bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Stem Cell Replacement Improves Expression of SMP30 in db/db Mice
Authors: Li Ming , Guo Kequan , Taketani Shigeru , Adachi Yasushi , Ikehara Susumu
Published: December 2015

We have previously reported that replacing bone marrow stem cells may improve hyperglycemia and oxidative stress in db/db mice, a type 2 diabetic mouse model. Senescence marker protein 30 (SMP30) is an antioxidant protein that decreases with aging. However, it has not been clear whether SMP30 decreases in the livers of obese mice, and whether stem cell replacement would improve SMP30 expression in the liver. Bone marrow stem cells of db/db mice were replaced with the bone marrow stem cells of C57BL/6 mice. Plasma cytokine and insulin levels were measured, and glycogen content, expression of SMP30, and fibrosis in the liver were assessed. Our results showed that stem cell replacement increased the expression of SMP30 in the liver, resulting from decreased plasma inflammation cytokines and hyperinsulinemia in db/db mice. This is the first report that stem cell replacement increased the expression of SMP30 in the liver, and may help prevent fibrosis in the liver of db/db mice.
Utilization of Palm Oil Clinker as Cement Replacement Material
Authors: Kanadasan Jegathish , Abdul Razak Hashim
Published: December 2015

The utilization of waste materials from the palm oil industry provides immense benefit to various sectors of the construction industry. Palm oil clinker is a by-product from the processing stages of palm oil goods. Channelling this waste material into the building industry helps to promote sustainability besides overcoming waste disposal problems. Environmental pollution due to inappropriate waste management system can also be drastically reduced. In this study, cement was substituted with palm oil clinker powder as a binder material in self-compacting mortar. The fresh, hardened and microstructure properties were evaluated throughout this study. In addition, sustainability component analysis was also carried out to assess the environmental impact of introducing palm oil clinker powder as a replacement material for cement. It can be inferred that approximately 3.3% of cement production can be saved by substituting palm oil clinker powder with cement. Reducing the utilization of cement through a high substitution level of this waste material will also help to reduce carbon emissions by 52%. A cleaner environment free from pollutants can be created to ensure healthier living. Certain industries may benefit through the inclusion of this waste material as the cost and energy consumption of the product can be minimized.
Structure-Activity Relationship and in Vivo Anti-Tumor Evaluations of Dictyoceratin-A and -C, Hypoxia-Selective Growth Inhibitors from Marine Sponge
Authors: Sumii Yuji , Kotoku Naoyuki , Fukuda Akinori , Kawachi Takashi , Arai Masayoshi , Kobayashi Motomasa
Published: December 2015

Oral dictyoceratin-C (1) and A (2), hypoxia-selective growth inhibitors, showed potent in vivo antitumor effects in mice subcutaneously inoculated with sarcoma S180 cells. Structurally modified analogs were synthesized to assess the structure–activity relationship of the natural compounds 1 and 2 isolated from a marine sponge. Biological evaluation of these analogs showed that the exo-olefin and hydroxyl and methyl ester moieties were important for the hypoxia-selective growth inhibitory activities of 1 and 2. Thus far, only substitution of the methyl ester with propargyl amide in 1 was found to be effective for the synthesis of probe molecules for target identification.
Stability of Fentanyl Citrate, Hydromorphone Hydrochloride, Ketamine Hydrochloride, Midazolam, Morphine Sulfate, and Pentobarbital Sodium in Polypropylene Syringes
Authors: Anderson Collin , MacKay Mark
Published: December 2015

Purpose: Determine the stability of fentanyl 10 mcg/mL in 0.9% sodium chloride, fentanyl 10 mcg/mL in 5% dextrose, fentanyl 50 mcg/mL, hydromorphone 100 mcg/mL in 0.9% sodium chloride, ketamine 10 mg/mL, midazolam 0.4 mg/mL in 5% dextrose, midazolam 5 mg/mL, morphine 1 mg/mL in 0.9% sodium chloride, morphine 1 mg/mL in 5% dextrose, and pentobarbital 50 mg/mL when stored as single drug entities at room temperature in polypropylene syringes. Methods: Four 5 mL samples of each drug and concentration were prepared in 10 mL polypropylene syringes. The samples were stored at ambient room temperature in a locked cabinet. Triplicate determinations of drug concentration for each sample were performed initially, on day 50 or 51, and on day 100 using high-performance liquid chromatography with diode-array detection. Results: With the exception of the hydromorphone 100 mcg/mL dilution, all compounds were found to contain greater than 95% of their initial concentration remaining at 100 days. Each sample remained clear and colorless when visually inspected.
Impact of Environmental Factors on the Spectral Characteristics of Lava Surfaces: Field Spectrometry of Basaltic Lava Flows on Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain
Authors: Li Long , Solana Carmen , Canters Frank , Chan Jonathan , Kervyn Matthieu
Published: December 2015

We report on spectral reflectance measurements of basaltic lava flows on Tenerife Island, Spain. Lava flow surfaces of different ages, surface roughness and elevations were systematically measured using a field spectroradiometer operating in the range of 350–2500 nm. Surface roughness, oxidation and lichen coverage were documented at each measured site. Spectral properties vary with age and morphology of lava. Pre-historical lavas with no biological coverage show a prominent increase in spectral reflectance in the 400–760 nm range and a decrease in the 2140–2210 nm range. Pāhoehoe surfaces have higher reflectance values than ʻaʻā ones and attain a maximum reflectance at wavelengths < 760 nm. Lichen-covered lavas are characterized by multiple lichen-related absorption and reflection features. We demonstrate that oxidation and lichen growth are two major factors controlling spectra of Tenerife lava surfaces and, therefore, propose an oxidation index and a lichen index to quantify surface alterations of lava flows: (1) the oxidation index is based on the increase of the slope of the spectral profile from blue to red as the field-observed oxidation level strengthens; and (2) the lichen index is based on the spectral reflectance in the 1660–1725 nm range, which proves to be highly correlated with lichen coverage documented in the field. The two spectral indices are applied to Landsat ETM+ and Hyperion imagery of the study area for mapping oxidation and lichen coverage on lava surfaces, respectively. Hyperion is shown to be capable of discriminating different volcanic surfaces, i.e., tephra vs. lava and oxidized lava vs. lichen-covered lava. Our study highlights the value of field spectroscopic measurements to aid interpretation of lava flow characterization using satellite images and of the effects of environmental factors on lava surface evolution over time, and, therefore, has the potential to contribute to the mapping as well as dating of lava surfaces.
Co-Design Method and Wafer-Level Packaging Technique of Thin-Film Flexible Antenna and Silicon CMOS Rectifier Chips for Wireless-Powered Neural Interface Systems
Authors: Okabe Kenji , Jeewan Horagodage , Yamagiwa Shota , Kawano Takeshi , Ishida Makoto , Akita Ippei
Published: December 2015

In this paper, a co-design method and a wafer-level packaging technique of a flexible antenna and a CMOS rectifier chip for use in a small-sized implantable system on the brain surface are proposed. The proposed co-design method optimizes the system architecture, and can help avoid the use of external matching components, resulting in the realization of a small-size system. In addition, the technique employed to assemble a silicon large-scale integration (LSI) chip on the very thin parylene film (5 μm) enables the integration of the rectifier circuits and the flexible antenna (rectenna). In the demonstration of wireless power transmission (WPT), the fabricated flexible rectenna achieved a maximum efficiency of 0.497% with a distance of 3 cm between antennas. In addition, WPT with radio waves allows a misalignment of 185% against antenna size, implying that the misalignment has a less effect on the WPT characteristics compared with electromagnetic induction.
Landscape genetics and population structure in Valley Oak (Quercus lobata Née)
Authors: Ashley Mary V. , Abraham Saji T. , Backs Janet R. , Koenig Walter D.
Published: December 2015

PREMISE OF THE STUDY:

Although long‐distance pollen movement is common in wind‐pollinated trees, barriers to gene flow may occur in species that have discontinuous ranges or are confined to certain habitat types. We investigated the genetic structure of Quercus lobata Née populations throughout much of their range in California. We assessed the connectivity of populations and determined if barriers to gene flow occurred, and if so, if they corresponded to landscape features.

METHODS:

We collected leaf samples from 270 trees from 12 stands of Quercus lobata and genotyped these trees using eight polymorphic microsatellite loci. Genetic structure and clustering was evaluated using genetic distance methods, Bayesian clustering approaches, and network analysis of spatial genetic structure.

KEY RESULTS:

The southernmost population of Quercus lobata sampled from the Santa Monica area comprised a separate genetic cluster from the rest of the species, suggesting that Transverse Ranges such as the San Gabriel Mountains limit gene flow. Population differentiation among the other sites was small but significant. Network analysis reflected higher connectivity among populations along the Central Coast range, with few connections spanning the dry, low Central Valley.

CONCLUSIONS:

While long distance pollen movement has been shown to be common in oaks, on larger spatial scales, topographic features such as mountain ranges and the large, flat Central Valley of California limit gene flow. Such landscape features explain gene flow patterns much better than geographic distance alone.
THE CAUSES OF THE COMMERCIAL CINEMA POPULARITY IN THE CONTEXT OF CREATIVE INDUSTRIES
Authors: Staniulytė Eivina
Published: December 2015

This article deals with the phenomenon of the commercial cinema. The main aim is to analyze one of the creative industries’ products (films) in a perspective of different sociological and philosophical theories in order to answer the question what causes such a rapid growth and popularity of the cinema industry. In other words, the article tries to find out what relation is between the cinema industry and the culture of consumerism. It leads to assumption that the commercial cinema is capable of creating needs, desires or longings and can even enforce meanings and implications which subjects “consume”. Such thesis is analyzed through the concepts of leisure and boredom, society of makers and society of consumers, sequestration of experience and factual/contra-factual levels.
Inszeniertes Antikenstudium. Lessings Laokoon und die Laokoon-Gruppe im Vatikan
Authors: Schmälzle Christoph
Published: December 2015

En dépit du succès rencontré par Laocoon , la confrontation de Lessing avec les œuvres antiques ne fut qu’un épisode dans l’ensemble de sa création. Le point de départ du projet n’est pas la sculpture antique qui donne son titre au livre mais la distinction sémiotique entre arts de l’espace et arts du temps, la relation entre ces deux aspects se révélant plus délicate qu’attendu. Un rôle clé revient à la mise en scène complexe de la lecture par Lessing de Winckelmann qui confère seule au livre l’effet marquant qu’il produit. À l’opinion favorable dont Laocoon jouit auprès des littérateurs fait face le scepticisme des artistes et historiens de l’art. Le texte ne propose pas de sémiotique sous une forme pure, il est en même temps une esthétique normative qui assigne à l’art d’étroites limites. Dès les années 1800, des artistes tels que Cartens, Flaxman ou Canova, ont protesté à travers leurs œuvres contre cette conception.
L’apprentissage dans les serious games : proposition d’une typologie
Authors: Cohard Philippe
Published: December 2015

L’article porte sur l’apprentissage dans les serious games, jeux vidéo sérieux, outils de formation dont l’usage se développe actuellement. Quelle est la place des théories de l’apprentissage dans la conception des serious games et comment déterminer leurs choix ? L’article propose une typologie des serious games en définissant des critères de classement basés sur les théories de l’apprentissage. Une analyse des serious games et de leur usage fait l’objet de la première partie de l’article, puis une étude des théories de l’apprentissage est développée dans une deuxième partie. Enfin dans une troisième partie nous proposons une typologie basée sur les théories de l’apprentissage et analysons sa mise en œuvre sur un corpus de 17 serious games. Celle-ci est étayée par une analyse qualitative d’entretiens réalisés avec des concepteurs de serious games en France et en Belgique. Cette publication offre au chercheur un cadre permettant l’analyse et le classement des serious games ainsi qu’un ensemble de critères d’analyse pour la conception.
Quels modes d’intervention pour soutenir la discussion sur le travail dans les organisations ?
Authors: Detchessahar Mathieu , Gentil Stéphanie , Grevin Anouk , Stimec Arnaud
Published: December 2015

Face à la montée des maux subjectifs du travail, de nombreux travaux appellent à l’ouverture d’espaces de discussion sur le travail. Si on dispose déjà de premières propositions concernant le design de ces espaces, la question de leur mise en place et de l’apprentissage des nouveaux modes d’action collective qu’ils supposent reste à élucider. Comment intervenir de telle manière que les processus de discussion soient robustes et pérennes dans l’organisation ? Ces questions seront instruites à partir d’une intervention dans une clinique confrontée à une dégradation de son climat social. L’article présente dans un premier temps la vision de l’organisation dans laquelle les dispositifs d’intervention déployés trouvent leur origine, à savoir l’organisation vue comme un espace à médier ou à réguler. Une telle perspective suppose, dans une approche spécifiquement gestionnaire, de penser la structuration et le pilotage d’espaces de régulation conjointe. L’article décrit ensuite la recherche-intervention et le contexte dans lequel elle s’est déroulée avant de présenter les dispositifs d’intervention concrètement mis en place dans la clinique. Il met en évidence que l’ouverture d’espaces de discussion pérennes suppose le développement d’un nouveau substrat conventionnel propre à servir de soubassement cognitif à la discussion et dont l’enjeu est de mettre en œuvre une communication managériale fondée sur le dialogue, des modalités de prise de décision s’appuyant sur la collégialité et un rapport à l’autorité permettant la subsidiarité.
Justice et miséricorde. Les attributs de Dieu dans la dynamique narrative du Pentateuque
Authors: Sonnet Jean-Pierre
Published: December 2015

Comment le récit de la Bible – et d’abord celui du Pentateuque – représente-t-il l’articulation de la justice et de la miséricorde dans le personnage divin ? Prenant son départ en Ex 20,5-6, dans la révélation que Dieu fait de lui-même au Sinaï, l’étude suit à la trace les attributs divins dans leurs reformulations successives, par Dieu lui-même en Ex 34 et par Moïse en Nb 14, Dt 5 et 7. Le phénomène remarquable est celui de la réversibilité divine d’un attribut à l’autre, et notamment la manière qu’a Dieu de passer de sa justice à sa miséricorde, dans un « repentir » que dénoncera Jonas et qui sera, au contraire, le lieu le plus personnel de Jésus.
Eucharistie et ministère sacerdotal. De l’actualité aux origines chrétiennes ?
Authors: Rémy Gérard
Published: December 2015

Une urgence apparaît dans l’Église, consécutive à la perte de son influence dans la société qui ne lui fournit plus les vocations nécessaires à sa mission. Dès lors, comment assurer de façon satisfaisante l’eucharistie aux chrétiens ? La pratique de l’Église primitive ne pourrait-elle servir de modèle à restaurer par un recours plus large au laïcat à qui cette tâche serait confiée ? Mais quel était le statut des responsables dans l’Église primitive, dont l’évolution aboutit à une organisation de type hiérarchique et sacerdotal ? Serait-il envisageable de revenir aux origines pour remédier à la carence présente ? Il est des styles de vie ecclésiale, moins risqués, à mettre impérativement en œuvre.
Un vin nouveau pour la vie consacrée ? Le cas des engagements temporaires ou à vie
Authors: Hausman Noëlle
Published: December 2015

On insiste aujourd’hui sur la formation permanente comme remède à la crise de la fidélité dans la vie consacrée. Qu’en est-il du statut des engagements temporaires ? L’article examine les enjeux de la formation initiale alors que l’engagement définitif n’est plus évident. Il s’interroge sur la possibilité d’accueillir dans la vie religieuse des personnes dont la saisie temporelle ne permet pas d’aller au-delà d’un horizon limité. La fidélité religieuse doit être regardée à l’aune de la miséricorde de Dieu et de son eucharistie.
Les chrétiens et le rire. La voie médiane de Clément d’Alexandrie
Authors: Rizzerio Laura
Published: December 2015

Pourquoi en est-on venu à l’idée que le Dieu chrétien ne rirait pas et condamnerait le rire ? Le rire a pourtant eu sa juste place dans la tradition chrétienne naissante. Cet article examine la place du rire dans la culture païenne et la manière dont Clément d’Alexandrie a reçu cette tradition dans le Pédagogue pour montrer, à partir de la figure d’Isaac, comment le rire, une fois éduqué, peut manifester la joie d’être sauvé.
Le « fantôme » de l’ Irangate dans les négociations sur le nucléaire iranien
Authors: Rigoulet-Roze David
Published: December 2015

Les négociations et tractations sur le nucléaire iranien, par les acteurs qu’elles ont mis en présence, renvoient étrangement à un épisode encore controversé des relations irano-américaines, l’Irangate. Cette obscure « affaire » de ventes d’armes américaines à destination de Téhéran en pleine guerre Iran-Irak (1980-1988), qui avait donné lieu dans les années 1980 à un scandale politique aux États-Unis, mais avait été étouffée dans l’œuf en Iran, impliquait alors un certain Hassan Rohani qui en était l’un des négociateurs principaux avant de devenir en août 2013 le président de la République islamique d’Iran. par une réelle ironie de l’Histoire, c’était à l’époque notamment un certain sénateur John Kerry qui avait instruit le procès politique des transferts financiers illégaux issus de la transaction au profit des Contras, les rebelles anti-communistes nicaraguayens. Ceci revient à dire que de l’argent iranien avait indirectement participé au financement de la lutte anti-communiste en pleine guerre froide. Or, les deux protagonistes se sont retrouvés en charge des négociations sur le nucléaire iranien, l’un via son ministre des Affaires étrangères, Mohammad Javad Zarif, familier des ÉtatsUnis, l’autre en tant que secrétaire d’État de l’Administration du président Obama, et pressés de finaliser un accord susceptible de bouleverser les équilibres géopolitiques régionaux en favorisant un rapprochement stratégique irano-américain.
La négociation du Partenariat Transatlantique de Commerce et d’Investissement (TTIP) : comparaison entre les motivations, les oppositions et l’opinion publique des États-Unis et de l’Union européenne
Authors: Birchfield Vicki , Géant Laure
Published: December 2015

Le Partenariat transatlantique de commerce et d’investissement (TTIP en anglais), actuellement en cours de négociation entre les États-Unis et l’Union européenne, est généralement présenté comme le plus grand et le plus ambitieux accord de libre-échange régional de l’histoire du commerce international. Il se distingue particulièrement des autres accords de libre-échange parce qu’il a pour but d’établir des normes de réglementation communes au sein du marché transatlantique. Cela met ainsi sur le devant de la scène médiatique et au cœur des débats publics les valeurs et les préférences sociétales relatives notamment aux questions de sécurité alimentaire, de protection de l’environnement et de confidentialité des données. Cet article propose une analyse comparée entre les principaux intérêts et motivations des États-Unis et ceux de son partenaire, l’Union européenne. Dans un deuxième temps, ces positions officielles seront confrontées aux points de vue des différentes parties prenantes de la société civile et de la population de part et d’autre de l’Atlantique. Les conclusions partielles que l’on peut tirer de cette analyse suggèrent que le succès du TTIP repose plus sur la capacité des deux partenaires à calmer leurs divisions internes que sur leur capacité à trouver un terrain d’entente entre les deux rives de l’Atlantique.
Integrating MOOC and Flipped Classroom Practice in a Traditional Undergraduate Course: Students’ Experience and Perceptions
Authors: Li Yan , Zhang Muhua , Bonk Curtis J. , Guo Niki
Published: December 2015

The purpose of this experimental study was to redesign a traditional undergraduate course by integrating MOOC content and flipped classroom practice and to see its effectiveness through students’ experience and perceptions. The course named “Internet and Distance Education” was taught in Winter Semester, 2013 at the Zhejiang University in Hangzhou, China to 15 undergraduate students majoring in education. E-learner satisfaction surveys found that students were generally satisfied with many aspects of the redesigned course, including instructor response timeliness, instructor attitude toward the technology, e-learning course flexibility, technology quality, Internet quality, perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, and perceived e-learner satisfaction, while learner perceived interaction with others was not so satisfactory. Based on the findings, several suggestions to improve the course design are offered.
The Roles of English Language and Imagined Communities of a Facebook Group
Authors: Shafie Latisha Asmaak , Yaacob Aizan , Karpal Singh Paramjit Kaur
Published: December 2015

Social network sites are the networked public places for university students. The most famous social network site in Malaysia for university students is Facebook. University students spend a lot of their time navigating collapsed contexts with global and local audience. Thus, Facebook is the most appropriate site to investigate ESL learning acquisition through L2 learners’ interactions and digital footprints. The study investigates the roles of English language and the types of imagined communities of ten L2 learners at a public university. Transcripts of a Facebook group’s online discussion and semi-structured interviews were analysed using qualitative data software Atlas.ti 7. The findings reveal that the key informants are invested to learn English due to its roles in Malaysia. English language has four dominant roles such as the language for their future employment, the language of instruction, the lingua franca and a tool of empowerment. The research also indicates the imagined communities of the key participants are fluent local speakers, fluent non-native speakers and native speakers. The results of the study provide present needs of ESL learners that will enable insights to language instructors, course designers and curriculum designers in facilitating effective language acquisition. instructions give you basic guidelines for preparing camera-ready papers for conference proceedings. Use this document as a template if you are using Microsoft Word 6.0 or later. Otherwise, use this document as an instruction set. The electronic file of your paper will be formatted further. Define all symbols used in the abstract. Do not cite references in the abstract.
Students’ Perceptions Towards Using Web 2.0 Technologies in Education
Authors: Faizi Rdouan , Chiheb Raddouane , El Afia Abdellatif
Published: December 2015

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the usefulness of Web 2.0 technologies in education. For this purpose, a survey was carried out to explore the students’ perceptions towards using these tools for learning purposes. Results of the research study revealed that all the respondents are greatly immersed in these social platforms and use them for many reasons. However, it was found out that almost half of the surveyed students (i.e. 47%) devote more than 40% of the time they spend on Web 2.0 technologies to enhance their learning in different subjects. Taking these findings into consideration, we can stipulate that Web 2.0 applications present many educational advantages for students, hence, contribute in providing opportunities for further learning. Consequently, these online tools provide schools and universities with more opportunities to go beyond traditional delivery formats and develop learner-centered personalized learning environments.
A Knowledge Testing Production Model Based on a Cognitive Map for SWI-Prolog Applications
Authors: Popov Dmitry Ivanovich , Lazareva Olga Yurievna
Published: December 2015

In this paper, we describe the ways of improving knowledge assessment with the help of cognitive maps, made during the process of working with intelligent tutoring system “E-learning center — High-edu”. Cognitive map consists of didactic units — minimal units of knowledge about some discipline’s domain. This article shows, how they can be used in intelligent tutoring systems. The example of algorithm realization of forming the didactic units list from discipline cognitive map for consistency of test task presentation determining is shown. The operator model are presented in this paper, which can be helpful for researchers and engineers for using Prolog language for expert systems and knowledge management systems development as well as for support of educational process and the control of student knowledge that will allow achieving improvement of quality of electronic education.
Critiques et enjeux du Dark tourism à travers la focale sud-africaine
Authors: Folio Fabrice
Published: December 2015

Le champ de recherche relatif à la visite d’endroits liés aux épisodes dramatiques, à la souffrance et à la mort est relativement récent dans la sphère francophone. Il est davantage étudié dans le milieu anglophone, où le terme de Dark tourism (« tourisme sombre ou noir ») a fini par faire autorité. Toutefois, un regard rarement distancié le concerne. Ce type d’attractions se veut aisément critiqué et critiquable. La controverse se cristallise généralement autour de la question suivante : le mariage entre la peine et l’histoire douloureuse et l’industrie du tourisme et des loisirs est-il concevable ? Nous soutenons que la pluralité des enjeux sous-jacents doit empêcher tout débat tronqué et lesté d’idées reçues. Des ressorts multiples président à la volonté d’accéder aux prestations du Dark tourism. Nous nous proposons ici d’aborder quelques pistes de réflexions sur ce domaine de recherche, en nous appuyant sur des retours d’expériences du terrain sud-africain.
Échos en série : Formes et enjeux de la réplique dans The Wire
Authors: Belloï Livio
Published: December 2015

Vaste « roman visuel » (David Simon), la série The Wire (HBO, 2002-2008) se donne pour ambition d’explorer sous toutes ses coutures la ville américaine de Baltimore. En termes de construction narrative, les soixante épisodes composant cette série s’ordonnent à un ample mouvement cyclique, au terme duquel rien, en définitive, n’a vraiment changé : The Wire se clôture en effet par un cinglant retour à la case départ. Au sein de cette structure en boucle, les phénomènes d’écho et de reprise foisonnent et affectent la série sous de multiples aspects. Le présent article s’emploie à dégager divers effets d’écho en tant qu’ils se jouent dans la sphère du langage. Il s’agit plus précisément de porter au jour un curieux micro-phénomène selon lequel, tout au long de la série, certains personnages sont amenés à prononcer les mêmes lignes de dialogue, tantôt de manière délibérée, tantôt de manière inconsciente. Après avoir débusqué la première occurrence de ce phénomène dans la trame complexe de The Wire, nous nous attacherons à examiner quelques cas de figure précis, dans une perspective qui se veut d’abord morphologique. Chemin faisant, une notion s’impose : celle de réplique, que The Wire, comme objet de langage, nous invite à entendre dans un fécond double sens – ligne de dialogue et fait d’itération.
La religion et les grandes questions de société : l’exemple de la représentation de la peine de mort dans les séries américaines
Authors: Richard Julie , Caron Georges
Published: December 2015

La religion apparaît de manière courante dans les séries télévisées américaines, y compris dans des épisodes où la question religieuse n’est pas évoquée. Cependant, les épisodes qui traitent de la peine de mort permettent d’analyser le poids de la religion dans ce débat de société. L’étude de la représentation de la peine de mort dans plusieurs séries a permis d’identifier un discours dominant et ses exceptions. Les différents éléments religieux (ou « traces religieuses ») y occupent plusieurs fonctions : construction de « l’effet de réel », soutien moral et consolation, ritualisation voire sacralisation du protocole de l’exécution, arguments d’autorité et enfin, dispositif rhétorique et visuel. Les éléments religieux présents dans la représentation de la mise à mort et les arguments religieux échangés lors des débats sur la peine capitale servent à valider et/ou critiquer cette pratique. La religion apparaît également comme une instance de ritualisation et de légitimation, parmi d’autres. Ces différents indices pointent vers une sécularisation partielle et relative de cette question de société sur les écrans : les abolitionnistes utilisent peu les références religieuses et les valeurs religieuses sont davantage implicites qu’explicites.
De The West Wing (NBC, 1999-2006) à House of Cards (Netflix, 2013-) : le désenchantement des séries politiques américaines
Authors: Boutet Marjolaine
Published: December 2015

À partir de la comparaison de deux scènes de The West Wing (NBC, 1999-2006) et House of Cards (Netflix, 2013-) où le personnage principal monologue dans une église, cet article analyse l’évolution des séries politiques américaines depuis une quinzaine d’années, d’un portrait idéalisé confinant parfois à la naïveté (The West Wing) à une charge cynique et désabusée (House of Cards), en interrogeant le rapport de ces fictions à leur contexte de production et de diffusion, mais aussi en examinant les références aux œuvres qui les traversent et donnent une portée plus vaste à leur propos sur l’exercice du pouvoir. Chef d’œuvre du scénariste-démiurge Aaron Sorkin, The West Wing reste LA référence incontournable en matière de série politique et semble paradoxalement bien plus facile à prendre à contrepied qu’à égaler. Ainsi, les séries « idéalistes », comme Commander in chief (ABC, 2005-2006) ou Jack and Bobby (WB, 2004-2005), ne sont pas arrivées au niveau de leur illustre aînée, tandis que Boss (Starz, 2011-2012) et House of Cards, en choisissant le cynisme, mais surtout en puisant dans les œuvres de Shakespeare, ont su renouveler le genre et diversifier la représentation du monde politique sur le petit écran.
Publicness, Goal Ambiguity and Patient Safety
Authors: Anderson Stuart
Published: December 2015

This article explores possible links between organizational publicness, goal ambiguity and patient safety. Despite organizational and management initiatives designed to improve matters, patient safety in hospitals remains a major challenge. Much research has focused on leadership and culture, which have been shown to be crucial factors in assuring patient safety. However, improvements have been slow in coming. There may be merit therefore in examining other factors that play a part in assuring safety, especially those that address the ambiguities inherent in health care organizations. Two such factors that have received increasing attention from organization theorists are publicness and goal ambiguity. Publicness addresses the complexity now inherent in defining the public or private nature of health care organizations; goal ambiguity addresses the diversity of goals that organizations, especially public ones, are expected to fulfil. Both hinder improvements in patient safety; greater effort needs to be made to minimise the ambiguities involved.
Segmentation of Lung Nodules in CT Scan Data
Authors: Khalid Shehzad , Shaukat Anwar C. , Jameel Amina , Fareed Imran
Published: December 2015

Developing an effective computer-aided diagnosis (CAD) system for lung cancer is of great clinical importance and can increase the patient's chance of survival. For this reason, CAD systems for lung cancer have been investigated in a huge number of research studies. Several studies have shown the feasibility and robustness of automated matching of corresponding nodule pairs between follow up examinations. Different image pre-processing and segmentation techniques are used in various research sides to segment different tumors or ulcers from different images. This paper aims to make a review on the existing segmentation algorithms used for CT images of pulmonary nodules and presents a study of the existing methods on automated lung nodule detection. It provides a comparison of the performance of the existing approaches in regards to effective domain results.
Analysis of Valuable Techniques and Algorithms Used in Automated Skin Lesion Recognition Systems
Authors: Jamil Uzma , Khalid Shehzad
Published: December 2015

Application of computational intelligence techniques helps physicians as well as dermatologists in faster data process to give better and more reliable diagnoses. The whole system is categorized as: Pre-processing the lesion image to enhance its readability, Segmentation of the Lesion from skin, Feature extraction, selection, and finally the identification of dermoscopic images. Pros and cons of various methods are focused to provide a help for the researchers starting work in automated lesion detection system. Numerous computerized diagnostic systems have been reported in which different border detection, feature extraction, selection, and classification algorithms are used. The aim of this review is to summarize and compare advanced dermoscopic algorithms used for the classification of skin lesions and discuss important issues affecting the success of classification. This paper will be a guide that represents a comprehensive guideline for selecting suitable algorithms needed for different steps of automatic diagnostic procedure for ensuring timely diagnosis of skin cancer.
Evaluation of the attractive effect of coloured sticky traps for Aleurocanthus spiniferus (Quaintance) and its monitoring method in tea garden in China
Authors: Wang Y. , Gao N. , Shi L. , Qin Z.Y. , He P. , Hu D.Y. , Tan X.F. , Chen Z.
Published: December 2015

Aleurocanthus spiniferus (Quaintance), namely tea spiny whitefly (TSW), belongs to the family Aleyrodidae in the order Homoptera, widespread in tea trees and fruit trees in many countries or regions. In this study, the preference of TSW for different colours was evaluated in tea gardens. Yellow was the colour most preferred by TSW, followed by pink, red, white and other colours. The controlling technologies about the number of sticky traps in a certain area of tea garden and the height of sticky traps above tea canopy were also evaluated, the results indicated that the attractive effect of 20 traps/667 m2 of trials area and the height of 10 cm above tea canopy were significantly higher than others treatments. In addition, more TSW was caught at 11:00-15:00, followed by 7:00-11:00, and 15:00-19:00 in a daytime; higher activity level of male adults was at 7:00-11:00 and 11:00-15:00 in day time (95.13% and 94.97% of caught TSW), indicating a higher activity level for male adult.
Characterisation and tracking changes of morphological characteristics in honey bee, Apis mellifera, colonies
Authors: Abou-Shaara H.F. , Ahmed M.E.
Published: December 2015

Measuring morphological characteristics of honey bee, Apis mellifera, at different times is important to assess the degree of race purity, to predict colony productivity, and to understand environmental impacts on honey bees. The study aims to characterise current honey bees of Northwest Egypt, namely El-Behera governorate, and to track occurred changes to their morphological characteristics since 2007. Samples of honey bee workers were collected from four districts in El- Behera governorate. Nine body and six wing characteristics were measured. Morphological characteristics of honey bees belonging to these districts were previously measured during 2007. To track changes, a comparison between new (2014) and previous (2007) measurements of morphological characteristics was done. The current bees of El-Behera are slightly larger than those of 2007, emphasising no reduction in colonies productivity. There is evidence that environmental factors have not caused much stress on the colonies since 2007. The results of this study are useful in providing understanding of the current state of bees in Egypt, and the likely improvement of future beekeeping.
Pliensbachian [lower jurassic] biostratigraphy and ammonite fauna of the Spatsizi area, north-central British Columbia
Authors: Thomson R C , Smith P L
Published: December 2015

In the northern Spatsizi area where lateral variations in facies and structural complexity are common, the age relationships between rock units can be accurately established using ammonite faunas. The Pliensbachian ammonites described in this bulletin were
collected as part of a biostratigraphic study of the Spatsizi Group and Cold Fish volcanics, which collectively range in age from Pliensbachian to Bajocian. The study area includes most of the Eaglenest Range in the Spatsizi Plateau Wilderness Park, an area situated on the Stikine Terrane - one of
several geologically distinct crustal blocks that constitute the Western Cordillera. The Spatsizi area is bounded to the north by the Stikine Arch, a major east-west trending tectonic feature that was a fundamental influence on the pattern of deposition in north-central British Columbia during the
Jurassic. The ammonite fauna was collected from sedimentary and volcanic rocks distributed along the southern flank of the Stikine Arch and exposed from beneath the Bowser Lake Group in small inliers. The Pliensbachian part of this sequence is represented by sedimentary strata interbedded with the
Cold Fish volcanics; conglomerate and siltstone of the Joan Formation, and dark shale of the lower Wolf Den Formation. The ammonite fauna is dominated by Tethyan and east Pacific forms. Nearly 500 specimens are assigned to more than 27 species representing 17 genera. Metaderoceras talkeetnaense is
described as new. The biostratigraphy is referred to the North American zonal scheme demonstrating that the Cold Fish volcanics west of Cold Fish Lake are Early Pliensbachian (Imlayi and Whiteavesi zones); the Joan Formation, Early Pliensbachian (Whiteavesi and Freboldi zones), and the lower Wolf
Den Formation Late Pliensbachian (Kunae and Carlottense zones) in age.
Early Silurian ostracodes from southeastern Quebec and northern New Brunswick
Authors: Copeland M J
Published: December 2015

The diverse Early Silurian ostracode faunas described in this paper from Gaspé Peninsula, Québec, and northern New Brunswick, are contained within several belts of Anticostian and Wenlockian rocks of the Appalachian orogen. These belts are intermediate
in aerial extent between Anticosti Island, Québec and those from the northeastern United States. Several formations, mostly of calcareous rocks, are represented in these belts, not all of which were examined for ostracodes. Two new genera are described: Culliganites and Loisellites, and 21 new
species: the palaeocopes Aechmina duvalensis, Aechminaria gaspensis, Beyrichia (Simplicibeyrichia) robusta, Bollia alcocki, Bollia chaleursensis, Bollia escuminacensis, Bonneprimites ovalis, Culliganites brunswickensis, Euprimitia gaspensis, Euprimitia magnaporosa, Euprimitia robusta, Garniella
sayabecensis, Limbinaria elongata, Limbinaria quebecensis, Paranoviportia gaspensis, Paraschmidtella danielensis, Sigynus nowlani, and Winchillatia pustulosa, and the podocopes Cadmea loisellensis, Loisellites porosa and Ovornina (Tricornella) minuta.
Group actions on monotone skew-product semiflows with applications
Authors: Cao Feng , Gyllenberg Mats , Wang Yi
Published: December 2015

We discuss a general framework of monotone skew-product semiflows under a connected group action. In a prior work, a compact connected group

G

-action has been considered on a strongly monotone skew-product semiflow. Here we relax the strong monotonicity and compactness requirements, and establish a theory concerning symmetry or monotonicity properties of uniformly stable 1-cover minimal sets. We then apply this theory to show rotational symmetry of certain stable entire solutions for a class of nonautonomous reaction-diffusion equations on

\mathbb R^n

, as well as monotonicity of stable traveling waves of some nonlinear diffusion equations in time-recurrent structures including almost periodicity and almost automorphy.
Periodismo especializado y especialización política
Authors: Enguix Oliver Salvador
Published: December 2015

En este artículo se revisa la bibliografía sobre periodismo especializado y se analizan los rasgos normalmente aducidos para identificar la especialización periodística, que apuntan por lo general al contenido de los textos: la especificidad temática, el enfoque en profundidad, la metodología de investigación, el recurso a fuentes expertas, la necesidad de formación complementaria a la pro-piamente periodística, la orientación a audiencias segmentadas, el uso de géneros textuales con-cretos, o la adecuación lingüística. La aplicación de estos mismos factores a la especialización políti-ca pone de manifiesto la necesidad de cuestionar los rasgos aducidos y considerar otros criterios en el concepto de especialización, referidos principalmente a las rutinas profesionales de producción. Se propone que en la especialización política es la propia praxis profesional, con sus particularida-des y características (relación con las fuentes, conocimiento del sistema y las instituciones), la que determina la propia especialización del área y del profesional.
"La Industria de la Investigación" como instancia mediadora de la producción de conocimiento sociológico
Authors: Hernández Fernández Coral
Published: December 2015

Este artículo toma como punto de partida la investigación realizada para la tesis doctoral “La producción de conocimiento sociológico en España”, en la que se analiza el papel que tuvo -y aún sigue teniendo- el sector empresarial dedicado a la producción de investigación sobre el consumo en el desarrollo de la sociología aplicada en nuestro país. Se estudian las características de dicha Industria de la Investigación, como institución mediadora del conocimiento sociológico, que participa en las tareas de control social, como modelo de orden. El artículo evidencia cómo tanto la Industria de la Investigación como sus modos de producción y sus productos finales pueden -y deben- ser analizadas e interpretadas desde la teoría de la mediación social y la producción social de conocimiento.
Ultrasonic-Assisted Extraction and Antioxidant Activities of the Polysaccharides Extracted from Soybean Curd Residue Fermented by Flammulina velutipes
Authors: Ma Jian , Sun Hongyi , Zhang Zhenya
Published: December 2015

The water-soluble polysaccharides content of soybean curd residue fermented by Flammulina velutipes was about 7 times higher than unfermented one and more than 4 times higher than Flammulina velutipes fruiting body. The optimized ultrasonic-assisted extraction method (80 °C, 20 min, 80 W and solid-liquid ratio of 1 g/30 mL) showed a water-soluble polysaccharides extraction yield of 7.88% which was higher than that of hot-water extraction method (6.11%). Moreover, the crude polysaccharides were purified and the main components showed strong activities on DPPH radical scavenging (IC50 0.21 mg/mL), ABTS radical scavenging (IC50 0.42 mg/mL), hydroxyl radical scavenging (IC50 0.28 mg/mL) and SOD-like activity (IC50 0.88 mg/mL). The results indicated that the fermentation method could be used as a new approach for bio-active polysaccharides production and a new method for reusing the food industrial waste. The ultrasonic-assisted extraction method could be considered as a more efficient method in polysaccharides extraction process. Furthermore, the fermented soybean curd residue could be expected as a new source of antioxidant with the further research value.
An Empirical Essay to Explain the Contrarian Profits in the Tunisian Stock Market: Behavioral Approach vs. Rational Approach
Authors: Boussaidi Ramzi
Published: December 2015

This paper aims to investigate the behavioral and the rational explanations for the contrarian profits in the Tunisian stock market. We use the CAPM and the three-factor model of Fama and French (1993, 1996) to examine the rational explanations including the market risk, the size effect and the book to market effect. Behavioral explanations include the overconfidence bias and the investor sentiment. We use the decomposition of the trading volume advanced by Chuang and Lee (2006) to extract the factor reflecting the investor overconfidence and the ARMS index to measure the investor sentiment. These two variables are included in the three-factor model of Fama and French (1993, 1996) in an attempt to confront the rational approach with the behavioral approach. The results indicate that the contrarian profits on the Tunisian stock market are explained by the market risk, the size effect and the Book to Market effect; and that once adjusted for these three risk factors, they disappear. However, only the factor reflecting overconfidence among the two behavioral factors seems to play a role in explaining these abnormal returns.
The Economical Factors Affecting Residential Property Price: The Case of Penang Island
Authors: Zandi Gholamreza , Supramaniam Mahadevan A/L , Aslam Ayesha , Theng Lai Kin
Published: December 2015

The main purpose of this study is to investigate the economical factors which are effecting on the residence property price in the specific state of Malaysia called “Penang”. For this research, secondary data were collected from Bank Negara Malaysia, Department of Statistic Malaysia, Ministry of Finance Malaysia and Valuation and Property Service Department. All the economical factors are on a yearly basis from 2007 to 2014. The study was directed to verify the relationship between the economical factors and housing price in Penang. Both the individual effects and the interactive effects are analyzed. According to the analysis and calculations, the main factor Base Lending Rate (BLR) and second most effecting factor Gross Domestic Product (GDP) are the strong Factors which affect the property prices in Penang.