bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Dark Matter Search in Space: Combined Analysis of Cosmic-Ray Antiproton-to-proton Flux Ratio and Positron Flux Measured by AMS-02
Authors: Feng Jie , Zhang Hong-Hao
Published: May 2018

Dark matter searches in space have been carried out for many years. Measurements of cosmic-ray (CR) photons, charged antiparticles, and neutrinos are useful tools for dark matter indirect searches. The antiparticle energy spectra of CRs have several exciting features, such as the unexpected positron excess at E ∼ 10–500 GeV and the remarkably flattening antiproton/proton at E ∼ 60–450 GeV precisely measured by the AMS-02 experiment, which cannot be explained simultaneously by secondary production in the interstellar medium. In this work, we report a combined analysis of CR antiproton and positron spectra arising from dark matter on the top of a secondary production in a spatial-dependent propagation model. We discuss the systematic uncertainties from the antiproton production cross section using the two latest Monte Carlo generators, i.e., EPOS LHC and QGSJET-II-04m. We compare their results. In the case of EPOS LHC, we find that the dark matter pair annihilating into τ leptons channel with a 100% branching ratio and the p-wave annihilation cross section assumption is the only possible one-channel scenario to explain the data. On the other hand, there is not a single possible channel in the case of QGSJET-II-04m. We also propose possible two-channel scenarios based on these two Monte Carlo generators.
Related Progenitor Models for Long-duration Gamma-Ray Bursts and Type Ic Superluminous Supernovae
Authors: Aguilera-Dena David R. , Langer Norbert , Moriya Takashi J. , Schootemeijer Abel
Published: May 2018

We model the late evolution and mass loss history of rapidly rotating Wolf–Rayet stars in the mass range 5 M
⊙…100 M
⊙). We find that quasi-chemically homogeneously evolving single stars computed with enhanced mixing retain very little or no helium and are compatible with Type Ic supernovae. The more efficient removal of core angular momentum and the expected smaller compact object mass in our lower-mass models lead to core spins in the range suggested for magnetar-driven superluminous supernovae. Our higher-mass models retain larger specific core angular momenta, expected for long-duration gamma-ray bursts in the collapsar scenario. Due to the absence of a significant He envelope, the rapidly increasing neutrino emission after core helium exhaustion leads to an accelerated contraction of the whole star, inducing a strong spin-up and centrifugally driven mass loss at rates of up to

in the last years to decades before core collapse. Because the angular momentum transport in our lower-mass models enhances the envelope spin-up, they show the largest relative amounts of centrifugally enforced mass loss, i.e., up to 25% of the expected ejecta mass. Our most massive models evolve into the pulsational pair-instability regime. We would thus expect signatures of interaction with a C/O-rich circumstellar medium for Type Ic superluminous supernovae with ejecta masses below ∼10 M
⊙ as well as for the most massive engine-driven explosions with ejecta masses above ∼30 M
⊙. Signs of such interaction should be observable at early epochs of the supernova explosion; they may be related to bumps observed in the light curves of superluminous supernovae, or to the massive circumstellar CO-shell proposed for Type Ic superluminous supernova Gaia16apd.
Cardiovascular (CV) Risk after Initiation of Abatacept versus TNF Inhibitors in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients with and without Baseline CV Disease
Authors: Jin Yinzhu , Kang Eun Ha , Brill Gregory , Desai Rishi J. , Kim Seoyoung C.
Published: May 2018

Objective.

To evaluate the cardiovascular safety of abatacept (ABA) versus tumor necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFi) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients with and without underlying cardiovascular disease (CVD).

Methods.

We identified RA patients with and without baseline CVD who initiated ABA or TNFi by using data from 2 large US insurance claims databases: Medicare (2008–2013) and Truven MarketScan (2006–2015). After stratifying by baseline CVD, ABA initiators were 1:1 propensity score (PS) matched to TNFi initiators to control for > 60 baseline covariates. Cox proportional hazards regression estimated the HR and 95% CI for a composite endpoint of CVD including myocardial infarction, stroke/transient ischemic stroke, or coronary revascularization in the PS-matched cohorts. HR from 2 databases were combined through an inverse variance-weighted fixed-effects model.

Results.

We included 6102 PS-matched pairs of ABA and TNFi initiators from Medicare and 6934 pairs from MarketScan. Of these, 35.3% in Medicare and 14.0% in MarketScan had baseline CVD. HR (95% CI) for composite CVD in the overall ABA group versus TNFi was 0.67 (0.55–0.81) in Medicare and 1.08 (0.83–1.41) in MarketScan with the combined HR of 0.79 (0.67–0.92). Among patients with baseline CVD, the HR (95% CI) was 0.71 (0.55–0.92) in Medicare and 1.02 (0.68–1.51) in MarketScan, with the combined HR of 0.79 (0.64–0.98).

Conclusion.

In this large cohort of publicly or privately insured patients with RA in the United States, ABA was associated with a 20% reduced risk of CVD versus TNFi. While this observational study is subject to potential residual confounding, our results were consistent in patients with baseline CVD.
Effect of Treat-to-target Strategies Aiming at Remission of Arterial Stiffness in Early Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Randomized Controlled Study
Authors: Tam Lydia Ho-Pui , Shang Qing , Li Edmund Kwok-Ming , Wong Priscilla Ching-Han , Kwok Kitty Yan , Kun Emily Wai-Lin , Yim Isaac Cheuk-Wan , Lee Violet Ka-Lai , Yip Ronald Man-Lung , Pang Steve Hin-Ting , Lao Virginia Weng-Nga , Mak Queenie Wah-Yan , Cheng Isaac Tsz-Ho , Lau Xerox Sze-Lok , Li Tena Ka-Yan , Zhu Tracy Yaner , Lee Alex Pui-Wai , Tam Lai-Shan
Published: May 2018

Objective.

To determine the efficacy of 2 tight control treatment strategies aiming at Simplified Disease Activity Score (SDAI) remission (SDAI ≤ 3.3) compared to 28-joint count Disease Activity Score (DAS28) remission (DAS28 < 2.6) in the prevention of arterial stiffness in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods.

This was an open-label study in which 120 patients with early RA were randomized to receive 1 year of tight control treatment. Group 1 (n = 60) aimed to achieve SDAI ≤ 3.3 and Group 2 (n = 60), DAS28 < 2.6. Pulse wave velocity (PWV) and augmentation index (AIx) were measured at baseline and 12 months. A posthoc analysis was also performed to ascertain whether achieving sustained remission could prevent progression in arterial stiffness.

Results.

The proportions of patients receiving methotrexate monotherapy were significantly lower in Group 1 throughout the study period. At 12 months, the proportions of patients achieving DAS28 and SDAI remission, and the change in PWV and AIx, were comparable between the 2 groups. In view of the lack of differences between the 2 groups, a posthoc analysis was performed at Month 12, including all 110 patients with PWV, to elucidate the independent predictors associated with the change in PWV. Multivariate analysis revealed that achieving sustained DAS28 remission at months 6, 9, and 12 and a shorter disease duration were independent explanatory variables associated with less progression of PWV.

Conclusion.

With limited access to biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs, treatment efforts toward DAS28 and SDAI remission had similar effects in preventing the progression of arterial stiffness at 1 year. However, achieving sustained DAS28 remission was associated with a significantly greater improvement in PWV. [Clinical Trial registration: Clinicaltrial.govNCT01768923.]
Le rapport au travail face à la diversité des mondes économiques des jeunes
Authors: Plomb Fabrice
Published: May 2018

Les jeunes sans formation sont souvent étudiés à partir de leurs manques par rapport à ce que suppose une intégration professionnelle normale. En s’intéressant à la diversité de leurs pratiques et des récits qu’ils produisent sur eux-mêmes au fur et à mesure de leur parcours, on constate au contraire qu’ils développent des stratégies qui explorent l’ensemble des mondes économiques au-delà de la seule sphère du travail. Leur insertion financière et leur investissement dans le hors-travail sont tout aussi importants pour déterminer la place que prend le travail dans leur quotidien et la manière dont ils se projettent dans l’avenir. Cet article s’intéresse aux conséquences de l’extension des activités des jeunes dans le monde économique au-delà de la sphère de la production, marquée par l’incertitude. Leur rapport moral au travail doit ainsi être repensé à l’aune de ces changements.
Conflits territoriaux et modalités d’usage des forêts dans le territoire autochtone Alto Turiaçú (État de Maranhão, Brésil) : savoirs Ka’apor contre exploitation forestière
Authors: Garcés Claudia Leonor López
Published: May 2018

Cet article est une analyse ethnographique des conflits territoriaux concernant les différents usages et savoirs qui porte sur les ressources forestières du territoire autochtone de l’Alto Turiaçú, dans l’État de Maranhão (Brésil). Bien que les peuples Ka’apor, Tembé et Timbira aient officiellement l’usufruit exclusif de ces terres, celles-ci subissent depuis les années 1980 les assauts des trafiquants de bois. En nous basant sur les usages et les savoirs que les populations autochtones et les exploitants forestiers élaborent autour de la nature, nous analyserons les stratégies de lutte que les leaders autochtones mettent en place, avec la participation des femmes, pour défendre leur territoire et les ressources naturelles qu’il abrite.
L’intégration des connaissances locales sur le maïs dans les politiques agroalimentaires au Mexique est-elle possible ?
Authors: Lazos Chavero Elena
Published: May 2018

Les connaissances locales sur la culture de maïs natifs et la milpa cultivée par les Ñuu Savi pourraient constituer des axes essentiels dans les politiques agroalimentaires pour réduire la crise alimentaire à Oaxaca. Cependant, des défis d’ordre éthique, pratique et politique sont à relever. Les institutions gouvernementales agricoles, ainsi que les compagnies transnationales contrôlent les systèmes agroalimentaires. Par conséquent, reconnaître l’importance des savoirs des familles agricoles provoque des tensions politiques. Pour prendre en compte les connaissances locales dans les programmes de développement, il faudrait changer aussi bien les structures de pouvoir qui dictent les politiques publiques que les modèles culturels hégémoniques de modernisation. Le travail de terrain dans deux municipalités permet d’analyser la dynamique des connaissances concernant les maïs autochtones et les régimes alimentaires comme le résultat de plusieurs croisements de connaissances notamment dans leurs interactions avec les politiques agricoles.
Entre perte de savoirs locaux et changement social : les défis et les enjeux de la réhabilitation des foggaras dans le Touat, Sahara algérien
Authors: Ghodbani Tarik , Dari Ouassini , Bellal Sid-Ahmed , Hadeid Mohamed
Published: May 2018

Dans le Sahara du Maghreb, la mobilisation des eaux souterraines et leurs usages dans la valorisation agricole des oasis sont basés sur un ensemble de savoirs locaux construits autour des systèmes technologiques ancestraux ingénieux et de gestion coutumiers socialement stratifiés. Cependant, depuis plusieurs décennies, l’introduction de technologies modernes dans l’exploitation des eaux souterraines a fortement contribué à la perte de ces savoirs locaux et à la transformation des écosystèmes oasiens dans leur ensemble. La multiplication des forages, le surpompage pratiqué depuis une vingtaine d’années et les changements dans la structure sociale oasienne ont conduit à la dégradation des foggaras, des ressources naturelles, ainsi qu’à des conflits sociaux. Ainsi en Algérie, depuis les années quatre-vingt, nous observons, en particulier dans la région du Touat, ces transformations profondes conduites par l’État. Celles-ci ont favorisé à la fois un développement agricole remarquable et l’abandon de ces foggaras. Or, depuis les années deux mille, l’État a lancé des projets de réhabilitation des foggaras à la demande des populations locales souhaitant maintenir leurs anciens systèmes hydrauliques pour l’irrigation de leurs terres agricoles. La question que nous posons ici est d’interroger la capacité de l’État à préserver les savoirs locaux liés aux foggaras, par ces processus de réhabilitation dans un contexte de changements techniques et de rapports de force entre les acteurs qui s’opèrent dans des sociétés oasiennes fortement stratifiées.
Identification, caractérisation et évaluation des pratiques atypiques de gestion des fumures organiques au Burkina Faso : sources d’innovation ?
Authors: Blanchard Mélanie , Vall Éric , Tingueri Loumbana Béatrice , Meynard Jean-Marc
Published: May 2018

L’utilisation de fumures organiques dans les systèmes de polyculture-élevage d’Afrique de l’Ouest est essentielle pour leur durabilité et leur productivité. Certains paysans mettent en place des modes de gestion des fumures organiques atypiques. Sont-ils des sources potentielles d’innovation ? Dans l’ouest du Burkina Faso, nous avons repéré différents modes atypiques de gestion des fumures organiques, analysé les logiques d’action des paysans et décrit les savoirs locaux sous-jacents. L’évaluation multicritère des performances des systèmes atypiques, comparées à celles des systèmes dominants nous a permis d’appréhender leur durabilité et d’identifier des modes de gestion des fumures organiques originaux (marchandisation versus diversification de la production). Sans être transposables, ces pratiques atypiques sont source d’enseignements à mobiliser pour la co-conception de modes de gestion des fumures organiques innovants basés sur les connaissances locales.
Valorisation de la médecine traditionnelle à Madagascar : place des tradipraticiens dans les recherches et formations sur les plantes médicinales
Authors: Didier Pierrine
Published: May 2018

À la suite des recommandations de l’OMS de la fin des années 1970 de valoriser et d’encadrer la médecine traditionnelle, des dynamiques gouvernementales et des programmes de développement se sont développés à Madagascar. Ils procèdent, d’un côté, à l’évaluation des guérisseurs dans leur pratique sociale et, de l’autre, à l’évaluation des plantes médicinales, perçues comme les principales composantes des remèdes valorisables et analysables par les outils biomédicaux. Les formations ouvertes aux praticiens sont limitées en termes de retombées sur leur pratique et servent avant tout à renforcer la biomédecine. Un récent projet de décret sur le code d’éthique des tradipraticiens cible la nécessité de leur engagement à titre de collaborateurs dans les projets de développement. Cet article montre le décalage qui peut exister entre des décisions gouvernementales et leurs applications locales et la place occupée aujourd’hui par les tradipraticiens dans les programmes de développement sanitaire.
De l’entretien psychologique à la psychothérapie en institution : le cas d’une adolescente infirme motrice cérébrale
Authors: Pivry Sophie , Scelles Régine
Published: May 2018

Les auteurs de cet article traitent de la question de l’adolescence chez le sujet déficient moteur. À travers une étude de cas, issue du suivi d’une jeune fille de 16 ans, accueillie dans un Institut d’éducation motrice (IEM), il s’agit de comprendre le cheminement, qui conduit de l’entretien psychologique ponctuel à la demande d’un tiers, à une démarche qui, progressivement, s’affirmera comme une demande de soin psychique, pour ouvrir, avant le départ de la jeune fille en Établissement et service d’aide par le travail (ESAT), à une thérapie en face à face. Les auteurs montrent comment cette relation thérapeutique s’est construite et a évolué progressivement, influencée par des événements extérieurs à la thérapie, relatifs à la famille et à la prise en charge institutionnelle. Malgré ces aléas, l’émergence des affects dépressifs et le soutien apporté par la thérapie ont favorisé la relance du processus de subjectivation, en favorisant les capacités de cette adolescente à se dire sujet autonome et à prendre une place telle. Dans cet article, est montré l’intérêt qu’il y a de proposer des espaces de dégagement à ces adolescents, chez qui les problématiques de perte, d’appropriation de l’image de soi, mais également la souffrance peuvent s’exprimer.
Utilité clinique du test des associations de Jung
Authors: Guibert Émile , Martin-Tur Justine
Published: May 2018

Cet article a pour objectif d’analyser l’utilité clinique des expériences d’associations réalisées par Jung et Riklin entre 1904 et 1910. Pour cela, les auteurs ont procédé à la réplication de l’expérience princeps des pionniers sur les sujets sains afin d’en comparer les principaux résultats. Ceux-ci montrent une homogénéité dans la prévalence des associations objectives chez les sujets sains ainsi qu’un pourcentage d’associations constellées par des complexes représentant 36,8 %. La nature érotique des complexes prédomine chez l’ensemble des sujets à l’instar de l’étude initiale. La corrélation forte entre le nombre de réactions constellées et l’allongement du temps de réaction réapparaît dans cette étude (r= 0,93 ; Pearson method ). La réplication réussie permet aux auteurs d’apporter une contribution originale ainsi que des données expérimentales actualisées à la communauté des chercheurs.
Les réformes en faveur du paiement à la qualité en Europe : état des lieux, analyse et propositions
Authors: Gourieux Bénédicte , Duvernoy Thomas , Tissier Frédérique , Garassus Paul
Published: May 2018

Dans un contexte de contraintes budgétaires fortes pesant sur le financement des systèmes de santé dans les pays de l’OCDE, les financeurs de l’offre de soins cherchent à conjuguer efficience économique et qualité du service rendu à la population couverte. Les années 2000 ont vu l’émergence de programmes locaux ou nationaux d’incitation financières à la qualité, à destination des professionnels de première ligne mais également les structures hospitalières. Nous avons identifié et analysé la bibliographie consacrée à l’étude de ces programmes en Europe mais également aux Etats-Unis, et avons confronté les résultats recueillis à la vision d’acteurs de plusieurs systèmes de santé. Les résultats des programmes de paiement à la performance en Europe et dans le monde montrent une amélioration le plus souvent modeste et transitoire des indicateurs évalués. Néanmoins, notre analyse fait apparaître un intérêt fort des acteurs pour la pérennisation des modes de financement complémentaires à la seule tarification à l’activité. Nous ouvrons à la discussion, plusieurs propositions d’axes stratégiques visant à renforcer de façon durable le dispositif français existant.
Penser le carnaval
Authors: Baldwin Elisabeth
Published: May 2018

Le roman, La Boutique aux miracles (1969), de Jorge Amado, en est actuellement à sa 41 e édition. Il a été traduit en douze langues, y compris le français. L’une des thématiques les plus importantes de l’œuvre est le racisme et le carnaval bahianais à la fin du xix e siècle et au début du xx e siècle, spécialement en ce qui concerne les afoxés . Le fonds de l’écrivain qui se trouve dans la Fondation Maison de Jorge Amado garde, en plus des trois versions dactylographiées de l’ouvrage, une série de documents de l’artiste et de ses amis. Ceux-ci lui procuraient leurs recherches, faites dans des livres et des journaux de l’époque, sur les préjugés et les persécutions contre les manifestations religieuses carnavalesques afro-brésiliennes. Comme l’œuvre La Boutique aux miracles est, par-dessus tout, un essai, l’on peut l’étudier comme l’écrivain, tantôt narrateur tantôt lecteur. Jorge Amado, dans son écriture sur le carnaval bahianais, a mis en rapport la tension qui existe entre la pulsion de documenter et la pulsion de l’écriture, entre le « réel » de l’histoire et l’imaginaire.
America confronts North Korea: A historical perspective and a look at the future
Authors: Dujarric Robert
Published: May 2018

La politique américaine envers les Corées depuis l’armistice de 1953 a été assez cohérente. : dissuader le Nord, protéger le Sud, éviter un conflit et limiter le coût de la dissuasion. Pour autant en ce début d’année 2018, les progrès nord-coréens sur la route du statut d’État nucléaire n’ont pas modifié les actions américaines mais personne ne peut prédire le futur.
China-North Korea relations: Is the Kim regime becoming a threat and enemy to China?
Authors: Boc Anny
Published: May 2018

Les relations de la Chine et de la Corée du Nord se sont significativement détériorées en raison de la persistence des tirs balistiques et nucléaires de Pyongyang. La determination de Kim Jong-un à faire de son pays un État nucléaire et la rhétorique guerrière de Donald Trump contre la Corée du Nord ont accentué le défi de composer avec un voisin imprévisible et des préoccupations de sécurité nucléaire grandissantes pour le gouvernement chinois. La forte possibilité d’une guerre en Asie du Nord-Est a déclenché un intense débat en Chine concernant la politique nord-coréenne de Pékin qui reflète autant les divisions de l’opinion publique chinoise que des acteurs de la politique étrangères du pays.
The New Northern Policy and Korean-Russian Cooperation
Authors: Jae-Young Lee
Published: May 2018

Alors que la crise nord-coréenne se développe, la communauté internationale appelle de ses voeux une coopération constructive et pacifique qui puisse stopper la “spirale du conflit”. La coopération russo-coréenne et le projet d’intégration eurasiatique peuvent constituer une réponse au problème nord-coréen.
Can Russia Help Solve the North Korea Crisis?
Authors: Ramani Samuel
Published: May 2018

Pour amener la Corée du Nord à adopter une trajectoire pacifique, la Russie s’est employée à combiner diplomatie coercitive et approche plus collaborative.
La fabrique d’un collectif judiciaire
Authors: Chappe Vincent-Arnaud , Keyhani Narguesse
Published: May 2018

Résumé L’article porte sur la mobilisation des cheminots marocains, engagés dans les années 1970 par la SNCF comme contractuels, et ayant fait condamner l’entreprise ferroviaire pour discrimination. L’ethnographie du processus judiciaire explore les relations entre mobilisations et action judiciaire et leurs effets sur la formation des collectifs. En revenant sur les conditions d’une action au long cours, exceptionnelle par le nombre de plaignants, et sur les modalités de sa traduction judiciaire, il montre que la judiciarisation participe à la constitution de ce collectif, mais qu’elle fait apparaître une tension entre conscientisation des plaignants et dépossession par les professionnels du droit.
De la régulation politique des mondes de l’État providence à celle des mondes professionnels
Authors: Ledoux Clémence
Published: May 2018

Résumé Cet article analyse les liens indirects existant entre politiques sociales et régulation politique des métiers, en prenant le cas des métiers du care et des services domestiques en France et en Allemagne. Il montre que ces États providence peuvent créer des ressources et des contraintes pour la régulation politique des métiers : alors que trois mondes professionnels étaient identifiables de part et d’autre du Rhin à la fin des années 1970, les débats sur la dépendance, la garde des enfants et les services de proximité s’y sont déployés autrement. Ils ont conduit au choix d’instruments de politiques publiques différents et à des reconfigurations distinctes des mondes professionnels. Les États providence participent donc aux transformations de ces derniers.
Quand les identitaires font la une
Authors: Castelli Gattinara Pietro , Froio Caterina
Published: May 2018

Résumé Comment des formations d’extrême droite à faible ancrage social parviennent-elles à exister dans les médias ? En étudiant le cas du Bloc identitaire, nous proposons quatre logiques complémentaires : la propriété des enjeux politisés, le choix de répertoire d’action, la création de controverses publiques et l’existence de contre-mobilisations. La recherche combine l’analyse quantitative et qualitative des revendications politiques du Bloc, et un entretien en profondeur. Les résultats montrent que sa visibilité augmente lorsque ses actions portent sur la sécurité et l’immigration et suscitent des contre-mobilisations. Deux stratégies sont fondamentales dans l’interaction avec les journalistes : la personnalisation de la communication des événements protestataires et leur spectacularisation.
Advancing Organizational Alignment Decisions
Authors: Kivijärvi Hannu
Published: May 2018

In this article, a theory-driven approach for managing the alignment process between business and IT by making high-quality IT investment decisions is developed. The aim is to increase the understanding of the dimensions of the alignment problem and to offer some support in solving it. The conceptualization of the alignment issue is searched from the structural alignment theory, arising from and applied in psychology. After the theoretical considerations, the article adopts a multidimensional and constructive approach to the alignment problem and looks for answers to the question: How should organizations align business and IT, or at least, how to support the business and IT alignment decisions? As a result, a theoretically sound framework originating from the alignment problem is proposed for the evaluation of IT investments, a methodology based on that framework, and a concrete investment support system to help decision makers. The applicability of the approach is evaluated in the context of an actual case in the finance sector.
The Performance of Educational Institutions Through the Electronic Records Management Systems
Authors: Mukred Muaadh , Yusof Zawiyah M.
Published: May 2018

This article discusses the relationship between educational institutes that use ERMS and the performance of those institutions. This article uses a mixed explanatory method that incorporated quantitative and qualitative approaches. The quantitative method collected the responses from 364 participants. This was followed by a qualitative approach where experts were interviewed to verify the model. The results generated using the quantitative approach demonstrated that the quality of the system, information, and service as well as the security provided by the system had a significant positive relationship with the successful adoption of ERMS, which in turn improved performance. Moreover, the qualitative results that gathered through the experts confirmed the findings and contributed to enriching the understanding of the adoption of ERMS in educational institutions.
Solving an Integrated Sales-Leasing Problem With Remanufacturing and Inventory Shortage Using Differential Evolution
Authors: Rabbani Masoud , Keyhanian Sina , Aryaee Mojtaba , Sangari Esmat
Published: May 2018

In this article, an integrated sales and leasing company is considered. This company remanufactures leased products at the end of operating lease contracts to make them as good as new ones and sell them to the customers. In order to satisfy customers' demand, required products are provided from a third-party when the company meets inventory shortage. Non-linear competitive demand functions are used which are sensitive to manufacturer suggested retail price (MSRP) and inflation rate. A mixed integer non-linear mathematical model (MINLP) is developed to determine optimal price of selling products, optimal amount of monthly payments in leasing contracts, and optimal inventory control planning, i.e. the optimal amount of manufacturing and remanufacturing products and optimal inventory levels. The main objective is to maximize net profit of the company. Small, medium and large-scale sizes of the model are solved to show the applicability of the model. To solve the large-scale problem, differential evolution (DE) algorithm is applied as a meta-heuristic solution approach. Numerical results show high sensitivity of model to demands. Also, optimal trend behaviors of some main variables of the problem seem similar to the competitive behavior of demands.
A Very Fast Heuristic for Combinatorial Optimization With Specific Application to Priority Rule Sequencing in Operations Management
Authors: Sheibani Kaveh
Published: May 2018

This article presents mathematics of a generic polynomial-time heuristic which can be integrated into approaches for hard combinatorial optimization problems. The proposed method evaluates objects in a way that combines fuzzy reasoning with a greedy mechanism, thereby exploiting a fuzzy solution space using greedy methods. The effectiveness and efficiency of the proposed method are demonstrated on job-shop scheduling as one of the most challenging classical sequencing problems in the area of combinatorial optimization.
A Global Stability of Linearizing Control of Induction Motor for PV Water Pumping Application
Authors: Salima Meziane , Loubna Atarsia , Riad Toufouti
Published: May 2018

This article describes how a field oriented control can provide the same performance as it is achieved by a DC motor. However, this technique requires a mechanic sensor and is very sensitive to the variation of motor parameters which results in an undesirable coupling between the flux and the torque. To solve these problems, this paper proposes a global stability and robust nonlinear controller, applied to induction motor (IM), in order to achieve an exact decoupling between speed and flux for all motor operating conditions. The induction motor is coupled with a centrifugal hydraulic pump, powered by a photovoltaic array speeding system. The proposed system is designed for usage in rural areas or remote electricity needs in absence of the grid network. A nonlinear controller adjusts the motor speed reference to attain the maximum power point (MPPT). In presence of rotor and stator resistances and irradiation disturbance the results obtained by simulations confirm the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Location Optimization of Rapeseed and Soybean Cultivation Areas Considering Economic, Climatic and Social Criteria
Authors: Babazadeh Reza , Yavarirad Mohammad Voria , Bashusqeh Ehsan Momeni
Published: May 2018

This article describes how among different oilseeds, rapeseed and soybean contain considerable amounts of protein and oil and have a specific role in agriculture and supplying food. Optimizing the cultivation areas of rapeseed and soybean based on sustainability factors will improve their productivity, economic, environmental, and social objectives. The goal of the present article is to investigate the background for cultivation of these two types of seeds using a data envelopment analysis (DEA) method. Sustainable development criteria including economic, climatic and social criteria are considered in assessing the candidate locations for cultivating soybean and rapeseed by DEA model. The proposed method is applied in Iran. The Principle Component Analysis (PCA) method is used to verify and validate the results of DEA model. Results show that the DEA model can be used as a powerful tool to optimize the cultivation areas of soybean and rapeseed.
Do Business Ecosystems See Color?
Authors: McKoy Jr. Henry Clay , Johnson Jr. James H
Published: May 2018

This article describes an American community survey and a survey of business owners of which the data are merged to assess the experiences of minority- versus white-owned small businesses between 2007 and 2012. This is highlighted due to it being a period encompassing the worst economic downturn since The Great Depression. White firms declined while minority firms grew rapidly. Despite recent efforts to create inclusive entrepreneurial and business ecosystems, however, minority business owners made little progress toward achieving equity or parity with white business owners. Policy prescriptions and implications for future research are discussed.
Value Creation and Commercialization in Insular Ecosystems
Authors: Lopes João , Farinha Luís , Ferreira João J.
Published: May 2018

This article aims to evaluate the resources and capabilities in insular regions, and also to understand how value creation and commercialization take place in the existing ecosystems. A qualitative research methodology was followed through a case study, incorporating interviews with incubators managers of the insular regions of Portugal (Azores and Madeira). The results show some difficulties as a result of the ecosystem's insularity. To shorten the insular regions dissymmetry compared to other non-insular regions, a new model is proposed to help these regions overcome their economic and social problems.
Web-Based Collaborative Systems and Harvesting the Collective Intelligence in Business Organizations
Authors: Al Omoush Khaled Saleh
Published: May 2018

The major purpose of this article is to empirically explore the role of web-based collaborative systems in harvesting the dimensions of collective intelligence and the expected outcomes. A questionnaire survey was developed to collect data from 29 firms across all industries with a sample of 239 respondents. Structural Equation Modeling, using Smart PLS was conducted to analyze the data. The results indicated that web-based collaborative systems play a significant role in harvesting the dimensions of collective intelligence, including collective cognition, shared memory, collective problem solving, knowledge sharing, and collective learning. The results also revealed the significant impact of web-based collective intelligence on the sense and response capability and on the quality and morality of organizations' decisions. In addition, the article reveals the significant impacts of BI tools and relationship quality on the role of web-based CI in achieving the expected outcomes.
Dynamic Search Engine Platform for Cloud Service Level Agreements Using Semantic Annotation
Authors: Saravanan K. , Radhakrishnan A.
Published: May 2018

This article describes how cloud applications are negotiated, deployed, monitored, evaluated and terminated through the service level agreements (SLA). The service definition & their objectives, performance measures, pricing, roles of the involved parties are stated as part of the SLA. Searching for SLA templates from the provider's place is considered as a cumbersome process for the consumer. Also, it is not guaranteed that retrieved SLAs always match with the consumer requirements. Hence, semantic search engine platforms for cloud SLA using a novel architecture are introduced here. SLA agreements are crawled from the web and annotation is performed in the agreement terms using SLA ontologies to fasten and improve the accuracy of the search process. In the proposed architecture, 3 ontologies are developed for SaaS, PaaS and IaaS as well as 140 SLA documents are gathered. Results revealed that the search efficacy is almost 90% in finding the desired SLA for the consumer to ease negotiation. Moreover, the performance is compared with similar search engine GoNTogle, and it was observed that proposed model produced good results.
Semantic Search Exploiting Formal Concept Analysis, Rough Sets, and Wikipedia
Authors: Jiang Yuncheng , Yang Mingxuan
Published: May 2018

This article describes how the traditional web search is essentially based on a combination of textual keyword searches with an importance ranking of the documents depending on the link structure of the web. However, one of the dimensions that has not been captured to its full extent is that of semantics. Currently, combining search and semantics gives birth to the idea of the semantic search. The purpose of this article is to present some new methods to semantic search to solve some shortcomings of existing approaches. Concretely, the authors propose two novel methods to semantic search by combining formal concept analysis, rough set theory, and similarity reasoning. In particular, the authors use Wikipedia to compute the similarity of concepts (i.e., keywords). The experimental results show that the authors' proposals perform better than some of the most representative similarity search methods and sustain the intuitions with respect to human judgements.
Detecting Human Diseases Relatedness
Authors: Fathalla Said
Published: May 2018

Due to the ubiquitous availability of the information on the web, there is a great need for a standardized representation of this information. Therefore, developing an efficient algorithm for retrieving information from knowledge graphs is a key challenge for many semantic web applications. This article presents spreading activation over ontology (SAOO) approach in order to detect the relatedness between two human diseases by applying spreading activation algorithm based on bidirectional search technique. The proposed approach detects two diseases relatedness by considering semantic domain knowledge. The methodology of the proposed work is divided into two phases: Semantic Matching and Diseases Relatedness Detection. In semantic matching, diseases within the user-submitted query are semantically identified in the ontology graph. In diseases relatedness detection, the relatedness between the two diseases is detected by using bidirectional-based spreading activation on the ontology graph. The classification of these diseases is provided as well.
DCVS A Dynamic Control for Video Traffic in SPICE
Authors: Chen Yu , Shi Aiwu , He Kai , Hu Zhiqiang , Su Nan
Published: May 2018

This article describes how with the development of cloud computing and virtualization technology, the desktop virtualization solution is becoming more and more mature. As a virtual desktop transport protocol, SPICE is used for deploying virtual desktops on servers and remote clients with high performance. However, it will take up a lot of network bandwidth and cause network congestion in a relatively poor network environment on video transmission. To solve this problem, a dynamic adjustment for video traffic (DCVS) in SPICE is proposed. It can dynamically adjust the bit rate of the video encoding according to the state of the virtual buffer and the feedback from client. The experiment results prove that DCVS can effectively reduce the video traffic and the probability of congestion.
A Study to Examine the Level of Usage and Awareness of National Library of Medicine Classification (NLMC) System in Health/Medical Libraries in Sri Lanka and Factors Associated in Adopting it
Authors: Dilhani M.P.P. , Ranasinghe Shirani
Published: May 2018

The National Library of Medicine classification system is a library classification system which covers the field of medicine and preclinical sciences. It is recognized as a standard classification system which can be used in Health and Medical libraries all over the world. Since it is specially designed for the field of health sciences, most of the health libraries in other countries have adopted it for classifying books. However, not many Sri Lankan Health and Medical libraries have adopted this system yet. The present study examined the prevailing situation of NLMC regarding the usage and awareness, factors affecting the usage, training/ education received by Health librarians on National Library of Medicine classification, and problems faced in implementing it. Objective of this study was to investigate the level of usage of National Library of Medicine classification among Sri Lankan Health and Medical libraries and to find out the factors associated in adopting it. Also, it was aimed to find out the present classification system/s and possibilities for future alterations. The participants of this study were all the Librarians in-charge of Health and Medical Libraries in Sri Lanka who are the members of the HELLIS Network, Sri Lanka. A descriptive survey was conducted for data collection. As data collection instruments, questionnaire and interviews were used after relevant literature review. The study revealed that a majority of Sri Lankan Health and Medical libraries do not use NLMC for classification purposes. It was also found that National Library of Medicine classification is not popular among health and medical librarians in Sri Lanka due to unawareness, lack of training, influence of the mother institute, lack of policy etc. This study suggests that Library and Information Science education system in Sri Lanka has to pay attention towards adopting this classification and Sri Lankan Health and Medical librarians should have training or awareness programs on National Library of Medicine classification in order to introduce this system to Health and Medical libraries.
Increased nocturnal CO2 concentration during breeze circulation events in a tropical reservoir
Authors: Vale Roseilson , Santana Raoni , Gomes Ana Carla , Tóta Julio
Published: May 2018

The Balbina reservoir (59°28'50'' W, 1°53'25'' S), located near the city of Manaus, AM in central Amazonia, is the second largest hydroelectric reservoir in the Amazon basin. Carbon dioxide concentration measurements were performed at high frequency (10 Hz) at this reservoir with an IRGA Model LiCOR 7500A and meteorological variables were measured with a floating platform with sensors 2 meters above the surface of the lake. Maximum and minimum CO2 concentrations were observed during the night, related to forest breeze enriched with CO2 and the respiration or photosynthetic activity of the lake. Due to the dimensions of the lake, both land and lake breezes control the concentration of CO2. CO2 showed a strong correlation with the meteorological variables, temperature (- 0.76) and relative humidity (0.71). However, only the wind direction showed a statistically significant effect at 5% in the cross-correlation. Our results corroborate other studies in this lake and other Amazonian reservoirs.
A Deadly Wait for U.S. Health Insurance Coverage—Sitting on the Couch with Malaria
Authors: Schultz Jonathan S. , Atherly Adam J. , Henao-Martínez Andrés F.
Published: May 2018

Uninsured and unprepared travelers to countries with endemic tropical diseases pose great health-care burdens and financial risks on returning to the United States. We discuss the delayed presentation of an uninsured U.S. traveler returning from West Africa with severe malaria who required intensive care measures to save his life. Despite being critically ill on his return, he sat rigoring on his couch taking antipyretics for 3 days, while he applied for insurance on the Affordable Care Act website and waited for approval because he was fearful of the costs of seeking care. He also had limited access to affordable pretravel consultation and prophylactic medications and did not take them because he had no insurance. Average fees for a malaria hospitalization cost $25,789; however, this patient accumulated fees nearing $300,000—and his care was reimbursed by emergency Medicaid with $39,000, because his newly accepted insurance did not cover his hospitalization. This patients’ experience in the U.S. health-care system with a deadly tropical disease exemplifies the need for affordable universal coverage of pretravel consultation and malaria prophylaxis. In this uncertain political time and the recent removal of the health insurance mandate, along with the White House and Congress wanting to reform health care, this case supports the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (ASTMH) statements showing the need for funding of tropical medicine education, research, and public health services for travelers, not cuts to important agencies and insurances that keep our country safe from imported deadly tropical diseases.
Case Report: Filaria or Megasperm? A Cause of an Ultrasonographic “Filarial Dance Sign”
Authors: Wiggers J. Brad , Jang Hyun-Jung , Keystone Jay S.
Published: May 2018

Bancroftian filariasis can cause genital abnormalities related to chronic inflammation and obstruction of the afferent lymphatic vessels, and may demonstrate a “filarial dance sign” on scrotal ultrasound with mobile echogenic particles observed. We present a patient with a positive “filarial dance sign,” travel within Latin America, and negative filarial serology.
Chlorine-initiated oxidation of n-alkanes under high NOx conditions:
Insights into secondary organic aerosol composition and volatility
using a FIGAERO-CIMS
Authors: Wang Dongyu S. , Hildebrandt Ruiz Lea
Published: May 2018

Abstract. Chlorine-initiated oxidation of n-alkanes (C8-12) under high nitrogen oxides conditions was investigated. Observed secondary organic aerosol yields (0.16 to 1.65) are higher than those for OH-initiated oxidation of C8-12 alkanes (0.04 to 0.35). A High-Resolution Time-of-Flight Chemical Ionization Mass Spectrometer coupled to a Filter Inlet for Gases and AEROsols (FIGAERO-CIMS) was used to characterize the gas- and particle-phase molecular composition. Chlorinated organics were observed, which likely originated from chlorine addition to the double bond present on the heterogeneously produced dihydrofurans. A two-dimensional thermogram representation was developed to visualize composition and relative volatility of organic aerosol components using unit-mass resolution data. Evidence of oligomer formation, thermal fragmentation and thermal decomposition was observed. Aerosol yield and oligomer formation were suppressed under humid conditions (35 to 67 % RH) relative to dry conditions (under 5 % RH). The temperature at peak desorption signal, Tmax, a proxy for aerosol volatility, was shown to change with aerosol filter loading, which should be constrained when evaluating aerosol volatilities using the FIGAERO-CIMS. Results suggest that long-chain anthropogenic alkanes could contribute significantly to ambient aerosol loading over their atmospheric lifetime.
The SPAtial EFficiency metric (SPAEF): multiple-component evaluation of spatial patterns for optimization of hydrological models
Authors: Koch Julian , Demirel Mehmet Cüneyd , Stisen Simon
Published: May 2018

Abstract. The process of model evaluation is not only an integral part of
model development and calibration but also of paramount importance when
communicating modelling results to the scientific community and
stakeholders. The modelling community has a large and well-tested toolbox of
metrics to evaluate temporal model performance. In contrast, spatial
performance evaluation does not correspond to the grand availability of
spatial observations readily available and to the sophisticate model codes
simulating the spatial variability of complex hydrological processes. This
study makes a contribution towards advancing spatial-pattern-oriented model
calibration by rigorously testing a multiple-component performance metric.
The promoted SPAtial EFficiency (SPAEF) metric reflects three equally
weighted components: correlation, coefficient of variation and histogram
overlap. This multiple-component approach is found to be advantageous in
order to achieve the complex task of comparing spatial patterns. SPAEF, its
three components individually and two alternative spatial performance
metrics, i.e. connectivity analysis and fractions skill score, are applied
in a spatial-pattern-oriented model calibration of a catchment model in
Denmark. Results suggest the importance of multiple-component metrics
because stand-alone metrics tend to fail to provide holistic pattern
information. The three SPAEF components are found to be independent, which
allows them to complement each other in a meaningful way. In order to
optimally exploit spatial observations made available by remote sensing
platforms, this study suggests applying bias insensitive metrics which
further allow for a comparison of variables which are related but may differ in unit.
This study applies SPAEF in the hydrological context using the mesoscale
Hydrologic Model (mHM; version 5.8), but we see great potential across
disciplines related to spatially distributed earth system modelling.