Development of Higher Education in Albania: The Case of the Public University Libraries in Efforts to Build Digital and Electronic Services for the Academic Community

Between the obligation of carrying out their mission to ensure the quality development of higher education and the right to function as important centers where knowledge is taken, developed and transmitted, this paper will examine the technological developments of university libraries as an important part of higher education. Digital and electronic experiences applied in Albanian universities libraries will be brought to the attention of the public. This paper is based on the questionnaire survey conducted at public university libraries in Albania. Opinions of librarians regarding ICT application were elicited using a structured questionnaire, followed up with interviews. In the case of non-response by libraries is consulted their official web sites to have a more complete information. In addition, secondary sources were consulted as domestic and foreign literature in this field. Results show that: 1) the level of application information technology in public university libraries in Albania is acceptable. The most important and serious problem is the lack of the unique University Library ICT Policy; 2) serious handicap is the lack of educated librarians in using information technology; 3) the proportion of university library activity goes more digital, so the digital collection becomes reality in the public university libraries. This paper brings conclusions that contribute to: a) national information communication technology policy for university libraries and b) the creation of an integrated system for management and transmission of knowledge at the national level for all Albanian university libraries

Analysis on Determinants of Adaptation Options to Climate Change of Maize Smallholder Farmers in the South Eastern part of Ethiopia

This study focused on identification of perception level and determinant factors that influence some selected adaptation options to climate change on maize growing smallholder farmers in the South Eastern part of Ethiopia. Analysis of the study was based on cross sectional data collected through household survey data. Representative samples of 233 households were interviewed. Descriptive statistics and Multinomial logit equation model were employed to evaluate the level of perception of households on climate change, to identify types of adaptation options given priority by the local community, to examine determinant factors that influence the choice of farmers to employ adaptation options to climate change and to provide suitable policy implications on adaptation options to climate change. Results show that that about 86% of interviewed farm households perceived climate change as rise and hot in temperature and changing of the rainfall in quantity and timing. Econometric analysis result also reveals that; education level, age and gender of the household head, household size, land holding size and access to information have significant and positive influences on households’ decision on employment of various adaptation options to climate change. The study also identified the most prioritized adaptation options by the households which include: soil conservation, off-farm works, fertilizers application, agro-forestry and use of improved seeds. Based on the findings, policies and strategies that encourage participation of farmers in planning and application of adaptation options with bottom-up approach is required for better climate change anticipation instead of focusing on reacting the impacts. This can be achieved through increasing access to credit facilities, comprising climate change in education policy, access to crop insurance schemes, improving agricultural extension system in view of climate change, enhancing farmers’ organization for experiences sharing to strength public adaptation capacity, improving institutional capacity to generate climate information at local level. Keywords: Adaptation, Climate change, Multinomial logit model, smallholder maize growing farmers, Ethiopi

Paliativo frente a la fatiga por fretting y análisis del proceso de fatiga en cordones metálicos

El fallo de cables de acero es comúnmente producido por el fenómeno de la fatiga. Para analizar el fallo por fatiga en este tipo de elementos, un nuevo equipo de ensayos ha sido diseñado, fabricado y validado. Uno de los principales aspectos de este nuevo útil de ensayos, es la capacidad de aplicar al cable tanto cargas axiales como de flexión simultáneamente. Además, ambas cargas pueden ser estáticas o variables con el tiempo. El primero de los objetivos fue evitar el fallo del cable en la zona de sujeción, y de este modo producir el fallo debido únicamente a las tensiones globales producidas por las fuerzas externas aplicadas y las tensiones inducidas por el contacto entre hilos. Durante el desarrollo de este primer objetivo y tras el análisis numérico de diferentes tipos de elementos de sujeción para evitar fretting en los mismos, surge la idea de un nuevo concepto de paliativo, extensible al fenómeno de la fatiga por fretting en general. La idea básica consiste en realizar orificios debajo de las superficies en contacto y cerca de las zonas en las que se inician las grietas por fretting. Con la introducción de dichos orificios se consigue que la distribución de presiones sea menor en los bordes de contacto y también la tensión axial que provoca la iniciación de grietas. En base a ello se realiza un trabajo complementario, en el que se analiza el efecto producido por estos orificios en un par de contacto básico, como es el contacto cilíndrico. Los análisis numéricos con este tipo de geometrías producen resultados muy satisfactorios que marcan una guía para el uso de un nuevo tipo de paliativo frente al fretting. El segundo de los objetivos, y volviendo al análisis de la rotura en cables de acero, es diseñar un equipo de ensayos versátil, de forma que sea posible ensayar diferentes combinaciones de cargas, así como diferentes configuraciones de cables. El tipo de fallo esperado, será producido por una combinación de tensiones globales (axiales y de flexión) y de contacto, dependiendo fuertemente del tipo de configuración del cable ensayado y por tanto del tipo de contacto. Una vez diseñado el equipo se realiza una amplia batería de ensayos con la configuración de cables más básica de las comúnmente empleadas, un cordón de x acero inoxidable de siete hilos. El cordón ha sido sometido a diversas combinaciones de fuerzas axiales y de flexión. Una vez llevados a cabo los ensayos de fatiga, y con el objetivo de analizar las zonas de iniciación de grietas, así como su propagación y determinar el fenómeno que provoca el fallo, las superficies de fractura de los cables ensayados fueron analizadas mediante microscopia electrónica. Debido al tamaño de los hilos que conforman el cordón ensayado, la medición de tensiones y deformaciones in situ es compleja o casi imposible. Por ello y con el objetivo de conocer los campos de tensiones y deformaciones que aparecen en el cordón, se han realizado diversas simulaciones numéricas mediante dos modelos de elementos finitos de formulación implícita. Un primer modelo complejo en el que se ha modelado un cordón completo con el objetivo de reproducir fielmente los ensayos llevados a cabo y un segundo modelo simplificado realizado con el objetivo de una aplicación rápida y práctica. Por último, se han aplicado diversos métodos de predicción de vida a fatiga en función de los resultados experimentales y numéricos obtenidos. En base a ambos resultados se llega a la conclusión que, debido a la geometría de cordón empleada, y por tanto al tipo de contacto que de forma inherente aparece entre hilos, el fallo es producido debido a las tensiones globales aplicadas al cordón y no al fenómeno de fretting, que aunque también se observa en el contacto entre hilos, no es determinante. En base a estos resultados se concluye con un método simple, pero efectivo, para la predicción a fatiga de cordones de acero de siete hilos sometidos a cargas axiales y de flexión.Metallic cables failure is commonly produced by fatigue phenomena. In order to analyse the fatigue failure of cables, a new device has been designed, manufactured and validated. The main peculiarity of the device is its capacity to apply simultaneously axial and bending loads. In addition, both loads can be static or time variable. The first objective was to avoid the failure of the cable close to the clamping system and thus produce the failure due to global stress produced by external loads and contact stresses prompted between wires. During the development of this first objective and after the numerical analysis of different types of clamping systems, the idea of a new fretting palliative arose. The basic idea is to make holes under the contact surfaces and near the areas where cracks initiate due to fretting. With the introduction of the holes, the pressure distribution is reduced at the contact edge and also direct stress that produce the initiation of cracks. Based on these observations, a complementary work is carried out, in which the effect produced by these holes in a basic contact pair, such as the cylindrical contact one, is analysed. Numerical analysis with this type of geometry produce very satisfactory results that mark a guide for the use of a new type of palliative against fretting The second objective, and returning to the analysis of cable failure, was to design a versatile test equipment. Therefore, with the device designed it is possible to test different combinations of loads, as well as different cable configurations. The expected type of failure is produced by a combination of global (axial and bending) and contact stresses. Nevertheless, the type of failure depends strongly on the type of cable configuration and therefore on the type of contact. Once the device was designed, a wide battery of tests was carried out with the most basic cable configuration of those commonly used, a seven-wire stainless steel strand. The strand was subjected to various combinations of axial and bending loads. Once the fatigue tests were carried out, and with the aim of analysing the crack initiation zones, as well as their propagation, the fracture surfaces, of the tested strands, were analysed by a scanning electron microscope. xii Due to the size of the wires that shape the strand, the measurement of stresses and strains in situ is complex or almost impossible. For this reason and in order to know the stress/strain fields of the strand, several numerical simulations have been carried out by means of two implicit finite element models. A first complex model in which a complete strand has been modelled in order to faithfully reproduce the tests carried out and a second simplified model developed with a more practical application. Finally, various fatigue life prediction methods have been applied based on the experimental and numerical results obtained. In view of the results, it is concluded that, due to the strand geometry tested, and therefore to the type of contact that inherently appears between wires, the failure is produced due to the global stresses applied to the strand and not because of fretting phenomenon, which although it is also observed in the contact between wires, is not determinant. Based on these results, we conclude with a simple but effective method for the prediction of the fatigue life of 7-wire stainless steel strands subjected to cyclic axial and bending loads

Association mapping for yield, yield components and drought tolerance-related traits in spring wheat grown under rainfed and irrigated conditions

2013 Summer.Includes bibliographical references.Genome-wide association mapping shows promise for identifying quantitative trait loci (QTL) for many traits including drought stress tolerance. Candidate gene analysis also has been used to identify functional single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that can be associated with important traits. In 2010 and 2011, we evaluated an International maize and wheat improvement center (CIMMYT) spring wheat association mapping panel under rainfed and full irrigation conditions in Greeley, CO, and Melkassa, Ethiopia (total of five environments) for grain yield and its components, canopy spectral reflectance, and several other phenological or drought-related traits. A total of 287 lines were genotyped with Diversity Array Technology (DArT) markers to identify associations with measured traits under different moisture regimes. Significant differences among lines were observed for most traits within each environment and across environments. Best linear unbiased predictors (BLUPs) of each line were used to calculate marker-trait associations using 1863 markers with a mixed linear model with population structure and a kinship-matrix included as covariates. Three drought responsive candidate genes (Dehydration-Responsive Element Binding 1A, DREB1A; Enhanced Response to abscisic acid (ABA), ERA1; and Fructan 1-exohydrolase, 1-FEH), were amplified using genome-specific primers and sequenced from 126 lines to identify single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within the candidate genes and determine their association with measured traits. For genome wide association mapping, the highest number of stable associations was obtained for kernel hardness followed by grain volume weight (test weight), an important trait under drought stress conditions. The most stable marker-trait association was obtained for grain yield on chromosome 2DS. All marker-trait associations for above-ground biomass were environment-specific. Multi-trait marker-trait association for grain yield and other traits such as harvest index, final biomass, thousand kernel weight, plant height and flag leaf length were detected on chromosome 5B. A grain yield QTL was again co-localized with harvest index QTL on chromosome 1BS. Normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) shared QTL region with a harvest index QTL on chromosome 1AL, while green leaf area shared a QTL with harvest index on chromosomes 5A. For drought tolerance candidate genes, SNPs within DREB1A gene were associated with final biomass, spikelets per spike, days to heading and NDVI. The 1-FEH gene amplified from the A genome showed associations with grain yield, final biomass, NDVI, green leaf area, kernel number per spike and spike length. However, 1-FEH from the B genome was associated with traits such as days to heading, days to maturity, thousand kernel weight and test weight. The ERA1 gene from the B genome was associated with spike m-2, harvest index, grain filling duration, leaf senescence, flag leaf width, plant height and spike length, whereas ERA1 from the D genome was associated with kernel weight per spike, flag leaf width, leaf senescence, kernel number per spike and harvest index. In general, each candidate gene had effects on multiple traits under both rainfed and irrigated conditions. Both genome wide and candidate gene approaches showed that most of the measured traits are controlled by several QTL/genes with minor effects. QTL/genes with pleotropic effects were also detected. Therefore, the information generated by this study might be used in marker-assisted selection to improve drought tolerance of wheat

Effect of Disclosure Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) to Profitability in Textile and Garment Industry Listed in Indonesia Stock Exchange in 2011-2013

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of the disclosure of corporate socialresponsibility (CSR) to profability in textile and garment industry are listed on BEI in 2011 through 2013 by using purposie sampling method. There are 10 industries that respresent a sample. The method of analysis in this study is a simple regression analysis. The result of this study indicate that csr disclosure positive and significant impact on ROA and ROE and positive and significant effect on the GPM, which is an indicator of prafitability

Explaining factors of transnational production networks in the EU: core economies versus eastern and soutern peripheries

Este trabajo analiza la estrategia de fragmentación internacional de la producción y la conformación de redes transnacionales en la Unión Europea. A partir de la estimación, con diferentes técnicas, de un modelo de gravedad con datos de comercio de partes y componentes para el sector de la maquinaria y material de transporte, encontramos el papel protagonista que tienen las economías Centrales, y en particular Alemania, en tales redes. Factores como la pertenencia a la UE, la cercanía geográfica y lingüística y la calidad institucional más directamente vinculada al funcionamiento de sector empresarial favorecen el establecimiento y la intensidad de estas cadenas transnacionales de producción. Sin embargo, las diferencias económicas excesivas entre países suponen un lastre cuando se trata de los países Centrales de la UE, mientras que para los países de la Periferia Sur y Este suponen un impulso, apuntando al diferente perfil de integración en redes de unas y otras economíasThis paper focuses on analyzing the strategy of international fragmentation of production and the evolution of the cross-border networks in the European Union. Using a gravity model for trade in parts and components in Machinery and Transport Equipment, our results emphasize the important role of the Core EU economies, in particular Germany, in these networks. Factors such as belonging to the EU as well as the geographical and linguistic proximity and the institutional quality closely linked to the business sector favor the establishment and the intensity of the cross-border production chains. However, excessive economic differences between countries suppose, for the Core EU economies, an obstacle for the functioning of these sharing production networks, whereas for the East and South Periphery those differences suppose an impulse, pointing at the dissimilar profile of these areas (Core and Periphery) in the integration in global network

Estudio de daños en cítricos producidos por sequía mediante métodos de agricultura de precisión.

El objetivo principal del estudio se ha centrado en la elaboración de una metodología basada en el uso de técnicas de observación de la Tierra adecuada para la determinación de los efectos producidos en zonas afectadas por estrés hídrico prolongado, incidiendo en su aplicación para la mejora de la gestión de las posibles pérdidas por sequía por parte de las entidades aseguradoras. En este trabajo se presentan los resultados del análisis realizado para relacionar los posibles daños sufridos por cultivos cítricos en zonas afectadas por un fenómeno de sequía y la información multiespectral contenida en una imagen de alta resolución. Para ello, se han estimado los daños producidos en cultivos agrícolas por la sequía, desarrollando unos criterios de selección a partir de los cuales se ha generado una clasificación estadística de los datos procedentes de la imagen multiespectral. Esto ha servido para obtener un gradiente de afección por la falta de riego dentro del conjunto de parcelas de cítricos de la zona de estudio. This study has been focused on the elaboration of a methodology based on the use of Earth observation techniques and useful for the determination of the effects produced over agricultural exploitations by a severe hydrical stress. In this sense, an special emphasis has been made for the analysis of the potential application of this methodology in the improvement of the insurance companies management regarding economical losses caused by droughts. This paper introduces the results obtained for an analysis performed for the defi nition of the existent relationship between the agricultural damages produced in citric plots by a extended drought situation and multispectral data contained in a high resolution image. Agricultural damages produced by a drought period have been estimated in order to develop selection criterions used for the generation of an statistic classification of the remote sensing data. This procedure has allowed to obtain a gradient over the citric crops plots within the study area that characterises trees condition caused by a lack of irrigation

Effect of Disclosure Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) to Profitability in Textile and Garment Industry Listed in Indonesia Stock Exchange in 2011-2013

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of the disclosure of corporate socialresponsibility (CSR) to profability in textile and garment industry are listed on BEI in 2011 through 2013 by using purposie sampling method. There are 10 industries that respresent a sample. The method of analysis in this study is a simple regression analysis. The result of this study indicate that csr disclosure positive and significant impact on ROA and ROE and positive and significant effect on the GPM, which is an indicator of prafitability

PREDIKSI SISA USIA PAKAI ARESTER ZnO TRANSFORMATOR UTAMA BERDASARKAN PENGUKURAN ARUS BOCOR RESISTIF KOREKTIF MENGGUNAKAN METODE REGRESI POLINOMIAL

Penggunaan arester diterapkan hampir di semua jenis jaringan tenaga listrik untuk melindungi peralatan listrik dari tegangan lebih guna menjamin operasi yang ekonomis dan andal. Arester ZnO dapat mengalami degradasi secara bertahap di bawah tegangan operasi, tekanan listrik atau mekanik serta mungkin dapat menjadi lembab karena masalah struktur yang dapat menyebabkan peningkatan arus bocor resistif arester. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk memprediksi sisa usia pakai arester ZnO transformator utama PLTU Jawa Tengah 2 Adipala berdasarkan pengukuran arus bocor resistif korektif menggunakan metode regresi polinomial yang dapat dimanfaatkan sebagai rujukan waktu penjadwalan penggantian atau perbaikan arester ZnO. Proses pengolahan data dengan bantuan software Matlab R2014a diperoleh hasil sisa usia pakai arester ZnO transformator utama fasa R, S, dan T secara berturut-turut, yaitu 1118 jam (47 hari), 3165 jam (132 hari), dan 1898 jam (79 hari) terhitung sejak pengukuran arus bocor resistif korektif yang terakhir pada jam ke-10656 dengan  tegangan sistem konstan 500 kV