bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Deriving seasonal dynamics in ecosystem properties of semi-arid savannas using in situ based hyperspectral reflectance
Authors: Tagesson T. , Fensholt R. , Huber S. , Horion S. , Guiro I. , Ehammer A. , Ardö J.
Published: February 2015

Abstract. This paper investigates how seasonal hyperspectral reflectance data (between 350 and 1800 nm) can be used to infer ecosystem properties for a semi-arid savanna ecosystem in West Africa using a unique in situ based dataset. Relationships between seasonal dynamics in hyperspectral reflectance, and ecosystem properties (biomass, gross primary productivity (GPP), light use efficiency (LUE), and fraction of photosynthetically active radiation absorbed by vegetation (FAPAR)) were analysed. Reflectance data (ρ) were used to study the relationship between normalised difference spectral indices (NDSI) and the measured ecosystem properties. Finally, also the effects of variable sun sensor viewing geometry on different NDSI wavelength combinations were analysed. The wavelengths with the strongest correlation to seasonal dynamics in ecosystem properties were shortwave infrared (biomass), the peak absorption band for chlorophyll a and b (at 682 nm) (GPP), the oxygen A-band at 761 nm used for estimating chlorophyll fluorescence (GPP, and LUE), and blue wavelengths (FAPAR). The NDSI with the strongest correlation to: (i) biomass combined red edge reflectance (ρ705) with green reflectance (ρ587), (ii) GPP combined wavelengths at the peak of green reflection (ρ518, ρ556), (iii) the LUE combined red (ρ688) with blue reflectance (ρ436), and (iv) FAPAR combined blue (ρ399) and near infrared (ρ1295) wavelengths. NDSI combining near infrared and shortwave infrared were strongly affected by solar zenith angles and sensor viewing geometry, as were many combinations of visible wavelengths. This study provides analyses based upon novel multi-angular hyperspectral data for validation of Earth Observation based properties of semi-arid ecosystems, as well as insights for designing spectral characteristics of future sensors for ecosystem monitoring.
A millennial summer temperature reconstruction for northeastern Canada using oxygen isotopes in subfossil trees
Authors: Naulier M. , Savard M. M. , Bégin C. , Gennaretti F. , Arseneault D. , Marion J. , Nicault A. , Bégin Y.
Published: February 2015

Abstract. Climatic reconstructions for north-eastern Canada are scarce such that this area is under-represented in global temperature reconstructions. To fill this lack of knowledge and identify the most important processes influencing climate variability, this study presents the first summer temperature reconstruction for eastern Canada based on a millennial oxygen isotopic series (δ18O) from tree rings. For this purpose, we selected 230 well-preserved subfossil stems from the bottom of a boreal lake and five living trees on the lakeshore. The sampling method permitted an annually resolved δ18O series with a replication of five trees per year. The June to August maximal temperature of the last millennium has been reconstructed using the statistical relation between Climatic Research Unit (CRU TS3.1) and δ18O data. The resulting millennial series is marked by the well-defined Medieval Warm Anomaly (AD 1000–1250), the Little Ice Age (AD 1450–1880) and the modern period (AD 1950–2010), and an overall average cooling trend of −0.6 °C/millennium. These climatic periods and climatic low frequency trends are in agreement with the only reconstruction available for northeastern Canada and others from nearby regions (Arctic, Baffin Bay) as well as some remote regions like the Canadian Rockies or Fennoscandia. Our temperature reconstruction clearly indicates that the Medieval Warm Anomaly has been warmer than the modern period, which is relatively cold in the context of the last 1000 years. However, the temperature increase during the last three decades is one of the fastest warming observed over the last millennium (+1.9 °C between 1970 and 2000). An additional key finding of this research is that the coldest episodes mainly coincide with low solar activities and the extremely cold period of the early 19th century has occurred when a solar minimum was in phase with successive intense volcanic eruptions. Our study provides a new perspective unraveling key mechanisms that controlled the past climate shifts in northeastern Canada.
Multi-generational oxidation model to simulate secondary organic aerosol in a 3-D air quality model
Authors: Jathar S. H. , Cappa C. D. , Wexler A. S. , Seinfeld J. H. , Kleeman M. J.
Published: February 2015

Abstract. Multi-generational gas-phase oxidation of organic vapors can influence the abundance, composition and properties of secondary organic aerosol (SOA). Only recently have SOA models been developed that explicitly represent multi-generational SOA formation. In this work, we integrated the statistical oxidation model (SOM) into SAPRC-11 to simulate the multi-generational oxidation and gas/particle partitioning of SOA in the regional UCD/CIT air quality model. In SOM, evolution of organic vapors by reaction with the hydroxyl radical is defined by (1) the number of oxygen atoms added per reaction, (2) the decrease in volatility upon addition of an oxygen atom and (3) the probability that a given reaction leads to fragmentation of the organic molecule. These SOM parameter values were fit to laboratory "smog chamber" data for each precursor/compound class. The UCD/CIT model was used to simulate air quality over two-week periods in the South Coast Air Basin of California and the eastern United States. For the regions and episodes tested, the traditional two-product SOA model and SOM produce similar SOA concentrations but a modestly different SOA chemical composition. Predictions of the oxygen-to-carbon ratio qualitatively agree with those measured globally using aerosol mass spectrometers. Overall, the implementation of the SOM in a 3-D model provides a comprehensive framework to simulate the atmospheric evolution of OA.
The Lagrangian analysis tool LAGRANTO – version 2.0
Authors: Sprenger M. , Wernli H.
Published: February 2015

Abstract. Lagrangian trajectories are widely used in the atmospheric sciences, for instance to identify flow structures in extratropical cyclones (e.g., warm conveyor belts) and long-range transport pathways of moisture and trace substances. Here a new version of the Lagrangian analysis tool LAGRANTO (Wernli and Davies, 1997) is introduced, which offers considerably enhanced functionalities: (i) trajectory starting positions can be described easily based on different geometrical and/or meteorological conditions; e.g., equidistantly spaced within a prescribed region and on a stack of pressure (or isentropic) levels; (ii) a versatile selection of trajectories is offered based on single or combined criteria; these criteria are passed to LAGRANTO with a simple command language (e.g., "GT:PV:2" readily translates into a selection of all trajectories with potential vorticity (PV) greater than 2 PVU); and (iii) full versions are available for global ECMWF and regional COSMO data; core functionality is also provided for the regional WRF and UM models, and for the global 20th Century Reanalysis data set. The intuitive application of LAGRANTO is first presented for the identification of a warm conveyor belt in the North Atlantic. A further case study then shows how LAGRANTO is used to quasi-operationally diagnose stratosphere–troposphere exchange events over Europe. Whereas these example rely on the ECMWF version, the COSMO version and input fields with 7 km horizontal resolution are needed to adequately resolve the rather complex flow structure associated with orographic blocking due to the Alps. Finally, an example of backward trajectories presents the tool's application in source-receptor analysis studies. The new distribution of LAGRANTO is publicly available and includes simple tools, e.g., to visualize and merge trajectories. Furthermore, a detailed user guide exists, which describes all LAGRANTO capabilities.
Isolating the impacts of land use and climate change on streamflow
Authors: Chawla I. , Mujumdar P. P.
Published: February 2015

Abstract. Streamflow regime is sensitive to changes in land use and climate in a river basin. Quantifying the isolated and integrated impacts of land use and climate change on streamflow is challenging as well as crucial to optimally manage water resources in the river basin. This paper presents a simple hydrologic modelling based approach to segregate the impacts of land use and climate change on streamflow of a river basin. The upper Ganga basin in India is selected as the case study to carry out the analysis. Streamflow in the river basin is modelled using a calibrated variable infiltration capacity hydrologic model. The approach involves development of three scenarios to understand the influence of land use and climate on streamflow. The first scenario assesses the sensitivity of streamflow to land use changes under invariant climate. The second scenario determines the change in streamflow due to change in climate assuming constant land use. The third scenario estimates the combined effect of changing land use and climate over streamflow of the basin. Based on the results obtained from the three scenarios, quantification of isolated impacts of land use and climate change on streamflow is addressed. Future projections of climate are obtained from dynamically downscaled simulations of six general circulation models (GCMs) available from the Coordinated Regional Downscaling Experiment (CORDEX) project. Uncertainties associated with the GCMs and emission scenarios are quantified in the analysis. Results for the case study indicate that streamflow is highly sensitive to change in urban area and moderately sensitive to change in crop land area. However, variations in streamflow generally reproduce the variations in precipitation. Combined effect of land use and climate on streamflow is observed to be more pronounced compared to their individual impacts in the basin. It is observed from the isolated effects of land use and climate change that climate has a more dominant impact on streamflow in the region. The approach proposed in this paper is applicable to any river basin to isolate the impacts of land use change and climate change on the streamflow.
Geological and geophysical characterization of the southeastern side of the High Agri Valley (southern Apennines, Italy)
Authors: Giocoli A. , Stabile T. A. , Adurno I. , Perrone A. , Gallipoli M. R. , Gueguen E. , Norelli E. , Piscitelli S.
Published: February 2015

Abstract. In the frame of a national project funded by Eni S.p.A. and developed by three institutes of the National Research Council (the Institute of Methodologies for Environmental Analysis, the Institute of Research for Hydrogeological Protection and the Institute for Electromagnetic Sensing of the Environment), a multidisciplinary approach based on the integration of satellite, aero-photogrammetric and in situ geophysical techniques was applied to investigate an area located in the Montemurro territory in the southeastern sector of the High Agri Valley (Basilicata Region, southern Italy). This paper reports the results obtained by the joint analysis of in situ geophysical surveys, aerial photos interpretation, morphotectonic investigation, geological field survey and borehole data. The joint analysis of different data allowed us (1) to show the shallow geological and structural setting, (2) to detect the geometry of the different lithological units and their mechanical and dynamical properties, (3) to image a previously unmapped fault beneath suspected scarps/warps and (4) to characterize the geometry of an active landslide affecting the study area.
Investigation of suitable sites for Wave Energy Converters around Sicily (Italy)
Authors: Iuppa C. , Cavallaro L. , Vicinanza D. , Foti E.
Published: February 2015

Abstract. An analysis of wave energy along the coasts of Sicily (Italy) is presented with the aim of selecting possible sites for the implementation of Wave Energy Converters (WECs). The analysis focuses on the selection of hot-spot-areas of energy concentration. A third-generation model was adopted to reconstruct the wave data along the coast over a period of 14 years. The reconstruction was performed using the wave and wind data from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts. The analysis of wave energy allowed us to characterise the most energetic zones, which are located on the western side of Sicily and on the Strait of Sicily. Moreover, the estimate of the annual wave power on the entire computational domain identified eight interesting sites. The main features of the sites include relatively high wave energy and proximity to the coast, which may be possible sites for the implementation of WEC farms.
The rheological behaviour of fracture-filling cherts: example of Barite Valley dikes, Barberton Greenstone Belt, South Africa
Authors: Ledevin M. , Arndt N. , Davaille A. , Ledevin R. , Simionovici A.
Published: February 2015

Abstract. In the Barberton Greenstone Belt, South Africa, a 100–250 m thick complex of carbonaceous chert dikes marks the transition from the Mendon Formation to the Mapepe Formation (3260 Ma). The sub-vertical- to vertical position of the fractures, the abundance of highly shattered zones with poorly rotated angular fragments and common jigsaw fit, radial structures, and multiple injection features point to repetitive hydraulic fracturing that released overpressured fluids trapped within the shallow crust. The chemical and isotopic compositions of the chert favour a model whereby seawater-derived fluids circulated at low temperature (< 100–150 °C) within the shallow crust. From the microscopic structure of the chert, the injected material was a slurry of abundant clay-sized, rounded particles of silica, carbonaceous matter and minor clay minerals, all suspended in a siliceous colloidal solution. The dike geometry and characteristics of the slurry concur on that the chert was viscoelastic, and most probably thixotropic at the time of injection: the penetration of black chert into extremely fine fractures is evidence for low viscosity at the time of injection and the suspension of large country rock fragments in the chert matrix provides evidence of high viscosity soon thereafter. We explain the rheology by the particulate and colloidal structure of the slurry, and by the characteristic of silica suspensions to form cohesive 3-D networks through gelation. Our results provide valuable information about the compositions, physical characteristics and rheological properties of the fluids that circulated through Archean volcano-sedimentary sequences, which is an additional step to understand conditions on the floor of Archean oceans, the habitat of early life.
A 3-D shear velocity model of the southern North American and Caribbean plates from ambient noise and earthquake tomography
Authors: Gaite B. , Villaseñor A. , Iglesias A. , Herraiz M. , Jiménez-Munt I.
Published: February 2015

Abstract. We use group velocities from earthquake tomography together with group and phase velocities from ambient noise tomography (ANT) of Rayleigh waves to invert for the 3-D shear-wave velocity structure (5–70 km) of the Caribbean (CAR) and southern North American (NAM) plates. The lithospheric model proposed offers a complete image of the crust and uppermost-mantle with imprints of the tectonic evolution. One of the most striking features inferred is the main role of the Ouachita–Marathon–Sonora orogeny front on the crustal seismic structure of the NAM plate. A new imaged feature is the low crustal velocities along the USA-Mexico border. The model also shows a break of the east–west mantle velocity dichotomy of the NAM and CAR plates beneath the Isthmus of the Tehuantepec and the Yucatan Block. High upper-mantle velocities along the Mesoamerican Subduction Zone coincide with inactive volcanic areas while the lowest velocities correspond to active volcanic arcs and thin lithospheric mantle regions.
Relation between hydraulic properties and plant coverage of the closed-landfill soils in Piacenza (Po Valley, Italy)
Authors: Cassinari C. , Manfredi P. , Giupponi L. , Trevisan M. , Piccini C.
Published: February 2015

Abstract. In this paper the results of a study of soil hydraulic properties and plant coverage of a landfill located in Piacenza (Po Valley, Italy) are presented, together with the attempt to put the hydraulic properties in relation with plant coverage. The measured soil water retention curve was first compared with the output of some pedotransfer functions taken from the literature and then with the output of the same pedotransfer functions applied to a reference soil. The landfill plant coverage was also studied. The relation between soil hydraulic properties and plant coverage showed that the landfill soils have a low water content available for plants and this fact, together with their lack of depth and compacted structure, justifies the presence of a nitrophilous, disturbed-soil vegetation type, dominated by ephemeral annual species (therophytes).
Eddy covariance for quantifying trace gas fluxes from soils
Authors: Eugster W. , Merbold L.
Published: February 2015

Abstract. Soils are highly complex physical and biological systems, and hence measuring soil gas exchange fluxes with high accuracy and adequate spatial representativity remains a challenge. A technique which has become increasingly popular is the eddy covariance (EC) method. This method takes advantage of the fact that surface fluxes are mixed into the near-surface atmosphere via turbulence. As a consequence, measurements with an EC system can be done at some distance above the surface, providing accurate and spatially integrated flux density estimates. In this paper we provide a basic overview targeting scientists who are not familiar with the EC method. This review gives examples of successful deployments from a wide variety of ecosystems. The primary focus is on the three major greenhouse gases: carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O). Several limitations to the application of EC systems exist, requiring a careful experimental design, which we discuss in detail. Thereby we group these experiments into two main classes: (1) manipulative experiments, and (2) survey-type experiments. Recommendations and examples of successful studies using various approaches are given, including the combination of EC flux measurements with online measurements of stable isotopes. We conclude that EC should not be considered a substitute to traditional (e.g., chamber based) flux measurements but instead an addition to them. The greatest strength of EC measurements in soil science are (1) their uninterrupted continuous measurement of gas concentrations and fluxes that can also capture short-term bursts of fluxes that easily could be missed by other methods and (2) the spatial integration covering the ecosystem scale (several square meters to hectares), thereby integrating over small-scale heterogeneity in the soil.
Seismic wave propagation in anisotropic ice – Part 2: Effects of crystal anisotropy in geophysical data
Authors: Diez A. , Eisen O. , Hofstede C. , Lambrecht A. , Mayer C. , Miller H. , Steinhage D. , Binder T. , Weikusat I.
Published: February 2015

Abstract. We investigate the propagation of seismic waves in anisotropic ice. Two effects are important: (i) sudden changes in crystal orientation fabric (COF) lead to englacial reflections; (ii) the anisotropic fabric induces an angle dependency on the seismic velocities and, thus, recorded travel times. Velocities calculated from the polycrystal elasticity tensor derived for the anisotropic fabric from measured COF eigenvalues of the EDML ice core, Antarctica, show good agreement with the velocity trend determined from vertical seismic profiling. The agreement of the absolute velocity values, however, depends on the choice of the monocrystal elasticity tensor used for the calculation of the polycrystal properties. We make use of abrupt changes in COF as a common reflection mechanism for seismic and radar data below the firn–ice transition to determine COF-induced reflections in either data set by joint comparison with ice-core data. Our results highlight the possibility to complement regional radar surveys with local, surface-based seismic experiments to separate isochrones in radar data from other mechanisms. This is important for the reconnaissance of future ice-core drill sites, where accurate isochrone (i.e. non-COF) layer integrity allows for synchronization with other cores, as well as studies of ice dynamics considering non-homogeneous ice viscosity from preferred crystal orientations.
Financial Management Challenges In Small And Medium-Sized Enterprises: A Strategic Management Approach
Authors: Karadag Hande
Published: February 2015

Abstract :Due to their significant role in creation of new jobs, rise in GDP, entrepreneurship and innovation, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are recognized as the the drivers of socio-economic growth, both in developed and developing economies. In Turkey, 99.9 % of all enterprises fall into SME category. Therefore, the significance of SMEs for Turkish economy and society is much higher in Turkey, compared to other emerging and developed countries. Small and medium-sized companies are faced with a number of challenges whereas the problems arising from “poor financial management” are reported as the major causes of business failures in SMEs. Strategic financial management (SFM) which is a research area that has attracted the interest of researchers after 2010, is one of the key managerial areas of SMEs, due to its vital role on the survival, growth and performance of SMEs. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the central role of financial management and identify the financial management challenges and practices that influence the organizational performance in Turkish SMEs, from a strategic management perspective. Within the course of this paper, the importance and challenges of SMEs in Turkey are presented in the first section, while the literature on strategic and financial management in SMEs are reviewed in the second part. In the third section, the recent strategic financial management concept, the implications of strategic financial management practices for SMEs in Turkey and the relationships between strategic financial management practices and SME performance, are discussed. Small and medium sized enterprise finance in Turkey is a developing research area, therefore this paper aims to make a significant contribution to the existing literature by analyzing the major challenges at the conduct of financial management in Turkish SMEs and the influence of strategic financial management practices on the performances of small and medium sized companies in Turkey.Additionally, the conceptual framework developed is expected to be useful to academics in developing an agenda for future empirical research.
A Country Specific Approach To IFRS Accounting Policy Choice In The European, Australian And Turkish Context
Authors: Akdogan Nalan , Ozturk Can
Published: February 2015

IAS 8 defines the concept of accounting policy as "the specific principles, bases, conventions, rules and practices applied by an entity in preparing and presenting financial statements". Within the framework of this concept, this research that is derived from International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) contributes to the accounting literature by focusing on the alternative accounting policies' debate related to presentation and recognition issues in the European, Australian and Turkish context and concludes that there is an influence of local accounting policies over IFRS practice in Turkey and this influence still exists in Europe and Australia. This shows that as long as diversity in accounting policies of IFRS is present, entities are expected to be inclined to select their local accounting policies by leading to comparability of financial statements within the country rather than between countries in the IFRS context.
Emissions Trading in the Presence of Price-Regulated Polluting Firms: How Costly Are Free Allowances?
Authors: Lanz Bruno , Rausch Sebastian
Published: February 2015

We study whether to auction or to freely distribute emissions allowances when some firms participating in emissions trading are subject to price regulation. We show that free allowances allocated to price-regulated firms effectively act as a subsidy to output, distort consumer choices, and generally induce higher output and emissions by price-regulated firms. This provides a cost-effectiveness argument for an auction-based allocation of allowances (or equivalently an emissions tax). For real-world economies such as the Unites States, in which about 20 percent of total carbon dioxide emissions are generated by price-regulated electricity producers, our quantitative analysis suggests that free allowances increase economy-wide welfare costs of the policy by 40-80 percent relative to an auction.

Given large disparities in regional welfare impacts, we show that the inefficiencies are mainly driven by the emissions intensity of electricity producers in regions with a high degree of price regulation.
Integrating Thermal and Hydro Electricity Markets: Economic and Environmental Costs of not Harmonizing Pricing Rules
Authors: de Villemeur Etienne Billette , Pineau Pierre-Olivier
Published: February 2015

The electricity sector is the largest source of greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions in the world, and reducing these emissions can often be costly. However, because electricity markets remain integrated at a shallow level (with different pricing regulations), many gains from deeper integration (adoption of marginal cost pricing everywhere) are yet to be realized. This paper assesses the benefits of deep integration between a “hydro” jurisdiction and a “thermal” one. It also underscores the inefficiency of trade when pricing rules differ. Our detailed hourly model, calibrated with real data from the provinces of Ontario and Quebec, Canada, estimates price, consumption, emissions and welfare changes associated with fully integrating electricity markets, under transmission constraints. A negative abatement cost of $37/tonne of CO2 was found (for more than 1 million tonnes), clearly illustrating the untapped potential of wealth creation in carbon reduction initiatives. Furthermore, given the inefficiency of shallow integration between markets, we found that removing interconnections between markets offers a relatively affordable CO2-reduction opportunity, at $21.5/tonne.
Hole-Filling for DIBR Based on Depth and Gradient Information
Authors: Wang Dan , Zhao Yan , Wang Zheng , Chen Hexin
Published: February 2015

Depth image-based rendering (DIBR) is a method for generating new virtual images from known viewpoints. However, holes often appear in the rendered virtual images due to occlusion and inaccurate depth information. In this paper, we present a novel hole-filling algorithm to improve the image quality of DIBR. In the proposed method, depth information is added to the priority calculation function when determining the order of hole-filling. Then, the gradient information is used as auxiliary information when searching for the optimal matching block. Experimental results show that the proposed algorithm achieves better objective quality and also improves the subjective quality of the rendered images.
Synthesis and Immobilization of Pt Nanoparticles on Amino-Functionalized Halloysite Nanotubes toward Highly Active Catalysts
Authors: Yang Tingting , Du Mingliang , Zhang Ming , Zhu Han , Wang Pan , Zou Meiling
Published: February 2015

A simple and effective method for the preparation of platinum nanoparticles (Pt NPs) grown on amino-functionalized halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) was developed. The nanostructures were synthesized through the functionalization of the HNTs, followed by an in situ approach to generate Pt NPs with diameter of approximately 1.5 nm within the entire HNTs. The synthesis process, composition and morphology of the nanostructures were characterized. The results suggest PtNPs/NH2-HNTs nanostructures with ultrafine PtNPs were successfully synthesized by green chemically-reducing H2PtCl6 without the use of surfactant. The nanostructures exhibit promising catalytic properties for reducing potassium hexacyanoferrate(III) to potassium hexacyanoferrate(II). The presented experiment for novel PtNPs/NH2-HNTs nanostructures is quite simple and environmentally benign, permitting it as a potential application in the future field of catalysts.
An Application of the MP Method for Solving the Problem of Distribution
Authors: Perić Tunjo , Matejaš Josip
Published: February 2015

In this paper, we present an application of a method for solving the multi-objective programming problem (the MP method), which was introduced in [ 1 ]. This method is used to solve the problem of distribution (te problem of cost/profit allocation). The method is based on the principles of cooperative games and linear programming. In the paper, we consider the standard case (proportional distribution) and the generalized case in which the basic ideas of coalitions have been incorporated. The presented theory is applied and explained on an investment model for economic recovery.
Retirer à Pierrette pour donner à Alexandre ! Le développement de la formation générale des adultes au Québec
Authors: Doray Pierre , Bélanger Paul
Published: February 2015

Cet article vise à mieux comprendre, sur le plan historique, le développement de l’éducation des adultes au Québec. Nous examinons un segment spécifique de l’éducation des adultes, la formation générale des adultes, qui est un dispositif éducatif spécifique de l’enseignement secondaire créé dans la foulée de la Révolution tranquille afin de favoriser les retours aux études des adultes, et de relever le niveau de qualification de base de la population adulte. Notre analyse est guidée par une question précise : sommes-nous devant une substitution de la mission éducative, au cours des dernières années, de la formation générale des adultes qui se consacrerait moins à l’éducation des adultes et davantage à la lutte contre le décrochage et à la diplomation des jeunes en difficulté dans les écoles secondaires dites classiques ?
Expérimentation d’une programmation d’inspiration écosystémique pour favoriser le retour et le maintien en formation des 16-24 ans
Authors: Bourdon Sylvain , Bélisle Rachel
Published: February 2015

À partir des données d’une recherche évaluative menée de 2009 à 2011, cet article propose une analyse critique des moyens mis en oeuvre dans le cadre du Programme d’aide pour favoriser le retour en formation des 16-24 ans intituléLe plaisir d’apprendre, j’embarque quand ça me ressemble.Il s’intéresse particulièrement à la manière dont l’approche écosystémique préconisée dans le programme a été concrétisée dans les moyens mis en oeuvre et à son appropriation par les acteurs du programme. On relève plusieurs difficultés dans l’appropriation de l’approche, qui semblent imputables à sa traduction dans les outils proposés et au manque de familiarité des acteurs avec les fondements de l’écosystémie.
Facteurs affectant la trajectoire scolaire des jeunes de 16-24 ans issus de l’immigration en formation générale des adultes
Authors: Potvin Maryse , Leclercq Jean-Baptiste
Published: February 2015

Depuis quelques années, le nombre de jeunes de 16 à 24 ans issus de l’immigration est en croissance dans les centres d’éducation des adultes pour terminer leurs études secondaires en formation générale des adultes, principalement dans la région montréalaise. Cet article dresse un portrait très synthétique des trajectoires scolaires des jeunes de 16 à 24 ans issus de l’immigration dans ce secteur, et des principaux facteurs situationnels, dispositionnels et institutionnels qui les affectent, en ciblant particulièrement les pratiques institutionnelles. Les données présentées ici s’appuient sur des entrevues menées lors de deux terrains de recherche entre 2007 et 2012 : une première étude exploratoire auprès de 104 participants, puis une seconde étude auprès de 184 participants. Les résultats, résumés ici de manière transversale, synthétisent les regards croisés des différents agents et des jeunes dans tous les centres d’éducation des adultes et commissions scolaires sur ces facteurs. Ils dégagent aussi plusieurs pistes de réflexion et d’action pour les décideurs et les praticiens, notamment : 1) sur la faiblesse des services complémentaires et de soutien en francisation offerts aux jeunes qui se retrouvent à l’éducation des adultes, 2) sur les outils de classement et d’évaluation, 3) sur le maintien de ces apprenants jusqu’à 21 ans au secteur des jeunes, et 4) sur la transition et l’articulation des programmes et des services entre les deux secteurs.
L’identité professionnelle des enseignants à l’éducation des adultes : influence du discours institutionnel et du discours scientifique
Authors: Voyer Brigitte , Zaidman Anna Maria
Published: February 2015

Cette étude explore l’idée selon laquelle l’accès à un corps de connaissances spécialisées – l’andragogie – peut contribuer à l’identité professionnelle des enseignants de l’éducation des adultes. Nous nous intéressons au discours officiel présenté dans les documents ministériels, règlementaires et administratifs et à son influence potentielle pour la compréhension du caractère spécifique de la pratique enseignante. Cette étude documentaire révèle le potentiel d’appropriation de notions andragogiques dans les écrits officiels et signale la présence d’ambiguïtés qui peuvent aussi engendrer des difficultés identitaires.
Oblivion and the role of middle managers in an organizational change
Authors: Husser Jocelyn
Published: February 2015

The hospital reforms of French health care institutions fall within the scope of the efficient management of the public sector. This paper seeks to describe the oblivion mechanism handled by middle management in an organizational change context through the theory of conventions. The design of the inquiry is based on longitudinal field research conducted over 6 months and is made up of 6 case studies. The results show that oblivion cannot be considered as an empty space to be filled, as suggested by former research. The memory lapse mechanism includes the following steps: reduction, assimilation and gradual integration.
The effect of social and environmental disclosure on companies’ market value
Authors: Husser Jocelyn , Evraert-Bardinet Frédérique
Published: February 2015

The research looks at the relationship between market value, accounting fundamentals and companies’ Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Sustainable Development (SD) disclosures for the years 2007-2008. This article uses social and environmental scores derived from a structural analysis chart based on 120 companies’ reports. The results show that investors measure a company’s short-term performance using information about the quality of the company’s environmental management. At the same time, a company’s social disclosure concerning the quality of employee management influences short and long-term performance.
Absorptive Capacity: Scale Development and Implications for Future Research
Authors: Chauvet Vincent
Published: February 2015

In response to recent criticism concerning Absorptive CAPacity (ACAP) research we developed a new measure of this concept. Unlike past empirical studies that used proxies, this work tries to take advantage of past research in considering ACAP as a multilevel and multidimensional construct. This article, based on a large literature review, tries to fill this gap in developing and testing a scale of ACAP, composed of four factors and 18 items, that meets main validity and reliability criteria. We believe this research contributes to develop our understanding concerning ACAP and hope it facilitates the emergence of a new approach of the concept.
Quelle contribution de la mesure au savoir sur le stress au travail ? – Analyse du rapport d’enquête Technologia sur France Telecom
Authors: Allard-Poesi Florence , Hollet-Haudebert Sandrine
Published: February 2015

Dans quelle mesure les questionnaires et enquêtes sur le stress réalisés par les cabinets de conseil et les entreprises contribuent-ils au savoir sur la souffrance au travail? Notre recherche analyse la manière dont l’enquête menée par le cabinet Technologia pour le compte de France Telecom mesure le stress et les conditions de travail. La mesure du stress et les interprétations produites apparaissent scientifiquement mal assises, cependant que la grammaire du rapport, en empruntant largement aux savoirs et méthodes scientifiques, laisse entendre que le questionnaire et les analyses statistiques opérées permettent de voir objectivement la réalité de la souffrance au travail.
L’ERM appliqué aux banques ou comment ne pas réduire la gestion des risques à la mesure du risque
Authors: Estay Christophe , Maurer Frantz
Published: February 2015

L’ERM ou Entreprise Risk Management est conçu pour identifier les événements potentiels susceptibles d’affecter la banque et gérer les risques dans les limites de son appétence au risque. L’intérêt de l’ERM réside dans la détermination d’un degré d’incertitude acceptable afin d’optimiser la création de valeur, objectif considéré comme le postulat de base en gestion des risques. Cette note de recherche propose un ensemble de recommandations d’ordre pratique liées au déploiement d’un tel dispositif en milieu bancaire.
La rémunération des présidents non exécutifs dépend-elle de leur capital humain ?
Authors: Broye Géraldine , Moulin Yves
Published: February 2015

Cette étude s’intéresse aux déterminants de la rémunération des présidents non exécutifs des sociétés du SBF 120, et étudie en particulier dans quelle mesure les caractéristiques de capital humain des présidents affectent leur niveau de rémunération. A partir d’un échantillon de 203 observations sur la période 2005-2011, nous montrons que la qualification, signalée par le diplôme, permet une surreprésentation des lauréats d’écoles prestigieuses aux fonctions de présidents sans impliquer un niveau de rémunération supérieure. En revanche, c’est la compétence liée à l’expérience - appréhendée notamment par le passage à un poste de dirigeant exécutif - qui influence leur niveau de rémunération.
Drug Prices After Patent Expirations in High-Income Countries and Implications for Cost-Effectiveness Analyses
Authors: Serra-Burriel Miquel , Martin-Bassols Nicolau , Perényi Gellért , Vokinger Kerstin N.
Published: August 2024

Importance

Understanding how patent expirations affect drug prices is crucial because price changes directly inform accurate cost-effectiveness assessments. This study investigates the association between patent expirations and drug prices in 8 high-income countries and evaluates how the changes affect cost-effectiveness assessments.

Objective

To analyze how the expiration of drug patents is associated with drug price changes and to assess the implications of these price changes for cost-effectiveness evaluations.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This cohort study performed an event study design using data from 8 high-income countries to assess the association between patent expiration and drug prices, and created a simulation model to understand the implications for cost-effectiveness analyses. The simulation cost-effectiveness model analyzed the implications of including or ignoring postpatent price dynamics.

Exposure

Drug patent expiration.

Main Outcomes and Measures

Change in drug prices and differences in incremental cost-effectiveness ratios when considering vs ignoring postpatent price dynamics.

Results

The sample comprised 505 drugs undergoing patent expiration in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, Switzerland, UK, and US. Price decreases were statistically significant over the 8 years after patent expiration, with the fastest price declines observed in the US: 32% (95% CI, 24%-39%) in year 1 after patent expiration and 82% (95% CI, 71%-89%) in the 8 years after patent expiration. Estimates for other nations ranged from a decrease of 64% in Australia to 18% in Switzerland in the 8 years after expiration. The cost-effectiveness simulation model indicated that not accounting for generic entry into the market may produce biased incremental cost-effectiveness ratios of 40% to −40%, depending on the scenario.

Conclusions and Relevance

The findings of this cohort study demonstrate that drug prices were reduced substantially after patent expirations in high-income countries. Therefore, incorporating information on patent status and pricing dynamics in cost-effectiveness assessment analyses is necessary for producing accurate economic evaluations of new drugs.
Safety Net Primary Care Capabilities After the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Schifferdecker Karen E. , Yang Ching-Wen W. , Mackwood Matthew B. , Rodriguez Hector P. , Shortell Stephen M. , Akré Ellesse-Roselee , O’Malley A. James , Butler Caryn , Berube Alena D. , Andrews Alice O. , Fisher Elliott S.
Published: August 2024

Importance

Federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) provide care to 30 million patients in the US and have shown better outcomes and processes than other practice types. Little is known about how the COVID-19 pandemic contributed to FQHC capabilities compared with other practices.

Objective

To compare postpandemic operational characteristics and capabilities of FQHCs with non-FQHC safety net practices and non-FQHC, non–safety net practices.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This nationally representative survey conducted from June 2022 to February 2023 with an oversampling of safety net practices in the US included practice leaders working in stratified random selection of practices based on FQHC status, Area Deprivation Index category, and ownership type per a health care network dataset.

Exposures

Practice type: FQHC vs non-FQHC safety net and non-FQHC practices.

Main Outcomes and Measures

Primary care capabilities, including 2 measures of access and 11 composite measures.

Results

A total of 1245 practices (221 FQHC and 1024 non-FQHC) responded of 3498 practices sampled. FQHCs were more likely to be independently owned and have received COVID-19 funding. FQHCs and non-FQHC safety net practices were more likely to be in rural areas. FQHCs significantly outperformed non-FQHCs on several capabilities even after controlling for practice size and ownership, including behavioral health provision (mean score, 0.53; 95% CI, 0.51-0.56), culturally informed services (mean score, 0.55; 95% CI, 0.53-0.58), screening for social needs (mean score, 0.43; 95% CI, 0.39-0.47), social needs referrals (mean score, 0.53; 95% CI, 0.48-0.57), social needs referral follow-up (mean score, 0.31; 95% CI, 0.27-0.36), and shared decision-making and motivational interviewing training (mean score, 0.53; 95% CI, 0.51-0.56). No differences were found in behavioral and substance use screening, care processes for patients with complex and high levels of need, use of patient-reported outcome measures, decision aid use, or after-hours access. Across all practices, most of the examined capabilities showed room for improvement.

Conclusions and Relevance

The results of this survey study suggest that FQHCs outperformed non-FQHC practices on important care processes while serving a patient population with lower incomes who are medically underserved compared with patients in other practice types. Legislation to expand funding for the FQHC program should improve services for underserved populations and target current non-FQHC safety net practices to serve these populations. Increased support for these practices could improve primary care for rural populations.
Bioinspired Monopolar Controlled Ionic Hydrogels for Flexible Non‐Contact Human–Machine Interfaces
Authors: Wu Wenlong , Jiang Tianyi , Wang Min , Li Tong , Song Yuxin , Liu Jun , Wang Zuankai , Jiang Hongyuan
Published: August 2024

Most flexible human–machine interfaces emulate the tactile system of the skin, which has the risk of contact damage. Additionally, contact deformation often leads to a hysteresis response. Non‐contact interaction can address these problems. Inspired by the electroreception capabilities of the elephantnose fish, this study introduces a non‐contact sensing model employing monopolar controlled ionic hydrogel. Compared to most existing mutual capacitive non‐contact sensing models, this model not only boosts responsivity by over 3.5 times but also streamlines the sensing architecture. Utilizing this sensing model, a flexible non‐contact human–machine interface is developed by organizing three differently shaped hydrogels into an asymmetric configuration. This device reliably discerns six non‐contact gestures using machine learning algorithms and supports at least eleven interactive functions by detecting the duration of gestures, enabling continuous real‐time control over external devices. This advancement heralds a more liberated paradigm of human–machine interaction with promising implications for the Internet of Things.
Enhancing Narrowband Blue TADF OLED Performance with Adamantane Group‐Integrated Spatially Hindered 1,3‐Bis(N‐Carbazolyl)Benzene‐Based Host
Authors: Kim Nahyun , Kang Min Ji , Lee Ho Jin , Park Jin Young , Kwak Haeun , Park Chae Yeong , Ahn Han Jin , Kim Jun‐Yun , Baek Ji‐Ho , Kim Ha Yeon , Park Sungnam , Cho Min Ju , Choi Dong Hoon , Kim Tae Geun
Published: August 2024

In the past, considerable effort are focused on advancing blue organic light‐emitting diodes (OLEDs) based on 1,3‐bis(N‐carbazolyl)benzene (mCP). To enhance and stabilize the device performance in vacuum‐processed OLEDs, it is essential to optimize the thermally stable organic materials constituting the emitting layer. The proposed novel carbazole derivative, Ad‐mCP, is designed and synthesized as a host material for blue thermally activated delayed fluorescence OLEDs, which are ideal for vacuum processing. Ad‐mCP exhibits a high glass transition temperature and triplet energy (T1), making it highly compatible with the blue dopant 2,11,14‐tri‐tert‐butyl‐N,N,5‐tris(4‐(tert‐butyl)phenyl)−5H‐5,8b‐diaza‐15b‐borabenzo[a]naphtho[1,2,3‐hi]aceanthrylen‐7‐amine emitter. The incorporation of a rigid adamantane unit into the carbazole group modifies the molecular structure of mCP, preserving crucial photophysical properties, such as T1,while enhancing the morphological and thermal stability of the host material in its film state. Moreover, the spatially hindered molecular structure of Ad‐mCP improves the photoluminescent quantum yield of the emissive layer and enhances charge balance, crucially contributing to the overall efficiency of the OLEDs. As a result, the exceptional performance of Ad‐mCP as a host material for OLEDs resulted in a remarkably high maximum external quantum efficiency of 29.9%, demonstrating superior stability in efficiency even after thermal annealing compared to mCP devices.