bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Antibacterial Properties of Tebipenem Pivoxil Tablet, a New Oral Carbapenem Preparation against a Variety of Pathogenic Bacteria in Vitro and in Vivo
Authors: Yao Qi , Wang Jingkun , Cui Tao , Yang Zhi , Su Mei , Zhao Peiyue , Yan Hong , Zhan Yi , Yang Hongbo
Published: January 2016

Aims: To systemically investigate the in vitro and in vivo antibacterial properties of tebipenem pivoxil tablet. In addition, acute toxicity of this preparation was also studied. Methods: In vitro, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) or minimal inhibitory concentration (MBC) were determined by using the serial 2-fold broth or agar dilution methods. Further, cumulative MIC inhibition curves were then made to assess the antibacterial effects of the drug at various concentrations. In vivo, minimum lethal dose (MLD) in combination with maximum tolerance dose (MTD) was used to measure the acute toxicity of the tebipenem pivoxil tablet in mice. After that, sepsis mouse models challenged with Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Klebsiella pneumoniae, respectively, were established to evaluate the anti-infective effect of this preparation. Results: The MIC90 values of tebipenem pivoxil against Gram-positive bacteria such as methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA), methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus epidermidis (MSSE), methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis (MRSE), Pyogenic streptococcus, and Enterococcus faecalis were ≤0.125, 16, 0.5, 8, ≤0.125, and 32 μg/mL, respectively. Correspondingly, the MIC90 values of tebipenem pivoxil against Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Enterobacter aerogenes, Haemophilus influenzae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Acinetobacter baumannii were 1, 0.5, ≤0.125, 0.25, 64, 64 μg/mL, respectively. The MBC values of tebipenem pivoxil against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae were 0.016–2, 0.063–32, 0.031–32 μg/mL, respectively. The acute toxicity study showed that the MLD of the tebipenem pivoxil tablet was 4.00 g/kg and the MTD was 3.40 g/kg in mice. In all the sepsis mouse models, the simultaneous administration of the tebipenem pivoxil tablets significantly reduced mortality of the sepsis-model mice as compared with the control. Furthermore, the survival rate in the tebipenem pivoxil tablet group was remarkably higher than that in the meropenem group in all the sepsis mouse models tested. In the sepsis model challenged with Staphylococcus aureus ATCC29213, Escherichia coli ATCC25922, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC27853, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa clinical strain, respectively, tebipenem pivoxil tablet (100 mg/kg) displayed a better protective effect than tebipenem pivoxil granules (100 mg/kg). Conclusions: In summary, tebipenem pivoxil displays an excellent antibacterial activity against a variety of pathogenic bacteria in vitro. Importantly, tebipenem pivoxil tablet significantly protects the sepsis mice challenged with various pathogenic bacteria, which may provide a potential approach to treating bacterial sepsis in clinic.
Targeted Sterically Stabilized Phospholipid siRNA Nanomedicine for Hepatic and Renal Fibrosis
Authors: Khaja Fatima , Jayawardena Dulari , Kuzmis Antonina , Önyüksel Hayat
Published: January 2016

Since its discovery, small interfering RNA (siRNA) has been considered a potent tool for modulating gene expression. It has the ability to specifically target proteins via selective degradation of messenger RNA (mRNA) not easily accessed by conventional drugs. Hence, RNA interference (RNAi) therapeutics have great potential in the treatment of many diseases caused by faulty protein expression such as fibrosis and cancer. However, for clinical application siRNA faces a number of obstacles, such as poor in vivo stability, and off-target effects. Here we developed a unique targeted nanomedicine to tackle current siRNA delivery issues by formulating a biocompatible, biodegradable and relatively inexpensive nanocarrier of sterically stabilized phospholipid nanoparticles (SSLNPs). This nanocarrier is capable of incorporating siRNA in its core through self-association with a novel cationic lipid composed of naturally occuring phospholipids and amino acids. This overall assembly protects and delivers sufficient amounts of siRNA to knockdown over-expressed protein in target cells. The siRNA used in this study, targets connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), an important regulator of fibrosis in both hepatic and renal cells. Furthermore, asialoglycoprotein receptors are targeted by attaching the galactosamine ligand to the nanocarries which enhances the uptake of nanoparticles by hepatocytes and renal tubular epithelial cells, the major producers of CTGF in fibrosis. On animals this innovative nanoconstruct, small interfering RNA in sterically stabilized phospholipid nanoparticles (siRNA-SSLNP), showed favorable pharmacokinetic properties and accumulated mostly in hepatic and renal tissues making siRNA-SSLNP a suitable system for targeting liver and kidney fibrotic diseases.
Introduction to Special Issue: A New Paradigm of Gene Therapy
Authors: Itaka Keiji
Published: January 2016

Gene therapy is defined as introducing genetic information for therapeutic purposes. [...]
Dynamics of Jasmonate Metabolism upon Flowering and across Leaf Stress Responses in Arabidopsis thaliana
Authors: Widemann Emilie , Smirnova Ekaterina , Aubert Yann , Miesch Laurence , Heitz Thierry
Published: January 2016

The jasmonic acid (JA) signaling pathway plays important roles in adaptation of plants to environmental cues and in specific steps of their development, particularly in reproduction. Recent advances in metabolic studies have highlighted intricate mechanisms that govern enzymatic conversions within the jasmonate family. Here we analyzed jasmonate profile changes upon Arabidopsis thaliana flower development and investigated the contribution of catabolic pathways that were known to turnover the active hormonal compound jasmonoyl-isoleucine (JA-Ile) upon leaf stress. We report a rapid decline of JA-Ile upon flower opening, concomitant with the massive accumulation of its most oxidized catabolite, 12COOH-JA-Ile. Detailed genetic analysis identified CYP94C1 as the major player in this process. CYP94C1 is one out of three characterized cytochrome P450 enzymes that define an oxidative JA-Ile turnover pathway, besides a second, hydrolytic pathway represented by the amido-hydrolases IAR3 and ILL6. Expression studies combined with reporter gene analysis revealed the dominant expression of CYP94C1 in mature anthers, consistent with the established role of JA signaling in male fertility. Significant CYP94B1 expression was also evidenced in stamen filaments, but surprisingly, CYP94B1 deficiency was not associated with significant changes in JA profiles. Finally, we compared global flower JA profiles with those previously reported in leaves reacting to mechanical wounding or submitted to infection by the necrotrophic fungus Botrytis cinerea. These comparisons revealed distinct dynamics of JA accumulation and conversions in these three biological systems. Leaf injury boosts a strong and transient JA and JA-Ile accumulation that evolves rapidly into a profile dominated by ω-oxidized and/or Ile-conjugated derivatives. In contrast, B. cinerea-infected leaves contain mostly unconjugated jasmonates, about half of this content being ω-oxidized. Finally, developing flowers present an intermediate situation where young flower buds show detectable jasmonate oxidation (probably originating from stamen metabolism) which becomes exacerbated upon flower opening. Our data illustrate that in spite conserved enzymatic routes, the jasmonate metabolic grid shows considerable flexibility and dynamically equilibrates into specific blends in different physiological situations.
Construction of Four Zn(II) Coordination Polymers Used as Catalysts for the Photodegradation of Organic Dyes in Water
Authors: Liu Lei-Lei , Yu Cai-Xia , Zhou Wei , Zhang Qi-Gui , Liu Shi-Min , Shi Yun-Feng
Published: January 2016

Hydrothermal reactions of Zn(OAc)2·2H2O with flexible bipyridyl benzene ligand and three dicarboxylic derivatives gave rise to four new coordination polymers, [Zn7(μ4-O)2(OAc)10(bpmb)]n (1), [Zn(5-OH-1,3-BDC)(bpmb)]n (2), [Zn(1,2-BDC)(bpmb)]n (3) and [Zn2(ADB)2(bpmb)]n (4) (bpmb = 1,4-bis(pyridine-3-ylmethoxy)benzene, 5-OH-1,3-H2BDC = 5-hydroxy-1,3-benzenedicarboxylic acid, 1,2-H2BDC = 1,2-benzenedicarboxylic acid, H2ADB = 2,2’-azodibenzoic acid). Their structures were characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, elemental analyses, IR spectra, powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) and thermogravimetric analyses (TGA). Compound 1 features a one-dimensional (1D) chain structure based on the rare heptanuclear [Zn7(μ4-O)(μ3-OAc)2(μ2-OAc)8] units. Compound 2 exhibits a novel 2D bilayer structure built from the two parallel 2D (4,4) layers. Compound 3 holds a 2D structure in which the 1,2-BDC ligands work as lockers interlocking 1D [Zn(bpmb)]n chain. Compound 4 comprises a 3D framework constructed by 2D wrinkled [Zn2(ADB)4]n networks and bpmb linkers with a six-connected pcu net. These results suggest that the motifs of the dicarboxylic ligands have significant effect on the final structures. These compounds exhibited relatively good photocatalytic activity towards the degradation of methylene blue (MB) in aqueous solution under a Xe lamp irradiation.
Mechanical and Thermal Characterization of Melt-Filtered, Blended and Reprocessed Post-Consumer WEEE Thermoplastics
Authors: Stenvall Erik , Boldizar Antal
Published: January 2016

A melt-blended and melt-filtered real post-consumer and recyclable waste electrical and electronic equipment plastics blend (WEEEBR) was studied, where the WEEEBR contained mainly acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer (~40 wt %), high impact polystyrene (~40 wt %) and polypropylene (~10 wt %). The main aim was to better understand the influence of different reprocessing conditions on the mechanical and thermal properties of WEEEBR and to compare these properties with the corresponding properties of model material blends of samples from single screw extrusion, twin screw extrusion and injection molding. For all the reprocessing alternatives studied, WEEEBR was found to be processable and an acceptable surface character could be obtained within narrow processing condition windows. It was found in particular that the reprocessing conditions influenced the elongation at break of WEEEBR, and to a lesser extent also the width of the polypropylene melting temperature region. The highest yield stress and elongation at break of WEEEBR was obtained after twin-screw extrusion at low barrel temperatures (180–200 °C) and a low screw rotation rate (60 rpm). Injection molding produced brittle materials with low impact strength, possibly due to molecular orientation effects.
Scaling up Ecological Measurements of Coral Reefs Using Semi-Automated Field Image Collection and Analysis
Authors: González-Rivero Manuel , Beijbom Oscar , Rodriguez-Ramirez Alberto , Holtrop Tadzio , González-Marrero Yeray , Ganase Anjani , Roelfsema Chris , Phinn Stuart , Hoegh-Guldberg Ove
Published: January 2016

Ecological measurements in marine settings are often constrained in space and time, with spatial heterogeneity obscuring broader generalisations. While advances in remote sensing, integrative modelling and meta-analysis enable generalisations from field observations, there is an underlying need for high-resolution, standardised and geo-referenced field data. Here, we evaluate a new approach aimed at optimising data collection and analysis to assess broad-scale patterns of coral reef community composition using automatically annotated underwater imagery, captured along 2 km transects. We validate this approach by investigating its ability to detect spatial (e.g., across regions) and temporal (e.g., over years) change, and by comparing automated annotation errors to those of multiple human annotators. Our results indicate that change of coral reef benthos can be captured at high resolution both spatially and temporally, with an average error below 5%, among key benthic groups. Cover estimation errors using automated annotation varied between 2% and 12%, slightly larger than human errors (which varied between 1% and 7%), but small enough to detect significant changes among dominant groups. Overall, this approach allows a rapid collection of in-situ observations at larger spatial scales (km) than previously possible, and provides a pathway to link, calibrate, and validate broader analyses across even larger spatial scales (10–10,000 km2).
An Improved Morphological Algorithm for Filtering Airborne LiDAR Point Cloud Based on Multi-Level Kriging Interpolation
Authors: Hui Zhenyang , Hu Youjian , Yevenyo Yao , Yu Xianyu
Published: January 2016

Filtering is one of the core post-processing steps for airborne LiDAR point cloud. In recent years, the morphology-based filtering algorithms have proven to be a powerful and efficient tool for filtering airborne LiDAR point cloud. However, most traditional morphology-based algorithms have difficulties in preserving abrupt terrain features, especially when using larger filtering windows. In order to suppress the omission error caused by protruding terrain features, this paper proposes an improved morphological algorithm based on multi-level kriging interpolation. This algorithm is essentially a combination of progressive morphological filtering algorithm and multi-level interpolation filtering algorithm. The morphological opening operation is performed with filtering window gradually downsizing, while kriging interpolation is conducted at different levels according to the different filtering windows. This process is iterative in a top to down fashion until the filtering window is no longer greater than the preset minimum filtering window. Fifteen samples provided by the ISPRS commission were chosen to test the performance of the proposed algorithm. Experimental results show that the proposed method can achieve promising results not only in flat urban areas but also in rural areas. Comparing with other eight classical filtering methods, the proposed method obtained the lowest omission error, and preserved protruding terrain features better.
Airborne Thermal Imagery to Detect the Seasonal Evolution of Crop Water Status in Peach, Nectarine and Saturn Peach Orchards
Authors: Bellvert Joaquim , Marsal Jordi , Girona Joan , Gonzalez-Dugo Victoria , Fereres Elías , Ustin Susan , Zarco-Tejada Pablo
Published: January 2016

In the current scenario of worldwide limited water supplies, conserving water is a major concern in agricultural areas. Characterizing within-orchard spatial heterogeneity in water requirements would assist in improving irrigation water use efficiency and conserve water. The crop water stress index (CWSI) has been successfully used as a crop water status indicator in several fruit tree species. In this study, the CWSI was developed in three Prunus persica L. cultivars at different phenological stages of the 2012 to 2014 growing seasons, using canopy temperature measurements of well-watered trees. The CWSI was then remotely estimated using high-resolution thermal imagery acquired from an airborne platform and related to leaf water potential (ѰL) throughout the season. The feasibility of mapping within-orchard spatial variability of ѰL from thermal imagery was also explored. Results indicated that CWSI can be calculated using a common non-water-stressed baseline (NWSB), upper and lower limits for the entire growing season and for the three studied cultivars. Nevertheless, a phenological effect was detected in the CWSI vs. ѰL relationships. For a specific given CWSI value, ѰL was more negative as the crop developed. This different seasonal response followed the same trend for the three studied cultivars. The approach presented in this study demonstrated that CWSI is a feasible method to assess the spatial variability of tree water status in heterogeneous orchards, and to derive ѰL maps throughout a complete growing season. A sensitivity analysis of varying pixel size showed that a pixel size of 0.8 m or less was needed for precise ѰL mapping of peach and nectarine orchards with a tree crown area between 3.0 to 5.0 m2.
The InSAeS4 Airborne X-Band Interferometric SAR System: A First Assessment on Its Imaging and Topographic Mapping Capabilities
Authors: Perna Stefano , Esposito Carmen , Amaral Tiago , Berardino Paolo , Jackson Giuseppe , Moreira João , Pauciullo Antonio , Vaz Junior Eurico , Wimmer Christian , Lanari Riccardo
Published: January 2016

We present in this work a first assessment of the imaging and topographic mapping capabilities of the InSAeS4 system, which is a single-pass interferometric airborne X-Band Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR). In particular, we first provide a brief description of the InSAeS4 sensor. Then, we discuss the results of our analysis on the SAR and interferometric SAR products relevant to the first flight-test campaign. More specifically, we have exploited as reference the GPS measurements relevant to nine Corner Reflectors (CRs) deployed over the illuminated area during the campaign and a laser scanner Digital Elevation Model (DEM). From the analysis carried out on the CRs we achieved a mean geometric resolution, for the SAR products, of about 0.14 m in azimuth and 0.49 m in range, a positioning misalignment with standard deviation of 0.07 m in range and 0.08 m in azimuth, and a height error with standard deviation of 0.51 m. From the comparison with the laser scanner DEM we estimated a height error with standard deviation of 1.57 m.
JPSS-1 VIIRS Radiometric Characterization and Calibration Based on Pre-Launch Testing
Authors: Oudrari Hassan , McIntire Jeff , Xiong Xiaoxiong , Butler James , Ji Qiang , Schwarting Thomas , Lee Shihyan , Efremova Boryana
Published: January 2016

The Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) on-board the first Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS) completed its sensor level testing on December 2014. The JPSS-1 (J1) mission is scheduled to launch in December 2016, and will be very similar to the Suomi-National Polar-orbiting Partnership (SNPP) mission. VIIRS instrument has 22 spectral bands covering the spectrum between 0.4 and 12.6 μm. It is a cross-track scanning radiometer capable of providing global measurements twice daily, through observations at two spatial resolutions, 375 m and 750 m at nadir for the imaging and moderate bands, respectively. This paper will briefly describe J1 VIIRS characterization and calibration performance and methodologies executed during the pre-launch testing phases by the government independent team to generate the at-launch baseline radiometric performance and the metrics needed to populate the sensor data record (SDR) Look-Up-Tables (LUTs). This paper will also provide an assessment of the sensor pre-launch radiometric performance, such as the sensor signal to noise ratios (SNRs), radiance dynamic range, reflective and emissive bands calibration performance, polarization sensitivity, spectral performance, response-vs-scan (RVS), and scattered light response. A set of performance metrics generated during the pre-launch testing program will be compared to both the VIIRS sensor specification and the SNPP VIIRS pre-launch performance.
Design and Development of Layered Security: Future Enhancements and Directions in Transmission
Authors: Shahzad Aamir , Lee Malrey , Kim Suntae , Kim Kangmin , Choi Jae-Young , Cho Younghwa , Lee Keun-Kwang
Published: January 2016

Today, security is a prominent issue when any type of communication is being undertaken. Like traditional networks, supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems suffer from a number of vulnerabilities. Numerous end-to-end security mechanisms have been proposed for the resolution of SCADA-system security issues, but due to insecure real-time protocol use and the reliance upon open protocols during Internet-based communication, these SCADA systems can still be compromised by security challenges. This study reviews the security challenges and issues that are commonly raised during SCADA/protocol transmissions and proposes a secure distributed-network protocol version 3 (DNP3) design, and the implementation of the security solution using a cryptography mechanism. Due to the insecurities found within SCADA protocols, the new development consists of a DNP3 protocol that has been designed as a part of the SCADA system, and the cryptographically derived security is deployed within the application layer as a part of the DNP3 stack.
Characterizations and Electrical Modelling of Sensory Samples Formed from Synthesized Vanadium (V) Oxide and Copper Oxide Graphene Quantum Tunneling Composites (GQTC) Applied in Electrotribology
Authors: Habdank-Wojewódzki Tadeusz , Habdank Josef , Cwik Przemyslaw , Zimowski Slawomir
Published: January 2016

CuO and V2O5 graphene quantum tunneling composites (GQTC) presented in this article were produced and their sensory properties were analyzed. The composites were synthesised using two stage high-power milling process, which resulted in materials that have good temeprature and pressure sensory properties. Described production process defines internal structure of materials such that when used as sensor in the desired range, it exhibits a strong percolation effect. The experiment, with controlled changing physical conditions during electrotribological measurement, enabled analyzing of the composites’ conductivity as a function of the sensory properties: applied temperature, pressure, tangential force and wear. The sensory characteristic was successfully modelled by invertible generalized equations, and used to create sensor capable of estimating temperature or pressure in the real time. The developed materials have the potential to be applied in the areas where miniaturization is essential, due to the materials exhibiting good sensory properties in mini and micro scale.
CO2 is Dominant Greenhouse Gas Emitted from Six Hydropower Reservoirs in Southeastern United States during Peak Summer Emissions
Authors: Bevelhimer Mark , Stewart Arthur , Fortner Allison , Phillips Jana , Mosher Jennifer
Published: January 2016

During August–September 2012, we sampled six hydropower reservoirs in southeastern United States for CO2 and CH4 emissions via three pathways: diffusive emissions from water surface; ebullition in the water column; and losses from dam tailwaters during power generation. Estimates of average areal emission rates of CO2 attributable to the six reservoirs (i.e., reservoir plus tailwater emissions) ranged from 994 to 2760 mg·m−2·day−1, which is low to moderate compared to CO2 emissions rates reported for tropical hydropower reservoirs and boreal ponds and lakes, and similar to rates reported for other temperate reservoirs. Similar average rates for CH4 were also relatively low, ranging from 6 to 187 mg·m−2·day−1. On a whole-reservoir basis, estimates of total emissions of CO2 ranged 10-fold, from 42,740 kg per day for Fontana to 501,151 kg per day for Guntersville, and total emissions of CH4 ranged over 30-fold, from 251 kg per day for Fontana to 9153 kg per day for Allatoona. Emissions through the tailwater pathway varied among reservoirs, comprising from 19% to 65% of total CO2 emissions and 0% to 84% of CH4 emissions, depending on the reservoir. Emission rates were significantly correlated with several reservoir morphological and water quality characteristics, including metrics related to vertical stratification (e.g., minimum water column temperature and maximum dissolved oxygen) and reservoir productivity (e.g., water transparency and chlorophyll a concentration).
The Effect of Particle Size Distribution on the Design of Urban Stormwater Control Measures
Authors: Selbig Willliam , Fienen Michael , Horwatich Judy , Bannerman Roger
Published: January 2016

An urban pollutant loading model was used to demonstrate how incorrect assumptions on the particle size distribution (PSD) in urban runoff can alter the design characteristics of stormwater control measures (SCMs) used to remove solids in stormwater. Field-measured PSD, although highly variable, is generally coarser than the widely-accepted PSD characterized by the Nationwide Urban Runoff Program (NURP). PSDs can be predicted based on environmental surrogate data. There were no appreciable differences in predicted PSD when grouped by season. Model simulations of a wet detention pond and catch basin showed a much smaller surface area is needed to achieve the same level of solids removal using the median value of field-measured PSD as compared to NURP PSD. Therefore, SCMs that used the NURP PSD in the design process could be unnecessarily oversized. The median of measured PSDs, although more site-specific than NURP PSDs, could still misrepresent the efficiency of an SCM because it may not adequately capture the variability of individual runoff events. Future pollutant loading models may account for this variability through regression with environmental surrogates, but until then, without proper site characterization, the adoption of a single PSD to represent all runoff conditions may result in SCMs that are under- or over-sized, rendering them ineffective or unnecessarily costly.
A cline in seed dormancy helps conserve the environment experienced during reproduction across the range of Arabidopsis thaliana
Authors: Burghardt Liana T. , Metcalf C. Jessica E. , Donohue Kathleen
Published: January 2016

PREMISE OF THE STUDY:

Understanding the factors shaping range limits is critical given current changes in climate as well as human‐mediated introduction of species into novel environments. Phenological responses to climate influence range limits by allowing plants to avoid conditions that decrease population growth rates. Studying these processes is a challenge due to the joint contributions of both genetic and environmental variation to phenology.

METHODS:

Using a previously developed model that predicts phenology of three dormancy “genotypes” in four locations spanning the European range of Arabidopsis thaliana, we examined how variation in seed dormancy influences the environmental conditions experienced by reproductive individuals and how those conditions influence reproductive potential. We calculated two metrics: temperature experienced during reproduction and the length of thermal window available for reproduction.

KEY RESULTS:

Seed dormancy levels determine whether a spring‐flowering life cycle is expressed and thus determine the reproductive environment. A genetic cline in seed dormancy across the range reduces differences in reproductive environment and increases the thermal opportunity for reproduction before conditions become unfavorable for survival. Counter‐intuitively, these putatively local genotypes are predicted to reproduce in slightly cooler conditions in the south than in the north, suggesting that maternal environmental effects on average could induce deeper dormancy in southern seeds reinforcing the observed genetic cline. However, within a location, we found large individual level differences.

CONCLUSIONS:

Phenological adjustments of early life stages can contribute to the maintenance of consistent reproductive environments experienced by individual plants across ranges despite variable environmental conditions over time and space.
Les migrations internes des jeunes diplômés universitaires du Jura suisse : parcours, sélectivité et motivations
Authors: Rérat Patrick
Published: January 2016

L’article présente une recherche menée auprès de jeunes diplômés universitaires en provenance d’une région rurale (canton du Jura en Suisse) et discute trois grands résultats. Tout d’abord, les parcours migratoires des jeunes diplômés sont majoritairement orientés vers les zones urbaines ; ils sont néanmoins accompagnés de migrations de retour non négligeables. Ensuite, la propension des jeunes diplômés à revenir dans leur région d’origine est un phénomène sélectif qui varie en fonction de leurs trajectoires socio-familiales, migratoires et professionnelles. Finalement, les migrations internes sont bien plus qu’une réponse automatique aux différentiels du marché de l’emploi ; elles renvoient à une conjonction variable de facteurs relatifs aux opportunités professionnelles, au lien social et au cadre de vie. Ces résultats ont une portée plus générale et demandent à être intégrés et testés dans l’analyse d’autres formes de migrations interrégionales.
L’impact conjugal du virtuel Éclatement des façons de faire couple à l’heure d’Internet
Authors: Neyrand Gérard
Published: January 2016

Pour cet article de réflexion critique, il s’agit de montrer en quoi les sites de rencontre, en proposant un dispositif spécifique de mise en relation de possibles partenaires, contribuent à modifier à différents niveaux la façon de concevoir le couple et de réfléchir à ce qu’il représente. L’intellectualisation que représente la nécessité de présentation de soi avant même l’éventuelle rencontre, tout autant que la définition des attentes envers le possible partenaire, positionnent différemment l’individu par rapport à une rencontre « classique ». Les dimensions plus concrètes, physiques, et aussi inconscientes en jeu dans une rencontre « spontanée » semblent passer au second plan, au moins dans un premier temps. Mais ce processus de rationalisation porte en lui un certain nombre de contradictions, qui peuvent entrer en phase avec les paradoxes de l’hypermodernité : réalisation de soi dans l’autre et exacerbation des attentes envers autrui en parallèle avec l’affirmation individualiste de soi…
Travail du lien de couple en thérapie familiale psychanalytique : pertinence et limites
Authors: Aubertel Françoise
Published: January 2016

Le texte décrit l’intérêt et les limites de la thérapie familiale psychanalytique dans la mise au travail de liens de couple souffrants et particulièrement infectés par des éléments de la transmission transgénérationnelle. Le cadre de la thérapie familiale permet la restauration d’une sécurité de base autorisant la régression, dont la présence réelle des enfants est un puissant activateur. L’auteur, thérapeute familiale psychanalytique, illustre différentes problématiques de couple, à travers des vignettes cliniques, en pointant les limites du travail possible dans ce dispositif : vigilance dans les interventions qui doivent rester groupales-familiales et protection des enfants contre des débordements à caractère exhibitionniste, sexuel ou pervers. À ces conditions, le couple parental, suffisamment dégagé des scories d’un transgénérationnel encombrant, peut éventuellement s’engager en parallèle ou ultérieurement dans un authentique travail de couple.
Les vents contraires de la croissance française
Authors: Creel Jérôme , Laurent Éloi
Published: January 2016

Robert Gordon, qui fut un sceptique de la nouvelle économie il y a deux décennies, prédit dans un article publié en 2012 que la croissance américaine pourrait quasiment disparaître sous l’effet de six « vents contraires » : démographie, inégalités, éducation, mondialisation, coût de l’énergie et dette seraient autant de marqueurs de la perte vitesse de l’économie américaine. Sans nous livrer au même exercice de chiffrage que Gordon, nous tentons d’évaluer la nature, l’intensité et la direction des vents contraires qui pourraient, dans la perspective de moyen-terme chère à Gordon, contrarier la croissance française. Nous concluons sur cinq recommandations.
Faut-il encore utiliser le concept de croissance potentielle ?
Authors: Sterdyniak Henri
Published: January 2016

Les concepts de production et de croissance potentiels restent très utilisés dans les débats de politique économique. La première partie de l’article en discute les fondements théoriques et en montre les ambiguïtés. Il existe plusieurs définitions de la production potentielle, selon les contraintes prises en compte. Celle-ci ne peut être évaluée hors d’une analyse macroéconomique complexe. La deuxième partie présente et discute les travaux empiriques récents évaluant la croissance potentielle ; elle examine la façon dont ils ont passé la crise de 2008 et la manière dont ils rendent compte d’une éventuelle rupture de la croissance potentielle. Elle montre les limites des méthodes utilisées qui aboutissent souvent à justifier des politiques contra-cycliques. La dernière partie présente le débat sur la croissance potentielle future. Elle montre que le problème n’est pas tant son éventuel ralentissement, que l’incapacité des pays développés à élaborer une stratégie économique permettant d’atteindre une croissance de plein emploi, compte tenu des contraintes induites par la mondialisation.
Impact des inégalités sur la croissance : que sait-on vraiment ?
Authors: Allègre Guillaume
Published: January 2016

Le fait que les inégalités aient un impact négatif sur la croissance est en train de s’imposer comme nouvelle opinion commune dans le débat public en économie. Le consensus à ce sujet a évolué rapidement. Plusieurs canaux théoriques liant inégalités et croissance peuvent être distingués : le canal de l’épargne et de l’investissement, le canal des incitations, le canal de l’économie politique, le canal de la cohésion sociale, et celui des imperfections du marché du crédit. Les canaux reliant inégalités et croissance semblent trop complexes pour pouvoir estimer de façon économétrique un impact causal plutôt qu’une corrélation.
El debate académico sobre nación y nacionalismo desde los orígenes hasta la consolidación del predominio anglosajón
Authors: Moreno Almendral Raúl
Published: January 2016

El artículo ofrece un recorrido introductorio por las principales aportaciones al debate académico sobre naciones y nacionalismo, desde los primeros intelectuales que abordaron el tema desde una pretensión mínimamente analítica hasta finales del siglo XX, cuando los estudios sobre nación y nacionalismo se consolidaron como un campo específico bajo la hegemonía de las obras escritas en inglés. Considera tanto las primeras aportaciones indirectas de pensadores influyentes como las producciones específicas posteriores de historiadores y científicos sociales sobre el tema y permite reconstruir la trayectoria, larga y diversa, que estos estudios han tenido hasta alcanzar una posición destacada a principios del siglo XXI.
Domaine congéable et habitat rural en Cornouaille au xviiie siècle : enjeux et stratégies autour de l’interdiction d’édifier
Authors: Guégan Isabelle
Published: January 2016

Les usements de domaine congéable, système
d’amodiation le plus répandu en Basse-Bretagne sous l’Ancien Régime,
stipulent que le convenancier (dit encore domanier ou colon) ne doit
pas édifier de nouveaux bâtiments sans l’accord de son seigneur
foncier. Cette interdiction est vivement critiquée dans les cahiers de
doléances. Les usements n’autorisent que la reconstruction, à
l’identique, d’un bâtiment pré-existant, ce qui explique les
nombreuses mentions de bâtiments en ruine dans les archives. Les
conflits liés à cette interdiction de moderniser d’anciens bâtiments
et d’en construire de nouveaux sont nombreux. Pourtant, des
arrangements sont souvent trouvés entre les fonciers et les colons au
moment même de la signature de la baillée : moyennant le paiement
d’une commission, le foncier accorde au domanier l’autorisation
d’agrandir un bâtiment ou d’en construire un nouveau. Ceci ne permet
toutefois pas toujours aux colons de construire les granges dont ils
auraient besoin pour abriter leurs récoltes.
A Study of Cross-Market Branch Banking in Illinois
Authors: Zhou Bin
Published: January 2016

This paper investigates the role of a host of geographical factors in shaping the cross-market branch banking network, using Illinois as a case study. The study adopts the multiple regression quadratic assignment procedure from social network analysis in non-parametric estimation. The research finds that cross-market branch banking is subject to distance decay. While the urban place hierarchy (including market size and population density) contributes positively to the role of places as control centers, its role in forming cross-market branch banking markets is more profound. The network centrality contributes positively to places' role as market centers, as does market concentration. Income level is positively associated with the role of control centers. Inward interstate banking tends to weaken the role of a place as a control center and market center. The information, art/entertainment, and government sectors play a positive role in attracting branch banking while the role of the retail is negative. The information industry is also a positive factor in forming control centers.
Coastal Impervious Cover and Watershed Scale
Authors: Griffin Michael T. , Edwards Jr. James Dean , Allen Thomas R.
Published: January 2016

Environmental planners seek techniques that will enable them to analyze impervious cover to develop sound management plans for coastal regions. The spatial scale in which impervious cover has traditionally been widely analyzed is mismatched to the fine-scale resolution needed for local environmental management. This study examines impervious cover in New Hanover County, North Carolina using LiDAR derived subwatersheds and United States Geological Survey (USGS) 14-digit hydrologic unit watersheds to evaluate potential scale-dependency of impervious cover estimates. Spatial analysis of impervious cover across multi-scale watersheds indicates that fine scale subwatersheds exhibit patterns not revealed with coarser watersheds. Spatial and cartographic analyses suggest that localized impervious development and its expansion in first-order drainages originating in coastal lagoon watersheds is more appropriately analyzed using fine-scale, LiDAR-derived watersheds. Results stress the importance of using scale in watershed management and hydrogeomorphic context to aid planners when making decisions involving impervious cover.
Note-Taking Evaluation using Network Illustrations based on Term Co-Occurrence in a Blended Learning Environment
Authors: Nakayama Minoru , Mutsuura Kouichi , Yamamoto Hiroh
Published: January 2016

Note contents taken by students during a blended learning course were evaluated, to improve the quality of university instruction. To conduct a quantitative comparison of the contents of all notes for effective instruction from lecturer to students to occur, the contents were mathematically compared and evaluated using two ways of summarizing the frequency of term co-occurrences. In order to evaluate visually the differences between the contents of notes taken, an adjacency matrix and Levenshtein distance metrics were employed to represent noun co-occurrence in the notes. In comparing notes between the lecturer and students, insufficient distance and additional distance are defined and measured for all participants during the course. In the results, students recorded additional nouns to replace the nouns given by the lecturer, and introduced new nouns of their own as substitutes as well. There are significant correlation relationships between the above mentioned distances and the ratios, such as between the word ratio and coverage, which have been defined in previous studies. Also, summarizing ways of co-occurrence frequency did not affect any of the relationships. Finally, possible applications for visualizing learning activities of the lecturer and students are discussed.
A Weighted Monte Carlo Simulation Approach to Risk Assessment of Information Security Management System
Authors: Bamakan Seyed Mojtaba Hosseini , Dehghanimohammadabadi Mohammad
Published: January 2016

In recent decades, information has become a critical asset to various organizations, hence identifying and preventing the loss of information are becoming competitive advantages for firms. Many international standards have been developed to help organizations to maintain their competitiveness by applying risk assessment and information security management system and keep risk level as low as possible. This study aims to propose a new quantitative risk analysis and assessment methodology which is based on AHP and Monte Carlo simulation. In this method, AHP is used to create favorable weights for Confidentiality, Integrity and Availability (CIA) as security characteristic of any information asset. To deal with the uncertain nature of vulnerabilities and threats, Monte Carlo simulation is utilized to handle the stochastic nature of risk assessment by taking into account multiple judges' opinions. The proposed methodology is suitable for organizations that require risk analysis to implement ISO/IEC 27001 standard.
Keystroke Dynamics Authentication in Cloud Computing
Authors: Hassan Basma Mohammed , Fouad Khaled Mohammed , Hassan Mahmoud Fathy
Published: January 2016

Cloud computing needs a strong and efficient authentication system because the user will access his rented part through a faraway connection and it will make the authentication sensor device besides the user place for identification and verification so how to know the user who claimed himself to be the legal user. Keystroke identification system as a biometric authentication technique is strongly Candidate for the security issues in cloud computing technology. Keystroke dynamics as a security system did not need extra hardware because the authentication device will be the existing keyboard based on everyone has a unique style for writing. The other biometric methods are addressed with each advantage and disadvantage along with keystroke method. In this paper, all known studies about keystroke technique are explained and compared between them according to the classification technique, number of the participated users and each study results then introduces a survey on software and hardware of other biometric authentication techniques and after the literature review is addressed then keystroke as a biometric authentication system is suggested to access cloud computing environment because it has many advantages to being a part of the known security systems which spread in our world.
Key Success Factors of E-Government Projects
Authors: Abu-Shanab Emad , Bataineh Lana Q.
Published: January 2016

Understanding the key success factors of e-government projects is important because of the huge investment put into such initiatives. This study investigated the literature to conclude to a set of factors that explore Jordanians perceptions towards such factors, and rank such factors based on their importance. This paper explored the literature to build a list of key success factors (KSF) of e-government projects. The list was pilot tested utilizing a sample of 293 students in a public university in Jordan. Results indicated that the majority of the proposed items represent important factors that reinforce success with a high and moderate level of perceptions. Also, a proposed typology was built around the four major dimensions utilized by this study and their relation to the stakeholders and they are: infrastructure, public employees, citizens and governments.
BezelCursor
Authors: Li Wing Ho Andy , Fu Hongbo , Zhu Kening
Published: January 2016

The authors present BezelCursor, a novel one-handed thumb interaction technique for target acquisition on mobile touch screens of various sizes. Their technique combines bezel-initiated interaction and pointing gesture to solve the problem of limited screen accessibility afforded by the thumb. With a fixed, comfortable grip of a mobile touch device, a user may employ the tool to easily and quickly access a target located anywhere on the screen, using a single fluid action. Unlike the existing technologies, the authors' technique requires no explicit mode switching to invoke and can be smoothly used together with commonly adopted interaction styles such as direct touch and dragging. Their user study shows that BezelCursor requires less grip adjustment, and is more accurate or faster than the state-of-the-art techniques when using a fixed secure grip.
The Effect of Flow Experience and Social Norms on the Adoption of Mobile Games in China
Authors: Gao Shang , Krogstie John , Zang Zhe
Published: January 2016

This research examines the potential factors which influence users' intention to play mobile games. Through the employment of structural equation modeling technology, a research model extending the technology acceptance model (TAM) with flow experience and social norms is proposed. This research model was empirically evaluated using survey data collected from 565 users in the largest city in central China. And eleven research hypotheses were proposed. Eight hypotheses were positively supported on a significant level, while three hypotheses were rejected in this study. The result indicated that attitude and flow experience explained about 66% of users' intention to play mobile games. It was found that social norms did not have a direct effect on the intention to play a mobile game. However, it affected the attitude directly. In addition, flow experience, perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness all had direct effects on users' attitudes toward playing a mobile game. The research findings demonstrated that flow experience play an important role in the adoption of mobile games.
A Strategic Foresight about Future Public Service Developments from the Citizens' Perspective
Authors: Walther Falko , Vogt Sebastian , Kabst Rüdiger
Published: January 2016

Governments and public administrations face multiple challenges and opportunities for innovation in the area of public services – created by ongoing ICT developments and shifting service demands among citizens. Citizens experience advantages of ICT-driven services in all areas of life and request these advantages in their communications and interactions with public administrations. Therefore, public administrations must be aware of these and, more important, future demands to develop future services that are responsive to citizens' needs. As there is a lack of current data, the aim of this article is to identify citizens' demands, characteristics and framework conditions for future public services and public participation services based on data collected in a real-time Delphi survey of expert citizens. The results provide public service providers with initial insights into citizen characteristics that have a strong impact on citizens' demands—housing situation, size of municipality and age—and important framework conditions, e.g., the internet.
Employing Group Decision Support System for the Selection of Internet Information Search Channels for Consumers
Authors: Khatwani Gaurav , Srivastava Praveen Ranjan
Published: January 2016

A fragmented market and media propagation has emerged as a direct result of the evolution of technology. Media agencies now have a large variety of methods of reaching and engaging with potential customers. The proliferation of media has generated new challenges for marketers and identifying the most effective channel by which to reach online customers can be problematic. Marketers now need to develop an understanding of how consumers conduct their pre-purchase search for information about a given product or service so that they can optimize their promotion efforts. A fuzzy analytical hierarchy process cosine maximization (FAHPCM) approach was employed to assign the relative importance that online consumers give to a range of search factors. Following this, the technique for order of preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS) was utilized to assess the effectiveness of each respective channel. Finally, sensitivity analysis was conducted to verify the results. The effectiveness of the proposed approach is demonstrated through a numerical example.