bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Possible Combinations of Electronic Data Capture and Randomization Systems
Authors: Haag M. , Pilz L. R. , Schrimpf D.
Published: February 2014

Background: Clinical trials (CT) are in a wider sense experiments to prove and establish clinical benefit of treatments. Nowadays electronic data capture systems (EDCS) are used more often bringing a better data management and higher data quality into clinical practice. Also electronic systems for the randomization are used to assign the patients to the treatments.

Objectives: If the mentioned randomization system (RS) and EDCS are used, possibly identical data are collected in both, especially by stratified randomization. This separated data storage may lead to data inconsistency and in general data samples have to be aligned. The article discusses solutions to combine RS and EDCS. In detail one approach is realized and introduced.

Methods: Different possible settings of combination of EDCS and RS are determined and the pros and cons for each solution are worked out. For the combination of two independent applications the necessary interfaces for the communication are defined. Thereby, existing standards are considered. An example realization is implemented with the help of open-source applications and state-of-the-art software development procedures.

Results: Three possibilities of separate usage or combination of EDCS and RS are pre -sented and assessed: i) the complete independent usage of both systems; ii) realization of one system with both functions; and iii) two separate systems, which communicate via defined interfaces. In addition a realization of our preferred approach, the combination of both systems, is introduced using the open source tools RANDI2 and Open-Clinica.

Conclusion: The advantage of a flexible independent development of EDCS and RS is shown based on the fact that these tool are very different featured. In our opinion the combination of both systems via defined interfaces fulfills the requirements of randomization and electronic data capture and is feasible in practice. In addition, the use of such a setting can reduce the training costs and the error-prone duplicated data entry.
Does Co-morbidity Provide Significant Improvement on Age Adjustment when Predicting Medical Outcomes?
Authors: Ryan P. , Hiller J. E. , Mnatzaganian G.
Published: February 2014

Objective: Using three risk-adjustment methods we evaluated whether co-morbidity derived from electronic hospital patient data provided significant improvement on age adjustment when predicting major outcomes following an elective total joint replacement (TJR) due to osteoarthritis.

Methods: Longitudinal data from 819 elderly men who had had a TJR were integrated with hospital morbidity data (HMD) and mortality records. For each participant, any mor bidity or health-related outcome was retrieved from the linked data in the period 1970 through to 2007 and this enabled us to better account for patient co-morbidities. Co-mor bidities recorded in the HMD in all admissions preceding the index TJR admission were used to construct three risk-adjustment methods, namely Charlson co-morbidity index (CCI), Elixhauser’s adjustment method, and number of co-morbidities. Postoperative outcomes evaluated included length of hospital stay, 90-day readmission, and 1-year and 2-year mortality. These were modelled using Cox proportional hazards regression as a function of age for the baseline models, and as a function of age and each of the risk-adjustment methods. The difference in the statistical performance between the models that included age alone and those that also included the co-morbidity adjustment method was as sessed by measuring the difference in the Harrell’s C estimates between pairs of mod els applied to the same patient data using Bootstrap analysis with 1000 replications.

Results: Number of co-morbidities did not provide any significant improvement in model discrimination when added to baseline models observed in all outcomes. CCI significantly improved model discrimination when predicting post-operative mortality but not when length of stay or readmission was modelled. For every one point increase in CCI, postoperative 1- and 2-year mortality increased by 37% and 30%, respectively. Elixhauser’s method outperformed the other two providing significant improvement on age adjustment in all outcomes.

Conclusion: The predictive performance of co-morbidity derived from electronic hospital data is outcome and risk-adjustment method specific.
Development of nuclear microsatellites for the Arcto‐Tertiary tree Zelkova carpinifolia (Ulmaceae) using 454 pyrosequencing
Authors: Maharramova Elmira H. , Muller Ludo A. , Korotkova Nadja , Borsch Thomas
Published: February 2014

• Premise of the study: The current study aimed at developing nuclear microsatellite markers for the relict tree species Zelkova carpinifolia, which is threatened in its natural range in the South Caucasus.

• Methods and Results: Pyrosequencing of an enriched microsatellite library on the Roche FLX platform using the 454 Titanium kit produced 86,058 sequence reads, most of which contained short tandem repeats. Eighty microsatellite loci identified using the software package QDD version 1 were selected and tested for proper PCR amplification. Of these, 13 allowed proper amplification and were shown to be polymorphic among a sample of 25 Z. carpinifolia specimens from various geographic origins.

• Conclusions: The set of microsatellite markers will be suitable for the assessment of genetic diversity in Z. carpinifolia. They will allow for an examination of phylogeographic patterns as well as of population structure and gene flow within this species.
Bezpečnost žen z perspektivy teorie feminismu v mezinárodních vztazích
Authors: Ptáčníková Iveta
Published: February 2014

This text aims to analyse the safety of women in armed conflicts related to sexual violence. The article is based on the Feminist Theory in International Relations, which points out the preconceptions of the traditional theories in International Relations, and tries to make women visible as social, economical and political subjects in the field of international politics. This concept uses the perspectives ingnored by the traditional theories in International Relations. In the context of theory assumming that the violence is conditioned by gender, this article will present the feminist discourse of security and masculinity in the context of sexual violence. Using the introduced perspectives, this article will outline sexual violence in armed conflict, including the reasons for this.
Emirát Kavkaz
Authors: Šmíd Tomáš
Published: February 2014

The submitted paper discusses the organization Caucasus Emirate, which is currently the most distinctive non-state armed actor in the North Caucasus region. The organization considers itself to form a state structure, however, this article treats it as a rebel Islamist structure that has aspirations to separate the North Caucasus from Russian Federation and consequently create an independent multi-ethnic state unified under the idea of Sunni fundamentalism - Salafism. The text provides an insight into the genesis of the Caucasus Emirate, its ideological background and its organizational structure. From the genesis of Caucasus Emirate it is evident that the two ideological tendencies in the anti-Russian resistance were evident in the region since the early 90s, when the anti-Russian resistance limited itself to the area of Chechnya. Over time, the Chechen ethnonationalism got exhausted through history while Islamic radicalism showed greater potential to unite the malcontents in the anti-Russian resistance across the peoples of North Caucasus. Moreover, the text also shows that implicit ethnonationalism has not faded away totally and it still affects the appearance and character of Salafism in the region so that we can talk about some kind of a sect within the Salafi movement.
Politique de défense et variétés du militarisme libéral
Authors: Joana Jean , Mérand Frédéric
Published: February 2014

Les études consacrées aux transformations qu’ont connu les politiques de défense depuis une trentaine d’années dans les démocraties occidentales ont mis l’accent sur l’impact des facteurs technologiques ou stratégiques. Sans nier l’importance de ces facteurs, le propos de cet article est de souligner que ces évolutions découlent aussi de changements politiques et sociaux qui ont pesé sur la définition des enjeux de la politique de défense. Dans la plupart des pays développés les différentes composantes de ces politiques ont fait l’objet d’un double processus de libéralisation, économique et politico-culturelle, qui ont profondément modifié les significations qui leur sont attribuées. Les variétés du militarisme libéral qui en résultent contribuent à nuancer l’idée d’une convergence de ces politiques autour d’un modèle d’action publique unique.
Transformation des politiques de recrutement des forces armées au Royaume-Uni et aux États-Unis
Authors: Foucault Martial , Irondelle Bastien
Published: February 2014

Dans cet article, nous proposons un état de l’art des politiques de recrutement militaire au Royaume-Uni et aux États-Unis pour illustrer leur transformation au prisme du processus de libéralisation économique et de leur affirmation comme puissance militaire. Nous abordons la question des instruments de la politique de recrutement des forces armées américaines et britanniques sous l’angle des politiques publiques mais aussi des études de sécurité afin de mieux comprendre la logique de changement à l’œuvre depuis une dizaine d’années. En s’appuyant sur un travail documentaire exhaustif, nous illustrons les points de convergence et divergence d’action des ministères de la Défense dans la gestion d’une ressource humaine militaire enchevêtrée entre logique économique d’efficacité et logique de transformation du rôle de l’État. Si l’emploi d’instruments de nature incitative (salaires bonifiés, primes de reconversion, d’éducation) et le recours aux sociétés militaires privés caractérisent le mieux la politique de recrutement des armées américaines et britanniques, ces dernières se démarquent par une appréciation différente d’une approche en termes de qualité et de quantité des recrues.
L'émergence d'une politique industrielle de défense libérale en Europe
Authors: Hoeffler Catherine
Published: February 2014

Cet article porte sur le changement des politiques d’armement en Europe : contrairement aux théories mettant l’accent sur l’inertie du secteur, la focalisation sur les instruments permet d’analyser le changement institutionnel de cette politique de manière comparée. Centrée sur les instruments regroupés au sein de trois rôles de régulation de l’État (producteur-actionnaire, acquéreur et législateur) en Allemagne, en France et au Royaume-Uni, cette contribution met en évidence la convergence des politiques nationales sur un modèle de politique industrielle de défense libérale. Ce modèle combine une volonté d’un gouvernement de soutenir ses industries nationales avec une combinaison hybride d’instruments de nature libérale et protectionniste.
La démarche qualité des organismes de formation : de la professionnalisation des acteurs à la reconnaissance des organisations ?
Authors: Denoux Souad , Eneau Jérôme
Published: February 2014

Le propos est ici de comprendre la complexité des articulations entre reconnaissance de l’organisation et professionnalisation des acteurs en examinant les rapports qu’entretient une action de professionnalisation de formateurs à travers un dispositif expérimental et la démarche qualité dans laquelle il s’inscrit. Celle-ci vise la labellisation des organismes de formation à travers la mise en place, au niveau régional, d’une Charte pour la Qualité de la Formation Professionnelle. Tout d’abord sont envisagés les liens entre professionnalisation et reconnaissance, où se jouent à la fois le développement professionnel des acteurs et l’évaluation-certification des organismes de formation. Puis, sur la base d’une approche qualitative croisée (enquête par entretiens et observations), nous analysons la professionnalisation de l’offre par la reconnaissance des formateurs et des organismes de formation. Celle-ci révèle une alternative forte entre conformation institutionnelle et confirmation du professionnalisme des acteurs que nous mettons en discussion.
Approche interactionnelle des processus de développement professionnel en accompagnement à la Validation des Acquis de l'Expérience
Authors: Rémery Vanessa
Published: February 2014

Si la communication de son expérience professionnelle apparaît comme un moyen auquel recourent souvent les dispositifs de formation pour professionnaliser, les processus par lesquels s’opère cette professionnalisation restent en partie inexplorés. En tant qu’espaces dédiés à la formalisation des acquis de l’expérience, les entretiens d’accompagnement à la Validation des Acquis de l’Expérience (VAE) constituent un terrain de recherche intéressant pour étudier les processus de développement professionnel qui se déploient à l’occasion du travail d’analyse engagé par le candidat sur l’expérience professionnelle qu’il rapporte. L’analyse d’une séquence d’entretien nous permet d’explorer en quoi l’activité qui s’y réalise peut contribuer à cette problématique. Nous proposons dans cet article d’analyser comment la dynamique interactionnelle de l’entretien, mettant en scène un conseiller et un candidat partageant l’exercice d’un même métier, permet de favoriser la mise en mots des éléments significatifs d’une expérience professionnelle singulière vécue par le candidat, mais également d’ouvrir à une généralisation de celle-ci. Nous pensons que ce mouvement, visant à articuler la description d’une expérience de travail dans sa dimension singulière et généralisée, participe d’un processus de développement professionnel du candidat.
Événements et spectacles sportifs : état des lieux des stratégies de segmentation
Authors: Pons Frank , Giroux Marilyn , Haurat François
Published: February 2014

La segmentation représente un aspect important des stratégies de marketing mises en place par la plupart des organisations. Le marché du sport professionnel et les nombreuses franchises en activité ne font pas exception. Les marques qui composent ce marché singulier à fort contenu émotionnel, où gravitent des consommateurs aux caractéristiques particulières, doivent apporter une attention spéciale à la segmentation si elles veulent connaître du succès, et ce, malgré la relative absence d’une tradition stratégique en ce sens. Cet article vise un double objectif : rappeler l’importance de la segmentation dans le contexte du marketing sportif, en illustrant différentes pratiques, et présenter des approches de segmentation différentes, en mettant l’accent sur une utilisation accrue des motivations des spectateurs et sur leur perception de la personnalité des marques sportives.
Le parrainage sportif multiple événementiel : atouts, défis et conditions de succès
Authors: Chanavat Nicolas , Desbordes Michel
Published: February 2014

Depuis quelques années se sont multipliées les marques qui s’engagent dans le sport, et particulièrement dans une action de parrainage, pour le compte d’un événement donné. Ainsi, en général, une entité sportive (individu, groupe, discipline, lieu, organisation ou événement) est parrainée simultanément par plusieurs annonceurs. Les entreprises ont alors la possibilité de joindre un parrainage sportif multiple événementiel, soit l’association de parrains avec une même entité sportive, ou l’association d’entités sportives avec un même parrain, de façon indépendante et concomitante, visant à atteindre des objectifs de management et de communication marketing dans le contexte d’un événement sportif. Dans cet article, nous tentons de mieux cerner les activités du parrainage sportif, puis nous décrivons le parrainage sportif multiple événementiel et, enfin, nous mettons en évidence les implications de gestion liées à la mesure de l’efficacité de ce type de parrainage.
La performance organisationnelle mesurée de manière globale et partagée : leçons tirées d'un échec
Authors: Djerbi Zouhair , Ayoub Samir
Published: February 2014

Cet article étudie le cas d’une PME faisant face à une divergence de visions relativement à la mesure de la performance et à son suivi par les différentes fonctions opérationnelles et de support. Les acteurs de la fonction marketing ont résisté à la mise en place d’un outil de mesure de la performance élaboré par la fonction contrôle de gestion en continuant à se servir de leurs propres outils. L’utilisation de ces outils de substitution a conduit à des décisions stratégiques erronées, au détriment de la cohérence globale de l’entreprise. Afin d’éviter l’évolution à plusieurs vitesses de l’organisation, des recommandations sont formulées aux gestionnaires de l’entreprise pour que les différentes fonctions adoptent des mesures de suivi donnant une image globale, complète et partagée de la performance.
Les conseils d'administration, acteurs de la réflexion stratégique ?
Authors: Martel Philippe
Published: February 2014

Les vingt dernières années ont donné lieu à nombreuses recherches et analyses sur les différentes dimensions de la gouvernance, dont bon nombre ont eu une influence certaine sur le fonctionnement des conseils d’administration. Une des responsabilités les plus importantes des conseils, l’adoption de la stratégie d’entreprise et le suivi de sa réalisation, fait toutefois exception : on trouve en effet plusieurs études intéressantes sur le sujet, mais peu qui sont globales et concluantes sur les caractéristiques d’une gouvernance stratégique optimale. Partant de cette littérature, nous avons entrepris une série d’entrevues avec des membres et présidents de conseils d’administration, des responsables de la stratégie et des PDG d’entreprises. Nous présentons un cadre d’analyse pour une gouvernance stratégique renouvelée ainsi qu’une proposition de contribution des conseils d’administration aux différents moments de la réflexion stratégique : des conseils successivement proactifs (« avant »), participatifs (« pendant ») et indépendants et vigilants (« après »). Enfin, nous décrivons les conditions de succès de la mise en place d’une telle gouvernance stratégique renouvelée.
Negative Selection of Self-Reactive Chicken B Cells Requires B Cell Receptor Signaling and Is Independent of the Bursal Microenvironment
Authors: Davani Dariush , Pancer Zeev , Cheroutre Hilde , Ratcliffe Michael J. H.
Published: February 2014

Although the negative selection of self-reactive B cells in the bone marrow of mammals has been clearly demonstrated, it remains unclear in models of gut-associated B cell lymphopoiesis, such as that of the chicken (Gallus gallus). We have generated chicken surface IgM–related receptors in which the diversity region of the lamprey variable lymphocyte receptor (VLR) has been fused to the C region of chicken surface IgM (Tμ). Expression of a VLR:Tμ receptor with specificity for PE supported normal development of B cells, whereas a VLR:Tμ receptor specific to hen egg lysozyme (a self-antigen with respect to chicken B cells) induced, in vivo, complete deletion of VLRHELTμ-expressing B cells. In ovo i.v. injection of PE resulted in deletion of VLRPETμ-expressing Β cells in the embryo spleen, demonstrating that negative selection was independent of the bursal microenvironment. Although chickens transduced with a murine CD8α:chicken Igα fusion protein contained B cells expressing mCD8α:chIgα, cotransfection of the mCD8α:chIgα construct, together with thymus leukemia Ag (a natural ligand for mCD8α), resulted in reduced levels of mCD8α:chIgα-expressing B cells in inverse proportion to the levels of thymus leukemia Ag–expressing cells. Deletion of mCD8α:chIgα-expressing cells was specific for B cells and required active signaling downstream of the mCD8α:chIgα receptor. Ag-mediated negative selection of developing chicken B cells can therefore occur independently of the bursal microenvironment and is dependent on signaling downstream of the BCR.
Efficiency of HIV/AIDS Health Centers and Effect of Community-Based Health Insurance and Performance-Based Financing on HIV/AIDS Service Delivery in Rwanda
Authors: Zeng Wu , Rwiyereka Angelique K. , Amico Peter R. , Ávila-Figueroa Carlos , Shepard Donald S.
Published: February 2014

This study evaluates the efficiency of rural health centers in Rwanda in delivering the three key human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome services: antiretroviral treatment, prevention of mother-to-child transmission, and voluntary counseling and testing using data envelopment analysis, and assesses the impact of community-based health insurance (CBHI) and performance-based financing on improving the delivery of the three services. Results show that health centers average efficiency of 78%, and despite the observed variation, the performance increased by 15.6% from 2006 through 2007. When the services are examined separately, each 1% growth of CBHI use was associated with 3.7% more prevention of mother-to-child transmission and 2.5% more voluntary counseling and testing services. Although more health centers would have been needed to evaluate performance-based financing, we found that high use of CBHI in Rwanda was an important contributor to improving human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome services in rural health centers in Rwanda.
An Evaluation Study of Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) Using Recombinant Protein Pap31 for Detection of Antibody against Bartonella bacilliformis Infection among the Peruvian Population
Authors: Angkasekwinai Nasikarn , Atkins Erin H. , Romero Sofia , Grieco John , Chao Chien Chung , Ching Wei Mei
Published: February 2014

Reliable laboratory testing is of great importance to detect Bartonella bacilliformis infection. We evaluated the sensitivity and specificity of the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using recombinant protein Pap31 (rPap31) for the detection of antibodies against B. bacilliformis as compared with immunofluorescent assay (IFA). Of the 302 sera collected between 1997 and 2000 among an at-risk Peruvian population, 103 and 34 samples tested positive for IFA-immunoglobulin G (IgG) and IFA-IgM, respectively. By using Youden's index, the cutoff values of ELISA-IgG at 0.915 gave a sensitivity of 84.5% and specificity of 94%. The cutoff values of ELISA-IgM at 0.634 gave a sensitivity of 88.2% and specificity of 85.1%. Using latent class analysis, estimates of sensitivity and specificity of almost all the assays were slightly higher than those of a conventional method of calculation. The test is proved beneficial for discriminating between infected and non-infected individuals with the advantage of low-cost and high-throughput capability.
Emerging Filoviral Disease in Uganda: Proposed Explanations and Research Directions
Authors: Polonsky Jonathan A. , Wamala Joseph F. , de Clerck Hilde , Van Herp Michel , Sprecher Armand , Porten Klaudia , Shoemaker Trevor
Published: February 2014

Outbreaks of Ebola and Marburg virus diseases have recently increased in frequency in Uganda. This increase is probably caused by a combination of improved surveillance and laboratory capacity, increased contact between humans and the natural reservoir of the viruses, and fluctuations in viral load and prevalence within this reservoir. The roles of these proposed explanations must be investigated in order to guide appropriate responses to the changing epidemiological profile. Other African settings in which multiple filoviral outbreaks have occurred could also benefit from such information.
Current Status of Human Hookworm Infections, Ascariasis, Trichuriasis, Schistosomiasis Mekongi and Other Trematodiases in Lao People's Democratic Republic
Authors: Laymanivong Sakhone , Hangvanthong Bouasy , Keokhamphavanh Boualy , Phommasansak Manisak , Phinmaland Baunphone , Sanpool Oranuch , Maleewong Wanchai , Intapan Pewpan M.
Published: February 2014

Soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infections, and schistosomiasis and other trematodiases often have a high prevalence in developing countries. Here, we present updated information on the prevalence of these parasites in the Lao People's Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) in 2012, arising from the annual national helminthiasis survey. Fecal specimens were collected from 8,610 inhabitants of 12 provinces and one municipality (Bokeo, Houaphan, Luang Namtha, Luang Prabang, Oudomxay, and Phongsaly Provinces from northern Lao PDR; Bolikhamxay and Xieng Khouang Provinces and Vientiane Municipality from the central part of the country; and Attapeu, Champasak, Saravan, and Sekong Provinces from southern Lao PDR). The overall prevalence of three major STHs, Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura, and hookworms (Necator americanus and Ancylostoma duodenale) were 11.6%, 8.5%, and 25.0%, respectively. Prevalence of Schistosoma mekongi infection was 0.1%, and of miscellaneous trematodiases (including opisthorchiasis) was 14.0%. Clearly, the nationwide parasite control project is still necessary to reduce morbidity caused by helminthic diseases.
The Grain-size Patchiness of Braided Gravel-Bed Streams – example of the Urumqi River (northeast Tian Shan, China)
Authors: Guerit L. , Barrier L. , Narteau C. , Métivier F. , Liu Y. , Lajeunesse E. , Gayer E. , Meunier P. , Malverti L. , Ye B.
Published: February 2014

Abstract. In gravel-bed rivers, sediments are often sorted into patches of different grain-sizes, but in braided streams, the link between this sorting and the channel morpho-sedimentary elements is still unclear. In this study, the size of the bed sediment in the shallow braided gravel-bed Urumqi River is characterized by surface-count and volumetric sampling methods. Three morpho-sedimentary elements are identified in the active threads of the river: chutes at flow constrictions, which pass downstream to anabranches and bars at flow expansions. The surface and surface-layer grain-size distributions of these three elements show that they correspond to only two kinds of grain-size patches: (1) coarse-grained chutes, coarser than the bulk river bed, and (2) finer-grained anabranches and bars, consistent with the bulk river bed. In cross-section, the chute patches are composed of one coarse-grained top layer, which can be interpreted as a local armour layer overlying finer deposits. In contrast, the grain size of the bar-anabranch patches is finer and much more homogeneous in depth than the chute patches. Those patches, which are features of lateral and vertical sorting associated to the transport dynamics that build braided patterns, may be typical of active threads in shallow gravel-bed rivers and should be considered in future works on sorting processes and their geomorphologic and stratigraphic results.
Topside equatorial zonal ion velocities measured by C/NOFS during rising solar activity
Authors: Coley W. R. , Stoneback R. A. , Heelis R. A. , Hairston M. R.
Published: February 2014

Abstract. The Ion Velocity Meter (IVM), a part of the Coupled Ion Neutral Dynamic Investigation (CINDI) instrument package on the Communication/Navigation Outage Forecast System (C/NOFS) spacecraft, has made over 5 yr of in situ measurements of plasma temperatures, composition, densities, and velocities in the 400–850 km altitude range of the equatorial ionosphere. These measured ion velocities are then transformed into a coordinate system with components parallel and perpendicular to the geomagnetic field allowing us to examine the zonal (horizontal and perpendicular to the geomagnetic field) component of plasma motion over the 2009–2012 interval. The general pattern of local time variation of the equatorial zonal ion velocity is well established as westward during the day and eastward during the night, with the larger nighttime velocities leading to a net ionospheric superrotation. Since the C/NOFS launch in April 2008, F10.7 cm radio fluxes have gradually increased from around 70 sfu to levels in the 130–150 sfu range. The comprehensive coverage of C/NOFS over the low-latitude ionosphere allows us to examine variations of the topside zonal ion velocity over a wide level of solar activity as well as the dependence of the zonal velocity on apex altitude (magnetic latitude), longitude, and solar local time. It was found that the zonal ion drifts show longitude dependence with the largest net eastward values in the American sector. The pre-midnight zonal drifts show definite solar activity (F10.7) dependence. The daytime drifts have a lower dependence on F10.7. The apex altitude (magnetic latitude) variations indicate a more westerly flow at higher altitudes. There is often a net topside subrotation at low F10.7 levels, perhaps indicative of a suppressed F region dynamo due to low field line-integrated conductivity and a low F region altitude at solar minimum.
Terrestrial aurora: astrophysical laboratory for anomalous abundances in stellar systems
Authors: Roth I.
Published: February 2014

Abstract. The unique magnetic structure of the terrestrial aurora as a conduit of information between the ionosphere and magnetosphere can be utilized as a laboratory for physical processes at similar magnetic configurations and applied to various evolutionary phases of the solar (stellar) system. The most spectacular heliospheric abundance enhancement involves the 3He isotope and selective heavy elements in impulsive solar flares. In situ observations of electromagnetic waves on active aurora are extrapolated to flaring corona in an analysis of solar acceleration processes of 3He, the only element that may resonate strongly with the waves, as well as heavy ions with specific charge-to-mass ratios, which may resonate weaker via their higher gyroharmonics. These results are applied to two observed anomalous astrophysical abundances: (1) enhanced abundance of 3He and possibly 13C in the late stellar evolutionary stages of planetary nebulae; and (2) enhanced abundance of the observed fossil element 26Mg in meteorites as a decay product of radioactive 26Al isotope due to interaction with the flare-energized 3He in the early solar system.
Responses of carbon dioxide flux and plant biomass to water table drawdown in a treed peatland in northern Alberta: a climate change perspective
Authors: Munir T. M. , Xu B. , Perkins M. , Strack M.
Published: February 2014

Abstract. Northern peatland ecosystems represent large carbon (C) stocks that are susceptible to changes such as accelerated mineralization due to water table lowering expected under a climate change scenario. During the growing seasons (1 May to 31 October) of 2011 and 2012 we monitored CO2 fluxes and plant biomass along a microtopographic gradient (hummocks-hollows) in an undisturbed dry continental boreal treed bog (control) and a nearby site that was drained (drained) in 2001. Ten years of drainage in the bog significantly increased coverage of shrubs at hummocks and lichens at hollows. Considering measured hummock coverage and including tree incremental growth, we estimate that the control site was a sink of −92 in 2011 and −70 g C m−2 in 2012, while the drained site was a source of 27 and 23 g C m−2 over the same years. We infer that, drainage-induced changes in vegetation growth led to increased biomass to counteract a portion of soil carbon losses. These results suggest that spatial variability (microtopography) and changes in vegetation community in boreal peatlands will affect how these ecosystems respond to lowered water table potentially induced by climate change.
Polar coralline algal CaCO3-production rates correspond to intensity and duration of the solar radiation
Authors: Teichert S. , Freiwald A.
Published: February 2014

Abstract. In this study we present a comparative quantification of CaCO3 production rates by rhodolith-forming coralline red algal communities situated in high polar latitudes and assess which environmental parameters control these production rates. The present rhodoliths act as ecosystem engineers, and their carbonate skeletons provide an important ecological niche to a variety of benthic organisms. The settings are distributed along the coasts of the Svalbard archipelago, being Floskjeret (78°18' N) in Isfjorden, Krossfjorden (79°08' N) at the eastern coast of Haakon VII Land, Mosselbukta (79°53' N) at the eastern coast of Mosselhalvøya, and Nordkappbukta (80°31' N) at the northern coast of Nordaustlandet. All sites feature Arctic climate and strong seasonality. The algal CaCO3 production rates were calculated from fuchsine-stained, presumably annual growth increments exhibited by the rhodoliths and range from 100.9 g (CaCO3) m−2 yr−1 at Nordkappbukta to 200.3 g (CaCO3) m−2 yr−1 at Floskjeret. The rates correlate to various environmental parameters with geographical latitude being the most significant (negative correlation, R2 = 0.95, p = 0.0070), followed by the duration of the polar night (negative correlation, R2 = 0.93, p = 0.0220), the duration of the sea ice cover (negative correlation, R2 = 0.87, p = 0.0657), and the annual mean temperature (positive correlation, R2 = 0.48, p = 0.0301). This points out sufficient light incidence to be the main control of the growth of the examined coralline red algal rhodolith communities, while temperature is less important. Thus, the ongoing global change with its rising temperatures will most likely result in impaired conditions for the algae, because the concomitant increased global runoff will decrease water transparency and hence light incidence at the four offshore sites. Regarding the aforementioned role of the rhodoliths as ecosystem engineers, the impact on the associated organisms will presumably also be negative.
Analysis of the drainage density of experimental and modelled tidal networks
Authors: Zhou Z. , Stefanon L. , Olabarrieta M. , D'Alpaos A. , Carniello L. , Coco G.
Published: February 2014

Abstract. Based on controlled laboratory experiments, we numerically simulate the initiation and long-term evolution of back-barrier tidal networks in micro-tidal and meso-tidal conditions. The simulated pattern formation is comparable to the morphological growth observed in the laboratory, which is characterised by relatively rapid initiation and slower adjustment towards an equilibrium state. The simulated velocity field is in agreement with natural reference systems such as the micro-tidal Venice Lagoon and the meso-tidal Wadden Sea. Special attention is given to the concept of drainage density, which is measured on the basis of the exceedance probability distribution of the unchannelled flow lengths. Model results indicate that the exceedance probability distribution is characterised by an approximately exponential trend, similar to the results of laboratory experiments and observations in natural systems. The drainage density increases greatly during the initial phase of tidal network development, while it slows down when the system approaches equilibrium. Due to the larger tidal prism, the tidal basin has a larger drainage density for the meso-tidal condition (after the same amount of time) than the micro-tidal case. In both micro-tidal and meso-tidal simulations, it is found that there is an initial rapid increase of the tidal prism which soon reaches a relatively steady value (after approximately 40 yr), while the drainage density adjusts more slowly. In agreement with the laboratory experiments, the initial bottom perturbations play an important role in determining the morphological development and hence the exceedance probability distribution of the unchannelled flow lengths. Overall, our study indicates an agreement of the geometric characteristics between the numerical and experimental tidal networks.
Hydrological, ecological, land use, economic, and sociocultural evidence for resilience of traditional irrigation communities in New Mexico, USA
Authors: Fernald A. , Guldan S. , Boykin K. , Cibils A. , Gonzales M. , Hurd B. H. , Lopez S. , Ochoa C. G. , Ortiz M. , Rivera J. , Rodriguez S. , Steele C. M.
Published: February 2014

Abstract. Southwestern US irrigated landscapes are facing upheaval due to climate change-induced water scarcity and economic change-induced land use conversion. Clues to community longevity are found in the traditionally irrigated valleys of northern New Mexico. Human systems have interacted with hydrologic processes over the last 400 yr in river fed irrigated valleys to create linked systems. In this study, we asked if concurrent data from multiple disciplines show that human adapted hydrologic and socioeconomic systems have created conditions for resilience. We identify and describe several areas of resilience: hydrological, ecological, land use, economic, and sociocultural. We found that there are multiple hydrologic benefits of the water seepage from the traditional irrigation systems; it recharges groundwater that recharges rivers, supports threatened biodiversity by maintaining riparian vegetation, and ameliorates impacts of climate change by prolonging streamflow hydrographs. In terms of land use and economics, place-based adaptability manifests itself in transformations of irrigation infrastructure and specific animal and crop systems; as grazing has diminished over time on public land watersheds, it has increased on irrigated valley pastures while outside income allows irrigators to retain their land. Sociocultural evidence shows that traditional local knowledge about the hydrosocial cycle of acequia operations is a key factor in acequia resilience. When irrigators are confronted with unexpected disturbances or changing climate that affect water supply, they adapt specific practices while maintaining community cohesion. Our ongoing work will quantify the multiple disciplinary components of these systems, translate them into a common language of causal loop diagrams, and model future scenarios to identify thresholds and tipping points of sustainability. Early indications are that these systems are not immune to upheaval, but have astonishing resilience.
A baseline probabilistic drought forecasting framework using Standardized Soil Moisture Index: application to the 2012 United States drought
Authors: AghaKouchak A.
Published: February 2014

Abstract. The 2012 drought was one of the most extensive drought events in half a century, resulting in billions of US dollars in economic loss in the US, and substantial indirect impacts on global food security and commodity prices. An important feature of the 2012 drought was rapid development and intensification in late spring/early summer, a critical time for crop development and investment planning. Drought prediction remains a major challenge because dynamical precipitation forecasts are highly uncertain, and their prediction skill is low. Using a probabilistic framework for drought forecasting based on the persistence property of accumulated soil moisture, this paper shows that the US drought of summer 2012 was predictable several months in advance. The presented drought forecasting framework provides the probability occurrence of drought based on climatology and near-past observations of soil moisture. Our results indicate that soil moisture exhibits higher persistence than precipitation, and hence improves drought predictability.
Industry and Higher Education Integration
Authors: Owusu-Manu De-Graft , Edwards David J. , Holt Gary D. , Prince Christopher
Published: February 2014

The relationship between professional bodies and higher education (HE) institutes was studied, with particular attention to the roles of each in producing future generations of fully qualified, competent practitioners. The authors examined new and evolving challenges facing consulting quantity surveyors (CQSs) and discuss the complex interactions between these challenges. The analysis is largely based on a synthesis of the literature augmented by the authors' experiences and continuing involvement in the field. The findings reveal a number of challenges relating to the contemporary knowledge and skills demands of CQS and the mechanisms by which these assets are transferred to them. Accordingly, the authors signpost future industry–HE integration in a CQS context. The study is relevant to academics and practitioners alike in its aim to engender wider and constructive debate in the field. Further research is suggested, to include a broader examination of the effectiveness of industry and HE relationships beyond the single profession investigated here.
Navigating the Career Transition from Industry to Academia
Authors: Wilson Michael John , Wood Leigh , Solomonides Ian , Dixon Peter , Goos Merrilyn
Published: February 2014

Transitions from ‘industry’ to ‘academia’ represent a unique type of career change. Although such transitions are becoming increasingly common in Australian universities and beyond, there is no coherent framework for making sense of the multiple and intersecting factors involved in these inter-domain movements. This form of occupational transition challenges the traditional and increasingly outdated conception of the linear academic tenure track. Thus, in order to revise the notion of the tenure track and gain a fuller understanding of these career trajectories, we must seek to understand the motivations for such occupational movements as well as the short-term, medium-term and long-term social, emotional and professional needs and preferences of practitioner-academics having made this transition. This article presents an attempt to re-think the imagery and language that have come to characterize this type of career movement as well as the attitudes within and between industry and academia. The authors advocate that transitions from industry to academia do not require the dismantling of linkages between the two fields, but rather are made more meaningful and effective when pre-existing professional and personal linkages are maintained and encouraged.
Regional Core Competencies as a Basis for Entrepreneurship?
Authors: Pechlaner Harald , Bachinger Monika
Published: February 2014

Regions feature specific network structures, identities and knowledge. These characteristics resemble social capital, which is recognized as contributing to entrepreneurship and innovation. This study examines whether entrepreneurial advantages, which are generated by social capital in a regional context, exist in a sustainable perspective. According to the competence-based view, sustainable competitive advantages are based on core competencies, which are valuable, rare and transferable to several markets. Therefore, this study examines social capital as a regional core competency and transfers the competence-based view to a regional context. This is achieved on the basis of the Hallertau region, a hop-planting area in Germany. The paper analyses whether network structure, knowledge and identity, as building blocks of social capital, display core competence quality. As such, this study contributes to the discussion on whether an enterprise's regional embeddedness matters with respect to its sustainable competitiveness.
Internationalization and Financial Health in the US Hotel Industry
Authors: Lee Seoki , Koh Yoon , Xiao Qu
Published: February 2014

This study examines two main hypotheses regarding the internationalization and financial health of publicly traded US hotels from 1990 to 2010. First, the study hypothesizes that international US hotels are financially healthier than domestic US hotels. The findings support the hypothesis after controlling for other potential confounding factors: a firm's growth opportunity, profitability, size, leverage, capital intensity and economic conditions. Next, the study tests the second hypothesis, that international US hotels face a great challenge in terms of their financial health as they enter foreign markets due to the many unknown factors in such international settings. However, it is expected that the internationalization strategy will gradually provide more benefits as the firm increases its degree of internationalization, and thus that benefits will eventually outweigh costs, leading to a U-shaped relationship. The study's findings support this curvilinear U-shaped relationship within the dataset of internationally operating US hotels.
Re-Testing the Tourism-Led Growth Hypothesis Using Panel Smooth Transition Regression Models
Authors: Pan Sheng-Chieh , Liu Shiao-Yen , Wu Po-Chin
Published: February 2014

This paper re-tests the tourism-led growth hypothesis (TLGH) by estimating panel smooth transition regression models using two different transition variables. The panel data set includes the annual data of 15 OECD countries for the period 1995–2010. The empirical results indicate that the relationships between growth and its determinants are non-linear and vary with time and across countries. Although the TLGH remains valid, the tourism elasticities of growth are small and vary inversely with the one-period lagged exchange rate return and proportionally with the two-period lagged inflation rate. There is a trade-off between employing export policies and employing tourism policies to promote economic growth, and the main impetus behind growth in the sample countries is the increase in human capital.
Machina ex musico : le compositeur, le concerto, sa forme et son amas de sons
Authors: Rea John
Published: February 2014

Dans ce texte autoréflexif, façonné en discours concertant, John Rea théorise que, depuis la toute fin du xviiie siècle, l’histoire de la forme du concerto présente deux traditions distinctes et chevauchantes qui émanent d’une source unique : la cinquantaine de concertos de Mozart. Rea retrace le parcours des deux courants compositionnels caractérisés comme modèle français et modèle germanique. Au fil des années, ces deux cours d’eau se déversent séparément en piscines puis en cascades pour être réunis à la fin du xxe siècle. Rea suggère également que les deux modèles simulent la technique théâtrale d’une mise en représentation (reconstitution) de la volonté humaine en marche à maints égards. Vers la fin du xixe siècle pourtant, chaque tradition subit l’influence d’un courant sous-jacent: la mise en représentation de l’évolution de la machine. Audible pour la première fois lors de la prestation virtuose mécanique typique aussi du concerto, cette mise en représentation devient beaucoup plus tard très tangible et sonore à cause de l’emploi véritable de la machine.
Parcours dans la programmation des concerts du Nouvel Ensemble Moderne
Authors: Couture Ariane
Published: February 2014

En 25 ans d’activités, le nem a interprété 635 oeuvres de 374 compositeurs dans le cadre de concerts locaux, d’ateliers publics ou de tournées à l’étranger. Prises individuellement, ces oeuvres couvrent la majorité des tendances esthétiques de la musique du xxe siècle. Parmi le répertoire de l’ensemble, il est cependant possible d’effectuer des regroupements sur la base de deux axes principaux : d’une part, les oeuvres érigées au statut de « classiques » de la musique contemporaine, et, d’autre part, les nouvelles oeuvres qui participent à l’innovation musicale. Ainsi, la politique de diffusion des oeuvres en concert établie par Lorraine Vaillancourt amène l’instauration d’une nouvelle culture dans le domaine de la création musicale, basée sur le développement d’un répertoire d’oeuvres des xxe et xxie siècles.
L’intervention comportementale appliquée à un enfant ayant une déficience intellectuelle
Authors: Poirier Nathalie , Florigan Ménard Christine
Published: February 2014

Les Centres de réadaptation en déficience intellectuelle et en troubles envahissants du développement (CRDITED) ont le mandat d’offrir un programme d’intervention comportementale intensive (ICI) aux enfants présentant un trouble envahissant du développement (TED). En parallèle, les enfants ayant une déficience intellectuelle (DI) ne bénéficient pas de ce type de service. Cet article décrit le suivi de quatre enfants ayant des diagnostics divers en lien avec leur réponse à une intervention comportementale. Les résultats révèlent que tous maintiennent leurs acquis et que d’autres font des progrès qui corrèlent avec la rigueur des interventions mises en place.