THE COMMANDING HEIGHTS OF MEXICAN AGRICULTURE

International Development,

The Policies of Implementing Traffic Calming in the Las Vegas Valley

This paper illustrates how policies that relate to traffic calming devices are implemented in the Las Vegas Valley. Traffic calming is the attempt to achieve calm, safe, environmentally improved conditions on streets, and the lowering of speeds. Traffic calming measures reduce the negative effects of motor vehicle use, alter driver behavior and improve conditions for non-motorized street users. An analysis of The Nevada Revised Statutes was conducted to understand state directives pertaining to the implementation of policies at municipal levels of government. The study investigated how four governments (Las Vegas, North Las Vegas, Clark County, and Henderson) implement traffic calming measures in the Las Vegas Valley. The study consisted of personal interviews using a standard set of questions. Two of the governments have developed written policies. One of the governments claimed to have a policy, but it is not written, and the fourth claimed to not have a policy. The role of the Traffic Engineer in the problem identification, formulation, adoption, implementation, and evaluation stages of traffic calming are unique to each political setting. The study found different levels of support for the use of traffic calming measures within each government studied

Efficient Detectors for MIMO-OFDM Systems under Spatial Correlation Antenna Arrays

This work analyzes the performance of the implementable detectors for multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) technique under specific and realistic operation system condi- tions, including antenna correlation and array configuration. Time-domain channel model has been used to evaluate the system performance under realistic communication channel and system scenarios, including different channel correlation, modulation order and antenna arrays configurations. A bunch of MIMO-OFDM detectors were analyzed for the purpose of achieve high performance combined with high capacity systems and manageable computational complexity. Numerical Monte-Carlo simulations (MCS) demonstrate the channel selectivity effect, while the impact of the number of antennas, adoption of linear against heuristic-based detection schemes, and the spatial correlation effect under linear and planar antenna arrays are analyzed in the MIMO-OFDM context.Comment: 26 pgs, 16 figures and 5 table

The Construction of Intersubjectivity in Undergraduate EFL Class Activities

This case study explores the construction of intersubjectivity, defined as the creation of shared mental spaces, inside an undergraduate EFL writing class. To this end, four activities within the writing unit of a skills-based undergraduate EFL course were observed and subsequently transcribed. Preliminary findings were triangulated with the teacher and the group of participants, whose interaction was observed, using interviews, focal group discussions and stimulated recall techniques. Regarding the achievement of shared understanding, learners were found to focus especially on the joint comprehension of task procedures and target concepts, whereas the teacher emphasized procedures in her instruction, giving little emphasis to conceptualization. In regard to the engagement of teacher and learner perspectives throughout the unit, mismatches were observed between each other’s conceptions of the task goal, the problems encountered and the satisfactors sought the ongoing rules of the task and roles in interaction; all of which were hypothesized to constrain the achievement of intersubjectivity. Finally, concerning supportive intersubjectivity, differences in the provision of cognitive, strategic and evaluative support were found between learners and the teacher, with learners being more aware of their peers’ mental states at the moment of supporting each other. The findings in this study support the claims that, on the whole, teachers and learners construct intersubjectivity in different ways, and that it is important for teachers to position themselves in such a way that their culturally assigned higher status in interaction with learners does not thwart the construction of intersubjectivity.MaestríaMagister en la Enseñanza del Ingle

Distribution patterns of the peracarid crustaceans associated with the alga Corallina elongata along the intertidal rocky shores of the Iberian Peninsula

Spatial patterns of intertidal peracarids, associated with the alga Corallina elongata, were studied along the whole Iberian Peninsula. A total of 28,215 specimens were collected, comprising 78 different species (57 amphipods, 16 isopods, 4 tanaids and 1 cumacean), most of them with Atlantic-Mediterranean distribution (60%) and only 9% of Mediterranean endemics. Gammarids were dominant in abundance and number of species, representing more than 70% of the total peracarids. The most common species collected during the present study were the caprellid Caprella penantis, the gammarids Hyale schmidti, Hyale stebbingi, Jassa cf. falcata and Stenothoe monoculoides, the isopod Ischyromene lacazei and the tanaid Tanais dulongii. Caprellids and tanaidaceans presented their highest populations in the stations of the Strait of Gibraltar, whereas isopods were more abundant in Atlantic stations. Univariate analyses did not reflected differences in number of species, abundance and Shannon- Weaver diversity between Mediterranean and Atlantic. However, cluster analyses and Whittaker index, as measure of ß-diversity, showed a different species composition between Mediterranean and Atlantic and a replacement of species along the coast, especially at the Strait of Gibraltar. The turnover mainly affected species of the same genera, probably related with sympatric speciation. CCA and BIOENV analyses showed high correlations between environmental measures (especially conductivity) and peracari

Researching in ancient engineering physical and chemical analysis in hidraulic roman mortars

Around ten years ago investigation of technical and material construction in Ancient Roma has advanced in favour to obtain positive results. This process has been directed to obtaining some dates based in chemical composition, also action and reaction of materials against meteorological assaults or post depositional displacements. Plenty of these dates should be interpreted as a result of deterioration and damage in concrete material made in one landscape with some kind of meteorological characteristics. Concrete mixture like calcium and gypsum mortars should be analysed in laboratory test programs, and not only with descriptions based in reference books of Strabo, Pliny the Elder or Vitruvius. Roman manufacture was determined by weather condition, landscape, natural resources and of course, economic situation of the owner. In any case we must research the work in every facts of construction. On the one hand, thanks to chemical techniques like X-ray diffraction and Optical microscopy, we could know the granular disposition of mixture. On the other hand if we develop physical and mechanical techniques like compressive strength, capillary absorption on contact or water behaviour, we could know the reactions in binder and aggregates against weather effects. However we must be capable of interpret these results. Last year many analyses developed in archaeological sites in Spain has contributed to obtain different point of view, so has provide new dates to manage one method to continue the investigation of roman mortars. If we developed chemical and physical analysis in roman mortars at the same time, and we are capable to interpret the construction and the resources used, we achieve to understand the process of construction, the date and also the way of restoration in future

Pilot Construction Project for Granular Shoulder Stabilization

Granular shoulders need to be maintained on a regular basis because edge ruts and potholes develop, posing a safety hazard to motorists. The successful mitigation of edge-rut issues for granular shoulders would increase safety and reduce the number of procedures currently required to maintain granular shoulders in Iowa. In addition, better performance of granular shoulders reduces the urgency to pave granular shoulders. Delaying or permanently avoiding paving shoulders where possible allows more flexibility in making investments in the road network. To stabilize shoulders and reduce the number of maintenance cycles necessary per season, one possible stabilizing agent—acidulated soybean oil soapstock—was investigated in this research. A pilot testing project was conducted for selected problematic shoulders in northern and northeastern Iowa. Soapstock was applied on granular shoulders and monitored during application and pre- and post-application. Application techniques were documented and the percentage of application success was calculated for each treated shoulder section. As a result of this research, it was concluded that soybean oil soapstock can be an effective stabilizer for granular shoulders under certain conditions. The researchers also developed draft specifications that could possibly be used to engage a contractor to perform the work using a maintenance-type construction contract. The documented application techniques from this project could be used as guidance for those who want to apply soapstock for stabilizing granular shoulders but might not be familiar with this technique

Toward a Modeling Framework for Organizational Competency

Part 6: Computational Systems ApplicationsInternational audienceCompetency modeling framework serves as a; (a) very important basis for the explanation of a generic competency modeling approach, (b) base element in the consolidation of existing knowledge in this area, (c) tool for model developers on selecting appropriate competency models, and (d) basis for competency modeling. This research uses literature review approach to propose a modeling framework for organizational competency. The proposed modeling framework has been developed based on the most relevant well known competency models. The research suggests that organizational competency can be categorized into three groups; individual competency, enterprise competency and collaboration-oriented competency. For modeling each of these groups, it is essential that the modeling process have to be aligned with model developer purpose (Modeling perspective), thus the model developing process will be based on the same segmentation model. Furthermore, competencies have to be model at different levels of abstraction (modeling intent)