bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sell Spot or Sell Forward? Analysis of Oil-Trading Decisions With the Two-Factor Price Model and Simulation
Authors: Jafarizadeh Babak , Bratvold Reidar B.
Published: June 2013

In oil and gas markets, the relationships between the spot and futures prices reveal important opportunities for value creation. When oil prices are in contango (i.e., when futures prices are higher than the expected future spot prices), it may be profitable for a trader to hold oil in storage and enter into a futures contract instead of selling oil in the spot market. The decision to either sell oil in the spot market or use the storage to sell oil in the future is usually challenging because the future spot prices and futures prices are uncertain. In this paper, we discuss the storage trading decisions by use of a realistic example, and we propose an analysis methodology on the basis of a two-factor price process for modeling spot and futures oil prices. The dynamic decision problem, sell spot or sell forward, is analyzed with a forward dynamic optimization algorithm and the least-squares Monte Carlo simulation.
Risk factors for epithelial ovarian cancer in the female population of Belgrade, Serbia: A case-control study
Authors: Gazibara Tatjana , Filipovic Aleksandra , Kesic Vesna , Kisic-Tepavcevic Darija , Pekmezovic Tatjana
Published: June 2013

Background/Aim. Ovarian cancer (OC) comprises 3% of all cancers, but it is
the fifth most common cause of cancer death in women. The aim of this
case-control study was to determine the risk factors for OC in the female
population of Belgrade, Serbia. Methods. A total of 80 consecutive patients
were enrolled in the study between 2006 and 2008 in two national referral
centers for OC in Serbia. The control subjects were recruited during the
regular gynecological check-ups in the Public Health Center of the
corresponding municipalities. All the study participants were interviewed
during their visits to the above mentioned institutions by two physicians
using the same questionnaire. In order to analyze the influence of specific
exposure to the risk of the disease, we categorized variables according to
the cut-off values. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI)
were calculated separately for each variable using univariate conditional
logistic regression analysis. Results. There were no statistically
significant differences in educational level, years of schooling,
occupational and employment status between patients with OC and women in the
control group. Oral contraceptives use and other contraceptive methods
(condoms, mechanical contraceptive devices) were highly statistically
significantly more frequent among women in the control group (OR = 0.2, 95%
CI 0.1-0.7, p = 0.005; OR = 0.1, 95% CI 0.01-0.5, p = 0.001, respectively).
The patients with OC practiced sports for 6.3 ? 2.1 years, and controls for
11.8 ? 9.9 years. Sport and recreation activities were statistically
significantly protective (OR = 0.2, p = 0.011; OR = 0.4, p = 0.019). Tea
consumption on daily basis had a highly statistically significant protective
effect (OR = 0.3, p = 0.001). Conclusions. Oral contraceptives use and
physical activity were independent protective factors for OC in this study.
Non-hyperbolicity in random regular graphs and their traffic characteristics
Authors: Tucci Gabriel
Published: June 2013

In this paper we prove that random d-regular graphs with d ≥ 3 have traffic congestion of the order O(n logd−13
n) where n is the number of nodes and geodesic routing is used. We also show that these graphs are not asymptotically δ-hyperbolic for any non-negative δ almost surely as n → ∞.
The generalized Laguerre inequalities and functions in the Laguerre-Pólya class
Authors: Csordas George , Vishnyakova Anna
Published: June 2013

The principal goal of this paper is to show that the various sufficient conditions for a real entire function, φ(x), to belong to the Laguerre-Pólya class (Definition 1.1), expressed in terms of Laguerre-type inequalities, do not require the a priori assumptions about the order and type of φ(x). The proof of the main theorem (Theorem 2.3) involving the generalized real Laguerre inequalities, is based on a beautiful geometric result, the Borel-Carathédodory Inequality (Theorem 2.1), and on a deep theorem of Lindelöf (Theorem 2.2). In case of the complex Laguerre inequalities (Theorem 3.2), the proof is sketched for it requires a slightly more delicate analysis. Section 3 concludes with some other cognate results, an open problem and a conjecture which is based on Cardon’s recent, ingenious extension of the Laguerre-type inequalities.
Clonal structure and reduced diversity of the invasive alien plant Erigeron annuus in Lithuania
Authors: Patamsytė Jolanta , Rančelis Vytautas , Čėsnienė Tatjana , Kleizaitė Violeta , Tunaitienė Virginija , Naugžemys Donatas , Vaitkūnienė Virginija , Žvingila Donatas
Published: June 2013

The alien species Erigeron annuus (L.) Pers. is in an intensive spreading phase in Lithuania. Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPDs) and inter-simple sequence repeats (ISSRs) assays were used to study the genetic structure of old and new invasive populations and to determine the most spread genotypes of this species in Lithuania. Pairwise genetic distances between populations established using RAPD and ISSR markers significantly correlated (r=0.91, P<0.05). Our study indicates that there are two genetically different types of E. annuus populations. The first type is represented by a widely spread main clone and related monomorphic populations. The second type is represented by polymorphic populations, some of them present at sites where E. annuus has not been previously observed. Main clone predominates in nine populations and is from the region where this species was first described in natural ecosystems of Lithuania. UPGMA cluster analysis revealed genetic relationships between the main clone and accessions from old cemeteries where E. annuus has been grown as an ornamental plant. We found high genetic differentiation among populations (G
ST=0.58 for RAPDs, G
ST=0.64 for ISSRs). Taken together, our results will contribute to the monitoring of E. annuus spread in Lithuania.
Invariance of the Bajraktarević means with respect to the Beckenbach-Gini means
Authors: Matkowski Janusz
Published: June 2013

Assuming that the involved functions are three times differentiable, we determine all Bajraktarević means which are invariant respect to the mean-type mapping of the Beckenbach-Gini mean type. Some applications in iteration theory and functional equation are presented.
On the quadratic convergence of Newton’s method under center-Lipschitz but not necessarily Lipschitz hypotheses
Authors: Argyros Ioannis , Hilout Saïd
Published: June 2013

We provide new local and semilocal convergence results for Newton’s method in a Banach space. The sufficient convergence conditions do not include the Lipschitz constant usually associated with Newton’s method. Numerical examples demonstrating the expansion of Newton’s method are also provided in this study.
Phillips Lemma on effect algebras of sets
Authors: Aizpuru A. , Moreno-Pulido S. , Rambla-Barreno F.
Published: June 2013

We prove the classical Phillips Lemma in the setting of measures defined on effect algebras of sets. This leads to several Vitali-Hahn-Saks-type results for these measures.
The reading ideal and reading preferences in the age of Joseph II
Authors: Kollárová Ivona
Published: June 2013

When censorship was reformed during the era of Joseph II publishing and the book trade underwent a liberalisation. Enlightenment conceptions helped create the image of the ideal reader—someone who reads to acquire knowledge or to improve his spiritual life. During the reign of Joseph II reading spread to all social strata, but readers’ preferences did not follow a reading ideal. This is demonstrated by significant urban-rural disparities. The publishing projects of the Protestant elite met with failure in the distribution phase and with the indifference country people displayed towards spiritual literature. This relates to several other social phenomena such as literacy and living conditions. Archival sources, which are relevant to lending library research, indicate the reading preferences of the urban classes. An uncontrollable reading mania targeted literature and short political and anticlerical writing, which triggered public discussions on the dangers of uncontrolled reading. The print medium helped shape a “reading public“, whose reading activities occupied an area between mainstream cultural consumption and the dissemination of political news.
Social trust, norms and morality
Authors: Popper Miroslav
Published: June 2013

The article approaches the topic of social trust from an evolutionary perspective. It begins by summarising the most influential approaches that have defined specific and social trust and ascertains what causes differences in degrees of trust and how the potential risk of deception might be lowered. It then notes that the basis of morality had already been formed during the era of prehistoric man, who was able to create coalitions against aggressors and to socially control the behaviour of deviants. It points out, however, that having a certain predisposition to behaving cooperatively or an increased sensitivity to recognising and not tolerating behaviour aimed at abusing cooperation is not a sufficient guarantee of the fact that people will always (or at least in the majority of situations) favour cooperation over deception. One of the reasons for this is a tendency to favour short-term gains over long-term ones. The article argues that establishing norms (moral, social and legal) produces a higher level of social trust because it not only “encourages” individuals to behave in certain ways in particular situations but also works as a sanction which “discourages” the individual from socially deviant behaviour. The article then focuses on a debate about the causal relationship between social trust and social capital. It discusses the suggestion that political institutions, government and the judiciary may reduce rather than raise levels of social capital and consequently also the level of social trust. This is partly because of their powerful position and the consequent scope for corruption and partly because of the fact that even when attempting to act honestly, representatives of these institutions cannot sufficiently reflect upon dynamic change at the local level. Finally, the article ends by adopting the position that social trust is built primarily from bottom up and so it is risky to continually doubt the very existence and usefulness of social norms and morality and to be governed simply by legal norms.
Laboratory preparedness for detection and monitoring of Shiga toxin 2-producing Escherichia coli O104:H4 in Europe and response to the 2011 outbreak
Authors: Rosin P , Niskanen T , Palm D , Struelens M , Takkinen J ,   Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli Experts of the European Union Food- and Waterborne Diseases and Zoonoses Network
Published: June 2013

A hybrid strain of enteroaggregative and Shiga toxin 2-producing Escherichia coli (EAEC-STEC) serotype O104:H4 strain caused a large outbreak of haemolytic uraemic syndrome and bloody diarrhoea in 2011 in Europe. Two surveys were performed in the European Union (EU) and European Economic Area (EEA) countries to assess their laboratory capabilities to detect and characterise this previously uncommon STEC strain. Prior to the outbreak, 11 of the 32 countries in this survey had capacity at national reference laboratory (NRL) level for epidemic case confirmation according to the EU definition. During the outbreak, at primary diagnostic level, nine countries reported that clinical microbiology laboratories routinely used Shiga toxin detection assays suitable for diagnosis of infections with EAEC-STEC O104:H4, while 14 countries had NRL capacity to confirm epidemic cases. Six months after the outbreak, 22 countries reported NRL capacity to confirm such cases following initiatives taken by NRLs and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) Food- and Waterborne Disease and Zoonoses laboratory network. These data highlight the challenge of detection and confirmation of epidemic infections caused by atypical STEC strains and the benefits of coordinated EU laboratory networks to strengthen capabilities in response to a major outbreak.
Mechanochemical and combustion synthesis of CeB6
Authors: Akgün Barış , Sevinç Naci , Çamurlu H. Erdem , Topkaya Yavuz
Published: June 2013

CeB6 powder was prepared via combustion synthesis (CS) and mechanochemical processing (MCP) methods starting from CeO2, B2O3 and Mg powder mixtures. In CS, reactant mixtures were ignited in a preheated pot furnace under argon atmosphere. Products contained CeB6, MgO and Mg3B2O6, as revealed by X-ray diffraction analysis. After leaching in 1 M HCl for 15 h, MgO was removed but Mg3B2O6 could not be removed from the products. Ball milling of products in ethanol prior to leaching made the removal of Mg3B2O6 possible by leaching. Yield of CeB6 was 68.6 % in CS. MCP was performed in a stainless steel vial with a planetary ball mill at 300 rpm for 30 h. MCP products contained CeB6, MgO and small amount of Fe. Leaching in 1 M HCl for 30 min was sufficient to remove MgO. Yield of CeB6 was 84.4 % in MCP. According to scanning electron microscopy examinations, particles of CeB6 prepared by CS and MCP had submicrometer size. Average particle sizes were determined as 290 nm and 240 nm, respectively.
Thermodynamic modeling of the Ba–Mg binary system
Authors: Ren Xin , Li Changrong , Du Zhenmin , Guo Cuiping , Chen Sicheng
Published: June 2013

On the basis of the thermochemical and phase equilibrium experimental data, the phase diagram of the Ba–Mg binary system has been assessed by means of the calculation of phase diagrams technique. The liquid phase is of unlimited solubility and modeled as a solution phase using the Redlich–Kister equation. The intermetallic compounds, Mg17Ba2, Mg23Ba6 and Mg2Ba, with no solubility ranges are treated as strict stoichiometric compounds with the formula Mg
m
Ba
n
. Two terminal phases, Bcc_Ba and Hcp_Mg, are kept as solution phases, since the solubilities of the two phases are of considerable importance. After optimization, a set of self-consistent thermodynamic parameters has been obtained. The calculated values agree well with the available experimental data.
Low cycle fatigue behavior under asymmetric loading of two AZ31B magnesium alloys with different microstructures and textures
Authors: Geng Changjian , Du Xinghao , Wu Baolin , Wang Yandong , Zhang Yudong , Esling Claude
Published: June 2013

Low cycle fatigue experiments under asymmetric loading on differently prepared AZ31 alloys show that the alloy with fine grains exhibits higher stress amplitudes than those of the alloy with coarse grains at the same strain amplitudes. The elastic strain in the tensile process is higher than that in the compressive process for both alloys, but the difference is much smaller for the alloy with fine grains. The microstructure with fine grains exhibits a symmetrical hysteresis loop and cyclic strain softening at the early fatigue stage at low strain amplitude.
Women Musicians in British Silent Cinema Prior to 1930
Authors: Porter Laraine
Published: June 2013

Referencing a range of sources from personal testimonies, diaries, trade union reports and local cinema studies, this chapter unearths the history of women musicians who played to silent film. It traces the pre-history of their entry into the cinema business through the cultures of Edwardian female musicianship that had created a sizeable number of women piano and violin teachers who were able to fill the rapid demand created by newly built cinemas around 1910. This demand was further increased during the First World War as male musicians were called to the Front and the chapter documents the backlash from within the industry against women who stepped in to fill vacant roles. The chapter argues that women were central to creating the emerging art-form of cinema musicianship and shaping the repertoire of cinema music during the first three decades of the twentieth century. With the coming of sound, those women who had learned the cinema organ, in the face of considerable snobbery, were also well placed to continue musical careers in Cine-Variety during the 1930s and beyond. This article looks particularly at the careers of Ena Baga and Florence de Jong who went on to play for silent films until the 1980s.
‘To Be a Woman’: Female Labour and Memory in Documentary Film Production, 1929–50
Authors: Fox Jo
Published: June 2013

Despite extensive scholarship on British documentary in the period from 1929 to 1950, the role of female documentary film-makers has received relatively little attention, partly due to their fragmented and partial ‘archival trace’. Combining neglected materials in the BECTU oral history project, the personnel records of the GPO Film Unit, and the personal papers of leading female documentarists, this article challenges the standard narrative of wartime opportunity and postwar decline that tends to characterise the examination of women's employment more broadly in this period. It uses women's experience in documentary film production to offer a more complex explanation of the effect of war within a wider chronological framework and within the context of workflow, labour patterns, training and networks within the industry itself. It examines female documentarists’ own accounts, through oral histories, to suggest that such sources should be ‘read against the light’ to offer insights into the memory of the Second World War, contending that the place of gender in defining individual careers both during and after the conflict remains contested, a site of the continued struggle for professional recognition, achievement and identity.
Glamour and Aspiration: Women's Employment and the Establishment of Midlands ATV, 1956–68
Authors: Murray Gillian
Published: June 2013

This article uses an extant collection of television news inserts and other television ephemera to examine women's employment at Midlands ATV. Focusing on the years between the first Midlands News broadcasts in 1956 until major contract changes across the ITV network in 1968, it examines the jobs women did during this formative period and their chances for promotion. In particular it suggests that contemporary ideas of glamour and their influence in screen culture maintained a significant influence in shaping women's employment. This connection between glamorous television aesthetics and female employees as the embodiment of glamour, especially on screen, did leave women vulnerable to redundancy as ‘frivolity’ in television was increasingly criticised in the mid-1960s. However, this article argues that the precarious status of women in the industry should not undermine historical appreciation of the value of their work in the establishing of television in Britain. Setting this study of Midlands ATV within the growing number of studies into women's employment in television, there are certain points of comparison with women's experience at the BBC and in networked ITV current affairs programmes. However, while the historical contours of television production are broadly comparable, there are clear distinctions, such as the employment of a female newscaster, Pat Cox, between 1956 and 1965. Such distinctions also suggest that regional news teams were experimenting with the development of a vernacular television news style that requires further study.
La présence grecque dans les cités phéniciennes sous l'empire perse achéménide
Authors: Elayi Josette
Published: June 2013

L'A. propose une nouvelle réflexion sur la présence grecque dans les cités phéniciennes sous l'Empire perse achéménide, en marge de son ouvrage Pénétration grecque en Phénicie sous l'Empire perse, des travaux récents et des derniers développements de l'exploration archéologique. Après avoir défini l'approche nécessitée par la complexité de la question, elle montre la diversité des formes de la présence grecque qui ne se réduisait pas, comme on le croit encore, à des groupes de marchands, d'artisans ou de mercenaires, et fait le point sur les attestations solides de cette présence.
Incorporation of perfluorohexyl-functionalised thiophenes into oligofluorene-truxenes: synthesis and physical properties
Authors: Thomson Neil , Kanibolotsky Alexander L , Cameron Joseph , Tuttle Tell , Findlay Neil J , Skabara Peter J
Published: June 2013

Oligofluorene-functionalised truxenes containing perfluorohexylthiophene units at the terminal positions on the arms were synthesised, and their optical and electrochemical properties were investigated to determine the effect that the perfluorohexylthiophene unit has on the HOMO and LUMO properties of the oligomers. By synthesising a molecule with longer oligofluorene arms the effects of the perfluorohexylthiophene unit on larger oligomers was explored. The effect of steric hindrance from the perfluorohexyl chain was also evaluated by altering the position of the chain on the thiophene moiety.
INVESTMENT DECISION MAKING USING A COMBINED FACTOR ANALYSIS AND ENTROPY-BASED TOPSIS MODEL
Authors: Hsu Li-Chang
Published: June 2013

Traditionally, the return on assets and the return on equity are used as the criteria in the evaluation of financial performance, while risk considerations are ignored. Therefore, this study combined financial ratio variables and the RAROC (risk-adjusted rate of return on capital) as the evaluation criteria and developed a financial performance evaluation model. The proposed evaluation model combines factor analysis with entropy weight and the TOPSIS (technique for order performance by similarity to ideal solution) to evaluate the financial performance of Taiwan's 50 listed opto-electronic companies. Finally, Spearman's and Kendall's rank correlations are used to verify that there is no significant difference between the 2007 and 2008 rankings of the companies. The empirical results show the financial performance rankings of the companies before and after the global financial turmoil. These findings not only help investors making investment decisions, but also can help managers make decisions to improve their company's financial performance.
AN IN-MODULE WORK PRACTICE STRATEGY FOR VOCATIONALLY ORIENTED CONSTRUCTION DEGREE PROGRAMMES: THE CASE OF THE MULTIDISCIPLINARY PROJECT
Authors: Keraminiyage Kaushal
Published: June 2013

Students who are enrolled in vocationally oriented construction degree programmes can immensely benefit from work practice arrangements. Traditionally such work practice arrangements are organised as a “placement year” during or immediately after the degree programme. Further, these arrangements are often “work place based” practice arrangements requiring students to be based at the work place during the practice period. This system has some significant issues, especially when considering how and when the “learning” takes place. “Multi-disciplinary project” is a module designed to be a part of a vocationally oriented, combined construction undergraduate programme at the University of Salford, United Kingdom, aiming to overcome the issues of work place based work practice arrangements. As a part of this paper, pedagogical principles behind the module design are evaluated based on current literature, examining how previous research have informed the design of this module. Issues encountered during the delivery of the module are also discussed within this paper, based on the unstructured data collected while responding to student inquires and through observations. Nature of those issues are analysed by revisiting current literature, and possible solutions are discussed based on the findings of some of the previous research projects.
PROFESSIONAL, ACADEMIC AND INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT NEEDS: A COMPETENCY MAPPING AND EXPERT OPINION REVIEW
Authors: Perera Srinath , Pearson John , Ekundayo Damilola , Zhou Lei
Published: June 2013

There is a tripartite pull from academics, industry and professional bodies on the development needs of the Quantity Surveyor (QS). At best, there is scope for misunder-standings between the stakeholders as to what is being required and what is being achieved. At worst there may be actual gaps in the education and/or training being offered and some discrepancies between the levels of attainment. This research sought to review the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) QS competencies and their application in the delivery of QS degree programmes. The changing development needs of QSs who satisfy the aspirations of industrial, professional and academic stakeholders were investigated through content analysis of the views of an expert forum consisting of relevant stakeholders and a series of competency mapping case studies. The study revealed that there are considerably different standards right across the RICS accredited QS programmes with respect to coverage of competencies. It is concluded that there is no standard benchmark in achieving competencies and it is open to individual interpretation. Further research in the development of a Graduate Competency Threshold Benchmark is suggested to align the disparate views of the stakeholders to accommodate changing development needs.
La réorganisation de l'imputabilité publique : les réformes hospitalières en Allemagne, en Norvège et au Danemark
Authors: Mattei Paola , Mitra Mahima , Vrangbæk Karsten , Neby Simon , Byrkjeflot Haldor
Published: June 2013

Notre article entend enrichir la littérature sur la gouvernance à niveaux multiples des services de santé et l’imputabilité publique dans le contexte des récentes réformes européennes des hôpitaux. C’est en nous intéressant à l’évolution de la dynamique entre la gouvernance régionale et la gouvernance centrale des hôpitaux en Allemagne, en Norvège et au Danemark que nous allons examiner les questions de réorganisation des mécanismes d’imputabilité publique traditionnels. Nous soutenons que sous l’effet du renforcement des pressions financières, la corporatisation et la professionnalisation ont eu pour effet de retirer progressivement leur pouvoir décisionnel aux organes politiques régionaux dans le domaine du financement et de la planification des hôpitaux. Les gouvernements nationaux ont renforcé leur influence sur la trajectoire globale de leurs systèmes hospitaliers, mais ils ont aussi transféré des responsabilités considérables vers l’échelon des hôpitaux. Ces évolutions sont à la base de nouvelles relations d’imputabilité publique, des relations davantage managériales ou professionnelles intégrées dans des formes de gouvernance à niveaux multiples. Remarques à l’intention des praticiens Notre étude laisse entendre que si les réformes sont des réponses aux pressions stratégiques, les changements qui les accompagnent dans les relations et les mécanismes d’imputabilité contribuent quant à eux à transformer les pressions et les contraintes qui forment le contexte de l’activité administrative, managériale et professionnelle. À mesure que les réformes mises en œuvre dans les soins de santé norvégiens, danois et allemands renforcent la corporatisation, la centralisation et l’économisation, on peut s’attendre à ce que les choses sur lesquelles les responsables doivent s’expliquer, et la façon de le faire, évoluent et creusent l’écart entre les objectifs stratégiques et la performance managériale et professionnelle réelle.
L'imputabilité, une technologie stratégique : la responsabilisation des performances dans l'enseignement en Europe
Authors: Ozga Jenny
Published: June 2013

Dans le présent article, nous analysons l’étude de l’imputabilité dans différents contextes nationaux dans le domaine de l’éducation en Europe, un domaine d’action de plus en plus important et en rapide évolution. Nous nous appuyons sur des recherches récentes et en cours pour examiner ce que nous dit l’évolution des pratiques d’imputabilité dans l’enseignement sur l’évolution de la gouvernance de l’enseignement (et, par extension, d’autres domaines de politique publique) dans des espaces stratégiques en pleine évolution. Nous soutenons en outre que l’imputabilité dans l’enseignement est de plus en plus définie comme une imputabilité technique, basée sur des mesures comparées de la performance internationales et nationales, si bien que l’imputabilité politique a été remplacée et la « performativité » contribue à la multiplication des problèmes de baisse de confiance dans les systèmes d’enseignement. Remarques à l’intention des praticien s Dans le présent article, nous situons l’évolution des mesures comparatives de la performance dans l’enseignement et dans d’autres services publics dans un cadre critique qui attire l’attention sur la réduction de l’imputabilité politique qui accompagne l’explosion des mesures de la performance. Notre article souligne à quel point la mesure comparative de la performance non seulement évince des formes plus complexes d’évaluation de la performance, mais crée aussi des relations de méfiance entre les professionnels de l’éducation et les pouvoirs publics. Les professionnels qui travaillent dans le secteur de l’éducation sont encouragés à examiner minutieusement le fonctionnement de technologies telles que PISA et à s’informer sur leurs conséquences politiques et leurs principes.
Entre offre et demande : Les limites du développement participatif en Afrique du Sud
Authors: Tapscott Chris Peter , Thompson Lisa
Published: June 2013

La littérature sur le développement participatif s’intéresse en grande partie au côté « demande » et à la mesure dans laquelle les citoyens parviennent à pousser l’État à offrir les services de base. Les auteurs s’intéressent moins au côté « offre » du développement participatif, à savoir à la manière dont les institutions publiques mettent en œuvre les politiques de développement. L’Afrique du Sud d’après l’apartheid regorge de politiques et autres lois en faveur des processus participatifs. Dans la pratique, pourtant, ces mesures sont rarement à la hauteur des idéaux visés. Dans le présent article, nous examinons les programmes de logement social dans les communautés pauvres dans trois municipalités d’Afrique du Sud et soutenons qu’il existe un décalage entre la façon dont ceux qui formulent la politique interprètent la participation et la façon dont la question est interprétée par les communautés bénéficiaires et les représentants locaux. Nous en concluons qu’il faut s’intéresser bien plus aux raisons pour lesquelles les représentants ne parviennent pas à traduire les politiques nationales en actes si l’on veut que la démocratie participative obtienne une certaine légitimité parmi la population au sens large. Remarques à l’intention des praticiens La participation effective des citoyens dans les processus décisionnels est le facteur déterminant dans les programmes de développement participatifs. Une législation et une politique favorables sont des éléments essentiels dans ce cadre, mais qui ne suffisent pas à eux seuls pour garantir la participation. Les programmes participatifs doivent par conséquent prendre en considération la capacité des communautés à s’organiser et ils doivent prévoir les moyens et le temps nécessaire pour développer leur capacité à associer la population efficacement. Les agents à la tête des projets de développement participatifs doivent suivre une formation formelle pour bien comprendre que la manière dont les bénéficiaires participent est tout aussi importante que les activités proprement dites auxquelles ils sont associés.
The Pediatrician’s Role in the Diagnosis and Management of Food Allergy
Authors: Lau Claudia H. , Gupta Ruchi S.
Published: June 2013

CME Educational Objectives

1.

Recognize the signs and symptoms of food allergy versus food intolerance.

2.

Review currently available diagnostic testing modalities for food allergy and their applicability in the pediatric outpatient setting.

3.

Review appropriate management practices for pediatricians, including prescription of medications, counseling of families, and referrals to keep children safe.

Food allergy is a rapidly increasing and potentially life-threatening health concern in the United States. Given the ubiquity of food in our society and the absence of a cure, it is crucial that families receive proper guidance and medication to keep children safe. The pediatrician plays a key role to this end as he or she is often the first, and sometimes the only physician, these children can access. Accordingly, pediatricians must be equipped to recognize, manage, and evaluate food allergies over time while preventing unnecessary avoidance. This review provides practical translation of guidelines into recommended practices that are most pertinent to pediatricians.
Manifestations, Diagnosis, and Management of Food Protein-Induced Enterocolitis Syndrome
Authors: Leonard Stephanie A. , Nowak-Wegrzyn Anna
Published: June 2013

CME Educational Objectives

1.

Recognize manifestations, diagnosis, and management of food protein-induced enterocolitis syndrome (FPIES) in an outpatient setting.

2.

Assess nutritional needs and provide anticipatory guidance for dietary management.

3.

Recognize the indications of when to refer for assessment of resolution of FPIES using physician-supervised food challenges.

Food protein-induced enterocolitis syndrome (FPIES) is an under-recognized non-immunoglobulin E (IgE)-mediated gastrointestinal food allergy affecting primarily infants and toddlers. An abnormal response to food antigen resulting in local inflammation is thought to lead to increased intestinal permeability and fluid shift. The primary features of acute FPIES are repetitive, projectile vomiting, lethargy, pallor, diarrhea, and dehydration. Chronic FPIES is typically seen in young infants with continued exposure to cow’s milk or soy-based formula. Biomarkers are lacking and patients may undergo extensive workups for their symptoms, which often leads to a delay in diagnosis and puts infants at risk for feeding difficulties, nutritional deficiencies, and failure to thrive. This review will provide a guide in how to recognize the clinical features of and manage FPIES.
The Impact of Food Allergies on Quality of Life
Authors: Bacal Liane R.
Published: June 2013

CME Educational Objectives

1.

Recognize and appreciate the impact of food allergies on psychosocial health.

2.

List the factors that have been shown to negatively affect health-related quality of life.

3.

Understand how physicians can directly help to improve a child’s quality of life while living with food allergies.

Food allergy is a serious problem affecting a growing number of children worldwide. There is a large body of evidence supporting the detrimental effects that food allergy can have on a child’s quality of life. With validated tools, we can identify these children and focus on how to protect, guide, and help them to live a safe life.

Recent research articulates how food allergies impact health-related quality of life (HRQL). There are studies reported from the child’s perspective, as well as studies reported from the parent’s perspective. With the development of validated disease and age-specific questionnaires, researchers can reliably gather data on the psychological aspect of children with food allergies.

The purpose of this article is to provide a review of the literature examining the psycho-social impact of food allergies on children. This article was designed to outline suggestions to help physicians care for the whole child — both mind and body.
La Minotaura, the Female Minotaur: Aida Toledo’s Version of the Classical Myth
Authors: San Pedro Teresa Anta
Published: June 2013

The poetry of the Guatemalan poet Aida Toledo, from its beginning, breaks away from the masculine and feminine images created and recreated through centuries by the owner of words and power, man. Toledo, as a consequence of her reflections on gender, questions, changes and pulverizes certain qualities considered to be unique and essential in defining each of the sexes. The poet starts with the Greek myths, as she considerers them to be the sacred pillars in building the Western Culture. Aida Toledo, not satisfied with using the sword of extermination against the eternal masculine and feminine values, uses the ashes from that fire as fertilizer to sprout new life, a life that time and space will shape into new beings, new male and female Minotaur.
Arturo de Córdova and the crisis of the bourgeois marriage. On the role of the married women in “Las tres perfectas casadas” and the Married Couples’ Dinner in “Cena de matrimonios” (1952 and 1962)
Authors: Díaz López Marina
Published: June 2013

Arturo de Córdova was an international Mexican film star that managed to participate in Mexico, Argentina and Spain cinemas. His career was possible in a transnational cinema that achieved to reach to a wide Spanish speaking audience. In these films, he developed a character that went from the romantic male star to the mature seducer that will have an important role in the post-war middleclass society. He will act as a medium character between active businessman and their wives that will not admit the daily housework and be kept in a private sphere as norm. The analysis will be focussed on two plays that were adapted to the cinema. These plays were written by two Spanish authors; Alejandro Casona in Mexico and Alfonso Paso in Spain, and they were shot in these countries as Las tres perfectas casadas (1952) and Cena de matrimonios (1962). The dramatic similarity in their approach to the conflict between men and women allow us to present the critical view elaborated against the conventions that gave structure to marriage in this society. The fact that De Córdova played the main role points out the Hispanic shared culture about genre matters.
Gender Symbolic Messages in Music and Magazines Consumed by Young Mexicans
Authors: Zarza Delgado Martha P. , Serrano Barquín Héctor , Serrano Barquín Carolina
Published: June 2013

Music and magazines are methods of symbolic communication for youth, through which they receive and send concrete messages about social constructs of gender. The aim of this paper is to report the results obtained in the analysis of visual and textual codes in music and magazines consumed by young Mexicans daily. In general terms, the results show a wealth of meanings and values about sexual identity anchored in traditional stereotypes that in some way continue promoting violence against women.
Another History for Another Psychiatry. The Patient’s View
Authors: Huertas Rafael
Published: June 2013

This article aims to summarise, in the first instance, some of the historiographical trends which have built a “critical” history of psychiatry from the 1960s onwards. Thereafter, it will demonstrate, with suitably significant examples, how methods and discourses were being refined and updated, before reaching a proposal for a new cultural history of psychiatry and subjectivity. In our analysis, special emphasis is placed on the “patient's view”. This renders necessary the task of identifying little consulted sources, such as the writings of the mad, and the incorporation of interdisciplinary hermeneutic tools, including, most notably, those taken from cultural studies and, in particular, written culture. Finally, it will offer a reflection on the epistemic role that this historiographical approach could play in the construction of new ways of understanding mental health, such as that represented by so-called post-psychiatry.
Influence of the number of keys on the shear strength of post-tensioned dry joints
Authors: Alcalde M. , Cifuentes H. , Medina F.
Published: June 2013

The shear strength of dry joints plays an important role in the design of prestressed segmental structures. However, the formulations of different design codes do not conform to the behavior of multiple-keyed joints. This paper ana - lyzes the fracture behavior of dry keyed joints under shear loading, focusing on the influence of the number of keys on the joint capacity and its average shear stress. It has been developed a finite element model of four different types of joints, with a number of keys varying between one and seven. The results show that the average shear stress transferred across the joint decreases with the number of keys but this effect is less appreciated as the prestressing stress increases. In this paper it is presented a formula of adjustment of the obtained numerical results including a factor with the dependence on the number of keys.
La Presse militaire en Espagne entre franquisme et démocratie : le cas de la revue Reconquista
Authors: Martínez-Vasseur Pilar
Published: June 2013

Dans le cadre d’une réflexion plus large sur le rôle de la presse militaire dans l’avènement de la démocratie en Espagne (1975-1982), il s’agit d’analyser ici le discours de cette presse et les rapports qu’elle entretient avec la classe politique espagnole. Le présent travail se propose, plus particulièrement, d’étudier la spécificité de la revue militaire Reconquista (1950-1982) et son évolution idéologique, entre l’approche régénérationniste sur la profession militaire de ses débuts, le rôle de porte-parole de l’establishment militaire franquiste par la suite et, enfin, les changements qui s’opèrent dans sa ligne éditoriale à la mort du général Franco.
Internet-Enabled Calibration
Authors: Hegeduš Hrvoje , Jurcevic Marko , Malaric Roman
Published: June 2013

Calibration of measuring instruments provides the confidence in measurements. It is the obligation of every laboratory to have its measuring equipment calibrated in regular intervals. This obligation means that the laboratory must send its equipment to the calibration laboratory every year or two depending on the calibration intervals. During this time the equipment is not available and this presents a financial burden to the laboratory of the customer. Since many of the modern instruments include some communication interfaces, it was made possible to create an Internet-enabled calibration system. This term encompasses a wide range of possible applications and services. The Internet-enabled calibrations must address several problems not present in standard calibrations, including security issues, since the equipment is not always under direct control of the calibration laboratory personnel who will sign the calibration certificate. As the traceability and integrity of the calibration process directly depends on the measured data, the reliable and secure remote control and monitoring of instruments must be a crucial aspect of Internet-enabled calibration technologies.
A Data Acquisition System to Detect Bubble Collapse Time and Pressure Losses in Water Cavitation
Authors: De Giorgi M. G. , Ficarella A. , Tarantino M.
Published: June 2013

This paper presents a data acquisition system oriented to detect bubble collapse time and pressure losses in water cavitation in an internal orifice. An experimental campaign on a cavitating flow of water through an orifice has been performed to analyze the flow behavior at different pressures and temperatures. The experiments were based on visual observations and pressure fluctuations frequency analysis. Comparing the visual observations and the spectral analysis of the pressure signals, it is evident that the behavior of the different cavitating flows can be correlated to the frequency spectrum of the upstream, downstream and differential pressure fluctuations. The further reduction of the cavitation number and the consequent increase in the width of the cavitating area are related to a corresponding significant increase of the amplitude of typical frequency components. The spectrogram analysis of the pressure signals leads to the evaluation of the bubble collapse time, also compared with the numerical results calculated by the Rayleigh–Plesset equation.
A Real Time Attachment Free, Psycho Physiological Stress and Heart Rate Measurement System
Authors: Psaltis Anthony , Mourlas Constantinos
Published: June 2013

The challenges in the development of a system performing real time detection of physiological parameters are fundamentally aversive because of the incommodities caused by the wires and sensing attachments onto the user, making the measurement sessions uncomfortable. Another factor is that the sensing accessories influence the plausibility of the measurements. In this paper, the authors introduce a system based on a device that can acquire physiological signals from a computer user with no prerequisites, postural, kinetic, or other constraints in the environment of normal usage of the home computer for the detection of their psychosomatic state and optimally their affect and emotional responses. The authors also discuss issues that could otherwise compromise the credibility of the results. Redundancy and special adaptive and corrective algorithms have been developed to improve reliability and achieve acceptable standards of quality. Measurements include skin conductance (SC) and heart rate (HR) detected by sensors positioned on the vertical sides of a computer mouse. The system is intended for interactive educational environments, during assessment, e-learning, psychosomatic user profiling, mobile and web based interfaces, and for Human Computer Interaction (HCI) platforms.
Measurements and Characterization of Photovoltaic Modules for Tolerance Verification
Authors: Calò C. , Lay-Ekuakille A. , Vergallo P. , Chiffi C. , Trotta A. , Fasanella A. , Fasanella A.M.
Published: June 2013

One of the most important aspects of photovoltaic modules is reliability for future uses, that is, a certain module will last certain number of years in use (generally 30 or 35 years). Reliability yields from excellent qualification tests on photovoltaic (PV) modules. Testing for reliability identifies unknown failure mechanisms and whether modules are susceptible to known failure mechanisms. This paper illustrates techniques of outdoor measurements and qualification characterization to know PV module conditions for commercial uses. Matrix methods are used for energy prediction. Failure material tests, using digital imaging and thermography, have also been conducted.
An Observation on Least Action Principle in Classical Mechanics Oriented on the Evaluation of Relativistic Error Concerning the Measurements of Light Propagating in a Liquid
Authors: Massaro Alessandro , Massaro Piero Adriano
Published: June 2013

The authors prove that the standard least action principle implies a more general form of the same principle by which they can state generalized motion equation including the classical Euler equation as a particular case. This form is based on an observation regarding the last action principle about the limit case in the classical approach using symmetry violations. Furthermore the well known first integrals of the classical Euler equations become only approximate first integrals. The authors also prove a generalization of the fundamental lemma of the calculus of variation and we consider the application in electromagnetism.
Impact of Human Factors on Measurement Errors
Authors: Jacob Vinodkumar , Bhasi M. , Gopikakumari R.
Published: June 2013

Measurement is the act or the result, of a quantitative comparison between a given quantity and a quantity of the same kind chosen as a unit. It is for observing and testing scientific and technological investigations and generally agreed that all measurements contain errors. In a measuring system where both a measuring instrument and a human being taking the measurement using a preset process, the measurement error could be due to the instrument, the process or human error. This study is devoted to understanding the human errors in measurement. Work and human involvement related factors that could affect measurement errors have been identified. An experimental study has been conducted using different subjects where the factors were changed one at a time and the measurements made by them recorded. Errors in measurement were then calculated and the data so obtained was subject to statistical analysis to draw conclusions regarding the influence of different factors on human errors in measurement. The findings are presented in the paper.