bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Vineyard Detection and Vine Variety Discrimination from Very High Resolution Satellite Data
Authors: Karakizi Christina , Oikonomou Marios , Karantzalos Konstantinos
Published: March 2016

In order to exploit remote sensing data operationally for precision agriculture applications, efficient and automated methods are required for the accurate detection of vegetation, crops and different crop varieties. To this end, we have designed, developed and evaluated an object-based classification framework towards the detection of vineyards, the vine canopy extraction and the vine variety discrimination from very high resolution multispectral data. A novel set of spectral, spatial and textural features, as well as rules, segmentation scales and a set of parameters are proposed based on object-based image analysis. The validation of the developed methodology was carried out on multitemporal WorldView-2 satellite data at four different viticulture regions in Greece. Concurrent in situ canopy reflectance observations were acquired from a portable spectroradiometer during the field campaigns. The performed quantitative evaluation indicated that the developed approach managed in all cases to detect vineyards with high completeness and correctness detection rates, i.e., over 89%. The vine canopy extraction methodology was validated with overall accuracy (OA) rates of above 96%. The quantitative evaluation regarding the vine variety discrimination task, including experiments with up to six different varieties, reached OA rates above 85% at the parcel level. The combined analysis of the experimental results with the spectral signatures from the in situ reflectance data indicated that certain vine varieties (e.g., Merlot) presented distinct spectral patterns across the VNIR spectrum.
An SDR-Based Real-Time Testbed for GNSS Adaptive Array Anti-Jamming Algorithms Accelerated by GPU
Authors: Xu Hailong , Cui Xiaowei , Lu Mingquan
Published: March 2016

Nowadays, software-defined radio (SDR) has become a common approach to evaluate new algorithms. However, in the field of Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) adaptive array anti-jamming, previous work has been limited due to the high computational power demanded by adaptive algorithms, and often lack flexibility and configurability. In this paper, the design and implementation of an SDR-based real-time testbed for GNSS adaptive array anti-jamming accelerated by a Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) are documented. This testbed highlights itself as a feature-rich and extendible platform with great flexibility and configurability, as well as high computational performance. Both Space-Time Adaptive Processing (STAP) and Space-Frequency Adaptive Processing (SFAP) are implemented with a wide range of parameters. Raw data from as many as eight antenna elements can be processed in real-time in either an adaptive nulling or beamforming mode. To fully take advantage of the parallelism resource provided by the GPU, a batched method in programming is proposed. Tests and experiments are conducted to evaluate both the computational and anti-jamming performance. This platform can be used for research and prototyping, as well as a real product in certain applications.
Sinabro: A Smartphone-Integrated Opportunistic Electrocardiogram Monitoring System
Authors: Kwon Sungjun , Lee Dongseok , Kim Jeehoon , Lee Youngki , Kang Seungwoo , Seo Sangwon , Park Kwangsuk
Published: March 2016

In our preliminary study, we proposed a smartphone-integrated, unobtrusive electrocardiogram (ECG) monitoring system, Sinabro, which monitors a user’s ECG opportunistically during daily smartphone use without explicit user intervention. The proposed system also monitors ECG-derived features, such as heart rate (HR) and heart rate variability (HRV), to support the pervasive healthcare apps for smartphones based on the user’s high-level contexts, such as stress and affective state levels. In this study, we have extended the Sinabro system by: (1) upgrading the sensor device; (2) improving the feature extraction process; and (3) evaluating extensions of the system. We evaluated these extensions with a good set of algorithm parameters that were suggested based on empirical analyses. The results showed that the system could capture ECG reliably and extract highly accurate ECG-derived features with a reasonable rate of data drop during the user’s daily smartphone use.
Wireless Metal Detection and Surface Coverage Sensing for All-Surface Induction Heating
Authors: Kilic Veli , Unal Emre , Demir Hilmi
Published: March 2016

All-surface induction heating systems, typically comprising small-area coils, face a major challenge in detecting the presence of a metallic vessel and identifying its partial surface coverage over the coils to determine which of the coils to power up. The difficulty arises due to the fact that the user can heat vessels made of a wide variety of metals (and their alloys). To address this problem, we propose and demonstrate a new wireless detection methodology that allows for detecting the presence of metallic vessels together with uniquely sensing their surface coverages while also identifying their effective material type in all-surface induction heating systems. The proposed method is based on telemetrically measuring simultaneously inductance and resistance of the induction coil coupled with the vessel in the heating system. Here, variations in the inductance and resistance values for an all-surface heating coil loaded by vessels (made of stainless steel and aluminum) at different positions were systematically investigated at different frequencies. Results show that, independent of the metal material type, unique identification of the surface coverage is possible at all freqeuncies. Additionally, using the magnitude and phase information extracted from the coupled coil impedance, unique identification of the vessel effective material is also achievable, this time independent of its surface coverage.
Wearable Sensor Localization Considering Mixed Distributed Sources in Health Monitoring Systems
Authors: Wan Liangtian , Han Guangjie , Wang Hao , Shu Lei , Feng Nanxing , Peng Bao
Published: March 2016

In health monitoring systems, the base station (BS) and the wearable sensors communicate with each other to construct a virtual multiple input and multiple output (VMIMO) system. In real applications, the signal that the BS received is a distributed source because of the scattering, reflection, diffraction and refraction in the propagation path. In this paper, a 2D direction-of-arrival (DOA) estimation algorithm for incoherently-distributed (ID) and coherently-distributed (CD) sources is proposed based on multiple VMIMO systems. ID and CD sources are separated through the second-order blind identification (SOBI) algorithm. The traditional estimating signal parameters via the rotational invariance technique (ESPRIT)-based algorithm is valid only for one-dimensional (1D) DOA estimation for the ID source. By constructing the signal subspace, two rotational invariant relationships are constructed. Then, we extend the ESPRIT to estimate 2D DOAs for ID sources. For DOA estimation of CD sources, two rational invariance relationships are constructed based on the application of generalized steering vectors (GSVs). Then, the ESPRIT-based algorithm is used for estimating the eigenvalues of two rational invariance matrices, which contain the angular parameters. The expressions of azimuth and elevation for ID and CD sources have closed forms, which means that the spectrum peak searching is avoided. Therefore, compared to the traditional 2D DOA estimation algorithms, the proposed algorithm imposes significantly low computational complexity. The intersecting point of two rays, which come from two different directions measured by two uniform rectangle arrays (URA), can be regarded as the location of the biosensor (wearable sensor). Three BSs adopting the smart antenna (SA) technique cooperate with each other to locate the wearable sensors using the angulation positioning method. Simulation results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm.
Next Generations of Road Pricing: Social Welfare Enhancing
Authors: Rouhani Omid
Published: March 2016

This paper offers a broad overview of road pricing from a social welfare perspective. I first examine two common objectives of road pricing: congestion management and profit making. My goal is to provide a guideline explaining how to promote a social-welfare-enhancing road pricing scheme. To this end, we should: (i) consider and improve public transportation systems by providing more environment-friendly transport options; (ii) include tolling profits in our welfare analysis (as opposed to what economists suggest) since residents are the real owners of roads not users, and since some users are from outside the region and so might not be excluded from analysis; and (iii) search for a holistic approach that takes into account system-wide impacts, disutility to users who change their travel behavior (i.e., switch to public transportation, shift their travel, or do not travel at all), and the impacts on land use, employment, and residents.
Priorities for Advancing the Concept of New Ruralism
Authors: Newman Galen , Saginor Jesse
Published: March 2016

Civic expansion and land use migrations to urban peripheries can accelerate the conversion of agricultural land uses. Widespread trepidation concerning urban sprawl has led to innovative frameworks for conserving or enhancing farmland. New Ruralism is one such framework, linking farmland preservation with developmental plans to reduce farmland conversion and low density development. Although the concept is still evolving, recent support for New Ruralism has grown. One of the most important factors in creating a New Ruralism-based development is coherent policy for permanent agricultural preserves. These preserves require the simultaneous, careful planning of land preservation balanced with the location of future development. This paper discusses the current condition of farmland loss and reviews issues and challenges associated with farmland preservation with existing New Ruralism developments. The goal is to synthesize this information into recommendations for increasing farmland preservation opportunities in New Ruralism-based developments. A more comprehensive definition for New Ruralism is presented, accompanied by several priorities for maximizing the economic, environmental, and cultural viability of New Ruralism-based farmland preserves.
Polarity Formation in Molecular Crystals as a Symmetry Breaking Effect
Authors: Cannavacciuolo Luigi , Hulliger Jürg
Published: March 2016

The transition of molecular crystals into a polar state is modeled by a one-dimensional Ising Hamiltonian in multipole expansion and a suitable order parameter. Two symmetry breakings are necessary for the transition: the translational and the spin flip invariance—the former being broken by geometric constraints, the latter by the interaction of the first non-zero multipole with the next order multipole. Two different behaviors of the thermal average of the order parameter as a function of position are found. The free energy per lattice site converges to a finite value in the thermodynamic limit showing the consistency of the model in a macroscopic representation.
Decline of the Maurepas Swamp, Pontchartrain Basin, Louisiana, and Approaches to Restoration
Authors: Shaffer Gary , Day John , Kandalepas Demetra , Wood William , Hunter Rachael , Lane Robert , Hillmann Eva
Published: March 2016

The Maurepas swamp is the second largest contiguous coastal forest in Louisiana but it is highly degraded due to subsidence, near permanent flooding, nutrient starvation, nutria herbivory, and saltwater intrusion. Observed tree mortality rates at study sites in the Maurepas swamp are very high (up to 100% tree mortality in 11 years) and basal area decreased with average salinities of <1 ppt. Habitat classification, vegetation productivity and mortality, and surface elevation changes show a clear trajectory from stagnant, nearly permanently flooded forests with broken canopy to degraded forests with sparse baldcypress and dominated by herbaceous species and open water to open water habitat for most of the Maurepas swamp without introduction of fresh water to combat saltwater intrusion and stimulate productivity and accretion. Healthy forests in the Maurepas are receiving fresh water containing nutrients and sediments from urban areas, high quality river water, or secondarily treated municipal effluent. Currently, two proposed diversions into the swamp are via Hope Canal (57 m3·s−1) and Blind River (142 m3·s−1). These diversions would greatly benefit their immediate area but they are too small to influence the entire Maurepas sub-basin, especially in terms of accretion. A large diversion (>1422 m3·s−1) is needed to deliver the adequate sediments to achieve high accretion rates and stimulate organic soil formation.
Une enquête sur les parlementaires du Nord sous la Troisième République
Authors: Ménager Bernard
Published: March 2016

Bernard Ménager, Een onderzoek over de parlementairen van het Noorden tijdens de Derde Republiek.

Het door de C.N.R.S. gesteunde nationale onderzoek over de parlementairen van de Derde Republiek heeft tot doel het opstellen van een bestand over de 6721 verkozenen, met gegevens als sociale en familiale achtergrond, beroep en politieke keuze. Deze gegevens zullen via een computerprogramma verge- leken worden. Een team onderzoekt de 340 parlementairen van het Noorden. Dat zal misschien régionale kenmerken aan het licht brengen als de hechte familiestructuur, de evolutie naar links en de daarmee verbonden verandering van het politiek personeel.
Une dynastie parlementaire aux XIXe et XXe siècles : la famille des Rotours
Authors: Boulenguez Hélène
Published: March 2016

Régis Renoncourt, The Pas-de-Calais Department Councilors from 1871 to 1914.

Though the mandate of Department Councilor is far more stable than that of Deputy and less dependent on national events, the Pas-de-Calais Department Chamber is nonetheless a valuable observatory of the evolution of the opinions in a Department that keeps a strong attraction for Bonapartism after the fall of the Empire and which, over two decades, lets itself progressively be conquered by the Republic. If this evolution is particular to the rural populations, one can witness, after 1890, in the coal-mining constituencies, and, to a lesser extent, in the few urban constituencies of the Pas-de-Calais, a rise of the Socialist current which only represents however a small minority in the Department Chamber. Centered on this two tier evolution, this paper analyses its consequences on the socio-professional structure of the Chamber, and on the age and seniority characteristics of its members.
Eugène Motte, député-maire de Roubaix
Authors: De Baudus Amaury
Published: March 2016

Amaury de Baudus, Eugène Motte, afgevaardigde en burgemeester van Roubaix.

Eugène Motte staat aan het hoofd van de tweede textielgroep in Roubaix als de door de overwinning van de links, in de stad (1892) en dan in de deputatie, sterk aangeslagen rechterzijde hem vraagt kandidaat te zijn. Hij wordt in 1895 verkozen als conseiller général, in 1898 als afgevaardigde en in 1902 als burgemeester. In 1903 volgt de bekroning : hij wordt voorzitter van de Republikeinse Federatie. Zijn republikeinse oorsprong, zijn imago als sociaalvoe- lend en apolitiek patroon en verdediger van de belangen van de stad en de arbeiders hebben hem daarbij geholpen. Motte is een nonconformistisch aan- hanger van de vrijhandel in een protectionistisch milieu, een verdraagzaam katholiek die bovendien zijn kollega's in de Kamer, die niets van ekonomie begrijpen, veracht. De sociale en ekonomische moeilijkheden in Roubaix en de zwakke steun van de klerikale rechterzijde verklaren zijn nederlaag bij de wetgevende verkiezingen in 1906 en de gemeentelijke in 1912. Daarop keert Motte terug naar het zakenleven, zijn echte roeping.
L'évolution politique et l'enracinement local d'un radical-socialiste du Nord : Daniel Vincent
Authors: Lemoine-Rodrigues Sandrine
Published: March 2016

Elu à la surprise générale dans l'Avesnois, lors des élections législatives de 1910, après avoir bravé les notables de son parti, Daniel Vincent, radical- socialiste, s'appuie surtout sur un électorat populaire et citadin, se préoccupant des problèmes sociaux, en faisant voter, par exemple, la loi sur les assurances sociales.

En 1939, sénateur, il délaisse son électorat de base conquis par le socialisme et s'appuie sur une notoriété progressivement acquise.

Entre les deux pôles de sa carrière, se situe une évolution humaine et politique, couvrant près de trente années.

Au travers de cette évolution qu'il faut chercher à cerner, n'est-ce pas l'évolution de tout un courant politique que l'on peut appréhender, derrière une carrière néanmoins originale ?
Contributions migratoires, structures démographiques et mouvements naturels dans les centres urbains traditionnels. L'expérience d'une ville wallonne, Huy, entre 1820 et 1910.
Authors: Oris Michel
Published: March 2016

Migratieoverschot, demografische struktuur en natuurlijk verloop in een traditioneel stedelijk centrum. De ervaring van een Waalse stad, Hoei, tussen 1820 en 1910.

Omvat het typisch ontwikkelingsmodel van kleine oude stadjes als Hoei een aparté demografie ? Dit artikel wil op de vraag een antwoord geven. De struktuur, bepaald door ekonomie en bevolking, is er niet zomaar. De oorspong ervan wordt bestudeerd aan de hand van de essentiële migratiebijdrage en, aan het andere uiteinde, de interactie van structurele komponenten en de naturlijke bevolkingsbeweging, dat ailes in de kontekst van een demografische overgang, of van achteruitgang die samenvalt met de verhouding van geboorten en sterften. De vergelijkende aanpak biedt de gelegenheid om een aantal gegevens, resultaat van verschillende recente onderzoeken over de bevolking van de Waalse industriebekkens, te publiceren.
Phtisique ou tuberculeux ? Le discours lillois sur la tuberculose à la Belle Époque (1895- 1914).
Authors: Vidal Nathalie
Published: March 2016

Tering of tbc ? Hoe men in Rijsel tbc zag tijdens de Belle Epoque (1895-1914).

Rijsel is als arbeidersstad die beinvloed werd door socialisten en sociale katholieken de aangewezen plaats om er de tijdens de Belle Epoque geldende opvattingen over tbc te bestuderen. Van 1890 tot 1914 staat de tering in het centrum van de belangstelling. Er zijn twee stromingen. In de medische wereld gaat, onder invloed van de volgelingen van Pasteur, geleid door Calmette, de belangstelling naar de tbcpatienten. De moderne toon van de artikelen in de medische pers verbergt nauwelijks een andere en oudere opvatting, van meer sociale aard, verdedigd door sociale katholieken en ook een paar socialisten geleid door Dr Désiré Verhaeghe, waar men het over teringlijders heeft. Tussen de traditionele gemeenplaatsen overgeërfd van Villermé en de sociale onderzoekers uit het begin van de XIXe eeuw (tering van alcoholverslaafden, ongeregeld leven, ellende ontstaan uit de ondeugd...) treft men nauwelijks verwijzingen aan naar de arbeidsomstandigheden van de werkende klasse als oorzaak van de tbc. Het archaisch karakter van de twee opvattingen was de oorzaak van de mislukking van de eerste maatregelen in de strijd tegen tbc.
Pleins pouvoirs et scène parlementaire. Eléments d'analyse et application au cas belge (1934).
Authors: Delfosse Pascale
Published: March 2016

Au cours de l'Entre-deux-guerres, les gouvernements sollicitèrent des «pleins pouvoirs» dans plusieurs pays européens comme la France, l'Allemagne, la Suisse et la Belgique. Cet article veut éclairer cette problématique en Belgique. A la lumière des expériences étrangères, il apparaît que la justification de cette revendication gouvernementale réside dans l'instabilité des relations entre majorité et opposition et dans le manque de cohésion des majorités elles-mêmes. Cette double hypothèse s'applique parfaitement au cas belge : les pleins pouvoirs sont rendus nécessaires par le poids grandissant de l'opposition socialiste unie autour d'un autre programme de gouvernement et par les tensions au sein de la majorité entre catholiques et libéraux. Ces dernières renvoient aux intérêts opposés des fractions financières et industrielles du capital, mais avec la caractéristique paradoxale que ce sont les catholiques qui sont plus représentatifs des premiers et les libéraux des seconds.
Le chemin d'Ypres à Comines au début du XIVe siècle ou l'accès des Yprois à la Lys.
Authors: Duvosquel Jean-Marie
Published: March 2016

The road from Ypres to Comines in the beginninng of the XIVth century or the access of Ypres to the Lys.

From the X-XIth century on a "domanial" road linked Ypres and Lille through Mesen, cities which developed in the count's territory, as specialised regional markets which eventually grew into the flemish fairs.

Ypres had a direct link with the north, Bruges and the sea, through the Ieperlee. The city sought a link with the south, through the Lys (Leie ?), upstream via the Deule to Lille and Artois, and downstream with the Scheldtbasin. Comines was somehow the outport of Ypres on the Lys till about 1300, afterwards Waasten took its place in the beginning of the XIVth century when it fell into the hands of the count of Flanders. The paved road from Ypres to Lille crossed there the Lys. These roads and connections proved to be of great importance for the eceonomic life in the country.
La presse du Nord face au Ralliement.
Authors: Denicourt Sylvie
Published: March 2016

La politique de Ralliement du Vatican ne date certainement pas de l'encyclique «Au milieu des sollicitudes» parue le 16 février 1891 ; en effet selon Le Journal de Roubaix en 1885 Immortale Dei émet déjà l'idée que «l'Église n'est liée à aucune forme politique particulière». Ce journal peut d'ailleurs, pour cela, être considéré comme un des précurseurs de cette politique, certains autres suivront par la suite comme La Dépêche ou L'Echo du Nord. Par contre d'autres journaux qu'ils soient royalistes comme La Vraie France ou anticléricaux comme Le Réveil du Nord ne veulent en aucun cas admettre un quelconque rapprochement entre l'Église et la République.
Un homme d'influence : Émile Roche (1893-1990).
Authors: Tison Franck
Published: March 2016

Après avoir été le secrétaire particulier de l'abbé Lemire de 1910 à 1913, Emile Roche fut de 1927 à 1944 le plus proche collaborateur de Joseph Caillaux. Pouvait-on rêver meilleure initiation aux arcanes de la politique ? Fort de cette double expérience Emile Roche devint un personnage important de la IIIe République, en tant que maître de la fédération radicale-socialiste du Nord mais aussi en tant que directeur de journal redouté, car entouré des meilleures plumes de l'Entre-deux-guerres (Pierre Dominique, Pierre Brossolette, Bertrand de Jouvenel...). Un échec aux législatives partielles de Cambrai en 1934 enraya son ascension mais ne l'empêcha aucunement de peser sur la vie politique de l'époque.
Entrepreneurs, corporations et autorités publiques au Brabant et en Flandre à la fin de l'Ancien Régime.
Authors: Lis Catharina , Soly Hugo
Published: March 2016

Cet essai a pour but d'apporter une contribution à l'étude de la régulation et de la dérégulation aux Pays-Bas autrichiens, et notamment dans les grandes villes brabançonnes et flamandes qui connurent, dans la seconde moitié du XVIIIe siècle, une croissance économique rapide.

Il ressort d'études récentes que les entrepreneurs capitalistes n'avaient pas à se défaire du carcan que constituait un «système corporatif», car dans la plupart des industries exportatrices, les métiers n'avaient plus aucun poids économique réel. S'ils ne pouvaient compter sur le soutien inconditionnel des autorités publiques, il est certain que les magistrats et, surtout, le gouvernement central ont pris des mesures dont ils ont tiré profit.

Il n'en résulte pas que l'économie de marché avait, à la fin de l'Ancien Régime, triomphé à tous les fronts, ni que le principe du laisser-faire était considéré comme une panacée. La dérégulation et la régulation allaient de pair. Une méthode univoque faisait défaut, car les intérêts des différents agents étaient divergents et souvent contradictoires. Les processus de libéralisation avaient en outre un effet boomerang sur le plan de la mobilisation et du contrôle de la main-d'œuvre.
Le marché du travail et ses institutions. Le cas des Pays-Bas du XVIe au XXe siècle.
Authors: Diederiks H. A.
Published: March 2016

Labour's market and its institutions. The case of the Netherlands, XVIth till XXth century. Labour's market and its institutions. The case of the Netherlands, XVIth till XXth century. Netherlands, xvith till xxth century.

This article deals with problems of the labour market and its institutions in the Netherlands for the period since the sixteenth century up to the present. In the article the argument is brought forward that the idea of a free market for labour is part of nineteenth century ideology. During most of history labour was not free. The constraints were part of the structure of society or of production like the guild system or slavery, but also in colonial situations coercion outside slavery was normal. Apart from that contract labour could be enforced by legal methods. The discussion on free or unfree labour has been focused on forced labour as part of the poor relief system and the prison system. Both cases show an overlap, but both can be hardly explained by economic factors. Nor the workhouse in the poor relief, nor the prison could produce in such a way that profit was the result.
La survivance des corporations au XIXe siècle : une esquisse comparative.
Authors: Haupt Heinz-Gerhard
Published: March 2016

Dans une perspective comparative, les corporations ne disparaissent pas à la fin du XVIIIe siècle, comme en France, en Belgique et dans certains territoires d'Allemagne, mais elles subsistent dans la majeure partie de l'Allemagne, en Autriche ou en Italie. Cette survivance entraîne des conséquences sur la formation du mouvement ouvrier et ses rituels, les traditions d'organisation et les mécanismes de mobilités individuelles et sociales.
Les institutions d'une économie de marché : le cas de la Suède.
Authors: Magnusson Lars
Published: March 2016

C'est au cours des années 1930 que le «modèle suédois» a pris consistance. Reposant sur une coopération harmonieuse entre l'Etat, les employeurs et les syndicats, son épanouissement a été rendu possible par la mise en place d'institutions originales, héritées en grande partie des siècles antérieurs.

Au XVIIIe siècle, la forte empreinte du mercantilisme sur la modernisation économique du pays a entraîné la mise en place de cadres institutionnels particulièrement structurés. Ceux-ci, en évoluant, ont résisté à l'irruption du libéralisme économique lors du XIXe siècle. Puis, vers 1890, la nécessité de combattre les déséquilibres sociaux nés du développement économique a présidé à l'établissement d'un «capitalisme organisé». Ce dernier a largement préfiguré ce qui se passera ensuite.
STATISTICAL DECOUPLING OF A LAGRANGIAN FLUID PARCEL IN NEWTONIAN COSMOLOGY
Authors: Wang Xin , Szalay Alex
Published: March 2016

The Lagrangian dynamics of a single fluid element within a self-gravitational matter field is intrinsically non-local due to the presence of the tidal force. This complicates the theoretical investigation of the nonlinear evolution of various cosmic objects, e.g., dark matter halos, in the context of Lagrangian fluid dynamics, since fluid parcels with given initial density and shape may evolve differently depending on their environments. In this paper, we provide a statistical solution that could decouple this environmental dependence. After deriving the evolution equation for the probability distribution of the matter field, our method produces a set of closed ordinary differential equations whose solution is uniquely determined by the initial condition of the fluid element. Mathematically, it corresponds to the projected characteristic curve of the transport equation of the density-weighted probability density function (ρPDF). Consequently it is guaranteed that the one-point ρPDF would be preserved by evolving these local, yet nonlinear, curves with the same set of initial data as the real system. Physically, these trajectories describe the mean evolution averaged over all environments by substituting the tidal tensor with its conditional average. For Gaussian distributed dynamical variables, this mean tidal tensor is simply proportional to the velocity shear tensor, and the dynamical system would recover the prediction of the Zel’dovich approximation (ZA) with the further assumption of the linearized continuity equation. For a weakly non-Gaussian field, the averaged tidal tensor could be expanded perturbatively as a function of all relevant dynamical variables whose coefficients are determined by the statistics of the field.
SURVIVAL OF PURE DISK GALAXIES OVER THE LAST 8 BILLION YEARS
Authors: Sachdeva Sonali , Saha Kanak
Published: March 2016

Pure disk galaxies without any bulge component, i.e., bulges that are neither classical nor pseudo, seem to have escaped the effects of merger activity that are inherent to hierarchical galaxy formation models as well as strong internal secular evolution. We discover that a significant fraction (∼15%–18%) of disk galaxies in the Hubble Deep Field (

) and in the local universe (

) are such pure disk systems (PDSs). The spatial distribution of light in these PDSs is well-described by a single exponential function from the outskirts to the center and appears to have remained intact over the last 8 billion years, keeping the mean central surface brightness and scale-length nearly constant. These two disk parameters of PDSs are brighter and shorter, respectively, than those of disks which are part of disk galaxies with bulges. Since the fraction of PDSs, as well as their profile-defining parameters, do not change, this indicates that these galaxies have not witnessed either major mergers or multiple minor mergers since

. However, there is a substantial increase in their total stellar mass and total size over the same time range. This suggests that smooth accretion of cold gas via cosmic filaments is the most probable mode of their evolutions. We speculate that PDSs are dynamically hotter and cushioned in massive dark matter halos, which may prevent them from undergoing strong secular evolution.
INFERENCES ON THE RELATIONS BETWEEN CENTRAL BLACK HOLE MASS AND TOTAL GALAXY STELLAR MASS IN THE HIGH-REDSHIFT UNIVERSE
Authors: Volonteri Marta , Reines Amy E.
Published: March 2016

At the highest redshifts,

, several tens of luminous quasars have been detected. The search for fainter active galactic nucleus (AGN), in deep X-ray surveys, has proven less successful, with few candidates to date. An extrapolation of the relationship between black hole (BH) and bulge mass would predict that the sample of

galaxies host relatively massive BHs (

), if one assumes that total stellar mass is a good proxy for bulge mass. At least a few of these BHs should be luminous enough to be detectable in the 4Ms CDFS. The relation between BH and stellar mass defined by local moderate-luminosity AGNs in low-mass galaxies, however, has a normalization that is lower by approximately an order of magnitude compared to the BH–bulge mass relation. We explore how this scaling changes the interpretation of AGNs in the high-z universe. Despite large uncertainties, driven by those in the stellar mass function, and in the extrapolation of local relations, one can explain the current non-detection of moderate-luminosity AGNs in Lyman Break Galaxies if galaxies below

are characterized by the low-normalization scaling, and, even more so, if their Eddington ratio is also typical of moderate-luminosity AGNs rather than luminous quasars. AGNs being missed by X-ray searches due to obscuration or instrinsic X-ray weakness also remain a possibility.
"Fan CULTure: Essays on participatory fandom in the 21st century," edited by Kristin M. Barton and Jonathan Malcolm Lampley
Authors: Chin Bertha
Published: March 2016

Review of Kristin M. Barton and Jonathan Malcolm Lampley, eds. Fan CULTure: Essays on participatory fandom in the 21st century. Jefferson, NC: McFarland, 2014. Paperback, $40 (212p) ISBN 978-0-7864-7418-9, E-book ISBN 978-1-4766-0459-6.
CDM Approach Applied to Crack Initiation and Propagation under Variable Amplitude
Authors: Chu Jin Yang , Mao Jian Xing
Published: March 2016

In this paper, the low cycle fatigue crack initiation life was regarded as a process of damage accumulation and a damage accumulation model was established based on the Continuum Damage Mechanics. By the model, we analyzed how the variable amplitude applied at the crack initiation stage influenced the low cycle fatigue life of high temperature materials. With the parameters of GQGH4169 alloy at room temperature, we determined the specific values of damage parameters by finite element method and numerical analysis method. Then, the crack initiation life predictions were carried out. The results show that using this approach can not only predict the crack initiation life of CT specimen accurately, but also reflect a definite influence of variable amplitude on the crack propagation life combining with the Paris Law, and the test costs reduced consequently.
Heavy Metals in the Sediments of the Lower Ikpoba River, Benin City, Nigeria
Authors: Oguzie F.A.
Published: March 2016

Heavy metal concentrations in the sediments of the lower Ikpoba river in Benin City, Nigeria were investigated using the flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry technique and compared with previously determined values for water. Mean concentration values (in µg g-1, dry wt) recorded for metals in sediment samples were as follows: Cd = 1.5; Cr - 0.9; Cu = 1.9; Fe = 7.9; Pb = 3.3; Mn = 4.6; Ni = 3.95 and Zn = 4.7. Mixed effluent sources, high vehicular traffic density and run-off water from the city's industrial areas are considered to be possible Sources of metal contaminants during the dry and rainy seasons. Significant correlations (P0.05).
MANAGEMENT AND OUTCOME OF HERLYN-WERNER-WUNDERLICH SYNDROME: CONSERVATIVE TREATMENT IN PEDIATRIC AGE
Authors: Angotti R. , Bulotta A.L. , Cerchia E. , Brandigi E. , Mariscoli F. , Molinaro F. , Messina M.
Published: March 2016

Herlyn–Werner–Wunderlich syndrome (HWWS) is a rare congenital mullerian anomaly consisting of uterus didelphys, hemivaginal septum, and unilateral renal agenesis. Reported data in pediatric age are rare. We report our case of HWWS.
A case of multiple evanescent white dot syndrome misdiagnosed as optic neuritis: Differential diagnosis for the neurologist
Authors: Pellegrini Francesco , Interlandi Emanuela
Published: March 2016

A 25-year-old female presented to a local hospital for acute onset of a central scotoma in the left visual field. She was visited by the neurologist, and a diagnosis of left retrobulbar optic neuritis was made. Magnetic resonance imaging scan was normal. Ophthalmic examination revealed a multiple evanescent white dot syndrome. After a description of the case, a brief differential diagnosis between these two entities is made. The neurologist should be aware of this uncommon condition.
Paradoxical response in spinal tuberculosis: Lessons learnt
Authors: Velivela Kiranchand , Rajesh Alugolu
Published: March 2016

Background: Patients with spinal tuberculosis started on antituberculous treatment (ATT) empirically and showing increasing size of the lesion on follow-up are a treatment challenge. We describe our experience in managing such cases. Materials and Methods: We treated 80 patients with spinal tuberculosis at our institute from January 2012 to June 2014. Of these, 50 were managed by surgical intervention and the rest 30 were managed conservatively only on anti-tubercular drugs. Six patients out of these 30 patients, showed a paradoxical increase in the size of lesion without any neurological deficits after 3 months of starting ATT. Surgical intervention was done in three cases, whereas other three were managed by ultrasound-guided tapping of the lesion with continuation of ATT. Results: There was an improvement in the symptoms with weight gain and normalcy of appetite. However, all these patients had lymphopenia on differential leukocyte counts at the outset which normalized at 3 months. Conclusion: The mainstay of management of paradoxical response in spinal tuberculosis should be conservative with drainage or aspiration of abscesses along with the continuation of ATT. Surgical decompression and stabilization may be necessary in few cases who develop new neurological deficits or deformity or instability.
Prevalence of substance abuse among regular degree health science students in Sheba University College in Mekelle Town, Tigray - Ethiopia
Authors: Hagos Esietu Gebregazabher , Asfeha Gebrekidan Gebregzabher , Berihu Birhane Alem
Published: March 2016

Background: Substance abuse (SA) refers to the harmful or hazardous use of psychoactive substances, including alcohol and illicit drugs. The most common substances which are usually abused are alcohol and tobacco. Herein, we assessed the prevalence of SA among regular degree health science students of the Sheba University College (SUC). Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional survey was carried out among 1076 SUC students using self-administered structured questionnaire. The simple sampling technique was used to select students. Descriptive statistics, bivariate, and multivariate analysis were done. Results: The overall prevalence of “ever used substance” for at least one was 45.5%. The most commonly used drugs in descending order were alcohol (25.1%), cigarette (11.4%), and khat (9.2%). Male participants, urban setting, peer pressure, personal pleasure, and academic dissatisfaction and pocket money were highly associated with SA. Conclusion: This study showed a lower magnitude (45.6% ever use and 21% still using) of SA among students’ compared to other studies. Even if a considerable decrease in SA among study subjects, the creation of awareness and health education should be continued to fully combat the problem of abuse.
Molecular Analysis of Central Nervous System Disease Spectrum in Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia
Authors: Hicks Chindo , Sitthi-Amorn Jitsuda , Douglas Jessica , Ramani Ritika , Miele Lucio , Vijayakumar Vani , Karlson Cynthia , Chipeta James , Megason Gail
Published: March 2016

Treatment of the central nervous system (CNS) is an essential therapeutic component in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). The goal of this study was to identify molecular signatures distinguishing patients with CNS disease from those without the disease in pediatric patients with ALL. We analyzed gene expression data from 207 pediatric patients with ALL. Patients without CNS were classified as CNS1, while those with mild and advanced CNS disease were classified as CNS2 and CNS3, respectively. We compared gene expression levels among the three disease classes. We identified gene signatures distinguishing the three disease classes. Pathway analysis revealed molecular networks and biological pathways dysregulated in response to CNS disease involvement. The identified pathways included the ILK, WNT, B-cell receptor, AMPK, ERK5, and JAK signaling pathways. The results demonstrate that transcription profiling could be used to stratify patients to guide therapeutic decision-making in pediatric ALL.
Antropologia como (In)Disciplina: notas sobre uma relação imprecisa entre campo e escrita
Authors: Roberti Junior João Paulo , Cariaga Diógenes Egidio , Segata Jean
Published: March 2016

http://dx.doi.org/10.5007/2175-8034.2015v17n2p101

O itinerário que propomos no presente texto, enseja traçar um panorama a partir da relação entre a pesquisa de campo e a escrita antropológica, refletindo sobre o lugar da descrição (etnográfica, cartográfica, modos de existência) na produção antropológica contemporânea. Não é nosso objetivo pensar enquanto história dos conceitos ou da própria disciplina, mas interessa-nos produzir considerações que apontem para os efeitos da pluralidade dos modos de pensar a relação entre as pessoas no mundo associada aos modos de pensar a Antropologia. Reveste-se assim, na tentativa de pensar ângulos e perspectivas sobre como um conjunto de referenciais teóricos e metodológicos pode dialogar com pesquisas alçadas em cenários e temas distintos. Assim é preocupação do presente texto, refletir em uma interlocução interessada nos aspectos da relação e do lugar da etnografia na produção antropológica que problematizem a postura de uma antropologia como (in)disciplina preocupada com a relação imprecisa entre campo e escrita.
Humanos e Não Humanos na Antropologia
Authors: Houdart Sophie
Published: March 2016

http://dx.doi.org/10.5007/2175-8034.2015v17n2p13

Às margens do lago de Genebra, com 27 km de diâmetro e localizado a 100 metros abaixo do solo, o Large Hadron Collider (LHC) constitui, atualmente, o maior e mais complexo dispositivo experimental jamais construído. As partículas, aceleradas a 99,9999991% da velocidade da luz, efetuam 11.245 voltas por segundo no acelerador e entram em colisão aproximadamente 600 milhões de vezes por segundo... Na literatura particularmente abundante que descreve o acelerador e lista os seus incontáveis aparatos, o desempenho técnico é comumente transmitido por uma ambição científica igualmente magistral: o LHC, ao oferecer a oportunidade de uma “viagem nas estruturas mais profundas das matérias”, tem por missão “a descoberta de leis fundamentais que regem o nosso universo”, e deve permitir elucidar até mesmo “os primeiros princípios que governaram a sua formação”. A fim de compreender mais atentamente as questões dessa máquina, a proposta aqui é descrever algumas das operações por meio das quais as partículas e o cosmos tornam-se comensuráveis.
Faturas/Fraturas: da noção de rede à noção de vínculo
Authors: Latour Bruno , Rifiotis Theophilos , Petry Dalila Floriani , Segata Jean
Published: March 2016

http://dx.doi.org/10.5007/2175-8034.2015v17n2p123

Trata-se um texto de Bruno Latour em que ele discute a noção de attachement, termo aqui traduzido para o português como “vínculo”. O autor se vale da reflexão sobre a noção de vínculo e suas implicações para enriquecer a sociologia das redes e os debates sobre a “teoria ator-rede”.
Observationally based analysis of land–atmosphere coupling
Authors: Catalano Franco , Alessandri Andrea , De Felice Matteo , Zhu Zaichun , Myneni Ranga B.
Published: March 2016

Abstract. The temporal variance of soil moisture, vegetation and evapotranspiration over land has been recognized to be strongly connected to the temporal variance of precipitation. However, the feedbacks and couplings between these variables are still not well understood and quantified. Furthermore, soil moisture and vegetation processes are associated with a memory and therefore they may have important implications for predictability. In this study we apply a generalized linear method, specifically designed to assess the reciprocal forcing between connected fields, to the latest available observational data sets of global precipitation, evapotranspiration, vegetation and soil moisture content. For the first time a long global observational data set is used to investigate the spatial and temporal land variability and to characterize the relationships and feedbacks between land and precipitation. The variables considered show a significant coupling among each other. The analysis of the response of precipitation to soil moisture evidences a robust coupling between these two variables. In particular, the first two modes of variability in the precipitation forced by soil moisture appear to have a strong link with volcanic eruptions and El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) cycles, respectively, and these links are modulated by the effects of evapotranspiration and vegetation. It is suggested that vegetation state and soil moisture provide a biophysical memory of ENSO and major volcanic eruptions, revealed through delayed feedbacks on rainfall patterns. The third mode of variability reveals a trend very similar to the trend of the inter-hemispheric contrast in sea surface temperature (SST) and appears to be connected to greening/browning trends of vegetation over the last three decades.
A meta-analysis of groundwater contamination by nitrates at the African scale
Authors: Ouedraogo Issoufou , Vanclooster Marnik
Published: March 2016

Abstract. Contamination of groundwater with nitrate poses a major health risk to millions of people around Africa. Assessing the space-time distribution of this contamination, as well as understanding the factors that explain this contamination is important to manage sustainable drinking water at the regional scale. This study aims to assess the variables that contribute to nitrate pollution in groundwater at the pan-African scale by statistical modeling. We compiled a literature database of nitrate concentration in groundwater (around 250 studies) and combined it with digital maps of physical attributes such as soil, geology, climate, hydrogeology and anthropogenic data for statistical model development. The maximum, medium and minimum observed nitrate concentrations were analysed. In total, 13 explanatory variables were screened to explain observed nitrate pollution in groundwater. For the mean nitrate concentration, 4 variables are retained in the statistical explanatory model: (1) Depth to groundwater (shallow groundwater, typically < 50 m); (2) Recharge rate; (3) Aquifer type; and (4) Population density. The former three variables represent intrinsic vulnerability of groundwater systems towards pollution, while the latter variable is a proxy for anthropogenic pollution pressure. The model explains 65 % of the variation of mean nitrate contamination in groundwater at the pan-Africa scale. Using the same proxy information, we could develop a statistical model for the maximum nitrate concentrations that explains 42 % of the nitrate variation. For the maximum concentrations, other environmental attributes such as soil type, slope, rainfall, climate class and region type improve the prediction of maximum nitrate concentrations at the pan-African scale. As to minimal nitrate concentrations, in the absence of normal distribution assumptions of the dataset, we do not develop a statistical model for these data. The data based statistical model presented here represents an important step toward developing tools that will allow us to accurately predict nitrate distribution at the African scale and thus may support groundwater monitoring and water management that aims to protect groundwater systems. Yet they should be further refined and validated when more detailed and harmonized data becomes available and/or combined with more conceptual descriptions of the fate of nutrients in the hydro system.