bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Increased Level of α2,6-Sialylated Glycans on HaCaT Cells Induced by Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles under UV Radiation
Authors: Ren Yuanyuan , Liu Xin , Geng Runqing , Lu Qunwei , Rao Rong , Tan Xi , Yang Xiangliang , Liu Wei
Published: April 2018

As one of the most widely used nanomaterials, the safety of nano-TiO2 for human beings has raised concern in recent years. Sialylation is an important glycosylation modification that plays a critical role in signal transduction, apoptosis, and tumor metastasis. The aim of this work was to investigate the cytotoxicity and phototoxicity of nano-TiO2 with different crystalline phases for human skin keratinocytes (HaCaT cells) under ultraviolet (UV) irradiation and detect sialic acid alterations. The results showed that the mixture of crystalline P25 had the highest cytotoxicity and phototoxicity, followed by pure anatase A25, whereas pure rutile R25 had the lowest cytotoxicity and phototoxicity. A25 and R25 had no effects on the expression of sialic acids on HaCaT cells. However, HaCaT cells treated with P25 and UV showed an increased level of alterations in α2,6-linked sialic acids, which was related to the level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated by nano-TiO2 and UV. The abundance of α2,6-linked sialic acids increased as ROS production increased, and vice versa. Antioxidant vitamin C (VC) reversed the abnormal expression of α2,6-linked sialic acids caused by nano-TiO2 and protected cells by eliminating ROS. These findings indicate that nano-TiO2 can alter the sialylation status of HaCaT cells under UV irradiation in a process mediated by ROS.
Self-Sacrificial Salt Templating: Simple Auxiliary Control over the Nanoporous Structure of Porous Carbon Monoliths Prepared through the Solvothermal Route
Authors: Zhang Zhen , Feng Junzong , Jiang Yonggang , Liu Ping , Zhang Qiuhua , Wei Ronghui , Chen Xiang , Feng Jian
Published: April 2018

The conventional sol-gel method for preparing porous carbons is tedious and high-cost to prepare porous carbons and the control over the nanoporous architecture by solvents and carbonization is restricted. A simple and novel self-sacrificial salt templating method was first presented to adjust the microporous structure of porous carbon monoliths synthesized via the solvothermal method. Apart from good monolithic appearance, the solvothermal route allowed for ambient drying because it made sure that the polymerization reaction was completed quickly and thoroughly. The intact and crack-free porous carbon monoliths were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermogravimetric differential scanning calorimetry (TG-DSC), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and nitrogen sorption measurements. It was proven that the self-sacrificial salts NH4SCN had been removed during pyrolyzing and so, porous carbon monoliths could be directly obtained after carbonization without the need of washing removal of salts. Most importantly, the microporous specific surface area of the resultant porous carbon monoliths was dramatically increased up to 770 m2/g and the Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) specific surface area was up to 1131 m2/g. That was because the salts NH4SCN as self-sacrificial templating helped to form more around 0.6 nm, 0.72 nm and 1.1 nm micropores. The self-sacrificial salt templating is also a suitable and feasible method for controlling the nanoporous structure of other porous materials.
Seeker-Azimuth Determination with Gyro Rotor and Optoelectronic Sensors
Authors: Bai Jian-Ming , Zhao Guangshe , Rong Hai-Jun , Wang Xianhua
Published: April 2018

This paper presents an approach to seeker-azimuth determination using the gyro rotor and optoelectronic sensors. In the proposed method, the gyro rotor is designed with a set of black and white right spherical triangle patterns on its surface. Two pairs of optoelectronic sensors are located symmetrically around the gyro rotor. When there is an azimuth, the stripe width covering the black and white patterns changes. The optoelectronic sensors then capture the reflected optical signals from the different black and white pattern stripes on the gyro rotor and produce the duty ratio signal. The functional relationship between the measured duty ratio and the azimuth information is numerically derived, and, based on this relationship, the azimuth is determined from the measured duty ratio. Experimental results show that the proposed approach produces a large azimuth range and high measurement accuracy with the linearity error of less than 0.005.
A Fast and Easily-Realized Concentration Sensor for Binary Gas Mixtures and Its Design Analysis
Authors: Guan Yu , Lu Song , Zhang Dan , Hu Yang , Yuan Wei
Published: April 2018

A low-cost and easily-realized sensing device used for the detection of gas mixtures at different concentrations is presented. Its sensing part includes a small critical nozzle, a laminar structure, and a differential pressure sensor. When gas flows through the laminar structure, there is a pressure drop between both ends of it, and for different components of gas, the pressure drop is different. Based on this feature, the concentration detection is achieved. Concentration tests for two types of fire extinguishing agents CBrF3 and C3HF7 are presented. The results show the characteristics of fast response/recovery time, high accuracy, and good repeatability. Based on the theoretical analysis, the effects of the design parameters on the sensing performance to concentration detection are discussed in detail.
Modelling of a Hall Effect-Based Current Sensor with an Open Core Magnetic Concentrator
Authors: Yatchev Ivan , Sen Mehmet , Balabozov Iosko , Kostov Ivan
Published: April 2018

The present paper deals with the modelling of a Hall effect current sensor with open core magnetic concentrator. 3D magnetic field modelling is carried out using the finite element method (FEM) and Comsol Multiphysics software. Two rectangular core constructions are considered. Different geometric parameters of the magnetic concentrator are varied and their influence on the sensor characteristic is studied, with the aim of reducing the dependence on the output signal on the distance to the conductor. Of the studied parameters, core window length leads to the most significant change in the sensor characteristic. Future work can include the optimization of the sensor construction.
A Method for Extracting Road Boundary Information from Crowdsourcing Vehicle GPS Trajectories
Authors: Yang Wei , Ai Tinghua , Lu Wei
Published: April 2018

Crowdsourcing trajectory data is an important approach for accessing and updating road information. In this paper, we present a novel approach for extracting road boundary information from crowdsourcing vehicle traces based on Delaunay triangulation (DT). First, an optimization and interpolation method is proposed to filter abnormal trace segments from raw global positioning system (GPS) traces and interpolate the optimization segments adaptively to ensure there are enough tracking points. Second, constructing the DT and the Voronoi diagram within interpolated tracking lines to calculate road boundary descriptors using the area of Voronoi cell and the length of triangle edge. Then, the road boundary detection model is established integrating the boundary descriptors and trajectory movement features (e.g., direction) by DT. Third, using the boundary detection model to detect road boundary from the DT constructed by trajectory lines, and a regional growing method based on seed polygons is proposed to extract the road boundary. Experiments were conducted using the GPS traces of taxis in Beijing, China, and the results show that the proposed method is suitable for extracting the road boundary from low-frequency GPS traces, multi-type road structures, and different time intervals. Compared with two existing methods, the automatically extracted boundary information was proved to be of higher quality.
Support Stiffness Monitoring of Cylindrical Structures Using Magnetostrictive Transducers and the Torsional Mode T(0,1)
Authors: Mendez Jabid Quiroga , Mujica Luis , Villamizar Rodolfo , Ruiz Magda
Published: April 2018

In this paper, a support stiffness monitoring scheme based on torsional guided waves for detecting loss of rigidity in a support of cylindrical structures is presented. Poor support performance in cylindrical specimens such as a pipeline setup located in a sloping terrain may produce a risky operation condition in terms of the installation integrity and the possibility of human casualties. The effects of changing the contact forces between support and the waveguide have been investigated by considering variations in the load between them. Fundamental torsional T ( 0 , 1 ) mode is produced and launched by a magnetostrictive collar in a pitch-catch configuration to study the support effect in the wavepacket propagation. Several scenarios are studied by emulating an abnormal condition in the support of a dedicated test bench. Numerical results revealed T ( 0 , 1 ) ultrasonic energy leakage in the form of S H 0 bulk waves when a mechanical coupling between the cylindrical waveguide and support is yielded. Experimental results showed that the rate of ultrasonic energy leakage depends on the magnitude of the reaction forces between pipe and support; so different levels of attenuation of T ( 0 , 1 ) mode will be produced with different mechanical contact conditions. Thus, it is possible to relate a measured attenuation to variations in the supports condition. Results of each scenarios are presented and discussed demonstrating the feasibility and potential of tracking of the amplitude of the T ( 0 , 1 ) as an indicator of abnormal conditions in simple supports.
Distance Diffusion of Home Bias for Crowdfunding Campaigns between Categories: Insights from Data Analytics
Authors: Guo Lihuan , Guo Dongqiang , Wang Wei , Wang Hongwei , Wu Yenchun Jim
Published: April 2018

As the information communication and investment of crowdfunding campaigns are usually accomplished online, online crowdfunding theoretically breaks the limitation of space. However, investors’ behaviors still show significant home bias; furthermore, from a dynamic view, the changes in home bias during the funding duration reflect the investment preference. This paper studies the dynamics of home bias in crowdfunding investment as well as the distance diffusion of home bias in the crowdfunding market through data mining and econometric models. The distance between investors and founders gradually increases from 3605 km to 4229 km as the funding progresses, and home bias shows different diffusion patterns between categories. For most of the campaigns, the distance between backers and founders of the successful campaigns is always greater than that of the failed ones; thus, the distance diffusion impacts the pledge results. However, the study also finds that for some categories, home bias does not play a positive role in investment or that it even shows negative impacts, among which food and technology are two extreme categories. The study provides a theoretical basis from the perspective of user behavior to analyze online investment and to improve the promotion of crowdfunding campaigns.
A Comprehensive Assessment and Spatial Analysis of Vulnerability of China’s Provincial Economies
Authors: Ren Chongqiang , Zhai Guofang , Zhou Shutian , Chen Wei , Li Shasha
Published: April 2018

Vulnerability theory is a fundamental scientific knowledge system in sustainable development, and vulnerability assessment is important in vulnerability studies. Economic vulnerability affects economic growth sustainability. Comprehensive assessment of economic vulnerability in the process of economic growth under the theoretical framework of vulnerability will provide a new perspective for vulnerability studies. Based on a vulnerability scoping diagram assessment model, this study selected 22 economic sensitivity indexes and 25 economic adaptability indexes from the economic, social, and nature–resource–environmental subsystems to comprehensively assess and spatially analyse the vulnerability of China’s provincial economies since the year 2000, while applying the entropy method, multilevel extension assessment, spatial measurement method, and geographic information system technology. The results showed the following: (1) There are great differences in the vulnerability of China’s provincial economies. Western China’s vulnerability is higher and the fluctuation range of economic vulnerability is larger. The vulnerability increased significantly based on spatial differential features; (2) Regional differences in economic vulnerability, mainly caused by differences within a region, increased gradually. Eastern and Western China showed the spatial pattern characteristics of prominent and reinforcing regional imbalance, while Central and Northeast China showed declining regional imbalance. The spatial structure evolution of economic vulnerability is characterized by a volatility curve, and regional separation and divergence are strengthened; (3) Growth of China’s provincial economies and economic vulnerability are related negatively. In Eastern, Central, and Northeast China, vulnerability of the provincial economies has a negative spillover effect on neighbouring provinces’ economic growth, while in Western China it has a slight positive spillover effect.
Analgesic Effects of Botulinum Toxin in Children with CP
Authors: Sandahl Michelsen Josephine , Normann Gitte , Wong Christian
Published: April 2018

Experiencing pain is the greatest contributor to a reduced quality of life in children with cerebral palsy (CP). The presence of pain is quite common (~60%) and increases with age. This leads to missed school days, less participation, and reduced ambulation. Despite these alarming consequences, strategies to relieve the pain are absent and poorly studied. Moreover, it is difficult to evaluate pain in this group of children, especially in cases of children with cognitive deficits, and tools for pain evaluation are often inadequate. Botulinum toxin has been shown to alleviate pain in a variety of disorders and could potentially have an analgesic effect in children with CP as well. Even though most of the studies presented here show promising results, many also have limitations in their methodology as it is unlikely to capture all dimensions of pain in this heterogeneous group using only one assessment tool. In this review, we present a new way of examining the analgesic effect of botulinum toxin in children with CP using a variety of pain scores.
A Review of Rainwater Harvesting in Malaysia: Prospects and Challenges
Authors: Hafizi Md Lani Nor , Yusop Zulkifli , Syafiuddin Achmad
Published: April 2018

The mismatch between freshwater demand and its availability is a major problem that causes global water scarcity. The exploration and utilization of rainwater seem to be viable options for minimizing the aforementioned issue. This manuscript reviews the prospects and challenges of the rainwater harvesting system (RWHS) in Malaysia. Malaysia can be categorized as a country that has high annual rainfall, as well as high domestic water consumption. Thus, Malaysia is well positioned to harvest rainwater for both potable and non-potable uses. Although the RWH guidelines were issued in Malaysia in 1999, the implementation of RWHS as an alternative water resource is still very limited due to its long return on investment and poor public acceptance. Major future challenges on the implementation of RWHS in Malaysia are to achieve competitive cost, the wide application of commercial buildings, a cost effective treatment system, effective policy implementation, the application of green materials, public perception improvement, and reliable first flush technology. Some recommendations such as providing appropriate subsidies and limiting the use of piped water are necessary for implementing RWHS at wider scales.
Application of CityDrain3 in Flood Simulation of Sponge Polders: A Case Study of Kunshan, China
Authors: Wei Dingbing , Urich Christian , Liu Shuci , Gu Sheng
Published: April 2018

The selection of sponge city facilities (e.g., pump, storage tank, wetland, or bioretention pond) to mitigate urban floods has been a crucial issue in China. This study aims to develop a conceptual flood-simulation model, which can take into account the effects of such facilities of a sponge city. Taking Jiangpu polder in Kunshan City as a case study, CityDrain3 was implemented to develop a baseline model and another three sponge polder models (pump only, storage tank only, pump, and storage tank). A sensitivity analysis was carried out to guarantee the robustness of the newly developed model. In the model application part, firstly, one-hour rainfall scenarios with different return periods (2a, 5a, 10a, 20a, 50a, 100a, with ‘a’ referring to a year) were employed as inputs to the conceptual baseline model. The growing trend of flood depth (from 12.69 mm to 17.16 mm) simulated by the baseline model under increased return periods (from 3a to 100a) demonstrated the feasibility of polder flood simulations using CityDrain3. Secondly, a one-hour rainfall scenario with a 10-year return period was employed on the baseline model and the three sponge polder models. The results showed that the effect rankings of the control strategies on the total flood volume, peak flow, flood yielding time, and the peak-flow occurrence time were comparable—combined strategies (pump and storage tank) > storage tank only > pump only. The conceptual, and hydrological model developed in this study can serve as a simulation tool for implementing a real-time urban storm water drainage control system in the Jiangpu polder.
Assessing the Sustainability of Tourism Systems: A Social–Ecological Approach
Authors: Nyaupane Gyan P. , Poudel Surya , Timothy Dallen J.
Published: April 2018

Tourism destinations operate as a complex system, consisting of multiple interacting components that are nonlinear, cross-scale, evolving, and interdependent. The purpose of this article is to deconstruct the complex tourism system so that the important components of the system can
be identified and critically evaluated. The research was conducted in two popular tourism destination communities in Nepal—Ghandruk and Sauraha—using a systemic and holistic approach called a social–ecological system (SES) framework to analyze the structures, processes, and
outcomes of tourism. Data collection involved 45 face-to-face, semistructured interviews and a review of published and unpublished archival documents. This article further expanded Ostrom's SES framework to systematically analyze the sustainability of complex and dynamic tourism systems that
would be useful to evaluate destinations' sustainability performance. The findings show that tourism brought mixed, mostly positive and some negative, sociocultural, economic, and ecological outcomes in both communities. Overall, tourism development is progressing towards sustainability in
these destinations, though present conditions do not meet the ideal state envisioned by the concept of sustainable tourism. The theoretical, methodological, and policy implications of the SES framework are discussed.
An efficient and facile access to highly functionalized pyrrole derivatives
Authors: Gao Meng , Zhao Wenting , Zhao Hongyi , Lin Ziyun , Zhang Dongfeng , Huang Haihong
Published: April 2018

A straightforward and one-pot synthesis of pyrrolo[3,4-c]pyrrole-1,3-diones via Ag(I)-catalyzed 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of azomethine ylides with N-alkyl maleimide, followed by readily complete oxidation with DDQ, has been successfully developed. Further transformation with alkylamine/sodium alkoxide alcohol solution conveniently afforded novel polysubstituted pyrroles in good to excellent yields. This methodology for highly functionalized pyrroles performed well over a broad scope of substrates. It is conceivable that this efficient construction method for privileged pyrrole scaffolds could deliver more active compounds for medicinal chemistry research.
ENERGINĖ ORO RUOŠTUVŲ SU ŠILUMOS SIURBLIAIS ANALIZĖ
Authors: Šipulskis Vilius , Čiuprinskas Kęstutis
Published: April 2018

Straipsnyje nagrinėjami ir analizuojami du oro ruoštuvai kurie energiją gauna iš šilumos siurblio. Nagrinėjami
du skirtingo išdėstymo įrenginiai - pirmas su integruotu šilumos siurbliu kitas su išoriniu. Tyrimo metu išmatuotos šių
įrenginių parametrų vertės lemiančios jų naudingumą, tokios kaip oro temperatūra, suvartota energija. Siekiant nustatyti
sezoninį įrenginių efektyvumą SEER ir SCOP šie parametrai buvo matuojami esant skirtingoms aplinkos temperatūroms.
Įrenginiai tirti esant LST EN14825:2016 nurodytoms temperatūroms. Nustatyti išvestiniai efektyvumo rodikliai bei remiantis
standartu apskaičiuotas abiejų įrenginių šilumos siurblio efektyvumas. Gautos vertės palygintos ir nustatytas
energiškai efektyvesnis įrenginys.
Characterization of Type Ia Supernova Light Curves Using Principal Component Analysis of Sparse Functional Data
Authors: He Shiyuan , Wang Lifan , Huang Jianhua Z.
Published: April 2018

With growing data from ongoing and future supernova surveys, it is possible to empirically quantify the shapes of SNIa light curves in more detail, and to quantitatively relate the shape parameters with the intrinsic properties of SNIa. Building such relationships is critical in controlling systematic errors associated with supernova cosmology. Based on a collection of well-observed SNIa samples accumulated in the past years, we construct an empirical SNIa light curve model using a statistical method called the functional principal component analysis (FPCA) for sparse and irregularly sampled functional data. Using this method, the entire light curve of an SNIa is represented by a linear combination of principal component functions, and the SNIa is represented by a few numbers called “principal component scores.” These scores are used to establish relations between light curve shapes and physical quantities such as intrinsic color, interstellar dust reddening, spectral line strength, and spectral classes. These relations allow for descriptions of some critical physical quantities based purely on light curve shape parameters. Our study shows that some important spectral feature information is being encoded in the broad band light curves; for instance, we find that the light curve shapes are correlated with the velocity and velocity gradient of the Si II λ6355 line. This is important for supernova surveys (e.g., LSST and WFIRST). Moreover, the FPCA light curve model is used to construct the entire light curve shape, which in turn is used in a functional linear form to adjust intrinsic luminosity when fitting distance models.
Conservation of the endangered freshwater mussel Solenaia carinata (Bivalvia, Unionidae) in China
Authors: Cao Yan-Ling , Liu Xiong-Jun , Wu Rui-Wen , Xue Tao-tao , Li Long , Zhou Chun-Hua , Ouyang Shan , Wu Xiao-Ping
Published: April 2018

Despite the diversity and economic and ecological value of freshwater mussels, relatively little is known about their biology (especially for species outside of Europe and North America). Solenaiacarinata is an endangered freshwater mussel, is endemic to China and is now only distributed in Poyang Lake basin. However, its conservation status is not clear. Thus, for this study, surveys were conducted at 41 sites along the lower reaches of the Ganjiang River to study the conservation status of S.carinatus. The results showed that S.carinata had a restricted distribution and extremely low density. In addition, the habitat sediments where S.carinata was located were mainly composed of silt (particle size <0.0625 mm). RDA analysis showed that the density of S.carinata was correlated to dissolved oxygen, temperature, turbidity and chlorophyll-a. Microsatellite analysis showed that S.carinata had a low genetic diversity (mean HO: 0.419; mean HE: 0.484; mean PIC: 0.430). At the same time, we firstly report the glochidia of S.carinata and describe its morphological characteristic. Surprisingly, its reproduction period and morphological characteristics were different from that of others freshwater mussels. Therefore, this study clarified the resource conditions, endangered status and threat factors for S.carinata and it provided a theoretical basis for the conservation and management of its resources.
L’impact attendu du CICE sur les exportations
Authors: Guillou Sarah , Sampognaro Raul , Treibich Tania
Published: April 2018

Nous étudions l’impact potentiel du CICE sur le comportement d’exportation des firmes françaises. Notre méthodologie combine des paramètres estimés ex-ante avec l’intensité de traitement observée ex post pour réaliser une évaluation des effets attendus. Selon nos résultats, un effet non négligeable du CICE sur la marge intensive des exportations peut être attendu. Le montant de la créance de 2013 devrait permettre d’observer, à terme, un surplus d’exportations de 1 %, alors que la créance CICE de 2014 permettrait un surplus de 1,3 %. En revanche, le CICE ne devrait pas avoir un impact sensible sur l’entrée de nouveaux exportateurs ou sur la survie d’anciens exportateurs qui seraient devenus plus compétitifs grâce au dispositif. L’entrée et la sortie du marché international sont très faiblement liées au coût salarial. Cependant, si le CICE se traduit à terme par une hausse de l’investissement, d’autres canaux de transmission pourraient influencer la marge extensive du commerce international.
Prospections et fouilles archéologiques dans la région d’Al-Thulaythuwat : modalités d’occupation et analyse structurelle des campements de pasteurs nomades du Chalcolithique/Bronze ancien dans une zone de périphérie désertique du sud jordanien
Authors: Abu-Azizeh Wael
Published: April 2018

L’étude du secteur d’al-Thulaythuwat, situé au sud du bassin d’al-Jafr, a permis de dégager les grandes lignes des modalités d’occupation d’une région de périphéries désertiques encore inexplorée du territoire jordanien, au cours du Chalcolithique/Bronze ancien. L’analyse structurelle approfondie des installations d’enceintes de pierres, caractéristiques d’une implantation humaine pastorale nomade, et le recours à des outils statistiques de classification et de hiérarchisation de l’occupation ont démontré la pertinence d’une approche territoriale spatialisée, intégrant les données qualitatives et quantitatives issues de prospections, pour une restitution des phénomènes de peuplement antiques dans une zone de marge désertique. Malgré l’uniformité apparente du corpus de sites étudiés, l’étude micro-régionale permet d’identifier une grande diversité dans le détail de l’organisation des campements de ces populations. Les schémas interprétatifs dégagés permettent de souligner une variabilité dans la temporalité d’occupation des établissements, la composition des groupes humains en présence et les modalités de pratique du mode de subsistance pastoral. L’étude du phénomène de mégalithisme funéraire, le développement de systèmes d’échanges désertiques ainsi que l’élaboration d’une séquence chronologique de l’occupation sont quelques- uns des grands thèmes dégagés par la recherche actuelle sur l’occupation des périphéries désertiques du Sud-Est jordanien qui sont également développés dans cette discussion.
La tour de Jéricho, encore et toujours
Authors: Aurenche Olivier
Published: April 2018

On propose, à la lumière de découvertes récentes dans le Levant Nord, de faire entrer la tour de Jéricho dans la série des «  bâtiments communautaires » maintenant bien attestés dès le début du Néolithique proche-oriental. Construite en hauteur et non creusée dans le sol, d’accès rendu volontairement difficile, à l’écart du village, la tour pouvait servir de lieu de réunion et d’initiation pour les différentes composantes de la communauté villageoise.
Le nomadisme pastoral au Proche-Orient à la fin du Néolithique précéramique  : état de la recherche
Authors: Alarashi Hala
Published: April 2018

La domestication animale apparaît au Proche-Orient vers la fin du IXe et le début du VIIIe millénaire. Selon les données archéologiques, la naissance d’un nouveau mode de vie, le nomadisme pastoral, pourrait alors remonter à la fin du PPNB (fin du VIIe millénaire), dans les régions arides ou semi-arides de Syrie et de Jordanie, peu favorables en principe à des installations sédentaires. Ce mode de vie est caractérisé par une économie de subsistance reposant principalement sur l’élevage des caprinés (moutons, chèvres) et par une forte mobilité de toute la communauté. Le présent travail dresse un inventaire des sites archéologiques dits « campements de pasteurs nomades » et examine leur nature selon des critères archéologiques, ethnographiques et environnementaux. Il rassemble également les modèles et les hypothèses proposés par les archéologues concernant les origines du nomadisme pastoral. À la lumière des résultats disponibles, cet article tente d’évaluer l’état actuel de la recherche et d’identifier les principaux problèmes et contraintes posés par le sujet.
Occupation du sol et conquête territoriale durant le Néolithique dans les Marges arides de Syrie du Nord
Authors: Geyer Bernard , Coqueugniot Éric
Published: April 2018

Les marges arides de la Syrie du Nord, région de steppe aride située au sud-est d’Alep, se sont révélées très riches en sites archéologiques. La répartition de ces derniers est principalement dictée par une contrainte majeure, l’aridité climatique, de plus en plus marquée d’ouest en est. Mais d’autres éléments interviennent dans cette répartition. Le relief local, la qualité des sols et la ressource en eau, très variables selon les lieux, génèrent une mosaïque de micromilieux aux potentiels différents et aux usages diversifiés selon les époques. Du Kébarien au PPNB récent/final, les espaces parcourus ou occupés ont de ce fait changé, en fonction de stratégies de subsistance. Ces dernières se révèlent avoir été fondées sur des ressources, notamment en eau, très variées, allant de l’exploitation de sources artésiennes pérennes à l’aménagement de « mares » artificielles.
Le processus de néolithisation proche-oriental  : pour une archéologie sans frontières
Authors: Forest Jean-Daniel
Published: April 2018

L’objectif du présent article est bien moins d’exposer notre point de vue sur tel ou tel aspect du processus de néolithisation, que de souligner que les données matérielles que nous observons en fouille ne sont que l’expression de choix culturels bien plus étendus. Ces derniers nous sont accessibles à la condition que nous possédions le bagage nécessaire, et il faut pour cela savoir comment fonctionnent les sociétés actuelles ou sub-actuelles structurellement semblables à celles que nous étudions. Dans le cas des sociétés en voie de néolithisation, ce bagage est à chercher du côté des derniers chasseurs-cueilleurs de la planète.Nous évoquerons d’abord les trois processus majeurs qui, conjugués, ont conduit au Néolithique proprement dit (la sédentarisation, la domestication des plantes et celle des animaux). Nous chercherons ensuite la trace de changements dans le domaine des pratiques matrimoniales. Nous nous intéresserons enfin au niveau d’organisation atteint par les sociétés PPN. Quelques voies de recherche seront suggérées en conclusion, pour rappeler que les chaînes causales à notre disposition sont loin d’être épuisées.
Tell al-Nasriyah (Syrie) et le contact égéen : à propos d’urnes cinéraires
Authors: Faivre Xavier
Published: April 2018

Entre 2008 et 2010, les fouilles de la nécropole à crémation de Tell al-Nasriyah, à 15 km au nord-est de Hama, sur l’Oronte, ont livré un matériel funéraire abondant constitué d’urnes cinéraires de trois types. L’un de ceux-ci retient particulièrement notre attention car il reflète de profonds bouleversements dans le bassin oriental de la Méditerranée, marquant le passage, en Syrie occidentale, de la culture du Bronze récent à celle du Fer I, au cours du xiie s. av. J.-C. L’objet de cet article est d’envisager, d’une part, la datation de ces urnes en fonction de données chronologiques hétérogènes. On examine, d’autre part, les mécanismes de diffusion et d’intégration de formes et motifs égéens dans la céramique peinte locale. Quelle est la part des circuits d’échanges commerciaux pérennes depuis le Bronze récent, celle des Peuples de la Mer, souvent associés à la diffusion de céramique HR IIIC au Levant ? Les données récentes sur les royaumes néo-hittites de Syrie du Nord apportent peut-être quelques éléments de réponses.
Rapport préliminaire sur les activités de la mission archéologique syro-française de Ras Shamra – Ougarit en 2009 et 2010 (69e et 70e campagnes)
Authors: Haydar Jamal , Al-Bahloul Khozama , Benech Christophe , Bessac Jean-Claude , Bordreuil Etienne , Callot Olivier , Calvet Yves , Carbillet Aurélie , Dardaillon Ella , Geyer Bernard , Goiran Jean-Philippe , Hawley Robert , Herveux Linda , Marriner Nick , Onnis Francesca , Pardee Dennis G. , Rejiba Fayçal , Roche-Hawley Carole , Sauvage Caroline , Matoïan Valérie , al-Maqdissi Michel
Published: April 2018

Ce rapport présente les résultats préliminaires des travaux de terrain de la mission archéologique syro-française de Ras Shamra – Ougarit qui se sont déroulés en 2009 et 2010. Sur le tell de Ras Shamra, l’étude de la ville d’Ougarit au Bronze récent s’est poursuivie sur plusieurs chantiers (« Rempart » et « Grand-rue » avec la fouille d’un puits en eau, « pont-barrage », étude du quartier à l’est du Palais royal), au travers de l’étude des techniques de construction (taille de la pierre), et par une nouvelle opération portant sur la Maison dite « de Yabninou ». Deux opérations (sondage dans le secteur du temple dit « de Dagan » et prospection géoradar) ont privilégié l’approche diachronique afin de mieux comprendre l’évolution urbanistique de la cité. Les travaux géoarchéologiques de la mission ont porté également sur le site voisin de Ras Ibn Hani afin de reconnaître l’évolution géomorphologique du tombolo au cours de l’Holocène. Au cours de ces deux campagnes, de nombreuses études portant sur le matériel archéologique et épigraphique des fouilles anciennes et récentes se sont par ailleurs poursuivies dans les musées de Damas, d’Alep et de Lattaquié.
Étude technique d’une perle en or de Tell Banat (Syrie) et réflexion sur la diffusion des savoirs au IIIe millénaire av. J.-C.
Authors: Prévalet Romain
Published: April 2018

Grâce à l’expertise technique des artefacts en métaux précieux, le bijou en or est révélé dans la plus grande précision jusqu’au cœur de sa structure. Ce souci de considérer l’objet comme un assemblage d’éléments résultant de mécanismes opératoires volontairement définis, qui s’inscrivent dans un cadre socio-culturel spécifique, offre de nouvelles perspectives d’analyse des savoir-faire artisanaux. En s’appuyant sur une pièce unique caractérisée par une décoration filigranée et granulée, l’étude vise à reconstituer les procédés techniques en usage à Tell Banat, en Syrie, et à aborder les phénomènes de diffusion des savoirs du travail de l’or du Proche-Orient au Nord-Est égéen durant la seconde moitié du IIIe millénaire.
L’incendie du Palais Nord de Ras Ibn Hani. Traces et modalités d’une catastrophe
Authors: Puytison-Lagarce Élisabeth du , Lagarce Jacques
Published: April 2018

L’incendie très violent qu’a subi le Palais Nord de Ras Ibn Hani à la fin de son existence a laissé de nombreuses traces, dont certaines sont inévitablement détruites par le processus de la fouille. Celles qui subsistent dans le monument une fois dégagé pourraient, dans certains cas, suggérer des interprétations erronées. On s’efforce ici de mettre en relation ces indices préservés et ceux que le dégagement des ruines a détruits, de façon à permettre une lecture des vestiges qui tienne compte de l’ensemble des données. D’autre part, en évaluant la violence du feu secteur par secteur, on en vient à renforcer l’hypothèse d’un incendie volontaire, alimenté par l’apport intentionnel de combustible.
L’aire funéraire de Tell Aswad (PPNB)
Authors: Stordeur Danielle , Khawam Rima , Jammous Bassam , Morero Élise
Published: April 2018

Le site néolithique de Tell Aswad, situé à 30 km à l’est-sud-est de Damas, a été découvert et sondé par H. de Contenson en 1972 et 1973. Le site a été fouillé par une équipe franco-syrienne de 2001 à 2006. Les trois phases du PPNB (Horizon PPNB ancien, PPNB moyen, PPNB récent) ont été mises en lumière dans quatorze niveaux archéologiques. Cet article présente une aire funéraire qui se rattache sans doute au début du PPNB récent. Deux groupes de sépultures, représentant deux états successifs, réunissent plus de cinquante individus inhumés selon diverses pratiques (sépultures individuelles, plurielles, primaires, secondaires, combinées). L’état initial de cette aire a été fondé par le dépôt de quatre crânes surmodelés.
Gender Differences in the Relationship between Built Environment and Non-Communicable Diseases: A Systematic Review
Authors: Valson Joanna Sara , Kutty V. Raman
Published: April 2018

Non-communicable diseases are on the rise globally. Risk factors of non-communicable diseases continue to be a growing concern in both developed and developing countries. With significant rise in population and establishment of buildings, rapid changes have taken place in the built environment. Relationship between health and place, particularly with non-communicable diseases has been established in previous literature. This systematic review assesses the current evidence on influence of gender in the relationship between built environment and non-communicable diseases. A systematic literature search using PubMed was done to identify all studies that reported relationship between gender and built environment. All titles and abstracts were scrutinised to include only articles based on risk factors, prevention, treatment and outcome of non-communicable diseases. The Gender Analysis Matrix developed by the World Health Organization was used to describe the findings of gender differences. Sex differences, biological susceptibility, gender norms/ values, roles and activities related to gender and access to/control over resources were themes for the differences in the relationship. A total of 15 out of 214 articles met the inclusion criteria. Majority of the studies were on risk factors of non-communicable diseases, particularly cardiovascular diseases. Gender differences in physical access to recreational facilities, neighbourhood perceptions of safety and walkability have been documented. Men and women showed differential preferences to walking, engaging in physical activity and in perceiving safety of the neighbourhood. Girls and boys showed differences in play activities at school and in their own neighbourhood environment. Safety from crime and safety from traffic were also perceived important to engage in physical activity. Gender norms and gender roles and activities have shown basis for the differences in the prevalence of non-communicable diseases. Sparse evidence was found on how built environment affects health seeking behaviour, preventive options or experience with health providers. Though yet unexplored in the developing or low/middle income countries, there seems to be a major role in the gendered perception of how men and women are affected by noncommunicable diseases. Large gaps still exist in the research evidence on gender-based differences in non-communicable diseases and built environment relationship. Future research directions could bring out underpinnings of how perceived and objective built environment could largely affect the health behaviour of men and women across the globe.
Alcohol Brand Use of Youth-Appealing Advertising and Consumption by Youth and Adults
Authors: Padon Alisa A. , Rimal Rajiv N. , Siegel Michael , DeJong William , Naimi Timothy S. , JernFigan David H.
Published: April 2018

Background

Youth exposure to alcohol marketing has been shown to be an important contributor to the problem of underage drinking in the U.S. More work is needed on identifying and minimizing content with particular appeal to youth.

Design and Methods

We tested the association between the youth-appeal of marketing content of televised alcohol advertisements and the brand-specific alcohol consumption of both underage youth and adults. We used existing data from three sources: a brand-specific alcohol consumption survey among underage youth ( N=1032), a brand-specific alcohol consumption survey among adults ( N ∼13,000), and an analysis of content appealing to youth (CAY) in a sample of televised alcohol advertisements ( n=96) aired during the youth survey. The association between CAY scores for the 96 alcohol ads and youth (age 13-20) versus adult (age 21+) consumption of those ads’ brands was tested through bivariate and multivariate models.

Results

Brand CAY scores were (a) positively associated with brand-specific youth consumption after controlling for adult brand consumption; (b) positively associated with a ratio of youth-toadult brand-specific consumption; and (c) not associated with adult brand consumption.

Conclusions

Alcohol brands with youth-appealing advertising are consumed more often by youth than adults, indicating that these ads may be more persuasive to relatively younger audiences, and that youth are not simply mirroring adult consumption patterns in their choice of brands. Future research should consider the content of alcohol advertising when testing marketing effects on youth drinking, and surveillance efforts might focus on brands popular among youth.
Letter from the editor
Authors: Downing Charlene
Published: April 2018

We stand on the path of newness within the milieu of Health SA Gesondheid. The journal has embarked on the journey of becoming part of the world of open access. We have successfully made the initial steps of transition from a hard copy journal to an electronic journal.
Monoidal Categories, 2-Traces, and Cyclic Cohomology
Authors: Hassanzadeh Mohammad , Khalkhali Masoud , Shapiro Ilya
Published: April 2018

In this paper we show that to a unital associative algebra object (resp. co-unital co-associative co-algebra object) of any abelian monoidal category ($\mathscr{C},\otimes$) endowed with a symmetric 2-trace,i.e., an$F\in \text{Fun}(\mathscr{C},\text{Vec})$satisfying some natural trace-like conditions, one can attach a cyclic (resp. cocyclic) module, and therefore speak of the (co)cyclic homology of the (co)algebra “with coefficients in$F$”. Furthermore, we observe that if$\mathscr{M}$is a$\mathscr{C}$-bimodule category and$(F,M)$is a stable central pair,i.e.,$F\in \text{Fun}(\mathscr{M},\text{Vec})$and$M\in \mathscr{M}$satisfy certain conditions, then$\mathscr{C}$acquires a symmetric 2-trace. The dual notions of symmetric 2-contratraces and stable central contrapairs are derived as well. As an application we can recover all Hopf cyclic type (co)homology theories.
Scientific revolution, incommensurability and truth in theories: objection to Kuhn’s perspective
Authors: Ihejirika Cardinal , Emedolu Christian C.
Published: April 2018

This is to revaluate the truth-content of scientific theory in the event of scientific revolution. In this paper, we argued that the radical views on incommensurability offered, especially, by Thomas S. Kuhn (shared by Paul Feyerabend, and others) do not actually undermine either the realist or cumulative stature of science. The core of our discussion is, ultimately, to provide a clearer and broader picture of the general characteristics of scientific revolution or theory change. In doing this, the paper pinpoints the audacity behind this change and the nature of truth undergirding any emergent or overthrown scientific theory. The paper has some rebounding echoes of the realist and cumulative features of science while addressing the issue of the real character of theory change. Following some unique interpretations of scientific revolution, truth in science could still be redeemed in the face of theory change and Kuhnian Incommensurability Thesis. To this effect, the hermeneutical approach is considered most suitable in this paper.Keywords: Scientific-Revolution; Incommensurability; cumulative structure; Truth; Realism
The economic expansion in the US since 2009 and Donald Trump's ambitions to ‘drain the swamp’
Authors: Evans Trevor
Published: April 2018

Since the prolonged recession in 1980–1982 which laid the basis for the emergence of finance-led capitalism in the US there have been four phases of economic expansion. The first three ended with increasingly severe recessions in 1990–1991, 2001 and 2007–2009. The most recent expansion, which began in mid 2009, has been characterised by relatively low growth and investment has been weaker than in previous expansions. Unemployment has fallen sharply, but many of the new jobs have been in low-paid services. The Trump government's much-touted investment programme is dependent on mobilising private funding but this has not yet been very forthcoming. Moves to relax the tighter banking regulations introduced in 2010, while strongly welcomed by the big banks, have been widely criticised. Key indicators of financial tensions are unusually low, but profitability and investment, which usually serve as leading indicators of the business cycle, have begun to decline and this suggests that the current expansion could be approaching an end.
Vestigios de Alvar Aalto en la opera prima de Antonio Fernández Alba (1959-62)
Authors: Pérez-Moreno Lucía C.
Published: April 2018

Antonio Fernández Alba’s work of the nineteen-sixties has been described fundamentally as ‘organic’, alluding to its consonances with the architecture of Alvar Aalto. This text examines the reading that Fernández Alba presented about the culture of Finnish architecture in several writings published in the Madrid journal Arquitectura, among which the essay “Human and Aesthetic values in Finnish Design” published in 1962 stands out. Reflections presented in this text were manifested in his design for the School of Nuestra Señora Santa María in Madrid, a project in which Fernández Alba was working at that time. Whilst remaining true to the requirements of a Catholic girl’s school, Fernández Alba’s project shows his interest in designing an architecture conducive to play, connected with the surrounding nature, not governed by preconceived forms, sympathetic in its choice of materials, and free in the use and enjoyment of its facilities. In short, an architectural design that considered the psychophysical needs of the female students and teachers, so that a ‘humanized architecture’ emerged, alluding to the well-known essay by Aalto written in 1940.
La Fuente de la Sábana y la etapa barroca de la villa suburbana El Bosque de Béjar
Authors: Muñoz Domínguez José
Published: April 2018

Most of the studies published on the suburban village El Bosque de Béjar (Salamanca) focus on its Renaissance period, when it was created by Duke Francisco de Zúñiga y Sotomayor, leaving in the background the contributions of other later dukes. The article documents the Baroque reforms of French inspiration projected in the period 1705-1727 by Juan Manuel Diego Lopez de Zúñiga y Castro, XI attenuated, who began with the construction of the so-called Fuente de la Sábana (ca. 1705) and included a walk with “gazon” bands, a “potager”, large pots with orange trees, a park and a “fondería” (distillery) attended by botanist masters. The projects, probably inspired by the Abbe Emmanuel Jouin, were partly executed and are among the earlier ones of the first Bourbon period within the environment of the nobility.