Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Coopération interentreprises à la demande : Une approche flexible à base de services adaptables

Aujourd'hui la definition des nouveaux modeles d'organisation d'entreprises est guidee par l'intensification de la concurrence, la variabilite des demandes clients et la performance des communications. Dans ce nouveau contexte, les entreprises ont compris l'importance des cooperations interentreprises et mettent en place des modeles bases sur la cooperation (entreprise virtuelle, reseau d'entreprises,.). Ces formes d'organisation ont un impact important sur les systemes d'information. En particulier, la flexibilite et l'ouverture vers l'environnement deviennent des enjeux majeurs dans la conception de ces systemes. Nos travaux de recherche s'interessent a la question de cooperations a la demande en considerant que le systeme d'information est un element central de cette problematique. Notre etude de l'etat de l'art a revele que la cooperation a la demande est un choix strategique difficile a realiser vu que le systeme d'information n'est pas adapte a ce type de fonctionnement. En effet, l'adhesion d'une entreprise a des scenarios de cooperation est regie par une double preoccupation. D'une part, l'entreprise presente un manque de flexibilite au niveau du systeme d'information, support a son metier et d'autre part, mettre en oeuvre une cooperation a la demande exige le developpement d'un cadre bien defini qui permettra aux entreprises d'interconnecter leurs differents processus au sein d'un processus global. L'architecture orientee services et la technologie service Web semblent proposer des reponses credibles aux besoins tant au niveau interne (systeme d'information support a la cooperation) qu'au niveau externe (services disponibles aux partenaires). Ainsi, nos travaux de recherche ont eu pour objectif principal de developper une nouvelle approche qui assure l'efficacite et l'efficience de la cooperation interentreprises basee sur l'approche service. Ils se sont focalises sur trois sous problematiques complementaires qui sont respectivement la problematique de construction (ou de migration vers) d'une architecture orientee services au sein de l'entreprise, la problematique de construction du processus cooperatif a la demande et la problematique d'adaptation de la logique metier des services au contexte permettant de doter les services d'un certain niveau de flexibilite. Nos travaux de recherche reposent sur trois principes methodologiques qui sont une perspective d'ingenierie, l'integration de la flexibilite et l'ouverture. L'inscription dans une perspective d'ingenierie permet de suivre une demarche methodologique qui guide l'identification du systeme attendu en utilisant un ensemble de meta-modeles et de modeles. L'integration de la flexibilite se manifeste a travers la prise en compte du contexte et de l'adaptation d'une maniere transversale tout au long du cycle de vie. Le principe d'ouverture impose de s'inscrire dans le cadre d'utilisation des standards industriels.
Electoral Competition and Party Positioning

We survey the literature on the positioning of political parties in uni - and multidimensional policy spaces. We keep throughout the survey the assumption that there is an exogenous number of parties who commit to implement their policy proposals once elected. The survey stresses the importance of three modeling assumptions: (i) the source of uncertainty in election results, (ii) the parties'objectives (electoral - maximizing their expected vote share, or their probability of winning the elections'policy oriented or both), and (iii) the voters'preferences(if and how they care for parties beyond the policies implemented by the winner).
Influence of Fuel Injection Timing on the Performance and Emission Characteristics of a Diesel Engine Fueled with Jatropha Methyl Ester-Tyre Pyrolysis Oil Blend

Early investigation on utilization of Jatropha methyl ester (JME) tyre pyrolysis oil (TPO) blends in a single cylinder, constant speed, direct injection diesel engine revealed that a blend of 80% JME and 20% TPO referred to as JMETPO20 blend give a better performance and lower emissions compared to other Jatropha methyl ester tyre pyrolysis oil (JMETPO) blends. In this study, for further improvement on performance and emission characteristics, and also to find optimum injection timing for blend, experiments have been carried out with varying the injection timing. Tests have been conducted under two advanced and two reratarded injection timings in addition to the original injection timing of 23 °CA bTDC. The experimental test results showed that for the JMETPO20 blend at advanced injection timing of 24.5 °CA the brake thermal efficiency increased by about 2.21%, compared to the result of original injection timing at full load. For the JMETPO20 blend at advanced injection timing of 24.5 °CA the nitric oxide and carbon dioxide emission increased by about 4.56% and 11.91% respectively at full load, and the carbon monoxide emission decreased by about 11.21%, compared to that of original injection timing.
Corporate environmental responsibility and financial performance: does bidirectional causality work? Empirical evidence from the manufacturing industry

Purpose - Over the past two decades, scholarly attention has focused mainly on a direct and inverse relationship between corporate environmental responsibility (CER) and corporate financial performance (CFP). This study aims to explore the bidirectional causality hypothesis, as good environmental results can lead to good financial results, which makes it possible to invest more resources in projects that improve environmental performance. Design/methodology/approach - The authors test the bidirectional causality between CER and CFP on a sample of listed Italian manufacturing firms over the 2005-2014 period. The authors use a fixed effect panel data regression and check the robustness of the results with alternative econometric techniques. Findings - Although the findings do not support bidirectional hypothesis, they establish direction/causality from CFP to CER. As a result, environmental responsibility is a consequence of prior financial performance, which supports the slack resources hypothesis. Research limitations/implications - Given that companies’ environmental commitment is dictated by economic evaluations or by assessing the availability of resources to invest, it seems that the spread of environmentally responsible behaviours might be supported by different external pressures. Originality/value - The paper provides further insights on sustainability management literature by establishing a bidirectional relationship between firm performance and environmental responsibility.
Developing a performance evaluation matrix to enhance the learner satisfaction of an e-learning system

In recent years, e-learning has grown in popularity as a learning model, and whether the design of an e-learning system fulfils the needs of learners directly affects their learning effectiveness. In this study, we develop a fuzzy linguistic scale to establish a satisfaction index and create an influence index based on simple regression models. Subsequently, we construct a performance evaluation matrix having the satisfaction and influence indices as the horizontal and vertical axes, respectively. Finally, we evaluate the means of the two indices to use them as dynamic standards for identifying the items considered critical to quality quickly and easily. Moreover, we discuss a case study involving the computer-assisted language learning system to demonstrate the applicability of the proposed framework. In this case study, 406 valid questionnaires were used, and we discovered that operational stability was the most important item, followed by the dimension of the learning community. Further, we discuss the strategies for enhancing learner satisfaction, as well as its practical implications.
Laparoscopic vs robotic-assisted surgery for endometrial carcinoma in a centre with long laparoscopic experience

Surgical outcomes and costs of laparoscopic and robotic hysterectomy for the treatment of endometrial carcinoma were compared in a centre with lengthy experience with laparoscopic surgery. The robotic cohort (n = 67) had a longer operative time than the laparoscopic cohort (n = 150) (p < 0.0001). Lymph node yields were similar for both surgical modalities, but the median of estimated blood loss was lower in the robotic group (50 ml vs 100 ml; p < 0.0001). The proportion of patients with hospital stay > 2 days and rate of overall complications were similar in both groups. Operative costs were (Euros) €1,680 and €3,860 for the laparoscopic and robotic procedure, respectively. We conclude that robotic technology is feasible but does not provide short-term benefits for the treatment of endometrial carcinoma in a centre where laparoscopy has been established as the standardised minimally invasive surgical method.
Applying probabilistic collocation method to power flow analysis in networks with wind farms

In power systems with a high wind power penetration, probabilistic load flow analysis is a fundamental problem for system planning and operation due to the uncertainty and fast fluctuation of wind speed. This paper proposes probabilistic collocation method (PCM) for load flow analysis with a penetration of wind farms. The orthogonal polynomials are utilized to generate the approximation of the random variable of interest as the function of uncertainty parameters. The proposed method is a computational efficient solution to provide quite an accurate approximation for the given probability distribution of system response. Therefore the method can significantly reduce the computational time compared to the traditional brute force Monte Carlo approach. Illustration examples are given on the IEEE 39 bus system to show the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Phase Noise Self-Cancellation Scheme with Orthogonal Polarization in the Polarization Dependent Loss Channel for OFDM System

To cancel phase noise which causes the bit error rate of OFDM systems degradation, a novel orthogonal-polarization-based phase noise self- cancellation (OP-PNSC) scheme in the polarization dependent loss (PDL) channel is proposed. In the proposed scheme, the orthogonal polarizations are utilized to transmitted orthogonally polarized signals which are added together at the receiver to cancel phase noise. These orthogonally polarized signals transmitted in the same-frequency channel enable that the proposed scheme has the advantages of more efficient in cancelling phase noise and the spectral efficiency (SE) improvement. Considering the realistic wireless channel, the distortion of PDL is investigated and a PDL pre-compensated OP- PNSC (PPC-OP-PNSC) scheme is proposed to mitigate the power imbalance caused by PDL. Then, the signal- to-interference-plus-noise ratio (SINR) and SE performances are analyzed to evaluate the performance of the OP-PNSC scheme. Finally, the numerical results show that the OP-PNSC scheme achieves performance close to that of OFDM system without phase noise in the PDL channel.
Identification of Glutamic Acid Decarboxylase Autoantibody Heterogeneity and Epitope Regions in Type I Diabetes

Glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) is an autoantigen of the islet cell antibodies (ICAs) present in type I diabetes. GAD autoantibodies are also found in patients with stiffman syndrome and in certain ICA-positive individuals who rarely develop diabetes on long-term follow-up. This latter subset of ICA has been termed restricted or beta-cell-specific ICA because the antibodies react with only the beta-cells of the islet. By immunoprecipitation of recombinant GAD65 and GAD67 protein and protein fragments, 83% of sera from individuals with new-onset diabetes or prediabetes (n = 30) had GAD65 autoantibodies, but only 26% had GAD67 autoantibodies. In contrast, all restricted ICA sera (n = 6) had both GAD65 and GAD67 autoantibodies. In both types of sera, the binding of GAD67 autoantibodies could be blocked by preincubation of the serum with GAD65 and GAD67, but the binding of GAD65 autoantibodies could not be blocked by preincubation with GAD67. The titer of GAD65 autoantibodies was much higher in the restricted ICA sera (titer > 1:1,000) than in the sera from individuals with new-onset diabetes or prediabetes (titer < 1:100) and was reflected by the greater amount of GAD65 protein immunoprecipitated by restricted ICA sera (2.61 ± 1.39 U) compared with sera from individuals with new-onset diabetes (0.51 ± 0.34 U). The restricted ICA sera immunoprecipitated equimolar amounts of GAD65 protein fragments, suggesting a non-conformational or linear epitope; epitope mapping localized the major epitope region to amino acids 361–442 and a second minor epitope region to amino acids 1–195. For the monoclonal antibody GAD6, the GAD65 epitope region localized to amino acids 529–585. In contrast, the sera from individuals with new-onset diabetes or prediabetes immunoprecipitated equal amounts of full-length GAD65 protein and a GAD65 fragment containing amino acids 188–585, but did not immunoprecipitate smaller GAD65 protein fragments, which suggests an epitope(s) dependent on protein conformation. These results suggest that subsets of GAD autoantibodies exist and indicate a heterogeneity in the immune response to GAD.
Nutritional methods in the European Prospective Investigation of Cancer in Norfolk

Abstract Objective: To describe methods and dietary habits of a large population cohort. Design: Prospective assessment of diet using diet diaries and food-frequency questionnaires, and biomarkers of diet in 24-h urine collections and blood samples. Setting: Free living individuals aged 45 to 75 years living in Norfolk, UK. Subjects: Food and nutrient intake from a food-frequency questionnaire on 23 003 men and women, and from a 7-day diet diary from 2117 men and women. Nitrogen, sodium and potassium excretion was obtained from single 24-h urine samples from 300 individuals in the EPIC cohort. Plasma vitamin C was measured for 20 846 men and women. Results: The food-frequency questionnaire (FFQ) and the food diary were able to determine differences in foods and nutrients between the sexes and were reliable as judged by repeated administrations of each method. Plasma vitamin C was significantly higher in women than men. There were significant (P<0.001) differences in mean intake of all nutrients measured by the two different methods in women but less so in men. The questionnaire overestimated dairy products and vegetables in both men and women when compared with intakes derived from the diary, but underestimated cereal and meat intake in men. There were some consistent trends with age in food and nutrient intakes assessed by both methods, particularly in men. Correlation coefficients between dietary intake assessed from the diary and excretion of nitrogen and potassium in a single 24-h urine sample ranged from 0.36 to 0.47. Those comparing urine excretion and intake assessed from the FFQ were 0.09 to 0.26. The correlations between plasma vitamin C and dietary intake from the first FFQ, 24-h recall or diary were 0.28, 0.35 and 0.40. Conclusions: EPIC Norfolk is one of the largest epidemiological studies of nutrition in the UK and the largest on which plasma vitamin C has been obtained. Methods for obtaining food and nutrient intake are described in detail. The results shown here for food and nutrient intakes can be compared with results from other population studies utilising different methods of assessing dietary intake. The utility of different methods used in different settings within the main EPIC cohort is described. The FFQ is to be used particularly in pooled analyses of risk from diet in relation to cancer incidence within the larger European EPIC study, where measurement error is more likely to be overcome by large dietary heterogeneity on an international basis. Findings in the UK, where dietary variation between individuals is smaller and hence the need to use a more accurate individual method greater, will be derived from the 7-day diary information on a nested case–control basis. 24-h recalls can be used in the event that diary information should not be forthcoming from some eventual cases. Combinations of results utilising all dietary methods and biomarkers may also be possible.
Photoluminescence lifetime of Ir(ppy)3 used for organic light emitting diodes

We calculated temperature dependence of photoluminescence (PL) lifetime of fac tris(2-phenylpyridine) iridium (Ir(ppy)3) doped in 4, 4'-N, N'-dicarbazole-biphenyl (CBP). The emitting triplet state consists of three zero-field splitting substates. Taking into account non-radiative transitions among these substates, rate equations for the populations of the substates are solved and three PL lifetimes are derived. A good agreement has been obtained for the temperature dependence between the observed lifetime and calculated long lifetime.
Promoting Sustainable Hotel Guest Behavior: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Unsustainable patterns of tourist behavior produce a massive environmental burden. Nevertheless, it is unknown which behavioral strategies can be implemented to foster resource-efficient behavior in customers of leisure and travel services. This article aims to identify and summarize the evidence about the interventions which have been tested to promote sustainable hotel guest behavior. Electronic searches were performed in the main databases from inception to September 2016. Papers deemed eligible for inclusion were experimental field studies, reporting factual changes in guest behavior. The final sample was composed of nine papers comprising 13 studies in a total of 5,859 hotel stays. Results showed that all included interventions targeted towel reuse. Five different types of interventions were identified including environmental appeals, messages prompting commitment for conservation, donation to charity, social norms, and nudges. Only the last two forms of interventions (social norms: effect size [ES] = −0.25, 95% confidence interval [CI] = [−0.39, −0.12], p = .004 and nudges: ES = −0.43, 95% CI = [−0.72, −0.13], p = .009) showed significant positive effects in promoting towel reuse. Particularly regarding social norms, our work shows an effect weaker than reported in previous meta-analyses but consistent (low between-study heterogeneity) in producing modest increases in the levels of towel reuse.
A comparison of the availability of tobramycin for inhalation from vented vs unvented nebulizers.

STUDY OBJECTIVE To compare drug output from a vented nebulizer (Pari LC Jet Plus) with a traditional unvented nebulizer (Hudson 1730 T Up-Draft 11) using aerosolized tobramycin, which is frequently used in the treatment of cystic fibrosis. DESIGN Six nebulizers of each type were filled with a 4 mL tobramycin (80 mg) solution and were driven by a compressor (Pulmo-Aide). Various inspiratory flows (VI) (0, 5, 10, 15, 20 L/min for the Pari LC Jet Plus and 0, 5, and 10 L/min for the Hudson 1730, all at 40% relative humidity) were directed through each nebulizer. Drug output was measured from changes in weight and concentration (assessed by changes in osmometry) within the nebulizer. Particle size distributions were determined by laser diffraction allowing the calculation of the amount of aerosol output in the respirable range (<5 microm). The nebulizers were first run until end-nebulization to establish total drug output and then for either 4 or 5 min to determine the rate of drug output (mg/min) before intermittent aerosol output. RESULTS The total drug output without VI for both the unvented and the vented nebulizers was not significantly different, 55 (51, 60) mg for the Hudson 1730 vs 51 (49, 53) mg for the Pari LC Jet Plus (mean [95% confidence limits]). Inspiratory flow had no effect on the unvented Hudson 1730 nebulizer but significantly increased the rate of total drug output and the rate of drug output in the respirable range for the vented Pari LC Jet Plus nebulizer (VI=0, 3.35 [2.84, 3.85] and 1.72 [1.48, 1.96] compared with VI=20, 9.87 [9.03, 10.70] and 6.11 [5.33, 6.88] mg/min). CONCLUSIONS These findings indicate that the increase in the rate of drug output with VI for the vented nebulizer would result in shorter nebulization times and a relative decrease in drug loss during the expiratory phase.
Percentage of pain intensity difference on an 11‐point numerical rating scale underestimates acute pain resolution

A 50% reduction in pain intensity difference (50%PID) between baseline and follow‐up evaluation is commonly accepted as adequate pain relief in emergency departments (EDs). However, 50%PID seems to be problematic with the 11‐point numerical rating scale (NRS) since even baseline values are more divisible by 2 (50% reduction) than odd baseline values. This study evaluated the impact of this bias and integrated time between baseline and follow‐up measurements, hypothesizing that the slope of relative pain intensity difference (SRPID) is a more accurate gauge of pain relief that can decrease bias and incorporate the time component of pain relief.
Finite element modeling, validation, and parametric investigations of a retinal reattachment stent

A new retinal reattachment surgical procedure is based on a stent that is deployed to press the retina back in place. An eye‐stent finite element model studied the strain induced by the stent on retina. Finite element model simulations were performed for several stent geometric configurations (number of loops, wire diameter, and intraocular pressure). The finite element model was validated against experiment. Parametric studies demonstrated that stents could be successfully designed so that the maximum strain would be below permanent damage strain threshold of 2%.
Performance Analysis of Hop-by-Hop Beamforming for Dual-Hop MIMO AF Relay Networks

A comprehensive performance analysis framework for dual-hop multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) amplify-and-forward (AF) relay networks with hop-by-hop beamforming (i.e. both source and relay perform beamforming) is presented. The system performance degradation due to practical transmission impairments (i) feedback delays, (ii) channel estimation errors and (iii) spatially-correlated fading is quantified. To this end, closed-form expressions for the cumulative distribution function of the end-to-end signal-to-noise ratio, its moment generating function, the outage probability, and the average bit error rate (BER) are derived. The asymptotic high SNR approximations of the outage probability and average BER are derived to obtain valuable system-design insights such as the diversity order and array gain. In order to illustrate the usefulness of our analysis, four applications, which employ dual-hop MIMO relaying with hop-by-hop beamforming, are also presented and analyzed. Furthermore, our analyses are validated through Monte-Carlo simulations.
When Do the Poor Vote for the Right Wing and Why: Status Hierarchy and Vote Choice in the Indian States

What explains the popularity of right-wing parties among the poor? This article argues that in hierarchical societies with high social-status inequality, cross-class coalitions can emerge among high-status voters if they believe their social status is under threat. I demonstrate this in the context of the Indian states by exploiting an announcement by the Government of India in 1990 to implement affirmative action for lower castes—an intervention that threatened to weaken the social status of upper caste Brahmans. Using unique data from the 1931 census, this article shows that areas where Brahmans were more dominant in the 1930s experienced a higher surge in right-wing voting after this announcement than other areas. Using survey data, I find that both wealthy and poor Brahmans voted for the right wing where Brahmans were dominant in 1931. The article shows how concerns about social status may make the poor open to appeals by antiredistribution parties.