Inkrementelle Entwurfsmustererkennung

von Jörg NierePaderborn, Univ., Diss., 200

The Effects of Surface Albedo and Initial Lignin Concentration on Photodegradation of Sorghum Bicolor Litter

Photodegradation has been recognized as a contributor to litter decomposition in a wide variety of ecosystems, however many of the mechanisms that drive it remain unknown. The primary focus of this study was to investigate the effect of surface albedo on the rate at which plant litter photodegrades. The first hypothesis that was tested was that surfaces with higher albedo will increase the rate of mass loss. The second hypothesis was that a wild type Sorghum bicolor with higher lignin concentration will degrade more rapidly than a double mutant variety. Three different artificial surface covers (aluminum foil, black paint, and white paint) were used to mimic the surface albedo of natural surfaces. Two varieties of Sorghum bicolor (wild type (WT) & double mutant (DM)) that differed in initial litter chemistry were placed on the surfaces and exposed to varying levels of solar radiation for 200-d. Mass loss, cell wall constituent (hemicellulose, cellulose and lignin) concentrations and bulk-soluble phenolic concentrations were examined every 50-d, for the duration of the experiment. In support of our first hypothesis, decomposition of the WT and DM litter was generally faster on the aluminum surfaces than on the black and white surfaces. Litter collected from the aluminum surfaces lost an average of 1.71% more mass than the black surfaces and an average of 3.08% more mass than the white surfaces. In contrast to our second hypothesis, the higher lignin, WT litter, photodegraded at a slower rate than did the lower lignin, DM litter. Following the 200-d collection, DM litter lost approximately 5% more mass, with WT losing an average of 47.5% of initial mass, and DM losing an average of 52.6% across all surface types

A Multifractality Measure of Stock Market Efficiency in Asean Region

This paper investigates the presence of multifractality property of the daily composite stock price index of the six countries in the Association of Southeast Asian Nation (ASEAN) region using the multifractal detrended fluctuation analysis (MFDFA). Covering the period from January 2, 2006 to June 28, 2013, the countries under study are the following: Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. If multifractality is present, then the traditional time series models of fractional Brownian motion and GARCH processes are inadequate to capture the stylized facts observed in financial time series which include long-range correlations and broad fat-tail distributions. The study also employs a sliding window MFDFA to obtain the dynamics of the local Hurst exponents which can be used as a measure of market efficiency. The findings suggest that the stock price indices of the six countries under study have the properties of multifractality. These suggest that the traditional time series models of fractional Brownian motion and GARCH processes are not appropriate and a call for a better model which incorporates multifractality and non-Gaussian distributions is made. Moreover, an efficiency ranking of stock markets of the six countries under study is provided. This result is important to guide investors seeking profit opportunity which is dependent upon market efficiency. It is also important to help policy makers decide to implement institutional reforms aimed at increasing market efficiency. Keywords: Efficiency, Financial Markets, Multifractality, Hurst Exponen

Multifractality in the Philippine Foreign Exchange Market

This paper investigates the multifractality of the daily exchange rate between the Philippine Peso and the US Dollar from January 2, 1998 to July 31, 2013 using the multifractal detrended fluctuation analysis. The behavior of the generalized Hurst exponent detects the presence of multifractality in the peso-dollar exchange rate. Moreover, the small fluctuations in the exchange rate show persistence. By quantifying the contribution of long-range correlations and broad fat-tail distributions to multifractility, the paper shows that the multifractility of daily peso-dollar exchange rate is mainly due to the broad fat-tail distributions

Transformational Leadership and Organizational Commitment of Selected Higher Education Institutions in Zamboanga Peninsula

This study aimed to determine the level of transformational leadership practices of Deans and organizational commitment of faculty/staff members in Higher Education Institutions in the Zamboanga Peninsula. The five dimensions of transformational leadership studied were idealized influence (attribute), idealized influence (behavior), intellectual stimulation, and inspirational motivation. The study also looked into the level of organizational commitment of the staff and the relationship with the transformational leadership practices of the middle manager. The respondents of the study consisted of 103 faculty/staff employed in the selected Higher Education Institutions in the Zamboanga Peninsula, Philippines. Descriptive analysis and Pearson Correlation Coefficient were the statistical tools used by the researcher. The SPSS was used to examine the gathered data. The Deans' transformative leadership has a comparable impact on continued behavior and normative commitment, suggesting that continued behavior and normative commitment are affected by leadership in a complex way. Therefore, by enhancing their transformational leadership style, deans can raise faculty/staff retention levels and normative commitment. Furthermore, it is advised that future researchers do a study with a similar focus but a broader reach in higher education institutions

Pest categorisation of Aschistonyx eppoi

The Panel on Plant Health performed a pest categorisation of the gall midge Aschistonyx eppoi Inouye (1964) (Diptera, Cecidomyiidae), for the EU. A. eppoi is a well‐defined and distinguishable species, native to Japan and Korea, and recognised as a pest of Juniperus chinensis, although our knowledge is solely based on one unique publication. A. eppoi is absent from the EU, and is listed in Annex IIAI of Directive 2000/29/EC. Its host plants, Juniperus spp. are also listed in Annex III of Directive 2000/29/EC. Plants for planting and branches are considered as pathways for this pest. A. eppoi has been intercepted twice (1974; 1975) in the EU and has been eradicated. The pest is likely to affect bonsai plants of J. chinensis if it were to establish in the EU territory. However, as it is unknown whether A. eppoi would attack the Juniperus spp. that occur in the EU, its potential impact on the wild vegetation is also unknown. As the pest originates from areas with warm climates, impact outdoors would affect the southern parts of the EU. Cultural control (destruction of infested material) and chemical control are the major control methods. All criteria assessed by EFSA for consideration as a potential quarantine pest are met, although there are high uncertainties regarding impact. The species is presently absent from the EU, and thus the criteria for consideration as a potential regulated non‐quarantine pest are not met