bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sulfur Oxygenase Reductase (Sor) in the Moderately Thermoacidophilic Leaching Bacteria: Studies in Sulfobacillus thermosulfidooxidans and Acidithiobacillus caldus
Authors: Janosch Claudia , Remonsellez Francisco , Sand Wolfgang , Vera Mario
Published: October 2015

The sulfur oxygenase reductase (Sor) catalyzes the oxygen dependent disproportionation of elemental sulfur, producing sulfite, thiosulfate and sulfide. Being considered an “archaeal like” enzyme, it is also encoded in the genomes of some acidophilic leaching bacteria such as Acidithiobacillus caldus, Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans, Acidithiobacillus ferrivorans and Sulfobacillus thermosulfidooxidans, among others. We measured Sor activity in crude extracts from Sb. thermosulfidooxidans DSM 9293T. The optimum temperature for its oxygenase activity was achieved at 75 °C, confirming the “thermophilic” nature of this enzyme. Additionally, a search for genes probably involved in sulfur metabolism in the genome sequence of Sb. thermosulfidooxidans DSM 9293T was done. Interestingly, no sox genes were found. Two sor genes, a complete heterodisulfidereductase (hdr) gene cluster, three tetrathionate hydrolase (tth) genes, three sulfide quinonereductase (sqr), as well as the doxD component of a thiosulfate quinonereductase (tqo) were found. Seven At. caldus strains were tested for Sor activity, which was not detected in any of them. We provide evidence that an earlier reported Sor activity from At. caldus S1 and S2 strains most likely was due to the presence of a Sulfobacillus contaminant.
Synthesis, Molecular Structure, Metabolic Stability and QSAR Studies of a Novel Series of Anticancer N-Acylbenzenesulfonamides
Authors: Żołnowska Beata , Sławiński Jarosław , Belka Mariusz , Bączek Tomasz , Kawiak Anna , Chojnacki Jarosław , Pogorzelska Aneta , Szafrański Krzysztof
Published: October 2015

A series of novel N-acyl-4-chloro-5-methyl-2-(R1-methylthio)benzenesulfonamides 18–47 have been synthesized by the reaction of N-[4-chloro-5-methyl-2-(R1-methylthio) benzenesulfonyl]cyanamide potassium salts with appropriate carboxylic acids. Some of them showed anticancer activity toward the human cancer cell lines MCF-7, HCT-116 and HeLa, with the growth percentages (GPs) in the range from 7% to 46%. Quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) studies on the cytotoxic activity of N-acylsulfonamides toward MCF-7, HCT-116 and HeLa were performed by using topological, ring and charge descriptors based on the stepwise multiple linear regression technique (MLR). The QSAR studies revealed three predictive and statistically significant models for the investigated compounds. The results obtained with these models indicated that the anticancer activity of N-acylsulfonamides depends on topological distances, number of ring system, maximum positive charge and number of atom-centered fragments. The metabolic stability of the selected compounds had been evaluated on pooled human liver microsomes and NADPH, both R1 and R2 substituents of the N-acylsulfonamides simultaneously affected them.
Olefin Metathesis Reaction in Water and in Air Improved by Supramolecular Additives
Authors: Tomasek Jasmine , Seßler Miriam , Gröger Harald , Schatz Jürgen
Published: October 2015

A range of water-immiscible commercially available Grubbs-type precatalysts can be used in ring-closing olefin metathesis reaction in high yields. The synthetic transformation is possible in pure water under ambient conditions. Sulfocalixarenes can help to boost the reactivity of the metathesis reaction by catalyst activation, improved mass transfer, and solubility of reactants in the aqueous reaction media. Additionally, the use of supramolecular additives allows lower catalyst loadings, but still high activity in pure water under aerobic conditions.
Iridoids and Flavonoids of Four Siberian Gentians: Chemical Profile and Gastric Stimulatory Effect
Authors: Olennikov Daniil , Kashchenko Nina , Chirikova Nadezhda , Tankhaeva Larisa
Published: October 2015

Some Gentiana species have been used by the nomadic people of Siberia as bitter teas or appetizers to eliminate digestive disorders (dyspepsia, heartburn, nausea, etc.). We studied the most frequently used gentians: Gentiana algida, G. decumbens, G. macrophylla and G. triflora. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the phytochemical features and gastrostimulatnt activity of these four gentian herbs. Five iridoids, seven flavones and mangiferin were detected in gentian herbs after analysis by microcolumn-RP-HPLC-UV-ESI-MS. A componential phytochemical profile of the G. decumbens herb is presented for the first time, as well as information about distinct phytochemicals found in gentian herbs. HPLC quantification of the specific compounds of gentian herbs demonstrated the high content of iridoids (24.73–73.53 mg/g) and flavonoids (12.92–78.14 mg/g). The results of biological activity evaluation of four gentian decoctions demonstrated their good ability to stimulate acid-, enzyme- and mucin-forming functions of the stomach attributed to mostly by iridoids and flavonoids. In general, it can be claimed that the gentian decoctions can be used as effective and safe appetizers and are also a good source of biologically active agents.
Greener Selective Cycloalkane Oxidations with Hydrogen Peroxide Catalyzed by Copper-5-(4-pyridyl)tetrazolate Metal-Organic Frameworks
Authors: Martins Luísa , Nasani Rajendar , Saha Manideepa , Mobin Shaikh , Mukhopadhyay Suman , Pombeiro Armando
Published: October 2015

Microwave assisted synthesis of the Cu(I) compound [Cu(µ4-4-ptz)]n [1, 4-ptz = 5-(4-pyridyl)tetrazolate] has been performed by employing a relatively easy method and within a shorter period of time compared to its sister compounds. The syntheses of the Cu(II) compounds [Cu3(µ3-4-ptz)4(µ2-N3)2(DMF)2]n∙(DMF)2n (2) and [Cu(µ2-4-ptz)2(H2O)2]n (3) using a similar method were reported previously by us. MOFs 1-3 revealed high catalytic activity toward oxidation of cyclic alkanes (cyclopentane, -hexane and -octane) with aqueous hydrogen peroxide, under very mild conditions (at room temperature), without any added solvent or additive. The most efficient system (2/H2O2) showed, for the oxidation of cyclohexane, a turnover number (TON) of 396 (TOF of 40 h−1), with an overall product yield (cyclohexanol and cyclohexanone) of 40% relative to the substrate. Moreover, the heterogeneous catalytic systems 1–3 allowed an easy catalyst recovery and reuse, at least for four consecutive cycles, maintaining ca. 90% of the initial high activity and concomitant high selectivity.
The Fifty Year Rehabilitation of the Egg
Authors: McNamara Donald
Published: October 2015

The 1968 American Heart Association announced a dietary recommendation that all individuals consume less than 300 mg of dietary cholesterol per day and no more than three whole eggs per week. This recommendation has not only significantly impacted the dietary patterns of the population, but also resulted in the public limiting a highly nutritious and affordable source of high quality nutrients, including choline which was limited in the diets of most individuals. The egg industry addressed the egg issue with research documenting the minimal effect of egg intake on plasma lipoprotein levels, as well as research verifying the importance of egg nutrients in a variety of issues related to health promotion. In 2015 dietary cholesterol and egg restrictions have been dropped by most health promotion agencies worldwide and recommended to be dropped from the 2015 Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
Posaconazole: An Update of Its Clinical Use
Authors: Leung Simon , Poulakos Mara , Machin Jade
Published: October 2015

Posaconazole (PCZ) is a relatively new addition to the azole antifungals. It has fungicidal activities against Aspergillus fumigatus, Blastomyces dermatitidis, selected Candida species, Crytopcoccus neoformans, and Trichosporon. PCZ also has fungistatic activities against Candida, Coccidioides, selected Fusarium spp., Histoplasma, Scedosporium and Zygomycetes. In addition, combining the drug with caspofungin or amphotericin B results in a synergistic interaction against A. fumigatus, C. glabrata and C. neoformans. The absorption of PCZ suspension is enhanced when given with food, nutritional supplements, and carbonated beverages. Oral administration of PCZ in divided doses also increases its bioavailability. PCZ has a large volume of distribution and is highly protein bound (>95%). The main elimination route of PCZ is fecal. PCZ is an inhibitor of the CYP3A4 enzyme; therefore, monitoring for drug-drug interactions is warranted with other CYP3A4 substrates/inhibitors/inducers. The most common adverse effects include headache, fatigue, nausea, vomiting and elevated hepatic enzymes. PCZ, with its unique antifungal activities, expands the azole class of antifungal agents. Because of its limit in formulation, PCZ oral suspension is recommended in immunocompromised patients with functional gastrointestinaltracts who fail conventional antifungal therapies or who are suspected to have a breakthrough fungal infection. However, a delayed-release tablet formulation and intravenous (IV) injection became available in 2014, expanding the use of PCZ in other patient populations, including individuals who are unable to take oral formulations.
Mitochondrial Proteomics of Antimony and Miltefosine Resistant Leishmania infantum
Authors: Vincent Isabel , Racine Gina , Légaré Danielle , Ouellette Marc
Published: October 2015

Antimony (SbIII) and miltefosine (MIL) are important drugs for the treatment of Leishmania parasite infections. The mitochondrion is likely to play a central role in SbIII and MIL induced cell death in this parasite. Enriched mitochondrial samples from Leishmania promastigotes selected step by step for in vitro resistance to SbIII and MIL were subjected to differential proteomic analysis. A shared decrease in both mutants in the levels of pyruvate dehydrogenase, dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase, and isocitrate dehydrogenase was observed, as well as a differential abundance in two calcium-binding proteins and the unique dynamin-1-like protein of the parasite. Both mutants presented a shared increase in the succinyl-CoA:3-ketoacid-coenzyme A transferase and the abundance of numerous hypothetical proteins was also altered in both mutants. In general, the proteomic changes observed in the MIL mutant were less pronounced than in the SbIII mutant, probably due to the early appearance of a mutation in the miltefosine transporter abrogating the need for a strong mitochondrial adaptation. This study is the first analysis of the Leishmania mitochondrial proteome and offers powerful insights into the adaptations to this organelle during SbIII and MIL drug resistance.
Le droit d'asile à Valenciennes aux XIVe et XVe siècles d'après les listes d'entrée en franchise
Authors: Cossé-Durlin Jeannine
Published: October 2015

Au Moyen Age Valenciennes était la seule ville du Hainaut à avoir le privilège d'accueillir ceux qui avaient commis un délit grave : blessures ou meurtre.

D'après les listes de franchises contenues dans les Registres des Choses Communes les arrivants furent nombreux (en dix- neuf ans à la fin du XIVe siècle on en dénombre 1041). Cet apport de main-d'œuvre n'était pas négligeable en temps de crise d'autant que la plupart venaient du Comté de Hainaut et parlaient une langue romane ce qui facilitait les contacts et l'assimilation. Ces entrées nombreuses s'expliquaient par la facilité de l'accueil ; nul ne s'inquiétait de savoir si le nouvel arrivant avait le bon droit pour lui et les deux jurés préposés demandaient seulement le nom et l'origine de celui qui se présentait ainsi que ceux de sa victime et le motif : navrure, double de mort ou mort. Le droit d'asile était alors coutume orale ; il le restera jusqu'en 1540. A partir de cette époque les listes s'amenuisent et le droit d'asile tombe en désuétude au XVIIe siècle ; en effet le droit écrit demandait que le meurtre fut de beau faut et leal ou que le requérant n 'ait été agresseur, restrictions fondamentales.
Peintures murales romaines fragmentaires à Bavay
Authors: Belot Eric
Published: October 2015

Bij de bouw van een supermarkt ten noorden van Bavay hebben archeologen een reeks overblijfselen ontdekt van een gebouw dat met de grond gelijk gemaakt en geëffend werd in de loop van de IIIe eeuw. Men vond daarin fragmenten van twee groepen beschilderde bepleistering. De eerste komt van een polychroom decor met panelen met effen achter- grond, waarop misschien een figuratief tafereel stond. Met de stukken van de tweede groep heeft men een compositie kunnen reconstitueren met een rode omlijsting en een zwart netwerk op een witte grond, boven een lager gedeelte met roze vlekken. Men kan uit de observatie van de techniek afleiden dat het hier niet om tweederangswerk gaat : de schijnbare eenvoud van het dekor gaat immers gepaard met een zeer verzorgde uitvoe- ring. Daar men in andere noordelijke sites gelijkaardige dekors heeft aangetroffen, kan men stellen dat het niet om een toevallig tot stand gekomen rudimentaire beschildering gaat, maar wel om een exemplaar van een specifieke decoratieve catégorie, waarvan men in de toekomst de geografische verspreiding en de chronologie zal moeten onderzoeken.
Une inscription monumentale à Bavay
Authors: Dupuis Xavier
Published: October 2015

A revision of the unedited epigraphic material of the Archaeology Museum of Bavay (Nord) stock made it possible to reunite five fragments belonging to the same monumental inscription. In spite of its mutilation and of the hypothetic character of the restoration, it looks as though the text mentions Emperor Septimius Severus and his wife Iulia Domna. This inscription probably comes from the forum and should apparently be related to the reconstruction of the city and its monumental centre ; moreover, the analysis of the fragments shows that it has later on been split up into pieces and used in the filling-in of the Lower Empire wall surrounding the forum.
Recherches archéologiques à Cassel (Nord) Castellum Menapiorum IV
Authors: Hanoune Roger , Muller Arthur
Published: October 2015

Voortzetting van de publicaties Cassel I, II en III. Resultaten van de proefopgraving van de muur aan de westkant van de heuvel, in 1985.

— bloodegging van récente aanbouw voor de ringmuur.

— preciesere gegevens over de fundering van de laatromeinse muur en de betreffende stratigrafie.

— bewijs van de gallische bezetting van de site (paalgaten en materiaal uit de laatste la Tènetijd).
Les fouilles du quartier Baudimont en 1985 : les monnaies
Authors: Gricourt Daniel
Published: October 2015

The new campaign of excavations carried out in 1985 on the Baudimont site in Arras, yielded 232 coins, a big part of which, 144 to be precise, was actually discovered on the structures currently studied (cf. in the same number the supplementary contributions of A. Jacques, M. Tuffreau-Libre, and E. Belot). This trove consists at first in 3 specimens dug out of a filling-in layer, while clearing a section of a castrum wall. The most recent item found in this layer dating back to the erection of the fort is an official antoninianus of Tetri- cus I (271-274) and brings thus a logical terminus post quern to the erection of this defensive structure. The remaining 141 coins were dug out of layers superposed to those of the « House with the mural paintings», which was previously found to have been abandonned about the beginning of the second half of the IVth century. A large proportion of them belongs to productions of the IVth quarter of the INrd century and the first half of the following century. In this regard, the total lack of coins dating from this new period of occupation (Valentinian and perhaps Theodosian periods) characterized by two buildings which may be thought of as a wooden shack and a cellar, makes us raise some doubts as to the use of these structures ad human dwelling places.
L'ermite et la mort durant le haut Moyen Age
Authors: Heuclin Jean
Published: October 2015

The questions raised by hermits in their relation with the world consist in knowing whether their presence in cemeteries is that of mere caretakers or that of organizers of the good death, creating thus the community of the living and the dead. As early as the Vth-VIth centuries the martyr's bloody offering for the conversion of the Barbarians tended to be rapidly replaced by the near vicinity of their cells in l'Isle-Aumont, Marville, Nivelles and Fuchaux, serve as focus for the community and integrate death to life. They make the stone sarcophagus into new baptismal fonts in which, with some humour, they lie after having washed and got dressed. Death is active, public and singing.

In the VHIth century a more anxious death, marked by confession, appears among the Vosges hermits and those who had assumed episcopal functions.

Boniface's authoritarian methods brought about a pessimistic clericalisation of death until the IXth-Xth centuries.
L'hypothèse du «groupe épiscopal» de Thérouanne
Authors: Bernard Honoré
Published: October 2015

In de verdwenen stad Terwaan stond er waarschijnlijk, in de vroege middeleeuwen, een intéressant bisschoppelijk gebouwencomplex. Opgravingen in het koor van de kate- draal hebben niet alleen overblijfselen van Karolingische en laat-antieke bouwwerken aan het licht gebracht, maar daarbij ook sporen van latere, religieuze, gebouwen.

In een vorige bijdrage hebben wij al een schets gegeven van de drie gebouwen die opge- trokken werden op de rooilijn van het latere transept. Het noordelijke heiligdom dat waarschijnlijk groter is geweest dan men aanvankelijk vermoedde, begint de vorm aan te nemen van een basiliek, met aan de zuidkant een kleine kapel waaraan later Karolingische cryptes toegevoegd werden. De zuidelijke bouw nu ligt gedeeltelijk begraven onder de gotische dwarsbeuk, maar men herkent wel een kleine rechthoekige zaal met absiskapel- len aan de zijkant. Gaat het hier om een baptisterium ? Het is niet uitgesloten dat het gebouwencomplex alleen uit deze tot nog toe aan het licht gebrachte gebouwen bestond.

Uit een onlangs aan de hand van luchtfoto's uitgevoerde studie van de agglomeratie en de vergelijking met oude kaarten blijkt dat het complex gesitueerd was op een groot ter- rein aan de zuidwestelijke hoek van de versterkte schans uit het late Keizerrijk. Net als bij de bisschopsgebouwen in Trier en Aquilea volgen de gebouwen hier ook het tracé van een antieke en intra muros bewaarde straat die naar een poort in de omwalling leidde waar nu de chemin Saint-Jean uitkomt, de belangrijkste middeleeuwse straat in de richting van het wed waar ook de Romeinse weg de Leie kruiste.
Le quartier Saint-Brice de Tournai à l'époque mérovingienne
Authors: Brulet Raymond , Ghenne-Dubois M.-J. , Coulon Gérard
Published: October 2015

In spite of the exceptional interest of the St Brice site from its archeological as well as its historical point of view, no further digs had been made to confirm the existence of a necropolis around the royal sepulchre of Childeric since it was explored in the XVIIth century.

A large scale operation was launched in 1983 to sound the grounds in a hundred meter area around the tomb of the Merovingian king. Besides traces of roman and medieval settlements a graveyard from the Vth, VIth and Vllth centuries was discovered in the district. About a hundred graves, most of them from the early VIth century have been explored. They contained a variety of funeral offerings. Three graves of horses, containing about ten animals per pit, were found in the vicinity of the royal sepulchre. The C14 tests established that all of them were roughly of the same period.
Saint Bavon et les origines de Gand
Authors: Verhulst Adriaan
Published: October 2015

Deze studie wil in de eerste plaats bepalen waar de broeders van een kort daarvoor door Sint Amands aan de samenvloeing van Leie en Schelde, te Gent, gestichte gemeenschap een eel bouwden voor kluizenaar Bavo. De auteur situeert deze eel op de plaats van de huidige Sint-Baafskathedraal, waar, volgens hem, voor 804 de oudste stadskerk werd gebouwd. Deze aan Sint Jan-Baptist, patroon van de hermieten, en aan Sint-Baafs gewijde kerk lag aan de rand van een reeds bestaande agglomeratie en zal in de IXe-Xe eeuw het centrum van een handelsnederzetting op de westelijke Scheldeoever worden.
Investigation of the role of stereoelectronic effects in the conformation of piperidones by NMR spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction
Authors: Garcias-Morales Cesar , Ortegón-Reyna David , Ariza-Castolo Armando
Published: October 2015

This paper reports the synthesis of a series of piperidones1–8by the Mannich reaction and analysis of their structures and conformations in solution by NMR and mass spectrometry. The six-membered rings in 2,4,6,8-tetraphenyl-3,7-diazabicyclo[3.3.1]nonan-9-ones, compounds1and2, adopt a chair–boat conformation, while those in 2,4-diphenyl-3-azabicyclo[3.3.1]nonan-9-ones, compounds3–8, adopt a chair–chair conformation because of stereoelectronic effects. These stereoelectronic effects were analyzed by the1JC–Hcoupling constants, which were measured in the13C satellites of the1H NMR spectra obtained with the hetero-dqf pulse sequence. In the solid state, these stereoelectronic effects were investigated by measurement of X-ray diffraction data, the molecular geometry (torsional bond angles and bond distances), and inter- and intramolecular interactions, and by natural bond orbital analysis, which was performed using density functional theory at the ωB97XD/6311++G(d,p) level. We found that one of the main factors influencing the conformational stability of3–8is the interaction between the lone-pair electrons of nitrogen and the antibonding sigma orbital of C(7)–Heq(nN→σ*C–H(7)eq), a type of hyperconjugative interaction.
Combination Therapy with Lopinavir/Ritonavir, Ribavirin and Interferon-α for Middle East Respiratory Syndrome
Authors: Kim Uh Jin , Won Eun-Jeong , Kee Seung-Jung , Jung Sook-In , Jang Hee-Chang
Published: October 2015

Since the first report of Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) in 2012 in Saudi Arabia, no standard treatment guideline has been set despite the virulence of MERS-coronavirus (CoV) and the high case-fatality rate. The outbreak in South Korea in 2015 demonstrates that MERS outbreaks can occur outside of the Middle East. The combination of ribavirin and interferon-α has been the most widely used therapy for this infection. However, due to the varying results of treatment with these drugs, a new antiviral combination regimen is urgently needed. This is a case report of use of lopinavir/ritonavir-based combination antiviral therapy for a patient with MERS-CoV infection.
Le dollar à l’épreuve de la crise financière
Authors: Bussière Matthieu , Gilliot Magali , Grossmann-Wirth Vincent
Published: October 2015

Le creusement du déficit courant américain dans les années 2000, puis le fait que la crise financière est née aux États-Unis laissaient présager une poursuite de la dépréciation de la devise américaine. Sept ans après la faillite de Lehman Brothers, le dollar est au contraire au plus haut en termes effectifs depuis plus de dix ans. Si le mouvement d’appréciation récent est à rapprocher du décalage des cycles économiques, la bonne tenue du dollar depuis le début de la crise financière tient aussi au statut de valeur refuge de la devise américaine. Le dollar est en effet resté prédominant dans le système monétaire international, comme l’illustre la part de la devise américaine dans les détentions de réserves, les paiements internationaux ou les émissions de dette, dans les pays avancés comme dans les pays émergents. Classification JEL : E58, F31, F33, G01.
L’euro sur la scène internationale après la crise financière et celle de la dette
Authors: Mehl Arnaud
Published: October 2015

L’éclatement de la crise financière et de celle de la dette ont nourri nombre de discussions quant aux initiatives nouvelles qui permettraient d’améliorer la gouvernance économique de la zone euro et de compléter l’Union économique et monétaire (UEM). Pour autant, depuis son lancement et encore aujourd’hui, l’euro reste la deuxième devise mondiale. La position de la Banque centrale européenne (BCE) vis-à-vis de l’internationalisation de l’euro – c’est-à-dire de ne pas encourager ni décourager l’utilisation de sa monnaie hors de la zone euro – est aussi ancienne que la BCE elle-même. Et plus de quinze ans après ces discussions, il est frappant d’observer que nombre d’arguments mobilisés à l’époque, dans un sens ou dans un autre, demeurent d’actualité. La crise financière et celle de la dette ont néanmoins en partie renouvelé ce débat. Les autorités européennes peuvent contribuer à asseoir le statut de l’euro au plan international indirectement en complétant l’UEM. Si l’euro venait à jouer un rôle plus important au plan mondial, ce changement constituerait une indication de leur succès à compléter l’UEM. Classification JEL : E58, F31, F33, G01, H63.
Les politiques monétaires des pays de l’OCDE confrontées à la faiblesse structurelle de l’inflation et à leur inefficacité croissante
Authors: Artus Patrick
Published: October 2015

Les pays de l’OCDE connaissent une faiblesse croissante de l’inflation due à des causes structurelles : la perte de pouvoir de négociation des salariés sur les marchés du travail et le recul durable des prix des matières premières. Cette situation pousse les banques centrales, qui ont conservé leurs objectifs anciens d’inflation, à mener des politiques monétaires expansionnistes. Par ailleurs, les politiques monétaires des pays de l’OCDE sont de moins en moins efficaces pour relancer l’activité et l’inflation, en particulier avec la hausse continuelle des taux d’endettement qui fait disparaître le canal du crédit de la politique monétaire. La combinaison d’une inflation structurellement inférieure à l’objectif d’inflation des banques centrales et de l’inefficacité croissante des politiques monétaires conduit à un biais expansionniste croissant des politiques monétaires avec les risques associés : bulles sur les prix des actifs, excès de liquidité oscillant entre les différentes classes d’actifs et devises, et variabilité excessive des prix des actifs et des taux de change. Classification JEL : E58, F32.
Bras de fer avec la volatilité : quelles options de politique pour les marchés émergents ?
Authors: Turner Philip
Published: October 2015

L’adoption de politiques monétaires non conventionnelles et très expansionnistes dans les économies avancées a supprimé la volatilité des marchés obligataires et entraîné une baisse des rendements. L’inversion de ce processus pourrait avoir des conséquences considérables sur les obligations des pays émergents. Cet article examine les options qui s’offrent aux banques centrales de ces pays – modifications du taux directeur, interventions sur le marché des changes, aménagements du régime des réserves obligatoires et opérations interventionnistes sur les marchés obligataires. Classification JEL : E43, E52, E58, E63.
Quel régime monétaire pour les émergents après la normalisation ?
Authors: Cartapanis André , Gimet Céline
Published: October 2015

Pour les économies émergentes, le retour annoncé à des politiques monétaires conventionnelles aux États-Unis, qui se traduira par une remontée des taux directeurs américains et une réduction de la liquidité globale, pose la question du régime monétaire qu’adopteront ces pays pour assurer une croissance stable sans instabilité financière dans la période d’après-crise. Par régime monétaire, on entend la combinaison des règles de politique monétaire, des objectifs de stabilité financière et du choix d’un régime de change. Après avoir examiné le régime monétaire des émergents face aux politiques monétaires non conventionnelles depuis la crise, on s’intéresse aux spillovers internationaux provoqués par la politique monétaire américaine, avant d’analyser les divers dilemmes ou trilemmes entre lesquels devront arbitrer les banquiers centraux des pays émergents pour définir leur régime monétaire après la normalisation. Classification JEL : E58, F31, F33, F38, O16.
Faire du DTS le principal actif de réserve international
Authors: Icard André
Published: October 2015

Cet article vis à démontrer qu’au prix d’efforts institutionnels limités, le droit de tirage spécial (DTS) pourrait jouer un rôle beaucoup plus important dans les réserves internationales des banques centrales et que cette évolution pourrait améliorer significativement le fonctionnement du système monétaire international. Par opposition aux ambitions affichées dans les statuts du FMI, le DTS n’a occupé jusqu’à ce jour qu’une place mineure dans la composition des réserves internationales. Pourtant, il se révèle être un instrument de qualité et un usage plus intensif faciliterait la gestion de la liquidité globale tout en réduisant l’effet du « dilemme de Triffin ». Toutefois y parvenir impliquerait de rendre son usage plus facile et attractif et de le faire évoluer vers un statut d’instrument de marché, avec notamment la création d’un marché spécifique et la création d’un lien entre DTS « officiels » et « privés ». Même si ces évolutions n’impliqueraient pas ou très peu d’aménagements institutionnels, ils ne peuvent se concevoir sans un fort engagement politique. Classification JEL : F31, F32.
Vers la fin du secret bancaire dans les centres financiers offshore : une question d’éthique et de concurrence fiscale
Authors: Bourgain Arnaud
Published: October 2015

Cette contribution présente différentes analyses du secret bancaire et de sa fin probable dans les centres financiers offshore selon deux points de vue complémentaires. D’une part, l’existence du secret bancaire est une question éthique qui soulève le problème du respect de la confidentialité, de l’égalité devant l’impôt et de l’évasion fiscale, mais aussi du soutien à des systèmes économiques fondés sur l’opacité et la captation de rentes. Parallèlement, la transmission d’informations à des fins fiscales est analysée par quelques modèles économiques récents qui permettent d’envisager les effets indirects et relativement complexes d’un changement des conditions de la concurrence internationale sur l’attrait de capitaux. Ces deux approches complémentaires peuvent s’enrichir l’une de l’autre. Classification JEL : G18, G28, H26, H87.
Crédibilité de la banque centrale et soutenabilité de la politique budgétaire
Authors: Labye Agnès
Published: October 2015

Depuis le début de la crise de 2008, la question de la crédibilité des banques centrales est à nouveau d’actualité. En effet, malgré leur indépendance et la réussite de leur politique monétaire axée sur la stabilité des prix, les banques centrales n’ont pas été en mesure d’assurer la stabilité financière. Pour rétablir celle-ci et sauver les systèmes bancaires, les banques centrales et les États, dont les déficits se sont fortement accrus, ont dû mener des actions conjointes inédites. Cet article a pour objet de montrer le caractère inapproprié de la littérature monétariste consacrée à la crédibilité de la banque centrale antérieure à la crise et la dépendance inévitable entre les politiques monétaire et budgétaire mettant en cause l’indépendance des banques centrales qu’elles souhaitent préserver en cherchant à « déconnecter » la crise bancaire de celle de la dette souveraine, notamment en Europe. L’observation des résultats permet de constater que les choix opérés par les banques centrales, consistant pour l’essentiel à fournir de la liquidité n’ont fait que renforcer leur crédibilité et non la diminuer. Classification JEL : E58, E63.
Prestations sociales : la dissuasion organisée
Authors: Petersell Laura
Published: October 2015

Pourquoi toutes les personnes potentiellement bénéficiaires de prestations sociales ne font-elles pas valoir leurs droits ? Choix politique ou crainte d'être taxées d'« assistées » ? En réalité, le non-recours aux droits sociaux, dont les conséquences pour les étrangers sont particulièrement violentes, résulte d'une multiplicité d'obstacles. Méconnaissance des droits, complexité des textes, pratique d'exclusion des administrations se conjuguent pour dissuader les étrangers de faire valoir leurs droits.
OS immigrés de Citroën et Talbot : l’insubordination en partage (1982-1984)
Authors: Gay Vincent
Published: October 2015

Alors que les mobilisations liées à l’immigration au début des années 1980 sont souvent pensées en lien avec la Marche pour l’égalité et contre le racisme, les grèves des ouvriers immigrés de Citroën et Talbot replacent la question migratoire au cœur des luttes du monde du travail.
Gamifying the Project in Hardware-based Courses
Authors: Ristov Sasko , Ackovska Nevena , Kirandziska Vesna
Published: October 2015

Using elements of games in the non-gaming systems is known as gamification. It is used recently in many areas to improve some processes. For example, it alleviates the teaching and learning. Students surmount some learning objectives easier if they play games where they are challenged with rivalry factors and collaborate more among each other. This paper presents a new approach of gamifying the practical project in the hardware-based course Microprocessors and Microcontrollers for computer science students. This change significantly improved the course - not only that it improved the average grade of the passed students, but it provoked the students to enroll in other hardware courses of the upper semesters. Even more so, some diploma theses involving microcontrollers were developed for the first time.
Student-Graded Oral Presentations
Authors: Ågren Ola M.
Published: October 2015

We describe a way to use peer-graded oral presentations as a way of reducing the load on the teacher, and show that almost identical results as can be achieved as with teacher graded presentations. Moreover, we have found that very little in the form of explicit criteria are needed.
Students’ Perception of Different Learning Options and Use of Authentic Research Papers in a First Year Engineering Course
Authors: Schmidt Bjarne
Published: October 2015

This case study presents a teaching strategy for an engineering dynamics course using a range of different learning options supporting different learning styles. The teaching strategy was implemented in a blended learning environment by combining traditional lectures with online resources. Additionally, hand-in assignments based on authentic research papers were introduced. Two sets of questionnaires were given to evaluate the students’ perception of the different learning options. The study shows that the students found online pencasts very useful as a means to increase the outcome of studying a traditional textbook. The implementation of an electronic audience response system to enhance active learning by peer instruction in combination with traditional lecturing was highly appreciated by the students. The students found it difficult and time consuming to work with real research papers but many students expressed that it was stimulating to see that the theory is used today by practitioners in engineering. Finally, the study indicates that the proposed teaching strategy as estimated by the students leads to increased motivation and engagement in their study.
Badge Architectures as Tools for Sense-Making and Motivation in Engineering Education
Authors: Rughinis Razvan , Matei Stefania
Published: October 2015

In this paper we argue that badge architectures are narrative, material and performative repertoires which can be meaningfully employed to provide university students with a coherent understanding of education. Badge architectures function as powerful interpretative tools through which students make sense of their immediate learning world. However, the efficiency of badges in education depends on associated structures of distribution, procurement and display that articulate modes of participation within a local community of practice. By considering our experience in the design, implementation and evaluation of the badge system ‘RL Hit List’, we claim that more insightful perspectives emerge from considering motivation as a socio-technical accomplishment than as a state of mind. This view might be read as an invitation for designers and researchers to reconsider the intrinsic - extrinsic dichotomy in assessing the value of badges to motivate students.
Web 2.0 Technologies and Marketing
Authors: Simões Dora , Filipe Sandra
Published: October 2015

This chapter reports on the use of social media marketing by pre-adults, setting off from a case study of pre-adults of different courses at a Portuguese higher education school. Data were collected through a questionnaire available online and analyzed with descriptive statistical techniques. Based on the pointed outlines, the aim is to evaluate longitudinally the types of social media used by pre-adults, the contexts in which they use each social media type, their opinions about the intentions of social media marketing and the influences of social media marketing on their brand knowledge, attitude and behaviour. Tendencies around concepts, tools and levels of attraction by the audiences, with focus on relationship marketing in the 2.0 era are revisited. Furthermore, the chapter presents the perception of pre-adults about social media marketing, and contributes with critical information that might help cast light over recent theories and practices of social media marketing.
Managing Digital Bonds in the Buyer-Supplier Relationships
Authors: Salo Jari , Pedeliento Giuseppe , Wendelin Robert
Published: October 2015

Among the multiple forms of bonding which can help companies to build and maintain buyer-supplier relationships, digital bonds, i.e. ties between an industrial buyers and suppliers formed when the IT systems of the parties are shared and integrated, are increasingly recognized as a strategic mean of customer retention. Despite several studies have unveiled which factors enable and constrain the companies' adoption of IT systems, we still have limited knowledge of how different types of digital bonds can be strategically managed. In this chapter we first provide a digital bond matrix in which four different types of digital bonds are identified. Then the proposed matrix is empirically validated by analyzing four different case studies representative of each digital bond identified. Finally, the matrix is applied as a device to inform strategic actions and decisions that can/should be undertaken to improve firms' digital bonds portfolio.
The Role of Customer Relationship Management in the Global Business Environments
Authors: Kasemsap Kijpokin
Published: October 2015

This chapter reveals the role of customer relationship management (CRM) in the global business environments, thus describing the theoretical and practical concept of CRM; the components of CRM in terms of key customer focus (KCF), CRM organization, knowledge management (KM), and technology-based CRM; the significance of CRM in global business; the significance of organizational characteristics in CRM; and the implementation of CRM in global business. The achievement of CRM is vital for modern organizations that seek to serve suppliers and customers, increase business performance, strengthen competitiveness, and acquire routine success in global business. Thus, it is essential for modern organizations to consider their CRM applications, create a strategic plan to consistently investigate their dynamic promotions, and instantly respond to CRM needs of customers. Applying CRM will significantly improve organizational performance and accomplish strategic goals in the global business environments.
Upgrading Marketing Research
Authors: Gorgiev Anka , Dimitriadis Nikolaos
Published: October 2015

The following chapter focuses on the recent developments in the marketing industry resulting from the rise of neuromarketing. It offers analysis of the problems initiated by the traditional marketing research approaches and how these problems are being resolved by implementation of neuromarketing techniques. Moreover, both physiological and neurological measures are explained, providing advantages and disadvantages of all available neuromarketing tools that may be used in overcoming previously mentioned problems. Finally, the authors provide initial insights from a small scale qualitative research conducted among representatives from all segments of marketing industry.
Organisational Structure in Small and Medium Enterprises
Authors: Bozhilov Martin , Ozuem Wilson
Published: October 2015

Extant studies conducted in regard to organisational structures have produced unclear and descriptive knowledge, applicable only in theory. As a result, a confusing mixture of hypotheses, recommendations, and decision-making rules has been created, without actually contributing to the practical application of designing an organisational structure. This chapter considers contrasting scholarly and practitioners' perspectives and offers a new prism on the role of organisational structure in small and medium enterprises.
Organizational Learning and Innovation
Authors: Maroofi Fakhraddin , Kahrarian Fatemeh
Published: October 2015

In this paper, the focus is on an organization's ability to systematically generate value innovation initiatives. Especially in the context of fundamental new strategic moves, researchers have begun to stress the importance of deliberate mechanisms for learning. Building further on this theme, this paper focuses on the relationship between learning mechanisms that an organization establishes deliberately and its value innovation ability. Prevailing studies have demonstrated the importance of learning from an organization's innovation outcome. Although marketing scholars have emphasized both the consequence of internal learning mechanisms and of external learning through supply chain partners research findings on how these factors affect each other are merely lacking. We used a variance-based structural equations modeling technique (SEM) for the analyses, namely PLS-Graph 3.0. Analyzing survey data of 91 industrial firms, we examine how information supplied by upstream and downstream supply chain parties simplifies the effect of internal deliberate learning mechanisms on value innovation capability. PLS analysis of survey data suggests that value innovation capacity is strengthened when managers deliberately install specific learning mechanisms on the ability to receive. The results also suggest that internal learning mechanisms and external information exchange do not always work in a symbiotic manner. Results complement existing research by indicating the importance of deliberate action when attempting to break through existing industry practices.
Strategic Crowdsourcing as an Emerging Form of Global Entrepreneurship
Authors: Szopa Anna , Kopeć Katarzyna Dorota
Published: October 2015

Entrepreneurs are looking for effective ways to internationalize their business ideas. Online crowdsourcing platforms enable them to access vast resources held by geographically scattered individuals with different backgrounds who are outside an organization's boundaries. Entrepreneurs leverage knowledge and services from a crowd (an undefined group of web users) through an open online call for solution. Presented analysis will help to understand better the relationship between crowdsourcing business model and global entrepreneurship. Crowdsourcing process goes beyond achieving an efficiency-driven economy stage. The new venture reflects better competitiveness and economic-development performance.
Motivations and Challenges of Female Entrepreneurship in Developed and Developing Economies
Authors: Chandan Harish C.
Published: October 2015

Globally, women entrepreneurs manage micro enterprises, social enterprises, small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs) and knowledge-based businesses. The entrepreneurship rates for women vary globally and, in general, are smaller than those for men. Both the Individual-centric approach and country-specific approach is necessary since women in different countries operate in a specific socioeconomic context (Singh, 2012; Pathak et al., 2013). For increasing the entrepreneurial rates of women businesses in a country, one has to consider the individual, psychological, socioeconomic and political context including education, mentoring, financial support, networking, and social, cultural and religious norms (GEM, 2014). An egalitarian social paradigm is proposed which removes social, cultural and religious constraints for women and counts on men to share equally in the household and family care activities. The motivations and challenges, of women entrepreneurs have to be understood in the context of the gender role and the duality of modernization vs. tradition (Belwal, 2014).
Innovative Management of Spanish Academic Science Parks
Authors: Cerdan-Chiscano Monica , Jimenez-Zarco Ana Isabel , Torrent-Sellens Joan
Published: October 2015

The correct management of academic science parks is strategic for universities, as well as has synergistic effect for companies there in installed. Park managers choose who the tenants for the parks are, but also they take other strategic decisions relative to: (a) academic spin-offs creation, (b) investment in technology-based companies, o (c) consolidation the start-ups that have finished their incubation period. Managers have tools to increase quality decisions and reduce the level of risk associated. However, the park' nature and characteristics are unique, thus tools must be flexible, and able to adapt to the changing reality of the companies, park and environment. Based on the previous ideas, the present chapter proposes to design and test a management tool for science parks based on organizations and entrepreneur's characteristics. Results obtained show that the tool is very useful, due that its simplicity, flexibility and adaptability for be used in any Science Park.
Problems Preventing Growth of Small Entrepreneurs
Authors: Swami Bonu , Mphele G. T. J.
Published: October 2015

Lack of growth of small entrepreneurs can be attributed to insufficient support by the Government through its support programs as well as to their own internal weaknesses in terms of applying the right business strategies. An inductive, quantitative approach was used for carrying out the research. The data was collected through questionnaire method from three localities selected at random from sub-urban areas of Botswana, a landlocked country in Southern Africa. Most of the problems preventing growth of small entrepreneurs were lack of funds and difficulty in accessing Government support programs. The study recommends that the Government should provide training about viable small entrepreneurs which are highly recommended for funding and owners should change their approach to running business and engage in efficient business strategies that can give them growth. These recommendations, if applied properly will create small entrepreneurs growth not only in sub-urban areas of Botswana but also elsewhere.
Content Based Image Retrieval System
Authors: Omar Mohd , Ahmad Khaleel , Rizvi M.A.
Published: October 2015

In a world of virtualization, where we are having a larger source of images and descriptions available to modern world and based on their requirement it has been utilized from stored information, data center or cloud to larger audience, but at same time rising number of images requires good tools to store the data and retrieve data. Along with this there is a major importance of Quick search and retrieval tools for these growing images to retrieve information quickly and accurately. High demand for automated or computer assisted classification, query and retrieval methods is required to access huge image databases because such method will try to overcome the drawback of higher cost of manual classification and retrieval of relevant image. Scope as researchers to develop automated methods in image features for indexing and retrieval of images related to texture, feature and color is in demand.