bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Image-Based Localization Aided Indoor Pedestrian Trajectory Estimation Using Smartphones
Authors: Zhou Yan , Zheng Xianwei , Chen Ruizhi , Xiong Hanjiang , Guo Sheng
Published: January 2018

Accurately determining pedestrian location in indoor environments using consumer smartphones is a significant step in the development of ubiquitous localization services. Many different map-matching methods have been combined with pedestrian dead reckoning (PDR) to achieve low-cost and bias-free pedestrian tracking. However, this works only in areas with dense map constraints and the error accumulates in open areas. In order to achieve reliable localization without map constraints, an improved image-based localization aided pedestrian trajectory estimation method is proposed in this paper. The image-based localization recovers the pose of the camera from the 2D-3D correspondences between the 2D image positions and the 3D points of the scene model, previously reconstructed by a structure-from-motion (SfM) pipeline. This enables us to determine the initial location and eliminate the accumulative error of PDR when an image is successfully registered. However, the image is not always registered since the traditional 2D-to-3D matching rejects more and more correct matches when the scene becomes large. We thus adopt a robust image registration strategy that recovers initially unregistered images by integrating 3D-to-2D search. In the process, the visibility and co-visibility information is adopted to improve the efficiency when searching for the correspondences from both sides. The performance of the proposed method was evaluated through several experiments and the results demonstrate that it can offer highly acceptable pedestrian localization results in long-term tracking, with an error of only 0.56 m, without the need for dedicated infrastructures.
A Novel Methodology for Improving Plant Pest Surveillance in Vineyards and Crops Using UAV-Based Hyperspectral and Spatial Data
Authors: Vanegas Fernando , Bratanov Dmitry , Powell Kevin , Weiss John , Gonzalez Felipe
Published: January 2018

Recent advances in remote sensed imagery and geospatial image processing using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have enabled the rapid and ongoing development of monitoring tools for crop management and the detection/surveillance of insect pests. This paper describes a (UAV) remote sensing-based methodology to increase the efficiency of existing surveillance practices (human inspectors and insect traps) for detecting pest infestations (e.g., grape phylloxera in vineyards). The methodology uses a UAV integrated with advanced digital hyperspectral, multispectral, and RGB sensors. We implemented the methodology for the development of a predictive model for phylloxera detection. In this method, we explore the combination of airborne RGB, multispectral, and hyperspectral imagery with ground-based data at two separate time periods and under different levels of phylloxera infestation. We describe the technology used—the sensors, the UAV, and the flight operations—the processing workflow of the datasets from each imagery type, and the methods for combining multiple airborne with ground-based datasets. Finally, we present relevant results of correlation between the different processed datasets. The objective of this research is to develop a novel methodology for collecting, processing, analising and integrating multispectral, hyperspectral, ground and spatial data to remote sense different variables in different applications, such as, in this case, plant pest surveillance. The development of such methodology would provide researchers, agronomists, and UAV practitioners reliable data collection protocols and methods to achieve faster processing techniques and integrate multiple sources of data in diverse remote sensing applications.
Neuromorphic Vibrotactile Stimulation of Fingertips for Encoding Object Stiffness in Telepresence Sensory Substitution and Augmentation Applications
Authors: Sorgini Francesca , Massari Luca , D’Abbraccio Jessica , Palermo Eduardo , Menciassi Arianna , Petrovic Petar , Mazzoni Alberto , Carrozza Maria , Newell Fiona , Oddo Calogero
Published: January 2018

We present a tactile telepresence system for real-time transmission of information about object stiffness to the human fingertips. Experimental tests were performed across two laboratories (Italy and Ireland). In the Italian laboratory, a mechatronic sensing platform indented different rubber samples. Information about rubber stiffness was converted into on-off events using a neuronal spiking model and sent to a vibrotactile glove in the Irish laboratory. Participants discriminated the variation of the stiffness of stimuli according to a two-alternative forced choice protocol. Stiffness discrimination was based on the variation of the temporal pattern of spikes generated during the indentation of the rubber samples. The results suggest that vibrotactile stimulation can effectively simulate surface stiffness when using neuronal spiking models to trigger vibrations in the haptic interface. Specifically, fractional variations of stiffness down to 0.67 were significantly discriminated with the developed neuromorphic haptic interface. This is a performance comparable, though slightly worse, to the threshold obtained in a benchmark experiment evaluating the same set of stimuli naturally with the own hand. Our paper presents a bioinspired method for delivering sensory feedback about object properties to human skin based on contingency–mimetic neuronal models, and can be useful for the design of high performance haptic devices.
Development of a High-Sensitivity Wireless Accelerometer for Structural Health Monitoring
Authors: Zhu Li , Fu Yuguang , Chow Raymond , Spencer Billie , Park Jong , Mechitov Kirill
Published: January 2018

Structural health monitoring (SHM) is playing an increasingly important role in ensuring the safety of structures. A shift of SHM research away from traditional wired methods toward the use of wireless smart sensors (WSS) has been motivated by the attractive features of wireless smart sensor networks (WSSN). The progress achieved in Micro Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) technologies and wireless data transmission, has extended the effectiveness and range of applicability of WSSNs. One of the most common sensors employed in SHM strategies is the accelerometer; however, most accelerometers in WSS nodes have inadequate resolution for measurement of the typical accelerations found in many SHM applications. In this study, a high-resolution and low-noise tri-axial digital MEMS accelerometer is incorporated in a next-generation WSS platform, the Xnode. In addition to meeting the acceleration sensing demands of large-scale civil infrastructure applications, this new WSS node provides powerful hardware and a robust software framework to enable edge computing that can deliver actionable information. Hardware and software integration challenges are presented, and the associate resolutions are discussed. The performance of the wireless accelerometer is demonstrated experimentally through comparison with high-sensitivity wired accelerometers. This new high-sensitivity wireless accelerometer will extend the use of WSSN to a broader class of SHM applications.
Informal Land Development on the Urban Fringe
Authors: Li Jihong , Qiu Rongxu , Li Kaiming , Xu Wei
Published: January 2018

Urban fringes are an important part of urban growth. In addition to formal land markets, a variety of informal land development methods make urban fringes the most dynamic and complicated areas. The analysis of land transfer and development systems in these areas opens a significant window to understanding the modern processes of urbanization and human and property rights in urban areas in China. This study uses Shanghai as a case study target and identifies specific modes of local land development and investigates how collective participants, government agencies, regulatory policies, and various actors are involved in land development and decision making. The in-depth analysis and case studies indicate that the variety of informal land markets in Shanghai reflects the inherent demands of the market for allocation of land resources within the constraints of the given system and against the given development background. However, conflicts between the mode of the market and the existing institutional constraints reflect the uncoordinated development of the land and the economic and social development around the urban fringe. The empirical results of this paper suggest that government administration should improve the land market system, strengthen the planning of control and guidance, rationalize the distribution of interests in land development, and strengthen the supervision of management of land development enterprises. Instead of fragmented aspects, this paper proposes a systematic analytical approach to understanding the informal land development in a city from an urban planning and land resource management perspective.
Overcoming the Barriers to the Diffusion of Sustainability Reporting in Italian LGOs: Better Stick or Carrot?
Authors: Giacomini Davide , Rocca Laura , Carini Cristian , Mazzoleni Mario
Published: January 2018

The role of public-sector organizations (PSOs) in promoting the agenda of sustainability accounting and accountability is not often adequately considered. In the public sector realm, local governments are close to their communities and thus have a particularly important role to play in the pursuit of sustainability goals. Hence, further research is needed to understand if Local Government Organizations (LGOs) are using reporting tools to promote sustainable development. The empirical data showed that the Sustainability Report (SR) is not being as widely used as in past years. Over time, the majority of Italian municipalities have not initiated or continued sustainability reporting due to some barriers including cost reduction, voluntariness, and low SR effectiveness. The findings suggest the popularity of SRs in Italy is falling and the SR tool appears to be “mere trend reporting based on descriptive indicators leading to decreasing interest from internal and external audiences”. The carrot has been unsuccessful. Perhaps the implementation of mandatory requirements could alternatively be used as a stick.
What Is the Relationship between Technological Innovation and Energy Consumption? Empirical Analysis Based on Provincial Panel Data from China
Authors: Jin Lei , Duan Keran , Tang Xu
Published: January 2018

This paper investigates the relationship between energy consumption and technological innovation using a dynamic panel data model and regional-level data from China for the period 1995–2012. In contrast to previous studies, it examines the short and long-run bilateral relationship between technological innovation and energy consumption. The results show that in the short run, technological innovation leads to an increase in energy consumption, while energy consumption has no significant effect on technological innovation. In the long run, however, energy consumption is positively and bilaterally related to technological innovation. These findings suggest that although technological innovation does not directly lead to a reduction in energy consumption as mentioned in the extant literature, it could help achieve sustainability through improving energy efficiency and developing energy structure for developing countries.
A Distributed Snapshot Protocol for Efficient Artificial Intelligence Computation in Cloud Computing Environments
Authors: Lim JongBeom , Gil Joon-Min , Yu HeonChang
Published: January 2018

Many artificial intelligence applications often require a huge amount of computing resources. As a result, cloud computing adoption rates are increasing in the artificial intelligence field. To support the demand for artificial intelligence applications and guarantee the service level agreement, cloud computing should provide not only computing resources but also fundamental mechanisms for efficient computing. In this regard, a snapshot protocol has been used to create a consistent snapshot of the global state in cloud computing environments. However, the existing snapshot protocols are not optimized in the context of artificial intelligence applications, where large-scale iterative computation is the norm. In this paper, we present a distributed snapshot protocol for efficient artificial intelligence computation in cloud computing environments. The proposed snapshot protocol is based on a distributed algorithm to run interconnected multiple nodes in a scalable fashion. Our snapshot protocol is able to deal with artificial intelligence applications, in which a large number of computing nodes are running. We reveal that our distributed snapshot protocol guarantees the correctness, safety, and liveness conditions.
Acknowledgement to Reviewers of Systems in 2017
Authors:   Systems Editorial Office
Published: January 2018

Peer review is an essential part in the publication process, ensuring that Systems maintains high quality standards for its published papers. In 2017, a total of 53 papers were published in the journal.[...]
A Pilot Qualitative Investigation of Stakeholders’ Experiences and Opinions of Equine Insect Bite Hypersensitivity in England
Authors: Lomas Hannah , Robinson Philip
Published: January 2018

Equine insect bite hypersensitivity (IBH), commonly known as sweet itch or summer eczema, is a frustrating recurrent skin disease in the equine industry involving an immune reaction to the bites of Culicoides spp. midges. To investigate the impact of IBH in the field, an exploratory pilot study was conducted with equine stakeholders in one region of central England. Nine semi-structured, face-to-face interviews were conducted with horse owners and an equine veterinarian. The aim was to gain an understanding of experiences with IBH, and to gauge opinions on the value of the various management strategies horse owners use to control IBH. Awareness of IBH was generally high, particularly in those individuals who had previous experience with the condition. Those with previous experience of IBH commented on the significant effect on daily routines, and the associated cost implications. Most participants supported an integrated approach to hypersensitivity management, and this most commonly involved a combination of physical barriers and chemical repellents, but sometimes included feed supplementation. Overall, attitudes towards IBH suggested that the condition is a notable welfare and economic concern for stakeholders, but veterinary involvement tended to only be in more severe cases. Further research is required in the future to improve understanding, management and potential treatment of this condition.
Evaluation of Thermal Stratification and Flow Field Reproduced by a Three-Dimensional Hydrodynamic Model in Lake Biwa, Japan
Authors: Koue Jinichi , Shimadera Hikari , Matsuo Tomohito , Kondo Akira
Published: January 2018

Water temperature near the surface of a lake increases with increasing air temperature, which results in stratification. The strength of stratification substantially influences the transport of water parcels from the surface to the bottom of a lake. In recent years, the stratification in Lake Biwa—the largest freshwater lake in Japan—has been stronger. However, it is difficult to reproduce the stratification well in the simulations. In the present study, we built a hydrodynamic model for the purpose of analyzing the structure of the stratification in detail. Using the model, we evaluated the reproducibility of the seasonal and annual changes of vertical water distribution and flow field in Lake Biwa from 2007 to 2011. The hydrodynamic model results show that the vertical water distribution approximately agrees with the field observations based on the statistical analysis. The seasonal change of thermal stratification is reasonably reproduced by the hydrodynamic model simulations. In the simulation, there are mainly two circulation flows at the surface layer of the lake. The first flows anticlockwise and the second flows clockwise in the northern part of Lake Biwa. In order to compensate for the surface water flow, the water under the thermocline sometimes flows in the opposite direction under each circulation flow.
Reasons for Lack of Referral to Medical Oncology for Systemic Therapy in Stage Iv Non-small-cell Lung Cancer: Comparison of 2003–2006 with 2010–2011
Authors: Ko J. J. , Tudor R. , Li H. , Liu M. , Skolnik K. , Boland W. Kells , Macklow J. , Morris D. , Bebb D. G.
Published: January 2018

Introduction: Only approximately 25% of stage iv non-small-cell lung cancer (nsclc) patients receive systemic therapy. For such patients, we examined factors affecting referral to a cancer centre (cc) and to medical oncology (mo), and use of systemic therapy. Methods: Using the Glans–Look Lung Cancer database, we completed a chart review of stage iv nsclc patients diagnosed in Southern Alberta during 2003–2006 and 2010–2011, comparing median overall survival (mos), referral, and treatment in the two cohorts. Results: Of the 922 patients diagnosed in 2003–2006 and the 560 diagnosed in 2010–2011, 94% and 82% respectively were referred to a cc, with 22% and 23% receiving traditional chemotherapy (tctx). Referral to a cc or mo and use of tctx correlated with survival (p < 0.0001): The mos duration was 11.2 months in those receiving tctx and 1.0 months in those not referred to a cc. The overall mos duration was similar in the two cohorts (4.1 months vs. 3.9 months, p = 0.47). Major reasons for lack of referral to mo included poor functional status, rapid decline, and patient wish, which were similar to the reasons for forgoing tctx. In the two cohorts, 87 (9.4%) and 42 (7.5%) patients received epidermal growth factor inhibitors, with a mos duration of 16.2 months. Multivariable analysis showed that male sex [hazard ratio (hr): 1.16; p = 0.008] and pulmonary embolus (hr: 1.2; p = 0.002) correlated with worse survival. In contrast, receipt of chemotherapy (hr: 0.5; p < 0.001) and enrolment in a clinical trial (hr: 0.76; p = 0.049) correlated with better survival. Conclusions: Our experience confirms that, over time, uptake of systemic therapy, including tctx and targeted therapy, changed little despite their established efficacy. Most of the factors limiting systemic therapy uptake appear to be non-modifiable at the time of referral. Rapid diagnosis and the availability of well-tolerated drugs for all nsclc patients will likely be the most important factors in increasing systemic therapy uptake in this population.
The Views of Patients with Brain Cancer about Palliative Care: A Qualitative Study
Authors: Vierhout M. , Daniels M. , Mazzotta P. , Vlahos J. , Mason W. P. , Bernstein M.
Published: January 2018

Background: Palliative care, a specialty aimed at providing optimal care to patients with life-limiting and chronic conditions, has several benefits. Although palliative care is appropriate for neurosurgical conditions, including brain cancer, few studies have examined the views of brain cancer patients about palliative care. We aimed to explore the thoughts of brain cancer patients about palliative care, their opinions about early palliative care, and their preferred care setting. Methods: Semi-structured interviews and the qualitative research methodologies of grounded theory were used to explore perceptions of palliative care on the part of 39 brain cancer outpatients. Results: Seven overarching actions emerged: (1) Patients would prefer to receive palliative care in the home. (2) Increased time with caregivers and family are the main appeals of home care. (3) Patients express dissatisfaction with brief and superficial interactions with health care providers. (4) Patients believe that palliative care can contribute to their emotional well-being. (5) Patients are open to palliative care if they believe that it will not diminish optimism. (6) There is a preconceived idea that palliative care is directly linked to active dying, and that supposed link generates fear in some patients. (7) Patients prefer to be educated about palliative care as an option early in their illness, even if they are fearful of it. Conclusions: Overall, when educated about the true meaning of palliative care, most patients express interest in accessing palliative care services. Although the level of fear concerning palliative care varies in patients, most recognize the associated benefits.
Systemic Therapy for Recurrent Epithelial Ovarian Cancer: A Clinical Practice Guideline
Authors: Francis Julie-Ann , Coakley N. , Elit L. , Mackay H.
Published: January 2018

Objective: The purpose of this guideline is to recommend systemic therapy options for women with recurrent epithelial ovarian cancer, including fallopian tube and primary peritoneal cancers. Methods: This document updates the recommendations published in the 2011 Optimal Chemotherapy for Recurrent Ovarian Cancer guideline from Cancer Care Ontario. Draft recommendations were formulated based on evidence obtained through a systematic review of phase II and III randomized controlled trials (RCTS). The draft recommendations underwent internal review by clinical and methodology experts, and external review by clinical practitioners through a survey assessing the clinical relevance and overall quality of the guideline. Feedback from the internal and external reviews was integrated into the clinical practice guideline. Results: The primary literature search yielded thirty-six primary research papers representing thirty RCTS that met the eligibility criteria. The guideline provides recommendations for patients with serous tumour histologies and with recurrent, platinum-resistant, and platinum-sensitive ovarian cancer. Conclusions: The body of evidence from trials that included olaparib and bevacizumab consistently shows a benefit in progression-free survival (PFS) without a corresponding benefit in overall survival (OS). The Working Group for this guideline designated PFS, which is associated with symptom control, as a critical outcome. A finding of net benefit can therefore be concluded based on significant differences in PFS. However, that benefit is not without identified harms. Given the identified harms, patient involvement in the decision-making process must take into consideration the side effect profiles of olaparib and bevacizumab within the context of improved PFS but minimal change in OS.
Evidence in Medicine: Math Versus Biology!
Authors: Younis Tallal , Thana M. , Skedgel C.
Published: January 2018

The drive for optimal clinical decisions based on "best" evidence has gained significant momentum in the last few decades. [...]
An HST/STIS Optical Transmission Spectrum of Warm Neptune GJ 436b
Authors: Lothringer Joshua D. , Benneke Björn , Crossfield Ian J. M. , Henry Gregory W. , Morley Caroline , Dragomir Diana , Barman Travis , Knutson Heather , Kempton Eliza , Fortney Jonathan , McCullough Peter , Howard Andrew W.
Published: January 2018

GJ 436b is a prime target for understanding warm Neptune exoplanet atmospheres and a target for multiple James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) Guaranteed Time Observation programs. Here, we report the first space-based optical transmission spectrum of the planet using two Hubble Space Telescope (HST) Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (STIS) transit observations from 0.53 to 1.03 μm. We find no evidence for alkali absorption features, nor evidence of a scattering slope longward of 0.53 μm. The spectrum is indicative of moderate to high metallicity (∼100–1000× solar), while moderate-metallicity scenarios (∼100× solar) require aerosol opacity. The optical spectrum also rules out some highly scattering haze models. We find an increase in transit depth around 0.8 μm in the transmission spectra of three different sub-Jovian exoplanets (GJ 436b, HAT-P-26b, and GJ 1214b). While most of the data come from STIS, data from three other instruments may indicate this is not an instrumental effect. Only the transit spectrum of GJ 1214b is well fit by a model with stellar plages on the photosphere of the host star. Our photometric monitoring of the host star reveals a stellar rotation rate of 44.1 days and an activity cycle of 7.4 years. Intriguingly, GJ 436 does not become redder as it gets dimmer, which is expected if star spots were dominating the variability. These insights into the nature of the GJ 436 system help refine our expectations for future observations in the era of JWST, whose higher precision and broader wavelength coverage will shed light on the composition and structure of GJ 436b’s atmosphere.
3D Electric Waveforms of Solar Wind Turbulence
Authors: Kellogg P. J. , Goetz K. , Monson S. J.
Published: January 2018

Electric fields provide the major coupling between the turbulence of the solar wind and particles. A large part of the turbulent spectrum of fluctuations in the solar wind is thought to be kinetic Alfvén waves; however, whistlers have recently been found to be important. In this article, we attempt to determine the mode identification of individual waveforms using the three-dimensional antenna system of the SWaves experiments on the STEREO spacecraft. Samples are chosen using waveforms with an apparent periodic structure, selected visually. The short antennas of STEREO respond to density fluctuations and to electric fields. Measurement of four quantities using only three antennas presents a problem. Methods to overcome or to ignore this difficulty are presented. We attempt to decide whether the waveforms correspond to the whistler mode or the Alfvén mode by using the direction of rotation of the signal. Most of the waveforms are so oblique—nearly linearly polarized—that the direction cannot be determined. However, about one third of the waveforms can be identified, and whistlers and Alfvén waves are present in roughly equal numbers. The selected waveforms are very intense but intermittent and are orders of magnitude stronger than the average, yet their accumulated signal accounts for a large fraction of the average. The average, however, is supposed to be the result of a turbulent mixture of many waves, not short coherent events. This presents a puzzle for future work.
An Excess of Low-mass X-Ray Binaries in the Outer Halo of NGC 4472
Authors: van Haaften Lennart M. , Maccarone Thomas J. , Sell Paul H. , Mihos J. Christopher , Sand David J. , Kundu Arunav , Zepf Stephen E.
Published: January 2018

We present new Chandra observations of the outer halo of the giant elliptical galaxy NGC 4472 (M49) in the Virgo Cluster. The data extend to 130 kpc (28′), and have a combined exposure time of 150 ks. After identifying optical counterparts using the Next Generation Virgo Cluster Survey to remove background active galactic nuclei and globular cluster (GC) sources, and correcting for completeness, we find that the number of field low-mass X-ray binaries (LMXBs) per unit stellar V-band light increases significantly with the galactocentric radius. Because the flux limit of the complete sample corresponds to the Eddington limit for neutron stars in NGC 4472, many of the ∼90 field LMXBs in this sample could host black holes. The excess of field LMXBs at large galactocentric radii may be partially caused by natal kicks on black holes and neutron stars in binary systems in the inner part of the galaxy. Furthermore, because the metallicity in the halo of NGC 4472 strongly decreases toward larger galactocentric radii, the number of field LMXBs per unit stellar mass is anticorrelated with metallicity, opposite to what is observed in GCs. Another way to explain the spatial distribution of field LMXBs is therefore a reversed metallicity effect, although we have not identified a mechanism to explain this in terms of stellar and binary evolution.
Unexpected Cyclic Behavior in Cosmic-Ray Protons Observed by PAMELA at 1 au
Authors: Adriani O. , Barbarino G. C. , Bazilevskaya G. A. , Bellotti R. , Boezio M. , Bogomolov E. A. , Bongi M. , Bonvicini V. , Bruno A. , Cafagna F. , Campana D. , Carlson P. , Casolino M. , Castellini G. , De Santis C. , Di Felice V. , Galper A. M. , Karelin A. V. , Koldashov S. V. , Koldobskiy S. , Krutkov S. Y. , Kvashnin A. N. , Leonov A. , Malakhov V. , Marcelli L. , Martucci M. , Mayorov A. G. , Menn W. , Mergè M. , Mikhailov V. V. , Mocchiutti E. , Monaco A. , Mori N. , Munini R. , Osteria G. , Panico B. , Papini P. , Pearce M. , Picozza P. , Pizzella G. , Ricci M. , Ricciarini S. B. , Simon M. , Sparvoli R. , Spillantini P. , Stozhkov Y. I. , Vacchi A. , Vannuccini E. , Vasilyev G. , Voronov S. A. , Yurkin Y. T. , Zampa G. , Zampa N.
Published: January 2018

Protons detected by the PAMELA experiment in the period 2006–2014 have been analyzed in the energy range between 0.40 and 50 GV to explore possible periodicities besides the well known solar undecennial modulation. An unexpected clear and regular feature has been found at rigidities below 15 GV, with a quasi-periodicity of ∼450 days. A possible Jovian origin of this periodicity has been investigated in different ways. The results seem to favor a small but not negligible contribution to cosmic rays from the Jovian magnetosphere, even if other explanations cannot be excluded.
Molecular phylogenetic reconstruction and localization of the (TTAGG)n telomeric repeats in the chromosomes of Acromyrmex striatus (Roger, 1863) suggests a lower ancestral karyotype for leafcutter ants (Hymenoptera)
Authors: Pereira Tássia Tatiane Pontes , Reis Ana Caroline Coelho Corrêa dos , Cardoso Danon Clemes , Cristiano Maykon Passos
Published: January 2018

Chromosome counts and karyotype characterization have proved to be important features of a genome. Chromosome changes during the diversification of ants might play an important role, given the diversity and success of Formicidae. Comparative karyotype analyses on ants have enriched and helped ant systematics. Among leafcutter ants, two major chromosome counts have been described, one frequent in Atta Fabricius, 1804 (2n = 22 in all Atta spp. whose karyotype is known) and the other frequent in Acromyrmex Mayr, 1865 (2n = 38 in the majority of species whose karyotype is known). The main exception is Acromyrmexstriatus (Roger, 1863), which harbors a diploid chromosome set of 22. Here we describe the use of fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) with telomeric probes with (TTAGG)6 repeats to describe the telomere composition of A.striatus and to recover potential interstitial non-telomeric signals that may reflect fusion events during the evolution of leafcutter lineage from 38 to 22 chromosomes. Further, we reconstruct the ancestral chromosome numbers of the leafcutter clade based on a recently proposed molecular phylogenetic hypothesis and phylogenomic tree. Distinct signals have been observed in both extremities on the telomere chromosomes of A.striatus. Non-telomeric signals have not been retrieved in our analysis. It could be supposed that the low-numbered karyotype indeed represents the ancestral chromosome number of leafcutters. The phylogenetic reconstruction also recovered a low chromosome number from the diverse approaches implemented, suggesting that n = 11 is the most likely ancestral karyotype of the leafcutter ants and is a plesiomorphic feature shared between A.striatus and Atta spp.
La recherche d’économies dans les collectivités territoriales : quels dispositifs pour quelles rationalités ? Plus de contrôle ou plus de pilotage ?
Authors: Carassus David , Guenoun Marcel , Samali Younes
Published: January 2018

Compte tenu du poids des concours financiers de l’État et de l’effet des transferts de fiscalité sur l’équilibre budgétaire de l’État, les finances locales forment une partie importante de l’ensemble interdépendant des finances publiques. Dès lors, la maîtrise des dépenses s’impose comme une nécessaire contribution des collectivités territoriales au redressement des comptes publics et au respect des engagements européens de la France. Dans ce contexte contraint, deux voies principales semblent exister, dans la littérature dédiée, pour maîtriser les dépenses locales. Tout d’abord, il apparaît possible de renforcer le contrôle des dépenses, par exemple en diminuant de manière significative les dépenses actuelles de fonctionnement, en reportant ou annulant des investissements, en diminuant les subventions et aides publiques, en augmentant les impôts locaux, en mettant plus de pression sur les fournisseurs, ou encore en augmentant les tarifs des prestations délivrées. Ensuite, il est aussi possible d’accroître les capacités locales de pilotage, en agissant sélectivement sur l’action publique et sur les dépenses de façon différenciée en analysant la valeur sociale créée pour l’usager au coût le plus faible, en réalisant des choix assumés, en produisant des arbitrages dans la mise en œuvre des processus budgétaires, ou en restructurant l’offre de service locale en connaissant mieux les satisfactions et besoins des usagers. Les résultats de notre recherche démontrent que les collectivités territoriales françaises, dans leur grande majorité, sont sensibilisées à la recherche de solutions d’économies, depuis une dizaine d’années, en raison de la dégradation de leurs situations financières. Il s’avère également que les outils et dispositifs mobilisés sont majoritairement guidés par une logique de contrôle des ressources. Aussi, les résultats mettent en évidence la faiblesse de la logique de pilotage, caractérisée, elle, par des outils et des actions ayant une dimension stratégique et politique. Focalisées sur une logique court-termiste, les solutions actuellement engagées, plus orientées contrôle , pourraient ainsi, à terme, impacter négativement l’offre de services locaux sans réelle maîtrise préalable.
L’Analyse du Cycle de Vie, nouvel outil d’évaluation environnementale à l’appui des politiques publiques locales : Quelle appropriation par les services d’assainissement ?
Authors: Guérin-Schneider Laetitia , Tabi Marie Tsanga
Published: January 2018

Les politiques de développement durable des collectivités manquent d’outils supports. Une recherche-intervention auprès de collectivités locales montre l’intérêt de l’analyse du cycle de vie (ACV) comme méthode d’évaluation environnementale pour appuyer la prise de décision publique. Cependant l’interprétation des résultats d’ACV reste difficile pour les non-spécialistes et les critères de décision classiques restent déterminants.
Pensée interprétante, joueuse ou rêveuse ?
Authors: Valon Philippe
Published: January 2018

En mettant en relief dans son rapport la pensée interprétante et le domaine intermédiaire, Emmanuelle Chervet reprend le chemin exploré en son temps par J.-B. Pontalis avec la pensée rêvante et l’entre-deux, et l’auteur s’attache ici à montrer les points de convergence et de divergence. L’interprétation a aussi beaucoup de points communs avec le mot d’esprit et le jeu, et leur principe de fonctionnement le Vorlust Princip , rappelé ici comme un des principes de fonctionnement majeurs de la pensée interprétante, de l’analyste et du patient.
Les sensations de processus, la sensibilité inconsciente de l’interprète
Authors: Cupa Dominique
Published: January 2018

L’auteure reprend la réflexion d’Emmanuelle Chervet sur la façon dont sensation intellectuelle et sensation de processus participent du processus psychique du psychanalyste sur la voie de l’interprétation. Elle s’interroge ensuite sur la place de la sensorialité, de la corporéité dans les processualités en question et avance que la sensibilité inconsciente du psychanalyste est alors en jeu, celle-ci étant du ressort du moi inconscient.
Le transitionnel, le rêve et l’interprétation
Authors: Abrevaya Elda
Published: January 2018

Dans le cas des fonctionnements non-névrotiques, il s’avère nécessaire d’organiser un espace psychique reposant sur des processus de base, parmi lesquels nous pourrions situer principalement le masochisme primaire érogène. La fonction transitionnelle des objets tant à l’intérieur de la scène analytique qu’à l’extérieur devient un moyen de réalisation pulsionnelle et de sublimation. Le rêve se situerait dans l’aire transitionnelle assurant une fonction transformatrice et rendant l’interprétation possible.
L’analyste comme relanceur ou lanceur d’alerte
Authors: Michel Luc
Published: January 2018

L’auteur s’appuie sur le rapport d’Emmanuelle Chervet pour discuter certains versants de l’interprétation qui se situent entre un pôle secondarisé et un autre beaucoup plus spontané et lié aux processus primaires. L’interprétation oscille ainsi entre technique et art. Accepter ou refuser un cadeau d’un analysant a, quoi qu’il en soit, valeur d’interprétation. Il compare enfin l’analyste et ses interprétations au rôle du relanceur dans certains sports et au lanceur d’alerte. Ce dernier, comme l’analyste, a l’intention d’enclencher et développer un processus.
L’interprétation en analyse avec les enfants : des spécificités ?
Authors: Lucas Gérard
Published: January 2018

Il n’existe pas de spécificité essentielle dans le travail interprétatif avec les enfants ; son contexte est à certains égards proche de beaucoup de pratiques des psychanalystes avec des adultes dont la névrose infantile s’est avérée défaillante.
La révélation de la certitude : ces interprétations qui n’en sont pas
Authors: Girard Martine
Published: January 2018

L’auteur resitue la phrase de Freud « J’ai réussi là où le paranoïaque échoue » entre Fliess et Schreber, autour d’une certaine rivalité/fascination pour le paranoïaque, puis en vient à la fascination des psychiatres pour les folies raisonnantes. L’auteur montre comment Dide, psychiatre contemporain de Freud, s’est efforcé en vain dans une lucidité prémonitoire de revendiquer l’individualisation des idéalistes passionnés au regard des interprétateurs délirants.
De la folie de l’interprétation à l’interprétation de la folie
Authors: Labbé Françoise
Published: January 2018

Partant de la situation clinique d’une enclave autistique chez un enfant ayant un fonctionnement en mosaïque, nous défendons l’idée que l’engagement transférentiel agi a eu une valeur interprétative majeure.
Interpréter, entre reconnaître et falsifier la réalité
Authors: Chervet Bernard
Published: January 2018

La qualité de l’interprétation dépend de l’usage qu’en fait le patient, en écart avec l’intention de l’analyste. Le désir d’interpréter est confronté à la réalité des tendances extinctives des pulsions, c’est-à-dire à la castration. Interpréter peut se mettre au service du déni de celle-ci, d’où la remise en cause à notre époque de la notion de faits, par celle de post-vérité.
Lire, c’est interpréter
Authors: Pragier Georges
Published: January 2018

Une lecture interprétative du texte biblique montre l’omniprésence de la sexualité. Dans le mythe de la Genèse, l’auteur isole des « vignettes cliniques » comme celle de la relation haineuse de Cham avec son père Noé, dont le talmudiste Rachi (1040‑1106) pense qu’il fut sodomisé et châtré. Il en résulte un véritable prélude à Totem et Tabou . Mais Freud a-t-il connu ces textes talmudiques ? À partir d’une lecture de ses Correspondances et de L’interprétation du rêve, l’auteur estime que si Freud, mécréant, n’a guère révélé de connaissance approfondie de l’exégèse, il a pu être, à son insu, imprégné par la tradition juive.
Visées de l’interprétation
Authors: Guégan Jean H.
Published: January 2018

Les travaux cliniques actuels sur l’interprétation insistent sur l’intensité des processus psychiques mis en jeu pendant les séances, tant du côté de l’analysant que du côté de l’analyste. S’appuyant sur la littérature analytique, l’auteur dirige sa réflexion sur les mouvements psychiques initiés par le contact entre l’analyste et l’œuvre d’art.
Patient, lacrimae rerum , interprète
Authors: Orasanu Brindusa
Published: January 2018

Le discours du patient est envisagé comme objet esthétique dont les signifiants formels peuvent présenter des aspects clivés. Leur formulation étant modifiée dans l’interprétation, l’espace de la séance devient tridimensionnel avec l’augmentation de son degré onirique et de « dramatisabilité » avec l’élargissement des possibilités d’association et la réduction des clivages. L’auteur prend comme points de repère les vignettes Georges (Éoche-Duval) et Providence (Chervet).
Pathophysiology of Corneal Scarring in Persistent Epithelial Defects After PRK and Other Corneal Injuries
Authors: Wilson Steven E. , Medeiros Carla S. , Santhiago Marcony R.
Published: January 2018

PURPOSE:

To analyze corneal persistent epithelial defects that occurred at 3 to 4 weeks after −4.50 diopter (D) photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) in rabbits and apply this pathophysiology to the treatment of persistent epithelial defects that occur after any corneal manipulations or diseases.

METHODS:

Two of 168 corneas that had −4.50 D PRK to study epithelial basement membrane regeneration developed spontaneous persistent epithelial defects that did not heal at 3 weeks after PRK. These were studied with slit-lamp photographs, immunohistochemistry for the myofibroblast marker alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), and transmission electron microscopy.

RESULTS:

Myofibroblasts developed at the stromal surface within the persistent epithelial defect and for a short distance peripheral to the leading edge of the epithelium. No normal epithelial basement membrane was detectable within the persistent epithelial defect or for up to 0.3 mm behind the leading edge of the epithelium, although epithelial basement membrane had normally regenerated in other areas of the zone ablated by an excimer laser where the epithelium healed promptly.

CONCLUSIONS:

A persistent epithelial defect in the cornea results in the development of myofibroblasts and disordered extracellular matrix produced by these cells that together cause opacity within, and a short distance beyond, the persistent epithelial defect. Clinicians should treat persistent epithelial defects within 10 days of non-closure of the epithelium to facilitate epithelial healing to prevent long-term stromal scarring (fibrosis).

[
J Refract Surg.
2018;34(1):59–64.]
Las reformas administrativas de la Casa de Medinaceli en sus dominios valencianos durante la segunda mitad del siglo XVIII
Authors: Gómez Benedito Vicente
Published: January 2018

Este artículo pretende analizar las reformas administrativas y los cambios que afrontó la Casa de Medinaceli en sus estados señoriales valencianos durante la segunda mitad del siglo XVIII. Para poder abordar este objetivo se ha consultado tanto el archivo nobiliario de la propia Casa como el del Reino de Valencia, donde se localizan los expedientes concernientes a los litigios judiciales que provocaron las reformas. Del estudio realizado se desprende que el mayor logro alcanzado por la casa nobiliaria fue la creación de la Contaduría Mayor de Valencia, que permitió no solo centralizar las decisiones y optimizar los recursos de gestión, también facilitó una auténtica profesionalización del personal. Este nuevo órgano de gestión proyectaba recuperar parte de los derechos y rentas perdidas en los últimos años, con la finalidad de drenar ingresos a la contaduría central de la Casa en Madrid, cada vez más asediada por los problemas financieros. Sin embargo, ninguna de las medidas tomadas por la contaduría valenciana alcanzó resultados positivos, debido a la creciente oposición antiseñorial.
Fugitivos en tránsito. El exilio republicano español a través de Portugal (1936-1950)
Authors: Velázquez Hernández Aurelio
Published: January 2018

Pese a que normalmente no ha sido suficientemente tenido en cuenta por la historiografía, Portugal jugó un relevante papel como estación de paso en el camino al exilio de numerosos republicanos españoles durante y tras la Guerra Civil. La situación en el país vecino para estas personas no fue nada sencilla pues el régimen de Antonio Oliveira de Salazar, aliado de Franco, no les reconocía como refugiados políticos por lo que como inmigrantes ilegales eran devueltos a España, lo que para muchos tendría catastróficas consecuencias. A partir del análisis de abundantes fuentes primarias en archivos de España, Portugal, México y Estados Unidos trataremos de comprender mejor los pormenores de esta estación portuguesa del exilio. Descubriremos cómo, a pesar de la postura oficial de las autoridades portuguesas existieron ciertos márgenes de ambigüedad que permitieron la salida de varios millares de españoles con destino a México y otros países. Y estudiaremos la intervención fundamental de organismos de ayuda internacionales como el Unitarian Service Committee.
A Look at the Inner Structure of the 2-adic Ring $C^*$-algebra and Its Automorphism Groups
Authors: Aiello Valeriano , Conti Roberto , Rossi Stefano
Published: January 2018

We undertake a systematic study of the so-called 2-adic ring

C^*

-algebra

\mathcal Q_2

. This is the universal

C^*

-algebra generated by a unitary

U

and an isometry

S_2

such that

S_2U=U^2S_2

and

S_2S_2^*+US_2S_2^*U^*=1

. Notably, it contains a copy of the Cuntz algebra

\mathcal O_2=C^*(S_1, S_2)

through the injective homomorphism mapping

S_1

to

US_2

. Among the main results, the relative commutant

C^*(S_2)'\cap \mathcal Q_2

is shown to be trivial. This in turn leads to a rigidity property enjoyed by the inclusion

\mathcal O_2\subset\mathcal Q_2

, namely the endomorphisms of

\mathcal Q_2

that restrict to the identity on

\mathcal O_2

are actually the identity on the whole

\mathcal Q_2

. Moreover, there is no conditional expectation from

\mathcal Q_2

onto

\mathcal O_2

. As for the inner structure of

\mathcal Q_2

, the diagonal subalgebra

\mathcal D_2

and

C^*(U)

are both proved to be maximal abelian in

\mathcal Q_2

. The maximality of the latter allows a thorough investigation of several classes of endomorphisms and automorphisms of

\mathcal Q_2

. In particular, the semigroup of the endomorphisms fixing

U

turns out to be a maximal abelian subgroup of Aut

(\mathcal Q_2)

topologically isomorphic with

C(\mathbb{T},\mathbb{T})

. Finally, it is shown by an explicit construction that Out

(\mathcal Q_2)

is uncountable and non-abelian.
Mather Discrepancy as an Embedding Dimension in the Space of Arcs
Authors: Mourtada Hussein , Reguera Ana J.
Published: January 2018

Let

X

be a variety over a field

k

and let

X_\infty

be its space of arcs. We study the complete local ring

\widehat{A}:=\widehat{{\cal O}_{X_\infty, P_{eE}}}

, where

P_{eE}

is the stable point defined by an integer

e \geq 1

and a divisorial valuation

\nu_E

on

X

. Assuming char

k =0

, we prove that embdim

\widehat{A} = e ( \widehat{k}_E + 1)

, where

\widehat{k}_E

is the Mather discrepancy of

X

with respect to

\nu_E

. We also obtain that dim

\widehat{A}

has as lower bound

e ( a_{\rm {MJ}}(E;X))

, where

a_{\rm {MJ}}(E;X)

is the Mather–Jacobian log-discrepancy of

X

with respect to

\nu_E

. For

X

normal and a complete intersection, we prove as a consequence that if

P_E

has codimension 1 in

X_\infty

then the discrepancy

k_E \leq 0

.