bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
TRAUMA AND NARRATIVE FETISHISM AS THE SOURCE FOR CREATIVITY IN THE URBAN SPACE / TRAUMA IR NARATYVINIS FETIŠIZMAS KAIP KŪRYBINGUMO ŠALTINIS MIESTO ERDVĖJE
Authors: Yankov Igor
Published: January 2012

The paper analyzes trauma as the source for creativity in the urban space. There are two strategies to find a way to live with traumatic experience. The first way, according to Sigmund Freud, is “the work of mourning”, which by constant remembering and repeating trauma in the language of tropes and figures allows to integrate discontinuous traumatic experience thus partly expunging trauma. Another strategy for dealing with trauma was described by Eric L. Santner's term “narrative fetishism”. This strategy supposes a refusal or inability to admit trauma substituting mourning for narratives, which seemingly do not have any connection to trauma itself. I can find outcomes of this traumatic creative strategy in urban spaces of contemporary megalopolises. The paper analyzes art objects in Yekaterinburg city, namely, the gangsters’ tombstones and the cathedral that has been used for political and ideological purposes, the street art activity of painter Radya. Santrauka Straipsnyje analizuojama trauma kaip kūrybingumo šaltinis miesto erdvėje. Egzistuoja dvi strategijos rasti būdą gyventi su traumine patirtimi. Pirmasis būdas, remiantis Sigmundu Freudu, tai ,,gedėjimo darbas‘‘, kuris per nuolatinį prisiminimą ir traumos pakartojimą tropų ir figūrų kalboje leidžia papildyti netolygią trauminę patirtį, iš dalies išbraukiant traumą. Kita strategija buvo aprašyta Erico L. Santnerio terminu ,,naratyvinis fetišizmas‘‘. Ši strategija siūlo nepripažinti traumos, gedėjimą pakeičiant tais naratyvais, kurie akivaizdžiai niekaip nesusiję su pačia trauma. Šiuolaikinių megalopolių erdvėse galima rasti kūrybinių strategijų. Straipsnyje analizuojami meno objektai Jekaterinburgo mieste, iš kurių svarbiausi yra nusikaltėlių antkapiai ir katedra, kuri buvo naudojama politiniais ir ideologiniais tikslais, bei tapytojo Radya‘os gatvės menas.
Quelles pratiques les PME peuvent-elles utiliser pour favoriser l'intrapreneuriat ?
Authors: Carrier Camille , Gélinas Sylvie
Published: January 2012

Résumé Dans un environnement d’affaires marqué par la concurrence, l’innovation est devenue un élément de survie pour la PME. Pour ce faire, le dirigeant d’une PME a plus que jamais besoin de favoriser l’intrapreneuriat, qui consiste dans la mise en œuvre d’innovations par un employé ou un groupe d’employés. Mais encore doit-il savoir comment s’y prendre. Cet article propose cinq approches à cet égard : miser sur l’initiative des employés, rechercher activement des intrapreneurs, mandater une équipe pour innover, inviter tous les employés à proposer des améliorations ou des innovations et aider les employés à créer leur propre entreprise. Il établit également les conditions essentielles pour assurer le succès de ces stratégies : l’ouverture aux nouvelles idées, une culture favorable à l’innovation, la capacité de bien exploiter la proximité avec les employés et la nécessité d’offrir des récompenses signifiantes à l’intrapreneur.
¿Cartografía antigua o Cartografía histórica?
Authors: Crespo Sanz Antonio , Fernández Wyttenbach Alberto
Published: January 2012

[es] Los términos relacionados con la Historia de la Cartografía necesitan ser revisados, a tenor de las confusiones y ambigüedades que se vienen produciendo. Muchas publicaciones o catálogos de mapas utilizan el término cartografía histórica para definir su contenido, cuando debería utilizarse la expresión cartografía antigua, y la traducción literal de algunas expresiones tomadas de otros idiomas, arroja resultados poco afortunados. Las nuevas tecnologías han provocado un desarrollo y una difusión inusitados de la Cartografía, y su empuje afecta a la cartografía antigua. Los principales archivos y bibliotecas publican sus fondos con gran resolución y sus documentos pueden ser analizados con herramientas más ágiles y amigables, pero no abundan los estudios teóricos sobre su naturaleza u objetivos, ni existen propuestas para reformular las definiciones básicas vinculadas a la Historia de la Cartografía. Desde estas líneas se pretende analizar y debatir el vocabulario que afecta a esta disciplina, facilitando la tarea de aquellos que se acercan a los mapas antiguos.

[fr] Les termes mis en relation avec l’Historie de la Cartographie ont besoin d’être révisés, compte tenu des confusions et des ambiguïtés qui se produisent souvent. Beaucoup de publications ou de catalogues de cartes utilisent le terme cartographie historique pour définir leur contenu, même s’ils devraient utiliser l’expression cartographie ancienne; et la traduction littérale de quelques expressions empruntées d’autres langues fait apparaître des résultats pas très satisfaisants. Les nouvelles technologies ont provoqué un développement et une diffusion inusités de la Cartographie, et leur poussée touche la cartographie ancienne. Les principaux archives et bibliothèques publient leurs fonds avec une grande résolution et leurs documents peuvent être analités avec des outils plus agiles et agréables, mais les études théoriques sur leur nature ou objectives ne sont pas abondants, et il n’est pas possible de trouver des propositions pour reformuler les définitions basiques liées a l’Histoire de la Cartographie. À partir de ces lignes on prétend analyser et débattre le vocabulaire qui touche cette discipline, en facilitant la tâche de ceux qui se rapprochent des cartes anciennes.
Las obras hidráulicas romanas en Tiermes. Organización espacial del territorio y asimilación de la intervención humana en el paisaje
Authors: García de la Vega Alfonso
Published: January 2012

[es] Durante cuatro siglos, la ocupación romana ha dejado numerosos restos de las obras hidráulicas llevadas a cabo en Tiermes y su entorno. El manto freático de la paramera calcárea de la Sierra de Pela ha constituido un referente geográfico atractivo debido a sus manantiales. Entre ellos, el Manadero de Pedro representa el hito geográfico e hidrográfico en este sector nororiental del Sistema Central. Este paisaje ha ofrecido numerosas posibilidades para los primeros asentamientos de los grupos humanos dedicados a la agricultura y la ganadería, como atestiguan los restos geoarqueológicos hallados desde el Pleistoceno superior. El emplazamiento aislado de Tiermes, junto a la fertilidad de las tierras circundantes, condicionó el asentamiento de los celtíberos en un interfluvio de las cuencas del Duero y Tajo. Las construcciones y aprovechamientos de los recursos naturales llevadas a cabo por los romanos determinaron una estructura espacial y definieron la asimilación paisajística de las obras realizadas en dicho enclave estratégico.

[fr] Depuis quatre siècles de l’occupation romaine à Tiermes et aux environs, autant de ruines des travaux hydrauliques y menés à bien en sont restées. La nappe phréatique du plateau calcaire de Sierra de Pela constitue un référent géographique attirant en raison de ses sources. Parmi celles-ci se trouve le Manadero de Pedro, celui qui représente le fait géographique et hydrographique les plus marquant dans ce secteur au nord-ouest du Sistema Central. Ce paysage avait beaucoup à offrir pour les premiers peuples s’y établissant, qui se consacraient à l’agriculture et à l’élevage, dont il fait preuve la grande quantité des restes géoarchéologiques découverts depuis le Pléistocène supérieur. L’emplacement isolé à Tiermes, aussi que la fertilité des sols environnants, a entraîné l’établissement du peuple celtibère dans l’interfluve des bassins des fleuves Douro et Tage. Les constructions et l’exploitation de ressources naturelles menées par les Romains ont déterminé une structure spatiale particulière et ont abouti au mimétisme dans le paysage des ouvrages bâtis dans ce site naturel stratégique.
La Tasa de Miseria de los Hogares. Una aproximación metodológica y conceptual a la medición, distribución espacial y variaciones de la pobreza extrema en Argentina durante la década del noventa
Authors: Longhi Fernando
Published: January 2012

[es] En este trabajo procuramos realizar una aproximación teórica y metodológica a la medición de la pobreza extrema en Argentina en la última década del siglo XX. Se desarrolló para ello la Tasa de Miseria de los Hogares (TMH), la cual, utilizando información de los Censos Nacionales de Población, Hogares y Viviendas, puede ser detectada y representada cartográficamente en Argentina en 1991 y 2001. Los resultados definen la fragmentación territorial existente entre el territorio del Norte Grande Argentino y el resto del país. Asimismo los pronósticos no son alentadores, se detecta un aumento de dicha fragmentación en los primeros años del siglo XXI.

[fr] Dans cet article procède à une approche théorique et méthodologique à la mesure de l’extrême pauvreté en Argentine durant la dernière décennie du XXe siècle. A été développé pour les taux de pauvreté des ménages (TMH), qui, utilisant les informations du recensement national de population et des logements peuvent être détectés et représenté cartographique en Argentine en 1991 et 2001. Les résultats définissent la fragmentation territoriale entre le nord du territoire de l’Argentine et le reste du pays. Il a également prévisions ne sont pas encourageantes, provoque une augmentation de la fragmentation dans les premières années de ce siècle.
Una mirada al sur: las relaciones económicas entre España y el norte de África (1995-2007)
Authors: Moral Pajares Encarnación , Muñoz Guarasa Marta
Published: January 2012

[es] España, la economía de la Unión Europea más próxima geográficamente al norte de África, impulsa desde 1995 el Proyecto Euromediterráneo en el que participan, entre otros, Marruecos, Túnez, Argelia y Egipto, países que han registrado una importante dinámica de crecimiento económico en la última década. Este trabajo analiza cómo esta realidad está condicionando la intensidad y el carácter de las relaciones que España mantiene con estos países. Ante todo, los datos confirman cierta asimetría en los flujos de comercio e inversión entre España y las economías norteafricanas, corroboran el protagonismo de Marruecos como principal socio comercial de la región y constatan la necesidad de impulsar acuerdos de cooperación interregionales más amplios y específicos por países, que contribuyan a aprovechar los beneficios que se derivan de la integración real de mercados próximos geográficamente.
Paisajes identitarios en México. Análisis y valoración de paisajes de la independencia
Authors: Thiébaut Virginie
Published: January 2012

[es] Este trabajo tiene como objetivo identificar paisajes identitarios en México. Después de una revisión del concepto de paisaje en la geografía, se estudiará cómo se fueron conformando los paisajes identitarios en distintos países y se volvieron las representaciones de una identidad nacional en formación. En México, se utilizaron con ese fin las representaciones pictóricas del Valle de México en el siglo XIX. Sin embargo, los paisajes relacionados con la Independencia no están valorados, a pesar de que fue el suceso fundador de la nación. Mediante la observación en campo y una revisión bibliográfica, estudiaremos las características históricas, estéticas y ambientales de dos paisajes del occidente del país relacionados con la Independencia: el Fuerte de Sombrero y el Puente de Calderón. Si adquirir el estatus de paisajes identitarios parece difícil en ambos casos, el análisis de estos paisajes lleva a un mejor conocimiento de su historia.

[fr] Ce travail a pour objectif l’identification de paysages identitaires au Mexique. Après avoir révisé le concept de paysage en géographie, nous étudierons comment les paysages identitaires se sont conformés dans différents pays et sont devenus la représentation d’une identité nationale en formation. Au Mexique, les représentations picturales de la vallée de Mexico ont été utilisées dans ce but au cours du XIXe siècle. Cependant, les paysages en relation avec l’Indépendance ne sont pas valorisés, bien qu’il s’agisse de l’évènement fondateur de la nation. Grâce à l’observation de terrain et à une révision bibliographique, nous étudierons les caractéristiques historiques, esthétiques et environnementales de deux paysages de la partie occidentale du Mexique : le fort du Sombrero et le pont de Calderón. Si acquérir le statut de paysage identitaire paraît difficile dans les deux cas, l’analyse de ces paysages permet une meilleure connaissance de leur histoire.
Lecciones tras el desastre de Lorca (terremotos del 11 de mayo de 2011)
Authors: Olcina Cantos Jorge
Published: January 2012

No disponible.
Using Knowledge Management to Create Self-Reliant Communities in Thailand
Authors: Chantarasombat Chalard , Srisa-ard Boonchom , Kuofie Matthew H.S. , Jennex Murray E.
Published: January 2012

Many look at knowledge management as an organizational initiative. However, can KM also be used to assist low technology situations such as rural villages? This paper describes the application of KM to the creation of a self-reliant community in Thailand. Changing demographics are threatening the ability of rural villages to sustain their viability as traditional methods of passing knowledge from one generation to the next are circumvented by the movement of the young to more urbanized areas of Thailand. KM is seen as a way of changing the traditional knowledge transfer process to something that assists those who remain in the villages. The KM approach investigated consisted of five stages: 1) Preparation, 2) Create motivation, awareness, promote participation, 3) Develop the KM plan, 4) Implement the KM plan, and 5) Evaluation. The approach was assessed and found to be successful by using eight organizations over an 8-month period.
Linking Business Strategy and Knowledge Management Capabilities for Organizational Effectiveness
Authors: Smith Trevor A. , Mills Annette M. , Dion Paul
Published: January 2012

The effective management of knowledge resources is a key imperative for firms that want to leverage their knowledge assets for competitive advantage and improved performance. However, most firms do not attain the required performance levels even when programs are in place for managing knowledge resources. Research suggests this shortcoming can be addressed by linking knowledge management to business strategy. This study examines a model that links business strategy to knowledge management capabilities and organizational effectiveness. Using data collected from 189 managers, the results suggest that business strategy is a key driver of knowledge capabilities, and that both business strategy and knowledge capabilities impact organizational effectiveness. Additionally, the authors’ findings indicate that knowledge infrastructure capability is a key imperative for effective knowledge process capability. Managerial implications, limitations and opportunities for future research are also discussed.
Foot-Printing E-Learners’ Activity
Authors: Ollagnier-Beldame Magali
Published: January 2012

Information and communication technologies have invaded the field of training, though their performances have been judged by companies to be insufficient. Among the origins of this state of affairs, the author considers that the lack of knowledge of what happens in a “real use situation” plays an important role. Indeed, understanding what is involved in learners-system interactions is fundamental to improve the system appropriation and its efficient usage. This appropriation is a dual necessity for learners as they must take over the offered possibilities of interactions and acquire the necessary knowledge. As appropriation is made through offered interactions, the author considers computer interactions traces as potential appropriation facilitators. This conceptual article presents bibliographical research concerning the use of computer interactions traces and proposes a classification of ‘tracing systems’. Additionally, the links between these works and the process of appropriation in an instrumented training situation is provided, while the author also presents an experimental study conducted on the role of traces of interactions in a collaborative mediated task by using a numerical environment.
Citizens on YouTube
Authors: Pace Stefano
Published: January 2012

Videos on YouTube can be analysed at two connected levels: (1) the content of the video, and (2) its context, which comprises viewers’ comments and replies, tags, and related videos, and is both visual and textual. In order to comprehend the meanings of a video, researchers should focus on both levels and on all contextual facets. This chapter provides some suggestions on how to plan research pertaining to YouTube videos, with reference to videos focused on urban and planning issues.
A Model-Based Approach to Analysis and Calibration of Sensor-Based Human Interaction Loops
Authors: Eslambolchilar Parisa , Murray-Smith Roderick
Published: January 2012

The dynamic systems approach to the design of continuous interaction allows designers to use analytical tools such as state-space modeling and Bode diagrams to simulate and analyse the behaviour and stability of sensor-based applications alone and when it is coupled with a manual control model of user behaviour. This approach also helps designers to calibrate and tune the parameters of the sensor-based application before the actual implementation, and in response to user action. In this article the authors introduce some term definitions from manual control theory for the analysis of the continuous aspects of the interaction design and human behaviour. Then we provide a theoretical framework for specification, analysis and calibration of a sensor-based zooming and scrolling application on mobile devices including the user in the interaction loop. It is especially topical and interesting for guiding design of sensor-based applications on mobile devices. We test our framework with a tilt-controlled speed-dependent automatic zooming application on a PDA.
Children’s Interaction with Mobile Touch-Screen Devices
Authors: McKnight Lorna , Cassidy Brendan
Published: January 2012

In this article, the authors investigate the usability of mobile touch-screen devices for children. This is a growing area, and as such there is currently a lack of definitive guidelines for mobile device designers. This article reports two studies that investigated input methods for touch-screens with children aged 7-10, concentrating on the interaction between the child and the devices. In the first study, a range of devices were observed in use, in order to gather overall impressions of interaction styles and user experience. In the second study, a more controlled comparison between stylus and finger input is made. The article concludes by offering a set of general design guidelines for the design of mobile devices for children.
Designing for Children’s Mobile Storytelling
Authors: Franckel Sonia , Bonsignore Elizabeth , Druin Allison
Published: January 2012

Mobile technologies offer novel opportunities for children to express themselves in-context, seamlessly, without disrupting the flow of their formal learning activities or informal play. Most contemporary mobile devices are equipped with multimedia support that can be used to create multimodal stories that represent the rich life narratives children experience, imagine, and want to share. The authors investigated these issues over a 9-month series of participatory design sessions in the Human-Computer Interaction Lab (HCIL) at the University of Maryland. In this article, the authors describe their work with children in designing mobile tools for story creation and collaboration. Throughout this work, they asked the following questions: What stories do children want to tell, and how do they want to convey them in a mobile context? The findings suggest the need for mobile technology-based applications that support children’s unique storytelling habits, particularly interruptability and multimodality.
Projector Phones
Authors: Schöning Johannes , Löchtefeld Markus , Rohs Michael , Krüger Antonio
Published: January 2012

With the miniaturization of projection technology, the integration of tiny projection units into mobile devices is no longer fiction; therefore, such integrated projectors in mobile devices could make mobile projection ubiquitous. These phones will have the ability to project large-scale information onto any surfaces in the real world, and by doing so, the interaction space of the mobile device can be considerably expanded. In addition, physical objects in the environment can be augmented with additional information, which can support interaction concepts that are not even possible on modern desktop computers today. The authors believe that mobile camera-projector units can form a promising interface type for mobile Augmented Reality (AR) applications, thus, this paper identifies different application classes of such interfaces. In addition, different spatial setups of camera and projector units will have an effect on the possible applications and the interaction space with the focus on the augmentation of real word objects in the environment. This paper presents two examples of applications for mobile camera-projector units and different hardware prototypes that allow augmentation of real world objects.
Pervasive Computing in the Supermarket
Authors: Black Darren , Clemmensen Nils Jakob , Skov Mikael B.
Published: January 2012

Shopping in the real world is becoming an increasingly interactive experience as stores integrate various technologies to support shoppers. Based on an empirical study of supermarket shoppers, the authors designed a mobile context-aware system called the Context-Aware Shopping Trolley (CAST). The purpose of CAST is to support shopping in supermarkets through context-awareness and acquiring user attention, thus, the authors’ interactive trolley guides and directs shoppers in the handling and finding of groceries. An empirical evaluation showed that shoppers using CAST behaved differently than shoppers using a traditional trolley. Specifically, shoppers using CAST exhibited a more uniform pattern of product collection and found products more easily while travelling a shorter distance. As such, the study finds that CAST supported the supermarket shopping activity.
Framing the Context of Use for Mobile HCI
Authors: Jumisko-Pyykkö Satu , Vainio Teija
Published: January 2012

The need to better understand the role of context has emerged after the revolution of mobile computing, as such devices are used in heterogeneous circumstances. However, it is difficult to say what context of use in mobile human-computer interaction actually means. This study summarises past research in mobile contexts of use and not only provides a deeper understanding of the characteristics associated with it, but also indicates a path for future research. This article presents an extensive and systematic literature review of more than 100 papers published in five high-quality journals and one main conference in the field of HCI during the years 2000-2007. The authors’ results show that context of use is still explored as a relatively static phenomenon in mobile HCI. Its most commonly mentioned characteristics are linked to social, physical, and technical components, while transitions between the contexts were rarely listed. Based on this review, a descriptive model of context of use for mobile HCI (CoU-HMCI) summarising five components, their subcomponents and descriptive properties is presented. The model can help both practitioners and academics to identify broadly relevant contextual factors when designing, experimenting with, and evaluating, mobile contexts of use.
Experience Developing a Vehicular Network Based on Heterogeneous Communication Technologies
Authors: Fernández Pedro J. , Nieto Cristian A. , Santa José , Gómez-Skarmeta Antonio F. , Márquez-Barja Johann , Manzoni Pietro
Published: January 2012

This chapter describes the experiences and findings deploying a vehicular network architecture supporting different communication technologies. This approach has been developed taking into account key issues regarding mobility and security. These two aspects have been provided by means of the NEMO and IKEv2 protocols, respectively. In addition, thanks to the EAP protocol, transported by IKEv2, an extensible authentication method can be used to implement an access control mechanism. This work also focuses on how the terminal is aware of the surrounding environment in order to boost the handoff processes among heterogeneous networks using the IEEE 802.21 protocol. Apart from the description of the on-board system architecture, a WiMAX/WiFi deployment has been set up at the infrastructure side to validate the development of the mobility and security environment designed for vehicular networks.
Ethics and Learning Organizations in the New Economy
Authors: Bañón Alexis , Guillén Manuel , Gil Ignacio
Published: January 2012

In order to achieve this, CEOs and Human Resource (HR) policies should potentially contribute to knowledge development by creating authentic learning organizations. The authors propose in this study that learning improvements in organizations are not just a matter of techniques or aptitudes, but also a matter of feelings, attitudes, and, above all, of the moral habits of their members. The authors strongly suggest complementing currently established conceptions of knowledge management and organizational learning through an explicit inclusion of ethics and ethical learning in organizations.
Competencies 2.0
Authors: Izquierdo-Pereira Jaime , Avilés-Palacios Carmen , García-Alfonso Joaquín , López-Quero Manuel
Published: January 2012

Web 2.0 is changing the rules, reducing costs of access to technology, increasing the volume of cyber social contact through networking, both social and professional, making possible that any information is just a click away. This evolution causes the birth of new requirements, including the adaptation of people and, because organizations are made up of people, changing their map skills. This chapter presents a theoretical model for defining and managing a presence plan on the Web, emphasizing in those individual Competencies 2.0. It is defined from a Delphi method, involving experts in the use and development of Web 2.0. The strengths of this model are two: 1) It is a model that attempts to explain new tasks resulting from magazines not covered in sufficient depth from an academic and scientific perspective, though, they are been studied and discussed in forums 2.0; and 2) It explains the relationship between individual and organizational competencies 2.0, so that the first one can act on to modify the latter. On the other hand, this chapter has certain shortcomings, mainly two: 1) It has not been empirically validated, although research is underway to rectify this deficiency, and 2) There is no academic scientific knowledge enough, probably due to the novelty of this issue.
The Hampstead Carbon Challenge
Authors: Thrasher Peggy
Published: January 2012

In 2008, the Hampstead Public Library partnered with the New Hampshire Carbon Challenge to encourage Hampstead residents to reduce their carbon emissions. The multi-faceted month-long initiative included programs, services, and resources designed to educate people and motivate them to take the Carbon Challenge and help the environment. The project provided activity and publicity, which helped the library position itself as an information resource in the community. The partnership provided fresh ideas and enthusiasm to both the library and the Carbon Challenge. The Hampstead Public Library pioneered some best practices for future Carbon Challenges in other locations, and leveraged the knowledgebase of the Carbon Challenge to provide a meaningful and memorable experience for its patrons. The Hampstead Carbon Challenge was a lot of fun for everyone.
A Second Chance
Authors: Houlihan Kathleen
Published: January 2012

This chapter describes the history of the Second Chance Books Program, a partnership between the Austin Public Library and the Gardner Betts Juvenile Justice Center. It covers the initiation of the partnership in 2002, through the early days and challenges, the growth of the partnership in 2007, and the maturation of the program in 2010. The focus is on the challenges encountered by a maturing community partnership and the resolution of those challenges. Topics include coordination of administrative tasks, transitional leadership, maintaining partnerships through staffing changes, strengthening partner buy-in, and funding concerns for long-term partnerships. The goal of the chapter is to help librarians with established or budding long-term partnerships strategize ways to prepare for and resolve problems encountered along the way.
An Exploratory Investigation of the Barriers to the Adoption of Open Source ERP by Belgian SMEs
Authors: Ven Kris , Van Nuffel Dieter
Published: January 2012

Notwithstanding the increasing interest in open source ERP (OS-ERP) products in the past few years, their adoption by Belgian organizations is still very limited. To gain more insight into this phenomenon, we performed an exploratory investigation of which barriers inhibit the adoption of OS-ERP by Belgian SMEs. Based upon our previous research, we identified two main barriers, namely a lack of functionality and a lack of support. Next, we performed a screening of the Belgian OS-ERP market to investigate the functionality and support offered by various OS-ERP products. This allowed us to determine how the perceptions of organizations compare to the actual market for OS-ERP in Belgium. Our results provide more insight into the barriers to the adoption of OS-ERP by Belgian SMEs and provide various avenues for future research.
The global atmospheric budget of ethanol revisited
Authors: Kirstine W. V. , Galbally I. E.
Published: January 2012

Abstract. Ethanol is an important biogenic volatile organic compound, which is increasingly used as a fuel for motor vehicles; therefore, an improved understanding of its atmospheric cycle is important. In this paper we use three sets of observational data, measured emissions of ethanol from living plants, measured concentrations of ethanol in the atmosphere and measured hydroxyl concentrations in the atmosphere (by methyl chloroform titration), to make two independent estimates related to the rate of cycling of ethanol through the atmosphere. In the first estimate, simple calculations give the emission rate of ethanol from living plants as 26 (range, 10–38) Tg yr−1. This contributes significantly to the total global ethanol source of 42 (range, 25–56) Tg yr−1. In the second estimate, the total losses of ethanol from the global atmosphere are 70 (range, 50–90) Tg yr−1, with about three-quarters of the ethanol removed by reaction with hydroxyl radicals in the gaseous and aqueous phases of the atmosphere, and the remainder lost through wet and dry deposition to land. These values of both the source of ethanol from living plants and the removal of atmospheric ethanol via oxidation by hydroxyl radicals (derived entirely from observations) are significantly larger than those in recent literature. We suggest that a revision of the estimate of global ethanol emissions from plants to the atmosphere to a value comparable with this analysis is warranted.
Abiotic and biotic control of methanol exchanges in a temperate mixed forest
Authors: Laffineur Q. , Aubinet M. , Schoon N. , Amelynck C. , Müller J.-F. , Dewulf J. , Van Langenhove H. , Steppe K. , Heinesch B.
Published: January 2012

Abstract. Methanol exchanges over a mixed temperate forest in the Belgian Ardennes were measured for more than one vegetation season using disjunct eddy-covariance by a mass scanning technique and Proton Transfer Reaction Mass Spectrometry (PTR-MS). Half-hourly methanol fluxes were measured in the range of −0.6 μg m−2 s−1 to 0.6 μg m−2 s−1, and net daily methanol fluxes were generally negative in summer and autumn and positive in spring. On average, the negative fluxes dominated (i.e. the site behaved as a net sink), in contrast to what had been found in previous studies. An original model describing the adsorption/desorption of methanol in water films present in the forest ecosystem and the methanol degradation process was developed. Its calibration, based on field measurements, predicted a mean methanol degradation rate of −0.0074 μg m−2 s−1 and a half lifetime for methanol in water films of 57.4 h. Biogenic emissions dominated the exchange only in spring, with a standard emission factor of 0.76 μg m−2 s−1. The great ability of the model to reproduce the long-term evolution, as well as the diurnal variation of the fluxes, suggests that the adsorption/desorption and degradation processes play an important role in the global methanol budget. This result underlines the need to conduct long-term measurements in order to accurately capture these processes and to better estimate methanol fluxes at the ecosystem scale.
Absorbing aerosols at high relative humidity: closure between hygroscopic growth and optical properties
Authors: Flores J. M. , Bar-Or R. Z. , Bluvshtein N. , Abo-Riziq A. , Kostinski A. , Borrmann S. , Koren I. , Rudich Y.
Published: January 2012

Abstract. The extinction coefficient and growth factor of humidified aerosols, at 80% and 90% RH, and at 532 nm and 355 nm wavelengths were measured for size-selected particles for ammonium sulfate, IHSS Pahokee peat (a lightly absorbing humic-like substance proxy), nigrosine (a black dye to model highly absorbing substances), and a mixture of AS and nigrosine. The ratio of the humidified extinction coefficients to the dry (fRHext(%RH, Dry)) was explored. The measured fRHext(%RH, Dry) was compared to theoretical calculations based on Mie theory, using the measured growth factors and assuming homogeneous mixing. The expected complex refractive indices (RIs) using the volume weighted mixing rule were compared to the RIs derived from the extinction measurements. Moreover, the differences between assuming a core-shell structure or a homogeneous mixing of the substances is examined. The laboratory results were used as a basis to model the change in the total extinction, the single scattering albedo (ω), and the asymmetry parameter (g) in the twilight zone of clouds at 355 nm and 532 nm. We found slightly linear to no dependency of fRH(%RH, Dry) with size for absorbing substances in contrast to the decreasing exponential behavior with size for purely scattering substances. However, no discernable difference could be made between the two wavelengths used. Less than 5% differences were found between the real parts of the complex refractive indices derived and those calculated using the volume weighted mixing rule, and the imaginary parts had up to a 20% difference. Moreover, for substances with growth factor less than 1.15 there was, in average, less than 5% difference between the extinction efficiencies calculated using a core-shell model and assuming homogeneous mixing for size parameters less than 2.5. For x>2.5 the differences were greater causing and overestimation of the extinction efficiency (Qext) values if homogenous mixing was assume instead of a core-shell structure. The total extinction as a function of distance from the nearest cloud was found to be independent from the imaginary component (k) of the dry RI of the absorbing aerosols modeled. On the other hand, the single scattering albedo, as expected, decreased with larger values of k, whereas the asymmetry parameter increased suggesting a reduction in the reflectivity of the twilight zone with more absorbing aerosols and a reduction of cloud edge 3-D radiative effects.
Unusually low ozone, HCl, and HNO3 column measurements at Eureka, Canada during winter/spring 2011
Authors: Lindenmaier R. , Strong K. , Batchelor R. L. , Chipperfield M. P. , Daffer W. H. , Drummond J. R. , Duck T. J. , Fast H. , Feng W. , Fogal P. F. , Kolonjari F. , Manney G. L. , Manson A. , Meek C. , Mittermeier R. L. , Nott G. J. , Perro C. , Walker K. A.
Published: January 2012

Abstract. As a consequence of dynamically variable meteorological conditions, springtime Arctic ozone levels exhibit significant interannual variability in the lower stratosphere. In winter 2011, the polar vortex was strong and cold for an unusually long time. Our research site, located at Eureka, Nunavut, Canada (80.05° N, 86.42° W), was mostly inside the vortex from October 2010 until late March 2011. The Bruker 125HR Fourier transform infrared spectrometer installed at the Polar Environment Atmospheric Research Laboratory at Eureka acquired measurements from 23 February to 6 April during the 2011 Canadian Arctic Atmospheric Chemistry Experiment Validation Campaign. These measurements showed unusually low ozone, HCl, and HNO3 total columns compared to the previous 14 yr. To remove dynamical effects, we normalized these total columns by the HF total column. The normalized values of the ozone, HCl, and HNO3 total columns were smaller than those from previous years, and confirmed the occurrence of chlorine activation and chemical ozone depletion. To quantify the chemical ozone loss, a three-dimensional chemical transport model, SLIMCAT, and the passive subtraction method were used. The chemical ozone depletion was calculated as the mean percentage difference between the measured ozone and the SLIMCAT passive ozone, and was found to be 35%.
Highly time-resolved chemical characterization of atmospheric fine particles during 2010 Shanghai World Expo
Authors: Huang X.-F. , He L.-Y. , Xue L. , Sun T.-L. , Zeng L.-W. , Gong Z.-H. , Hu M. , Zhu T.
Published: January 2012

Abstract. Shanghai, with a population of over 20 million, is the largest mega-city in China. Rapidly increasing industrial and metropolitan emissions have deteriorated its air quality in the past decades, with fine particle pollution as one of the major issues. However, systematic characterization of atmospheric fine particles with advanced measurement techniques has been very scarce in Shanghai. During 2010 Shanghai World Expo, we deployed a high-resolution time-of-flight aerosol mass spectrometer (HR-ToF-AMS) and a single particle soot photometer (SP2) in urban Shanghai between 15 May and 10 June 2010 to measure fine particles with a high time resolution. The 4-min resolution PM1 mass concentration ranged from 5.5 to 155 μg m−3, with an average of 29.2 μg m−3. On average, sulfate and organic matter (OM) were the most abundant PM1 components, accounting for 33.3 and 28.7% of the total mass, respectively, while the fraction of nitrate showed an increasing trend with the increasing PM1 loading, indicating the photochemical nature of high fine particle pollution in Shanghai. Taking advantage of HR-ToF-AMS and SP2, OM was found to have an average OM/OC ratio (organic matter mass/organic carbon mass) of 1.55 and black carbon (BC) had an average number fraction of internally mixed BC of 41.2%. Positive matrix factorization (PMF) analysis on the high resolution organic mass spectral dataset identified a hydrocarbon-like (HOA), a semi-volatile oxygenated (SV-OOA), and a low-volatility oxygenated (LV-OOA) organic aerosol component, which on average accounted for 24.0, 46.8, and 29.2% of the total organic mass, respectively. The diurnal patterns of them with interesting time delay possibly implied a photochemical oxidizing process from HOA (and/or its concurrently emitted gaseous organic pollutants) to SV-OOA to LV-OOA. Back trajectory analysis indicated that the northwesterly continental air mass represented the most severe pollutant regional transport condition with the highest nitrate and SV-OOA fractions. In addition, the results in Shanghai were compared with similar measurements performed recently in other mega-cities in the world.
Contrasting biogeochemistry of nitrogen in the Atlantic and Pacific Oxygen Minimum Zones
Authors: Ryabenko E. , Kock A. , Bange H. W. , Altabet M. A. , Wallace D. W. R.
Published: January 2012

Abstract. We present new data for the stable isotope ratio of inorganic nitrogen species from the contrasting oxygen minimum zones (OMZs) of the Eastern Tropical North Atlantic, south of Cape Verde, and the Eastern Tropical South Pacific off Peru. Differences in minimum oxygen concentration and corresponding N-cycle processes for the two OMZs are reflected in strongly contrasting δ15N distributions. Pacific surface waters are marked by strongly positive values for δ15N-NO3–) reflecting fractionation associated with subsurface N-loss and partial NO3– utilization. This contrasts with negative values in NO3– depleted surface waters of the Atlantic which are lower than can be explained by N supply via N2 fixation. We suggest the negative values reflect inputs of nitrate, possibly transient, associated with deposition of Saharan dust. Strong signals of N-loss processes in the subsurface Pacific OMZ are evident in the isotope and N2O data, both of which are compatible with a contribution of canonical denitrification to overall N-loss. However the apparent N isotope fractionation factor observed is relatively low (ϵd=11.4 ‰) suggesting an effect of influence from denitrification in sediments. Identical positive correlation of N2O vs. AOU for waters with oxygen concentrations ([O2] < 5 μmol l−1) in both regions reflect a nitrification source. Sharp decrease in N2O concentrations is observed in the Pacific OMZ due to denitrification under oxygen concentrations O2 < 5 μmol l−1.
Efficient dam break flood simulation methods for developing a preliminary evacuation plan after the Wenchuan Earthquake
Authors: Li Y. , Gong J. H. , Zhu J. , Ye L. , Song Y. Q. , Yue Y. J.
Published: January 2012

Abstract. The Xiaojiaqiao barrier lake, which was the second largest barrier lake formed by the Wenchuan Earthquake had seriously threatened the lives and property of the population downstream. The lake was finally dredged successfully on 7 June 2008. Because of the limited time available to conduct an inundation potential analysis and make an evacuation plan, barrier lake information extraction and real-time dam break flood simulation should be carried out quickly, integrating remote sensing and geographic information system (GIS) techniques with hydrologic/hydraulic analysis. In this paper, a technical framework and several key techniques for this real-time preliminary evacuation planning are introduced. An object-oriented method was used to extract hydrological information on the barrier lake from unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) remote sensing images. The real-time flood routine was calculated by using shallow-water equations, which were solved by means of a finite volume scheme on multiblock structured grids. The results of the hydraulic computations are visualized and analyzed in a 3-D geographic information system for inundation potential analysis, and an emergency response plan is made. The results show that if either a full-break or a half-break situation had occurred for the Chapinghe barrier lake on 19 May 2008, then the Xiaoba Town region and the Sangzao Town region would have been affected, but the downstream towns would have been less influenced. Preliminary evacuation plans under different dam break situations can be effectively made using these methods.
Pancreatic Metastasis from Renal Cell Carcinoma
Authors: D'ambra Marielda , Ricci Claudio , Casadei Riccardo , Minni Francesco
Published: January 2012

Background

Pancreatic metastases from renal cell carcinoma are uncommon.

Methods

Retrospective study of 8 patients with a diagnosis of pancreatic metastasis from renal cell carcinoma observed in our Institute.

Results

Patients were 6 (75%) males and 2 (25%) females. Mean age was 65.3 years. In 5 patients (57.1%), symptoms were present. The median interval of onset from nephrectomy was 10 years. No cases of synchronous pancreatic metastases were observed. Surgical resection was performed in 7 (87.5%) patients. At pathological examination, solitary metastases were identified in 5 patients (71.4%). No post-operative mortality was observed; the morbidity rate was 42.8%. In the group of patients who underwent pancreatic resection, median overall survival was 43.0 months (range 12.9–74.5), median disease-free survival was 23.6 months (range 9.9–74.5).

Conclusions

Pancreatic metastasis from renal cell carcinoma typically occurs after a long period from the initial nephrectomy, and seems to be related to a good prognosis.
Comparative Ultrasonographic Imaging of Spleen and Liver in Healthy Crossbred Cows
Authors: Imran Sheikh , Tyagi S. P. , Kumar Amit , Kumar Adarsh , Sharma Shivali
Published: January 2012

The present study was undertaken to conduct a comparative ultrasonographic study of the normal bovine spleen and liver. This study was carried out in two phases using 3.5 MHz curvilinear transducer. In first phase of water bath study, bovine spleens and livers were obtained from 3 healthy cadavers and subjected to repeated ultrasonography to study the echotexture. The splenic parenchyma was isoechogenic with greater echogenicity as compared to the liver. Water bath study provided a good learning experience for the comparative analysis of echotexture of the spleen and liver. In second phase, 10 healthy Jersey/Red Sindhi adult nonpregnant cows were subjected to detailed abdominal ultrasonography a number of times to develop the baseline topographical data of the spleen and liver. The dorsal end of the spleen in the cranial intercostal spaces could be clearly seen at the peak of inspiration when the lungs retracted to uncover the parietal surface of the spleen. The ventral end of the spleen, portion of the left lung, and the reticular wall could be scanned in the left 7th to 6th ICS in all the cows, and in the left 5th ICS in 5 cows. The liver was imaged from just behind the 12th to 6th ICS in all the cows easily. The gallbladder was imaged as a tear drop or pear shaped anechogenic structure with a hyperechogenic wall. The location of the gallbladder varied from the 12th to 9th ICS. It was most consistently observed in the 11th ICS (in 7 cows) at a mean distance of 46.3 cm from the dorsal midline. In 3 cows, the gallbladder was also seen ventral to the costal arch. The caudal vena cava was imaged as a triangular anechogenic structure on the dorsal border of the liver in the last 2 intercostal spaces in all the cows. The portal vein was imaged characteristically as a star shaped anechogenic structure with a hyperechogenic wall, ventral to the caudal vena cava, in the last 2 intercostal spaces in all the cows and in the 10th ICS in only 8 cows. It was concluded that a systematic ultrasonography formed a basis for a reliable noninvasive determination of positions and sizes of the normal spleen and liver and their vessels in the bovines.
Effect of Antimicrobial Peptide, Nisin, on the Reproductive Functions of Rats
Authors: Reddy K. V. R , Gupta S. M. , Aranha C. C.
Published: January 2012

Our previous studies have demonstrated that naturally occurring peptide, Nisin possess antibacterial activity and did not interfere with rabbit vaginal mucosa. In this study, the reproductive toxicity of the Nisin in male rats was evaluated. Rats were fed orally with Nisin (10, 25, and 50 mg/kg/day) for 13 weeks. No treatment related mortality was observed. The body weight gain, food consumption and serum biochemical parameters were at par with the control group. Histomorphology of the selected reproductive (testis, epididymis, ventral prostate, and seminal vesicle) and nonreproductive (liver and kidney) tissues was observed to be normal. There was no treatment-related increase or decrease in the expression of testis-specific genes (c-Kit, GATA-1, and HILS-1) and the activity levels of epididymal α-glucosidase, ventral prostate alkaline phosphatase (AlP), liver alanine aminotransferase (AlAT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AAT). Fructose and lactic acid levels in the seminal vesicles also remained unchanged. These studies suggest that Nisin did not affect the normal physiology of these organs. In addition, no adverse effects were observed on the reproductive performance of Nisin-treated male rats and their offspring. In conclusion, the current studies support our earlier studies, which demonstrated suitability of Nisin as a safe and effective microbicide.