bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Development and characterization of nine microsatellite loci for Sisyrinchium micranthum (Iridaceae)
Authors: Tacuatiá Luana O. , Cidade Fernanda W. , Souza Anete P. , Souza‐Chies Tatiana T.
Published: October 2012

• Premise of the study: Sisyrinchium micranthum is an herb with wide distribution and morphological variation, presenting three known cytotypes (2x, 4x, and 6x), which is naturally occurring from Mexico to Argentina. The development of microsatellite markers for this species is important to provide molecular tools to investigate polyploidy origin, as well as its relationship with phenotypic and genetic variability.

• Methods and Results: Nine microsatellite markers were isolated using an enriched genomic library and characterized in a diploid population. Eight markers generated polymorphic loci in 27 plants of a population from southern Brazil. The number of alleles per locus ranged from two to nine, and the observed and expected heterozygosities varied from 0.192 to 0.741 and from 0.370 to 0.884, respectively.

• Conclusions: These species‐specific DNA markers may be useful for further investigations of the involved polyploidization process and the population genetics of S. micranthum.
Synthetic studies towards bottromycin
Authors: Ackermann Stefanie , Lerchen Hans-Georg , Häbich Dieter , Ullrich Angelika , Kazmaier Uli
Published: October 2012

Thio-Ugi reactions are described as an excellent synthetic tool for the synthesis of sterically highly hindered endothiopeptides.S-Methylation and subsequent amidine formation can be carried out in an inter- as well as in an intramolecular fashion. The intramolecular approach allows the synthesis of the bottromycin ring system in a straightforward manner.
Transformations morphologiques et mobilisations disciplinaires
Authors: Gaubert Christophe , Pouly Marie-Pierre
Published: October 2012

Résumé Cet article entend saisir certains principes producteurs de la « révolte étudiante » de 1968, en particulier ceux liés aux transformations du système d’enseignement. Il porte l’attention sur les caractéristiques des mobilisations disciplinaires qui en découlent, en spécifiant la forme que prennent les relations entre générations universitaires et leurs relations à l’avenir, au fondement des stratégies collectives de mobilisation qu’ils mettent en œuvre. L’analyse opère plusieurs déplacements par rapport aux travaux existants : elle se déploie en particulier à l’échelle d’une seule discipline universitaire, l’anglais, peu visible symboliquement mais qui regroupe dans les années 1960 un cinquième des étudiants de lettres ; elle souligne aussi la forte interdépendance entre les luttes étudiantes et les luttes des enseignants de statut subalterne.
Centromedullary Manipulation and Stabilization of Completely Displaced Proximal Humerus Fractures in Adolescents
Authors: Sankar Biju , Nicholson Simon , Henman Philip David
Published: October 2012

Completely displaced metaphyseal fractures of the proximal humerus in older children may need reduction and stabilization. The authors describe a technique for closed reduction and intramedullary stabilization of these fractures using a centromedullary pin inserted from the distal humerus through a small distal incision. This technique was used successfully in 2 adolescents. Retrograde elastic nails avoid scars in front of the shoulder, impingement problems from prominent extramedullary metal work, and further surgery of a similar magnitude to remove the metalwork. Based on the authors’ experience, they recommend this method for reduction and stabilization of displaced irreducible metaphyseal fractures of the proximal humerus in older children and adolescents.
Contact Pressure in the Wrist During Computer Mouse Work
Authors: Kang Jong Woo , Kum Dong Ho , Yoon Jung Ro , Lee Yong Seuk , Jeon Woo Joo , Park Jong Woong
Published: October 2012

This study investigated the relationship between computer mouse work and contact pressure around the pisiform. Commonly performed mouse work was simulated using 3 different-shaped mice with 3 forearm positions. When typical mouse work was performed, the contact pressure on the pisiform area was evaluated using a digital pressure sensor and compared with that of the thenar area. Six mouse tasks were simulated. Results indicate that mouse users should avoid wrist-snap dragging and resting their wrist on the edge of the desk to minimize the pressure concentration on the pisiform area.
Hematogenous Pyogenic Spinal Infection: Current Perceptions
Authors: Korovessis Panagiotis , Repantis Thomas , Hadjipavlou Alexander G.
Published: October 2012

Educational Objectives

As a result of reading this article, physicians should be able to:

1.

Understand the importance of early diagnosis and treatment of spinal infection in an effort to avoid devastating and crippling complications such as paralysis, painful deformity, and death.

2.

Understand current perceptions in the ongoing debate of whether operative or conventional treatment should be preferred and in which cases.

3.

Understand the latest advances in the surgical treatment of spinal infection, their indications, and their effectiveness.

4.

Understand the change in the traditionally held belief that in the presence of infection, the use of metal implants or grafts is not indicated.

Controversy exists regarding optimal treatment for pyogenic spinal infection. The authors systematically reviewed peer-reviewed published clinical trials in the English language through 2009 on the clinical presentation, complications, and conservative and operative treatments of pyogenic spinal infection. The cornerstone of therapy for uncomplicated spondylodiskitis is intravenous antibiotics followed by oral antibiotics and bracing. Surgery is effective in complicated cases and improves sagittal balance, restores neurological impairment, and relieves severe pain. In cases of delayed diagnosis or surgery, potential early devastating and late crippling complications may occur. To the authors’ knowledge, no Level I studies compare operative vs conservative treatment of pyogenic spinal infection.
Fixation Strength of PMMA-augmented Pedicle Screws After Depth Adjustment in a Synthetic Bone Model of Osteoporosis
Authors: Ying Szu-Han , Kao Hung-Chan , Chang Ming-Chau , Yu Wing-Kuang , Wang Shih-Tien , Liu Chien-Lin
Published: October 2012

The purpose of this study was to determine the change of fixation strength after adjusting the height of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA)-augmented pedicle screws.

Cement-augmented cannulated pedicle screws with or without PMMA augmentation with a radial hole in the distal third of the screw thread were inserted into synthetic bone blocks used to model osteoporosis. Screws were left unchanged (in situ), screwed in 3 threads, or screwed out 3 threads. The change in screw height was made 24 hours after cement placement. Radiographs of the samples were taken before and after screw adjustment, and pullout strength testing was performed. In the cement group, a radiolucent cavity was present after screwing in due to the screw–cement complex migrating downward, whereas no obvious change in the boneicement complex existed after screwing out. Mean pullout strength was significantly higher in the groups with cement as compared to those without cement. However, in the cement groups, the screw-in group had the lowest mean pullout strength among 3 groups, and the mean pullout strength in the screw-out group was also significantly lower than that in the in situ group (
P
<.05).

Adjustment of pedicle screw height after cement augmentation in a severely osteoporotic spine can significantly reduce the pullout strength of the screw.
Comparative Study of Unilateral and Bilateral Pedicle Screw Fixation in Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion
Authors: Xie Youzhuan , Ma Hui , Li Hua , Ding Wei , Zhao Changqing , Zhang Pu , Zhao Jie
Published: October 2012

A prospective, randomized clinical study was performed to determine whether unilateral pedicle screw fixation was comparable with bilateral fixation in 1- or 2-segment lumbar interbody fusion. One hundred eight patients with lumbar degenerative diseases were randomly assigned to the unilateral (n=56) or bilateral (n=52) pedicle screw fixation group. Interbody fusion was performed in 1 or 2 levels with 1 cage. Operative time, blood loss, duration of hospital stay, functional outcome, fusion rate, and complication rate were recorded and compared statistically. The patients were followed for 3 years postoperatively.

Successful radiographic fusion was documented in all patients. No flexion–extension hypermobility or pedicle screw loosening or breakage occurred during the follow-up period. No significant difference existed between the 2 groups when comparing the union rate, complication rate, and functional outcome scores (
P
>.05). However, compared with the bilateral pedicle screw group, a significant decrease occurred in operative time, duration of hospital stay, and blood loss in the unilateral group (
P
<.01). Unilateral pedicle screw fixation was as effective as bilateral fixation when performed in addition to 1- or 2-level lumbar interbody fusion. The authors recommend the use of unilateral fixation in lumbar interbody fusion with 1 cage for lumbar degenerative diseases without major instability.
Posterior Sternoclavicular Dislocation Presenting With Upper-extremity Deep Vein Thrombosis
Authors: Chotai Pranit N. , Ebraheim Nabil A.
Published: October 2012

Posterior sternoclavicular dislocation is an uncommon injury and often remains initially undiagnosed due to variable clinical presentation and inadequate visualization of the joint on plain radiographs. It is frequently associated with serious and life-threatening injuries involving the trachea, esophagus, or great vessels.

A 15-year-old boy was knocked to the ground during wrestling and landed on his left shoulder. He presented 6 days after trauma with increasing arm swelling and pain. A Doppler ultrasound revealed deep vein thrombosis involving the left shoulder and arm. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography of the chest confirmed the diagnosis of left posterior sternoclavicular dislocation with the medial end of left clavicle compressing the underlying brachiocephalic vein. Venous duplex scan confirmed acute venous thrombosis of the left jugular and subclavian veins. Open reduction of the left posterior sternoclavicular dislocation was performed under general anesthesia with cardiothoracic surgery backup. The reduced joint was stable, negating the need for internal fixation. Postoperatively, the pain and arm swelling gradually subsided, and patient recovered well with no complications.

Deep vein thrombosis has not been reported as a presenting symptom for posterior sternoclavicular dislocation. Orthopedic, trauma, and thoracic surgeons should be aware of this presentation and obtain a chest computed tomography scan with 3-dimensional reconstruction to confirm the diagnosis. In cases of posterior sternoclavicular dislocation with vascular compromise, patients should immediately undergo open reduction with or without internal fixation.
Promouvoir la durabilité par l’analyse du cycle de vie des produits
Authors: Gueldry Michel , Knuckles James
Published: October 2012

Nous proposons ici une méthode pour gérer l’impact du cycle de vie des produits (CVP) sur le triple impératif (social, environnemental et économique), cette durabilité entrepreneuriale que l’on exprime aussi souvent comme la réconciliation multiforme du « triple P » (Population, Planète et Profits/Prospérité) pour dépasser les excès et contradictions du système actuel, ce « triple C » (Carboniferous Consumer Capitalism) non durable. Notre analyse des flux et des processus qui constituent le CVP englobe ses trois dimensions complémentaires identifiées par Chris T. Hendrickson et al., à savoir « inventory, impact, and improvement » (2006). Dans ce but, nous nous situons d’abord par rapport aux idées dominantes dans le champ de l’analyse du CVP. Ensuite, nous proposons de lier cet inventaire systématique à ses impacts, c’est-à-dire, selon l’expression de Marc J. Epstein et Bill Birchard, consultants bien connus aux États-Unis pour la responsabilité sociale des entreprises, de « compter ce qui compte » (2000). Cette évaluation du CVP permet d’en discuter les applications et améliorations pratiques (« improvement ») par la comptabilité intégrée ou « triple ». Cet instrument permet de hiérarchiser les décisions, de minimiser l’impact négatif et d’augmenter l’impact positif du CVP, et, au bout du compte, de servir des finalités plus vastes que le seul lucre ou le seul profit.
Vers une définition multidimensionnelle du risque
Authors: Kermisch Céline
Published: October 2012

Le statut du risque se révèle intrinsèquement ambigu, tant au niveau ontologique qu'au niveau épistémologique. L’objectif de cette contribution consiste à le clarifier, à travers une analyse des diverses conceptions du risque véhiculées par la littérature. Plus précisément, l’examen des conceptions réalistes et représentationnelles du risque conduit à privilégier ces dernières. Nous montrons que les différentes conceptions représentationnelles – quantitative et constructiviste – gagnent à être envisagées dans leur complémentarité. Pour en rendre compte, nous proposons l’adoption d’une définition multidimensionnelle du risque fondée sur deux composantes, l’une quantitative, l’autre qualitative. Cette définition du risque est ouverte et contextuelle, capable de prendre en compte la complexité et la spécificité de chaque type de risque dans le contexte où il se développe. L’intérêt d’une telle définition réside dans la réhabilitation des valeurs et des critères qualitatifs dans un cadre d’analyse plus global, qui rend justice au pluralisme social, dont une gestion éthique du risque ne peut plus faire l’économie.
Les perspectives de la biodiversité en Afrique subsaharienne : repenser collectivement le modèle de gestion
Authors: Kasisi Robert
Published: October 2012

En 2002, les pays signataires de la Convention sur la diversité biologique se sont fixés pour objectif de freiner l’érosion de la biodiversité avant 2010. Un constat unanime de perspectives sombres pour la biodiversité en Afrique subsaharienne a été dressé à la suite de plusieurs bilans dressés par des acteurs, des chercheurs et organisations d’assistance scientifique, technique et financière engagés dans le processus de conservation de biodiversité. Suite à la désignation par l’ONU de la période 2011-2020 comme étant la Décennie pour la biodiversité, au lancement du Plan stratégique pour la diversité biologique et à la tenue du Sommet de Rio+20 en juin 2012 au Brésil, l’auteur, à partir d’une chronique de l’escalade de l’impact humain sur la biodiversité en Afrique subsaharienne, contextualise l’évolution de la biodiversité à travers l’histoire de ses interactions avec les communautés africaines et ce, de l’époque précoloniale à nos jours. Par la suite, il procède à une analyse critique des processus de planification de la conservation de la biodiversité en démontrant combien la mise en œuvre des actions se heurte à des défis de taille notamment le néomalthusianisme qui préside la pensée de certains experts de la faune responsable de la gestion de la biodiversité.Il observe que les approches s’appuient généralement sur un certain nombre de concepts dont le sens commun n’a pas été significativement clarifié. Il démontre ensuite pourquoi et comment ces approches doivent être inclusives par une ouverture aux savoirs, aux perceptions, aux représentations et à l’univers culturel de l’autre.
Estimation des teneurs en nitrates dans les eaux potables par l'utilisation de bandelettes réactives : un exercice d’éducation à l’environnement dans la vallée du Sourou au Burkina Faso
Authors: Rosillon Francis , Savadogo Boubacar , Kabore Aminata , Poda Jean Noël , Bado-Sama Hortense , Dianou Dayeri
Published: October 2012

Dans le cadre de l’application du contrat de rivière Sourou au Burkina Faso, une estimation des teneurs en nitrates dans les eaux a été effectuée en utilisant un test rapide par bandelettes réactives. De 2008 à 2011, 29 forages et puits et 9 points de prélèvement en eaux de surface localisés dans la vallée du Sourou ont fait l’objet d’une étude comparative entre le test bandelettes et l’analyse classique en laboratoire. Les résultats étaient comparables dans 90 % des cas. Nous avons pu vérifier simultanément par les deux méthodes que la norme de potabilité de l’OMS de 50 mg de nitrates par litre (NO3/L) était dépassée dans l’eau souterraine pour 12 ouvrages sur les 29 testés. Des concentrations supérieures à 500 mg de NO3/L ont parfois été observées. Les contaminations seraient d’origine multiple : défécation animale et humaine, latrines, eaux usées. L’utilisation de dynamite pour le creusement des ouvrages a aussi été évoquée. Au-delà de l’utilisation d’un test rapide pour produire, à faible coût, des données valables estimant les teneurs en nitrates dans les eaux, cette démarche revêt un caractère pédagogique à l’instar des opérations sources qui avaient été organisées en Belgique dans les années 90. Une transposition de cette activité d’éducation relative à l’environnement est suggérée au Burkina Faso en collaboration avec les écoles.
La méningite, une maladie des « variations » : pratiques préventives et gestion des épidémies de méningite à Kombissiri et Réo Burkina Faso
Authors: Bouma Fernand Bationo , Ouattara Fatoumata , Zongo Sylvie , Colombini Anaïs
Published: October 2012

La méningite est une épidémie dont la gestion requiert aussi bien des techniques médicales que des conduites sociales. Le Burkina Faso reste l’un des pays de l’Afrique les plus touchés par la méningite. Entre 1988 et 1997, l’OMS y dénombre plus de 700 000 cas et 70 000 décès, sans compter les personnes victimes de séquelles neurologiques ou autres difficiles à évaluer. L’objectif de ce travail est d’étudier les représentations sociales de la méningite et les pratiques préventives qui peuvent contribuer à augmenter les taux de morbidité et de mortalité.Des entretiens individuels ont été menés avec des tradipraticiens, des leaders coutumiers, des leaders religieux, des autorités administratives et du personnel de santé. Des focus groups (homogènes) ont été réalisés avec des femmes, des hommes, des élèves et des jeunes non scolarisés à Kombissiri et à Réo. Les résultats montrent que les acteurs interrogés ont des connaissances de la méningite : manifestations symptomatiques, période d’apparition, mécanismes de transmission et les séquelles observées (surdité, bégaiements, perte de la mémoire, troubles visuels) et décrites. Les microbes et les germes sont cités par les élèves et les élèves déscolarisés. Si autrefois la raideur du cou et l’apparition en période de forte chaleur singularisaient la méningite, aujourd’hui selon les conceptions populaires, les étiologies et les manifestations symptomatiques très diffuses rendent les mesures de prévention, de diagnostic populaire et de prise en charge de plus en plus complexes.
La trame verte et bleue et ses réseaux : science, acteurs et territoires
Authors: Alphandéry Pierre , Fortier Agnès
Published: October 2012

La trame verte et bleue adoptée lors du Grenelle de l’environnement, en France, renouvelle l’approche des politiques de conservation de la biodiversité tout en inscrivant cette mesure dans une logique d’aménagement du territoire. Son ambition est de remédier à la fragmentation des espaces et des habitats naturels engendrée par les activités humaines en rétablissant les continuités écologiques indispensables à la circulation des espèces et des gènes. L’analyse sociologique développée ici s’attache à resituer la TVB dans la succession des politiques de la nature conduites en France et elle met l’accent sur la manière dont s’articulent les dimensions écologiques et territoriales. À partir de l’examen du dispositif TVB, appréhendé comme instrument de gouvernement (au sens de M. Foucault), nous montrons comment ce dispositif est prescriptif dans sa volonté de garantir la cohérence écologique de la trame nationale et régionale tout en accordant une grande marge de manœuvre aux collectivités locales dans le processus de mise en œuvre. Ce mélange de prescription et d’autonomie qui participe de la complexité du dispositif rend également possible – au-delà du consensus affiché lors du Grenelle de l’environnement - l’existence de conceptions différentes de la trame. En définitive, à travers le processus de mise en œuvre de la TVB se pose la question des modalités d’inscription de l’écologie dans les projets de territoire et, symétriquement, celle de la manière dont les groupes sociaux et les institutions s’approprient le projet de TVB.
Le concept de résilience à l’épreuve du génie urbain
Authors: Barroca Bruno , Serre Damien , Youssef Diab
Published: October 2012

Chaque événement naturel appliqué sur des territoires urbains révèle la limite des stratégies actuelles de gestion des risques et montre l’importance prépondérante des réseaux techniques dans la gestion de la crise et de l’après-crise. Le génie urbain permet d’analyser, par une approche transversale, d’une part l’analyse des contraintes techniques qui amènent à la conception et à la gestion des réseaux, d’autre part l’inscription de ces réseaux dans les territoires et dans les usages. Ainsi, le réseau dépasse l’unique objet dédié au fonctionnement urbain et s’insère dans un ensemble d’éléments en relation dont le fonctionnement s’apparente à un système technique. Pour comprendre et analyser les risques urbains, de type naturel ou technologique, appliqués à des systèmes techniques, le concept de résilience permet de dépasser les ambitions de fiabilisation souvent sectorielles des réseaux techniques. La résilience est un concept récent dans les sciences du territoire. Ce concept s’applique généralement à des systèmes et aborde le risque par l’adaptation des enjeux, l’absorption de l’aléa, la récupération du territoire après la crise. Pour aborder la résilience, le génie urbain doit redéfinir sa façon d’aborder la relation entre le risque et les systèmes techniques et se doter d’un référentiel. Cet article présente un modèle conceptuel de résilience pour les systèmes techniques qui repose sur l’identification de trois types de résilience complémentaires. La résilience fonctionnelle représente la capacité d’un système technique à se préserver de dommages importants tout en assurant au minimum le service nécessaire aux infrastructures critiques. Par la résilience fonctionnelle, les systèmes techniques cherchent de manière intrinsèque à augmenter leur propre résilience. La résilience corrélative caractérise la relation entre la demande de service et la capacité du système technique à y répondre. Diminuer la sollicitation faite à un système peut permettre de le maintenir en fonctionnement et de le protéger afin qu’il se rétablisse plus rapidement. Il s’agit d’adapter la demande à la capacité des systèmes techniques. Au-delà de la crise et de sa gestion, le retour à une situation « viable » est aussi un élément d’appréciation de la résilience. Des relations de solidarité entre les systèmes techniques et d’autres territoires peuvent aussi constituer un facteur de résilience des systèmes techniques. La résilience territoriale exprime cette capacité à mobiliser un territoire bien au-delà de l’espace impacté.
Environnement et éducation : analyse d’une stratégie d’introduction d’une éducation à l’environnement en Algérie
Authors: Ghouati Ahmed
Published: October 2012

L’introduction de l’éducation relative à l’environnement en Algérie s’inscrit dans une stratégie institutionnelle d’Éducation à l’Environnement et au Développement Durable (EEDD). Des moyens humains et matériels ont été mobilisés dans le cadre de cette stratégie. Cependant, cette introduction n’a pas constitué un moment pour repenser l’orientation polytechnique de l’école, ni réaménager l’emploi du temps. Par exemple, bien avant la mise en place de la stratégie nationale d’EEDD, l’incorporation au début des années 2000 d’une matière dite « Étude du milieu » n’a pas affecté significativement l’emploi du temps. Nous avons également analysé des manuels scolaires censés traduire les objectifs de l’EEDD tels que définis dans l’accord signé en 2002 entre les ministères de l’Environnement et de l’Éducation nationale pour l’introduction de l’Éducation à l’environnement. L’analyse a utilisé quatre catégories d’items, à savoir « Nature, Écologie, Vie », « Santé, Culture, Famille, Éducation », « Pollution, Menaces » et « Actions de protection et aménagement ». Quantitativement, les résultats obtenus indiquent un changement significatif par rapport à l’analyse des anciens manuels par Remki, Clément et Khemmar (2000). Néanmoins, qualitativement les thèmes liés à l’environnement ne sont pas toujours problématisés. En outre, sur la question de la problématisation, les manuels se distribuent en deux grandes catégories : les manuels normatifs et prescriptifs et les manuels descriptifs et explicatifs. Dans le premier type, nous trouvons les manuels d’éducation religieuse et civique et, dans le second, les manuels d’éducation scientifique/technologique et de géographie. La seconde catégorie offre de meilleures possibilités pédagogiques, en particulier pour l’implication des enseignants et des élèves.
La genèse de l’éco-conception en Chine dans le secteur des TIC, une exportation européenne
Authors: Huang Dai Yue , Liu Chao , Draetta Laura , Puel Gilles
Published: October 2012

Cet article présente les premiers résultats d’une recherche empirique sur l’émergence des pratiques de l’éco-conception dans le secteur des technologies de l’information et de la communication en Chine. Il montre que la structuration du champ organisationnel de l’éco-conception est sous la contrainte d’effets territoriaux extérieurs, principalement les contraintes réglementaires européennes. Le gouvernement central avec le relais des grandes entreprises exportatrices du secteur est conduit à construire un écosystème de l’éco-conception combinant efficacité économique et réglementations incitatrices pour servir à la fois des visées stratégico-utilisatrices et répondre à la demande globale environnementaliste.
Réhabilitation des sites pollués par phytoremédiation
Authors: Origo Nadia , Wicherek Stanislas , Hotyat Micheline
Published: October 2012

La phytoremédiation compte parmi les méthodes innovantes de dépollution des sols de plus en plus utilisées dans des milieux complexes en fonction de la nature des polluants à traiter. Elle fait partie de la famille des traitements biologiques appliqués aux sols pollués dont l’usage remonte au milieu des années 80, mais dont la généralisation ne date que des années 90. D’abord en pleine expansion en Amérique du Nord (États-Unis et Canada), la phytoremédiation était il y a encore une dizaine d’années très faiblement employée en Europe, en France, et en Afrique, notamment au Gabon. La phytoremédiation offre une réelle alternative, aussi bien écologique que paysagère et financière face aux techniques de dépollution traditionnelles telles que l’excavation, l’épandage ou l’incinération, pour aider à la réhabilitation des terrains contaminés et leur reconversion à des fins d’aménagement agricole, urbain ou de loisirs. La ferme expérimentale d’Auby ou le site Total de Vendin-Le-Vieil dans la région du Nord-Pas-de-Calais et celui des bourbiers de torchage de l’île Mandji au Gabon en sont de bons exemples. Même si cette technique présente des limites, notamment au niveau de la durée des traitements et de la revalorisation des résidus contaminés (cendres), elle demeure moins onéreuse et assez fiable. Elle s’inscrit aussi dans la durabilité, dans la mesure où la reconversion d’un site pollué en espace vert engendre d’une part un paysage verdoyant et d’autre part un système naturel de dépollution des terrains, ce qui de toute évidence facilitera la tâche des décideurs de l’aménagement raisonné du territoire.
Construction of Domain Ontologies
Authors: Kim Jongwoo , Storey Veda C.
Published: October 2012

As the World Wide Web evolves into the Semantic Web, domain ontologies, which represent the concepts of an application domain and their associated relationships, have become increasingly important as surrogates for capturing and representing the semantics of real world applications. Much ontology development remains manual and is both difficult and time-consuming. This research presents a methodology for semi-automatically generating domain ontologies from extracted information on the World Wide Web. The methodology is implemented in a prototype that integrates existing ontology and web organization tools. The prototype is used to develop ontologies for different application domains, and an empirical analysis carried out to demonstrate the feasibility of the research.
Eliciting User Preferences in Multi-Agent Meeting Scheduling Problem
Authors: Rigi Mohammad Amin , Khoshalhan Farid
Published: October 2012

Meeting Scheduling Problem (MSP) arranges meetings between a number of participants. Reaching consensus in arranging a meeting is very diffuclt and time-consuming when the number of participants is large. One efficient approach for overcoming this problem is the use of multi-agent systems. In a multi-agent system, agents are deciding on behalf of their users. They must be able to elicite their users’ preferences in an effective way. This paper focuses on the elicitation of users’ preferences. Analytical hierarchy process (AHP) - which is known for its ability to determine preferences - is used in this research. Specifically, an adaptive preference modeling technique based on AHP is developed and implemented in a system and the initial validation results are encouraging.
An Ontology Based Model for Document Clustering
Authors: K. Sridevi U. , N. Nagaveni
Published: October 2012

Clustering is an important topic to find relevant content from a document collection and it also reduces the search space. The current clustering research emphasizes the development of a more efficient clustering method without considering the domain knowledge and user’s need. In recent years the semantics of documents have been utilized in document clustering. The discussed work focuses on the clustering model where ontology approach is applied. The major challenge is to use the background knowledge in the similarity measure. This paper presents an ontology based annotation of documents and clustering system. The semi-automatic document annotation and concept weighting scheme is used to create an ontology based knowledge base. The Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) clustering algorithm can be applied to obtain the clustering solution. The accuracy of clustering has been computed before and after combining ontology with Vector Space Model (VSM). The proposed ontology based framework gives improved performance and better clustering compared to the traditional vector space model. The result using ontology was significant and promising.
Towards a Possibilistic Information Retrieval System Using Semantic Query Expansion
Authors: Elayeb Bilel , Bounhas Ibrahim , Ben Khiroun Oussama , Evrard Fabrice , Bellamine-BenSaoud Narjès
Published: October 2012

This paper presents a new possibilistic information retrieval system using semantic query expansion. The work is involved in query expansion strategies based on external linguistic resources. In this case, the authors exploited the French dictionary “Le Grand Robert”. First, they model the dictionary as a graph and compute similarities between query terms by exploiting the circuits in the graph. Second, the possibility theory is used by taking advantage of a double relevance measure (possibility and necessity) between the articles of the dictionary and query terms. Third, these two approaches are combined by using two different aggregation methods. The authors also benefit from an existing approach for reweighting query terms in the possibilistic matching model to improve the expansion process. In order to assess and compare the approaches, the authors performed experiments on the standard ‘LeMonde94’ test collection.
Wikipedia
Authors: Spadavecchia Elisa
Published: October 2012

Is it possible to exploit the potentialities of Web 2.0 tools and the advantages of knowledge sharing to guide students towards effective learning competence and autonomy? This chapter is aimed at pointing out the achievements and the drawbacks of the use of Wikipedia, integrated with traditional classroom teaching through the illustration of some practical examples from all grades of school and university. A direct experience in an Italian secondary high school is described as well, whose aim has been to promote critical thinking, stimulate cooperative e-learning, and the respect of the intellectual property, giving more efficacy to autonomous studying.
Learning in a “Classi 2.0” Classroom
Authors: Taddeo Gabriella , Tirocchi Simona
Published: October 2012

The “Classi 2.0” programme is a national applied research project aimed at investigating if and how new media and technologies for producing, communicating, and sharing contents can improve and change learning environments in Italian schools. In this chapter, the discussion centres on scientific sociological research connected to the project carried out by the Polytechnic University of Turin. The research aimed at exploring the main tendencies, expectations, and technological problems both for teachers and for students in coping with digital innovation. In particular, the chapter outlines: the main technological choices of schools, which devices and media are preferred by schools, and how these technologies have been used as tools for reinventing not only learning processes, but also school times and spaces; it also outlines the most interesting changes in social relationship and social challenges that have occurred through the use of such innovative technologies.
PotenziaMente
Authors: Trinchero Roberto
Published: October 2012

Starting from the diffusion of information technology in schools, many computer games have been produced for the teaching and learning of mathematics. Most of these adopt a teaching approach that repurposes school situations embedded in game situations. The software object of the experiment described in this chapter was in fact to adopt a different approach. It proposes a series of games inspired to real-world situations in which the student must evolve a wide range of cognitive functions and mathematical contents. The games were constructed in line with objectives outlined by the Italian National Guidelines for the Curriculum (2007). The student perceives the interaction as a pure game interaction, but the effect is to increase their knowledge, skills, and competencies in mathematics, in addition to exercising a wide range of cognitive functions.
An Innovative Way of Learning through the Use of the Interactive Whiteboard within a Cooperative Learning Context
Authors: Campregher Sabrina
Published: October 2012

Over the last ten years, advancement in technology has increased two-fold. Fortunately, this advancement has started to filter down into the school education system. The recent introduction of the Interactive Whiteboard (IWB) in schools has prompted teachers to raise questions, which not only tackle critical doubts, but also initiate interest and curiosity. The most common questions concern the real potential of this tool to enhance learning, motivation, and attention of students. Moreover, this innovative tool has posed a new problem: how to integrate it into the didactic process? This chapter presents an example of a technology-learning environment, based on the social-constructivist approach, where the IWB has been integrated and its effects through research.
Implementing the EU Key Competences for Active Citizenship Teaching Latin-Italian Literature and Assessing Students
Authors: Chiarle Angelo
Published: October 2012

To meet the complex challenge set by the 2006 European Reference Framework of the Key Competences for Lifelong Learning, different didactic tools seem necessary: cooperative learning, problem solving, authentic assessment, understanding by design, differentiated instruction, habits of mind, critical thinking, and student portfolio. Since 1998, teaching both Italian and Latin Language and Literature in two Licei Scientifici Statali in the Province of Turin (Piemonte) to students aged 14 through 19, the author has gradually implemented all these didactic tools. The author’s working hypothesis is to construct the “three storey competence building” starting from the daily “ground floor” of attitudes or habits of minds, rising whenever possible to the “first floor” of authentic assessment, coming up to the “attic” of student portfolio with some willing students. The author’s main goal is to submit some critical reflection and evidence on what teachers can really achieve with their students if they accept the challenge of refocusing their instruction and their assessment practices.
Affordances and Challenges of Using iPods to Support Learning by English Language Learners at the Middle School Level
Authors: Liu Min , Wivagg Jennifer , Maradiegue Erin , Navarrete Cesar C.
Published: October 2012

While mobile devices have become very popular for communication and entertainment, there is a lack of research about how these devices can contribute in educational settings. This chapter describes an effort to use iPod touch devices as a teaching tool in middle school English Language Learner classes. The authors explore the affordances of the iPod touch as well as the challenges of implementing an iPod based project so as to gain a better understanding of the potentials offered by mobile devices for learning purposes. The authors report in this chapter their research from the perspective of the teachers and the instructional technologist involved with this project, and then discuss future plans based upon the findings.
Expanding the Boundaries of Learning
Authors: Iaquinta Rosa , Impedovo Maria Antonietta
Published: October 2012

The purpose of this chapter is to reflect on the socio-cultural dimension useful when schools plan measures for coping with the requirements of a complex society. In particular, an examination of a project on vocational orientation is proposed for the liaison of school with work. This project can contribute to the discussion about the need to bridge the gap between the business community and the world of education; to a reflection on the development of students’ identity and about the importance of a socio-cultural dimension for a complex assessment of learning. This perspective is illustrated here in the description of a project of career counseling for the liaison of school with work in a school situated in a context of economic and social hardship, in the south of Italy.
Territorial Knowledge, National Identities, Social Media, a Case Study
Authors: Toschi Luca , Chipa Stefania , Simonetta Gianluca
Published: October 2012

“150DIGIT – Italy of schools” is a research project intended to test the model of generative communication in schools (www.comunicazionegenerativa.org). First introduced on the occasion of the celebration for the 150 years of united Italy, the project foresees the involvement of teachers and students within an innovative social network that provides the activation of a “dialogue” allowing generating and gathering of stories and tales that reposition the “institutional portrait” of the country. Through the architecture of a communication platform organized in different working environments, the system allows users to consult official and local materials, create new contents, make their voices heard and, last but not least, reflect and discuss on the procedures and languages that new technologies call into question.
Theater School
Authors: Perrotta Maria Antonella
Published: October 2012

The “Teatro a Scuola” (Theater School) project, directed at 14-18 year-old, Real innovation lies in the involvement of students as writers, in a collaborative theatrical storytelling. During the theater workshop the teacher in charge of the project planned and implemented with the participants experimental activity that was inserted within the Italian program. Its purpose is to stimulate participants’ creativity. It aims at to become an integral part of the activities foreseen by the school syllabus and to offer, next to the traditional learning method, a form of learning by doing. The project consists in three distinct, yet interdependent, moments: a first theoretical stage, which foresees a short series of lessons on the history of theater; a second stage dedicated to a theater workshop (elocution, lively reading, mime, song, dance etc.); and a final show, i.e. a genuine theatrical representation for the whole school and all citizens. Characteristics of innovation and experimentation of the project were that: students were not only actors but also authors and screenwriters; also, the project involved elders of the University of the Third Age (NGO)
High School Students’ Argument Patterns in Online Peer Feedback
Authors: Amhag Lisbeth
Published: October 2012

The study focuses on strategies for how online course outlines can be designed to improve the use of collaborative peer feedback in distance education and how distance students can learn to use argumentation processes as a tool for learning. For ten weeks, 30 student teachers studied the web-based 15 credit course Teacher Assignment. Data was collected from five student groups’ asynchronous argumentation, relating to authentic cases of teacher leadership. Focus was placed on the extent to which students used own and others’ texts meaning content in the discussion forum and how the content can be analysed. A close investigation of the dialogical argument patterns (N=253) in their peer feedback shows the extent to which students distinguish, identify, and describe the meaning content that emerges in collaboration with other students in an online setting as an important aspect. The dialogue patterns that developed are illustrated in selected excerpts.
Computer-Based Mathematics Instructions with MATCOS
Authors: Costabile Francesco Aldo , Serpe Annarosa
Published: October 2012

In this chapter, the authors describe the research and experimentation carried out and the results achieved in the last ten years in Calabrian secondary schools in the teaching/learning of Mathematics with the aid of computer programming in the MATCOS environment. The conclusions of the present work of research and experimentation are stated either in the relevant section, available in the articles mentioned in the bibliography, or can be found in the CIRD library. The chapter is organized as follows: first, the authors introduce the general background which prompted the research activity, and after, they present the MATCOS programming environment and elucidate its pedagogical-educational paradigm, technical characteristics, and use in everyday teaching through an example. Finally, the authors give a detailed description of the experimentation and the results obtained in the last few years. Future trends and conclusions round off the paper.
Why this Silence?
Authors: Caianiello Eduardo
Published: October 2012

The teaching of scientific subjects at schools and universities presents the eminent opportunity for what the psychiatrist/phenomenologist Ronald Laing termed a devastating experiential invalidation. For a long time, international institutions have been on the watch for the pathetic condition of the current didactics and pedagogy of science, which is no longer able to motivate pupils. What the author of this chapter claims is that the problem is more serious than how it is usually characterized; the standard ways of causing pupils to assimilate logical-mathematical truths that are essential to their social surviving, radically invalidates the existential – and hence ethical and political – totality of their experience of the world, namely their voice and capacity to emit it. The experiment described in this chapter consists of a series of courses entirely aimed to re-legitimize the “negative” experience of doubt and “aporetic” disorientation that any normally sane human subject necessarily makes when her mind for the first time comes to deal with the enigmatic world of scientific truths. It served to re-work the legitimization of education that allows the pupils to listen to that subtle dimension of the phenomena and of their own minds, which alone is able to feed their deepest creative energies, whether scientific, artistic, or directly philosophical.
Semantic Wiki for Tracing Process and Requirements Knowledge in Small and Medium Enterprises
Authors: Nordheimer Khrystyna , Seedorf Stefan , Thum Christian
Published: October 2012

Although the early phases in software development are important to project success, there are only a few lightweight tools for the integrated management of core software entities. Especially, small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) often lack knowledge and resources to use complex development environments. In this chapter, the authors present a wiki-based approach which allows multiple stakeholders to develop a shared understanding of business elements as well as software design elements. Business processes, requirements, and the architectural design are documented and modeled in a common wiki platform, which provides the foundation for semantic traceability. This allows users to react to changes and track down affected elements on both sides. Finally, the wiki platform supports real-time collaborative modeling of process and design models natively integrated into the Web browser.
Enterprise Applications
Authors: Choppy Christine , Hatebur Denis , Heisel Maritta , Reggio Gianna
Published: October 2012

The authors provide a method to systematically develop enterprise application architectures from problem descriptions. From these descriptions, they derive two kinds of specifications: a behavioral specification describes how the automated business process is carried out. It can be expressed using activity or sequence diagrams. A structural specification describes the classes to be implemented and the operations they provide. The structural specification is created in three steps. All the diagrams are expressed in UML.
Software Architecture Practices in Agile Enterprises
Authors: Eloranta Veli-Pekka , Koskimies Kai
Published: October 2012

This chapter is based on the results of a survey carried out in 11 IT companies in Finland in Fall 2010. In this survey, the existing practices regarding software architecting work in agile enterprises using Scrum are mapped out. Four main practices to cope with software architecture in Scrum are identified and analyzed. The adoption of these practices is discussed in relation with the characteristics of the teams and project types. Further, the interaction of these practices and Scrum patterns is analyzed. The results indicate that most of the found practices are in conflict with Scrum. The analyzed relationships between Scrum patterns and the identified architecture practices help to understand how software architecture work is aligned with Scrum in real life, as well as the problems of the practices from the Scrum point of view.
FTT
Authors: Ying Ming , Miller James
Published: October 2012

Forms are a common part of web applications. They provide a method for the user to interact with the web application. However, forms in traditional applications require entire web pages to be refreshed every time they are submitted. This model is inefficient and should be replaced with Ajax-enabled forms. Ajax is a set of web development technologies that enables web applications to behave more like desktop applications, thus allowing a richer, more interactive and more efficient model for interactions between the user and the web application. This paper presents a refactoring system called Form Transformation Tool (FTT) to assist web programmers refactor traditional forms into Ajax-enabled forms while ensuring that functionality before and after refactoring is preserved.