Research into factors and theories of cooperation and into managing relations between human communities and ecosystems has blossomed in recent decades, yet few published works examine how these advances may be conveyed to students of resource and environmental management. We question whether ongoing changes in sociocultural and biophysical environments will lead to self-perpetuating crises or to precedent-setting types and scales of cooperation? Will higher education and university curricula continue to be part of our ‘environmental problem’ or emerge as essential parts of responses to the failure of resource management institutions? Are graduate students in environmental fields being prepared to meet the challenges they will likely face as resource management researchers and decision makers? We examine these questions through the lens of a course we have taught to over 300 graduate students in Simon Fraser University’s School of Resource and Environmental Management. The course emphasizes the acquisition and application of conceptual and practical knowledge and skills centered on cooperation among individuals and groups with diverse values and interests.

Naturally ventilated buildings have been observed tobeineffectiveinwarm-humidtropicalespeciallyduringhotseason.Toascertainingthisobservation,thisstudypresentsthe results of a short-term thermal comfort survey performed inanaturallyventilatedhostelbuildinginObafemiAwolowoUniversity,Ile-Ife,Nigeriaduringhotseason.Usingthedataobtainedfromquestionnairesurveyandphysicalmeasurementof(airtemperature,relativehumidityandairvelocity)usingKestrelmodel4500,thermalenvironmentalconditions,occupantcomfortandadaptationmethodswereinvestigatedconsideringclassIIprotocol.Ninetysixrespondentsparticipatedinthestudy.Statisticalanalysisofstudents`responsesandmeasuredthermalenvironmentalvariableswasperformedtodetermineexistingindoorenvironmentalconditionsandpriorityofusingadaptivecontrols.Allthemeasuredenvironmentalvariablesfellbelowthe comfort range recommended by ASHRAE standard 55 andISO7730standard.Onthecontrary,respondentswerecomfortable,preferringcooler,nochangeenvironmentsandmoreairmovement.Firstpreferenceoftherespondentsadaptivecontrolwaswindowopening(77.4%),closelyfollowed by wearing light clothes (77.3%) and lastly, the use ofelectric fans. This study concludes that in warm-humid climateofIle-Ife,duringthehotseasonthedesireforsustainablethermalcomfortmaynotbeachievedwithoutmechanicalventilation system.

Cornucopiansandecologistshavedebatedthehypothesesofglobalwarmingasaresultoftheemissionofgreenhousegasesforseveraldecades,focusingupondifferentinterpretationsofrisk:resilienceagainstprecaution.One can now employ recently available data on GDP, energyconsumption,emissionsandglobalaveragetemperaturetodecide between these two positions. The cornucopian positionis wrong, the evidence strongly indicates.

This study investigated the Capability Process Analysis of cumulative Cardiac Thoracic Ratio (CTR) during Radiological Chest Examination using MX.4 Radiological Diagnostic Machine (DRM) at the Fate Medical Foundation Radiological Department, Auchi. The data for the study are classified as raw and simulated CTR values. Statistical process control was investigated to address process stability and capability analysis was performed for the two processes. The pattern of the means of the raw and simulated values was investigated using normal probability plots and empirical CDF functions. The raw computed CTR values and simulated CTR values confirmed that the system is operating under 1.0 – 1.3 sigma level for the raw CTR values. Around 28-39% of the raw CTR values obtained fall outside the specification limits. In addition, for all the cumulative raw CTR values suggested that the process is off centered and is towards the lower specification limit. Further study should be conducted on large repeated experimental CTR sample to ascertain the reliability of this study. Fellow up study of patients should be undertaken by the cardiologist to reduce the possible health risk associated with high CTR.

The concrete composites play an important role in the field of concrete. The addition of fibers to concrete enhances the strength properties and ductility characteristics. Ferrocement is light weight and versatile material having high cracking, ductility and fatigue resistance and is additionally impermeable to make it far superior than reinforced concrete. It is used for prefabricated residential units, marine and industrial structures. Slurry infiltrated fiber concrete (SIFCON) could be considered as a special type of fiber concrete with high fiber content. The matrix consists of cement slurry or flowing cement mortar. This composite material withstands blast loading and can be used for pre-stressed concrete beams and safe vaults. Slurry infiltrated fibrous ferrocement (SIFF) is a combination of SIFCON and ferrocement and can overcome the limitations of latter. SIFF can be used for the structures like runways in aerodromes, industrial floors etc. This paper deals with an experimental investigation on the strength characteristics of SIFF using 1% by volume of steel fibers of aspect ratio 25 when subjected to 90 cycles of freezing and thawing (1cycle of freezing and thawing means 24 hours of immersion of specimens in freezer at a temperature of -14°C and then keeping the specimens in open atmosphere for 24 hours). The results indicated that with the addition of 0.8% steel fibers yield higher compressive strength, flexural strength, toughness indices and impact strength.

The purpose of the article is to review recent trends as it relates to the expected convergence process from United States Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) to International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) that will take place as early as 2015. In addition, the idea of implementing International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) in the United States market is not only adopting one singular accounting system but also bringing foreign cash from multinationals by lowering the repatriation tax rate under IFRS so businesses can have the competitive advantage to continue operating in the global market arena. However, the prohibition of Last-In, First-Out (LIFO) under International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) represents a great challenge to the Financial Accounting Standard Board (FASB) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). As a result, according to Warren, Reeve, & Duchac (2014), approximately 127 countries have already adopted IFRS and Tyson (2011) predicts that the number of countries adopting IFRS will increase up to 150 countries worldwide. Therefore, IFRS claims to be more capital oriented, to provide more relevant information for investment decision, and to reflect better a firm’s economic position than United States GAAP as predicated by Florou & Kosi (2013).

Following the dramatic decline in Chad’s performance for production and export of cotton lint (from leading producer and among leading exporters in the 1960s to being at the bottom in rank among the C-4 countries of WCA since 1998), use is made of the Johansen Full Information Maximum Likelihood test to identify and estimate the magnitude and effects of key determinants of exports from the country. In this regard, I defined and estimated two primary co-integrating and error correction equations using volume and value of exports as dependent variables in the respective equations. Diagnostic tests performed revealed that the estimates observed are stable, and residuals for the respective models are normally distributed, non-serially correlated and homoscedastic. Results of the study show that cotton production, competitiveness of the country in exports of the commodity, volume of world exports of the commodity, and export price faced by the country are key determinants of export growth. Policies implemented in both the internal and external environments are noted to have had more harmful than beneficial implications for the cotton industry. In as much as volume of exports is found to be driven by both internal and external forces, the value of exports on the other hand is found to be driven more by external forces than internal forces. To awaken the cotton export industry from its present slumber, measures should be put in place to significantly increase production and improve on the country’s competitiveness in export of the commodity. In addition, measures should be put in place to address existing inefficiencies in the domestic policy environment, as this could suitably position the country to benefit from increases in international trade. Minimization of distortions on the international market for cotton lint could as well play a significant role in reviving the cotton export industry for Chad.

The study was conducted from April, 2006 to June, 2010 on landing trends, species composition and percent contribution of sharks and rays by weight using the catch records of Marine Fisheries Survey Management Unit, Chittagong from two landing centers Fishery ghat, Chittagong and BFDC ghat, Cox’s Bazar. This study identified 27 species in total representing 11 species of shark (04 families) and 16 species of ray (09 families). The highest landing volume (134 MT) and contribution (76%) to total catch for the whole sampling period was found from Scoliodon laticaudus followed by Rhizoprionodon acutus (108 MT or 55%), Carcharhinus melanopterus (75 MT or 38%), Sphyrna zygaena (49 MT or 26%), Chiloscyllium indicum (38 MT or 20%), Eusphyra blochii (22 MT or 11%) Galeocerdo cuvier (21 MT or 10%) and other (03 MT or 2%). Species which occurred least were placed in the ‘other’ category comprising Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos, Stegostoma fasciatum, Carcharhinus leucas and C. falcifomis. Among rays, the landing volume and resultant percent contribution to overall catch found highest from Himantura uarnak (219 MT, 120%), followed by Himantura walga (158 MT or 60%), Himantura bleekeri (68 MT or 34%), Rhinobatos granulatus (29 MT or 18%), Gymnura micrura (12 MT or 7%) Mobula diabolus (11 MT or 5%), Rhynchobatus djiddensis (10 MT or 5%), Aetomylaeus nichofii (9 MT or 4%), Rhinoptera javanica (8 MT or 4%) and Narcine timlei (7 MT or 4%) and other species with least occurrence (5 MT or 4%). Species in other category consisted of Gymnura poecilura, Rhina ancylostoma, Himatura gerrardi, Anoxypristis cuspidata, Himantura undulata and Taeniura. Sps. Landing of different species were found to vary from month to month and year to year throughout the sampling period. To make absolute comment regarding these trends of occurrence, base line biological information together with long term catch record for size distribution was needed which could not be work out from the present data set. Ho

Physico-chemical characteristics of Surajkund water body in Varanasi (UP) were monitored. High levels of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), calcium (Ca), potassium (K) and sodium (Na) indicated that pond was eutrophic. However, contrast to nitrate, ammonia-nitrogen was high in summer and low in winter. The high concentrations of sodium in summer stimulated uptake and transport of CO2 and HCO3 at high pH. Highly significant correlation was observed among studied traits. NO3 exhibited significant negative relation with all traits, though the magnitude varied from NO2 to NH4. More over positive correlation observed among traits only exception was NO3. Calcium, Potassium, Sodium etc showed significant positive correlation with other traits except NO3. Positive correlation maintained by NO2 with other traits where negative value with NO3. Surajkund Microcystisaeruginosa was dominant plankton in the month of December January and February. Spirulina sp. was found along with the population of Oscillatoria and Chlamydomonas in April, May and June. After 15 days of growth, protein, dry weight, carbohydrate, chlorophyll and carotenoids were estimated for Spirulina platensis.

Botanical lures(Prolure, Pklure, Cplure) developed from legumes were tried in traps along with Pflure from aqueous organic product from poultry for their potential as natural attractants under field conditions in 2004, 2005 and 2006 Cropping Seasons. The attraction of grasshoppers to these natural attractants was significant (P<0.05) compared with the control (water) which recorded zero catch using Student Newman keuls Test (SNK). The grasshoppers trapped in the extracts include Catantops melanosticus schaum (Orthoptera: Acrididae), Pyrgomorpha vignaudi Geur (Orthoptera: Pyrgomorphidae) and Homorocoryphus nitidulus Walker (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae). These potential attractants have prospects as an alternative to synthetic insecticides and pheromones in the management of grasshoppers on yam.This is the first report on these attractants developed from plant products. The attractants are cheap, non toxic to users and environment, easy to manage by farmers, easy to control fast flying and very alert insects such as the Acrididae.