bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Correlation of fracture features with mechanical properties as a function of strain rate in zirconium alloys
Authors: Das Arpan , Chakravartty Jayanta Kumar
Published: January 2016

Two dimensional fracture features (i. e., dimple diameter, extent of tearing ridges etc.) quantified from the tensile fractographs are investigated to predict the nature of variation in mechanical properties with strain rates in zirconium alloys tested under ambient temperature where the initial inclusion or other second phase particle contents were kept unaltered. It has been possible to reasonably estimate the strength and ductility properties of an alloy from a systematic analysis of fractographic features.
Photoluminescence properties of Tb3+-doped stalk-like Al2O3
Authors: Zhang Min , Liu Dianguang , Chen Yigao , Zhu Meng , Hong Haoran , Yang Chengyu , Li Nanwen , Chen Quan , Qi Shengli , Wang Jianli , An Linan
Published: January 2016

Uniform Al2O3 : Tb3+ samples were successfully fabricated via a hydrothermal method and subsequent thermal decomposition of Tb3+ doped precursors. Scanning electron microscopy results showed Tb3+-doped Al2O3 was stalk-like with an average length about 1.5 μm. Photoluminescence spectra indicated that the 5D4 → 7F5 (545 nm) electric dipole transition was most intense upon excitation at 227 nm. It is shown that 1.5 mol.% doping concentration of Tb3+ ions in Al2O3 : Tb3+ is optimum. According to Dexter's theory, the critical distance between Tb3+ ions in Al2O3 for energy transfer was determined to be 14 Å.
Evaluation and Validation of a Model for Predicting Pavement Structural Number with Rolling Wheel Deflectometer Data
Authors: Elseifi Mostafa A. , Gaspard Kevin , Wilke Paul W. , Zhang Zhongjie , Hegab Ahmed
Published: January 2016

Because of costs and the slow test process, the use of structural capacity in pavement management activities at the network level has been limited. The rolling wheel deflectometer (RWD) was introduced to support existing nondestructive testing techniques by providing a screening tool for structurally deficient pavements at the network level. A model was developed to estimate structural number (SN) from RWD data obtained in a Louisiana study. The objective for this study was to evaluate the use of the Louisiana model to predict structural capacity in Pennsylvania and to compare the results with those of existing methods. RWD testing was conducted on 288 mi of the road network in Pennsylvania, and falling weight deflectometer (FWD) testing and coring were conducted on selected sites. The prediction from a model used to estimate SN from RWD deflection data was compared statistically with the prediction obtained from FWD testing and from roadway management system records used by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation to calculate SN. The results of this analysis validated the use of the model to estimate the pavement SN according to RWD deflection data. In general, the predicted SN was in agreement with the SN calculated from the FWD. The original model with the fitted coefficients developed for Louisiana showed an average prediction error of 27%. However, after the model was refitted to the data set from Pennsylvania, the average error dropped to 19%. Results indicated that the model developed for SN prediction from the RWD provided an adequate prediction of SN for conditions different from those for which it was developed in Louisiana.
Performance Evaluations of Unbound Aggregate Permanent Deformation Models for Various Aggregate Physical Properties
Authors: Xiao Yuanjie , Tutumluer Erol , Mishra Debakanta
Published: January 2016

Permanent deformation or rutting is the main performance indicator of unbound aggregate layers used in flexible pavements. This paper evaluates the prediction abilities of unbound aggregate base or subbase permanent deformation models in use or proposed for use in the Mechanistic–Empirical Pavement Design Guide (MEPDG) approach. Repeated load triaxial-type permanent deformation tests were conducted on three unbound aggregate materials—limestone, dolomite, and uncrushed gravel—commonly used for pavement base and subbase and subgrade replacement applications in Illinois. The test matrix was designed to evaluate effects of aggregate physical properties, including moisture content, gradation, types and amounts of fines, aggregate mineralogy, and particle shape, texture, and angularity. The laboratory-measured permanent deformations were compared with those predicted by four rutting models evaluated in this study. The permanent deformations predicted by the original 1989 Tseng–Lytton model and the 2006 El-Badawy model were generally in good agreement with the measured values. The current MEPDG rutting model and its enhanced version proposed in 2013 by Hashem and Zapata tended to overpredict permanent deformations and have a low sensitivity to changes in aggregate physical properties. In addition to enhancements recommended for the four evaluated models, a unified rutting model was developed; it used a shear stress ratio concept and imaging-based aggregate morphological indexes. With a single set of calibrated model parameters, the unified rutting model produced reasonably accurate permanent strain predictions for all unbound aggregate materials used in this study.
Measurement of Pavement Treatment Macrotexture and Its Effect on Bicycle Ride Quality
Authors: Li Hui , Harvey John , Chen Zhang , He Yuan , Holland Thomas J. , Price Steve , McClain Kelly
Published: January 2016

This paper summarizes the results of measurements of macrotexture on a set of California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) and local government pavement surface treatments and their correlation with survey results of bicycle vibration and ride quality on the same sections. The test sections that were used for the bicycle vibration and ride quality measurements included various surface treatments placed on an existing chip seal on SR-198 in Monterey County, a chip seal on SR-1 in San Luis Obispo County, and several other sections with various textures and roughness levels on other state highway and county road sections. Macrotexture was measured in mean profile depth (MPD). Three test methods were used to measure MPD: the sand patch, the laser texture scanner, and the inertial profiler. Presented are statistical correlations between macrotexture, roughness [according to the international roughness index (IRI)], bicycle vibration, and bicycle ride quality for the surveyed treatment sections. Conclusions are presented for MPD values measured on road sections with different treatment designs and for the variability of MPD found between sections built with the same chip seal aggregate grading. Correlations between bicycle vibration and MPD are presented, along with correlations between MPD, IRI, bicycle vibration, and bicyclists' perception of ride quality and pavement acceptability for bicycle use. This study's results can assist Caltrans and other road owners considering gradation when continuing to use the cost-effective chip seal treatment to preserve their pavements while maintaining a bicycle-friendly surface.
Roughness-Induced Pavement–Vehicle Interactions
Authors: Louhghalam Arghavan , Akbarian Mehdi , Ulm Franz-Joseph
Published: January 2016

Pavement roughness affects rolling resistance and thus vehicle fuel consumption. When a vehicle travels at constant speed on an uneven road surface, the mechanical work dissipated in the vehicle's suspension system is compensated by vehicle engine power and results in excess fuel consumption. This dissipation depends on both road roughness and vehicle dynamic characteristics. This paper proposes, calibrates, and implements a mechanistic model for roughness-induced dissipation. The distinguishing feature of the model is its combination of a thermodynamic quantity (energy dissipation) with results from random vibration theory to identify the governing parameters that drive the excess fuel consumption caused by pavement roughness, namely, the international roughness index (IRI) and the waviness number, w (a power spectral density parameter). It is shown through sensitivity analysis that the sensitivity of model output, that is, excess fuel consumption, to the waviness number is significant and comparable to that of IRI. Thus, introducing the waviness number as a second roughness index, in addition to IRI, allows a more accurate quantification of the impact of surface characteristics on vehicle fuel consumption and the corresponding greenhouse gas emissions. This aspect is illustrated by application of the roughness–fuel consumption model to two road profiles extracted from FHWA's Long-Term Pavement Performance database.
Peak Friction Prediction Model Based on Surface Texture Characteristics
Authors: Leandri Pietro , Losa Massimo
Published: January 2016

This paper proposes a new model for predicting the speed gradient of peak friction values on asphalt pavements on the basis of surface characteristics. The innovative feature of the proposed model is the reliable estimation of peak friction values experienced by vehicles equipped with an antilock brake system at a certain vehicle speed. To define the experimental model, several types of dense asphalt concrete surface layers with various surface characteristics were analyzed by in situ tests. Friction was measured with the Skiddometer BV11 and the British pendulum tester, and texture properties were measured with a laser profilometer. The Rado model was used to predict peak friction values at three vehicle speeds, and these data were used to determine the gradient of peak friction values for each pavement section. The spectral analysis of pavement profile data was used to define a texture parameter negatively correlated with peak friction values; this parameter was introduced in a new formulation of the speed number Sp* that was a measure of the influence of pavement macrotexture on peak friction values. The speed number Sp* was used in the new exponential model proposed for defining the gradient of peak friction values. The results show that the model is highly reliable; because the model allows identification of texture characteristics to be modified to optimize peak friction values, it is particularly useful for optimization of the mix design and maintenance of pavement surfaces.
Adaptive Spike Removal Method for High-Speed Pavement Macrotexture Measurements by Controlling the False Discovery Rate
Authors: Katicha Samer W. , Mogrovejo Daniel E. , Flintsch Gerardo W. , de León Izeppi Edgar D.
Published: January 2016

Tire–pavement interactions, such as friction, tire–pavement noise, splash and spray, and rolling resistance, are significantly influenced by pavement macrotexture. Accurate texture data collection and analysis at a network level are key to achieving the desired level of safety, comfort, and sustainability of pavements. This study addressed the problem of noise in the form of spikes revealed in dynamic measurements that were performed with the use of vehicle-mounted lasers to measure macro-texture at traffic speed. The presence of spikes in collected data leads to erroneous texture measurements that do not reflect the actual pavement texture profile. As a solution to this problem, an innovative denoising methodology was developed. It consisted of an algorithm that determined the distribution of texture measurements with the use of the family of generalized Gaussian distributions, which allowed for the tail of the distribution to be heavier or thinner than the normal distribution, and with the use of the false discovery rate (FDR) method that controlled the proportion of wrongly identified spikes to all identified spikes. The FDR control allowed for an adaptive threshold selection that differentiated between valid measurements and spikes. Finally, the validation of the method showed that the mean profile depth (MPD) results obtained with denoised dynamic measurements were comparable to MPD results from the control devices on all the pavement sections investigated, making this method a significant step in the development of standardized procedures that use these devices for texture investigation at the network level.
Monitoring Pavement Surface Macrotexture and Friction
Authors: Kargah-Ostadi Nima , Howard Andrew
Published: January 2016

The amount of available friction and texture depth are primary concerns in the evaluation of pavement surface safety characteristics. The two components of microtexture and macrotexture provide pavement surface friction. Macrotexture properties are collected with laser-based devices at highway speeds, but a proper evaluation of microtexture is available only with stationary devices or laboratory experimental methods. The industry is trying to develop practical methods for monitoring microtexture at the network level. Pertinent quantification for both friction components is valued because the common locked-wheel testing of skid resistance depends on surface temperature, presence of dirt and oil on the road surface, and vehicle speed. This case study examined the relationship between laser-based mean profile depth (MPD) and the friction number (FN) collected with a locked-wheel skid trailer on Louisiana highways. The analysis showed that quantified microtexture data were required in conjunction with the macrotexture to establish a significant correlation with friction measurements. However, the correlation between MPD and FN appeared to be significantly stronger at higher speeds of friction testing. Lower and higher threshold values were determined from the first and third quartiles of MPD and FN data. At speeds of about 50 mph, 71% of the pavement sections with MPD of less than the lower texture threshold also had FN values of less than the lower friction threshold. This lower MPD threshold of 0.036 in. can be implemented in network-level monitoring operations to determine areas of concern that require friction testing.
Population differentiation and countergradient variation throughout the geographic range in the fern gametophyte Vittaria appalachiana
Authors: Chambers Sally M. , Emery Nancy C.
Published: January 2016

PREMISE OF THE STUDY:

Theory predicts that limited gene flow between populations will promote population differentiation, and experimental studies have found that differentiation is often explained by local adaptation in sexually reproducing angiosperms. However, few experiments have examined the drivers of differentiation among populations in asexual land plants with limited dispersal potential. Here, we evaluated the role of temperature in driving population differentiation in an asexual, obligate gametophyte fern species.

METHODS:

We reciprocally transplanted Vittaria appalachiana gametophytes among six populations that spanned the species' geographic range in the Appalachian Mountains and Plateau. Temperature, survival, and senescence rates were measured for 1 year.

KEY RESULTS:

Populations had significantly different fitness responses to different sites, consistent with the hypothesis that populations have differentiated across the species' range. There was some evidence for local adaptation in marginal populations and for countergradient selection favoring particularly robust genotypes at the northern range edge. Most populations had relatively high fitness at the site with the most stable temperature conditions and were negatively affected by decreasing minimum temperatures.

CONCLUSIONS:

Populations of Vittaria appalachiana exhibit highly variable responses to transplantation across the species' range, and only a small subset of these responses are due to local adaptation. Differences in daily minimum temperature explain some variation in fitness, but other site‐specific factors also have significant impacts on transplant fitness. These results indicate that asexual, patchily distributed species with limited dispersal may exhibit population‐specific responses to global climate change that have not been elucidated by empirical work focused on sexually reproducing angiosperms.
Association of genetic and phenotypic variability with geography and climate in three southern California oaks
Authors: Riordan Erin C. , Gugger Paul F. , Ortego Joaquín , Smith Carrie , Gaddis Keith , Thompson Pam , Sork Victoria L.
Published: January 2016

PREMISE OF THE STUDY:

Geography and climate shape the distribution of organisms, their genotypes, and their phenotypes. To understand historical and future evolutionary and ecological responses to climate, we compared the association of geography and climate of three oak species (Quercus engelmannii, Quercus berberidifolia, and Quercus cornelius‐mulleri) in an environmentally heterogeneous region of southern California at three organizational levels: regional species distributions, genetic variation, and phenotypic variation.

METHODS:

We identified climatic variables influencing regional distribution patterns using species distribution models (SDMs), and then tested whether those individual variables are important in shaping genetic (microsatellite) and phenotypic (leaf morphology) variation. We estimated the relative contributions of geography and climate using multivariate redundancy analyses (RDA) with variance partitioning.

KEY RESULTS:

The modeled distribution of each species was influenced by climate differently. Our analysis of genetic variation using RDA identified small but significant associations between genetic variation with climate and geography in Q. engelmannii and Q. cornelius‐mulleri, but not in Q. berberidifolia, and climate explained more of the variation. Our analysis of phenotypic variation in Q. engelmannii indicated that climate had more impact than geography, but not in Q. berberidifolia. Throughout our analyses, we did not find a consistent pattern in effects of individual climatic variables.

CONCLUSIONS:

Our comparative analysis illustrates that climate influences tree response at all organizational levels, but the important climate factors vary depending on the level and on the species. Because of these species‐specific and level‐specific responses, today's sympatric species are unlikely to have similar distributions in the future.
First report of Tequus schrottkyi (Konow) (Hymenoptera: Pergidae) in Uruguay, and information about its host plant and biology
Authors: Altesor Paula , González Andrés , Schmidt Stefan
Published: January 2016

The sawfly family Pergidae is best represented in South America, and it is the third largest family in the suborder Symphyta. Tequus is a Neotropical genus that has been reported in association with host plants of the genus Solanum (Solanaceae), with little information about the life history of its members. Tequus schrottkyi (Konow, 1906) was described from Paraguay, without any information about its biology and host plant.

We report the first record of T. schrottkyi from Uruguay, with information on its host plant and details of its biology. The identification was based on morphology, DNA barcode is provided to allow identification using molecular characters. This sawfly species is associated with Solanum commersonii, a native plant common in Uruguay. Tequus schrottkyi presents several generations between March and July. The larvae feed on leaves and spin a silk cocoon in the soil in which they pupate. The adults exhibit sexual dimorphism, the female being larger than the male and with a different color pattern. The eggs are laid individually in the leaf margins into the leaf tissue. The larvae are unpalatable to a generalist predator, possibly due to defensive compounds sequestered from their host plant, known to contain toxic compounds.
Les dysfonctionnements précoces et les trajectoires développementales d’enfants avec troubles du spectre de l’autisme : une revue des recherches et approches diagnostiques et évaluatives
Authors: Boulard Aurore , Morange-Majoux Françoise , Devouche Emmanuel , Gattegno Maria Pilar , Evrard Constance , Adrien Jean-Louis
Published: January 2016

Les troubles du spectre de l’autisme sont présents dès les premiers mois de vie de l’enfant et leur expression progressive (troubles des interactions, comportements stéréotypés et répétitifs correspondant à un défaut de régulation), constitue des handicaps notables pour la première socialisation de l’enfant au sein de sa famille, pour ses apprentissages et pour son développement cognitif, émotionnel et son adaptation sociale ultérieure. Cet article a pour but de faire une revue de la littérature des recherches portant sur les dysfonctionnements précoces dans l’autisme. Au vu de l’ensemble des travaux répertoriés, il apparaît important d’examiner les comportements des bébés ultérieurement diagnostiqués autistes (UDA) durant la période des six premiers mois, afin d’identifier des particularités fonctionnelles qui pourraient être en lien avec les caractéristiques de leurs trajectoires développementales.
L’admission en internat : une chance pour l’alliance entre parents et professionnels
Authors: De Ortiz Nathalie
Published: January 2016

A l’admission d’un enfant placé, dans un contexte de partenariat contraint, la prise en compte des spécificités de fonctionnement interpersonnel et émotionnel des familles dites à hauts risques ou très vulnérables, et celles des professionnels de la protection de l’enfance, offre l’intérêt d’une compréhension des tensions et des enjeux associés à ces premiers contacts. Une lecture informée par la théorie de l’attachement, qui met la peur au centre de ces rencontres et donne du sens aux relations difficiles entre parents et équipe d’internat, change radicalement notre regard. Accepter que plus la famille a une représentation dangereuse de la relation d’aide, plus il faut aménager le cadre, et considérer la relation entre parents et professionnels comme significative du point de vue de l’attachement fait de l’admission un temps essentiel dans l’établissement de l’alliance parents-professionnels. L’instauration d’une relation de confiance est prioritaire ; elle dessine les contours de nouvelles pratiques. A l’instar de Schofield et Beek qui disent qu’il est du devoir des institutions et des professionnel de tout mettre en œuvre pour saisir cette opportunité, j’ai envisagé, dans une dimension de chaîne de sécurité, qui implique l’institution, les équipes d’internat et les parents, au bénéfice de l’enfant accueilli, des aménagements concrets de la pratique d’admission.
« Entre ars et scienza » : enjeux du contrepoint en musique, et de la musique au poème
Authors: Quillier Patrick
Published: January 2016

Cet article retrace l’histoire du contrepoint en musique depuis le ix e  siècle jusqu’à nos jours. Cette histoire est essentielle, puisque le contrepoint n’entre pas dans les universaux de la musique : il est de fait le produit d’une histoire de la musique occidentale. Sa définition découle donc d’une évolution particulière, dont sont ici rappelées les étapes, du déchant médiéval à la dévaluation progressive du contrepoint depuis le classicisme. Cette dévaluation semble attribuée chaque fois à l’excès d’intellectualisme ou de formalisme associé au contrepoint, accusé d’être un art mathématique détournant la musique de ses fonctions expressives fondamentales. S’appuyant sur les propos de compositeurs et de musicologues des xx e et xxi e  siècles, cet article cherche à nuancer l’opposition dialectique entre contrepoint et harmonie, en renouant avec l’esprit premier qui a présidé à l’émergence puis au développement du contrepoint. Il est ainsi postulé que toute œuvre est d’emblée en elle-même un contrepoint de la réalité, s’entrelaçant toujours déjà à un environnement ou un paysage sonore, ce fondement contrapuntique permettant finalement à l’auteur de rapprocher œuvres musicales et littéraires.
Roman et antiroman : Chevillard, Senges, Volodine
Authors: Camus Audrey
Published: January 2016

Si le genre romanesque n’a pas bonne presse chez les écrivains français aujourd’hui, pour Éric Chevillard, Pierre Senges et Antoine Volodine, écrire contre le roman, c’est écrire tout contre. Parce qu’ils sont romanciers malgré eux dès lors que, pour reprendre une affirmation provocatrice du premier, « bientôt, le terme roman sera définitivement devenu synonyme de livre », mais surtout parce que les formes qu’ils inventent constituent des variations sur le genre romanesque qu’ils malmènent pour mieux le renouveler. Explorant les rapports qu’entretiennent roman et antiroman à la lumière de cette pratique contrapuntique, l’article montre que ce couple notionnel ne coïncide qu’incidemment avec celui qui oppose le romance au novel , et que c’est l’illusion mimétique qui constitue le véritable enjeu pour l’antiroman, par-delà ses manifestations singulières au cours du temps. Ce déplacement permet de reconsidérer la cible de l’antiroman comme un modèle abstrait dont l’antiroman trace les contours en creux, expurgeant ainsi les formes sclérosées qui tendent à figer le genre romanesque, comme autant de mues, afin de maintenir le vague du roman, qui le garde toujours vivant.
Perception des encadrants de stage du processus de gestion et de la qualité de l’encadrement pédagogique clinique en sciences infirmières et obstétricales au Bénin
Authors: Otti André , Pirson Magali , Piette Danielle
Published: January 2016

Contexte : la réforme de la formation infirmière oblige de mettre l’accent sur la qualité de l’encadrement clinique. Objectif : identifier la perception des encadrants de stage du processus de gestion et de la qualité de l’encadrement clinique des étudiants de l’Institut national médico-sanitaire (INMeS). Méthode : une étude descriptive transversale qualitative et quantitative a été menée auprès des encadrants du Centre National Hospitalier et Universitaire et de l’Hôpital de la Mère et de l’Enfant Lagune du Bénin. Les données recueillies à l’aide d’un questionnaire auto-administré ont été traitées avec EPI INFO version 3.5.4 et selon une analyse de contenu. Résultats : 92 % des encadrants n’ont reçu aucune formation spécifique à l’encadrement. Il n’existe ni cadre formel et réglementaire propice à l’encadrement, ni référentiel d’encadrement. La collaboration entre l’INMeS et les sites de stage est faible. L’encadrement n’est pas intégré dans les missions des services, mais plutôt lié à une occasion contextuelle. La durée journalière du stage est jugée courte pour un réel apprentissage. L’évaluation sommative dont la grille de critères est inadaptée se fait en l’absence de l’étudiant. Discussion : ces résultats démontrent la faible qualité de l’encadrement clinique. Conclusion : les insuffisances relevées serviront de base à l’amélioration de la qualité de l’encadrement clinique.
Les allégations relatives à la santé
Authors: Peigné Jérôme
Published: January 2016

Face à une stagnation des dépenses des ménages dans le secteur de l’alimentation, l’industrie agro-alimentaire a axé le développement de nombreux produits autour du thème de la santé. Afin de protéger les consommateurs contre des pratiques commerciales trompeuses, l’Union européenne s’est dotée d’une législation spécifique, visant à contrôler l’utilisation des allégations relatives à la santé. Cette réglementation trace une ligne de partage médiane entre le monde de l’alimentation traditionnelle, peu régulé, et celui des produits de santé, beaucoup plus encadré.
Le jugement moral comme objet de recherche
Authors: Médevielle Geneviève
Published: January 2016

Le débat éthique de notre monde pluraliste avec la concurrence des différents points de vue exprimés amène chacun à se demander en quoi peut bien consister un jugement moral en général et un jugement moral chrétien en particulier et ce qui peut en fonder la légitimité. A partir de cette situation, l’article se fait leçon de choses pour montrer comment et à quelles conditions il est possible de prendre « le jugement moral » comme objet de recherche et de le problématiser en théologie morale quand la foi façonne une manière de voir l’existence et l’être humain.
« Qui suis-je moi pour juger ? » Sur un propos du pape François
Authors: Greiner Dominique
Published: January 2016

« Qui suis-je moi pour juger ? » Cette phrase prononcée par le pape François en réponse à un journaliste qui l’interrogeait en juillet 2013 sur l’homosexualité d’un membre de la curie romaine a troublé certains fidèles. En s’exprimant ainsi, le pape ne remet-il pas en cause la possibilité de tout jugement moral ? Si c’est le cas, la notion même de jugement en théologie morale ne perd-elle pas toute pertinence ? En réalité, c’est la conception même de la vérité – aussi bien la vérité morale que celle des personnes – qui est en jeu ici. C’est ce que j’essaye de montrer dans mon contribution.
Qu’en est-il de l’énonciation proprement chrétienne d’un jugement moral ?
Authors: Gagey Henri-Jérôme
Published: January 2016

Comment définir la spécificité éthique du christianisme à partir de la teneur de ses prescriptions si ce que Dieu commande doit pouvoir s’accorder à la vérité universelle de l’humain ? L’article ouvre une autre voie en montrant comment le propre de l’éthique chrétienne se manifeste mieux là où le sujet doit engager le combat spirituel en affrontant la tentation multiforme de pervertir l’expérience de la grâce. Il ne se présente pas alors comme un principe général mais comme un processus historique d’initiation et de discernement qui travaille les sujets pour les ajuster à l’expérience de la grâce.
La justesse du jugement moral et la vérité de l’humain
Authors: Médevielle Geneviève
Published: January 2016

A partir du débat pluraliste qui a eu lieu en France autour de l’introduction du mariage pour les couples de même sexe, l’auteur s’interroge sur la possibilité d’énoncer un jugement moral sans tomber dans l’incommensurabilité relativiste. Elle montre les caractéristiques du jugement moral contemporain : un jugement subjectif qui n’est pas pur arbitraire mais construction du sens de l’existence et d’une figure d’humanité que le sujet veut donner à l’existence au sein d’une situation et d’un temps donnés. Dans ce contexte de pluralité des jugements moraux, elle formule l’hypothèse que la justesse d’un jugement moral est lié à la vérité de l’humain qui le fonde. Une vérité qui, pour le théologien, a couleur d’« universalité spirituelle » car elle concerne le destin de toute l’humanité dans le plan et la bénédiction de Dieu.
Un cadre conceptuel pour explorer localement les facteurs de vulnérabilité et les options d’adaptation aux changements climatiques
Authors: Beaulieu Nathalie , Santos Silva Julia , Plante Steve
Published: January 2016

Cet article décrit un cadre conceptuel pour explorer les facteurs affectant la vulnérabilité aux aléas reliés au climat ainsi que des options d’adaptation aux changements climatiques. Ce cadre permet de guider des réflexions dans un langage simple et non technique, tout en étant compatible avec différentes conceptualisations de la vulnérabilité. Il a été développé à travers l’élaboration d’un plan d’action pour l’adaptation avec l’administration municipale de Rivière-au-Tonnerre sur la Côte-Nord, dans la province de Québec au Canada, en collaboration avec le département d’aménagement de la Municipalité régionale de comté (MRC) de la Minganie. Le cadre consiste à séparer la chaine de causalité du développement de conséquences à partir d’aléas climatiques en trois étapes : le développement d’aléas secondaires dans le milieu naturel ; les dommages biophysiques ; et la perturbation des activités humaines. Il est mis en œuvre dans une série de deux tableaux guidant a) les facteurs favorisant les conséquences négatives, donc contribuant à la vulnérabilité et au risque, et b) les facteurs et pratiques qui peuvent réduire ces conséquences négatives, et qui contribuent à la résilience. Ce dernier tableau permet d’explorer des actions et pratiques qui peuvent être améliorées ou encore mises en place nouvellement, constituant des opportunités pour l’adaptation. L’exemple développé à Rivière-au-Tonnerre a permis de situer en ce sens le rôle de différents acteurs au niveau local, régional, provincial et fédéral. Il a permis d’identifier des facteurs qui pourraient être quantifiés pour suivre les effets de certaines initiatives d’adaptation.
Les défis des communautés côtières pour rehausser la résilience et leur capacité à faire face aux intempéries climatiques
Authors: Bousbaine Antonia-Djèmila , Bryant Christopher
Published: January 2016

L’objectif de cet article est de présenter les défis auxquels les communautés côtières doivent faire face pour rehausser leur niveau de résilience et leur capacité à s’adapter face aux intempéries climatiques. L’accent est mis sur la nécessité d’intégrer ces deux éléments dans un processus de réflexion de planification stratégique holistique à long terme. Ceci est nécessaire afin d’éviter la marginalisation de la problématique des changements et de la variabilité climatiques (CVC) par rapport aux autres enjeux auxquels doivent faire face ces communautés (p. ex. le maintien et le développement des emplois et des services à la population). Nous utiliserons les concepts de la planification stratégique pour et par la communauté, ce qui implique la mobilisation et la participation de tous les segments d’intérêts dans les communautés dans toutes les phases de cette planification stratégique : la construction d’une vision future ; l’identification des orientations stratégiques (p. ex. dont potentiellement une concernant la résilience et la capacité d’adaptation ; l’identification des types d’actions possibles et souhaitables dans une telle orientation…). Nous faisons référence aux zones côtières au Québec, au Nouveau-Brunswick et en Europe occidentale. Les résultats démontrent l’importance avant tout de l’appropriation de la problématique des CVC en tant que phénomène récurrent ainsi que la mobilisation de tous les segments d’intérêt légitime d’une communauté, peu importe que certains segments ne soient pas eux-mêmes touchés par ce phénomène. En conclusion, nous soulignons l’importance d’une communication efficace à chaque étape et la construction d’une culture de solidarité communautaire ce qui peut être en elle-même une orientation stratégique.
Enjeux politiques de l’adaptation aux changements climatiques dans les projets de gestion intégrée des zones côtières à Madagascar
Authors: Andriamasinoro Jessica Onitsoa , Sarrasin Bruno
Published: January 2016

Pour faire face aux changements climatiques, les pays économiquement pauvres comme Madagascar ont été invités par les Nations-Unies à soumettre un Programme d’actions nationales d’adaptation (PANA) qui identifie les projets jugés prioritaires en matière d’adaptation. On trouve parmi ces derniers la gestion intégrée des zones côtières (GIZC). Celle-ci résulte aussi d’une mise à jour du Livre blanc de la politique de développement durable des zones côtières et marines ayant mené à l’élaboration d’une Stratégie nationale de développement durable des zones côtières et marines à Madagascar. L’analyse du PANA et la GIZC montre cependant qu’ils évoluent en parallèle et de manière peu complémentaire. Dans une perspective de sociologie politique et à partir de recherches documentaires et d’entretiens réalisés à Madagascar en 2013, cet article s’intéressera d’abord à la manière par laquelle les principaux acteurs ont problématisé l’adaptation aux changements climatiques à Madagascar. Cette démarche permettra ensuite d’éclairer les perceptions et les tensions dans la définition des problèmes et des solutions associés à cette thématique, en soulignant les incompatibilités de perceptions et d’actions afin d’éclairer les problèmes de mise en œuvre.
L’adaptation aux changements climatiques dans la Péninsule acadienne : rôles d’acteurs clés dans l’émergence d’un dialogue articulé à l’échelle régionale
Authors: Guillemot Julie , Aubé Mélanie
Published: January 2016

Dans la Péninsule acadienne, les principales craintes relatives aux changements climatiques sont l’amplification de l’érosion et des inondations côtières. La gestion des risques actuels et futurs associés à ces phénomènes constitue un défi de taille pour les communautés de ce territoire. Toutefois, depuis 2008, plusieurs projets pour améliorer la résilience de ces communautés face aux enjeux climatiques ont vu le jour. Nous nous intéressons à l’influence des porteurs de ces projets sur le développement de stratégies d’adaptation, particulièrement à leur rôle en tant qu’organismes frontières ou intermédiaires. Nous constatons que les démarches d’adaptation ont favorisé le dialogue entre les acteurs, la production de connaissances et le transfert d’informations. Dans un contexte où les approches d’adaptation ne seront probablement pas imposées par le gouvernement central, le travail d’organismes et de personnes facilitant les échanges entre chercheurs, citoyens, administrateurs, élus locaux et représentants de l’État est crucial pour aboutir à une co-construction de stratégies d’adaptation opérationnelles localement et régionalement. Toutefois, il est actuellement difficile de savoir si ce travail aboutira sur la création d’un collectif pérenne pouvant avoir une influence décisive sur la gouvernance régionale. Nous nous demandons également jusqu’à quel point les acteurs régionaux de l’adaptation peuvent faire reposer la mise en œuvre d’un processus collectif d’adaptation sur des organismes jouant un rôle d’intermédiaire, mais avant tout voués à la recherche.
Post-traumatic stress disorder amongst children aged 8–18 affected by the 2011 northern-Namibia floods
Authors: Taukeni Simon , Chitiyo George , Chitiyo Morgan , Asino Ina , Shipena Genesia
Published: January 2016

Extreme flooding in the northern parts of Namibia occurred in 2011, impacting many schoolgoing children in the region. The rationale for the current research is to assess post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) on school children as a result of the floods. A self-administered Child Trauma Screening Questionnaire (CTSQ) with closed-ended questions was administered to 480 children between the ages of eight and 18 years at their respective schools. The CTSQ consists of five items assessing re-experiencing and five items assessing hyper-arousal symptoms. The results show that 55.2% of learners aged 12 and below and 72.8% of learners aged 13 and above reported experiencing symptoms of trauma from the floods 2 years after the event. These percentages were quite high and are therefore a cause for concern. Given the magnitude of this problem, it is important for the government and other stakeholders to provide the necessary psychological and/or emotional support in the event of future floods or similar disasters.
Climate change, household vulnerability and smart agriculture: The case of two South African provinces
Authors: Ncube Mkhululi , Madubula Nomonde , Ngwenya Hlami , Zinyengere Nkulumo , Zhou Leocadia , Francis Joseph , Mthunzi Talentus , Olivier Crespo , Madzivhandila Tshilidzi
Published: January 2016

The impact of climate-change disasters poses significant challenges for South Africa, especially for vulnerable rural households. In South Africa, the impact of climate change at the local level, especially in rural areas, is not well known. Rural households are generally poor and lack resources to adapt to and mitigate the impact of climate change, but the extent of their vulnerability is largely not understood. This study looked at the micro-level impact of climate change, evaluated household vulnerability and assessed alternative adaptation strategies in rural areas. The results indicate that climate change will hit crop yields hard and that households with less capital are most vulnerable. These households consist of the elderly and households headed by females. Households that receive remittances or extension services or participate in formal savings schemes in villages are less vulnerable. The results suggest that households need to move towards climate-smart agriculture, which combines adaptation, mitigation and productivity growth.
Investigating the knowledge and preparedness of proximal residents to a general-emergency event at the Koeberg Nuclear Power Station
Authors: Francioli Alberto P.
Published: January 2016

Ward 23 in the City of Cape Town South Africa is situated within 16 km of Koeberg Nuclear Power Station (KNPS). Massive investments were made to provide the 13 800 residents of Ward 23 with information on emergency preparedness and evacuation procedures in case of a general-emergency event at KNPS. However, it is not known whether these efforts to inform and prepare the proximal residents for a general emergency have been effective or not. The objective of this study was to investigate the level of knowledge of and preparedness for an emergency exhibited by residents of Ward 23. Data was collected through the distribution of semi-structured questionnaires to 204 residents at the study site to ascertain their views on the provision and accessibility of emergency information and to find out whether they utilised this information to prepare themselves. The results revealed that the majority of interviewed residents had very poor knowledge concerning emergency procedures, and few had made any effort to prepare themselves. The majority of better-informed and prepared residents tended to reside closer to KNPS. The poor levels of knowledge and preparedness are attributed to residents’ lack of awareness concerning the availability of information, misconceptions regarding a nuclear hazard and a general emergency event or a lack of incentive to inform themselves due to a perceived high sense of security and the improbability of such an event occurring. To improve resident knowledge and preparedness, efforts should be made to advertise the availability and importance of such emergency information and enhance incentives for residents to inform themselves.
Comparison between postprocessing software and repeated scanning to eliminate subdiaphragmatic activity in myocardial perfusion scintigraphy
Authors: Theerakulpisut Daris , Chotipanich Chanisa
Published: January 2016

Myocardial perfusion single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) is a powerful test of evaluation for coronary artery disease, but subdiaphragmatic radiotracer activity often interferes with the interpretation of inferior wall findings. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of using software elimination of the subdiaphragmatic activity for the assessment of its efficacy in the correctness of image interpretation and the overall image quality of myocardial perfusion scintigraphy (MPS). MPS studies from January 2010 to October 2012 at our institution were reviewed. Thirty-two SPECT studies were included, all of which had significant subdiaphragmatic activity in the first scan and needed to be delayed to let the activity clear. Each scan was interpreted by using semiquantitative scoring in 17 segments according to the degree of radiotracer uptake. The first scan, which had interfering activity, was manipulated by masking out the unwanted activity with software native to our image processing software suite. The manipulated images were then compared with delayed images of the same patient, of which the subdiaphragmatic activity was spontaneously cleared with time. The first scan masked by software correlated with the delayed scan for myocardial regions supplied by the left circumflex (LCx) and right coronary artery (RCA), but not the left anterior descending (LAD). However, the quality of the masked scans was perceived by the observer to be better in terms of quality and ease of interpretation. Using software to mask out unwanted subdiaphragmatic activity has no detrimental effect on the interpretation of MPS images when compared with delayed scanning, but it can improve subjective scan quality and ease of interpretation.
Three Different Locations of a Sentinel Node Highlight the Importance of Performing a Sentinel Node Biopsy in Breast Cancer Recurrence
Authors: Albert Adrien , Huyghe Ivan , Stroobants Sigrid , Tjalma Wiebren A.A.
Published: January 2016

A local breast cancer recurrence or a new breast cancer in the previously treated breast is a staging challenge. Staging is important to tailor the local and the systemic treatment. Earlier treatment(s) can disrupt the primary lymphatic drainage. After the disruption, new lymphatic drainage pathways are often created. The identification of these new pathways together with their sentinel node(s) (SN) is important for retreatment. A fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography-computerized tomography could be useful to identify the involved node(s), but, unfortunately, there is no evidence to support this. Ideally, in the case of a recurrence, an SN biopsy should be performed in order to identify the “new” draining lymph node(s). This new draining SN(s) can be located in unexpected places, and tumor invasion will lead to a change in the management.
Simultaneous Underexpression of let-7a-5p and let-7f-5p microRNAs in Plasma and Stool Samples from Early Stage Colorectal Carcinoma
Authors: Ghanbari Reza , Mosakhani Neda , Sarhadi Virinder K. , Armengol Gemma , Nouraee Nazila , Mohammadkhani Ashraf , Khorrami Samaneh , Arefian Ehsan , Paryan Mahdi , Malekzadeh Reza , Knuutila Sakari
Published: January 2016

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common malignancy and the second most common cause of cancer death worldwide. Early detection of CRC can improve patient survival rates; thus, the identification of noninvasive diagnostic markers is urgently needed. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have extensive potential to diagnose several diseases, including cancer. In this study, we compared the expression pattern of miRNAs from plasma and stool samples of patients with early stages of CRC (I, II) with that of healthy subjects. We performed miRNA profiling using microarrays on plasma and stool samples of eight patients with CRC and four healthy subjects. Seven miRNAs were found to be underexpressed in both plasma and stool samples of patients with CRC versus healthy subjects. Then, we aimed to verify two out of these seven differentially expressed miRNAs (let-7a-5p and let-7f-5p) by quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction on a larger set of plasma and stool samples of 51 patients with CRC and 26 healthy subjects. We confirmed the results of microarray analysis since their expression was significantly lower in stool and plasma samples of patients with CRC. Moreover, receiver operating characteristic curve analysis demonstrated that fecal let-7f expression levels have significant sensitivity and specificity to distinguish between patients with CRC and healthy subjects. In conclusion, if the results are confirmed in larger series of patients, underexpressed let-7a-5p and let-7f-5p miRNAs in both plasma and stool samples of patients with CRC may serve potentially as noninvasive molecular biomarkers for the early detection of CRC.
Number of Right Ideals and a q-analogue of Indecomposable Permutations
Authors: Bacher Roland , Reutenauer Christophe
Published: January 2016

We prove that the number of right ideals of codimension n in the algebra of noncommutative Laurent polynomials in two variables over the finite field 𝔽q is equal to where the sum is over all indecomposable permutations in Sn+1 and where inv(θ) stands for the number of inversions of θ
A mixed formulation of the Stefan problem with surface tension
Authors: Davis Christopher B. , Walker Shawn W.
Published: January 2016

A dual formulation and finite element method is proposed and analyzed for simulating the Stefan problem with surface tension. The method uses a mixed form of the heat equation in the solid and liquid (bulk) domains, and imposes a weak formulation of the interface motion law (on the solid liquid interface) as a constraint. The basic unknowns are the heat fluxes and temperatures in the bulk, and the velocity and temperature on the interface. The formulation, as well as its discretization, is viewed as a saddle point system. Well-posedness of the time semi-discrete and fully discrete formulations is proved in three dimensions, as well as an a priori (stability) bound and conservation law. Simulations of interface growth (in two dimensions) are presented to illustrate the method.