bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Framework to Enhance Business and Information Technology Alignment Through Incentive Policy
Authors: Belfo Fernando
Published: July 2013

The alignment of Business and IT is still an important concern of IT managers. Alignment, as most others organization challenges, is essentially promoted by people. So, adequate people´s incentives should be accordingly designed with that purpose in mind. A framework that enhances alignment through an incentive policy is proposed, relating incentive initiatives with alignment criteria. Framework uses Luftman instrument, where its dimensions represents alignment opportunities that should be explored. The used incentive instrument is based on the WorldatWork model. An incentive policy should consider five areas; compensation, benefits, work-life, performance/recognition and development/career opportunities. Strategic alignment dimension is composed by six areas; communications, competency/value measurements, governance, partnership, technological scope and skills. The framework supports the definition of an incentive policy enhancing general and specific alignment dimensions. Theorization about some possible direct relations between the dimensions of an incentive policy and alignment is made, helping the incentive policy definition.
Main Differentiating Issues in Aligning Information Systems with Business Performance
Authors: Fernandes Silvia C.
Published: July 2013

The information systems and technologies (IS/IT) are a decisive platform in the response capacity of organizations to the new management imperatives through new solutions that permit to improve their competitive position. As information management is a highly differentiating area, the present study compares several enterprises of different sectors, located (headoffice or branch) in the Algarve region, with the aim of systematising the main differentiating issues related with adoption, restructuring and implementation of information systems and supportive technologies. Every organization should define an accurate and in time plan which, in case of adopting and implementing information systems, has to analyse results within the same plan and on a yearly basis of the system’s activity always aligned with the business strategy. Given the potential of ERP and CRM as powerful tools to guide customer-oriented understanding, greater attention is required on their economic viability for sustainable business dynamics.
Tracing Links Between Business Processes and Software Systems
Authors: Aversano Lerina , Tortorella Maria
Published: July 2013

The traceability links existing between a business process and the supporting software systems s is a critical concern for the organizations, as it directly affects their performance. Methodologies and tools are needed for detecting these kinds of relationships and keeping an evidence of the existing connections. This paper proposes an approach for modelling a business processes evidencing the links existing between their activities and the components of the supporting software systems. The approach described in this paper is concerned with the use of information retrieval techniques to software maintenance and, in particular, to the problem of recovering traceability links between the business process models and the components of the supporting software system. An information retrieval approach is introduced based on two processing phases including syntactic and semantic analysis. The application of the approach is explored through a case study.
Stakeholder Ontology and Mining for Improving Complex Services
Authors: Ramanathan Jay , Ramnath Rajiv
Published: July 2013

Complex service-oriented organizations (such as IT customer service or the hospital emergency) deal with many challenges due to incoming request types that we characterize as non-routine. Each such request reflects significant variations in the environment and consequently requirements, which drives discovery of processing needs. At the same time such organizations are often challenged with sharing high-cost resources and satisfying multiple stakeholders with different expectations. Performance improvement in this context is particularly challenging and requires new methods. To address this, the authors present an ontology designed for highly dynamic service organizations where traceable workflow data is difficult to obtain and there are many stakeholders. The ontology provides the contextual framework by with useful knowledge can be successfully extracted from mined performance data obtained from scattered sources. Specifically the service ontology 1) obtains tacit knowledge as explicit in-the-micro feedback from workers performing Roles, 2) provides the structure for organizing in-the-small execution data from evolving process and instances, and 3) aggregates process instances metrics into a performance and decision-making facility to align to in-the-large goals of stakeholders. Using actual customer service requests they illustrate the benefits of the ontology for relating aggregated goals to feedback from individual roles of workers. The authors also illustrate the benefits in terms of identifying actionable improvement targets.
Radiotherapy for Metastatic Fibrolamellar Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Peacock Justin G. , Call Jason A. , Olivier Kenneth R.
Published: July 2013

Fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma (FLHCC) is a rare variant of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) that commonly affects young individuals without a prior history of liver disease. FLHCC commonly results in a better prognosis than HCC; however, the risk of recurrence and metastatic disease is high. FLHCC is typically treated by primary resection of the tumor with 50-75% cure rates. The use of radiation therapy in FLHCC has not been assessed on its own, and may show some success in a very few reported combination therapy cases. We report on the successful use of radiation therapy in a case of metastatic FLHCC to the lung following primary and secondary resections. Our treatment of the large, metastatic, pulmonary FLHCC tumor with 40 Gy in 10 fractions resulted in an 85.9% tumor volume decrease over six months. This suggests FLHCC may be a radiosensitive tumor and radiotherapy may be valuable in unresectable or metastatic tumors.
A Rare Cause of Acute Abdomen: Jejunal Diverticulosis with Perforation
Authors: Aydin Ibrahim , Pergel Ahmet , Yucel Ahmet Fikret , Sahin Dursun Ali
Published: July 2013

Jejunal diverticulosis is generally asymptomatic and is associated with high morbidity and mortality secondary to complications, especially in elderly patients. We present a case report of a 74-year-old female patient with jejunal diverticulosis and perforation due to diverticulitis.
Wage Bargaining and Monetary Policy in a Kaleckian Monetary Distribution and Growth Model: Trying to Make Sense of the NAIRU
Authors: Hein Eckhard
Published: July 2013

In a Kaleckian monetary distribution and growth model with conflict inflation we assess the role of a Non-Accelerating Inflation Rate of Unemployment (NAIRU). The short-run stability of a NAIRU is examined taking into account real debt effects of accelerating and decelerating inflation, and the short-run effectiveness of monetary policy interventions applying the interest rate tool is analysed. The problem of long-run endogeneity of the NAIRU is addressed integrating the long-run distribution effects of monetary policies' real interest rate variations into the model. It is concluded that monetary policy interventions in order to stabilise inflation are either unnecessary or costly in terms of employment in the short run. In the long run, these policies bear the risk of continuously increasing the NAIRU in order to keep inflation under control, which yields a horizontal long-run Phillips curve and latent stagflation. Instead of relying on monetary policies, the cause of inflation should be directly addressed and wage bargaining co-ordination should be applied as an appropriate tool.
Inequalities in Earnings and Child Rearing: What is the Gender Aspect of Poverty?
Authors: Strengmann-Kuhn Wolfgang
Published: July 2013

Poverty rates of women are usually not or only slightly higher than those of men. Thus the statement »poverty is female« cannot be confirmed empirically. This is at least the case if the typical poverty measures are used. Nevertheless gender inequalities and low pay of women are a main source of poverty. This is shown for the case of Germany by empirical investigations of the relationship between individual earnings and poverty based on household income, both from a cross-sectional and a longitudinal point of view. It appears that low earnings of women and reduced work during periods of child rearing are an important reason for poverty, though not only for women, but also for their husbands, even if they work, and for their children.
Searching for Common Ground: Interactive Agency in Heterodox Economics
Authors: Wrenn Mary V.
Published: July 2013

The individual, economic agent has antecedents and consequences that shape her perceptions of the world, in other words, form the individual's mental models. Furthermore, the individual is a totality of mental models, which shape perception and influence the selection of relevant models to apply to data and interpret input. The influence of mental models therefore directly influences the degree of agency the individual is able to exercise. Moreover, whatever assumptions are made regarding the degree of agency an individual possesses informs the theoretical structure from which any approach to economics is built. This paper seeks to examine and compare the role of agency in heterodox economic thought and proposes that the theme of the individual might well serve as a missing link between otherwise disparate groups of thought.
Economic Inequality in Central, East and Southeast Europe
Authors: Leitner Sebastian , Holzner Mario
Published: July 2013

The article analyses the issue of economic inequality in the transition economies of Central, East and Southeast Europe. It consists of a literature review and a descriptive analysis as well as an econometric modelling exercise. In the first part we point at the fact that the rise in income inequality was triggered by the magnitude of transitional output loss and a reduction of formal employment. Rising wage inequality was at the core of total income dispersion, while government transfers had a redistributional function only in Central and Southeast European countries contrary to the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). In the econometric analysis it is found that for instance public utilities infrastructure liberalisation has increased inequality in transition, while price and trade liberalisation has decreased it. A high share of employment in industry and high government expenditures are connected with less inequality.
Performance of diethylene glycol-based particle counters in the sub-3 nm size range
Authors: Wimmer D. , Lehtipalo K. , Franchin A. , Kangasluoma J. , Kreissl F. , Kürten A. , Kupc A. , Metzger A. , Mikkilä J. , Petäjä T. , Riccobono F. , Vanhanen J. , Kulmala M. , Curtius J.
Published: July 2013

Abstract. When studying new particle formation, the uncertainty in determining the "true" nucleation rate is considerably reduced when using condensation particle counters (CPCs) capable of measuring concentrations of aerosol particles at sizes close to or even at the critical cluster size (1–2 nm). Recently, CPCs able to reliably detect particles below 2 nm in size and even close to 1 nm became available. Using these instruments, the corrections needed for calculating nucleation rates are substantially reduced compared to scaling the observed formation rate to the nucleation rate at the critical cluster size. However, this improved instrumentation requires a careful characterization of their cut-off size and the shape of the detection efficiency curve because relatively small shifts in the cut-off size can translate into larger relative errors when measuring particles close to the cut-off size. Here we describe the development of two continuous-flow CPCs using diethylene glycol (DEG) as the working fluid. The design is based on two TSI 3776 counters. Several sets of measurements to characterize their performance at different temperature settings were carried out. Furthermore, two mixing-type particle size magnifiers (PSM) A09 from Airmodus were characterized in parallel. One PSM was operated at the highest mixing ratio (1 L min−1 saturator flow), and the other was operated in a scanning mode, where the mixing ratios are changed periodically, resulting in a range of cut-off sizes. The mixing ratios are determined by varying the saturator flow, where the aerosol flow stays constant at 2.5 L min−1. Different test aerosols were generated using a nano-differential mobility analyser (nano-DMA) or a high-resolution DMA, to obtain detection efficiency curves for all four CPCs. One calibration setup included a high-resolution mass spectrometer (APi-TOF) for the determination of the chemical composition of the generated clusters. The lowest cut-off sizes were achieved with negatively charged ammonium sulfate clusters, resulting in cut-offs of 1.4 nm for the laminar flow CPCs and 1.2 and 1.1 nm for the PSMs. A comparison of one of the laminar-flow CPCs and one of the PSMs measuring ambient and laboratory air showed good agreement between the instruments.
A new experimental approach to study the hygroscopic and the optical properties of aerosols: application to ammonium sulfate particles
Authors: Denjean C. , Formenti P. , Picquet-Varrault B. , Katrib Y. , Pangui E. , Zapf P. , Doussin J. F.
Published: July 2013

Abstract. A new methodology for the determination of size distribution and optical properties of aerosols as a function of the relative humidity (RH) in simulation chamber is described. The hygroscopic properties of aerosols can be investigated by exposing aerosols to varying RH ranging from 0 to 100% for approximately 1 h. This method is also proved useful in both providing information on the RH dependence of size and scattering coefficient (σscat) of the overall size distribution. The complex refractive index (CRI) of aerosols can be retrieved at λ = 525 nm, as well as in the visible spectrum. Ammonium sulfate particles that have well known optical and hygroscopic properties were used for the measurements. The particle's growth was compared to values obtained for one selected size of particles (150 nm) with a H-TDMA and the effect of the residence time for particles humidification was investigated. The CRI of ammonium sulfate particles obtained from the two methods (1.54–1.57) compared favorably to each other and are also in reasonable agreement with the literature values. When the humidification is performed in the chamber for a few minutes, a continuous increase of the ammonium sulfate particle's size and σscat was observed from RH values as low as 30% RH. Comparison of the measured and modeled values based on Köhler and Mie theories shows that layers of water are adsorbed on ammonium sulfate particles below the deliquescence point. In contradiction, the particle's growth reported with H-TDMAs showed a prompt deliquescence of ammonium sulfate particles with no continuous growth in size at low RH. The findings highlight the need to allow sufficient time for particle-water vapor equilibrium in investigating the aerosols hygroscopic properties. H-TDMA instruments induce limited residence time for humidification and seem to be insufficient for water adsorption on ammonium sulfate particles.
The Holocene thermal maximum in the Nordic Seas: the impact of Greenland Ice Sheet melt and other forcings in a coupled atmosphere–sea-ice–ocean model
Authors: Blaschek M. , Renssen H.
Published: July 2013

Abstract. The relatively warm early Holocene climate in the Nordic Seas, known as the Holocene thermal maximum (HTM), is often associated with an orbitally forced summer insolation maximum at 10 ka BP. The spatial and temporal response recorded in proxy data in the North Atlantic and the Nordic Seas reveals a complex interaction of mechanisms active in the HTM. Previous studies have investigated the impact of the Laurentide Ice Sheet (LIS), as a remnant from the previous glacial period, altering climate conditions with a continuous supply of melt water to the Labrador Sea and adjacent seas and with a downwind cooling effect from the remnant LIS. In our present work we extend this approach by investigating the impact of the Greenland Ice Sheet (GIS) on the early Holocene climate and the HTM. Reconstructions suggest melt rates of 13 mSv for 9 ka BP, which result in our model in an ocean surface cooling of up to 2 K near Greenland. Reconstructed summer SST gradients agree best with our simulation including GIS melt, confirming that the impact of the early Holocene GIS is crucial for understanding the HTM characteristics in the Nordic Seas area. This implies that modern and near-future GIS melt can be expected to play an active role in the climate system in the centuries to come.
Mapping current and future European public water withdrawals and consumption
Authors: Vandecasteele I. , Bianchi A. , Batista e Silva F. , Lavalle C. , Batelaan O.
Published: July 2013

Abstract. In Europe, public water withdrawals make up on average 30%, and in some cases up to 60% of total water withdrawals. These withdrawals are becoming increasingly important with growing population density; hence there is a need to understand the spatial and temporal trends involved. Pan-European public/municipal water withdrawals and consumption were mapped for 2006 and forecasted for 2030. Population and tourism density were assumed to be the main driving factors for withdrawals. Country-level statistics on public water withdrawals were disaggregated to a combined population and tourism density map (the "user" density map) computed for 2006. In order to forecast the map to 2030 we assumed the water withdrawals per user to remain constant in time, so that the future withdrawals reflected the projected population and tourism trends. The methodology was validated using actual regional withdrawal statistics from France for 2006. The Total Absolute Error (TAE) calculated was proven to be reduced by taking into account the tourism density in addition to the population density. Our results show that although there are large variations from region to region, in general public water withdrawals will increase significantly over the period 2006 to 2030. The European average increase is 16%, with a maximal increase of 53% in Ireland.
Exploring local risk managers' use of flood hazard maps for risk communication purposes in Baden-Württemberg
Authors: Kjellgren S.
Published: July 2013

Abstract. In response to the EU Floods Directive (2007/60/EC), flood hazard maps are currently produced all over Europe, reflecting a wider shift in focus from "flood protection" to "risk management", for which not only public authorities but also populations at risk are seen as responsible. By providing a visual image of the foreseen consequences of flooding, flood hazard maps can enhance people's knowledge about flood risk, making them more capable of an adequate response. Current literature, however, questions the maps' awareness raising capacity, arguing that their content and design are rarely adjusted to laypeople's needs. This paper wants to complement this perspective with a focus on risk communication by studying how these tools are disseminated and marketed to the public in the first place. Judging from communication theory, simply making hazard maps publicly available is unlikely to lead to attitudinal or behavioral effects, since this typically requires two-way communication and material or symbolic incentives. Consequently, it is relevant to investigate whether and how local risk managers, who are well positioned to interact with the local population, make use of flood hazard maps for risk communication purposes. A qualitative case study of this issue in the German state of Baden-Württemberg suggests that many municipalities lack a clear strategy for using this new information tool for hazard and risk communication. Four barriers in this regard are identified: perceived disinterest/sufficient awareness on behalf of the population at risk; unwillingness to cause worry or distress; lack of skills and resources; and insufficient support. These barriers are important to address – in research as well as in practice – since it is only if flood hazard maps are used to enhance local knowledge resources that they can be expected to contribute to social capacity building.
Valuation of the recreational use of the Calares del Mundo and Sima Natural Park through the Travel Cost Method
Authors: Samos Juárez A. , Bernabéu Cañete R.
Published: July 2013

Aim of study: The purpose of this study is to estimate the economic value of the recreational use of a protected natural area. The importance of the study lies in the justification of these valuations due to the use that society perceives from the environmental benefits of these areas as well as to the valuable information for management for public administrators with the aim of checking the budget that they manage.Area of study: Calares del Mundo and Sima Natural Park (Albacete, Castilla-La Mancha).Material and methods: With the purpose of determining consumer surplus, 410 surveys were made in August, 2009 and the individual travel cost method was used.Main results: The value the visitor conceded for the recreational use of the park was 12.58 € and the annual consumer surplus value added for recreational use reached almost 3.5 million euros.Research highlights: This research emphasizes that the results are along the same lines as those from similar studies carried out in natural areas of Spain as well as in natural areas of other countries.Key words: natural areas; travel cost method; consumer surplus; Castilla-La Mancha.
Review. Assessing uncertainty and risk in forest planning and decision support systems: review of classical methods and introduction of new approaches
Authors: Pasalodos-Tato M. , Mäkinen A. , Garcia-Gonzalo J. , Borges J.G. , Lämås T. , Eriksson L.O.
Published: July 2013

Aim: Since forest planning is characterized by long time horizon and it typically involves large areas of land and numerous stakeholders, uncertainty and risk should play an important role when developing forest management plans. The aim of this study is to review different methods to deal with risk and uncertainty in forest planning, listing problems that forest managers may face during the preparation of management plans and trying to give recommendations in regard to the application of each method according to the problem case. The inclusion of risk and uncertainty in decision support systems is also analyzed.Area: It covers the temporal and spatial scale of forest planning, the spatial context, the participation process, the objectives dimensions and the good and services addressed.Material and methods: Several hundreds of articles dealing with uncertainty and risk were identified regarding different forestry-related topics and approaches. Form them, around 170 articles were further reviewed, categorized and evaluated.Main results: The study presents a thorough review and classification of methods and approaches to consider risk and uncertainty in forest planning. Moreover, new approaches are introduced, showing the opportunities that their application present in forest planning.Research highlights: The study can aid forest managers in the decision making process when designing a forest management plan considering risk and uncertainty.Keywords: operations research; optimal alternative; stochastic risk; endogenous risk; stand level; forest level.
Review. A brief overview of forest management decision support systems (FMDSS) listed in the FORSYS wiki
Authors: Packalen T. , Marques A. , Rasinmäki J. , Rosset C. , Mounir F. , Rodriguez L.C.E. , Nobre S.R.
Published: July 2013

Aim of study. The aim of the study was to overview forest management decision support systems (FMDSS) listed in the FORSYS wiki in terms of software design and architecture.Area of study. A total of 62 FMDSS from 23 countries were included into the study.Material and methods. First, all FMDSS listed in the FORSYS wiki were described in terms of functionalities, typologies and elements of architecture.  Thereafter, the findings were compared with the desired architectural features of FMDSS to identify success or potential gaps. Finally, some measures were suggested to improve knowledge transfer and smooth integration of system components.Main results. Most of the systems listed in the FORSYS wiki originate from research projects and are either knowledge- or model-driven. There are only few compound systems or tools that can be used as sub-components in integrated systems.Research highlights. There is a lack of generic platforms or DSS generators that would facilitate construction of integrated systems. Further efforts are needed to study the potential of cloud services. Keywords: forest management; decision support systems; software architecture; typologies.
In vitro plant regeneration of Albizia lebbeck (L.) from seed explants
Authors: Perveen S. , Anis M. , Aref I.M.
Published: July 2013

Objectives: An efficient and reproducible regeneration protocol for rapid multiplication of Albizia lebbeck (L.) was developed by using intact seed explants.Methods: Murashige and Skoog's (MS) medium supplemented with different hormones (BA, Kn, GA3 and TDZ) was used for the induction of multiple shoots from the seed explants. Ex-vitro rooting was performed by using pulse treatment method in auxins (IBA and NAA) and the complete plantlets were transferred to the field.Results: High frequency direct shoot induction was found in aseptic seed cultures of A. lebbeck on Murashige and Skoog medium supplemented with 5.0 µM TDZ (Thiadiazuron). Seeds were germinated after 7 days of culture and induced maximum 8 shoots from the region adjacent to the apex of the primary shoot of the seedling upto 25 days of incubation. Proliferating shoot cultures with increased shoot length was established by sub-culture of excised sprouting epicotyls on MS medium supplied with reduced concentrations of TDZ. Maximum shoot regeneration frequency (76 %) with  highest number of shoots (21) and shoot length (5.1 cm) per sprouting epicotyl was observed in the MS medium supplemented with 0.5 µM TDZ after 8 weeks of culture. Different concentrations of Indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) and α-naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) were tested to determine the optimal conditions for ex-vitro rooting of the microshoots. The best treatment for maximum ex-vitro root induction frequency (81 %) was accomplished with IBA (250 µM) pulse treatment given to the basal end of the microshoots for 30 min followed by their transfer in plastic cups containing soilrite and eventually established in normal garden soil + soilrite (1:1) with 78 % survival rate. In addition, histological study was undertaken to gain a better understanding of the regenerated shoots from the epicotyl region.Conclusion: The findings will be fruitful in getting a time saving and cost effective protocol for the in vitro propagation of Albizia lebbeck.Keywords: Woody legume; TDZ; multiplication; epicotyl segment; shoot stumps.Abbreviations used: GA3 (Gibberellic acid); BA (6-Benzyladenine); Kn (Kinetin); TDZ (Thidiazuron); MS (Murashige and Skoog Medium); IBA (Indole-3-butyric acid); NAA (α-Naphthalene acetic acid).
A quantitative and molecular examination of Tuber melanosporum mycorrhizae in Quercus ilex seedlings from different suppliers in Spain
Authors: Alvarado P. , Manjon J.L.
Published: July 2013

Aim of study: The aim of the work was to determine the degree of mycorrhization of Quercus ilex L. subsp. ballota (Desf.) Samp. by the black truffle fungus T. melanosporum Vittad. by quantitative and molecular analyses.Area of study: seedlings inoculated by different Spanish suppliers.Material and methods: The internal transcribed spacers (ITS) of mycorrhizae from different plants were amplified by nested PCR involving fluorescently-labelled primers, and the amplicons either directly sized by ARISA or analysed by TRFLP following their digestion with restriction endonucleases. TRFLP analysis distinguished between mycorrhizae of T. melanosporum, T. indicum Cooke & Massee and T. borchii Vittad., as suggested possible by virtual (in silico) TRFLP analysis and real TRFLP analysis of the ascomata of these species.Main results: Significant differences between suppliers were detected in terms of the mean number of mycorrhizae established per plant and percentage mycorrhization. These results allowed the following quality standards for 2 year-old plants to be proposed: a) good quality: >3000 mycorrhizae/plant, >40% mycorrhization, b) medium (acceptable): >3000 mycorrhizae/plant, >30% mycorrhization, c) low quality: <3000 mycorrhizae/plant or <30% mycorrhization, always supposing the mycorrhizae counted represent the species of interest as confirmed by the presence of its DNA and the absence of DNA belonging to contaminating species. Finally, a new microsatellite allelic map obtained from the analysis of several T. melanosporum populations across Spain was used to provide a tool capable of determining the geographic origin of the fungi used to inoculate plants.Research highlights: The proposed quality standards can be useful for the evaluation and certification of commercialized Q. ilex plants mycorrhized with T. melanosporum.Keywords: mycorrhiza; certification; truffle; TRFLP; fungi.
A decision support system for a multi stakeholder’s decision process in a Portuguese National Forest
Authors: Garcia-Gonzalo J. , Palma J. , Freire J. , Tomé M. , Mateus R. , Rodriguez L.C.E. , Bushenkov V. , Borges J.G.
Published: July 2013

Aim of study: In this paper, we present a decision support system (DSS) to support decision making where different stakeholders have to generate landscape and forest level strategic plans. We further present an interactive approach that may take advantage of a posteriori preference modelling (i.e. Pareto frontier technique) to facilitate the specification of the levels of achievement of various objectives.Area of study: The approach was applied to one planning cycle of a real world study case, the Leiria National Forest in Portugal. The Leiria National Forest, a managed area of approximately eleven thousand hectares in which 8,679 hectares are even aged stands of maritime pine (Pinus pinaster Ait) aimed at the production of wood.Material and methods: The interactive approach, at first, tries to generate Pareto efficient frontiers for different objectives. Then, multiple decision makers are involved in the process to seek an agreement towards the definition of a consensual strategic plan.Main results: The system developed in this article integrates an information management subsystem, a module to generate alternative management regimes, growth model routines and a decision module that generates and solves mathematical formulations. It also provides a module to display reports and view the resulting solutions (management plans). We also build the Pareto frontier for different criteria. The results show that the proposed DSS can help solve strategic planning problems subject to sustainable management constraints where people organize themselves and participate jointly to manage their natural resources.Research highlights: The interactive approach facilitates the involvement of multiple stakeholders in the decision making process.Keywords: decision support system; participatory planning; linear programming; mixed integer goal programming; sustainable forest management.
Characterization of wildland-urban interfaces for fire prevention in the province of Valencia (Spain)
Authors: Madrigal Olmo J. , Ruiz J.A. , Planelles R. , Hernando C.
Published: July 2013

Aim of study. The present study is the first attempt to characterize and map wildland-urban interfaces (WUIs) in eastern Spain (province of Valencia) and its relationship with wildfire occurrence. Area of study. The study area is located in eastern Spain in the province of Valencia. The area covers 246,426 ha and includes four administrative departments comprising 86 municipalities.Material and methods. The methodology integrates housing density and vegetation aggregation for large-scale fire prevention using the WUImap ® ARC GIS tool. A PLS model was developed to relate wildfire occurrence and WUI typologies.Main results. The results show that 21% of housing can be considered as WUIs, highlighting the high degree of fire hazard in the study area. The PLS model shows that the 4 typologies outside of WUI present lower significance than most of WUI typologies. The types of WUI most related to fire occurrence (Number of Fires and Area Burned) are Insolated and Scattered housing with Low or High vegetation aggregation. The type Insolated housing with low aggregation presents the highest significance to explain wildfire occurrence.Research highlights: A significant relationship between wildfire occurrence the study area and WUI has been demonstrated. The obtained results verify the ability of WUImap tool in classifying large-scale administrative departments and its suitability for application to prioritize preventive actions in the Mediterranean areasKey words: Housing density; PLS (Partial Least Squares) model; vegetation aggregation; WUImap.
Herding, Information Cascades and Volatility Spillovers in Futures Markets
Authors: McAleer Michael , Radalj Kim
Published: July 2013

Economists and financial analysts have begun to recognise the importance of the actions of other agents in the decision-making process. Herding is the deliberate mimicking of the decisions of other agents. Examples of mimicry range from the choice of restaurant, fashion and financial market participants, to academic research. Herding may conjure negative images of irrational agents sheepishly following the actions of others, but such actions can be rational under asymmetric information and uncertainty. This paper uses futures position data in nine different markets of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) to provide a direct test of herding behaviour, namely the extent to which small traders mimic the positions of large speculators. Evidence consistent with herding among small traders is found for the Canadian dollar, British pound, gold, S&P 500 and Nikkei 225 futures. Consistent with survey-based results on technical analysis, the positions are significantly correlated with both current and past market returns. Using various time-varying volatility models to accommodate conditional heteroskedasticity, the empirical results are found to be robust to alternative models and methods of estimation. When a test of causality-in-variance is used to analyse if volatility among small traders spills over into spot markets, it is found that spillovers occur only with Nikkei 225 futures. The policy implications of the findings are also discussed.
Interdisciplinarité et renouvellement de l’anthropologie africaniste
Authors: de Sardan Jean-Pierre Olivier
Published: July 2013

L’anthropologie a un atout majeur, sa méthode empirique (l’enquête de terrain prolongée), mais elle est parfois trop prisonnière de son passé exotique et primitiviste, et trop encline à un repli identitaire disciplinaire. C’est le cas en particulier de l’anthropologie africaniste qui doit renouveler profondément ses objets comme ses concepts. Elle doit aussi mieux prendre en considération la contribution de la production de connaissances à des entreprises de réformes, et s’intéresser à des enjeux non seulement intellectuels mais aussi sociaux. Pour ce faire, l’emprunt et le bricolage à partir des autres disciplines constituent une ressource importante. Le domaine de la santé illustre bien ces arguments. La santé publique permet à l’anthropologie de construire de nouveaux thèmes de recherche, et fournit des liens possibles avec l’action. Par contre, la production de concepts innovants à visée d’interprétation empirique implique le recours à d’autres disciplines.
Observation participante et comparaison
Authors: Hilgers Mathieu
Published: July 2013

La nécessité de produire et d’interpréter un matériau empirique en phase avec l’expérience donne à l’observation participante une importance et un rôle qui dépassent de loin les limites disciplinaires. Pourtant, en raison de son caractère particulier, la validité des résultats issus de cette méthode apparaît souvent limitée et, un jour ou l’autre, la plupart des anthropologues se confrontent à une série de questions identiques. Comment opérer un passage du singulier au général ? Comment amplifier la portée des données produites par l’observation participante ? Comment faciliter l’appropriation des résultats qu’elle permet de produire et qui vont au-delà du seul intérêt des anthropologues ? Pour éviter la critique de l’hyperparticularisme, « un anthropologue, un village, une culture », ce texte propose d’allier observation participante et comparaison et développe une série d’outils pour faciliter cette conciliation.
À travers les dénominations des rues et des quartiers de la ville de Douala
Authors: Amougou Mbarga Alphonse Bernard
Published: July 2013

Les représentations sociales de l’espace urbain font l’objet d’une interprétation et d’une réappropriation par les populations par-delà les dénominations officielles des autorités publiques. Cet article se donne pour objectif de rendre compte de la manière avec laquelle les espaces publics sont occupés, contestés et transformés par les « citadins » dans une perspective de subversion de la ville. Le discours sur les noms des rues et quartiers permet d’avoir accès à un ensemble de propos dont le sujet dépasse la matérialité de la ville. Saisir dans un contexte donné les systèmes de valeurs, les représentations, discours et symboles donne aux groupes populaires une conscience de leur identité et de leur force. Ces recompositions des ordres urbains prenant place dans la quotidienneté subvertissent les logiques gestionnaires et politiques. La ville n’est pas seulement une masse démographique ou un espace densément bâti ; elle correspond à des rapports spécifiques que « les citadins » entretiennent entre eux et avec leur espace de vie. La sémiotique populaire offre ainsi un regard sur les pratiques sociales et les effets de recomposition de la ville de Douala déterminant son ancrage ambivalent dans la modernité et dans la manière de lire l’action politique.
Developing Trainee Translators’ Strategic Subcompetence Through Metacognitive Questionnaires
Authors: Fernández Francesc , Zabalbeascoa Patrick
Published: July 2013

This paper presents a case study carried out in a two-part German-Spanish general translation course. It results from a pedagogical intervention aimed at helping first-year translation students to develop their strategic subcompetence through metacognitive questionnaires. It focuses on a single function of this subcompetence, the evaluation of trainees’ translating, which was carried out by using post-translation metacognitive questionnaires. These were meant for trainees to reflect on certain aspects of their translating. The most relevant ones were the identification of translation problems and the justification of their solutions. Both aspects were addressed by a twofold question aimed at helping students to identify adequately-solved problems and to justify their solutions. An analysis of students’ answers to this question reveals that the most frequently identified items were strategically relevant problems to do with general conventions of style and genre-specific expressions. Solutions to these problems were also the most frequently justified, and references to successfully applied translation strategies increased from one part of the course to the other as a trace of gradually developing strategic subcompetence.
The Good Guys and the Bad Guys: The Behavior of Lenient and Demanding Translation Evaluators
Authors: Conde Tomás
Published: July 2013

The behavior of demanding and lenient evaluators is analyzed and discussed. Little is known about the process of translation evaluation, specifically on how different types of evaluators perform. The 88 subjects of this study were classified as demanding or lenient on the basis of the average quality judgments they made on 48 translated texts. Their profiles were outlined according to a series of parameters and categories starting from the observation of their products, i.e., the evaluated texts. Lenient evaluators carried out more actions on the text, were fairly product-oriented, showed a fairly steady performance, seemed to be more confident, and were probably more committed to the evaluation assignment they were given in this research. Demanding evaluators intervened less, were usually feedback-oriented, preferred to carry out actions in certain segments and text parts, expressed less certainty, and were possibly more aware of the particular circumstances surrounding the experiment. While demanding evaluators appear better suited for professional environments and advanced level teaching, lenient evaluators seem more suited to research and teaching at initial stages. The present work might pave the way for further research into evaluative profiles.
Problems and Strategies in Consecutive Interpreting: A Pilot Study at Two Different Stages of Interpreter Training
Authors: Arumí Ribas Marta
Published: July 2013

This article is a contribution to the study of strategic competence in interpreting. After a brief overview of the main contributions dealing with the concept of strategies and problems in interpreting, the article presents a pilot study which analyses the interpreting problems encountered by two groups of students at two different stages of training and the strategies they apply. It details and classifies the strategies used to resolve the difficulties and assesses the students’ perception as to whether and how they have successfully completed the task. A number of commonalities and differences between the two groups have been observed. In the conclusions, it is stated that the more we learn about how the processes involved in interpreting are acquired and developed, the more successful we shall be in establishing a basis on which to design training parameters that address the strategic competence and the reflective practice.
Mathematical Analysis of the Flow of Hyaluronic Acid Around Fascia During Manual Therapy Motions
Authors: Roman Max , Chaudhry Hans , Bukiet Bruce , Stecco Antonio , Findley Thomas W.
Published: July 2013

Context: More research is needed to understand the flow characteristics of hyaluronic acid (HA) during motions used in osteopathic manipulative treatment and other manual therapies.

Objective: To apply a 3-dimensional mathematical model to explore the relationship between the 3 manual therapy motions (constant sliding, perpendicular vibration, and tangential oscillation) and the flow characteristics of HA below the fascial layer.

Methods: The Squeeze Film Lubrication theory of fluid mechanics for flow between 2 plates was used, as well as the Navier-Stokes equations.

Results: The fluid pressure of HA increased substantially as fascia was deformed during manual therapies. There was a higher rate of pressure during tangential oscillation and perpendicular vibration than during constant sliding. This variation of pressure caused HA to flow near the edges of the fascial area under manipulation, and this flow resulted in greater lubrication. The pressure generated in the fluid between the muscle and the fascia during osteopathic manipulative treatment causes the fluid gap to increase. Consequently, the thickness between 2 fascial layers increases as well. Thus, the presence of a thicker fluid gap can improve the sliding system and permit the muscles to work more efficiently.

Conclusion: The mathematical model employed by the authors suggests that inclusion of perpendicular vibration and tangential oscillation may increase the action of the treatment in the extracellular matrix, providing additional benefits in manual therapies that currently use only constant sliding motions.
Coupling between Transport and Injection Properties of Pentacene Field-Effect Transistors with Different Morphologies
Authors: Lee Keanchuan , Weis Martin , Taguchi Dai , Manaka Takaaki , Iwamoto Mitsumasa
Published: July 2013

We investigated the injection and transport properties of pentacene organic field-effect transistors (OFETs) with inclined and lamellar pentacene grains at various mutual ratios. Although the threshold voltage was conserved and no additional trapping on grain boundaries was suggested from the current–voltage measurements, the contact resistance and mobility increased linearly with the lamellar phase content. We showed that a model based on the coupling between both transport and injection properties via a space charge field caused by injected and trapped carriers accounts for these results.
Visualization of Charge Injection Processes in Polydiacetylene Thin Film Grains by Dual-Probe Atomic Force Microscopy
Authors: Hirose Masaharu , Tsunemi Eika , Kobayashi Kei , Yamada Hirofumi
Published: July 2013

We have recently developed a dual-probe atomic force microscopy (DP-AFM) system having two AFM cantilever probes whose positions can be independently controlled with a precision on the order of ten nanometers. In this study, we visualized charge injection processes in polydiacetylene thin film grains using the DP-AFM system. One of the two probes was used to apply bias voltages to the grains while the other probe was used to obtain surface potential images of the grains. The surface potential of the polymerized grain changed according to the applied bias voltages. The potential profiles at the edge of the grain were not sharp when negative voltages were applied to the grain, which suggests the existence of an electron injection barrier at the interface. Moreover, it is suggested from the same experiment conducted in vacuum that the p-type semiconductor characteristics of the polydiacetylene is due to the O2hole doping.
World Health Organization‐defined classification of myeloproliferative neoplasms: Morphological reproducibility and clinical correlations—The Danish experience
Authors: Madelung Ann Brinch , Bondo Henrik , Stamp Inger , Loevgreen Preben , Nielsen Signe Ledou , Falensteen Anne , Knudsen Helle , Ehinger Mats , Dahl‐Sørensen Rasmus , Mortensen Nana Brochmann , Svendsen Kira Dynnes , Lange Theis , Ralfkiaer Elisabeth , Nielsen Karsten , Hasselbalch Hans Carl , Thiele Jürgen
Published: July 2013

We examined inter‐ and intraobserver reproducibility and concordance between histological diagnosis and independently collected clinical findings in a large series of patients with the major subtypes of myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) and controls. Seven hematopathologists reviewed 272 bone marrow biopsies including 43 controls. Diagnoses were determined according to the 2008 criteria of the World Health Organization (WHO). The participants were blinded to all clinical data except patient age. After initial evaluation all hematopathologists participated in a 3‐day meeting with a leading clinician chaired by an expert hematopathologists. In cases with lack of consensus on fiber grading (n = 57), a new evaluation was performed. In cases with discordance on morphological diagnosis (n = 129), an additional nonblinded evaluation taking clinical data into consideration was carried out. For remaining cases with a lack of concordance between morphological diagnosis and clinical diagnosis (n = 33), a similar nonblinded evaluation was performed. Consensus on final histological diagnosis and concordance with clinical diagnosis were determined. Blinded histological evaluation resulted in a 53% consensus rate. After re‐evaluation of fiber content, consensus was reached in 60% of cases. Adding clinical data increased the histological consensus to 83%. For cases with a histological consensus, we found a concordance of 71% with the clinician's diagnoses. This is the first study to present a larger cohort of MPN patients mimicking the diagnostic challenges that hematopathologists face in their daily practice. The results support the postulates of the WHO that both morphological and clinical findings are essential for a valid diagnosis Am. J. Hematol. 88:1012–1016, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.