bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Multicenter Study Using the SWAG Scale to Compare Secondary Alveolar Bone Graft Outcomes for Patients with Cleft Lip and Palate
Authors: Russell Kathleen , Long Ross E. , Daskalogiannakis John , Mercado Ana , Hathaway Ronald , Semb Gunvor , Shaw William
Published: April 2015

Objective

To assess secondary alveolar bone graft (ABG) outcomes using the standardized way to assess grafts, or SWAG scale, for patients with cleft lip and palate (CLP).

Design

Retrospective cohort study.

Setting

Four cleft centers with different protocols.

Methods

One hundred sixty maxillary occlusal radiographs taken 3 to 18 months after secondary ABG for sequentially treated patients with CLP were assessed using the SWAG scale. Radiographs were scanned, standardized, blinded, and rated by six orthodontists using the SWAG scale. Randomized radiographs were rated twice, 24 hours apart, by the same raters.

Main Outcomes

Intrarater and interrater reliabilities were assessed. Means and SDs were calculated for ABG ratings using analysis of variance and Tukey tests (P < .05).

Result

The mean ABG age was 9.1 years (range = 7 to 10.1 years) and the mean follow-up age was 12.4 years (range = 8.2 to 20.4 years). Intrarater and interrater reliabilities were good (intrarater = 0.788, interrater = 0.705), and higher than published methods. Mean ABG ratings for the cleft centers were 4.53, 2.9, 3.63, and 5.0 and differed significantly. The two centers with the highest ABG ratings showed higher ratings for all thirds decreasing from apical to coronal. The two centers with lower ABG ratings showed poorer ABG ratings for all thirds, and the middle third received the highest ratings.

Conclusions

The SWAG scale overcomes the challenges of age and bone location. The SWAG method was validated for showing intercenter differences for overall bone fill as well as in vertical thirds. Surgical technique, timing, and expertise/volume were identified as possible factors related to outcome.
Probabilistic analysis of tunnel loads using variance reduction
Authors: Svoboda Tomáš , Hilar Matous
Published: April 2015

The selection of input parameters for the numerical modelling of geotechnical structures is problematic due to their variability and uncertainty. Generally, parametric studies are required to evaluate the impact of input parameters on the modelling results. The utilisation of various statistical methods can bring significant benefits, such as probabilistic distributions of the modelling outputs and the probability of failure. This paper presents a variance reduction method known as ‘Latin hypercube sampling'. Special attention is paid to the Latin hypercube sampling mean, which represents a more efficient sampling scheme within the method's framework. The performance of the mean method is evaluated by comparison with the standard median method, and the necessary number of simulations is recommended. To take the statistical dependency of input variables into consideration the method mean is combined with the simulated annealing method. The effectiveness of Latin hypercube sampling methods and their practical application is demonstrated by static calculations for the Brusnice tunnel in the Czech Republic. The tunnel is a part of the Blanka tunnel complex on the Prague City Circle Road excavated by the new Austrian tunnelling method. The two-dimensional numerical model was prepared using the finite-element method. The modelling results were evaluated in terms of confidence intervals.
Estimating effective landscape distances and movement corridors: comparison of habitat and genetic data
Authors: Mateo-Sánchez Maria C. , Balkenhol Niko , Cushman Sam , Pérez Trinidad , Domínguez Ana , Saura Santiago
Published: April 2015

Resistance models provide a key foundation for landscape connectivity analyses and are widely used to delineate wildlife corridors. Currently, there is no general consensus regarding the most effective empirical methods to parameterize resistance models, but habitat data (species' presence data and related habitat suitability models) and genetic data are the most widely used and advocated approaches. However, the practical consequences of applying one or the other approach have not been well studied. To address this knowledge gap, we performed a comparative study on the implications of using habitat suitability versus genetic data for determining effective landscape distances (a proxy inversely related to isolation among patches) based on least‐cost and circuit‐theoretic approaches, and for identifying potential movement corridors. For our comparison, we used data for the Cantabrian brown bear in Spain, an endangered population for which connectivity has been identified as a major conservation concern. Our results show that for brown bears, habitat models tend to overestimate resistance to movement through non‐optimal areas, whereas genetic data yield higher estimates of effective distances within habitat areas. Therefore, our results suggest that (1) dispersal might be generally less constrained by landscape conditions than habitat utilization in home ranges, and that (2) dispersing animals might be more flexible in their movement behavior than residents are in their habitat resource utilization behavior, with records for residents dominating species occurrence data and subsequent habitat models. The assessed approaches provided dissimilar connectivity models with notable differences in patterns of predicted corridors across the study area, mainly due to differences in predicted connections between subpopulations. Our results highlight that the functional differences in habitat vs. genetic data, as well as the assumptions and potential limitations of different analytical approaches that use these data, need to be considered more carefully in connectivity modeling and subsequent corridor delineation.
Disturbance response across a productivity gradient: postfire vegetation in serpentine and nonserpentine forests
Authors: DeSiervo Melissa H. , Jules Erik S. , Safford Hugh D.
Published: April 2015

Disturbances such as wildfire play a major role in the diversity, structure and composition of plant communities, however, little is known about the differential impacts of fire across landscapes that vary in characteristics such as soil nutrients and site productivity. Theory predicts that productivity can mediate the impacts of fire for reasons related to broad ecological processes and differential selective forces. For instance, ecosystems with lower site productivity are less limited by space and light and consequently experience less pronounced changes in these resources following a disturbance. Moreover, resource availability related to disturbance and productivity can affect the proportion of plants with competitive versus stress‐tolerant life history strategies. In this study, we utilized a model system for testing predictions about productivity and disturbance that included a mixed conifer forest across a gradient of edaphically harsh, ultramafic “serpentine” soils and “nonserpentine” soils in the northern Sierra Nevada (California, USA). We predicted that the magnitude of fire effects on plant diversity from a 2008 wildfire would be positively related to productivity (higher on nonserpentine soils) and that these factors would interact as environmental filters driving post‐fire species assemblage. In summer 2013 we established 90 vegetation plots in burned areas and 40 plots outside the fire perimeter as a proxy for pre‐fire conditions. We found a unimodal relationship between species diversity and fire severity (peaking at low/moderate severity), and mild evidence post‐fire changes were more pronounced on nonserpentine soils. In contrast, we found strong evidence that productivity and fire severity interact as drivers of species composition and functional traits with a higher proportion of resprouting shrubs on nonserpentine soils and, contrary to our prediction, more invaders on serpentine soils. We hypothesize that differences in biomass between serpentine and nonserpentine forests were not substantial enough to elicit a differential diversity response, possibly deriving from a weaker serpentine syndrome in this region that has been previously noted. Our study reveals that differences in productivity can mediate the outcome of disturbances in ways that cannot be detected through standard community diversity metrics, and that consideration of life history trait variation is necessary.
Clinical Evaluation of Removable Partial Dentures on the Periodontal Health of Abutment Teeth: A Retrospective Study
Authors: Dula Linda J , Ahmedi Enis F , Lila-Krasniqi Zana D , Shala Kujtim Sh
Published: April 2015

The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the effect of removable partial dentures in periodontal abutment teeth in relation to the type of denture support and design of RPD in a five-year worn period. Methods : A total of 64 patients with removable partial dentures (RPDs), participated in this study. It were examined ninety-one RPDs. There were seventy-five RPDs with clasp-retained and sixteenth were RPDs with attachments. There were 28 females and 36 males, aged between 40-64 years, 41 maxillary and 50 mandible RPDs. For each subjects the following data were collected: denture design, denture support, and Kennedy classification. Abutment teeth were assessed for plaque index (PI), calculus index (CI), blending on probing (BOP), probing depth (PD), gingival recession (GR), tooth mobility (TM). Level of significance was set at p<0.05. Results : According to denture support of RPD, BOP, PD, PI, GR, CI and TM-index showed no statistically significant difference. Based on the denture design of RPD’s, BOP, PD, PI, CI, and TM-index proved no statistically significant difference. Except GR-index according to denture design confirmed statistically significant difference in RPD with clasp p<0.01. The higher values of all periodontal parameter as BOP, PD, PI, CI and TM were in patients with RPD’s with claps comparing with RPD’s with attachment. Conclusion : RPD’s with clasp increased level of gingival inflammation in regions covered by the dentures and below the clasp arms in abutment teeth.
Independent Factors Affecting Recovery Time After Sedation in Patients with Intellectual Disabilities
Authors: Maeda Shigeru , Tomayasu Yumiko , Higuchi Hitoshi , Ishii-Maruhama Minako , Yamane Ayaka , Yabuki Akiko , Honda Yuka , Egusa Masahiko , Miyawaki Takuya
Published: April 2015

Purpose:The purpose of this study was to identify independent factors associated with prolonged recovery time after intravenous sedation for dental treatment in patients with intellectual disabilities.Methods:This study was designed as a prospective cohort study. Participants were patients with intellectual disabilities, for whom sedation for dental treatment was planned in Okayama University Hospital. The outcome variable was recovery time. The predictor variables were patient background, antiepileptic and psychotropic drugs, and anesthesia-related variables. Factors affecting the outcome were examined with multiple regression analysis.Results:We enrolled 260 cases in this study. Oral midazolam was a strong independent determinant in prolonged recovery time. Teeth extraction, short treatment time and lower body mass index were significant independent predictors of prolonged recovery time.Conclusion:Oral midazolam is a clear independent determinant of prolonged recovery time after sedation, while psychotropic drugs and antiepileptic drugs were not independent determinants in this study.
Plant-microbe Cross-talk in the Rhizosphere: Insight and Biotechnological Potential
Authors: Haldar Shyamalina , Sengupta Sanghamitra
Published: April 2015

Rhizosphere, the interface between soil and plant roots, is a chemically complex environment which supports the development and growth of diverse microbial communities. The composition of the rhizosphere microbiome is dynamic and controlled by multiple biotic and abiotic factors that include environmental parameters, physiochemical properties of the soil, biological activities of the plants and chemical signals from the plants and bacteria which inhabit the soil adherent to root-system. Recent advancement in molecular and microbiological techniques has unravelled the interactions among rhizosphere residents at different levels. In this review, we elaborate on various factors that determine plant-microbe and microbe-microbe interactions in the rhizosphere, with an emphasis on the impact of host genotype and developmental stages which together play pivotal role in shaping the nature and diversity of root exudations. We also discuss about the coherent functional groups of microorganisms that colonize rhizosphere and enhance plant growth and development by several direct and indirect mechanisms. Insights into the underlying structural principles of indigenous microbial population and the key determinants governing rhizosphere ecology will provide directions for developing techniques for profitable applicability of beneficial microorganisms in sustainable agriculture and nature restoration.
Photoassisted Biodegradation of Irradiated Organics in Simulated Nuclear Wastewater
Authors: Makgato Stanford S. , Nkhalambayausi‐Chirwa Evans M.
Published: April 2015

The extent of dehalogenation and degradation of toxic aromatic compounds in a nuclear wastewater was evaluated using a two‐stage system consisting of a photolytic reactor followed by a biological reactor. Experiments were performed by varying the initial 4‐chlorophenol (4‐CP) concentration from 50 to 1000 mg/L. The UV pretreatment stage improved the overall efficiency of biodegradation of the recalcitrant compound by facilitating degradability in the biological stage. Removal efficiencies greater than 98% were achieved at 4‐CP feed concentrations ≤ 50 mg/L. Adding an H2O2 dose of 0.1 mg/L as an oxidant further improved biodegradation under optimum operating conditions for the entire system. Some known aromatic compound degraders such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Pseudomonas mendocina were detected in the consortium using the 16S rRNA genetic fingerprint technique. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first study on biodegradation of halogenated aromatic compounds that are co‐pollutants of metallic radionuclides in radioactive wastewater.
Mass transfer kinetics during osmotic dehydration of amla (Emblica officinalis L.) cubes in sugar solution
Authors: Tiroutchelvame D. , Sivakumar V. , Maran Prakash
Published: April 2015

A four factors three level Box-Behnken response surface design was employed
in this study to investigate and optimize the effect of process variables
(osmotic solution concentration, fruit to liquid ratio, temperature and
dehydration time) on mass transfer properties such as weight reduction,
solute gain, water loss, rehydration ratio, shrinkage and overall
acceptability of the osmotically dehydrated amla cubes. The cubes of uniform
size (10 mm ? 10 mm ? 10 mm) were impregnated into sugar solution of
different solution concentration (30-50? Brix), temperature (30-50?C),
fruit to liquid ratio (1:5 - 1:15 g/ml) and time (30-180 min). It was
observed from the results that the process variables have significant effect
on osmotic dehydration process. The optimum condition was found to be: sugar
concentration of 50? Brix, solution temperature of 30?C, fruit to liquid
ratio of 1:5 g/ml and immersion time of 133 min. respectively. The
microstructural changes during osmotic dehydration were also investigated
using scanning electron microscopy (SEM).
Facile synthesis of TiO2 nanoplates decorated with Ag nanoparticles for electro-oxidation of hydrazine
Authors: Liu Yan-Ru , Han Guan-Qun , Hu Wen-Hui , Dong Bin , Chai Yong-Ming , Liu Yun-Qi , Liu Chen-Guang
Published: April 2015

TiO2 nanoplates decorated with Ag nanoparticles have been synthesized by a facile method. The as-prepared Ag/TiO2 nanoplates have been characterized using transmission electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. Transmission electron microscopy results show that TiO2 nanoplates have a uniform side length of about 40 nm and mono-dispersed morphology, which implies that TiO2 nanoplates may be pomising supports. Ag nanoparticles with diameter ranging from 10 to 20 nm can be observed to disperse homogeneously on the surface of TiO2 nanoplates. The electro-oxidation of Ag/TiO2 nanoplates for hydrazine oxidation has been investigated in detail. The results show that Ag/TiO2 nanoplates have excellent electrocatalytic activity. The electro-oxidation of hydrazine may be an irreversible process being controlled by diffusion of hydrazine.
Anthropology and the “imaginators” of future European universities
Authors: Wright Susan
Published: April 2015

This article focuses on the site where much anthropological work is conducted—universities—and anthropological approaches to studying their current transformations. Although I work comparatively on the imagining and enactment of universities in Denmark and Britain, here I focus on the recent changes to universities in England, which have taken many by surprise, as if they exceeded anyone's wildest imagination and were even beyond belief. I will trace how the “conditions of possibility” for the current changes came about—the tripling of student fees, removal of government funding for teaching in arts and social sciences, and transfer of public resources to commercial, for-profit higher education companies. I will briefly outline the problems that opponents to these moves are having in imagining an alternative future, let alone organizing themselves to contest current developments. In conclusion, I will point to the changes in anthropology itself that are incurred when engaging in an ethnography of such a large policy field and when attempting to capture “what the present is producing” (Moore 1987: 727).
Imagining globalization in anthropology
Authors: Reuter Thomas A.
Published: April 2015

Over the last century anthropological studies have served as a testimony to human cultural diversity, as well as highlighting the existential challenges we all share, but the discipline has failed to provide an undistorted mirror of this unity in diversity. Critics from postcolonial studies and within anthropology have argued that anthropological knowledge cannot be universal so long as representatives of only a few privileged nations participate in the process of its construction, and so long as there are significant power differentials among those who do participate. From the perspective of a performance theory of truth, there are two necessary conditions if we wish for anthropology to genuinely reflect the human condition. The first step is to improve global participation in the social production of anthropological knowledge by creating equality within the discipline. The second is to help create a more level playing field in the world at large by challenging abuses of power in contemporary societies. In this article I discuss recent efforts by international organizations in anthropology to satisfy some of these conditions.
Single mothers in Osh
Authors: Ismailbekova Aksana
Published: April 2015

After the 2010 intercommunal violence in Kyrgyzstan, women in the city of Osh were exposed to many difficulties. Conflict eroded people's contentment, and satisfactory living conditions were supplanted by increased challenges—such as deteriorating health and education systems, declining communication and economic opportunities, and the loss of property. Men's deaths during the conflict and the increased labor migration of men after the conflict also resulted in increased numbers of single mothers. This article presents trends among women, examines their coping mechanisms, and explores the well-being of single mothers by considering what makes women's lives meaningful in a postconflict situation.
Discovering New Rock Paintings at Shmsali and Gorgali Rock Shelters in Kohgiluye and Bouier Ahmad Province, Southern Iran
Authors: Azandaryani Esmail , Qolami Hossein , MohammadiFar Yaghob , Razmposh Abass
Published: April 2015

The Shamsali and Gorgali rock shelters were discovered during an archaeological survey in 2009 at Kohgiluye Bouier Ahmad province, west of Iran. In total, 50 paintings occur at both rock shelters; 21 at Shamsali, and 29 remains at Gorgali rock shelter. The paintings consist of “ibex”, “Predators”, and “riders” in red and black. They are depicted stylistically in singular or plural subjects in profile. In addition, the most numerous images in the Shamsali and Gorgali rock shelters represent “ibex”, comparable with a large numbers of such motifs identified in other regions of Iran. There is no certainty in attributed dates, because we are lacking absolute dating methods.
The Role of Habitat Heterogeneity in Structuring Mangrove Bird Assemblages
Authors: Mohd-Azlan Jayasilan , Noske Richard , Lawes Michael
Published: April 2015

Mangrove habitats are under severe land use pressure throughout the world and Australia is no exception. Here we describe the heterogeneity of mangrove habitat and its relationship with mangrove bird diversity. We examined the role of mangrove habitat complexity in determining the richness of avian mangrove dependent species (MDS) and interior species, overall bird species richness and density. High species richness (overall and MDS) and density in the mangroves was associated with plant species richness, the density of the understory and food resource distribution. Furthermore, habitat heterogeneity rather than patch area per se was a more important predictor of species richness in the mangroves. These findings stress the importance of habitat diversity and quality to the diversity and density of birds in mangroves. Thus, habitat heterogeneity within mangroves is a crucial patch characteristic, independent of mangrove patch size, for maintaining diverse avian species assemblages.
Collaborative Performance Research on Multi-level Hospital Management Based on Synergy Entropy-HoQ
Authors: Chen Lei , Liang Xuedong , Li Tao
Published: April 2015

Because of the general lack of multi-level hospital management collaboration performance effectiveness research, this paper proposes a multi-level hospital management Synergy Entropy-House of Quality (HoQ) Measurement Model by innovatively combining the House of Quality (HoQ) measure model with a Synergy Entropy computing principle. Triangular fuzzy functions are used to determine the importance degree parameter of each hospital management element which combined with the results from the Synergy Entropy evaluation of the hospital management elements, arrive at a comprehensive collaborative computation result for the various elements, ensuring results objectivity. Finally, the analysis of the collaborative research on multi-level hospital management demonstrated the scientific effectiveness of the hospital management Synergy Entropy-House of Quality (HoQ) Measurement Model.
Combustion Analysis of a Diesel Engine Running on Different Biodiesel Blends
Authors: Mattarelli Enrico , Rinaldini Carlo , Savioli Tommaso
Published: April 2015

Rape-seed biodiesel is an interesting option to address the problem of decreasing availability of conventional fossil fuels, as well as to reduce the CO2 emissions of internal combustion engines. The present paper describes an experimental campaign carried out on a current production 4-cylinder, 4-stroke naturally aspirated diesel engine, running on standard diesel fuel and on three different blends of rape-seed biodiesel (20%-50%-100%). Performance, emissions and in-cylinder pressure traces were measured at full load. It was found that the influence of rape-seed biodiesel in the fuel blend is not constant at each operating condition. However, as the biodiesel content increases, full load performance tends to drop, in particular brake specific fuel consumption (maximum worsening: +18%), while soot emission goes down. The maximum improvement observed in terms of soot concentration is 37.5%, at 1200 rpm. The combustion analysis revealed that the main differences among the fuels occur in the first phase of combustion: the burn rate is slower for biodiesel blends at low speeds, and faster at high.
News Media Analysis of Carbon Capture and Storage and Biomass: Perceptions and Possibilities
Authors: Feldpausch-Parker Andrea , Burnham Morey , Melnik Maryna , Callaghan Meaghan , Selfa Theresa
Published: April 2015

In the US, carbon capture and storage (CCS) has received most of its attention when coupled with the fossil fuel industry as a mitigation strategy for climate change. CCS, which is constituted as a broad suite of capture and sequestration technologies and techniques, does not preclude coupling with other energy industries such as bioenergy (bioenergy and CCS or BECCS). In this paper, we examined news media coverage of CCS and biomass individually in locations throughout the US where these technologies are being explored to determine how they are perceived and what possibilities lay in their coupling for climate change mitigation. From our analyses, we found that individually, both CCS and biomass are perceived generally as beneficial for energy development by the news media, though they are not often mentioned in combination. Combined references do, however, speak to their value for climate change mitigation and as an alternative to fossil fuels.
GIS-Based Borderlands Modeling and Understanding: A Perspective
Authors: Chen Jun , Li Ran , Dong Weihua , Ge Yuejing , Liao Hua , Cheng Yang
Published: April 2015

Borderland regions are special areas and deserve more attention in global sustainable development. Reliable geo-information and effective analysis tools are requested to support borderlands studies through the integrated utilization of geospatial analysis, web service, as well as the other domain-specific expertise. This paper has reviewed the state-of-the-art of geospatial information sciences, (GIS)-based borderlands modeling, and understanding. From the perspective of GIS, integrated data modeling, comprehensive analysis, and collaborative information service are identified as the three major challenges in this filed. A research agenda is further proposed with four topics, i.e., classification and representation of borderland information, derivation of neighborhood information, development of synergetic analysis, and design and development of a geo-portal for borderlands studies. This interdisciplinary study requires a closer and in-depth collaboration of geopolitics, international relation, geography and geo-spatial information sciences.
Addition of Interleukin-21 for Expansion of T-Cells for Adoptive Immunotherapy of Murine Melanoma
Authors: Zoon Christine , Wan Wen , Graham Laura , Bear Harry
Published: April 2015

We previously demonstrated that interleukin (IL)-7/15 was superior to IL-2 for expansion of T cells in vitro for adoptive immunotherapy. We sought to ascertain whether IL-21 would further improve yield and therapeutic efficacy of T cells in culture. Naïve T cell receptor (TcR) transgenic splenocytes or antigen-sensitized lymph node cells were harvested from PMEL-1 mice and exposed to bryostatin-1 and ionomycin (B/I) for 18 h. Cells were then cultured in IL-2, IL-21, IL-7/15 or IL-7/15/21 for six days. Harvested cells were analyzed by flow cytometry and used to treat C57Bl/6 mice injected intravenously with B16 melanoma. Lungs were harvested and metastases counted 14 days after treatment. Culturing lymphocytes in IL-7/15/21 increased expansion compared to IL-2 or IL-7/15. IL-21 and IL-7/15/21 increased CD8+ cells compared to IL-2 or IL-7/15. IL-21 preferentially expanded a CD8+CD44−CD62L+ T “naïve” population, whereas IL-7/15/21 increased CD8+CD44+CD62Lhigh central-memory T cells. T cells grown in IL-7/15/21 were more effective at reducing metastases than IL-2. The addition of IL-21 to IL-7/15 induced greater expansion of lymphocytes in culture and increased the yield of CD8+ T central-memory cells vs. IL-7/15 alone. This may have significant impact on future clinical trials of adoptive immunotherapy, particularly for generating adequate numbers of lymphocytes for treatment.
Synthesis and Antiplatelet Activity of Antithrombotic Thiourea Compounds: Biological and Structure-Activity Relationship Studies
Authors: Lourenço André , Saito Max , Dorneles Luís , Viana Gil , Sathler Plínio , Aguiar Lúcia , De Pádula Marcelo , Domingos Thaisa , Fraga Aline , Rodrigues Carlos , De Sousa Valeria , Castro Helena , Cabral Lucio
Published: April 2015

The incidence of hematological disorders has increased steadily in Western countries despite the advances in drug development. The high expression of the multi-resistance protein 4 in patients with transitory aspirin resistance, points to the importance of finding new molecules, including those that are not affected by these proteins. In this work, we describe the synthesis and biological evaluation of a series of N,N'-disubstituted thioureas derivatives using in vitro and in silico approaches. New designed compounds inhibit the arachidonic acid pathway in human platelets. The most active thioureas (compounds 3d, 3i, 3m and 3p) displayed IC50 values ranging from 29 to 84 µM with direct influence over in vitro PGE2 and TXA2 formation. In silico evaluation of these compounds suggests that direct blockage of the tyrosyl-radical at the COX-1 active site is achieved by strong hydrophobic contacts as well as electrostatic interactions. A low toxicity profile of this series was observed through hemolytic, genotoxic and mutagenic assays. The most active thioureas were able to reduce both PGE2 and TXB2 production in human platelets, suggesting a direct inhibition of COX-1. These results reinforce their promising profile as lead antiplatelet agents for further in vivo experimental investigations.
Polarimetric Calibration of CASMSAR P-Band Data Affected by Terrain Slopes Using a Dual-Band Data Fusion Technique
Authors: Liao Lu , Yang Jie , Li Pingxiang , Hua Fenfen
Published: April 2015

For airborne synthetic aperture radar (SAR) polarimetric calibration (PolCAL) based on distributed targets, it is important to ensure the removal of both the polarimetric distortion and terrain slope effect. This paper proposes a new technique for PolCAL in mountainous areas, without the use of corner reflectors (CRs). The technique based on dual-band data fusion consists of two steps. First, the polarization orientation angle shift (POAS), as a priori asymmetry information, is derived from X-band interferometry and applied to P-band fully-polarimetric data. Second, the crosstalk and cross-polarization (cross-pol) channel imbalance are iteratively determined using the POAS after dual-band data fusion. The performance and feasibility of the technique was evaluated by CRs. It was demonstrated that the proposed technique is capable of deriving the distortion parameters and performs better than the methods presented in Quegan and Ainsworth et al. The signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and pedestal height have been investigated in polarimetric signatures. The proposed technique is useful for PolCAL in mountainous areas and for monitoring systems without CRs in long-term operation.
Using Silver Nano-Particle Ink in Electrode Fabrication of High Frequency Copolymer Ultrasonic Transducers: Modeling and Experimental Investigation
Authors: Decharat Adit , Wagle Sanat , Jacobsen Svein , Melandsø Frank
Published: April 2015

High frequency polymer-based ultrasonic transducers are produced with electrodes thicknesses typical for printed electrodes obtained from silver (Ag) nano-particle inks. An analytical three-port network is used to study the acoustic effects imposed by a thick electrode in a typical layered transducer configuration. Results from the network model are compared to experimental findings for the implemented transducer configuration, to obtain a better understanding of acoustical effects caused by the additional printed mass loading. The proposed investigation might be supportive of identification of suitable electrode-depositing methods. It is also believed to be useful as a feasibility study for printed Ag-based electrodes in high frequency transducers, which may reduce both the cost and production complexity of these devices.
A Hybrid Inexact Optimization Method for Land-Use Allocation in Association with Environmental/Ecological Requirements at a Watershed Level
Authors: Qiu Bingkui , Lu Shasha , Zhou Min , Zhang Lu , Deng Yu , Song Ci , Zhang Zuo
Published: April 2015

In this study, an inexact stochastic fuzzy programming (ISFP) model is proposed for land-use allocation (LUA) and environmental/ecological planning at a watershed level, where uncertainties associated with land-use parameters, benefit functions, and environmental/ecological requirements are described as discrete intervals, probabilities and fuzzy sets. In this model, an interval stochastic fuzzy programming model is used to support quantitative optimization under uncertainty. Complexities in land-use planning systems can be systematically reflected, thus applicability of the modeling process can be highly enhanced. The proposed method is applied to planning land use/ecological balance in Poyang Lake watershed, China. The objective of the ISFP is maximizing net benefit from the LUA system and the constraints including economic constraints, social constraints, land suitability constraints, environmental constraints, ecological constraints and technical constraints. Modeling results indicate that the desired system benefit will be between [15.17, 18.29] × 1012 yuan under the minimum violating probabilities; the optimized areas of commercial land, industrial land, agricultural land, transportation land, residential land, water land, green land, landfill land and unused land will be optimized cultivated land, forest land, grass land, water land, urban land, unused land and landfill will be [228234, 237844] ha, [47228, 58451] ha, [20982, 23718] ha, [33897, 35280] ha, [15215, 15907] ha, [528, 879] ha and [1023, 1260] ha. These data can be used for generating decision alternatives under different scenarios and thus help decision makers identify desired policies under various system-reliability constraints of ecological requirement and environmental capacity. Tradeoffs between system benefits and constraint-violation risks can be tackled. They are helpful for supporting (a) decision of land-use allocation and government investment; (b) formulation of local policies regarding ecological protection, environment protection and economic development; (c) analysis of interactions among economic benefits, system reliability and ecological requirements.
L'analyse macroéconomique de la transition énergétique : difficile mais indispensable
Authors: Ouvrard Jean-François
Published: April 2015

La transition énergétique mobilise une variété d'instruments (prix, subventions…) qui modifient les équilibres macroéconomiques. L'analyse macroéconomique doit donc être au cœur des débats, même si elle se heurte en pratique à plusieurs obstacles. Il apparaît tout d'abord que l'évaluation des conséquences macroéconomiques de l'action par rapport à l'inaction en matière de changement climatique est mal aisée. La macroéconomie est en revanche plus outillée pour examiner les conséquences de différentes modalités de mise en œuvre de la transition énergétique. Celles-ci vont dépendre du fonctionnement d'une économie, de ses institutions et de ses rigidités, et le recours à la modélisation macroéconomique peut apporter des réponses empiriques. La modélisation doit alors prêter une attention forte à quelques éléments, notamment les mécanismes de bouclage, la prise en compte des mécanismes de financement ou encore les canaux de diffusion du progrès technique. Dans la pratique, les évaluations macroéconomiques de la transition énergétique avec différents modèles aboutissent à une variété importante de résultats, illustrant l'aspect crucial de certains mécanismes. Classification JEL : E17, Q01, Q54, Q56.
Le risque de maladaptation au changement climatique : un enjeu pour la rentabilité des investissements ?
Authors: Serkine Pierre
Published: April 2015

Après avoir analysé la littérature dédiée à l'adaptation au changement climatique et montré que la résilience est le concept qui doit être adopté pour réduire le risque de maladaptation, nous introduisons un outil dédié à l'évitement de la maladaptation à l'échelle de projets d'investissement. Cet outil évalue les projets sur quatre thèmes principaux : la ressource en eau, la ressource énergétique, la dépendance structurelle (aux divers réseaux) et la dépendance fonctionnelle des acteurs de la chaîne de valeur du projet au changement climatique. Il pourrait représenter une première étape vers l'adoption d'une démarche complémentaire de l'étude d'impact environnemental, au cours de laquelle serait évalué, non pas l'impact des projets sur leur environnement, mais l'impact possible de l'environnement sur le projet, du fait des changements climatiques à venir. Une telle réflexion semble essentielle, en particulier dans le cadre du FEIS (Fonds européen pour les investissements stratégiques) qui vise à entraîner des investissements à hauteur de 315 Md€ (dont 16 Md€ provenant du budget de l'UE) à travers l'UE d'ici à 2020, ou de la proposition de règlement européen sur les FEILT (Fonds européens d'investissement de long terme), ceci afin d'éviter le gaspillage d'argent public et privé. Classification JEL : E61, Q01, Q54.
Exposition aux risques naturels et marchés immobiliers
Authors: Mauroux Amélie
Published: April 2015

L'ampleur des pertes humaines et matérielles causées par les catastrophes naturelles est intimement liée aux choix d'implantation et de résidence des populations. Les risques imposent une sorte de servitude aux biens immobiliers, des différences d'exposition devraient donc se refléter dans les prix de marché. Il s'agit néanmoins d'une caractéristique aléatoire, les agents ne feront des choix éclairés que s'ils perçoivent correctement ce risque. Le modèle des prix hédoniques appliqué en environnement incertain prédit un écart de prix entre logements exposés et non exposés égal aux dommages anticipables plus une prime de risque. Comparées au coût moyen des sinistres inondations catastrophes naturelles en France, les rares estimations de cette décote par la méthode de prix hédoniques suggèrent que les marchés immobiliers français ne capitalisent pas ou peu les risques naturels, sauf les années suivant immédiatement une crue majeure. Système d'assurance catastrophe naturelle, information imparfaite, biais de perception des risques extrêmes et effet du vécu sont autant de pistes d'explications. Classification JEL : D81, Q54, R21, R52, Q54.
Le développement d'une « finance 2 °C » et l'exemple des green bonds
Authors: Knight Zoe
Published: April 2015

Répartir le capital tout en respectant l'engagement pris à Copenhague en 2010 de contenir l'augmentation de la température globale à 2 °C relève du véritable défi. Le secteur financier reste fortement lié au carbone. Toutefois, plusieurs facteurs se combinent et pourraient constituer un environnement encourageant la « finance 2 °C » (c'est-à-dire compatible avec le scénario d'un réchauffement limité à +2 °C). Le développement des obligations vertes est le premier exemple de ce tournant. Classification JEL : G11, G12, M14, Q54, Q56.
Le Nord-Pas-de-Calais se lance dans la troisième révolution industrielle
Authors: Lenglet Claude
Published: April 2015

La région Nord-Pas-de-Calais, catalysée par Jeremy Rifkin, s’apprête à prendre les devants de la troisième révolution industrielle qui devrait venir de la synergie entre énergies renouvelables et internet.
La dialectique de l’Évangile et de la rhétorique chez saint Paul
Authors: Dumont Emmanuel
Published: April 2015

La mission de s. Paul s’est déployée dans le cadre culturel et social de la nouvelle sophistique. L’Apôtre y a inculturé l’Évangile en opérant une reconfiguration en profondeur des canons de la rhétorique païenne. En témoignent les deux Lettres aux Corinthiens, où il substitue à l’utilitarisme de la technique oratoire une éthique de la communication à fondation théologale : sa parole veut fonctionner en continuité avec la parole de Dieu, le langage du Crucifié. Dans ce nouvel art de la persuasion, l’ ethos , le logos et le pathos sont purifiés et dynamisés par la parrhèsia pastorale et fraternelle.
L’Eucharistie, Opus Redemptionis et Mysterium Unitatis
Authors: Heller Karin
Published: April 2015

Pour Louis Bouyer l’Eucharistie est la réponse parfaite du Christ à la Parole du Père. Cette conviction était susceptible d’être partagée par toutes les confessions chrétiennes, et constituait une base de départ pour un renouveau du dialogue œcuménique. Le travail inlassable du théologien-enseignant, enraciné au cœur de la prière eucharistique de l’Église, a fait de Louis Bouyer un témoin incontournable de ce que signifie une « redintegratio unitatis » en Esprit et vérité.
De la facticité à la métaphysique : Heidegger a-t-il bien lu Augustin ?
Authors: Meessen Yves
Published: April 2015

Dans le cours Augustinus und der Neuplatonismus (1921), Heidegger affirme qu’Augustin délaisse l’expérience de la vie facticielle parce qu’il opte pour l’appareil conceptuel du néo-platonisme. La reprise méthodique de l’analyse heideggérienne montre qu’Augustin n’abandonne pas la facticité de la vie. Cette facticité révèle une métaphysique qui n’est pas basée sur la compréhension mais sur la conversion, laquelle est le chemin indispensable vers la vision de Dieu. Dans cette conversion s’instaure un rapport dialogal, spécifique à la foi, qui invite à poser la question de l’être sur de nouvelles bases.
In memoriam Jean-Marie cardinal Lustiger (1926-2007). Hommage à un Curé de Paris
Authors: Heller Karin
Published: April 2015

Jean-Marie Lustiger a fait de la liturgie une priorité de son ministère paroissial. Sa forte personnalité est inséparable de sa vision de l’Eucharistie, origine, centre, et aboutissement de toute la vie paroissiale. La référence constante à l’Écriture et à la sacramentalité a conduit prêtres et fidèles à assumer leurs histoires dans l’union au Christ Rédempteur. La création d’un répertoire musicale en français, propre aux trois années liturgiques, faisait de chacun un acteur du récit évangélique et élevait l’assemblée au statut de partenaire véritable de la célébration.
Esquisse d’un tournant phénoménologico-herméneutique de l’exégèse coranique
Authors: Camilleri Sylvain
Published: April 2015

En islam, le Coran est le centre vital de la vie religieuse. Toute réflexion théorique et attitude pratique qui se rencontrent se déterminent en fonction de l’interprétation du Coran. C’est dire combien l’exégèse du texte coranique est un enjeu majeur des débats contemporains sur la place de la religion islamique dans le monde moderne. Cette contribution voudrait s’inscrire dans un mouvement relativement récent de revitalisation des études islamo-coraniques initié par des penseurs tels Fazlur Rahman, Mohammed Arkoun ou Nasr Hamid Abu Zeid, en montrant les bénéfices que l’on peut tirer d’une application systématique de la méthode phénoménologique et de la méthode herméneutiques au texte sacré de l’islam.
Charles de Foucauld et la traversée de nos déserts
Authors: Madelin Henri
Published: April 2015

Charles de Foucauld, désormais béatifié, tient une place originale dans la palette, haute en couleurs, des saints et saintes de notre histoire. Ce nouveau bienheureux a fait resplendir une sainteté d’un genre encore inédit. Toute sa vie, et dès avant sa retentissante conversion, il affronte les déserts affectifs, géographiques, culturels et religieux de notre temps. Il pratique, jusqu’à sa fin tragique, le culte des extrêmes, comme une vigie plantée au milieu des lointains, comme une sentinelle postée aux frontières d’un monde inconnu de ses contemporains. Sa solitude assumée au fond du Hoggar est une sorte de préfiguration de celle que vivent les apôtres jetés, pour le service de Dieu, au sein de foules modernes désemparées.
François de Sales a-t-il composé un commentaire du Cantique des Cantiques ?
Authors: Noye Irénée
Published: April 2015

Un bref commentaire du Cantique figure parmi les œuvres de saint François de Sales, depuis que Jeanne de Chantal en découvrit l’autographe quinze ans après sa mort ; elle s’étonnait qu’il n’en eût jamais parlé. Or, un petit volume anonyme de 1604 fournit un texte plus abondant, mais fort mal composé, qui en est certainement la source et qu’il s’appliqua à améliorer, mais qu’il semble impossible de lui attribuer.
Les voix de la Parole
Authors: Léna Marguerite
Published: April 2015

Le synode sur « la Parole de Dieu dans la vie et la mission de l’Église » qui s’est tenu à Rome du 5 au 27 octobre a vérifié l’affirmation de Lumen Gentium selon laquelle c’est dans les Églises particulières et « à partir d’elles qu’existe l’Église catholique une et unique » ( LG , 23). Les interventions des Pères synodaux ont manifesté le travail et la fécondité de la Parole de Dieu à travers les situations les plus diverses, et montré combien le thème retenu pour ce synode et les perspectives qu’il ouvre contribuent à la réception des textes majeurs du Concile Vatican II.
La substitution inclusive au fondement de la morale chrétienne chez H.U. von Balthasar
Authors: Pouliquen Tanguy-Marie
Published: April 2015

Le rapport entre les concepts de « liberté » et de « substitution » semble antinomique, ce qui légitimerait à première vue sa mauvaise réception dans la théologie francophone. Comment accepter en effet que le Christ se substitue, sur la Croix, à ma liberté pour la libérer ? Pour éviter tout contresens fondamental, un élargissement du champ sémantique à partir de sa signification étymologique première, Stellvertretung , permet d’établir son sens positif pour l’anthropologie morale. La substitution loin d’éliminer la liberté la promeut en la mettant à sa vraie place ( Stelle ). Analysée dans une perspective d’inclusion, la substitution détermine, à la suite de H.U. von Balthasar ici étudié, une morale chrétienne radicalement « pour l’autre ».
L’espérance chrétienne dans les sociétés postmodernes
Authors: Souletie Jean-Louis
Published: April 2015

La modernité est inquiète et désenchantée. Son histoire récente comme le rappelle l’encyclique Spe salvi a éprouvé le caractère dramatique de ses utopies messianiques. Dans ce cadre, le tournant subjectif de la culture rend difficile l’établissement de consensus entre les citoyens. Malgré sa tentative, la théologie de la déprivatisation de la foi des années 1960 n’a pas endigué cette pente libérale des sociétés ultramodernes. Mais l’espérance chrétienne peut revendiquer une tâche éducative afin de contribuer non plus seulement à une critique de la société mais à l’invention avec d’autres d’un nouveau lien social.
De Dieu qui vient à l’homme : l’œuvre de Joseph Moingt
Authors: Begasse de Dhaem Amaury
Published: April 2015

Reliant L’homme qui venait de Dieu à Dieu qui vient à l’homme , l’article retrace l’architectonique et situe l’herméneutique de l’œuvre de Joseph Moingt. Théologie trinitaire de la révélation d’un Dieu-pour-nous , christologie de l’incarnation d’un Dieu-en-nous , chemin d’humanisation à la suite d’un Dieu-avec-nous répondent à l’inévidence de Dieu en modernité. Le rapport du questionnement à l’Écriture, le style théologique, le discernement du monde et la relation du Verbe et de Jésus ne laissent pas d’interroger cette stimulante synthèse, sous l’horizon du Dieu « tout en tous et en tout ».
L’Esprit Saint et les religions dans le magistère du pape Jean-Paul II
Authors: Guibert Vincent
Published: April 2015

Cet article présente de manière systématique le fruit théologique que Jean-Paul II a laissé à l’Église dans le domaine du dialogue interreligieux. Deux affirmations décisives sont mises en valeur. D’une part, l’Esprit Saint est l’origine de l’interrogation existentielle et religieuse de l’homme. D’autre part, la possibilité du salut est offerte aux hommes dans la pratique sincère de leur propre religion. La mission d’évangélisation de l’Église permet l’accomplissement dans le Christ de la valeur positive de ces religions.