C. 
Published: November 2014

Summary

Viruses are widespread in both natural and agricultural plant communities and can significantly alter diverse traits of their host plants that mediate key interactions with other organisms. Yet, the impacts of plant viruses on broader community dynamics remain little studied.

Here, we explore the effects of Cucumber mosaic virus, a common non‐persistently transmitted plant virus, on short‐ and long‐term interactions of herbivorous and predatory insects with squash (Cucurbita pepo) plants in a weedy field setting, as well as virus‐induced changes in plant phenotypes that mediate these interactions. Cucumber mosaic virus has previously been shown to have numerous effects on host plants that likely influence interactions with arthropods, including reduced plant size, increased volatile emissions, and diminished plant quality and palatability for aphid vectors.

Infection reduced the likelihood of many herbivorous insects arresting and feeding on plants, as well as the apparency of plants to herbivores that base in‐flight foraging on visual cues. In particular, infection drastically reduced numbers of a specialist squash herbivore (Anasa tristis) on plants in the field – a pattern likely driven by a reduction of phagostimulatory sugar levels in leaf tissue and concurrent increase in amino acid levels, as nymphal development was not obviously impacted by infection status. Relative to effects on herbivores, virus infection had little impact on the ability of predatory insects to locate aphid prey, although an experiment examining plant visitation in the absence of aphids revealed reduced numbers of foraging Syrphidae (Diptera) and Coccinellidae (Coleoptera) on infected plants but increased visitation and oviposition by Chrysopidae (Neuroptera).

CMV infection may reduce overall herbivore pressure on infected plants through effects on palatability and apparency, yet predators appear to locate herbivorous prey that do occur on infected plants as efficiently as those on healthy plants.

Virus infection can significantly influence plant interactions with the insect community (including non‐vector as well as vector insects) with potential implications both for disease spread and for broader community dynamics.
Anisotropy signature in reverse‐time migration extended images
Authors: Sava Paul , Alkhalifah Tariq 
Published: November 2014

ABSTRACTReverse‐time migration can accurately image complex geologic structures in anisotropic media. Extended images at selected locations in the Earth, i.e., at common‐image‐point gathers, carry rich information to characterize the angle‐dependent illumination and to provide measurements for migration velocity analysis. However, characterizing the anisotropy influence on such extended images is a challenge. Extended common‐image‐point gathers are cheap to evaluate since they sample the image at sparse locations indicated by the presence of strong reflectors. Such gathers are also sensitive to velocity error that manifests itself through moveout as a function of space and time lags. Furthermore, inaccurate anisotropy leaves a distinctive signature in common‐image‐point gathers, which can be used to evaluate anisotropy through techniques similar to the ones used in conventional wavefield tomography. It specifically admits a V‐shaped residual moveout with the slope of the “V” flanks depending on the anisotropic parameter η regardless of the complexity of the velocity model. It reflects the fourth‐order nature of the anisotropy influence on moveout as it manifests itself in this distinct signature in extended images after handling the velocity properly in the imaging process. Synthetic and real data observations support this assertion.
Riparian reserves within oil palm plantations conserve logged forest leaf litter ant communities and maintain associated scavenging rates
Authors: Gray Claudia L. , Lewis Owen T. , Chung Arthur Y. C. , Fayle Tom M. 
Published: November 2014

SummaryThe expansion of oil palm plantations at the expense of tropical forests is causing declines in many species and altering ecosystem functions. Maintaining forest‐dependent species and processes in these landscapes may therefore limit the negative impacts of this economically important industry. Protecting riparian vegetation may be one such opportunity; forest buffer strips are commonly protected for hydrological reasons, but can also conserve functionally important taxa and the processes they support.We surveyed leaf litter ant communities within oil palm‐dominated landscapes in Sabah, Malaysia, using protein baits. As the scavenging activity of ants influences important ecological characteristics such as nutrient cycling and soil structure, we quantified species‐specific rates of bait removal to examine how this process may change across land uses and establish which changes in community structure underlie observed shifts in activity.Riparian reserves had similar ant species richness, community composition and scavenging rates to nearby continuous logged forest. Reserve width and vegetation structure did not affect ant species richness significantly. However, the number of foraging individuals decreased with increasing reserve width, and scavenging rate increased with vegetation complexity.Oil palm ant communities were characterized by significantly lower species richness than logged forest and riparian reserves and also by altered community composition and reduced scavenging rates.Reduced scavenging activity in oil palm was not explained by a reduction in ant species richness, nor by replacement of forest ant species by those with lower per species scavenging rates. There was also no significant effect of land use on the scavenging activity of the forest species that persisted in oil palm. Rather, changes in scavenging activity were best explained by a reduction in the mean rate of bait removal per individual ant across all species in the community.Synthesis and applications. Our results suggest that riparian reserves are comparable to areas of logged forest in terms of ant community composition and ant‐mediated scavenging. Hence, in addition to protecting large continuous areas of primary and logged forest, maintaining riparian reserves is a successful strategy for conserving leaf litter ants and their scavenging activities in tropical agricultural landscapes.
Renin and the (pro)renin receptor in the renal collecting duct: Role in the pathogenesis of hypertension
Authors: Gonzalez Alexis A , Prieto Minolfa C 
Published: November 2014

SummaryThe intrarenal renin–angiotensin system (RAS) plays a critical role in the pathogenesis and progression of hypertension and kidney disease. In angiotensin (Ang) II‐dependent hypertension, collecting duct renin synthesis and secretion are stimulated despite suppression of juxtaglomerular (JG) renin. This effect is mediated by the AngII type I receptor (AT1R), independent of blood pressure. Although the regulation of JG renin has been extensively studied, the mechanisms by which renin is regulated in the collecting duct remain unclear. The augmentation of renin synthesis and activity in the collecting duct may provide a pathway for additional generation of intrarenal and intratubular AngII formation due to the presence of angiotensinogen substrate and angiotensin‐converting enzyme in the nephron. The recently described (pro)renin receptor ((P)RR) binds renin or prorenin, enhancing renin activity and fully activating the biologically inactive prorenin peptide. Stimulation of (P)RR also activates intracellular pathways related to fibrosis. Renin and the (P)RR are augmented in renal tissues of AngII‐dependent hypertensive rats. However, the functional contribution of the (P)RR to enhanced renin activity in the collecting duct and its contribution to the development of hypertension and kidney disease have not been well elucidated. This review focuses on recent evidence demonstrating the mechanism of renin regulation in the collecting ducts and its interaction with the (P)RR. The data suggest that renin–(P)RR interactions may induce stimulation of intracellular pathways associated with the development of hypertension and kidney disease.
Status of connected wetlands of the Lake Eyre Basin, Australia
Authors: Pisanu Philip , Kingsford Richard T. , Wilson Bruce , Bonifacio Ronald 
Published: November 2014

AbstractThe Lake Eyre Basin, one of the world's last unregulated wild river basins, covers almost one sixth of the Australian continent, with large areas of connected wetlands (73 903 km2), including floodplains, lakes, waterholes and river channels. Few data existed and so we used literature and government biotic and abiotic data and anthropogenic impacts to assess the conservation risk of the ecosystem as Least Concern (IUCN Red List criteria for ecosystems, version 2.0). This was based on limited distributional change and low levels of degradation or anthropogenic threatening processes. The approach could be applied to ecosystem assessments of other large river basins around the world, given the Lake Eyre Basin occupies one extreme (unmodified) while the Aral Sea (collapsed), previously assessed, occupies the other extreme (highly modified). River flow analysis with available biotic data is critical for risk assessment as well as identification and tracking of long‐term threats. Assessment was possible at this large basin scale and appropriate, given the critical importance of connectivity but could also occur at finer spatial scale. Increased diversions for irrigation, mining impacts on floodplains and projected increased temperatures threaten the current status (Least Concern) of the connected wetlands of the Lake Eyre Basin ecosystem.
The Hindlimb Arterial Vessels in Lowland paca (Cuniculus paca, Linnaeus 1766)
Authors: Leal L. M. , de Freitas H. M. G. , Sasahara T. H. C. , Machado M. R. F. 
Published: November 2014

SummaryThis study aims to describe the origin and distribution of the hindlimb arterial vessels. Five adult lowland pacas (Cuniculus paca) were used. Stained and diluted latex was injected, caudally to the aorta. After fixation in 10% paraformaldehyde for 72 h, we dissected to visualize and identify the vessels. It was found out that the vascularization of the hindlimb in lowland paca derives from the terminal branch of the abdominal aorta. The common iliac artery divides into external iliac and internal iliac. The external iliac artery emits the deep iliac circumflex artery, the pudendal epigastric trunk, the deep femoral artery; the femoral artery originates the saphenous artery, it bifurcates into cranial and caudal saphenous arteries. Immediately after the knee joint, the femoral artery is called popliteal artery, which divides into tibial cranial and tibial caudal arteries at the level of the crural inter‐osseous space. The origin and distribution of arteries in the hindlimb of lowland paca resembles that in other wild rodents, as well as in the domestic mammals.
Intrarenal bradykinin elicits reno‐renal reflex sympatho‐excitation and renal nerve‐dependent fluid retention
Authors: Barry E. F. , Johns E. J. 
Published: November 2014

AbstractAimsThe renal sensory nerves are importantly involved in the sympathetic regulation of cardiovascular and renal function. Two reno‐renal reflexes are recognized, one in which activation of renal sensory nerves elicits a renal sympatho‐inhibition, and one which causes a renal sympatho‐excitation and about which little is known. This study investigated the role of bradykinin (BK) in engaging an excitatory reno‐renal reflex.MethodsRats were anaesthetized (chloralose/urethane) and prepared for the measurement of renal function or renal sympathetic nerve activity (RSNA). BK was infused into the cortico‐medullary border of the ipsilateral kidney and the impact on contralateral renal function and RSNA evaluated.ResultsIntrarenal infusion of BK at 3 × 10−9 and 6 × 10−9 g L−1 had no effect on mean arterial pressure, at 104 ± 5 mmHg or glomerular filtration rate in either the ipsilateral or contralateral kidneys, at 4.31 ± 0.45 mL min−1 kg−1. At the highest dose of BK, fractional sodium excretion (FENa) was 1.47% in the ipsilateral kidney and was significantly lower, at 0.64% (P < 0.05) in the contralateral kidney but this difference did not occur following ipsilateral renal denervation. Ipsilateral intrarenal infusion of BK at 3 × 10−9, 6 × 10−9 and 1.2 × 10−8 g L−1 elicited dose‐related increases (P < 0.05) in contralateral RSNA, reaching some 78% at the highest dose, but these responses were prevented by ipsilateral renal denervation.ConclusionsIntrarenal infusion of BK produced an excitatory reno‐renal reflex which was expressed as a renal nerve‐dependent antinatriuresis in the contralateral kidney. The findings suggest that inflammatory mediators such as BK may be important in initiating a sympatho‐excitation associated with renal and cardiovascular diseases.
Comparison of laparoscopic sigmoidectomy with and without preservation of the superior rectal artery: A single‐institution retrospective study
Authors: Wakahara Tomoyuki , Toyokawa Akihiro , Ashitani Hiroshi , Tsuchida Shinobu , Hasegawa Yasuhisa 
Published: November 2014

AbstractIntroductionThe inferior mesenteric artery is usually divided during the resection of sigmoid colon cancers. However, this sometimes results in an insufficient blood supply to the anastomosis, leading to anastomotic leakage. We conducted a retrospective analysis to determine the feasibility and potential benefits of preserving the superior rectal artery (SRA).MethodsFifty‐seven patients underwent SRA‐preserving sigmoidectomy with D2 or D3 lymph node dissection (group A) between June 2008 and May 2012. These patients were compared with 35 patients who underwent sigmoidectomy without preservation of the SRA (group B) during the same period.ResultsThe amount of blood loss, the number of harvested lymph nodes, and the postoperative morbidity rate did not differ significantly between the groups. There were no cases of anastomotic leakage in group A and there was one in group B, but this difference was not significant. The 3‐year relapse‐free survival rates also did not differ significantly between the two groups, irrespective of lymph node status.ConclusionSigmoidectomy with SRA preservation can be performed without compromising the quality of lymph node dissection and relapse‐free survival. No advantage of preserving the SRA could be demonstrated, but it is noteworthy that no anastomotic leakage was noted among the 57 patients in group A.