bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
La rationalité est-elle une illusion mentale ?
Authors: Jardat Rémi
Published: December 2014

Nous proposons ici de penser l’irrationnel en organisation dans sa relation de contrariété – contradiction ternaire avec la rationalité et la non-rationalité. Une première étape, conceptuelle, établit cette trinité, qui fait apparaître la rationalité comme un enchaînement réglé d’occurrences. Une seconde étape, anthropologique, plonge cette relation dans les processus non rationnels de rationalisation, qui prennent un sens double sens pragmatique et représentationnel. Enfin, dans une troisième étape, on illustre cette relation ternaire et ces processus par une typologie des manifestations les plus évidentes de l’irrationalisme organisationnel réactif.
Les croyances dans les organisations
Authors: Bazin Yoann
Published: December 2014

La littérature en sciences de gestion fait très régulièrement référence à la notion de croyance. Pourtant, elle n’est que rarement directement examinée ou même définie ; elle reste à l’état d’impensé. L’objet de cet article est double. D’abord de montrer en quoi les croyances sont des éléments essentiels pour les disciplines du comportement organisationnel et de la théorie des organisations. Ensuite d’analyser le concept de croyance de manière plus systématique. Dans cette démarche, la Critique de la raison pure de Kant se révèlera être un ouvrage à la fois fondateur et structurant. Nous verrons alors en quoi les sciences de gestion et le management peuvent parfaitement s’appuyer sur la notion de croyance sans pour autant tomber dans l’irrationalité.
La personnalité
Authors: Karboul Ibtissem , Karoui Zouaoui Samia
Published: December 2014

Ce travail traite d’un acte principal de toute organisation qu’est la décision. Nous avons essayé de mettre en avant la présence du caractère irrationnel dans la décision principalement à travers l’analyse des caractéristiques mentales et psychologiques du décideur. L’analyse du fonctionnement mental des décideurs se fait à travers l’analyse du « humane information processing »(HIP) et fait paraître deux modes de pensée différents. Le premier, à caractère logique traitant des informations objectives et se basant sur un raisonnement causal et déductif. Le second, à caractère non logique (Barnard, 1936) ou irrationnel traitant des informations subjectives en se basant sur un raisonnement inductif. «  Il y’a bien plusieurs façons d’être raisonnable et parfois cela consiste à ne pas être rationnel  » (A.C Martinet, 1997). L’analyse des caractéristiques psychologiques des décideurs et de leur effet sur la façon avec laquelle le décideur agit, est basée sur le concept de la Personnalité de Carl Jung. La personnalité du décideur dicte en effet la façon avec laquelle il perçoit et juge les informations nécessaires à sa décision entrainant ainsi un style de décision allant du décideur purement intuitif caractérisé par une perception intuitive des objets et des évènements et un jugement non rationnel basé sur les sentiments, au décideur purement rationnel caractérisé par une perception sensorielle des faits et un jugement basé sur la pensée rationnelle. Nous avons ensuite montré, à travers le concept de flexibilité cognitive, que la réalité de plus en plus complexe des organisations est en faveur de la dualité voire de la coexistence aussi bien du style rationnel qu’irrationnel et que pour faire face aux conditions de plus en plus incertaines du contexte décisionnel, le décideur devra – pour optimiser ses décision – osciller entre le rationnel et l’irrationnel, le conscient et l’inconscient et ce à travers sa capacité à être cognitivement flexible.
L'irrationnel dans l'architecture du travail
Authors: Traversi Bruno
Published: December 2014

Le management chez Adriano Olivetti - figure emblématique de l’entrepreneuriat italien du XX e siècle – revêt, d’une part, l’aspect d’une rationalisation de l’organisation du travail sur le modèle de Taylor et, d’autre part, se fonde sur des principes d’individuation inspirés en partie de la psychologie analytique de Carl Gustav Jung . L’OST de Taylor peut se caractériser comme un processus d’assujettissement que l’architecture circulaire du panoptique de Bentham figure – selon la perspective de Michel Foucault . A l’inverse, l’individuation de Jung se présente comme un processus libérateur visant l’autonomie du sujet qui peut être figuré par un autre type de cercle, celui du mandala. Les deux types de cercles renvoient à deux types de pouvoir central : le premier est celui d’un pouvoir directif au regard scrutateur, le deuxième est celui d’un pouvoir introspectif au regard contemplatif. Tandis que le pouvoir directif se fonde sur un rapport de sensibilité et de causalité, l’efficience du pouvoir introspectif consiste en une « influence muette » qui suppose l’existence d’un lien a-causal, lien de correspondance ou de « synchronicité », entre les individus. Jung élabore le concept de synchronicité au cours d’un travail commun – entre 1932 et 1958 – avec le Prix Nobel de Physique, Wolfgang Pauli . Le psychologue et le physicien s’accordent – en regard des phénomènes a-causaux observés en physique subatomique comme en psychologie - sur la nécessité de faire de la psyché un domaine transcendant et reliant immédiatement la sphère physique et la sphère psychique, l’intériorité et l’extériorité. Le caractère à la fois personnel et collectif que Jung et Pauli prêtent à l’inconscient semble ainsi fonder un modèle de gouvernance centralisée dont la légitimité et l’efficience repose paradoxalement sur la vertu et la non-ingérence – dont le parangon chinois est l’Empereur Jaune.
Le tout-rationnel
Authors: Rappin Baptiste
Published: December 2014

Cette communication s’appuie sur une présentation de l’œuvre du juriste iconoclaste Pierre Legendre afin de questionner la place du management dans la civilisation. Plus précisément comment l’empire industriel vient-il percuter les fondations anthropologiques de l’humanité en général et de l’Occident en particulier ? Quel impact les pratiques gestionnaires ont-elles sur la Référence, l’Institution, la Représentation et la Généalogie ?
La conception des artefacts visuels dans la generation des connaissances
Authors: Chouki Mourad
Published: December 2014

Sur le plan académique, la gestion des connaissances est une discipline récente. Elle prend appui en sciences de gestion sur l’approche Ressource-Based View (Barney et al, 1991). Dans cette perspective, plusieurs auteurs, comme Nonaka et Takeuchi, ont souligné depuis une vingtaine d’années l’intérêt de la génération des connaissances. Ils ont étudié la façon dont elles sont créées, utilisées et partagées, pour augmenter la valeur de l’entreprise (Nonaka et Takeuchi, 1995). Pour mieux appréhender la notion de la génération des connaissances, nous avons étudié deux entreprises parisiennes spécialisées dans l’aménagement des espaces de travail : Génie des Lieux et Workspace CBRE . Nous y avons fait des observations participantes et non participantes d’une durée relativement longue. Il s’agit de partir de l’existant, de l’observation des faits et du travail des équipes projets avec pour première cible les comportements des acteurs au fur et à mesure des opérations (David et al, 2000). Rappelons que ces équipes projets sont principalement composées d’architectes et de designers. Nous avons montré que des difficultés d’intercompréhension apparaissent dans les activités de conception. Ici, nous reprenons la distinction relative au knowledge boundaries proposée par Carlille (2002) selon laquelle les difficultés pragmatiques sont liées aux évolutions des savoirs et aux expériences des individus. Dans notre cas, nous estimons que les architectes et les designers sont issus de métiers peu hétérogènes. Pendant nos observations, nous n’avons pas relevé de difficultés notables d’ordre sémantique ou syntaxique. Ces obstacles sont dus alors à l’existence des connaissances tacites relationnelles au sens d’Harry Collins (2010). Ces dernières peuvent être rendues explicites par la conception d’objets intermédiaires qui servent aussi à médiatiser les interactions entre les acteurs. Nous avons vu également comment la conception des artefacts en deux ou en trois dimensions permet la génération des connaissances nouvelles (Engeström, 1999b ; Tsoukas, 2009) et utiles dans un projet d’aménagement d’espaces de travail.
Co-produire les artefacts pour qu'ils soient médiateurs
Authors: Pham Thi Dau Tan
Published: December 2014

Dans quelle mesure les utilisateurs peuvent-ils coopérer avec les informaticiens dans le développement des systèmes d’information ? La réponse à cette question soulève des problèmes d’intercompréhension entre différents catégories d’acteurs. Ils sont liés à la profondeur des connaissances tacites collectives. Le dépassement de ces difficultés implique la mise en œuvre d’artefacts médiateurs. Dans ce papier, à l’aide du cas « Corbeilles » dans un établissement de santé, nous montrons que la coproduction d’artefacts médiateurs est un dispositif qui permet de lever les barrières séparant les professionnels appartenant à des métiers différents. Ces artefacts permettent de générer des Common Knowledge nécessaires au déroulement du projet.
Un modèle multi-acteurs de la gestion des connaissances
Authors: Philippe-Dussine Marie-Pierre , Carbonnel Anne
Published: December 2014

L’urbanisme durable repose sur la pluralité des connaissances des différents acteurs concernés : élus, usagers, associations. Paradoxalement l’explicitation et l’échange de ces connaissances semble négligée au profit de travaux de modélisation (Haugton et Hunter, 1996 ; Frey, 1999), qui s’interrogent davantage sur une forme urbaine idéale ou une organisation optimale des services publics. Une question essentielle semble pourtant soulevée : comment favoriser la coordination des connaissances des différents acteurs de l’urbanisme durable ? Cette communication interdisciplinaire souligne l’importance de fonder l’urbanisme durable sur un système de gestion des connaissances pouvant favoriser les interactions (Ermine 2007) et l’engagement dans une action collective (Cerf, et alii., 2000, Ferrary & Pesqueux, 2006,). Les apports de la Théorie des Jeux (Tirole et Benabou, 2006) et de la Dynamique Identitaire Globale (Sardas, 2008) offrent ici plusieurs pistes. Une étude exploratoire réalisée en Moselle souligne les différents freins cognitifs, stratégiques et subjectifs qui peuvent entraver une telle gestion des connaissances, mais aussi le rôle positif de facteurs de convivialité, souvent bien plus efficaces que la pression réglementaire.
L'ethnographie organisationnelle d'hier à Demain
Authors: Rouleau Linda
Published: December 2014

Dans les dernières années, on assiste à un retour en force de la recherche ethnographique dans les études en théories des organisations et en gestion. Alors que la recherche ethnographique avait été centrée sur l’observation de situations organisationnelles spécifiques, elle donne maintenant lieu à une diversité de nouvelles formes et pratiques de recherche adaptées au contexte organisationnel contemporain. Deux expériences de recherche ethnographique, l’une menée dans les années 1990 dans une entreprise de vêtement haut de gamme et l’autre menée dans les années 2000 lors d’une expédition en milieu extrême, sont décrites afin de faire ressortir les points communs et divergents. Cette comparaison permet de montrer que même si les conditions changent, l’essence de la démarche ethnographique, qu’elle soit traditionnelle ou renouvelée, demeure la rencontre de l’Autre par le chercheur. Le texte propose finalement une réflexion sur les défis et enjeux méthodologiques, théoriques et de diffusion associée à la pratique de l’ethnographie organisationnelle.
Une ethnographie organisationnelle constructiviste et orientée vers les pratiques situées
Authors: Lièvre Pascal , Rix-Lièvre Géraldine
Published: December 2014

L’objet de cette contribution est de donner un cadre théorique à une posture ethnographique de l’organisation que nous avons développée depuis plusieurs années dans le cadre d’une investigation des projets dans des environnements extrêmes, tels que les expéditions polaires. Nous décrivons cette posture d’ethnographie organisationnelle comme « constructiviste » et centrée sur les « pratiques situées ». Nous pouvons parler d’une nouvelle forme d’ethnographie organisationnelle dans le sens où d’une part elle radicalise sur le plan épistémologique la question de la réflexivité, d’autre part elle prend une orientation spécifique sur le plan théorique en investissant une logique pratique en rupture avec une logique discursive.
Comment mourir dans un service hospitalier ?
Authors: Le Theule Marie-Astrid
Published: December 2014

À l’hôpital, la question du mourir est une décision qui est prise par les médecins au cours des négociations avec l’équipe médicale, avec la famille et quelquefois avec le patient. Pour savoir comment est gérée la mort dans un service hospitalier, nous avons été observatrices pendant deux ans dans un service de gériatrie en soins palliatifs et soins aigus deux jours par semaine. Et nous avons filmé pendant 15 jours (y compris le week-end et la nuit) la vie du service. La caméra est le témoin de ce travail auprès des patients, des négociations entre les médecins, infirmiers, aides-soignants, famille et patient. À l’aide des carnets de notes et des séquences filmées, nous décrirons le parcours d’un patient, les négociations, les choix de décisions entre médecins, famille et patient. Le travail ethnographique permettant de créer la confiance et d’être au plus proche de situations délicates ; le film est le témoin de ce travail invisible auprès des patients.
Dire la pénibilité du travail en crèche ?
Authors: Meuret-Campfort Eve
Published: December 2014

Résumé propose de revenir sur la question de l’indicibilité de la pénibilité du travail en crèche. La prise en considération des différentes scènes sociales d’expression des griefs montre que les syndicalistes se démarquent personnellement des normes de care pour investir leur activité professionnelle – et syndicale – comme un travail social. Elles participent ensuite à susciter et diffuser un discours critique sur le travail dans l’espace professionnel. Par contre, les mobilisations collectives qui agitent le secteur de la petite enfance en 2010, dont le mouvement national « Pas de bébés à la consigne ! », rappellent la force des injonctions à l’amour des enfants dès lors que la scène est publique. La « cause de l’enfant » devient une rhétorique militante efficace pour mettre en avant la professionnalité des salariées tout en ne faisant que suggérer la pénibilité du travail.
Les figures imposées de la mondialisation culturelle
Authors: Despres Altaïr
Published: December 2014

Résumé À partir du cas de la danse contemporaine africaine, cet article montre que l’existence sur la scène internationale d’une pratique artistique implique, pour les acteurs qui s’y engagent, des mécanismes complexes de socialisation qui dépassent largement l’acquisition de compétences artistiques. Cette socialisation concerne aussi bien, pour les danseurs africains, les manières de se tenir à table en Europe, l’intériorisation des principes esthétiques propres à la danse contemporaine, ou encore l’apprentissage de nouvelles normes de genre. Elle repose sur une injonction paradoxale qui consiste à incorporer les normes et les valeurs d’un champ de la danse qui s’est structuré au Nord, tout en donnant des gages d’africanité. Enjoints à s’occidentaliser en vue de gagner du crédit dans le champ international de la danse, les danseurs se doivent malgré tout de conserver leur part d’une identité proprement africaine pour préserver leur avantage comparatif – c’est-à-dire concrètement, être employables sur le marché du travail artistique globalisé.
A Proposed System for Classifying Psychotropic Drugs
Authors: Howland Robert H.
Published: December 2014

Most drugs used in psychiatry are classified according to their initial or main therapeutic indications rather than by their pharmacological profiles. A proposed multi-axial, pharmacologically driven nomenclature system that would reclassify existing psychotropic drugs and provide a framework for classifying new drug compounds is described. The five axes of this system would describe a drug’s primary pharmacological target and relevant mechanism; relevant neurotransmitter and mechanism; neurobiological activities; efficacy and side effects; and approved indications. The proposed multi-axial system is a common sense but scientifically informed approach for classifying psychotropic drugs that would be practically useful for prescribers, clinicians, and patients. [
Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, 52
(12), 13–15.]
Jan Sobieski. Anniversaries of the 1683 Battle of Vienna (From 1783 to 1983) And Its Historical Imagination
Authors: Demski Dagnosław
Published: December 2014

This article presents how the image of Jan Sobieski evolved between anniversaries of the Battle of Vienna celebrated in Poland from 1783 to 1983. Which figure was celebrated, memorized, and presented during these years? Was it still the same figure of the Father of the Nation, Savior of the Nation and Christianity, Lion of Lechistan, Lightning of the East, and Leader of the Nation? Or a forgotten figure of the past?
***
Avtor v članku predstavlja, kako se je razvijala podoba Jana Sobieskega med obletnicami bitke pri Dunaju na praznovanjih med leti 1783 do 1983. Katera podoba je bila slavljena, spominjana in prikazana v teh letih. Ali je šlo za isto podobo očeta naroda, rešitelja naroda in krščanstva, Leva Lechistan, svetlobe vzhoda in voditelja naroda. Ali pa gre za pozabljeno figuro preteklosti.
From Conviction to Heroism. The Case of a Croatian War General
Authors: Pletenac Tomislav
Published: December 2014

In 2001, Ante Gotovina, one of the Croatian generals in the Balkan wars of the 1990s, was prosecuted by the ICTY for war crimes committed during the last operation by the Croatian Army, Operation Storm. During his flee, imprisonment and later release we can trace different shifts and splits in Croatian society and popular culture that are closely linked with sovereignty and national identity.
***
Leta 2001 je bila objavljena obtožnica proti generalu Anteju Gotovini, vojaškem generalu Hrvaške vojske zaradi zločinov, storjenih med in po akciji Nevihta. Med begom, zaporom in poznejšo izpustitvijo iz zapora je mogoče zaslediti različne premike in razpoke v hrvaški družbi in popularni kulturi, ki so tesno povezani z vprašanji suverenosti in nacioalne identitete.
Reconciling Knowledge and Collaborative E-Research
Authors: Diviacco Paolo
Published: December 2014

The aim of this chapter is to analyze the mechanisms and the philosophical background behind collaborative e-research in the perspective of defining simple and useful models that can be used in developing Web-based tools to support such activities. In its simplest form, collaboration refers to the interaction between humans. This is problematic, as the interaction between the subject and the outer world is always uncertain. To address this issue, a framework is proposed here, where metaphysics and epistemology are confronted, clearing up concepts as objectivity, subjectivity, opinions, or facts. The limits of “knowing,” of being aware of the knowledge we have, and of the possible transmission of knowledge are highlighted through comparison of science and other domains. A new vision becomes urgent and can be addressed through a “deliteralization” of knowledge grounded on “representation” since this is the projection of knowledge and the source of cultures.
Examining Trust in Collaborative Research Networks
Authors: Leadbetter Adam
Published: December 2014

Ian McHarg's “The Theory of Creative Fitting” describes the collaborative integration of data into knowledge products for use in ecological architecture developments. In McHarg's system, the provenance of data layers and trust in their creators are vital to the creation of knowledge, ideas recently described as being “urgent and relevant.” This chapter begins with these ideas and explores provenance propagation and data publication. Provenance propagation has been a topic under discussion by the World Wide Web Consortium, while data publication has been a focus of the global marine science community. From these projects, the issue of uniquely identifying individuals in a distributed, collaborative network has emerged. Possible implications of this problem are discussed, as are technical solutions to the problem. The principles described within this chapter are illustrated by examples of uncertainty propagation in chained Web Processing Service networks and data publication activities at the British Oceanographic Data Centre.
International Funding and Collaboration in Sea Level Rise Research
Authors: López-Ferrer Mayte
Published: December 2014

International collaboration and research funding in Sea Level Rise (SLR) research are investigated in this chapter. SLR can be taken as a paradigmatic research area to study the international scientific collaboration and research funding efforts because it is affecting the whole planet and is an interdisciplinary research area involving disciplines belonging to the geosciences but also the life sciences, technology sciences, and social sciences. The aim of the chapter is to identify the main stakeholders in the topic, institutions, and countries; analyze overlapping efforts; identify possible research gaps; and to study the role played by the funding agencies. Bibliometrics and a social network analysis approach are applied. Co-occurrence networks of keywords, affiliations, and funding agencies among scientific papers in Thomson Reuters' Web of Science Core Collection in the SLR topic are analyzed. Conclusions show that international scientific collaboration is common in SLR, but international co-financing is less frequent.
Relationship between Senior and Junior Researcher
Authors: Gorela Katjuša , Biloslavo Roberto
Published: December 2014

The professional development of a young researcher is mainly influenced by the organizational culture and the relationship with academic colleagues, especially mentors. This chapter presents the results of a qualitative study conducted on a sample of 16 researchers employed in three Slovenian public universities. The study examines the senior-junior researcher relationship, as the relationship between mentor and mentee, the nature of their cooperation, and how new knowledge is generated and transmitted. In-depth semi-structured interviews and content analysis for structuring qualitative data was used. The results indicate that the professional development of junior researchers is based mostly on their independent work where the mentor guidance is only occasional. Despite the development of information and communication technology, and in particular the Social Web tools, the mentorship in the framework of higher education institutions is still based on a face-to-face relationship.
Towards the Interoperable Data Environment for Facilities Science
Authors: Bunakov Vasily , Jones Catherine , Matthews Brian
Published: December 2014

The research enabled by national and international photon and neutron source facilities makes a key contribution to the modern scientific community supporting thousands of researchers around the world to explore and understand the structure of materials. In this chapter, the authors describe the characteristics of facilities science with a distinct common research lifecycle which requires the provision of facility-based centralized IT infrastructure and data management platforms. The chapter then considers how the nature of facilities science is changing and what opportunities this brings for a more cohesive approach to data management. It then goes on to consider investigation research objects and to formalize the aggregation of related and contextual information which is important for re-use of research outputs by those who were not directly involved in the original experiment. Finally, there is consideration of what infrastructure can support the use of investigation research objects.
Grammar of Dynamic Knowledge for Collaborative Knowledge Engineering and Representation
Authors: Pshenichny Cyril , Mouromtsev Dmitry
Published: December 2014

Constructive discussion must lead to a shared understanding. This understanding is commonly expressed as text; however, for the purposes of collaborative research, the tools of knowledge engineering/knowledge representation look more appropriate. The problem with them is that, to the present day, they are developed largely for the tasks that imply fixed relations between things and their properties, termed here as static. However, collaborative research often deals with fields of knowledge that represent changing environments where these relations cannot be considered fixed, and the tools to capture scenarios of evolution (i.e. the dynamic tools of knowledge engineering) are far from that evolved as static ones, mainly due to the lack of strict logical or mathematical foundation for representation of dynamic knowledge. This chapter presents an attempt to formulate a unified grammar to encode the knowledge of changing environments in any field of science.
Ex Vivo–Expanded but Not In Vitro–Induced Human Regulatory T Cells Are Candidates for Cell Therapy in Autoimmune Diseases Thanks to Stable Demethylation of the FOXP3 Regulatory T Cell–Specific Demethylated Region
Authors: Rossetti Maura , Spreafico Roberto , Saidin Suzan , Chua Camillus , Moshref Maryam , Leong Jing Yao , Tan York Kiat , Thumboo Julian , van Loosdregt Jorg , Albani Salvatore
Published: December 2014

Regulatory T cell (Treg) therapy is a promising approach for transplant rejection and severe autoimmunity. Unfortunately, clinically meaningful Treg numbers can be obtained only upon in vitro culture. Functional stability of human expanded (e)Tregs and induced (i)Tregs has not been thoroughly addressed for all proposed protocols, hindering clinical translation. We undertook a systematic comparison of eTregs and iTregs to recommend the most suitable for clinical implementation, and then tested their effectiveness and feasibility in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Regardless of the treatment, iTregs acquired suppressive function and FOXP3 expression, but lost them upon secondary restimulation in the absence of differentiation factors, which mimics in vivo reactivation. In contrast, eTregs expanded in the presence of rapamycin (rapa) retained their regulatory properties and FOXP3 demethylation upon restimulation with no stabilizing agent. FOXP3 demethylation predicted Treg functional stability upon secondary TCR engagement. Rapa eTregs suppressed conventional T cell proliferation via both surface (CTLA-4) and secreted (IL-10, TGF-β, and IL-35) mediators, similarly to ex vivo Tregs. Importantly, Treg expansion with rapa from RA patients produced functionally stable Tregs with yields comparable to healthy donors. Moreover, rapa eTregs from RA patients were resistant to suppression reversal by the proinflammatory cytokine TNF-α, and were more efficient in suppressing synovial conventional T cell proliferation compared with their ex vivo counterparts, suggesting that rapa improves both Treg function and stability. In conclusion, our data indicate Treg expansion with rapa as the protocol of choice for clinical application in rheumatological settings, with assessment of FOXP3 demethylation as a necessary quality control step.
What Makes Health Demand-Side Financing Schemes Work in Low-And Middle-Income Countries? A Realist Review
Authors: Gopalan Saji S. , Das Ashis , Mutasa Ronald
Published: December 2014

This realist review explored causal pathways of the possible consumer effects of health sector demand-side financial (DSF) incentives, their contextual factors and mechanisms in low-and-middle-income countries. We searched six electronic data bases and identified 659 abstracts with different evaluation designs. Based on methodological rigor and content relevance, only 24 studies published up to April 2013 were selected for the final review. A conceptual framework consisting of various program theories on potential context-mechanism-outcome (C-M-O) configuration of DSF initiative was designed, tested and adapted during the review. Synthesized results were presented as a C-M-O configuration for each of the consumer –side effect. DSF was effective to improve health seeking behaviour considerably and health status to some extent. The causal pathway of DSF's functioning and effectiveness was not linear. Key demand-side contextual factors which affected DSF's consumer-side effects were background characteristics of the beneficiaries including their socio-cultural beliefs, motivations, and level of health awareness. At the supply-side, service availability status and provider incentives were contextual determinants. The mechanisms which enabled the interaction of contextual influence were consumer and provider accountability and consumer trust on providers. In order to enhance DSF programs’ effectiveness, their design and implementation should carefully consider the potential contextual elements that may influence the causal pathways.
Care for the Person, Protection of Health and Respect for the Will of the Patient in Italy: Support Administration as a Tool to Jointly Promote Health and Respect for Autonomy in Incompetent Patients
Authors: Delbon Paola , Ricci Giovanna , Gandolfini Massimo , Conti1 Adelaide
Published: December 2014

In Italy, advance health care directives are a subject of considerable debate in both legal theory and practice. This debate focuses in particular not only on the appropriateness of approving ad hoc statutory regulations but also on the extent to which similar advance indications of a person's wishes are applicable under the existing legal system, albeit in the absence of a law regulating them. The authors of this paper consider, in particular, guidelines relating to the possible use of the mechanism of support administration ( amministrazione di sostegno) (Law No. 6/2004) as a procedure to be used for the legal recognition of advance health care directives, particularly in the light of the legal provision for the possible designation in advance of a support administrator by a beneficiary in anticipation of an eventual situation of incapacity. This underlines how the concept of health does not only exist in the abstract, but must be measured in relation to the particular patient in the particular situation and how beneficence and respect for autonomy are both essential elements in the choices aimed at promoting the health and the wellbeing of its citizens.
Livelihood vulnerability index analysis: An approach to study vulnerability in the context of Bihar
Authors: . Madhuri , Tewari Hare R. , Bhowmick Pradip K.
Published: December 2014

Vulnerability is the capacity to anticipate, cope with, resist and recover from the impact of natural disasters. Floods add to the distressed conditions of the poor and vulnerable people in Bihar. Floods have a different impact on households depending on differences in their livelihood choices. Therefore, in order to identify the variability in vulnerability of affected households, the livelihood vulnerability index (LVI) of Hahn, Riederer and Foster was modified according to the context of the study area. The LVI aims to identify sources and forms of vulnerability that are specific to the context in order to design context-specific resilience measures. However, vulnerability and resilience are not interdependent but discrete entities. The study was conducted in the seven blocks of Bhagalpur district in the state of Bihar. Naugachia was found to be the least vulnerable because of better access to basic amenities and livelihood strategies, whilst Kharik was found to be highly vulnerable in respect to other blocks because of high sensitivity and less adaptive strategy. The study also revealed that better access to resources does not necessarily mean that households are adopting resilience measures because of apathetic or indifferent attitudes.
Hepatitis E as a Cause of Acute Jaundice Syndrome in Northern Uganda, 2010–2012
Authors: Gerbi Gemechu B. , Williams Roxanne , Bakamutumaho Barnabas , Liu Stephen , Downing Robert , Drobeniuc Jan , Kamili Saleem , Xu Fujie , Holmberg Scott D. , Teshale Eyasu H.
Published: December 2014

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a common cause of acute viral hepatitis in developing countries; however, its contribution to acute jaundice syndrome is not well-described. A large outbreak of hepatitis E occurred in northern Uganda from 2007 to 2009. In response to this outbreak, acute jaundice syndrome surveillance was established in 10 district healthcare facilities to determine the proportion of cases attributable to hepatitis E. Of 347 acute jaundice syndrome cases reported, the majority (42%) had hepatitis E followed by hepatitis B (14%), malaria (10%), hepatitis C (5%), and other/unknown (29%). Of hepatitis E cases, 72% occurred in Kaboong district, and 68% of these cases occurred between May and August of 2011. Residence in Kaabong district was independently associated with hepatitis E (adjusted odds ratio = 13; 95% confidence interval = 7–24). The findings from this surveillance show that an outbreak and sporadic transmission of hepatitis E occur in northern Uganda.
Etiologies of Acute Undifferentiated Fever and Clinical Prediction of Scrub Typhus in a Non-Tropical Endemic Area
Authors: Jung Ho-Chul , Chon Sung-Bin , Oh Won Sup , Lee Dong-Hyun , Lee Ho-Jin
Published: December 2014

Scrub typhus usually presents as acute undifferentiated fever. This cross-sectional study included adult patients presenting with acute undifferentiated fever defined as any febrile illness for ≤ 14 days without evidence of localized infection. Scrub typhus cases were defined by an antibody titer of a ≥ fourfold increase in paired sera, a ≥ 1:160 in a single serum using indirect immunofluorescence assay, or a positive result of the immunochromatographic test. Multiple regression analysis identified predictors associated with scrub typhus to develop a prediction rule. Of 250 cases with known etiology of acute undifferentiated fever, influenza (28.0%), hepatitis A (25.2%), and scrub typhus (16.4%) were major causes. A prediction rule for identifying suspected cases of scrub typhus consisted of age ≥ 65 years (two points), recent fieldwork/outdoor activities (one point), onset of illness during an outbreak period (two points), myalgia (one point), and eschar (two points). The c statistic was 0.977 (95% confidence interval = 0.960–0.994). At a cutoff value ≥ 4, the sensitivity and specificity were 92.7% (79.0–98.1%) and 90.9% (86.0–94.3%), respectively. Scrub typhus, the third leading cause of acute undifferentiated fever in our region, can be identified early using the prediction rule.
Rethinking the Discharge Policy for Ebola Convalescents in an Accelerating Epidemic
Authors: O'Dempsey Tim , Khan S. Humarr , Bausch Daniel G.
Published: December 2014

The outbreak of Ebola virus disease (EVD) in West Africa has outstripped available resources. Novel strategies are desperately needed to streamline operations. The present norm of requiring negative results on polymerase chain reaction for EVD convalescent patients to be discharged is not evidence-based and often results in asymptomatic patients competing for beds in dangerously crowded Ebola Treatment Units, posing risks to ward staff and patients and the community if infected persons are turned away. We summarize the relevant data and call for a change in discharge criteria for convalescent patients that can safely help reduce the strain on resources and direct energies where they are most needed. In the longer term, research is needed to assess the true infectivity of EVD convalescent patients to establish evidence-based criteria and guidelines for discharge.
Nonlinearity arising from noncooperative transcription factor binding enhances negative feedback and promotes genetic oscillations
Authors: Lengyel Iván M. , Soroldoni Daniele , Oates Andrew C. , Morelli Luis G.
Published: December 2014

We study the effects of multiple binding sites in the promoter of a genetic oscillator. We evaluate the regulatory function of a promoter with multiple binding sites in the absence of cooperative binding, and consider different hypotheses for how the number of bound repressors affects transcription rate. Effective Hill exponents of the resulting regulatory functions reveal an increase in the nonlinearity of the feedback with the number of binding sites. We identify optimal configurations that maximize the nonlinearity of the feedback. We use a generic model of a biochemical oscillator to show that this increased nonlinearity is reflected in enhanced oscillations, with larger amplitudes over wider oscillatory ranges. Although the study is motivated by genetic oscillations in the zebrafish segmentation clock, our findings may reveal a general principle for gene regulation. Received: 3 August 2013,  Accepted: 20 October 2014; Edited by: G. Mindlin; DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.4279/PIP.060012Cite as: I M Lengyel, D Soroldoni, A C Oates, L G Morelli, Papers in Physics 6, 060012 (2014)
A science-based use of ensembles of opportunities for assessment and scenario study: a re-analysis of HTAP-1 ensemble
Authors: Solazzo E. , Galmarini S.
Published: December 2014

Abstract. The multi-model ensemble exercise performed within the HTAP project context (Fiore et al., 2009) is used here as an example of how a pre-inspection, diagnosis and selection of an ensemble, can produce much better and more reliable results. This procedure is contrasted with the often-used practice of simply averaging model simulations, assuming model difference as equivalent to independence, and using the diversity of simulation as an illusory estimate of model uncertainty. It is further and more importantly demonstrated how conclusions can drastically change when future emission scenarios are analysed using an un-inspected ensemble. The HTAP multi-model ensemble analysis is only taken as an example of a wide spread and common practice in air quality modelling.
High-resolution continuous flow analysis setup for water isotopic measurement from ice cores using laser spectroscopy
Authors: Emanuelsson B. D. , Baisden W. T. , Bertler N. A. N. , Keller E. D. , Gkinis V.
Published: December 2014

Abstract. Here we present an experimental setup for water stable isotopes (δ18O and δD) continuous flow measurements. It is the first continuous flow laser spectroscopy system that is using Off-Axis Integrated Cavity Output Spectroscopy (OA-ICOS; analyzer manufactured by Los Gatos Research – LGR) in combination with an evaporation unit to continuously analyze sample from an ice core. A Water Vapor Isotopic Standard Source (WVISS) calibration unit, manufactured by LGR, was modified to: (1) increase the temporal resolution by reducing the response time (2) enable measurements on several water standards, and (3) to reduce the influence from memory effects. While this setup was designed for the Continuous Flow Analysis (CFA) of ice cores, it can also continuously analyze other liquid or vapor sources. The modified setup provides a shorter response time (~54 and 18 s for 2013 and 2014 setup, respectively) compared to the original WVISS unit (~62 s), which is an improvement in measurement resolution. Another improvement compared to the original WVISS is that the modified setup has a reduced memory effect. Stability tests comparing the modified WVISS and WVISS setups were performed and Allan deviations (σAllan) were calculated to determine precision at different averaging times. For the 2013 modified setup the precision after integration times of 103 s are 0.060 and 0.070‰ for δ18O and δD, respectively. For the WVISS setup the corresponding σAllan values are 0.030, 0.060 and 0.043‰ for δ18O, δD and δ17O, respectively. For the WVISS setup the precision is 0.035, 0.070 and 0.042‰ after 103 s for δ18O, δD and δ17O, respectively. Both the modified setups and WVISS setup are influenced by instrumental drift with δ18O being more drift sensitive than δD. The σAllan values for δ18O of 0.30 and 0.18‰ for the modified (2013) and WVISS setup, respectively after averaging times of 104 s (2.78 h). The Isotopic Water Analyzer (IWA)-modified WVISS setup used during the 2013 Roosevelt Island Climate Evolution (RICE) ice core processing campaign achieved high precision measurements, in particular for δD, with high temporal resolution for the upper part of the core, where a seasonally resolved isotopic signal is preserved.
Twelve-month, 12 km resolution North American WRF-Chem v3.4 air quality simulation: performance evaluation
Authors: Tessum C. W. , Hill J. D. , Marshall J. D.
Published: December 2014

Abstract. We present results from and evaluate the performance of a 12 month, 12 km horizontal resolution air pollution simulation for the contiguous United States using the WRF-Chem (Weather Research and Forecasting with Chemistry) meteorology and chemical transport model (CTM). We employ the 2005 US National Emissions Inventory, the Regional Atmospheric Chemistry Mechanism (RACM), and the Modal Aerosol Dynamics Model for Europe (MADE) with a Volatility Basis Set (VBS) secondary aerosol module. Overall, model performance is comparable to contemporary models used for regulatory and health-effects analysis, with an annual average daytime ozone (O3) mean fractional bias (MFB) of 12% and an annual average fine particulate matter (PM2.5) MFB of −1%. WRF-Chem, as configured here, tends to overpredict total PM2.5 at some high concentration locations, and generally overpredicts average 24 h O3 concentrations, with better performance at predicting average daytime and daily peak O3 concentrations. Predictive performance for PM2.5 subspecies is mixed: the model overpredicts particulate sulfate (MFB = 65%), underpredicts particulate nitrate (MFB = −110%) and organic carbon (MFB = −65%), and relatively accurately predicts particulate ammonium (MFB = 3%) and elemental carbon (MFB = 3%), so that the accuracy in total PM2.5 predictions is to some extent a function of offsetting over- and underpredictions of PM2.5 subspecies. Model predictive performance for PM2.5 and its subspecies is in general worse in winter and in the western US than in other seasons and regions, suggesting spatial and temporal opportunities for future WRF-Chem model development and evaluation.
Seismic and mechanical studies of the artificially triggered rockfall at Mount Néron (French Alps, December 2011)
Authors: Bottelin P. , Jongmans D. , Daudon D. , Mathy A. , Helmstetter A. , Bonilla-Sierra V. , Cadet H. , Amitrano D. , Richefeu V. , Lorier L. , Baillet L. , Villard P. , Donzé F.
Published: December 2014

Abstract. The eastern limestone cliff of Mount Néron (French Alps) was the theater for two medium-size rockfalls between summer and winter 2011. On 14 August 2011, a ~2000 m3 rock compartment detached from the cliff, fell 100 m below and propagated down the slope. Although most of the fallen rocks deposited on the upper part of the slope, some blocks of about 15 m in size were stopped by a ditch and an earthen barrier after a run-out of 800 m. An unstable overhanging ~2600 m3 compartment remained attached to the cliff and was blasted on 13 December 2011. During this artificially triggered event, 7 blocks reached the same ditch, with volumes ranging from 0.8 to 12 m3. A semi-permanent seismic array located about 2.5 km from the site recorded the two events, providing a unique opportunity to understand and to compare the seismic phases generated during natural and artificially triggered rockfalls. Both events have signal duration of ~100 s with comparable maximum amplitudes recorded at large distances (computed local magnitude of 1.14 and 1.05, respectively), most of the energy lying below 20 Hz. Remote sensing techniques (photogrammetry and lidar) were employed before and after the provoked rockfall, allowing the volume and fracturing to be characterized. This event was filmed by two video cameras, and the generated ground motions were recorded using two temporary 3C seismic sensors and three seismic arrays deployed at the slope toe. Videos and seismogram processing provided estimates of the propagation velocity during the successive rockfall phases, which ranges from 12 to 30 m s−1. The main seismic phases were obtained from combined video and seismic signal analyses. The two most energetic phases are related to the ground impact of fallen material after free fall, and to individual rock block impacts into the ditch and the earthen barrier. These two phases are characterized by similar low-frequency content but show very different particle motions. The discrete element technique allowed reproducing the key features of the rockfall dynamics, yielding propagation velocities compatible with experimental observations.
Climatic signals from 76 shallow firn cores in Dronning Maud Land, East Antarctica
Authors: Altnau S. , Schlosser E. , Isaksson E. , Divine D.
Published: December 2014

Abstract. The spatial and temporal distribution of surface mass balance (SMB) and δ18O were investigated in the first comprehensive study of a set of 76 firn cores retrieved by various expeditions during the past three decades in Dronning Maud Land, East Antarctica. The large number of cores was used to calculate stacked records of SMB and δ18O, which considerably increased the signal-to-noise ratio compared to earlier studies and facilitated the detection of climatic signals. Considerable differences between cores from the interior plateau and the coastal cores were found. The δ18O of both the plateau and the ice shelf cores exhibit a slight positive trend over the second half of the 20th century. In the corresponding period, the SMB has a negative trend in the ice shelf cores, but increases on the plateau. Comparison with meteorological data from Neumayer Station revealed that for the ice shelf regions atmospheric dynamic effects are more important than thermodynamics, while on the plateau, the temporal variations of SMB and δ18O occur mostly in parallel, thus can be explained by thermodynamic effects. The Southern Annular Mode (SAM) exhibits a positive trend since the mid-1960s, which is assumed to lead to a cooling of East Antarctica. This is not confirmed by the firn core data in our data set. Changes in the atmospheric circulation that result in a changed seasonal distribution of precipitation/accumulation could partly explain the observed features in the ice shelf cores.
Perceived Barriers to Accessing Specialized Medical Care in Rural Communities of Ontario: A Pilot Study
Authors: Sapru Iman S , Cassidy Kelsey , Sibbald Shannon L.
Published: December 2014

Background. Rural residents seeking health care face barriers due to a shortage of healthcare professionals and the travel distance required to obtain medical services. This can lead to potentially harmful health outcomes, particularly when these citizens are unable to access specialized medical care. Few studies have specifically evaluated rural residents’ ability to access medical specialists.
Methods. A pilot study was conducted to examine rural residents’ ability to access specialized care. This quantitative pen and paper survey was implemented in two communities with similar health care infrastructure (Tweed, Ontario and Hensall, Ontario).
Findings. The majority of respondents (75.8% n= 72 in Tweed and 77.8% n=77 in Hensall;) had received a referral to see a medical specialist in the last five years (total of 352 referrals), which necessitated travelling beyond their communities. Only 5.4% (n=8) of respondents from both communities felt that the travel distance was “too far”. Other important issues identified by respondents included the need for more health services (such as more after-hours access to primary care) as well as the need for better access to medical specialists.
Conclusion. Although access to medical specialists in each community is limited, the distance required to access medical specialists in larger centres is not currently perceived to be a barrier to rural residents receiving specialist care. This suggests that barriers to accessing specialist care are surmountable in moderately rural communities and the travel distance to medical specialists is not a significant contributor to poor health outcomes for rural residents.