bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An evaluation of ANN methods for estimating the lengths of hydraulic jumps in U-shaped channel
Authors: Houichi Larbi , Dechemi Noureddine , Heddam Salim , Achour Bachir
Published: November 2012

Modelling of hydraulic characteristics of jump using theoretical and empirical models has always been a difficult task. The length of jump may be defined as the distance measured from the toe of the jump to the location of the surface rise. Due to high turbulence this length cannot be determined easily by theory. However, it has been investigated experimentally so as to design the stilling basins with hydraulic jumps. In this work, the control of a hydraulic jump by broad-crested sills in a U-shaped channel is recalled theoretically and experimentally examined. The study begins with a multiple regression (MR) analysis. Then, and in order to model the relative lengths of hydraulic jumps, we have implemented and evaluated two different artificial neural networks (ANN): multilayer perceptron neural network (MLPNN) and generalized regression neural network (GRNN). The results demonstrate the predictive strength of GRNN and its potential to predict hydraulic problems with an adaptive spread value. However, the MLPNN model remains best classified by these indexes of performance.
Developing reservoir operational decision rule by genetic programming
Authors: Fallah-Mehdipour E. , Bozorg Haddad O. , Mariño M. A.
Published: November 2012

The reservoir operational decision rule is an equation that can balance reservoir system parameters in each period by considering previous experiences of the system. That equation includes variables such as inflow, volume storage and released water from the reservoir that are commonly related to each other by some constant coefficients in predefined linear and nonlinear patterns. Although optimization tools have been extensively applied to develop an optimal operational decision rule, only optimal constant coefficients have been derived and the operational patterns are assumed to be fixed in that operational rule curve. Genetic programming (GP) is an evolutionary algorithm (EA), based on genetic algorithm (GA), which is capable of calculating an operational rule curve by considering optimal operational undefined patterns. In this paper, GP is used to extract optimal operational decision rules in two case studies by meeting downstream water demands and hydropower energy generation. The extracted rules are compared with common linear and nonlinear decision rules, LDR and NLDR, determined by a software package for interactive general optimization (LINGO) and GA. The GP rule improves the objective functions in the training and testing data sets by 2.48 and 8.53%, respectively, compared to the best rule by LINGO and GA in supplying downstream demand. Similarly, the hydropower energy generation improves by 48.03 and 44.21% in the training and testing data sets, respectively. Results show that the obtained objective function value is enhanced significantly for both the training and testing data using GP. They also indicate that the proposed rule, based on GP, is effective in determining optimal rule curves for reservoirs.
Considering an Integrated Nephrology Care Delivery Model
Authors: Hamm L. Lee , Hostetter Thomas H. , Shaffer Rachel N.
Published: November 2012

In 2012, 27 organizations will initiate participation in the Medicare Shared Savings Program as Accountable Care Organizations. This level of participation reflects the response of Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to criticism that the program as outlined in the proposed rule was overly burdensome, prescriptive, and too risky. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Service made significant changes in the final rule, making the Accountable Care Organization program more attractive to these participants. However, none of these changes addressed the serious concerns raised by subspecialty societies—including the American Society of Nephrology—regarding care of patients with multiple chronic comorbidities and complex and end stage conditions. Virtually all of these concerns remain unaddressed, and consequently, Accountable Care Organizations will require guidance and partnership from the nephrology community to ensure that these patients are identified and receive the individualized care that they require. Although the final rule fell short of addressing the needs of patients with kidney disease, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation presents an opportunity to test the potentially beneficial concepts of the Accountable Care Organization program within this patient population. The American Society of Nephrology Accountable Care Organization Task Force developed a set of principles that must be reflected in a possible pilot program or demonstration project of an integrated nephrology care delivery model. These principles include preserving a leadership role for nephrologists, encompassing care for patients with later-stage CKD and kidney transplants as well as ESRD, enabling the participation of a diversity of dialysis provider sizes and types, facilitating research, and establishing monitoring systems to identify and address preferential patient selection or changes in outcomes.
A Woman with GN Presenting during Pregnancy
Authors: Hou Susan
Published: November 2012

The combination of kidney disease and pregnancy has long been recognized as a high-risk situation. When renal disease is recognized for the first time during pregnancy, it presents unique problems for both the obstetric and the renal teams. Particularly difficult can be distinguishing preeclampsia from preexisting kidney disease in women presenting for the first time with hypertension, proteinuria, and reduced GFR during pregnancy. Decision-making regarding performing a kidney biopsy and treatment of glomerular disease during pregnancy is often much more complicated by safety concerns for both the mother and the developing fetus.
Albuminuria and Rapid Loss of GFR and Risk of New Hip and Pelvic Fractures
Authors: Barzilay Joshua I. , Gao Peggy , Clase Catherine M. , Mente Andrew , Mann Johannes F.E. , Sleight Peter , Yusuf Salim , Teo Koon K.
Published: November 2012

Background and objectives

The microvascular circulation plays an important role in bone health. This study examines whether albuminuria, a marker of renal microvascular disease, is associated with incident hip and pelvic fractures.

Design, setting, participants, & measurements

This study reanalyzed data from the Ongoing Telmisartan Alone and in combination with Ramipril Global End Point Trial/Telmisartan Randomized Assessment Study in Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Intolerant Subjects with Cardiovascular Disease trials, which examined the impact of renin angiotensin system blockade on cardiovascular outcomes (n=28,601). Albuminuria was defined as an albumin-to-creatinine ratio≥30 mg/g (n=4597). Cox proportional hazards models were used to determine the association of albuminuria with fracture risk adjusted for known risk factors for fractures, estimated GFR, and rapid decline in estimated GFR (≥5%/yr).

Results

There were 276 hip and pelvic fractures during a mean of 4.6 years of follow-up. Participants with baseline albuminuria had a significantly increased risk of fracture compared with participants without albuminuria (unadjusted hazard ratio=1.62 [1.22, 2.15], P<0.001; adjusted hazard ratio=1.36 [1.01, 1.84], P=0.05). A dose-dependent relationship was observed, with macroalbuminuria having a large fracture risk (unadjusted hazard ratio=2.01 [1.21, 3.35], P=0.007; adjusted hazard ratio=1.71 [1.007, 2.91], P=0.05) and microalbuminuria associating with borderline or no statistical significance (unadjusted hazard ratio=1.52 [1.10, 2.09], P=0.01; adjusted hazard ratio=1.28 [0.92, 1.78], P=0.15). Estimated GFR was not a predictor of fracture in any model, but rapid loss of estimated GFR over the first 2 years of follow-up predicted subsequent fracture (adjusted hazard ratio=1.47 [1.05, 2.04], P=0.02).

Conclusions

Albuminuria, especially macroalbuminuria, and rapid decline of estimated GFR predict hip and pelvic fractures. These findings support a theoretical model of a relationship between underlying causes of microalbuminuria and bone disease.
Pitfalls of calculating hospital readmission rates based on nonvalidated administrative data sets
Authors: Amin Beejal Y. , Tu Tsung-Hsi , Schairer William W. , Na Lumine , Takemoto Steven , Berven Sigurd , Deviren Vedat , Ames Christopher , Chou Dean , Mummaneni Praveen V.
Published: November 2012

Object

Administrative databases are increasingly being used to establish benchmarks for quality of care and to compare performance across peer hospitals. As proposals for accountable care organizations are being developed, readmission rates will be increasingly scrutinized. The purpose of the present study was to assess whether the all-cause readmissions rate appropriately reflects the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) Medical Center hospital's clinically relevant readmission rate for spine surgery patients and to identify predictors of readmission.

Methods

Data for 5780 consecutive patient encounters managed by 10 spine surgeons at UCSF Medical Center from October 2007 to June 2011 were abstracted from the University HealthSystem Consortium (UHC) using the Clinical Data Base/Resource Manager. Of these 5780 patient encounters, 281 patients (4.9%) were rehospitalized within 30 days of the previous discharge date. The authors performed an independent chart review to determine clinically relevant reasons for readmission and extracted hospital administrative data to calculate direct costs. Univariate logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate possible predictors of readmission. The two-sample t-test was used to examine the difference in direct cost between readmission and nonreadmission cases.

Results

The main reasons for readmission were infection (39.8%), nonoperative management (13.4%), and planned staged surgery (12.4%). The current all-cause readmission algorithm resulted in an artificially high readmission rate from the clinician's point of view. Based on the authors' manual chart review, 69 cases (25% of the 281 total readmissions) should be excluded because 39 cases (13.9%) were planned staged procedures; 16 cases (5.7%) were unrelated to spine surgery; and 14 surgical cases (5.0%) were cancelled or rescheduled at index admission due to unpredictable reasons. When these 69 cases are excluded, the direct cost of readmission is reduced by 29%. The cost variance is in excess of $3 million. Predictors of readmission were admission status (p < 0.0001), length of stay (p = 0.0001), risk of death (p < 0.0001), and age (p = 0.021).

Conclusions

The authors' findings identify the potential pitfalls in the calculation of readmission rates from administrative data sets. Benchmarking algorithms for defining hospitals' readmission rates must take into account planned staged surgery and eliminate unrelated reasons for readmission. When this is implemented in the calculation method, the readmission rate will be more accurate. Current tools overestimate the clinically relevant readmission rate and cost.
Development of Eastern Blotting Technique for Analysis of Baicalin Using Anti-Baicalin Monoclonal Antibody
Authors: Morinaga Osamu , Mukae Ryo , Uto Takuhiro , Pariyawongsakul Yothawathorn , Putalun Waraporn , Tanaka Hiroyuki , Shoyama Yukihiro
Published: November 2012

Scutellariae radix (S. radix) is one of the most important crude drugs used in Kampo medicines (KMs). A part of its pharmaceutical properties is due to flavone glycoside, baicalin (BI). A technique named eastern blotting was developed for the specific and easy identification of BI in the extracts of crude drugs and KMs using anti-BI monoclonal antibody (MAb). BI separated by silica gel thin-layer chromatography (TLC) transferred to a polyethersulfone (PES) membrane was treated with a NaIO4 solution and reacted with bovine serum albumin (BSA) preparing BI-BSA conjugate on the PES membrane. Anti-BI MAb was bound and then antibody labeled with peroxidase directed against anti-BI MAb. Finally, a substrate was added and then BI was detected. As little as 1 mg of BI was still detected on the PES membrane under immunostaining method. Various samples of S. radix and KMs which contain S. radix were qualitatively analyzed, and BI was visually detected by eastern blotting technique. Furthermore, this method was applied for the immunohistochemical study to investigate the distribution of BI in the fresh root of Scutellaria baicalensis using immunoblotting by transferred from fresh root to the PES membrane.
Cocaine Sensitization Increases Kyphosis and Modulates Neural Activity in Adult Nulliparous Rats
Authors: Nephew Benjamin , Caffrey Martha , Felix-Ortiz Ada , Febo Marcelo
Published: November 2012

Although data from both animals and humans suggests that adult cocaine use can have long term effects on behavior, it is unknown if prior cocaine use affects future maternal behavior in nulliparous females. In the current study, cocaine or saline was administered to adult female rats for 10 days, the animals were withdrawn from cocaine for 7 days, and the females were then exposed to donor pups to induce the expression of maternal behavior. Nulliparous females sensitized to cocaine were more likely to retrieve pups, spent more time caring for the pups, and were more likely to express full maternal behavior on day 8 of pup exposure. The fMRI data revealed significant effects of pup exposure in the hippocampal CA1 region, and effects of cocaine in the anterior thalamus and periaqueductal gray. Prior adult cocaine use may have lasting effects on offspring care, and this effect is not dependent on pup mediated effects or the endocrine changes of gestation and lactation. The present findings provide support for the hypothesis that maternal motivation to exhibit maternal behavior is enhanced by prior cocaine sensitization, possibly due to cross sensitization between cocaine and the natural reward of maternal behavior.
Entropy-Based Block Processing for Satellite Image Registration
Authors: Lee Ikhyun , Seo Doo-Chun , Choi Tae-Sun
Published: November 2012

Image registration is an important task in many computer vision applications such as fusion systems, 3D shape recovery and earth observation. Particularly, registering satellite images is challenging and time-consuming due to limited resources and large image size. In such scenario, state-of-the-art image registration methods such as scale-invariant feature transform (SIFT) may not be suitable due to high processing time. In this paper, we propose an algorithm based on block processing via entropy to register satellite images. The performance of the proposed method is evaluated using different real images. The comparative analysis shows that it not only reduces the processing time but also enhances the accuracy.
Correction: Long, H. et al. More Wind Power Integration with Adjusted Energy Carriers for Space Heating in Northern China. Energies 2012, 5, 3279-3294.
Authors: Long Hongyu , Xu Kunyao , Xu Ruilin , He Jianjun , Wu Kai , Guo Li
Published: November 2012

In the original version of the article published in Energies [1], insufficient acknowledgement was given for the contributors Mr. Li Guo and Prof. Kai Wu in Xi’an Jiaotong University. The main work was completed by the research group in Xi’an Jiaotong University led by Prof. Kai Wu. Mr. Li Guo was his master student who gave a lot of efforts in the measurement of daily loads of heating and electricity in different families, and his data was used in Section 2.1. Prof. Kai Wu was involved in the whole work; he put forward the basic idea, made the research plan and participated in the detailed discussion about the algorithm for calculation. [...]
DNA Damage and Repair in Epithelium after Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation
Authors: Themeli Maria , Spyridonidis Alexandros
Published: November 2012

Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) in humans, following hematoablative treatment, results in biological chimeras. In this case, the transplanted hematopoietic, immune cells and their derivatives can be considered the donor genotype, while the other tissues are the recipient genotype. The first sequel, which has been recognized in the development of chimerical organisms after allo-HSCT, is the graft versus host (GvH) reaction, in which the new developed immune cells from the graft recognize the host’s epithelial cells as foreign and mount an inflammatory response to kill them. There is now accumulating evidence that this chronic inflammatory tissue stress may contribute to clinical consequences in the transplant recipient. It has been recently reported that host epithelial tissue acquire genomic alterations and display a mutator phenotype that may be linked to the occurrence of a GvH reaction. The current review discusses existing data on this recently discovered phenomenon and focuses on the possible pathogenesis, clinical significance and therapeutic implications.
MicroRNAs in Metal Stress: Specific Roles or Secondary Responses?
Authors: Gielen Heidi , Remans Tony , Vangronsveld Jaco , Cuypers Ann
Published: November 2012

In plants, microRNAs (miRNAs) control various biological processes by negatively regulating the expression of complementary target genes, either (1) post-transcriptionally by cleavage or translational inhibition of target mRNA, or (2) transcriptionally by methylation of target DNA. Besides their role in developmental processes, miRNAs are main players in stress responses, including metal stress responses. Exposure of plants to excess metal concentrations disturbs the cellular redox balance and enhances ROS accumulation, eventually leading to oxidative damage or signaling. Plants modify their gene expression by the activity of miRNAs in response to metal toxicity to regulate (1) complexation of excess metals, (2) defense against oxidative stress and (3) signal transduction for controlling various biological responses. This review focuses on the biogenesis, working mechanisms and functioning of miRNAs in plants. In a final part, our current knowledge on the regulatory roles of miRNAs in plant metal stress responses is highlighted, and whether stress-regulated miRNAs have specific roles or are secondary consequences is discussed.
MoO3 Thickness, Thermal Annealing and Solvent Annealing Effects on Inverted and Direct Polymer Photovoltaic Solar Cells
Authors: Chambon Sylvain , Derue Lionel , Lahaye Michel , Pavageau Bertrand , Hirsch Lionel , Wantz Guillaume
Published: November 2012

Several parameters of the fabrication process of inverted polymer bulk heterojunction solar cells based on titanium oxide as an electron selective layer and molybdenum oxide as a hole selective layer were tested in order to achieve efficient organic photovoltaic solar cells. Thermal annealing treatment is a common process to achieve optimum morphology, but it proved to be damageable for the performance of this kind of inverted solar cells. We demonstrate using Auger analysis combined with argon etching that diffusion of species occurs from the MoO3/Ag top layers into the active layer upon thermal annealing. In order to achieve efficient devices, the morphology of the bulk heterojunction was then manipulated using the solvent annealing technique as an alternative to thermal annealing. The influence of the MoO3 thickness was studied on inverted, as well as direct, structure. It appeared that only 1 nm-thick MoO3 is enough to exhibit highly efficient devices (PCE = 3.8%) and that increasing the thickness up to 15 nm does not change the device performance.
A New Dibenz[b,e]oxepine Derivative, 1-Hydroxy-10-methoxy-dibenz[b,e]oxepin-6,11-dione, from a Marine-Derived Fungus, Beauveria bassiana TPU942
Authors: Yamazaki Hiroyuki , Rotinsulu Henki , Kaneko Tsuyoshi , Murakami Kazuki , Fujiwara Hiromu , Ukai Kazuyo , Namikoshi Michio
Published: November 2012

1-Hydroxy-10-methoxy-dibenz[b,e]oxepin-6,11-dione (1) was obtained from the culture broth of a marine-derived fungus, Beauveria bassiana TPU942, isolated from a marine sponge collected at Iriomote Island in Okinawa, together with two known compounds, chrysazin (2) and globosuxanthone A (3). The structure of 1 was elucidated on the basis of its spectroscopic data (HREIMS, 1D and 2D NMR experiments including 1H–1H COSY, HMQC and HMBC spectra). Dibenz[b,e]oxepines are rare in nature, and only six natural products have been reported. Therefore, compound 1 is the seventh natural product in this class. Compounds 2 and 3 showed an antifungal activity against Candida albicans, and 3 inhibited the cell growth against two human cancer cell lines, HCT-15 (colon) and Jurkat (T-cell lymphoma). Compound 1 did not show an apparent activity in the same bioassays.
4,5-Seco-Guaiane and a Nine-Membered Sesquiterpene Lactone from Holostylis reniformis
Authors: Pereira Marcos , Da Silva Tito , Lopes Lucia , Krettli Antoniana , Madureira Lucas , Zukerman-Schpector Julio
Published: November 2012

Root extracts of Holostylis reniformis (Aristolochiaceae) yielded three new natural sesquiterpenes, a sesquiterpene with an unusual carbon skeleton, 4,5-seco-guaiane (7-epi-11-hydroxychabrolidione A, 1), a nine-membered lactone with new carbon skeleton (holostylactone, 2), and a new megastigmane [(6S,7E)-6,9-dihydroxy-10-(2'-hydroxy-ethoxy)-4,7-megastigmadien-3-one, 3], together with bulnesol and sitosterol-3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside. The structures of these compounds were determined by spectroscopic analyses and B3LYP/STO-3G** theoretical studies.
Calibration of a Species-Specific Spectral Vegetation Index for Leaf Area Index (LAI) Monitoring: Example with MODIS Reflectance Time-Series on Eucalyptus Plantations
Authors: Le Maire Guerric , Marsden Claire , Nouvellon Yann , Stape José-Luiz , Ponzoni Flávio
Published: November 2012

The leaf area index (LAI) is a key characteristic of forest ecosystems. Estimations of LAI from satellite images generally rely on spectral vegetation indices (SVIs) or radiative transfer model (RTM) inversions. We have developed a new and precise method suitable for practical application, consisting of building a species-specific SVI that is best-suited to both sensor and vegetation characteristics. Such an SVI requires calibration on a large number of representative vegetation conditions. We developed a two-step approach: (1) estimation of LAI on a subset of satellite data through RTM inversion; and (2) the calibration of a vegetation index on these estimated LAI. We applied this methodology to Eucalyptus plantations which have highly variable LAI in time and space. Previous results showed that an RTM inversion of Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) near-infrared and red reflectance allowed good retrieval performance (R2 = 0.80, RMSE = 0.41), but was computationally difficult. Here, the RTM results were used to calibrate a dedicated vegetation index (called “EucVI”) which gave similar LAI retrieval results but in a simpler way. The R2 of the regression between measured and EucVI-simulated LAI values on a validation dataset was 0.68, and the RMSE was 0.49. The additional use of stand age and day of year in the SVI equation slightly increased the performance of the index (R2 = 0.77 and RMSE = 0.41). This simple index opens the way to an easily applicable retrieval of Eucalyptus LAI from MODIS data, which could be used in an operational way.
Using an SU-8 Photoresist Structure and Cytochrome C Thin Film Sensing Material for a Microbolometer
Authors: Lai Jian-Lun , Liao Chien-Jen , Su Guo-Dung
Published: November 2012

There are two critical parameters for microbolometers: the temperature coefficient of resistance (TCR) of the sensing material, and the thermal conductance of the insulation structure. Cytochrome c protein, having a high TCR, is a good candidate for infrared detection. We can use SU-8 photoresist for the thermal insulation structure, given its low thermal conductance. In this study, we designed a platform structure based on a SU-8 photoresist. We fabricated an infrared sensing pixel and recorded a high TCR for this new structure. The SU-8 photoresist insulation structure was fabricated using the exposure dose method. We experimentally demonstrated high values of TCR from 22%/K to 25.7%/K, and the measured noise was 1.2 × 10–8 V2/Hz at 60 Hz. When the bias current was 2 μA, the calculated voltage responsivity was 1.16 × 105 V/W. This study presents a new kind of microbolometer based on cytochrome c protein on top of an SU-8 photoresist platform that does not require expensive vacuum deposition equipment.
Cost-Effectiveness of Treating Upper Limb Spasticity Due to Stroke with Botulinum Toxin Type A: Results from the Botulinum Toxin for the Upper Limb after Stroke (BoTULS) Trial
Authors: Shackley Phil , Shaw Lisa , Price Christopher , Wijck Frederike , Barnes Michael , Graham Laura , Ford Gary , Steen Nick , Rodgers Helen
Published: November 2012

Stroke imposes significant burdens on health services and society, and as such there is a growing need to assess the cost-effectiveness of stroke treatment to ensure maximum benefit is derived from limited resources. This study compared the cost-effectiveness of treating post-stroke upper limb spasticity with botulinum toxin type A plus an upper limb therapy programme against the therapy programme alone. Data on resource use and health outcomes were prospectively collected for 333 patients with post-stroke upper limb spasticity taking part in a randomized trial and combined to estimate the incremental cost per quality adjusted life year (QALY) gained of botulinum toxin type A plus therapy relative to therapy alone. The base case incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of botulinum toxin type A plus therapy was £93,500 per QALY gained. The probability of botulinum toxin type A plus therapy being cost-effective at the England and Wales cost-effectiveness threshold value of £20,000 per QALY was 0.36. The point estimates of the ICER remained above £20,000 per QALY for a range of sensitivity analyses, and the probability of botulinum toxin type A plus therapy being cost-effective at the threshold value did not exceed 0.39, regardless of the assumptions made.
Chemical modification allows phallotoxins and amatoxins to be used as tools in cell biology
Authors: Anderl Jan , Echner Hartmut , Faulstich Heinz
Published: November 2012

Phallotoxins inhibit the dynamics of microfilaments in cells and lead to apoptosis. Due to poor cellular uptake these effects cannot be studied in live cells, even at millimolar toxin concentrations, nor can phalloidin be used for the elimination of tumor cells. Uptake is greatly enhanced by conjugation of phallotoxins to either lipophilic or polycationic moieties, such as oleic acid, polylysine, or Tat-peptide. These conjugates were lethally toxic for cells, e.g., mouse fibroblasts or Jurkat leukemia cells, in the micromolar range. Uptake into cells starts with the attachment of the toxin conjugates to the plasma membrane, followed by endocytosis and, in most cases, cleavage of the toxin from the carrier. Interestingly, the internalization rate of phalloidin into cells was also significantly increased by the fluorescent moiety tetramethylrhodaminyl, as well as by high molecular weight methoxy-polyethyleneglycol, two compounds unknown so far for their uptake-mediating activity. Conjugation to carriers as investigated in this work will allow the use of phallotoxins in experimental cell biology and possibly in tumor therapy. The findings obtained with phallotoxins could be applied also to the family of amatoxins, where α-amanitin, for example, when conjugated to oleic acid was more than 100-fold more toxic for cells than the native toxin. This suggests the possibility of a more general use of the moieties examined here to enhance the uptake of hydrophilic peptides, or drugs, into live cells.
La recomposition du paysage bancaire belge depuis 2008
Authors: Vincent Anne
Published: November 2012

Résumé Depuis 2008, le secteur bancaire belge connaît de profonds bouleversements, dus notamment aux effets de la crise financière et économique. Tour à tour, sont remis en question les grands groupes binationaux (essentiellement franco-belges et belgo-néerlandais), le modèle de la bancassurance, le secteur public du crédit et le secteur coopératif. Les principaux acteurs bancaires opèrent d’importantes réformes, tandis que les organismes de contrôle sont restructurés et qu’une nouvelle répartition des attributions est opérée entre la Banque nationale et l’Autorité des services et marchés financiers. Cette évolution est marquée par les caractéristiques propres du marché belge : importance de l’épargne de la population, poids des banques dans l’économie, développement de services innovants… Le sauvetage des banques par l’Autorité fédérale, les régions et les communes entraîne le creusement de la dette publique du pays et la mise en place de mesures d’austérité drastiques pour se conformer au cadre imposé aux États membres de la zone euro. À ce contexte, s’ajoute une situation institutionnelle qui place les pouvoirs publics belges en position de faiblesse par rapport à leurs homologues des pays voisins, devenus actionnaires des principaux groupes bancaires présents en Belgique. Le présent Courrier hebdomadaire passe en revue l’évolution récente de l’ensemble des groupes bancaires actifs sur le marché belge, en réservant une attention particulière aux plus grands d’entre eux : BNP Paribas Fortis, Dexia, KBC et ING. Analysant les nouveaux traits du secteur, il étudie leurs conséquences pour les pouvoirs publics.
(Re) découvrir les multiples facettes des usages mobiles
Authors: Silber Georges-André
Published: November 2012

Résumé Le mobile et les applications qui vont de pair ont envahi aujourd’hui toutes les sphères de nos activités professionnelles et personnelles. Ce marché, en plein essor et dont l’enjeu économique est considérable, supplante peu à peu les applications web classiques. Mais comme toute nouveauté technologique, la mobilité engendre des excès et des garde-fous – notamment législatifs - seront sans doute nécessaires. Les applications documentaires présentées dans ce dossier démontrent à la fois l’inventivité et la vitalité de ce secteur, que ce soit dans des domaines aussi variés que le droit, l’information des citoyens, la géolocalisation ou encore l’immobilier ! Les professionnels de l’information tentés par l’aventure trouveront assurément dans ces pages des perspectives enrichissantes et de nouveaux chantiers à explorer.
Romances en séries, amour toujours et marketing
Authors: Bigey Magali
Published: November 2012

Résumé Les romances apparaissent comme un pur objet de consommation, élaboré, pensé, construit et consommé comme tel. Depuis des décennies, elles répondent à une recette qui fonctionne, reprenant un schéma narratif spécifique, une histoire contemporaine, mais surtout, elles font montre de stratégies marketing qui ont fait leurs preuves. L’objet de cet article est de montrer comment le lectorat anticipe ces lectures, comment il les lit, puis nous verrons quelles sont les stratégies mises en œuvre par les différents éditeurs, avec les évolutions diachroniques et les éléments identificateurs du genre.
La Chick lit : romance du XXI e siècle ?
Authors: Hache-Bissette Françoise
Published: November 2012

Résumé La Chick lit , écrite par des femmes, pour des femmes et sur des femmes, est apparue dans la presse vers le milieu des années 90, sous forme de chroniques avant de se décliner en livre. Ses auteurs revendiquent l’héritage de Jane Austen, tandis que ses détracteurs dénoncent une écriture formatée, et voient une filiation avec le roman rose des éditions Harlequin. Le marketing de la Chick lit s’inscrit dans une stratégie de multimédiatisation. Cette littérature, souvent qualifiée de post-féministe, est très critiquée par les féministes pour sa superficialité et les stéréotypes qu’elle véhicule. Les lectrices s’identifient pourtant à ces anti-héroïnes célibattantes à la recherche de l’amour de leur vie. La Chick lit s’inspirent des évolutions récentes de la société et des rapports amoureux et en dressent une satire divertissante.
Le courrier des lecteurs et des lectrices d'Union : scripts culturels de l'amour sexuel
Authors: Damian-Gaillard Béatrice
Published: November 2012

Résumé Adaptation du magazine anglais Forum , le mensuel Union , lancé en 1972 par le groupe de presse Hachette Filipacchi, se caractérise par la diffusion de productions d’amateurs issus du lectorat et par une définition libertine de la sexualité. Cet article propose donc d’analyser les représentations de l’amour sexuel telles qu’elles sont mises en scène dans le courrier des lecteurs et des lectrices d’ Union , en lien avec son positionnement dans le secteur de la presse pornographique. L’analyse d’un corpus de lettres publiées en 2011 s’inspire de la théorie des scripts culturels et des études sociologiques sur la sexualité. D’un point de vue méthodologique, elle s’appuie, dans un premier temps, sur une étude quantitative qui débouche sur une cartographie des histoires d’amour représentées. Elle se prolonge, dans un second temps, par une analyse qualitative des modalités d’expression de la sexualité.
La représentation du couple dans le magazine féminin Amina : une vision androcentrique
Authors: Sassoon Virginie
Published: November 2012

Résumé Cet article s’intéresse à la représentation du couple véhiculée par le magazine Amina, dont la particularité est de s’adresser aux femmes noires. Édité en France, le magazine est distribué en Afrique francophone, aux Antilles et en Europe. Notre analyse se fonde sur l’étude de l’intégralité des numéros parus entre 2007 et 2009 et convoque également le point de vue des producteurs du magazine. Si Amina valorise en premier lieu la réussite professionnelle, nous allons montrer que les normes qui imprègnent les contenus relatifs à la sphère de l’intime sont, sous couvert de neutralité, emprunts d’une idéologie patriarcale.
Histoire(s) de la médiatisation de l'amour chez les écrivaines françaises contemporaines
Authors: Sauzon Virginie
Published: November 2012

Résumé À en croire certains discours désabusés, les relations amoureuses se trouveraient aujourd’hui irrémédiablement dégradées par divers changements sociaux récents, parmi lesquels l’exacerbation de nos désirs individualistes et la trop grande importance accordée à la sexualité. Cet article se propose de montrer que le désenchantement, particulièrement souligné (car politisé) chez plusieurs écrivaines contemporaines, vient moins d’un changement fondamental du rapport intime que de la permanence de discours amoureux normatifs. Ces auteures jouent en effet d’une intertextualité engagée, en mettant en scène différentes médiatisations possibles de l’amour pour mieux en montrer, contexte féministe à l’appui, l’enjeu idéologique : confiner encore et toujours les femmes amoureuses à un rôle hétéro-normatif, romantique et respectable.
La valorisation du fonds photographique Hans Steiner (1907-1962) : les enjeux d'un partenariat institutionnel, scientifique et médiatique
Authors: Kaenel Philippe , Vallotton François
Published: November 2012

Résumé Le photoreporter Hans Steiner (1907-1962) a récemment fait l’objet d’une exposition itinérante et d’une publication de référence, issues d’un partenariat entre l’Université de Lausanne et le Musée de l’Elysée (Lausanne) qui possède plus de 100 000 œuvres de Steiner (tirages d’époque, négatifs, diapositives ainsi que 7 500 planches cartonnées thématiques...). Le tout a été mis en ligne et complété par le dépouillement de plus d’un millier de reportages dans la presse illustrée helvétique. Ce corpus numérisé contribue à la relecture et à la « réimagination » de l’histoire sociale, politique et culturelle de la Suisse entre 1930 et 1960. Il permet de suivre le parcours de la photographie, du négatif à l’imprimé. Le terme de « redécouverte » a été associé avec récurrence à ce projet de valorisation de l’œuvre photographique de Steiner. Mais comment juger de la « valeur » d’un photographe très présent en son temps et « oublié » par l’historiographie ? Comment opérer une révision sans tomber dans le révisionnisme ? Tout travail de recherche académique produit une plus-value, surtout lorsqu’il est associé à une plateforme muséale et électronique...
Benthic assemblages of rock pools in northern Portugal: seasonal and between-pool variability
Authors: Bertocci Iacopo , Araújo Rita , Incera Mónica , Arenas Francisco , Pereira Rui , Abreu Helena , Larsen Kim , Sousa-Pinto Isabel
Published: November 2012

We investigated the seasonal (winter vs summer and within season) and spatial (between-pool) variability of benthic assemblages of rock pools at mid-intertidal level along the shore of Viana do Castelo (North Portugal). Physical traits of rock pools, including size, depth and position along the shore, were also compared between pools. While pools did not differ for any of the examined physical traits, results indicated a clear seasonal difference in the structure of assemblages, including a total of 49 macroalgal and 13 animal taxa. This finding was driven by six taxa that are more abundant in winter (the reef-forming polychaete Sabellaria alveolata, the articulated coralline algae Corallina spp., the brown alga Bifurcaria bifurcata, the encrusting coralline alga Lithophyllum incrustans, the red alga Chondracanthus acicularis and the grazing snails Gibbula spp.) and four algal taxa that are more abundant in summer (the invasive brown Sargassum muticum, the green Ulva spp., the kelp Laminaria ochroleuca and the filamentous red Ceramium spp.). These data provide a new contribution to the knowledge of rock pool systems and have potential implications for monitoring programmes aimed at assessing ecological modifications related to natural and anthropogenic disturbances and for identifying processes responsible for the variability of rock pool assemblages.
Discovering where bluefin tuna, Thunnus thynnus, might go: using environmental and fishery data to map potential tuna habitat in the eastern Mediterranean Sea
Authors: Damalas Dimitrios , Megalofonou Persefoni
Published: November 2012

Based on a dataset derived from commercial fisheries in the eastern Mediterranean Sea in 1998-2005, we applied generalized additive models (GAMs) to investigate the relative influence of a range of environmental factors on catch rates of Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus Linnaeus, 1785). GAM analyses were conducted by separately modelling (1) the probability of making a catch (encountering a school), and (2) the positive catch rates (school size). Results suggested intra-annual variations in tuna distribution and revealed interesting associations with some environmental features, lunar periodicity being the most distinctive one. Probability of encountering a school peaked in late spring months, eastwards, at water temperatures above 22°C and around the full moon. Size of school was more likely to be larger in northeasternmost regions and in the vicinity of land in late spring, when the percentage of lunar disc illumination was higher. A moderate but continuous annual decline in the probability of encountering a bluefin tuna school was detected from the models’ outputs. The models were used as an indication of preference or association for the selected environmental variables. Based on these associations, an indirect identification of the bluefin tuna potential habitat was obtained and used to map distributions in the eastern Mediterranean region.
A Resource-Aware Dynamic Load-Balancing Parallelization Algorithm in a Farmer-Worker Environment
Authors: Leeman M.
Published: November 2012

This paper describes an algorithm for dynamically assigning tasks to processing entities in a world where each task has a set of resource or service requirements and each processing entity a set of resources or service capabilities. A task needs to be assigned to a node that offers all required services and the set of tasks is finished within a minimal execution time frame. Dependability and adaptability are inherent to the algorithm so that it accounts for the varying execution time of each task or the failure of a processing node. The algorithm is based on a dependable technique for farmer-worker parallel programs and is enhanced for modeling the time constraints in combination with the required configuration set in a multidimensional resources model. This paper describes how the algorithm is used for dynamically load balancing and parallelizing the nightly tests of a digital television content-processing embedded device.
Non-Intrusive Autonomic Approach with Self-Management Policies Applied to Legacy Infrastructures for Performance Improvements
Authors: Sharrock Rémi , Monteil Thierry , Stolf Patricia , Hagimont Daniel , Broto Laurent
Published: November 2012

The growing complexity of large IT facilities involves important time and effort costs to operate and maintain. Autonomic computing gives a new approach in designing distributed architectures that manage themselves in accordance with high-level objectives. The main issue is that existing architectures do not necessarily follow this new approach. The motivation is to implement a system that can interface heterogeneous components and platforms supplied by different vendors in a non-intrusive and generic manner. The goal is to increase the intelligence of the system by actively monitoring its state and autonomously taking corrective actions without the need to modify the managed system. In this paper, the authors focus on modeling software and hardware architectures as well as describing administration policies using a graphical language inspired from UML. The paper demonstrates that this language is powerful enough to describe complex scenarios and evaluates some self-management policies for performance improvement on a distributed computational jobs load balancer over a grid.
Agents Network for Automatic Safety Check in Constructing Sites
Authors: Aversa Rocco , Di Martino Beniamino , Di Natale Michele , Venticinque Salvatore
Published: November 2012

Compliance with safety standards in constructing sites is a mandatory activity that helps prevent a high number of fatalities during working activities. Unfortunately, because of negligence or limited resources, safety checks are not performed with regularity and this causes a high number of accidents. This paper proposes a distributed solution for automated checking of safety rules, secure logging of violations, and real-time execution of reactions. The constructing site is modeled as a pervasive environment where software agents, executing on smart devices, can detect and interact with people, machineries, and safety equipment to check the compliance of common behaviors with the safety plan designed for that site. The design is presented as a working prototype of a three layered software/hardware architecture.
Self-Adaptable Discovery and Composition of Services Based on the Semantic CompAA Approach
Authors: Lacouture J. , Aniorté P.
Published: November 2012

With the next generation of distributed systems, applications become nomad, ubiquitous or ambient. It becomes challenging to dynamically maintain or update functionalities, or to preserve non-functional properties, like the extensibility of the system and the quality of service. This paper describes the CompAA component model. The main contribution introduces the variability concept with the specification of adaptation points integrated by a mixed component/agent approach. The result is the production of self-adaptable entities, including self-discovery and self-composition mechanisms. An experiment in the area of training, based on very scalable services (e-Portfolio), validates these contributions and provides an exemplification of CompAA mechanisms.
A Generic Adaptation Framework for Mobile Communication
Authors: Sun Hong , Gui Ning , Blondia Chris
Published: November 2012

Today, technologies are providing mobile terminals with much more powerful computational abilities. Such improvement has made it possible to run many complex applications on mobile devices. However, many of these new applications are also resource demanding. Lacking sufficient resources would cause performance failures and impact negatively on the users’ quality of experience. In order to improve this, it is important to provide the users with an easy access to specifying their requirements. It is also crucial to monitor the system resources and make corresponding adaptation immediately according to the user’s specifications. In this paper, the authors propose adaptation strategies that flexibly combine the process of monitoring and adaptation, which provides an easy way to specify user’s requirements. By tuning the quality of service, the applications’ demand on system resources is reduced, thus decreasing the chances of performance failures and improving the users’ quality of experience.
A Distributed Monitoring Framework for Opportunistic Communication Systems
Authors: Carreras Iacopo , Zanardi Andrea , Salvadori Elio , Miorandi Daniele
Published: November 2012

Opportunistic communication systems aim at producing and sharing digital resources by means of localized wireless data exchanges among mobile nodes. The design and evaluation of systems able to exploit this emerging communication paradigm is a challenging problem. This paper presents the authors’ experience in developing U-Hopper, a middleware running over widely diffused mobile handsets and supporting the development of context-aware services based on opportunistic communications. The authors present the design of the platform, and describe the distributed monitoring framework that was set up in order to monitor and dynamically reconfigure it at run time. The paper concludes with an experimental evaluation of the framework, showing its practical utilization when monitoring an operational opportunistic communication system.
An OMA DM Based Framework for Updating Modulation Module for Mobile Devices
Authors: Zhang Hui , Wang Xinheng , Iqbal Muddesar
Published: November 2012

Due to the rapid advancement of mobile communication technologies, the demands for managing mobile devices effectively to fulfill various functionalities are on the rise. It is well known that mobile devices make use of different kinds of modulation approaches to adapt to various channel conditions. Therefore, in this paper, the authors propose a framework of Modulation Module Update (MMU) for updating the modulation module on the mobile device based on OMA DM. The management object for updating modulation module and the parameters associated with it are defined in the framework, and three operation phases are defined in this framework as well.
Duty Cycle Measurement Techniques for Adaptive and Resilient Autonomic Systems
Authors: Taddia Chiara , Mazzini Gianluca , Rovatti Riccardo
Published: November 2012

When systems are deployed in environments where change is the rule rather than the exception, adaptability and resilience play a crucial role in order to preserve good quality of service. This work analyses methods that can be adopted for the duty cycle measurement of sensor-originated waveforms. These methods start from the assumption that no regular sampling is possible and thus they are naturally thought for an adaptive coexistence with other heterogeneous and variable tasks. Hence, the waveform carrying the information from low-priority sensors can be sampled only at instants that are non-controlled. To tackle this problem, this paper proposes some algorithms for the duty cycle measurement of a digital pulse train signal that is sampled at random instants. The solutions are easy to implement and lightweight so that they can be scheduled in extremely loaded microcontrollers. The results show a fast convergence to the duty cycle value; in particular, a considerable gain with respect to other known solutions is obtained in terms of the average number of samples necessary to evaluate the duty cycle with a desired accuracy is obtained.