bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Vinculaciones religiosas, milicias y cabildo: el linaje Viales Briceño en el partido de Nicoya (1768-1824)
Authors: Rodríguez Espinoza Arnaldo
Published: February 2017

Este artículo propone un estudio de la participación de la familia Viales Briceño en cuanto a las vinculaciones religiosas, milicias y el cabildo en el proceso de incorporación del partido de Nicoya a Costa Rica. Si bien, dicho tema ha sido estudiado de manera macro, este trabajo explora el papel protagónico que pudo haber tenido una élite local y su primacía al ocupar mayoritariamente los principales puestos políticos del ayuntamiento de Nicoya de 1813 a 1824.
Factors affecting financial stability of small and medium enterprises: A case study of emerging markets
Authors: Mbatha Nonhlanhla , Ngibe Musawenkosi
Published: February 2017

Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) play a significant role in the South African economy as they provide job opportunities to communities and contribute to the South African gross domestic product. However, the majority of small businesses lack financial skills, which results in the falsification of financial information and analysis and inaccurate financial reports leading to decline of confidence by investors and negative impact on stakeholders. Therefore, this study examines the critical factors that affect SME’s financial stability which in the long run result in the liquidation of SMEs.
The study was descriptive and quantitative in nature, using questionnaires to collect data from a sample of one hundred and twenty (120) SMEs across the Durban area. The findings show that lack of understanding of financial reporting has a negative impact on the financial stability of the business. Also the lack of insufficient financial experience proved to have a negative impact on the financial stability of SMEs. The study recommends that a short accounting programme should be developed by government incubators to assist and provide owners and accounts staff of SMEs with practical experience in financial reporting in order to increase their level of understanding financial reporting processes.
Accounting and auditing of sectional title property: An overview from the governance perspective in a developing country
Authors: Steenkamp Leandi
Published: February 2017

The sectional title industry has been a part of the property landscape in South Africa for almost half a century, and plays a profound role in addressing the housing problem in the country. Stakeholders such as owners and investors in sectional title property are in most cases not directly involved in the management thereof, and place reliance on the audited annual financial statements of bodies corporate for decision-making purposes. Although the industry seems to be highly regulated, the legislation regarding accounting and auditing of sectional title property is vague and ambiguous. Furthermore, there are no industry-specific auditing and accounting standards to guide accounting and auditing practitioners in performing their work and industry financial benchmarks are not readily available. In addition, financial pressure on sectional title schemes is often very high due to the fact that some owners exercise unrealistic pressure to keep monthly levies as low as possible. Very little academic research has been undertaken on the sectional title industry in South Africa from an accounting and auditing perspective. The aim of this article is threefold: Firstly, to discuss the findings of a literature review on uncertainties, ambiguity and confusing aspects in legislation regarding the audit of sectional title property that may cause or increase the audit expectation gap. Secondly, to discuss the empirical findings of accountancy-related aspects of a sample of body corporate financial statements and accompanying audit reports, in order to identify current benchmarks, challenges, trends, deficiencies in reporting and possible norms for the sectional title industry. Specific reference will be made to the difference between the bodies corporate in the Mangaung and Matjhabeng areas. Thirdly, practical recommendations will be made on possibilities of closing the expectation gap, and further research opportunities in this regard will be discussed.
Management through decentralisation and local economic development: A condition for sustainable urbanisation in Africa
Authors: Edoun Emmanuel Innocents
Published: February 2017

This paper is based on the premise that, urbanisation could be effective only if decentralisation policy is at the centre of development initiatives. In this way the paper argues, local authorities could utilize local resources to ignite local economic development (LED) through for instance trade activities and investments.LED initiatives aim at empowering local stakeholders to utilise business enterprises, labour, capital and other local resources effectively to maximise local benefits in order to contribute to poverty reduction and the uplifting of citizens life conditions. The paper is divided into four major parts. The first part gives a background of the notion of decentralisation, urbanisation and local economic development. The second part provides an overview of the review of the related literature while the third part gives an account on how the above are inter-related. The fourth part provides the challenges faced by urbanisation in achieving local economic development and part five is presented as conclusion and recommendations.
The efficiency effects of bank mergers: An analysis of case studies in Vietnam
Authors: Le Tu DQ
Published: February 2017

This paper employs Data Envelopment Analysis to examine the relative efficiency for Vietnamese banks from 2008 to 2015. Efficiency level is relatively high and remains stable over the examined period, suggesting the banking system is less affected by the global financial crisis. More specifically, technical efficiency and scale efficiency in Vietnamese banking is examined when controlling for problem loans. We suggest that controlling for the exogenous impact of problem loans is important for joint-stock banks. Furthermore, our results do not support the hypothesis that acquiring banks are more efficient than the acquired banks. The efficiency improved in majority of merger cases and was not related to acquiring bank’s efficiency advantage over its targets. Small-and medium- banks should be promoted in future acquisitions as a means to enjoying efficiency gains. Finally, there are mixed results on the extent to which the benefits of efficiency gains are passed on to the public.
Mergers and acquisitions: A synthesis of theories and directions for future research
Authors: Ben Letaifa Wissal
Published: February 2017

The purpose of this paper is to review a synthesis of theories and empirical studies dealing with the mergers and acquisitions in the recent decay in an attempt to provide directions for future research. The review focuses on four main streams including: first, the motives for mergers-acquisitions; which are the strategic profits, the overconfidence of managers and the desire to create a big empire resulting from merger. From second, corporate characteristics of firms that did merger or acquisition; third, the economic consequences of the operation of merger and acquisition and finally; fourth, the implication on the market with the impact of merger on the value of the firm. We think that this article can give another idea about the information disclosed by any company choosing to merge and can be analyzed by practitioners by giving them the theoretical background of the merger and acquisition problem.
Ecodesign: um novo paradigma moderno inscrito entre moda e consumo?
Authors: Mesacasa Andréia , Corona Hieda Maria Pagliosa , Mello Nilvânia Aparecida
Published: February 2017

Este artigo pretende analisar as relações existentes entre a modernidade, a moda que rege as formas do vestir, o consumo evidenciado pela sociedade capitalista e suas implicações na prática do ecodesign que integra um novo paradigma no contexto vivenciado pelos indivíduos e a natureza. A modernidade possui como principais características a separação entre tempo-espaço, o desenvolvimento dos mecanismos de desencaixe e a apropriação reflexiva do conhecimento que desloca a vida social da fixidez da tradição. Nesta perspectiva, a modernidade associa-se à racionalização, que impõe a destruição dos costumes e crenças tradicionais, sendo marcada por um apetite pelo novo. O apetite pelo novo é condição de existência da moda, traduzida pelo incessante processo de mudança de formas e estilos. Atuando em uma sociedade capitalista, moda está relacionada com o consumo e a obsolescência programada, que promovem a cultura do excesso contribuindo com a produção de resíduos e elevando os danos ambientais. Na atualidade, a relação entre o mundo dos objetos e o ambiente natural é intermediada pelo ecodesign, entendido como modelo projetual orientado por critérios ecológicos, que sintetiza um vasto conjunto de atividades projetuais, com a finalidade de enfrentar os temas postos pela questão ambiental partindo do redesenho dos produtos industriais.
Modelagem e simulação virtual de pá para rotor eólico de pequeno porte
Authors: Pires Julio Cesar , Oliveira Branca Freitas
Published: February 2017

Este trabalho apresenta um estudo para aerogerador de pequeno porte projetado para uso residencial. A ênfase está na modelagem e simulação virtual da estrutura das pás em compósito de fibra de vidro. A modelagem foi feita com software para desenho assistido por computador (CAD 3D). Para o projeto, foi escolhido o perfil MH110 que apresenta boa relação entre coeficiente de sustentação e coeficiente de arrasto e facilidade de fabricação. Os parâmetros como o diâmetro do rotor, a corda e a torção da pá, as relações entre velocidades e a aplicação de cargas na estrutura do material utilizado foram definidos segundo bibliografia específica, software para análise de perfil aerodinâmico e simulações pelo método dos elementos finitos. Procurou-se buscar sempre a maior eficiência, segurança e economia. O material foi projetado para resistir às tensões decorrentes de operação em condições consideradas normais e para rajadas de vento. A simulação pelo método dos elementos finitos foi conduzida com ferramenta computacional e levou em conta os limites de falha do material utilizado. A geometria foi simulada sem reforço interno e apresentou baixo deslocamento quando submetida às cargas aerodinâmicas de empuxo e rotacional. Ao realizar simulação com critério de falha, foi possível determinar a espessura mais adequada para o material compósito e verificar seu comportamento de acordo com diferentes velocidades de vento.
Reaproveitamento de resíduos de MDF da indústria moveleira
Authors: Da Silva Aline Freitas , De Figueiredo Carolina Finamore
Published: February 2017

Esta pesquisa é o estudo do reaproveitamento de resíduos de MDF da Cimol, uma indústria do Polo Moveleiro de Linhares, Espírito Santo, e apresenta conceitos como design sustentável, Ecodesign, Cradle to Cradle e outros. Dentro do contexto abordado, o designer tem contribuído para a busca de soluções, analisando custo-benefício de produtos que atendam as necessidades de seus usuários, sem que isso deixe de garantir às gerações futuras os recursos necessários para a manutenção da vida. Com base no conjunto de informações coletadas, observou-se uma preocupação do Polo Moveleiro de Linhares com as questões ambientais, reforçando a relevância desta pesquisa e a necessidade de um levantamento de resíduos, que é uma das metas descritas no Planejamento do Arranjo Produtivo Local para o próximo triênio, segundo o sindicato da região. Os resíduos da indústria podem ser aproveitados de forma mais efetiva, evitando o descarte e a extração desnecessária de matéria-prima da natureza. Foi demonstrada, através do projeto de uma mesa de centro, a possibilidade de produzir um mobiliário com qualidade semelhante ao que utiliza a chapa inteira de MDF, empregando princípios do design sustentável, bem como a possibilidade de projetar uma linha de produtos aproveitando os tamanhos variados dos resíduos da indústria.
Hepatitis A among refugees, asylum seekers and migrants living in hosting facilities, Greece, April to December 2016
Authors: Mellou Kassiani , Chrisostomou Anthi , Sideroglou Theologia , Georgakopoulou Theano , Kyritsi Maria , Hadjichristodoulou Christos , Tsiodras Sotirios
Published: February 2017

An increased number of hepatitis A cases among refugees, asylum seekers and migrants residing in hosting facilities in Greece were recorded between April and December 2016. In total, 177 laboratory-confirmed symptomatic cases were reported; of these, 149 (84%) occurred in hosting camps mostly among Syrian children under 15 years. All cases reported symptom onset after their entry into the country. Public health interventions focused on hygiene measures and vaccination.
Widespread activity of multiple lineages of Usutu virus, western Europe, 2016
Authors: Cadar Daniel , Lühken Renke , van der Jeugd Henk , Garigliany Mutien , Ziegler Ute , Keller Markus , Lahoreau Jennifer , Lachmann Lars , Becker Norbert , Kik Marja , Oude Munnink Bas B , Bosch Stefan , Tannich Egbert , Linden Annick , Schmidt Volker , Koopmans Marion P , Rijks Jolianne , Desmecht Daniel , Groschup Martin H , Reusken Chantal , Schmidt-Chanasit Jonas
Published: February 2017

In the summer of 2016, Belgium, France, Germany and the Netherlands reported widespread Usutu virus (USUV) activity based on live and dead bird surveillance. The causative USUV strains represented four lineages, of which two putative novel lineages were most likely recently introduced into Germany and spread to other western European countries. The spatial extent of the outbreak area corresponded with R0 values > 1. The occurrence of the outbreak, the largest USUV epizootic registered so far in Europe, allowed us to gain insight in how a recently introduced arbovirus with potential public health implications can spread and become a resident pathogen in a naïve environment. Understanding the ecological and epidemiological factors that drive the emergence or re-emergence of USUV is critical to develop and implement timely surveillance strategies for adequate preventive and control measures. Public health authorities, blood transfusion services and clinicians in countries where USUV was detected should be aware of the risk of possible USUV infection in humans, including in patients with unexplained encephalitis or other neurological impairments, especially during late summer when mosquito densities peak.
Comparison of California Bearing Ratio and Pin Puncture Strength Testing Used in the Evaluation of Geotextiles
Authors: Van Dyke Stacy , Titi Hani , El-Hajjar Rani
Published: February 2017

Geotextiles are commonly used in pavements, earth retaining structures, and landfills, as well as in other geotechnical applications. The puncture strength test evaluates the ability of geotextiles to withstand stresses and loads during construction, which are among the severe conditions that geotextiles can experience. ASTM has recently replaced the standard pin puncture strength test, D4833, with the California bearing ratio (CBR) puncture strength test, D6241. However, many state departments of transportation and the FHWA still refer to ASTM D4833. Other state departments of transportation refer to ASTM D4833 and to D6241 or provide a list of alternative test methods to be considered in place of either of these tests. The objective of this research was to correlate the CBR and pin puncture strengths for various categories of geotextiles, regardless of weave type and mass per unit area. Five types of polypropylene geotextiles, three nonwoven and two woven, were subjected to testing in accordance with ASTM D4833 and D6241 standard procedures. Ten and 15 samples of each geotextile type were tested with CBR and pin puncture strength tests, respectively. All five types of geotextiles exhibited puncture strength values, whether pin or CBR, which were consistent within each group. Similarly, distinct load-displacement curves were exhibited within each material group. Statistical analyses were conducted to establish a correlation between the CBR and pin puncture strength values. The correlations were successfully used to estimate the CBR puncture strength values from the pin test with reasonable accuracy ( R2 = .78).
Policing the British Empire on the Bund: The Origin of the Sikh Police Unit in Shanghai
Authors: Yin Cao
Published: February 2017

Red-turbaned Sikh policemen have long been viewed as symbols of the cosmopolitan feature of modern Shanghai. However, the origin of the Sikh police unit in the Shanghai Municipal Police has not been seriously investigated. This article argues that the circulation of police officers, policing knowledge, and information in the British colonial network and the circulation of the idea of taking Hong Kong as the reference point amongst Shanghailanders from the 1850s to the 1880s played important role in the establishment of the Sikh police force in the International Settlement of Shanghai. Furthermore, by highlighting the translocal connections and interactions amongst British colonies and settlements, this study tries to break the metropole-colony binary in imperial history studies.
Another British World? Tamils, Empire, and Mobility
Authors: Ratnapalan L. M.
Published: February 2017

This article addresses a need for refinement and greater conceptual clarity about non-white British identity in the British Empire and its aftermath, by focussing on the Tamils of Jaffna in northern Ceylon (Sri Lanka). Tamils from socially and intellectually elite backgrounds exemplify the nuances of a particular type of non-white ‘British’ identity, which are explored here as variously functional, ascribed, and emotional. ‘Functional’ refers to modes of identification in which Tamils attempted to call on a British moral and intellectual heritage in order to achieve political goals. By contrast, ‘ascribed’ denotes a Britishness that was imposed on Tamils by other colonial subjects as a result of their perceived affiliation with British authority and power. Finally, ‘emotional’ identification with Britishness refers to residual or outmoded forms of attachment to a shared imperial identity, which were expressed by Tamils in the aftermath of the British Empire. While Tamils never simply self-identified as ‘British’, this article considers how Tamils were able to define themselves – and were identified by others – as such. What emerges from this enquiry is a broader and more nuanced conception of Britishness, which centrally positions colonial transitions in the formation of post-colonial identities.
Les syndromes d'immunodépression acquise du chat
Authors: Nigron Isabelle
Published: February 2017

Etude de 2 rétrovirus félins : FeLV et FIV. Ces maladies du chat sont des modèles intéressants pour l'étude du SIDA humain.
Contribution à la connaissance des Micro-Histeridae australiens (Coleoptera)
Authors: Gomy Yves
Published: February 2017

L'auteur donne de nouvelles localités pour 18 espèces de micro-Histeridae d'Australie.
Remarques taxonomiques et biogéographiques sur Carabus (Megodontus ) violaceus mixtus Géhin et les formes apparentées (Coleoptera Carabidae)
Authors: Keith Denis
Published: February 2017

Les Préalpes et le Jura méridional français abritent la sous-espèce mixtus s.l. du Carabus (Megodontus ) violaceus Linné. Les descriptions et l'examen des types permettent d'établir comme locus typicus le massif de la Chartreuse et de proposer la synonymie : cyaneolimbatus Kraatz, 1879 = mixtus Géhin, 1876 ; la sous-espèce peuplant le Vercors, désormais innommée, est nommée vocontianus. La répartition des différentes populations est donnée ainsi qu'une analyse exhaustive de la bibliographie.
Revaluation of biomass-derived furfuryl alcohol derivatives for the synthesis of carbocyclic nucleoside phosphonate analogues
Authors: Sidi Mohamed Bemba , Périgaud Christian , Mathé Christophe
Published: February 2017

The racemic synthesis of new carbocyclic nucleoside methylphosphonate analogues bearing purine bases (adenine and guanine) was accomplished using bio-sourced furfuryl alcohol derivatives. All compounds were prepared using a Mitsunobu coupling between the heterocyclic base and an appropriate carbocyclic precursor. After deprotection, the compounds were evaluated for their activity against a large number of viruses. However, none of them showed significant antiviral activity or cytotoxicity.
Period Change and Evolutionary Status of SW Tau
Authors: Devlen Ahmet , Acar Mert
Published: February 2017

In this work, the relation between the period change and evolutionary status of SW Tau, a Type II Cepheid variable, is examined. An (O–C) analysis of the times of maxima of SW Tau has been undertaken to determine this relation. SW Tau has the characteristic light curve shape of BL Her type stars. By taking into consideration SW Tau’s well-defined period decrease, obtained from the photometric observations, its position on the HR diagram in accordance with evolutionary models, and its chemical composition, we demonstrate that SW Tau is a Cepheid crossing the instability strip for the fourth time. SW Tau could be interpreted as being an early AGB star on the blueward evolutionary phase during shell helium burning.
On the Spectral Curvature of VHE Blazar 1ES 1011+496: Effect of Spatial Particle Diffusion
Authors: Sinha Atreyee , Sahayanathan S. , Acharya B. S. , Anupama G. C. , Chitnis V. R. , Singh B. B.
Published: February 2017

A detailed multi-epoch study of the broadband spectral behavior of the very high energy (VHE) source 1ES 1011+496 provides us with valuable information regarding the underlying particle distribution. Simultaneous observations of the source at optical/UV/X-ray/γ-ray during three different epochs, as obtained from Swift-UVOT/Swift-XRT/Fermi-LAT, are supplemented with the information available from the VHE telescope array, HAGAR. The long-term flux variability at the Fermi-LAT energies is clearly found to be lognormal. It is seen that the broadband spectral energy distribution of 1ES 1011+496 can be successfully reproduced by synchrotron and synchrotron self Compton emission models. Notably, the observed curvature in the photon spectrum at X-ray energies demands a smooth transition of the underlying particle distribution from a simple power law to a power law with an exponential cutoff, or a smooth broken power law distribution, which may possibly arise when the escape of the particles from the main emission region is energy dependent. Specifically, if the particle escape rate is related to its energy as

E

0.5

, then the observed photon spectrum is consistent with the ones observed during the various epochs.
On the Existence of the Kolmogorov Inertial Range in the Terrestrial Magnetosheath Turbulence
Authors: Huang S. Y. , Hadid L. Z. , Sahraoui F. , Yuan Z. G. , Deng X. H.
Published: February 2017

In the solar wind, power spectral density (PSD) of the magnetic field fluctuations generally follow the so-called Kolmogorov spectrum f
−5/3 in the inertial range, where the dynamics is thought to be dominated by nonlinear interactions between counter-propagating incompressible Alfvén wave parquets. These features are thought to be ubiquitous in space plasmas. The present study gives a new and more complex picture of magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) turbulence as observed in the terrestrial magnetosheath. The study uses three years of in situ data from the Cluster mission to explore the nature of the magnetic fluctuations at MHD scales in different locations within the magnetosheath, including flanks and subsolar regions. It is found that the magnetic field fluctuations at MHD scales generally have a PSD close to f
−1 (shallower than the Kolmogorov one f
−5/3) down to the ion characteristic scale, which recalls the energy-containing scales of solar wind turbulence. The Kolmogorov spectrum is observed only away from the bow shock toward the flank and the magnetopause regions in 17% of the analyzed time intervals. Measuring the magnetic compressibility, it is shown that only a fraction (35%) of the observed Kolmogorov spectra was populated by shear Alfvénic fluctuations, whereas the majority of the events (65%) was found to be dominated by compressible magnetosonic-like fluctuations, which contrasts with well-known turbulence properties in the solar wind. This study gives a first comprehensive view of the origin of the f
−1 and the transition to the Kolmogorov inertial range; both questions remain controversial in solar wind turbulence.
The Chemical Composition of an Extrasolar Kuiper-Belt-Object*
Authors: Xu (许偲艺) S. , Zuckerman B. , Dufour P. , Young E. D. , Klein B. , Jura M.
Published: February 2017

The Kuiper Belt of our solar system is a source of short-period comets that may have delivered water and other volatiles to Earth and the other terrestrial planets. However, the distribution of water and other volatiles in extrasolar planetary systems is largely unknown. We report the discovery of an accretion of a Kuiper-Belt-Object analog onto the atmosphere of the white dwarf WD 1425+540. The heavy elements C, N, O, Mg, Si, S, Ca, Fe, and Ni are detected, with nitrogen observed for the first time in extrasolar planetary debris. The nitrogen mass fraction is ∼2%, comparable to that in comet Halley and higher than in any other known solar system object. The lower limit to the accreted mass is ∼1022 g, which is about one hundred thousand times the typical mass of a short-period comet. In addition, WD 1425+540 has a wide binary companion, which could facilitate perturbing a Kuiper-Belt-Object analog into the white dwarf’s tidal radius. This finding shows that analogs to objects in our Kuiper Belt exist around other stars and could be responsible for the delivery of volatiles to terrestrial planets beyond the solar system.
SNe Ia Keep Memory of Their Progenitor Metallicity
Authors: Piersanti Luciano , Bravo Eduardo , Cristallo Sergio , Domínguez Inmaculada , Straniero Oscar , Tornambé Amedeo , Martínez-Pinedo Gabriel
Published: February 2017

The ultimate understanding of SNe Ia diversity is one of the most urgent issues to exploit thermonuclear explosions of accreted White Dwarfs (WDs) as cosmological yardsticks. In particular, we investigate the impact of the progenitor system metallicity on the physical and chemical properties of the WD at the explosion epoch. We analyze the evolution of CO WDs through the accretion and simmering phases by using evolutionary models based on time-dependent convective mixing and an extended nuclear network including the most important electron captures, beta decays, and URCA processes. We find that, due to URCA processes and electron-captures, the neutron excess and density at which the thermal runaway occurs are substantially larger than previously claimed. Moreover, we find that the higher the progenitor metallicity, the larger the neutron excess variation during the accretion and simmering phases and the higher the central density and the convective velocity at the explosion. Hence, the simmering phase acts as an amplifier of the differences existing in SNe Ia progenitors. When applying our results to the neutron excess estimated for the Tycho and Kepler young supernova remnants, we derive that the metallicity of the progenitors should be in the range

, close to the average metallicity value of the thin disk of the Milky Way. As the amount of

produced in the explosion depends on the neutron excess and central density at the thermal runaway, our results suggest that the light curve properties depend on the progenitor metallicity.
The V4 Countries and the Impacts of the Austerity Cuts on their Defence Spending and Armed Forces
Authors: Kufčák Jakub
Published: February 2017

This article analyses the impacts of the austerity cuts on the defence spending and armed forces of the V4 countries. This is achieved through combination of three analytical approaches - firstly by looking at defence expenditure in constant $ from SIPRI data, secondly by comparing the respective structures of these defence budgets from the NATO data, and thirdly by analysing how these developments and economic realities translated into the level of the respective national armies and if/how were the political ambitions for foreign deployments for these armies modified, if/how was the force structure reformed, if/which capabilities were slashed and if/which modernisation plans were postponed. This research design yielded several results even though the utility of the V4 analytical framework proved to be, thanks to vast discrepancies between the sample countries, limited. The conditions of small states armies did not allow the V4 countries to make significant cuts in the number of military personnel as bigger countries in Europe were able to execute in order to protect their equipment expenditures that are vital for modernisation. Consequently, the V4 countries were left with soaring personnel expenditures and gradually diminishing funds for investments. Curiously, Slovakia proved to be the only country where the decline in defence expenditure can be at least partially tied to austerity cuts and the economic crisis.
African Piracy: From the Perspective of African Actors
Authors: Piknerová Linda
Published: February 2017

This article aims to analyze the phenomenon of African piracy from the beginning of 90's until nowadays. The beginning of the article is dedicated to a detailed overview of piracy and the number of piracy attacks in previous decades. The following part is focused on the relationship between security challenges in an African context and the phenomenon of piracy which represents one of the many security problems that Africa now faces. The last part aims to present some strategies of selected regional African key players which have taken up a fight against piracy, trying to eliminate it through their own actions. The African Union has been selected as the most influential Pan-African organization in leading African counter-piracy politics; Southern, Eastern and Western African regional organizations have also been selected as key players in building their own counter-piracy strategies in their regions.
Les marchés de dette obligataire en devise locale en Amérique latine
Authors: Cabrillac Bruno , Ferrer Marie-Hélène
Published: February 2017

La qualité et la stabilité des politiques économiques en Amérique latine se sont sensiblement améliorées dans les deux dernières décennies et la progression des marchés de dette en monnaie locale a été soutenue. La volatilité des flux de capitaux reste cependant relativement élevée, entraînant celle des taux de change, et l’amélioration des politiques économiques paraît s’essouffler. De fait (de ce fait ?), le développement des marchés obligataires en monnaie locale s’est interrompu en 2012 en Amérique latine, alors qu’il s’est poursuivi en Asie émergente. Les économies émergentes d’Amérique latine sont confrontées aujourd’hui à un choc de termes de l’échange dû à la baisse des prix des matières premières et à la perspective de conditions financières mondiales plus restrictives. Dans ce contexte, des politiques publiques spécifiques et appuyées par la communauté internationale, conformément aux engagements du G7 et du G20, pour favoriser le développement des marchés obligataires en monnaie locale paraissent plus justifiées que jamais. Classification JEL : F30, F32, G15, O54.
L'expérience de CNP Assurances au Brésil
Authors: Boyancé Philippe , Larnaudie-Eiffel Xavier
Published: February 2017

L’implantation de CNP Assurances au Brésil est un succès. Au-delà de la maîtrise des techniques de valorisation des compagnies d’assurances, qui lui a valu d’emporter les enchères en 2001 pour l’acquisition de Caixa Seguradora, de nombreux facteurs ont contribué à cette réussite. Le premier d’entre eux est un partage des mêmes valeurs entre deux partenaires (CNP Assurances et la banque publique CAIXA) animés de l’ambition commune d’un développement durable. Pour arriver en 2015 à dégager un résultat net de 1,9 milliard de réals et à se hisser en quatrième position en termes de parts de marché, la filiale brésilienne a dû, peu après l’acquisition, se restructurer et rénover sa gamme de produits. En quinze ans, elle a su non seulement accroître sa présence au sein du réseau partenaire en capitalisant sur la marque CAIXA, très forte au Brésil, mais aussi conquérir de nouveaux clients hors du réseau de la banque tant par le lancement de nouveaux produits que par des opérations de croissance externe. Aujourd’hui, la clarté de sa gouvernance et la rigueur de son contrôle lui permettent de rester très éloignée des scandales politico-financiers qui secouent le Brésil. Bien que touchée par la récession brésilienne, issue en partie de ces scandales, CNP Assurances, qui reste confiante dans le potentiel de ses activités au Brésil, se lance dans la conquête du marché numérique avec la première plateforme d’assurances brésilienne 100 % digitale. Classification JEL : G22, L10, L25, O54.
Le corps au sein de la discipline infirmière : un incontournable pour lier les quatre concepts du méta-paradigme actuel
Authors: Vonarx Nicolas
Published: February 2017

Comment enseigner et pratiquer les soins infirmiers, développer ses connaissances et les assises disciplinaires en sciences infirmières sans considérer explicitement la place incontournable que tient le corps ici ? Ce texte revient sur le méta-paradigme de la discipline infirmière et les quatre concepts qui le composent, pour inscrire dans cette formalisation théorique le corps comme un cinquième concept. Il montre son utilité pour attacher ensemble et de manière cohérente les concepts de personne, santé, environnement et soin. Différentes déclinaisons du corps servent chaque fois de porte d’entrée pour inscrire et réunir les cinq concepts dans des micro-paradigmes spécifiques à partir desquels on peut repérer aisément la nature des soins et du prendre soin infirmiers, comme le type de savoirs qui sont enseignés et nécessaires dans les milieux de formation.
Pharmacology and Natural Therapies for Postconcussion Syndrome
Authors: Farah Andrew
Published: February 2017

Despite the high prevalence of traumatic brain injury, and the subsequent occurrence of neuropsychiatric sequelae, our evidence-based treatment strategies are thus far confined to physical therapy and rehabilitation medicine. Further, there are no standardized medication or natural-based recommendations for patients with postconcussion syndrome (PCS). Yet, clinicians are often presented with patients who have PCS seeking relief and who are anxious about their futures. Prescription-based treatment has traditionally limited to attempts at symptomatic relief, yet at least 20% of PCS patients will have persistent symptoms for more than 6 months, and a subset will face indefinite issues. Thus, clinicians should also be aware of neuroprotective strategies aimed at reducing the risk of prolonged deficits and future dementias as the result of multiple concussive injuries. Treatment of PCS should involve not only symptomatic relief, but also neuroprotective strategies, and both modalities should begin at initial patient encounters. This article reviews the pharmacotherapy aimed at ameliorating specific complaints, as well as the natural, neuroprotective strategies recommended for long-term use.

[
Psychiatr Ann
. 2017;47(2):83–87.]
Influence of employees’ perceived organizational support and job performance on customer satisfaction: an empirical support from Nepalese hospitality sector
Authors: Biswakarma Gangaram
Published: February 2017

This study investigated the interrelationship of Perceived Job Performance (PJP), Perceived Organizational Support (POS) and International Customer Satisfaction (CS) in Nepalese hospitality sector. The data were collected with 152 international customers and 158 hotel employees. Results indicate that Perceived Job Performance and Perceived Organizational Support is directly related to International Customer Satisfaction, though no direct effect of Perceived Organizational Support over Customer Satisfaction was found. Perceived Organizational Support significantly mediates partially between Perceived Job Performance and Customer Satisfaction. Thus, Perceived Job Performance can strongly relate with achieving higher level of Customer Satisfaction in hospitality sector with mediations of Perceived Organizational Support. It signifies that hospitality industry in Nepal, should pledge a proper inventiveness in the direction of creating an organizational employee supportive environment that need to increase the effect of job performance towards achieving the ultimate goal of customer satisfaction.
Loss of Twist1 in the Mesenchymal Compartment Promotes Increased Fibrosis in Experimental Lung Injury by Enhanced Expression of CXCL12
Authors: Tan Jiangning , Tedrow John R. , Nouraie Mehdi , Dutta Justin A. , Miller David T. , Li Xiaoyun , Yu Shibing , Chu Yanxia , Juan-Guardela Brenda , Kaminski Naftali , Ramani Kritika , Biswas Partha S. , Zhang Yingze , Kass Daniel J.
Published: February 2017

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a disease characterized by the accumulation of apoptosis-resistant fibroblasts in the lung. We have previously shown that high expression of the transcription factor Twist1 may explain this prosurvival phenotype in vitro. However, this observation has never been tested in vivo. We found that loss of Twist1 in COL1A2+ cells led to increased fibrosis characterized by very significant accumulation of T cells and bone marrow–derived matrix-producing cells. We found that Twist1-null cells expressed high levels of the T cell chemoattractant CXCL12. In vitro, we found that the loss of Twist1 in IPF lung fibroblasts increased expression of CXCL12 downstream of increased expression of the noncanonical NF-κB transcription factor RelB. Finally, blockade of CXCL12 with AMD3100 attenuated the exaggerated fibrosis observed in Twist1-null mice. Transcriptomic analysis of 134 IPF patients revealed that low expression of Twist1 was characterized by enrichment of T cell pathways. In conclusion, loss of Twist1 in collagen-producing cells led to increased bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis, which is mediated by increased expression of CXCL12. Twist1 expression is associated with dysregulation of T cells in IPF patients. Twist1 may shape the IPF phenotype and regulate inflammation in fibrotic lung injury.
Hierarchical Clustering Can Identify B Cell Clones with High Confidence in Ig Repertoire Sequencing Data
Authors: Gupta Namita T. , Adams Kristofor D. , Briggs Adrian W. , Timberlake Sonia C. , Vigneault Francois , Kleinstein Steven H.
Published: February 2017

Adaptive immunity is driven by the expansion, somatic hypermutation, and selection of B cell clones. Each clone is the progeny of a single B cell responding to Ag, with diversified Ig receptors. These receptors can now be profiled on a large scale by next-generation sequencing. Such data provide a window into the microevolutionary dynamics that drive successful immune responses and the dysregulation that occurs with aging or disease. Clonal relationships are not directly measured, but they must be computationally inferred from these sequencing data. Although several hierarchical clustering-based methods have been proposed, they vary in distance and linkage methods and have not yet been rigorously compared. In this study, we use a combination of human experimental and simulated data to characterize the performance of hierarchical clustering-based methods for partitioning sequences into clones. We find that single linkage clustering has high performance, with specificity, sensitivity, and positive predictive value all >99%, whereas other linkages result in a significant loss of sensitivity. Surprisingly, distance metrics that incorporate the biases of somatic hypermutation do not outperform simple Hamming distance. Although errors were more likely in sequences with short junctions, using the entire dataset to choose a single distance threshold for clustering is near optimal. Our results suggest that hierarchical clustering using single linkage with Hamming distance identifies clones with high confidence and provides a fully automated method for clonal grouping. The performance estimates we develop provide important context to interpret clonal analysis of repertoire sequencing data and allow for rigorous testing of other clonal grouping algorithms.
On Asymptotically Orthonormal
Sequences
Authors: Fricain Emmanuel , Rupam Rishika
Published: February 2017

An asymptotically orthonormal sequence is a sequence that is nearly orthonormal in the sense that it satisfies the Parseval equality up to two constants close to one. In this paper, we explore such sequences formed by normalized reproducing kernels for model spaces and de Branges– Rovnyak spaces.
Edificio de viviendas en Oporto. Portugal
Authors: Adalberto Dias Arquitecto
Published: February 2017

El edifício esta situado en los terrenos de colmatación a lo largo del cinturón interno, entre a Avda. Boavista y Campo Alegre. El plano de detalle existente proponía para este lote un edíficio de un sólo cuerpo, compacto – prisma de cinco lados, descansando en el centro de un gran zócalo de zona comercial.
Acetone–CO enhancement ratios in the upper troposphere based on 7 years of CARIBIC data: new insights and estimates of regional acetone fluxes
Authors: Fischbeck Garlich , Bönisch Harald , Neumaier Marco , Brenninkmeijer Carl A. M. , Orphal Johannes , Brito Joel , Becker Julia , Sprung Detlev , van Velthoven Peter F. J. , Zahn Andreas
Published: February 2017

Abstract. Acetone and carbon monoxide (CO) are two important trace gases controlling the oxidation capacity of the troposphere; enhancement ratios (EnRs) are useful in assessing their sources and fate between emission and sampling, especially in pollution plumes. In this study, we focus on in situ data from the upper troposphere recorded by the passenger-aircraft-based IAGOS–CARIBIC (In-service Aircraft for a Global Observing System–Civil Aircraft for the Regular Investigation of the atmosphere Based on an Instrument Container) observatory over the periods 2006–2008 and 2012–2015. This dataset is used to investigate the seasonal and spatial variation of acetone–CO EnRs. Furthermore, we utilize a box model accounting for dilution, chemical degradation and secondary production of acetone from precursors. In former studies, increasing acetone–CO EnRs in a plume were associated with secondary production of acetone. Results of our box model question this common presumption and show increases of acetone–CO EnR over time without taking secondary production of acetone into account. The temporal evolution of EnRs in the upper troposphere, especially in summer, is not negligible and impedes the interpretation of EnRs as a means for partitioning of acetone and CO sources in the boundary layer. In order to ensure that CARIBIC EnRs represent signatures of source regions with only small influences by dilution and chemistry, we limit our analysis to temporal and spatial coherent events of high-CO enhancement. We mainly focus on North America and Southeast Asia because of their different mix of pollutant sources and the good data coverage. For both regions, we find the expected seasonal variation in acetone–CO EnRs with maxima in summer, but with higher amplitude over North America. We derive mean (± standard deviation) annual acetone fluxes of (53 ± 27) 10−13 kg m−2 s−1 and (185 ± 80) 10−13 kg m−2 s−1 for North America and Southeast Asia, respectively. The derived flux for North America is consistent with the inventories, whereas Southeast Asia acetone emissions appear to be underestimated by the inventories.
Enhanced toxicity of aerosol in fog conditions in the Po Valley, Italy
Authors: Decesari Stefano , Sowlat Mohammad H. , Hasheminassab Sina , Sandrini Silvia , Gilardoni Stefania , Facchini Maria Cristina , Fuzzi Sandro , Sioutas Constantinos
Published: February 2017

Abstract. While numerous studies have demonstrated the association between outdoor exposure to atmospheric particulate matter (PM) and adverse health effects, the actual chemical species responsible for PM toxicological properties remain a subject of investigation. We provide here reactive oxygen species (ROS) activity data for PM samples collected at a rural site in the Po Valley, Italy, during the fog season (i.e., November–March). We show that the intrinsic ROS activity of Po Valley PM, which is mainly composed of biomass burning and secondary aerosols, is comparable to that of traffic-related particles in urban areas. The airborne concentration of PM components responsible for the ROS activity decreases in fog conditions, when water-soluble species are scavenged within the droplets. Thanks to this partitioning effect of fog, the measured ROS activity of fog water was contributed mainly by water-soluble organic carbon (WSOC) and secondary inorganic ions rather than by transition metals. We found that the intrinsic ROS activity of fog droplets is even greater (> 2.5 times) than that of the PM on which droplets are formed, indicating that redox-active compounds are not only scavenged from the particulate phase, but are also produced within the droplets. Therefore, even if fog formation exerts a scavenging effect on PM mass and redox-active compounds, the aqueous-phase formation of reactive secondary organic compounds can eventually enhance ROS activity of PM when fog evaporates. These findings, based on a case study during a field campaign in November 2015, indicate that a significant portion of airborne toxicity in the Po Valley is largely produced by environmental conditions (fog formation and fog processing) and not simply by the emission and transport of pollutants.
Small-scale variability in geomorphological settings influences mangrove-derived organic matter export in a tropical bay
Authors: Signa Geraldina , Mazzola Antonio , Kairo James , Vizzini Salvatrice
Published: February 2017

Abstract. Organic matter (OM) exchanges between adjacent habitats affect the dynamics and functioning of coastal systems, as well as the role of the different primary producers as energy and nutrient sources in food webs. Elemental (C, N, C : N) and isotope (δ13C) signatures and fatty acid (FA) profiles were used to assess the influence of geomorphological setting in two climatic seasons on the export and fate of mangrove OM across a tidally influenced tropical area, Gazi Bay (Kenya). The main results indicate that tidal transport, along with riverine runoff, plays a significant role in the distribution of mangrove organic matter. In particular, a marked spatial variability in the export of organic matter from mangroves to adjacent habitats was due to the different settings of the creeks flowing into the bay. Kinondo Creek acted as a mangrove retention site, where export of mangrove material was limited to the contiguous intertidal area, while Kidogoweni Creek acted as a flow-through system, from which mangrove material spreads into the bay, especially in the rainy season. This pattern was evident from the isotopic signature of primary producers, which were more 13C-depleted in the Kinondo Creek and nearby, due to the lower dilution of the dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) pool, typically depleted as an effect of intense mangrove mineralisation. Despite the trapping efficiency of the seagrass canopy, suspended particulate OM showed the important contribution of mangroves across the whole bay, up to the coral reef, as an effect of the strong ebb tide. Overall, mixing model outcomes indicated a widespread mixed contribution of both allochthonous and autochthonous OM sources across Gazi Bay. Moreover, FAs indicated a notable contribution of brown macroalgae and bacteria in both sediment and suspended pools. These results suggest that ecological connectivity in Gazi Bay is strongly influenced by geomorphological setting, which may have far-reaching consequences for the functioning of the whole ecosystem and the local food webs.