bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Smarandache N-subalgebras(resp. filters) of CI-algebras
Authors: Rezaei Akbar , Saeid Arsham Borumand
Published: March 2015

In this paper, we introduce the notions of N- subalgebras and N-filters based on Smarandache CI-algebra and give a number of their properties. The relationship between N(Q; f)-subalgebras(filters) and N-subalgebras(filters) are also in- vestigated
Rate and direction of changes in tree species composition of natural stands in selected forest associations in the Białowieża Forest
Authors: Paluch Rafał
Published: March 2015

The main aim of the study was to determine changes in the species composition and structure of natural tree stands in the Białowieża Forest (BF), which occurred in the years 1975-2012, as well as to evaluate their trends, directions and rate. The study was carried out on 121 permanent research plots (50 × 50 m), which represented the most important forest phytocenoses in BF, i.e. fresh pine-whortleberry forest Vaccinio vitisidaeae- Pinetum Sokoł. 1980, fresh mixed spruce-reed grass forest Calamagrostio-Piceetum Sokoł. 1968, oligotrophic form of hornbeam - bastard balm forest Melitti-Carpinetum Sokoł. 1976, different forms of lindenhornbeam forest: Tilio-Carpinetum Tracz. 1962, alder-ash forest Fraxino-Alnetum W. Mat. 1952 and sub-boreal spruce forest on bog moss Sphagno girgenshonii-Piceetum Polak. 1962. On the plots selected, there was measured the diameter at breast height (DBH) of all trees, as well as every tree and shrub up to 1.3 m high was counted and described with reference to species. The measurements and observations were regularly repeated every 10-15 years. The results showed that over the last period of nearly 40 years, there has increased a share of common hornbeam Carpinus betulus L. in the structure of forest stands in numerous BF associations. This tree species has expanded into different forest habitats including poor, medium fertile and wetland sites. The results obtained indicate a trend towards formation of linden-hornbeam forests in BF phytocenoses. The most evident changes were recorded in hornbeam - bastard balm forest. In natural conditions of the majority of forest associations analysed, there prevailed hornbeam trees in forest regeneration, except for the stands in fresh mixed pine forest and spruce forest on bog moss. In the latter two cases, hornbeam showed signs of its presence in the last observation period. Norway spruce (Picea abies L.) retreated into oligotrophic forest associations. In the recent decades, spruce populations have been dramatically reduced in the stands in mixed coniferous and different kinds of broadleaved forests. There have also decreased a share of light-demanding tree species, such as Scots pine (Pinus silvestris L.), pedunculate oak (Quercus robur L.) and silver birch (Betula pendula L.) in BF tree stands, including their regeneration-layer. Especially, Scots pine regeneration has not been successful. In the short period of time (about 15 years) there has been observed rapid and outsized reduction of ash Fraxinus excelsior L. populations in natural conditions of alder-ash forests. All through the last 10-15 years, there has been also observed increased rate of change in stand species composition. The trend and rate of change in stand species composition point out to a possibility of human intervention towards stimulation of natural regeneration so as to preserve valuable populations of threatened tree species in the Białowieża Forest.
Toward a broader conceptualization of trans women's sexual health
Authors: Bauer Greta R. , Hammond Rebecca
Published: March 2015

Research on the sexual health of trans women (male-to-female spectrum transgender people), has focused primarily on sexual response and satisfaction after initiating hormone treatment or undergoing genital surgery, or on HIV-related sexual risk among trans women sexually active with cisgender (cis, i.e., non-trans) men. Given that these situations are not representative of the majority of trans women at most points in the lifecourse, a broader discussion is needed to provide sex educators, therapists, clinicians, and researchers, as well as trans women and their partners, with information needed to promote sexual health. Drawing on the theoretical constructs of cisnormativity and cissexism, as well as previously published and new data from Trans PULSE, a community-based study of trans health in Ontario, we discuss the social context and sexual realities of trans women's lives.
Intellectual Change before the Enlightenment: Scotland, the Netherlands and the Reception of Cartesian Thought, 1650–1700
Authors: Raffe Alasdair
Published: March 2015

This article argues that intellectual historians' fascination with a narrative of the emerging Scottish enlightenment has led to a neglect of ideas that did not shape enlightenment culture. As a contribution to a less teleological intellectual history of Scotland, the article examines the reception of the philosophy of René Descartes (1596–1650). Cartesian thought enjoyed a brief period of popularity from the 1670s to the 1690s but appeared outdated by the mid-eighteenth century. Debates about Cartesianism illustrate the ways in which late seventeenth-century Scottish intellectual life was conditioned by the rivalry between presbyterians and episcopalians, and by fears that new philosophy would undermine christianity. Moreover, the reception of Cartesian thought exemplifies intellectual connections between Scotland and the Netherlands. Not only did Descartes' philosophy win its first supporters in the United Provinces, but the Dutch Republic also provided the arguments employed by the main Scottish critics of Cartesianism. In this period the Netherlands was both a source of philosophical innovation and of conservative reaction to intellectual change.
Homicide in Eighteenth-Century Scotland: Numbers and Theories
Authors: Knox W.W.J. , Thomas L.
Published: March 2015

The purpose of this article is to address the lacuna in our knowledge of the extent of interpersonal violence in eighteenth-century Scotland, with particular reference to homicide, and in doing so use these findings to examine the theoretical and empirical issues that have dominated historical discourse regarding this phenomenon over the last few decades. Essentially, it seeks to challenge widely held explanations for the alleged long-term decline in homicide, arguing that incidences of murder in the eighteenth century were affected more by political tensions and socio-economic dislocation than by cultural changes in taste and manners. It also criticises the methodological weaknesses evident in longitudinal studies of homicide and tries to resolve them in two ways: firstly, by adjusting the homicide rate to take account of the rises and falls in population in the period 1700–1799; and, secondly, by providing national data rather than relying on extrapolating national trends from local or regional studies. Finally, it is argued that the main assumptions of historians working in the field of homicide studies are in the light of evidence for Scotland in need of revision as data from there provide little support for a linear fall in the level of homicides, or a link with shifts in sentiment and/or taste as put forward by those influenced by the civilising theories of Norbert Elias.
Drought Forecasting Using Stochastic Models in a Hyper-Arid Climate
Authors: Mossad Amr , Alazba Abdulrahman
Published: March 2015

Drought forecasting plays a crucial role in drought mitigation actions. Thus, this research deals with linear stochastic models (autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA)) as a suitable tool to forecast drought. Several ARIMA models are developed for drought forecasting using the Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI) in a hyper-arid climate. The results reveal that all developed ARIMA models demonstrate the potential ability to forecast drought over different time scales. In these models, the p, d, q, P, D and Q values are quite similar for the same SPEI time scale. This is in correspondence with autoregressive (AR) and moving average (MA) parameter estimate values, which are also similar. Therefore, the ARIMA model (1, 1, 0) (2, 0, 1) could be considered as a general model for the Al Qassim region. Meanwhile, the ARIMA model (1, 0, 3) (0, 0, 0) at 3-SPEI and the ARIMA model (1, 1, 1) (2, 0, 1) at 24-SPEI could be generalized for the Hail region. The ARIMA models at the 24-SPEI time scale is the best forecasting models with high R2 (more than 0.9) and lower values of RMSE and MAE, while they are the least forecasting at the 3-SPEI time scale. Accordingly, this study recommends that ARIMA models can be very useful tools for drought forecasting that can help water resource managers and planners to take precautions considering the severity of drought in advance.
Seeking a Mechanism for the Toxicity of Oligomeric α-Synuclein
Authors: Roberts Hazel , Brown David
Published: March 2015

In a number of neurological diseases including Parkinson’s disease (PD), α‑synuclein is aberrantly folded, forming abnormal oligomers, and amyloid fibrils within nerve cells. Strong evidence exists for the toxicity of increased production and aggregation of α-synuclein in vivo. The toxicity of α-synuclein is popularly attributed to the formation of “toxic oligomers”: a heterogenous and poorly characterized group of conformers that may share common molecular features. This review presents the available evidence on the properties of α-synuclein oligomers and the potential molecular mechanisms of their cellular disruption. Toxic α-synuclein oligomers may impact cells in a number of ways, including the disruption of membranes, mitochondrial depolarization, cytoskeleton changes, impairment of protein clearance pathways, and enhanced oxidative stress. We also examine the relationship between α-synuclein toxic oligomers and amyloid fibrils, in the light of recent studies that paint a more complex picture of α-synuclein toxicity. Finally, methods of studying and manipulating oligomers within cells are described.
Glioblastoma: Molecular Pathways, Stem Cells and Therapeutic Targets
Authors: Jhanwar-Uniyal Meena , Labagnara Michael , Friedman Marissa , Kwasnicki Amanda , Murali Raj
Published: March 2015

Glioblastoma (GBM), a WHO-defined Grade IV astrocytoma, is the most common and aggressive CNS malignancy. Despite current treatment modalities, the survival time remains dismal. The main cause of mortality in patients with this disease is reoccurrence of the malignancy, which is attributed to treatment-resistant cancer stem cells within and surrounding the primary tumor. Inclusion of novel therapies, such as immuno- and DNA-based therapy, may provide better means of treating GBM. Furthermore, manipulation of recently discovered non-coding microRNAs, some of which regulate tumor growth through the development and maintenance of GBM stem cells, could provide new prospective therapies. Studies conducted by The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) also demonstrate the role of molecular pathways, specifically the activated PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway, in GBM tumorigenesis. Inhibition of the aforementioned pathway may provide a more direct and targeted method to GBM treatment. The combination of these treatment modalities may provide an innovative therapeutic approach for the management of GBM.
cMET in NSCLC: Can We Cut off the Head of the Hydra? From the Pathway to the Resistance
Authors: Van Der Steen Nele , Pauwels Patrick , Gil-Bazo Ignacio , Castañon Eduardo , Raez Luis , Cappuzzo Federico , Rolfo Christian
Published: March 2015

In the last decade, the tyrosine kinase receptor cMET, together with its ligand hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), has become a target in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Signalization via cMET stimulates several oncological processes amongst which are cell motility, invasion and metastasis. It also confers resistance against several currently used targeted therapies, e.g., epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitors. In this review, we will discuss the basic structure of cMET and the most important signaling pathways. We will also look into aberrations in the signaling and the effects thereof in cancer growth, with the focus on NSCLC. Finally, we will discuss the role of cMET as resistance mechanism.
Assessment of Hydrogeochemistry and Environmental Isotopes in Karst Springs of Makook Anticline, Kurdistan Region, Iraq
Authors: Mustafa Omed , Merkel Broder , Weise Stephan
Published: March 2015

Karst springs of the Makook anticline were investigated to get more insight into the hydrogeologic, hydraulic, and hydrodynamic behavior of this complex karst system. Eight springs were studied in terms of hydrogeochemical constituents as well as δ18O and δ2H during September 2011 to November 2012. For the first time, the local meteoric water line was plotted for the area based on precipitation data from the period November 2011 to April 2012. The regional meteoric line plots between the global and Mediterranean meteoric water lines. The majority of the spring samples plot between the local and Mediterranean meteoric water lines implying influences by Mediterranean air masses, rapid infiltration of rainfall through the karst system and a short residence time (shallow karst aquifers). The correlation of d-excess and saturation index of halite was used to evaluate the evaporation process in karst waters of the area. The temporal variation in isotopic composition of karst springs was observed making it possible to distinguish between different origins for springs and indicate a possible connection between the aquifers and depending on this, the karst system can be classified into three aquifers: Behkme aquifer, Kometan aquifer, and Shiranish aquifer.
Limitations and Extensions of the Lock-and-Key Principle: Differences between Gas State, Solution and Solid State Structures
Authors: Schneider Hans-Jörg
Published: March 2015

The lock-and-key concept is discussed with respect to necessary extensions. Formation of supramolecular complexes depends not only, and often not even primarily on an optimal geometric fit between host and guest. Induced fit and allosteric interactions have long been known as important modifications. Different binding mechanisms, the medium used and pH effects can exert a major influence on the affinity. Stereoelectronic effects due to lone pair orientation can lead to variation of binding constants by orders of magnitude. Hydrophobic interactions due to high-energy water inside cavities modify the mechanical lock-and-key picture. That optimal affinities are observed if the cavity is only partially filled by the ligand can be in conflict with the lock-and-key principle. In crystals other forces than those between host and guest often dominate, leading to differences between solid state and solution structures. This is exemplified in particular with calixarene complexes, which by X-ray analysis more often than other hosts show guest molecules outside their cavity. In view of this the particular problems with the identification of weak interactions in crystals is discussed.
Nano SiO2 and MgO Improve the Properties of Porous β-TCP Scaffolds via Advanced Manufacturing Technology
Authors: Gao Chengde , Wei Pingpin , Feng Pei , Xiao Tao , Shuai Cijun , Peng Shuping
Published: March 2015

Nano SiO2 and MgO particles were incorporated into β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) scaffolds to improve the mechanical and biological properties. The porous cylindrical β-TCP scaffolds doped with 0.5 wt % SiO2, 1.0 wt % MgO, 0.5 wt % SiO2 + 1.0 wt % MgO were fabricated via selective laser sintering respectively and undoped β-TCP scaffold was also prepared as control. The phase composition and mechanical strength of the scaffolds were evaluated. X-ray diffraction analysis indicated that the phase transformation from β-TCP to α-TCP was inhibited after the addition of MgO. The compressive strength of scaffold was improved from 3.12 ± 0.36 MPa (β-TCP) to 5.74 ± 0.62 MPa (β-TCP/SiO2), 9.02 ± 0.55 MPa (β-TCP/MgO) and 10.43 ± 0.28 MPa (β-TCP/SiO2/MgO), respectively. The weight loss and apatite-forming ability of the scaffolds were evaluated by soaking them in simulated body fluid. The results demonstrated that both SiO2 and MgO dopings slowed down the degradation rate and improved the bioactivity of β-TCP scaffolds. In vitro cell culture studies indicated that SiO2 and MgO dopings facilitated cell attachment and proliferation. Combined addition of SiO2 and MgO were found optimal in enhancing both the mechanical and biological properties of β-TCP scaffold.
Engineering Protocells: Prospects for Self-Assembly and Nanoscale Production-Lines
Authors: Miller David , Gulbis Jacqueline
Published: March 2015

The increasing ease of producing nucleic acids and proteins to specification offers potential for design and fabrication of artificial synthetic “organisms” with a myriad of possible capabilities. The prospects for these synthetic organisms are significant, with potential applications in diverse fields including synthesis of pharmaceuticals, sources of renewable fuel and environmental cleanup. Until now, artificial cell technology has been largely restricted to the modification and metabolic engineering of living unicellular organisms. This review discusses emerging possibilities for developing synthetic protocell “machines” assembled entirely from individual biological components. We describe a host of recent technological advances that could potentially be harnessed in design and construction of synthetic protocells, some of which have already been utilized toward these ends. More elaborate designs include options for building self-assembling machines by incorporating cellular transport and assembly machinery. We also discuss production in miniature, using microfluidic production lines. While there are still many unknowns in the design, engineering and optimization of protocells, current technologies are now tantalizingly close to the capabilities required to build the first prototype protocells with potential real-world applications.
Lightweight Concrete Produced Using a Two-Stage Casting Process
Authors: Yoon Jin , Kim Jae , Hwang Yoon , Shin Dong
Published: March 2015

The type of lightweight aggregate and its volume fraction in a mix determine the density of lightweight concrete. Minimizing the density obviously requires a higher volume fraction, but this usually causes aggregates segregation in a conventional mixing process. This paper proposes a two-stage casting process to produce a lightweight concrete. This process involves placing lightweight aggregates in a frame and then filling in the remaining interstitial voids with cementitious grout. The casting process results in the lowest density of lightweight concrete, which consequently has low compressive strength. The irregularly shaped aggregates compensate for the weak point in terms of strength while the round-shape aggregates provide a strength of 20 MPa. Therefore, the proposed casting process can be applied for manufacturing non-structural elements and structural composites requiring a very low density and a strength of at most 20 MPa.
Fabrication and Cell Responsive Behavior of Macroporous PLLA/Gelatin Composite Scaffold with Hierarchical Micro-Nano Pore Structure
Authors: Song Kedong , Ji Lili , Zhang Jingying , Wang Hai , Jiao Zeren , Mayasari Lim , Fu Xiaoyan , Liu Tianqing
Published: March 2015

Scaffolds providing a 3D environment which can effectively promote the adhesion, proliferation and differentiation of cells are crucial to tissue regeneration. In this study, the poly-l-lactic acid (PLLA) scaffold with hierarchical pore structural was fabricated via two-step thermally induced phase separation (TIPS). To mimic both physical architecture and chemical composite of natural bone extracellular matrix (ECM), gelatin fibers were introduced into the pores of PLLA scaffolds and formed 3D network structure via TIPS. Human adipose tissue-derived stem cells (ADSCs) were harvested and seeded into PLLA/gel hybrid scaffolds and cultured in vitro for biocompatibility assay. The surface morphology, porosity and compressive modulus of scaffolds were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), density analysis and compression test respectively. The results showed that hybrid scaffolds had high porosity (91.62%), a good compressive modulus (2.79 ± 0.20 MPa), nanometer fibers (diameter around 186.39~354.30 nm) and different grades of pore size from 7.41 ± 2.64 nm to 387.94 ± 102.48 nm. The scaffolds with mild hydrolysis by NaOH were modified by 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethyl ami-nopropyl) carbodiimide/N-hydroxysuccinimide (EDC/NHS). Gelatin was performed onto PLLA scaffold via TIPS aiming at enhancement cell-material interaction. In comparison with PLLA scaffold, the PLLA/gel scaffold had better biological performance and the mechanical properties because the gelatin fibers homogeneously distributed in each pore of PLLA scaffold and formed 3D network structure.
English Writing for International Publication in the Age of Globalization: Practices and Perceptions of Mainland Chinese Academics in the Humanities and Social Sciences
Authors: Ge Meng
Published: March 2015

Much scholarly attention has been given to the English writing and publishing practices of the academics in non-Anglophone countries, but studies on such practices in the humanities and social sciences (HSS) have in general been limited. The case of Mainland Chinese HSS academics is potentially interesting. On the one hand, international publications in these disciplines have been on the increase, which are also encouraged by the national research policy of “going-out”. On the other hand, unlike those in science and technology (S&T), such practices in the HSS are still much less institutionalized at the local level. In the study reported in this article, semi-structured interviews were conducted with nine academics in economics, sociology and archaeology from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), and all nine participants had prior experience in international publishing. With a focus on participants’ experiences and perceptions, findings from this study demonstrated the relatively passive role participants played in their international publications, the importance of various resources in bringing forth these publications, and the relations between participants’ alignments with the local or international community and their voluntary investment in participating in their practices. Implications of the study were also discussed.
Integration of GPS Precise Point Positioning and MEMS-Based INS Using Unscented Particle Filter
Authors: Rabbou Mahmoud , El-Rabbany Ahmed
Published: March 2015

Integration of Global Positioning System (GPS) and Inertial Navigation System (INS) integrated system involves nonlinear motion state and measurement models. However, the extended Kalman filter (EKF) is commonly used as the estimation filter, which might lead to solution divergence. This is usually encountered during GPS outages, when low-cost micro-electro-mechanical sensors (MEMS) inertial sensors are used. To enhance the navigation system performance, alternatives to the standard EKF should be considered. Particle filtering (PF) is commonly considered as a nonlinear estimation technique to accommodate severe MEMS inertial sensor biases and noise behavior. However, the computation burden of PF limits its use. In this study, an improved version of PF, the unscented particle filter (UPF), is utilized, which combines the unscented Kalman filter (UKF) and PF for the integration of GPS precise point positioning and MEMS-based inertial systems. The proposed filter is examined and compared with traditional estimation filters, namely EKF, UKF and PF. Tightly coupled mechanization is adopted, which is developed in the raw GPS and INS measurement domain. Un-differenced ionosphere-free linear combinations of pseudorange and carrier-phase measurements are used for PPP. The performance of the UPF is analyzed using a real test scenario in downtown Kingston, Ontario. It is shown that the use of UPF reduces the number of samples needed to produce an accurate solution, in comparison with the traditional PF, which in turn reduces the processing time. In addition, UPF enhances the positioning accuracy by up to 15% during GPS outages, in comparison with EKF. However, all filters produce comparable results when the GPS measurement updates are available.
An Analytical Model for Squeeze-Film Damping of Perforated Torsional Microplates Resonators
Authors: Li Pu , Fang Yuming
Published: March 2015

Squeeze-film damping plays a significant role in the performance of micro-resonators because it determines their quality factors. Perforations in microstructures are often used to control the squeeze-film damping in micro-resonators. To model the perforation effects on the squeeze-film damping, many analytical models have been proposed, however, most of the previous models have been concerned with the squeeze-film damping due to the normal motion between the perforated vibrating plate and a fixed substrate, while there is a lack of works that model the squeeze-film damping of perforated torsion microplates, which are also widely used in MEMS devices. This paper presents an analytical model for the squeeze-film damping of perforated torsion microplates. The derivation in this paper is based on a modified Reynolds equation that includes compressibility and rarefaction effects. The pressure distribution under the vibrating plate is obtained using the double sine series. Closed-form expressions for the stiffness and the damping coefficients of the squeeze-film are derived. The accuracy of the model is verified by comparing its results with the finite element method (FEM) results and the experimental results available in the literature. The regime of validity and limitations of the present model are assessed.
Live Mobile Distance Learning System for Smart Devices
Authors: Lee Jang , Park Doo-Soon , Jeong Young-Sik , Park Jong
Published: March 2015

In recent years, mobile and ubiquitous computing has emerged in our daily lives, and extensive studies have been conducted in various areas using smart devices, such as tablets, smartphones, smart TVs, smart refrigerators, and smart media devices, in order to realize this computing technology. Especially, the integration of mobile networking technology and intelligent mobile devices has made it possible to develop the advanced mobile distance learning system that supports portable smart devices such as smartphones and tablets for the future IT environment. We present a synchronous mobile learning system that enables both instructor and student to participate in distance learning with their tablets. When an instructor gives a lecture using a tablet with front-face camera by bringing up slides and making annotations on them, students in the distance can watch the instructor and those slides with annotation on their own tablets in real time. A student can also ask a question or have a discussion together using the text chat feature of the system during a learning session. We also show the user evaluation of the system. A user survey shows that about 67% are in favor of the prototype of the system.
Introduction
Authors: Bomer Bernard
Published: March 2015

Présentation des interventions et des débats sur le thème de l'évolution de la géographie physique française (séance de l'Association de Géographes Français du 20 novembre 1993). Lancement de la discussion à partir de quelques citations significatives.
La géographie physique à l'étranger : le cas britannique (Physical geography abroad : the british example)
Authors: Bomer Bernard
Published: March 2015

Résumé - Esquisse d'un tableau de la géographie physique anglaise : recrutement des étudiants, conditions pédagogiques, directions de recherche et organisation de la recherche.
Introduction à des recherches sur la bioturbation (Introduction to some researches on bioturbation)
Authors: Bomer Bernard
Published: March 2015

Résumé - L'auteur propose une approche générale du phénomène de la bioturbation et de ses répercussions sur la dynamique des milieux.
La répartition des termitières dans la zone intertropicale (The distribution of termitaries in the intertropical zone)
Authors: Brochu Michel
Published: March 2015

Résumé - Bilan général de la répartition des termitières dans la zone intertropicale et des facteurs qui la commandent. Esquisse d'un programme de recherche.
Intégration, retours et allers retours (The question of immigrant return)
Authors: Poinard Michel
Published: March 2015

Résumé - Ce travail s'efforce de faire l'inventaire des attitudes des pays d'arrivée par rapport à la question du retour des immigrés. Il observe qu'en dépit de positions théoriques très différentes, soit lier la présence étrangère à un contrat de travail, soit au contraire faciliter l'intégration des populations étrangères régulièrement introduites, les résultats sont identiques : le retour définitif concerne la manière très secondaire des communautés installées de manière durable. En revanche des modalités de va-et-vient de plus en plus complexes se développent, témoignage de l'autonomie des migrants et de la plasticité des parcours migratoires.
Les ambiguïtés de la politique du tourisme rural français (The ambiguïties of tourism policy in the French country)
Authors: Clary Daniel
Published: March 2015

Abstract - Rural tourism in France presents specificities in comparison with other forms of tourism. The amenities and the tourists are scattered. It is an answer to requests which seem to be contradictories (nature, local societies, products). It is spread all over the country without attention to the administrative limits. So, it generates some ambiguities and desillusions. It is not a form of social tourism, for unfortunate patronage, helping farmers in a bad economic position. Its rentability, money speaking, including all the aids, is hazardous. It is better to look at it as an opportunity, for country people, to widen their minds and integrate wider society and economy. The structures of the French country tourism, known as "pays d'accueil", such they were initiated by the offer, are too small and not fitted to the needs of the patronage.
Les problèmes de l'agritourisme en France (The problems of agrotourism in France)
Authors: Vitte Pierre
Published: March 2015

Abstract - The linking of tourism to agriculture is increasingly at the centre of the speculations about the future of the rural world. Tourism is often presented as a kind of cure, designed to insure a complement of income or even to save certain farms. Yet french agriculture cannot be dealt with uniformly : the development of this new activity is largely dependent upon the initial welle-being of the farm itself. Thus, tourism helps to widen the gap at the heart of the agriculture world. It is more of an individual business strategy than a social therapy.
Le tourisme rural sur les friches de la basse vallée de la Durance (Rural tourism on waste lands in the low Durance valley)
Authors: Bachimon Philippe
Published: March 2015

Abstract - This paper looks at the problem of developpement of rural tourism in a valley where this activity adds itself to a rival activity in crisis and at the same time is in competition regarding the use of water and space in a field which is however an agricultural and industrial fallow land of a law Mediterranean valley.
Capillary and van der Waals interactions on CaF2 crystals from amplitude modulation AFM force reconstruction profiles under ambient conditions
Authors: Calò Annalisa , Robles Oriol Vidal , Santos Sergio , Verdaguer Albert
Published: March 2015

There has been much interest in the past two decades to produce experimental force profiles characteristic of the interaction between nanoscale objects or a nanoscale object and a plane. Arguably, the advent of the atomic force microscope AFM was instrumental in driving such efforts because, in principle, force profiles could be recovered directly. Nevertheless, it has taken years before techniques have developed enough as to recover the attractive part of the force with relatively low noise and without missing information on critical ranges, particularly under ambient conditions where capillary interactions are believed to dominate. Thus a systematic study of the different profiles that may arise in such situations is still lacking. Here we employ the surfaces of CaF2, on which nanoscale water films form, to report on the range and force profiles that might originate by dynamic capillary interactions occurring between an AFM tip and nanoscale water patches. Three types of force profiles were observed under ambient conditions. One in which the force decay resembles the well-known inverse-square law typical of van der Waals interactions during the first 0.5–1 nm of decay, a second one in which the force decays almost linearly, in relatively good agreement with capillary force predicted by the constant chemical potential approximation, and a third one in which the attractive force is almost constant, i.e., forms a plateau, up to 3–4 nm above the surface when the formation of a capillary neck dominates the tip–sample interaction.
Electrochemical oxidation of cholesterol
Authors: Morzycki Jacek W , Sobkowiak Andrzej
Published: March 2015

Indirect cholesterol electrochemical oxidation in the presence of various mediators leads to electrophilic addition to the double bond, oxidation at the allylic position, oxidation of the hydroxy group, or functionalization of the side chain. Recent studies have proven that direct electrochemical oxidation of cholesterol is also possible and affords different products depending on the reaction conditions.
A 9-Month-Old Boy with Right-Hand Preference
Authors: Kastner Kathleen , Rust Lauren , Kelley Kent , Msall Michael , Hageman Joseph R.
Published: March 2015

We present a case of a 9-month-old boy with a history of unequal hand movements, right-hand preference on physical examination, and cortical dysplasia on brain magnetic resonance imaging who was eventually diagnosed with cerebral palsy (CP). Although spasticity involving one or more limbs is the most common neurologic sign of CP, there can be a variety of other presenting symptoms including early hand preference, hypotonia, and oral motor dysfunction. In addition, traditional risk factors of premature birth and intrapartum complications are not always present. Given the wide clinical spectrum of CP, it is important for primary care providers to maintain a high index of suspicion to ensure appropriate diagnosis and early access to interventions.

[
Pediatr Ann
. 2015;44(3):e53–e57.]
Assessing the Political and Socio-Economic Impact of Corruption among Nations
Authors: LaRocca Richard N.
Published: March 2015

This research combined three distinctly unique and separate measures of corruption into one corruption factor, so as to yield a robust measurement approach to further understand the political and socioeconomic variables of corruption. The findings show that a strong significant variable in measuring corruption is the personal marginal-tax rate, especially in hierarchical based nations. The higher the tax rate is, the less corrupt the nation is. The authors found that hierarchical nations' public-sector employees place more emphasis on sociological determinants and tax rate contributions as factors contributing toward corruption.
Bribery and Corruption
Authors: Zgheib Philippe W.
Published: March 2015

Bribes are mainly directed at government officials, although they could be directed at the employees and managers of business firms. However, bribery appears to be a self-defined crime. Bribery of small public sector employees is a white-collar crime. However, bribery also exists in high-level decision-making processes, whether political, economic, or corporate situations. These are large-scale bribes, consisting of millions and/or billions of dollars, paid out to executives and public officials in return for construction contracts, oil contracts, telecommunication contracts, etc. Although punishments exist and are implemented, it is up to the individual alone to make the final decision and choose between personal moral value system and personal welfare in opposition to serving the public welfare. This chapter explores bribery.
Globally Responsible Management Education
Authors: Tavanti Marco , Wilp Elizabeth A.
Published: March 2015

Responsible management education is a crucial step in shaping our common future. This chapter reviews how the Principles of Responsible Management Education (PRME) offers a platform for institutional commitment and leadership engagement toward business ethics and poverty alleviation. Specifically, this work critically analyzes the challenges and opportunities in adopting the educational principles for practical outcomes in the context of other trends in socially responsible global engagement. Through a review of the institutional trends in relation to PRME, the authors offer practical opportunities for curricula development, academic engagement, and ethical education for the 21st Century.
The Leadership Role of the Ethicist
Authors: van Wynsberghe Aimee
Published: March 2015

The pervasive presence of Information and Communication technologies has profound effects on cultural norms and values. This relationship is most commonly referred to in terms of values embedded in a technology (Nissenbaum, 2001). To mitigate potential threats to values, researchers from a variety of disciplines advocate in favor of incorporating ethics into research and design processes. As Boenink (2013) rightly points out, however, there is little work done that outlines exactly what it is that the ethicist does when engaged in ‘ethics in the lab'. This paper aims to fill the gap that Boenink has identified and to contribute to the ongoing discussions related to ethics in the lab. The following work will review what the ethicist does in terms of the tasks of the ethicist as articulated by van Wynsberghe and Robbins (2013) and will present two case studies as examples to illustrate the different role of the ethicist in each. The issue of central importance for this paper is how the ethicist's role differs from one case to the next and what guides this shift. For insight the paper looks to the work of Manders-Huits and Zimmer (2009) and their suggestion of the ‘leadership role'. Finally, it will argue that a virtue ethics approach should be taken in order to guide the ethicist in these divergent roles.
Ethical Healthiness
Authors: Bañón-Gomis Alexis Jacobo
Published: March 2015

This chapter proposes that learning improvements in organizations are not just a matter of techniques or aptitudes but are concerned with feelings, attitudes, and, above all, the moral habits of their members. This work suggests complementing currently established conceptions of knowledge management and organizational learning through the explicit inclusion of ethics and ethical learning in organizations. The study describes the explicit need to consider ethics and ethical learning competence among agents in a learning organization context. It then points out the differences between ethically healthy organizations and ethically unhealthy organizations. Finally, the authors argue that the ethical healthiness of an organization is an essential, structural, and necessary condition to achieve a comprehensive learning process in learning organizations on both a technical and human level.
Trust Deficit in Public Sector
Authors: Leela Vedantam
Published: March 2015

Deficit trust is considered a cause for further deterioration of the public sector delivery systems. It has raised concerns in the modern political scenario. The author identifies the sources for creation of deficit trust in public sectors across the world. Considering that individual trust perceptions are susceptible to fluctuation, the author argues that there is a possibility to shift distrust to trust. Thereby, relying on the best practices and data from Edelman Trust Barometers and World Bank, this chapter addresses the trust deficit concerns. Some countries have maintained trust requirements, but others are struggling to mitigate. Mentioning the best practices of established, credible, and sound mechanisms to improve the trust relationships, the author highlights the modern intervention techniques used by various organisations to instil the public trust. Throughout this chapter, the author suggests how public trust can be transformed into customer retention initiatives and thereby public sectors can regain their market position.
Ethics in Behavioural Targeting
Authors: Chauhan Sonam , Rathore Shubhangini
Published: March 2015

In contemporary development “Internet” is a leading advertising source. Marketing avenues from traditional media are deteriorating and online marketing earnings are growing persistently. With online advertising, behavioural targeting is emerging as a prominent trend which is expected to account for major advertising revenues; as it permits websites to discriminate advertisements according to consumers surfing patterns. This can equally raise privacy issues and can have adverse consumer responses. This study explores the consumer perception regarding the ethics of behavioural targeting when done without user consent and awareness. The study focus on two major aspects the first is about knowledge and awareness about behavioural targeting and second issues related to ethics in behavioural targeting. The result shows that consumers are unaware about behavioural targeting.
Business Ethics Perceptions of Working Adults
Authors: Nguyen Lam D. , Lee Kuo-Hao , Mujtaba Bahaudin G. , Silanont Sorasak Paul
Published: March 2015

Businesses nowadays face urgent demands to act ethically and socially responsibly. Some believe that ethically responsible companies design and use corporate governance that serves all stakeholders' interests to achieve competitive advantage and maintaining ethical behavior is very important through corporate governance. Thus, an ethical business environment is critical and ethical behavior is expected of everyone in the modern workplace. Companies devote many resources and training programs to make sure their employees live according to the high ethical standards. This study used Clark and Clark's (1966) Personal Business Ethics Scores (PBES) measure to examine the relationship between gender, age, management experience, ethics course taken, and ethics training to ethical maturity of Thai working adults. This research surveyed 236 Thai working adults to measure their Personal Business Ethics Scores (PBES). Statistically significant differences were found in the variables of ethics course taken and ethics training. Gender, age, and management experience, however, did not lead to any significant differences. Consequently, Kohlberg's Cognitive Moral Development theory regarding ethical maturity is partly supported since respondents with more ethics education and training have higher business ethics scores than those without ethics education and training. In this study, Thai background and cultural dimension, as well as literature on moral development and ethics, are presented along with practical applications, suggestions and implications for educators, managers, and employees.
Anti-Corruption Capabilities of Public E-Procurement Technologies
Authors: Neupane Arjun , Soar Jeffrey , Vaidya Kishor
Published: March 2015

Public procurement is an important area warranting further attention in government reform, as electronic systems for procurement have enormous potential to help reduce corruption. Public e-Procurement is the use of an Internet or Web-based system by government institutions for the acquisition of goods and services, which can improve transparency and accountability. This chapter discusses different types of e-Procurement technologies with case examples from different countries that demonstrate how the e-Procurement technologies have great potential as the anti-corruption technologies. The chapter reviews the Principal-Agent Theory and discusses other relevant theories including Transaction Cost Theory, Fraud Triangle Theory, Diffusion of Innovation Theory, and the Technology Acceptance Model. Following a discussion of the potential of e-Procurement systems in mitigating corruption, a theoretical research model is proposed for identifying public e-Procurement anti-corruption capabilities.
Privacy, Trust, and Business Ethics for Mobile Business Social Networks
Authors: Mezgár István , Grabner-Kräuter Sonja
Published: March 2015

New information and communication technologies and their integration extend possibilities for high-level human collaboration. Various groups of people can come together according to their private or business interests forming a virtual community through social networks. However, in addition to the positive effects of this technical breakthrough there are dangerous potential side effects using these high-level networked systems; the sensitive personal or business data can be misused. Therefore, privacy has an increasingly important role in social networks and is becoming a significant area related to business ethics taking into consideration the close connection between trust and privacy. The goal of this chapter is to discuss the role and relationships between trust and privacy in mobile (business) social networks and to introduce the possible types of privacy threats and countermeasures in case of online social networks. A short summary on future trends in mobile social networks is also presented.
Business Risk from Governmental Corruption in East Central Europe, the Baltic Countries, and Russia
Authors: Windsor Duane
Published: March 2015

This chapter places in a comparative, cross-country framework analysis of selected secondary information about business risk from governmental corruption in the region comprised of East Central Europe (including the Balkans), the Baltic Countries, and Russia. The region is an important setting for understanding corruption and anticorruption reform. What defines this geographic region is that all the countries are transitioning from monopoly-party rule and typically Soviet economic and political domination. Globalization is drawing the region into world economic integration through increasing Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). Key information from several sources provides an analytically consistent picture. Corruption increases business risk for multinational and domestic enterprises. Corruption deters inward FDI, undermines corporate integrity, and reduces country and regional competitiveness. The chapter provides information and examples about corruption in 21 political entities. These entities range from reasonably clean to endemic corruption, with varying patterns of corruption and anticorruption reform effectiveness. The chapter discusses possible solutions and recommendations and proposes future research directions.
Sustainability, Ethics and Education
Authors: Khan Tehmina
Published: March 2015

Accounting education has faced limitations as a highly technical and discipline-specific body of knowledge. The case presented in this chapter demonstrates and reflects on an attempt at incorporating the study of sustainability-related accounting knowledge through multiple forms of delivery and assessment. Sustainability-related material that draws from business, accounting and ethics' perspectives was included in an accounting ethics course for accounting majors at Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) University in Melbourne, Australia. This pedagogy has encouraged the development of students' soft skills including their emotional intelligence. Sustainability education has been found as engaging and thought provoking, albeit involving a steep learning curve for students as far as knowledge and awareness are concerned. It has allowed for the promotion of multiple and broader perspectives and education on key sustainability-related concerns, from a range of angles including ethics and accounting frameworks for sustainability as well as multidisciplinary approaches to sustainability and business.