bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Experimental Study of the Levels of Street Lighting Using Aerial Imagery and Energy Efficiency Calculation
Authors: Rabaza Ovidio , Molero-Mesa Evaristo , Aznar-Dols Fernando , Gómez-Lorente Daniel
Published: November 2018

This article describes an innovative method for measuring lighting levels and other lighting parameters through the use of aerial imagery of towns and cities. Combined with electricity consumption data from smart electricity meters, it was possible to measure the energy efficiency of public lighting installations. The results of this study also confirmed that lighting measurements, installation material, luminaire position, and electricity consumption data can be easily integrated into geographic information systems (GIS). The main advantage of this new methodology is that it provides information about lighting installations in large areas in less time than more conventional procedures. It is thus a more effective way of obtaining the data required to calculate the energy efficiency of lighting levels and electricity consumption. There is even the possibility of generating street lighting maps that provide local administrations with up-to-date information regarding the status of public lighting installations in their city. In this way, modifications or improvements can be made to achieve greater energy savings and, if necessary, to correct the distribution or configuration of public lighting systems to make them more efficient and sustainable. This research studied levels of street lighting and calculated the energy efficiency in various streets of Deifontes (Granada), through the use of aerial imagery.
Exploring the Effect of Time Horizon Perspective on Persuasion: Focusing on Both Biological and Embodied Aging
Authors: Ahn Ahreem , Min Dongwon
Published: November 2018

According to socioemotional selectivity theory (SST), aging influences information processing style depending on the time horizon perspective (THP). In detail, older adults who perceived time as limited prefer emotional to factual messages, whereas younger adults who believed time to be expansive show the opposite pattern. When individuals pursue a specific goal, they tend to process goal-relevant information in more detail, which in turn evaluates factual messages positively. We investigated the moderating effect of goal pursuit on the relationship between biological aging and persuasion in October 2016 (Experiment 1). Results showed that both older and younger adults were more favorable toward factual (vs. emotional) messages when they pursue a goal. Experiment 2, conducted in March 2017, examined whether embodied aging affects persuasion. The results indicated that younger adults with embodied aging did not show a similar persuasion pattern with actual older adults, while embodiment studies demonstrated that younger adults with embodied aging act like older adults. That means that only THP changes the angle leading to processing. In the final experiment, conducted in November 2018, younger adults primed with limited THP preferred emotional to factual messages, which was similar to actual older adults’ responses. Moreover, we showed that emotional attachment mediated the effect of message types on the persuasion of younger adults with limited THP.
First Report of Okadaic Acid and Pectenotoxins in Individual Cells of Dinophysis and in Scallops Argopecten purpuratus from Perú
Authors: Alcántara-Rubira Alex , Bárcena-Martínez Víctor , Reyes-Paulino Maribel , Medina-Acaro Katherine , Valiente-Terrones Lilibeth , Rodríguez-Velásquez Angélica , Estrada-Jiménez Rolando , Flores-Salmón Omar
Published: November 2018

Causative species of Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) and toxins in commercially exploited molluscan shellfish species are monitored weekly from four classified shellfish production areas in Perú (three in the north and one in the south). Okadaic acid (OA) and pectenotoxins (PTXs) were detected in hand-picked cells of Dinophysis (D. acuminata-complex and D. caudata) and in scallops (Argopecten purpuratus), the most important commercial bivalve species in Perú. LC-MS analyses revealed two different toxin profiles associated with species of the D. acuminata-complex: (a) one with OA (0.3–8.0 pg cell−1) and PTX2 (1.5–11.1 pg cell−1) and (b) another with only PTX2 which included populations with different toxin cell quota (9.3–9.6 pg cell−1 and 5.8–9.2 pg cell−1). Toxin results suggest the likely presence of two morphotypes of the D. acuminata-complex in the north, and only one of them in the south. Likewise, shellfish toxin analyses revealed the presence of PTX2 in all samples (10.3–34.8 µg kg−1), but OA (7.7–15.2 µg kg−1) only in the northern samples. Toxin levels were below the regulatory limits established for diarrhetic shellfish poisoning (DSP) and PTXs (160 µg OA kg−1) in Perú, in all samples analyzed. This is the first report confirming the presence of OA and PTX in Dinophysis cells and in shellfish from Peruvian coastal waters.
Description, Distribution, and Relevance of Viruses of the Forest Pathogen Gremmeniella abietina
Authors: Botella Leticia , Hantula Jarkko
Published: November 2018

The European race of the ascomycetous species Gremmeniella abietina (Lagerberg) Morelet includes causal agents of shoot blight and stem canker of several conifers in Europe and North America, which are known to host a diverse virome. GaRV6 is the latest and sixth mycovirus species reported within G. abietina. Before its description, one victorivirus and one gammapartitivirus species were described in biotype A, two mitoviruses in both biotypes A and B and a betaendornavirus in biotype B. Possible phenotypic changes produced by mycoviruses on G. abietina mycelial growth have been reported in Spanish mitovirus-free and GaRV6-hosting G. abietina isolates, which had higher growth rates at the optimal temperature of 15 °C, but no other major differences have been observed between partitivirus-like dsRNA and dsRNA-free isolates. In this review, we reappraise the diversity of viruses found in G. abietina so far, and their relevance in clarifying the taxonomy of G. abietina. We also provide evidence for the presence of two new viruses belonging to the families Fusariviridae and Endornaviridae in Spanish isolates.
Approaches to Failure Risk Analysis of the Water Distribution Network with Regard to the Safety of Consumers
Authors: Pietrucha-Urbanik Katarzyna , Tchórzewska-Cieślak Barbara
Published: November 2018

Contemporary risk assessment makes reference to current world trends, whereby there is increased emphasis on safety. This paper has thus sought mainly to present new approaches to failure risk assessment where the functioning of a water distribution network (WDN) is concerned. The framework for the research involved here has comprised of: (a) an analysis of WDN failure in regard to an urban agglomeration in south-east Poland; (b) failure rate analysis, taking account of the type of a water pipe (mains, distribution, service connections (SC)) and months of the year, with an assessment of results in terms of criterion values for failure rate; (c) a determination—by reference to analyses performed previously—of the compatibility of experts’ assessments in terms of standards of failure and obtained results, through rank analysis; and (d) the proposing of a modified Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis with implementation of an Analytical Hierarchy Process, to allow failure risk assessment for the WDN to be performed, on the basis of the calculated additive value of obtained risk. The analysis in question was based on real operating data, as collected from the water distribution company. It deals with failures in the WDN over a period of 13 years in operation, from 2005 to 2017.
Improved Instruments and Methods for the Photographic Study of Spark-Induced Cavitation Bubbles
Authors: Zhang Qi , Luo Jing , Zhai Yanwei , Li Yilan
Published: November 2018

An underwater spark is able to induce a cavitation bubble, and this principle has been utilized to make cavitation bubble generators for several decades. In this paper, an improved instrument for generating spark-induced cavitation bubbles is described in detail. The voltage time history inside the instrument is measured to show the working process and principle. Cavitation bubbles are generated by the instrument and recorded by a high-speed camera. The radius time history of the bubble is obtained using an image processing algorithm. The ratio of its minimum radius to its maximum radius reaches ~0.2, which indicates that there is little undissolved gas in the bubble. With the radius time history, the velocity fields around the bubbles were calculated by the 1D continuity flow equation, and the pressure fields were calculated by the 1D Euler equation. One cavitation bubble is chosen and discussed in detail. The velocity and pressure on the bubble interface achieve their maximums (~25 m/s and ~1.2 MPa, respectively) at the same time, when the radius is at its minimum (~1 mm). Some statistical results are also presented to show the effect of the instrument.
Soil Erosion Modelling and Risk Assessment in Data Scarce Rift Valley Lake Regions, Ethiopia
Authors: Aga Alemu O. , Chane Bayou , Melesse Assefa M.
Published: November 2018

To prolong the useful life of lakes and reservoirs, prioritizing watersheds by severity and risk of soil erosion is an essential index to develop sound sediment management plans. This study aims to predict soil erosion risk and sediment yield using Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model in Lake Ziway basin, Ethiopia, and the model result is validated with lake bathymetric changes. The SUFI-2 program was applied for a model calibration and the performance of the model was assessed. The catchment prioritization study indicated that some sub-basins having the same soil type and land use but a higher slope gives higher sediment yield. This confirms that, in the basin, the upland is the main source of sediment for the lake, hence the variation of sediment yield is more sensitive to terrain slope. Furthermore, the soil conservation scenarios demonstrated in SWAT that reduce the slope length of the watershed by 50% for a slope greater than 5% are decreasing the sediment yield of the basin by 55%. The bathymetric differencing of the lake indicates that the sediment was accumulating at a rate of 3.13 t/ha/year while a calibrated SWAT model resulted in 5.85 t/ha/year. The identified reasons for these variations are the existence of outlet for the lake, floodplain depositions and abstraction of sediment (sand mining) from the tributary rivers before flowing to the lake.
Changes of Grassland Rain Use Efficiency and NDVI in Northwestern China from 1982 to 2013 and Its Response to Climate Change
Authors: Chang Juan , Tian Jiaxi , Zhang Zengxin , Chen Xi , Chen Yizhao , Chen Sheng , Duan Zheng
Published: November 2018

The grasslands in arid and semi-arid regions rely heavily on the use of rain, thus, improving rain use efficiency (RUE) is essential for securing sustainable development of grassland ecosystems in these areas with limited rainfall. In this study, the spatial and temporal variabilities of RUE for grassland ecosystems over Northwestern China during 1982–2013 were analyzed using the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and precipitation data. Results showed that: (1) Although grassland area has decreased gradually over the past 30 years, the NDVI in most areas showed that the vegetation was gradually restored; (2) The trends of RUE increased in the east of Northwestern China and decreased in the west of Northwestern China. However, the trends of RUE for the high-coverage grasslands (vs. low-coverage grassland) increased (decreased) significantly over the past 30 years. (3) The RUE for the grasslands was positively correlated with air temperature, while it was negatively correlated with the change of annual mean precipitation in northwestern China. Moreover, the obvious RUE increasing trends were found in the vegetation restoration areas, while the RUE decreasing trends appeared in the vegetation degradation areas. This study will be helpful for understanding the impacts of climate change on securing the sustainable development of grassland ecosystems in arid and semi-arid regions.
Infiltration and Inflow (I/I) to Wastewater Systems in Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and Finland
Authors: Jenssen Sola Kristin , Bjerkholt Jarle Tommy , Lindholm Oddvar Georg , Ratnaweera Harsha
Published: November 2018

Infiltration and inflow of non-sewer water to the wastewater network (I/I-water) may have a number of both financial and environmental consequences. In Norway, there are two commonly used methods for calculating the volume of I/I-water, The Dilution method (DM) and the Water Balance Method (WBM). When comparing the methods, the WBM gives a lower value of I/I-water than the DM. Analysis shows that the volume of I/I-water for some large Norwegian wastewater plants is decreasing. From 2009 to 2016, the average value has decreased from 70% to 66% of the total annual flow. For investigated Danish districts the average amount of I/I-water is stable, on about 30%. Calculations performed by the Finnish Water Utilities Association shows a stable percentage of I/I-water on about 40% in Finland from 2010 to 2016. Calculations on Swedish wastewater plants show a reduction in I/I-water from 58% to 46% from 2010 to 2016. For the districts Asker, Bærum, and Drammen in Norway, the amount of I/I-water is increasing with increasing percentage of combined sewer systems. This is also the case for investigated plants in Norway, Sweden, and Finland. The exception is Denmark, with a high percentage of combined systems, but a low percentage of I/I-water. Investigations done for Asker, Bærum, Drammen, and the two Danish districts Randers and Esbjerg vest, show a correlation between rainfall and I/I-water only for Asker and Esbjerg vest.
Anthropogenic Impact and Ecological Risk Assessment of Thallium and Cobalt in Poyang Lake Using the Geochemical Baseline
Authors: Li Yanyan , Qu Xiaodong , Zhang Min , Peng Wenqi , Yu Yang , Gao Bo
Published: November 2018

As the largest freshwater lake in China, water environmental pollution in Poyang Lake is increasingly attracting attention. However, to date, the occurrence of seldom-monitored trace elements (SMTEs) (such as thallium (Tl) and cobalt (Co)) and their potential ecological influences in the Poyang Lake area remain unclear. Here, geochemical baseline concentrations (GBCs) were employed to investigate anthropogenic inputs of these two metals (Tl and Co) and were used to assess the potential ecological risk in surface sediments of Poyang Lake. The results showed that the mean concentrations of Tl and Co were 1.11 mg/kg and 15.42 mg/kg, respectively, slightly higher than background values (BVs) in local soil. Spatially, the Co concentrations in surface sediments of Poyang Lake varied; Co concentrations in the west of the study area were significantly lower than in the middle of the lake. In contrast, no significant spatial variation of Tl was found in studied areas of Poyang Lake. Average GBCs were similar to the mean measured concentrations of Tl and Co in the lake, and both were higher than the BVs in local soil. In anthropogenic source analysis based on the GBCs, 47.22% samples and 41.67% samples were influenced by human activity for Tl and Co, respectively; the mean anthropogenic contribution rate was 5.90% for Tl (0.43 to 16.22%), and 13.01% for Co (0.82 to 31.59%). These results indicated that Tl and Co mainly originate from natural processes. However, the anthropogenic contribution should not be ignored. Moreover, the geo-accumulation index (Igeo) and potential ecological parameter (Er) generally indicated no contamination and a low potential risk for Tl and Co in Poyang Lake sediments, which used the GBCs as BVs. The results of this study suggest that GBCs are more scientifically robust and practical as a reference than BVs. They can also be used when BVs are lacking.
An Insight into the Projection Characteristics of the Soil-Water Retention Surface
Authors: Ye Yun-xue , Zou Wei-lie , Han Zhong
Published: November 2018

The soil-water retention surface (SWRS), which describes the variation of the degree of saturation (Sr) with suction (s) and void ratio (e), is of crucial importance for understanding and modeling the hydro-mechanical behavior of unsaturated soils. As a 3D surface in the Sr –e–s space, the SWRS can be projected onto the constant Sr, constant s, and constant e planes to form three different 2D projections, which is essential for establishing the SWRS and understanding its various characteristics. This paper presents a series of investigations on the various characteristics of the three SWRS projections. For the Sr –s and Sr –e relationships, (i) a tangential approximation approach is proposed to quantitatively capture their asymptotes, and (ii) a new criterion is presented to distinguish the low and high suction ranges within which these two relationships exhibit different features. On the other hand, a modified expression is introduced to better capture the characteristics of the s–e relationships. The various projection characteristics and the proposed approaches are validated using a wide set of experimental data from the literature. Studies presented in this paper are useful for the rational interpretation of the SWRS and the hydro-mechanical coupling behavior of unsaturated soils.
Diversité morpho-climatique et intérêt des karsts japonais
Authors: Salomon Jean-Noël
Published: November 2018

Morpho-climatic features of Japanese karstic areas.

The Japanese karsts are practicaly unknown in Europe because few karstologists from this continent have visited Japan, and the studies completed there have been written in Japanese.

Still, Japan has numerous karstifiable terrains of various locations and ages (from the Primary era to Holocene ) that are subject to significant climatic ranges. For this reason many caves exist and many have been sheltered through the ages (archeological) up until recent times (World War II). Some are sufficiently large and concretionous to have consequently generated tourist activities, added by mystic and religious aspects. The understanding of karsts has also allowed remarkable management of underground systems for surface irrigation. Finally, due to their recording abilities, karsts developped in uplifted marine terraces offer better prospects for understanding the local tectonic patterns which concern the Japanese. These reasons make the Japanese karsts interesting.
«Stalactites extérieures » dans les karsts tropicaux humides : dépôts stalagmitiques de tufs calcaires
Authors: Taborosi Danko , Hirakawa Kazuomi
Published: November 2018

Les entrées de grottes et les falaises des milieux tropicaux humides sont souvent enduites d'un dépôt stalagmitique friable et poreux. Ce dépôt se présente généralement sous un faciès de tuf calcaire plutôt que de calcite sparitique caractéristique des stalactites de grottes. De dimension centimétrique à décamétrique, les formes de ces «stalactites extérieures » peuvent être irrégulières, courbées, avec des bulbes, des pendants, voire orientées par la lumière par exemple. Leur surface extérieure est poudreuse ou terreuse et fréquemment couverte pas un enduit humide organique. Composée de couches de matériel microcristallin se rapprochant de la craie, ces «stalactites » montrent une grande variété de fabriques parfois difficiles à distinguer. On distingue les fabriques d'encroûtement des dépôts amorphes ou laminés. De plus, ces dépôts contiennent une grande quantité de matière organique, de structure microbienne et de grains détritiques. On trouve ces stalactites dans un grand nombre de biotopes. On suppose que leur formation est liée à des processus biogéniques surimposés aux processus abiotiques de la précipitation/dissolution physico-chimique des eaux karstiques. Les stalactites extérieures représentent des formations sub-aériennes spécifiques rarement abordées dans la littérature karstologique.
Etude des paléokarsts des environs de Saint-Remèze (Ardèche, France) : mise en évidence d'une rivière souterraine fossilisée durant la crise de salinité messinienne
Authors: Martini Jacques E.J.
Published: November 2018

Plusieurs remplissages de paléokarsts ont été étudiés, dont le plus important provient d'une paléo-rivière souterraine. Cette dernière apparaît actuellement sous la forme d'une succession de tronçons d'une galerie colmatée, puis exhumée à la suite de la dénudation karstique.

Ces segments de grotte décapitée se suivent à l'altitude de 360-380 m sur une longueur en ligne droite de 5,2 km. Trois remplissages détritiques ont été mis en évidence, qui sont par ordre stratigraphique : 1) des limons et sables micacés beiges représentant des alluvions immatures exogènes au karst et dont l'âge miocène terminal a été révélé par des restes de rongeurs et par le contexte paléokarstique ; 2) des argiles et grès rouges matures, dont l'origine est locale et dont l'âge varie de miocène terminal à récent ; 3) des brèches de gélifraction pléistocènes. La pétrographie des alluvions immatures est comparable à celle des graviers de l'Ardèche actuelle, qui coule à proximité, profondément encaissée dans un canyon. La paléo-rivière souterraine était très probablement alimentée par des pertes partielles de l'Ardèche alors qu'elle coulait à l'altitude de 360-380 m, soit 300 m plus haut que l'actuelle. Les faibles variations de l'altitude du conduit fossile suggèrent une formation sur niveau hydrostatique. L'âge biostratigraphique des alluvions immatures et le contexte paléokarstique indiquent qu'elle était probablement encore active entre les âges de -5,6 et -5,45 Ma, c'est-à-dire, au maximum, peu avant le début de l'assèchement profond de la Méditerranée (la crise de salinité messinienne) et, au minimum, déjà pendant l'incision des canyons messiniens. Dans cette dernière option, bien que l'érosion régressive ait pu déjà être en progression à partir des côtes, elle n'aurait pas pu atteindre la région étudiée et donc pas encore pu vidanger l'aquifère karstique profond. Cette rivière souterraine fossile permet aussi une appréciation plus précise de l'évolution de la morphologie du karst ardéchois.
Les karsts latéritiques de Nouvelle-Calédonie
Authors: Genna Antonin , Bailly Laurent , Lafoy Yves , Augé Thierry
Published: November 2018

Le rôle métallogénique des phénomènes karstiques est connu de longue date. Les principaux gisements ainsi formés concernent l'aluminium, le plomb-zinc, le nickel et le cuivre. En Nouvelle-Calédonie, le climat tropical humide a développé divers types de karsts dans les formations carbonatées et dans les roches ultramafiques de l'ophiolite calédonien. Le nickel concentré dans les profils d'altération est exploité depuis le XIXème siècle. La mise en place de ces gisements a fait l'objet de nombreuses controverses. Divers modèles géologiques ont été proposés au cours du temps. Ils ont initialement été interprétés comme d'origine hydrothermale. On les a ensuite considérés comme supergènes où les fluides météoriques empruntent des réseaux de fractures préexistantes. Ils ont également été considérés comme contemporains d'une néotectonique en extension radiale. L'altération latéritique des péridotites s'est développée à partir d'une paléosurface d'âge miocène. Nous montrons par une analyse structurale que les failles listriques qui contiennent la minéralisation correspondent à des effondrements karstiques. Une analyse détaillée de l'ensemble de l'édifice karstique est proposée, dans lequel la fracturation hydraulique a un rôle dominant dans la dynamique et la structuration du karst.
In situ characterization of nanoscale contaminations adsorbed in air using atomic force microscopy
Authors: Lacasa Jesús S , Almonte Lisa , Colchero Jaime
Published: November 2018

Under ambient conditions, surfaces are rapidly modified and contaminated by absorbance of molecules and a variety of nanoparticles that drastically change their chemical and physical properties. The atomic force microscope tip–sample system can be considered a model system for investigating a variety of nanoscale phenomena. In the present work we use atomic force microscopy to directly image nanoscale contamination on surfaces, and to characterize this contamination by using multidimensional spectroscopy techniques. By acquisition of spectroscopy data as a function of tip–sample voltage and tip–sample distance, we are able to determine the contact potential, the Hamaker constant and the effective thickness of the dielectric layer within the tip–sample system. All these properties depend strongly on the contamination within the tip–sample system. We propose to access the state of contamination of real surfaces under ambient conditions using advanced atomic force microscopy techniques.
Scènes de repas dans « César Birotteau »
Authors: Kamada Takayuki
Published: November 2018

Parmi les nombreuses manifestations d’éléments alimentaires dans l’œuvre de Balzac, les scènes de repas dans César Birotteau méritent une attention particulière, car elles jouent un rôle important à plusieurs niveaux dans le roman. Nous examinerons d’abord la façon dont les moments de repas contribuent à structurer l’itinéraire d’aventure de Birotteau, avant de procéder à une analyse plus précise des rapports problématiques du héros avec la table en trois phases. Nous nous interrogerons ensuite sur un autre aspect des scènes de table dans le récit : la mise en texte du personnage de Claparon, dont la construction audacieuse ouvre sur les représentations du personnel populaire dans l’œuvre de Balzac dans les années 1840.
Scènes de la table non partagée chez Balzac
Authors: Azuma Tatsunosuke
Published: November 2018

On mange soit en groupe, soit tout seul, mais la rencontre des mangeurs et des non-mangeurs est rare, à moins qu’il y ait une distinction claire, telle que celle entre les clients et les serveurs dans un restaurant. Chez Balzac, quelles relations le(s) mangeur(s) et le(s) non-mangeur(s) entretiennent-ils entre eux ? Il y a au moins quatre directions de réflexion qui s’imposent : l’isolement social, les intérêts opposés, le contraste entre la vie et la mort, l’amour impossible. Les scènes de la table non partagée chez Balzac expriment, dans ses multiples formes, la crise de la communauté de tout genre, dont le fondement consiste, le romancier le savait bien, à manger ensemble.
Restauration panoramique. Balzac : la carte et le réfectoire
Authors: Preiss Nathalie
Published: November 2018

Il est plusieurs voies pour traiter de la table dans la littérature panoramique et dans l’œuvre de Balzac : l’on s’attachera ici à penser la représentation de la table sur le mode de la relation de la table à la représentation, dans les deux corpus, liés entre eux par un processus de modélisation réciproque. Associée au geste inaugural de la littérature panoramique ( Le Diable boiteux ), et objet d’un certain type de représentation (de la topographie à l’archéologie moderne), la table, affaire autant de temps que d’espace, appelle une certaine forme de représentation, le récit, l’histoire, de vie, voire pour Balzac la forme de représentation par excellence, l’histoire naturelle des cœurs et des mœurs en action, projet de son nouveau roman et projection du nouveau diorama. Mieux, par un détour qui est aussi retour à la rhétorique antique, la tabula , associée à l’art de la memoria et du panorama, pourrait bien être ce qui donne forme à la représentation, voire, par une nouvelle alliance entre tabula , memoria et inventio , en devenir la condition : la carte mnémonique et panoramique précède le réfectoire. Bien plus, dans le contexte historique d’une révolution philosophique, elle transhistorique, la tabula rasa de la Terreur-Méduse, la table apparaît, par la nouvelle alliance susdite, fonction d’information, d’intellection, de re-présentation d’un réel sinon irreprésentable. Une fonction indispensable mais jetable : de Balzac à Perec, via Houellebecq, l’assomption de la table comme fonction signe aussi sa disparition. À tabula rasa , tabula rasée, mais en faveur d’un roman de la fiction pure, par un auctor , configuré en nouvel Ulysse. De la topographie à la topologie, de la topologie à la topique et à la poétique, tels sont le trajet et le menu proposés pour ce voyage panoramique autour de la table.
Art, passion et dérision dans « La Cousine Bette »
Authors: Dupuis Danielle
Published: November 2018

L’art est un thème récurrent de La Comédie humaine. Steinbock, dernier artiste créé par Balzac, devait initialement jouer dans La Cousine Bette un rôle capital. Artiste présenté d’abord comme génial, il a subi au cours de sa genèse une radicale métamorphose. En effet, victime de la faiblesse de son caractère, de l’indulgence coupable d’une femme trop aimante puis de la passion castratrice de Valérie Marneffe, il perd l’énergie et l’habitude d’un travail acharné indispensables à tout authentique créateur. On remarque alors que les jugements portés par Balzac sur les œuvres de Steinbock suivent cette évolution dans la conception du personnage : ils deviennent négatifs. Ils vont de pair avec une réflexion désenchantée sur l’œuvre d’art sous la monarchie de Juillet, la valeur marchande l’emportant sur la valeur esthétique, le goût bourgeois se substituant à la recherche du Beau idéal. Dans La Cousine Bette le génie inventif est seulement au service des passions les plus viles et Steinbock, double négatif de son créateur, reflet d’une époque, est l’un des rares personnages sans énergie de La Comédie humaine .
Balzac peintre et sténographe de la vie moderne
Authors: Diaz José-Luis
Published: November 2018

Balzac est ici considéré comme un poète romanesque du moderne, qui a adopté cette esthétique de la modernité que Baudelaire (1846) et Gautier (1858) lui ont attribuée. Plus encore que sur Balzac « peintre de la vie moderne » (selon la formule que Baudelaire applique à « M. G. », 1863), l’étude insiste sur Balzac « sténographe de la vie moderne ». Mettant en application une intuition de Locke, Balzac semble en effet s’être lancé ce défi : sténographier le moderne en ses langages et ses sonorisations . Déjà à l’œuvre dans divers essais romanesques des années 1830, un tel projet revient dans trois récits-conversations : La Maison Nucingen (1838), Un homme d’affaires (1846) et Les Comédiens sans le savoir ( 1846), qui ont pour trait commun que c’est Bixiou, le mystificateur, qui y mène la conversation, de façon ludique et déstructurante, de manière à rendre le mouvement incertain et fluctuant d’une société anomique.
Les fortunes de la vertu balzacienne
Authors: Chung Ye Young
Published: November 2018

À rebours de l’image d’un Balzac cynique et désabusé, cet article vise à mettre en évidence l’idéaliste passionné, obstinément épris d’absolu. Dans La Comédie humaine , la vertu est la forme privilégiée que revêt cet absolu dans le domaine de l’éthique. Afin de trouver un nouveau fondement à cette quête de la vertu, le romancier n’hésite pas à en explorer toute l’ambiguïté, au risque de la soumettre à une impasse. Henriette de Mortsauf et Véronique Graslin sont deux héroïnes chez qui la passion, le désir ne s’opposent pas à la vertu, mais en est le moteur et la force. Leur fidélité, leur volonté tiennent de cette énergie vitale au-delà du bien et du mal s’apparentant à la virtù antique. Ce n’est rien moins que le sens de la vie que Balzac interroge à travers la notion de vertu.
L’incompréhensibilité cohérente
Authors: Briggs Thomas Welles
Published: November 2018

Les difficultés juridico-financières des deux histoires commerciales « nées jumelles » de Balzac, César Birotteau et La Maison Nucingen , restent aujourd’hui aussi incompréhensibles qu’elles l’étaient au xix e siècle. La clef du premier récit est l’art ténébreux de l’agiotage ; celle du second le principe cambiaire de l’inopposabilité des exceptions. Grâce à cette incompréhensibilité – examinée de près ici – il devient possible au lecteur d’entrer dans l’histoire, de devenir soit César Birotteau soit une des victimes du richissime baron de Nucingen. Autrement dit, et comme Balzac lui-même, nous sommes tous Birotteau. Dès lors sommes-nous vraiment si loin de devenir le semblable, le frère de Balzac ?
Traceability in the Supply Chain
Authors: Kros John Francis , Liao Ying , Kirchoff Jon Frederick , Zemanek Jr. James E
Published: November 2018

Traceability in firms' supply chain operations has become increasingly important today, calling for greater scrutiny and transparency. Firms have responded by increasing and improving product traceability throughout their global supply. Traceability is a significant benefit to firms. Areas affected include quality control and product safety, tracking product recalls, and reverse logistics. Research does exist on the importance and benefits of implementing traceability initiatives but in very targeted areas. In addition, missing from the literature is the important discussion of what factors predicate firms to implement traceability initiatives beyond those prescribed by law and how industries other than very specific categories, create and implement effective traceability initiatives throughout the supply chain. In turn, the purpose of this research is to investigate traceability to gain greater understanding of why firms implement traceability & what actions or initiatives lead to greater traceability effectiveness.
Wireless Heartrate Monitoring Along Prioritized Alert Notification Using Mobile Techniques
Authors: Rajkumar Rajasekaran
Published: November 2018

The increasing number of problems that need to be addressed in the hospital sector calls for innovation in this field. It brings us the need to find cost-effective and memory-efficient solutions to handle the vast data and sector it into essential information to operate on the patient. There used to be many systems to manage clinical records which are fixed at a place. It is quite complicated to get the information and make this data available at a patient's bedside. This leads to a considerable amount of wasted time in moving to those storage PCs and also the cost afforded is comparatively high. A computer system that controls and accomplishes all the data in the hospital database to provide effective healthcare is called hospital information system (HIS). The introduction of HIS made billing and inventor easier for the staff. This paper discusses diverse methods that improve the cost, demands of HIS, and provide techniques to function efficiently using wireless networks. Also, the paper gives a comparative study on different aspects such as cost, quality of service, transportation, and security. A new system is proposed by combining the wireless healthcare system along prioritized alert notification.
Tap and Swipe Activity Zones on Smartphones for Novice Older Adults
Authors: Silva Paula Alexandra , Leitão Roxanne , Kerwin Maureen K
Published: November 2018

This article investigates tactile interaction on smartphones with adults aged 65 or older who were considered to have a novice level of skill with technology. Two experiments with two different groups of 40 Portuguese adults adds empirical evidence to the field and shows that older adult performance for tapping is best toward the center, right edge, and bottom right corner of the smartphone display. Results also show that a participant's performance of horizontal swipes is better with targets toward the bottom half of the display, while participant's performance of vertical swipes is better with targets toward the right half of the display. This article contributes to the body of research on the design of user interfaces for smartphones and mobile applications targeted at older adults, as well as providing practical information for designers and practitioners developing products that are more universally accessible.
FeelOpo
Authors: Carvalho Isabel , Bidarra José , Porto Carla
Published: November 2018

FeelOpo is an interactive art installation that allows contact with fragments of the immaterial heritage of the Oporto City in the North of Portugal. Through location-based storytelling of the living city, this interactive installation allows visitors to explore, at different levels, several typical characteristics of this city, addressing aspects of cultural identity based on contrasting images and videos. The visitors feel and explore visual stories of the live city, through a process of appropriation and articulation of these narratives, generating an expansion of this intangible heritage.
Development of Secured Log Management System Over Blockchain Technology
Authors: Rajebhosale Sagar Shankar , Nikam Mohan Chandrabhan
Published: November 2018

A log is a record of events that happens within an organization containing systems and networks. These logs are very important for any organization, because a log file will able to record all user activities. Due to this, log files play a vital role and contain sensitive information, and therefore security should be a high priority. It is very important to the proper functioning of any organization, to securely maintain log records over an extended period of time. So, management and maintenance of logs is a very difficult task. However, deploying such a system for high security and privacy of log records may be overhead for an organization and require additional costs. Many techniques have been designed for security of log records. The alternative solution for maintaining log records is using Blockchain technology. A blockchain will provide security of the log files. Log files over a Blockchain environment leads to challenges with a decentralized storage of log files. This article proposes a secured log management over Blockchain and the use of cryptographic algorithms for dealing the issues to access a data storage. This proposed technology may be one complete solution to the secure log management problem.
Blockchain and the Protection of Patient Information in Line with HIPAA
Authors: DeLeon Colin , Choi Young B.
Published: November 2018

Blockchains used for the protection of patient information can serve as a way for hospitals and other medical facilities to secure patient records. With more information threats targeting hospitals and other medical facilities, it is becoming more important for these organizations to improve the information systems that are charged with protecting their patient records. HIPAA regulations are in place to try and protect patient records and information, but the hospitals do not allocate enough funds to information systems so they are put at risk of attack. Blockchains can offer the type of protection that these medical facilities need without them having to worry about upgrading the technology every year. The Blockchain is not without its faults, and that can be seen in the attacks that take place against Bitcoin. Even with these attacks, the use of Blockchain would be beneficial to the hospitals and medical facilities.
Designing of Internet of Things Sensor Based Information Gateway Using SDN Concept
Authors: Li Bin , Sun Xin , Yu Shi
Published: November 2018

In order to make the gateway of the Internet of things access to the public network effectively, using a Software-Defined Network (SDN) concept, a sensor network was studied. When performing hierarchical design, the gateway of the Internet of things was layered. It was divided into the policy layer and the forwarding layer. The policy layer distributed the policy, to receive instructions from the upper server. At the same time, it managed the nodes and matches the forwarding rules. The forwarding layer is only responsible for forwarding data packets. This control and data flow separation structure could effectively improve the system transmission efficiency. At the same time, the software structure design and hardware design of the sensor gateway of the Internet of things were given. The design and function of the gateway was analyzed and studied. A comprehensive solution of the gateway system was proposed. The results showed that this method could further improve the performance of the sensor network gateway. Therefore, the design of the Internet of things sensing information gateway based on the concept of SDN has a high practical value.
Key Technology for Intelligent Interaction Based on Internet of Things
Authors: Wang Tianlin
Published: November 2018

In view of the limitations of the traditional intelligent interaction, the new needs brought by intelligent interaction of Internet of things (IoT) and the context-aware technology were analyzed. An intelligent interactive architecture based on context aware and IoT-oriented was proposed. The intelligent interaction and context expression model in the IoT environment were constructed. The results showed that the proposed architecture and method could achieve intelligent interaction between human and materials in the IoT environment. To sum up, the architecture can improve the flexibility of intelligent interaction system.
Behavioral Modeling of Malicious Objects in a Highly Infected Network Under Quarantine Defence
Authors: Rao Yerra Shankar , Nayak Prasant Kumar , Saini Hemraj , Panda Tarini Charana
Published: November 2018

This article describes a highly infected e-epidemic model in a computer network. This article establishes the Basic reproduction number R0, which explicitly brings out the stability conditions. Further, the article shows that if R0< 1 then the infected nodes ceases the spreading of malicious code in computer network as it dies down and consequently establishes the asymptotically stable, when R0> 1, the alternative aspect is that infected nodes stretch out into the network and becomes asymptotically unstable. The pivotal, impact of quarantine node on e-epidemic models has been verified along with its control strategy for a high infected computer network. In the MATLAB simulation, the quarantine class shows its explicit relationship with respect to high as well as low infected class, exposed class, and finally, with recovery class in order to yield increasing safety measures on transmission of malicious codes.
Enhanced Security for Electronic Health Care Information Using Obfuscation and RSA Algorithm in Cloud Computing
Authors: Gautam Pratiksha , Ansari Mohd. Dilshad , Sharma Surender Kumar
Published: November 2018

Recently, the electronic heath record (EHR) has become the chosen method to maintain a patient's health information. The advancement of cloud computing enables users to access their data with flexibility, providing large storage capability at low costs, which encourages EHR maintainers to consider shifting from their own storage to the cloud. In cloud computing, it is no doubt that securing EHRs poses a gigantic challenge. Various security properties like access control, data privacy, and scalable access between different clouds needs to be satisfied. This article presents a secure and efficient blueprint for securing data confidentiality on cloud computing storage. The proposed framework is carried out for EHR confidential data on cloud storage. Moreover, the proposed approach combines the obfuscation and RSA encryption together to enforce confidentiality and authentication. Through this framework, the data confidentiality and authentication scheme on EHR information can be enforced on clouds storage.
The Impact of CO2 Emissions From Waste on Human Health
Authors: Turcea Vlad Constantin , Mihai Mihaela Madalina
Published: November 2018

The objective of this article is to demonstrate the impact of one of many pollution forms, waste type, and impact upon human health, by analyzing the following indices: CO2 emissions from waste management for EU 28 and the annual number of new cases of lung cancer for EU 28 with the help of a simple regression econometric model. The purpose of this research is to identify the relationship between the previously mentioned indices. This study ascertains the indices correlation and the results are supported by several studies that have shown the link between overall pollution and human health. The present research aims at changing the perspective regarding all waste types that should be regarded as resources, not to be considered as an inevitable inconvenience.
Theoretical Analysis of the Relationship Between Monopoly's Optimal Tariffs and Consumer Utility
Authors: Ali Bouchrika , Terzi Chokri , Mhadhbi Khalil , Fakhri Issaoui
Published: November 2018

The article is an extension to the pricing models proposed by Jean Tirol that model the consumption of an environmental good. However, the different consumption patterns of this good, which is characterized by a taste parameter (two tastes or a continuum of taste); always verifying an imbalance between the profit of the monopoly (mainly natural); and the utility function of the consumer agent. Taxation on the price, in relation to consumer preferences, can ensure the objectives of an efficient management of a good which has variations in its physical nature. Moreover, a coefficient of variation in its nature, based on a scale of measurement, can achieve the convergence between economic and social objectives. The underlying results show that the consumer surplus is proportional to the variation between the average and marginal utility. In addition, maximizing monopoly profit provides a reasonable price that ensures social equity measures between the different users.
Understanding the Role of CSR, Chinese Values, and Personality on the Relationship Between Consumers' Choice of Green Hotel and WOM in China
Authors: Gao Jennifer H.
Published: November 2018

People have been increasingly aware of environmental protection. The green hotel is quite popular in developed countries, but there is limited research about green hotels in China. This study investigated Chinese consumers' perception toward green hotels, and the factors that influenced their choice of a green hotel, and the factors predicted their word-of-mouth after a purchase experience. Data was collected from 354 respondents. The results revealed that corporate social responsibility, Chinese values, and two personality traits (i.e., responsibility and self-consciousness) were significant predictors of consumers' choice of a green hotel. Word of mouth was also significantly influenced by Chinese values, responsibility, and consumers' choice of a green hotel. Discussion, implications, and future research opportunities were presented.
Consumers' Stickiness to Mobile Payment Applications
Authors: Matemba Elizabeth D. , Li Guoxin , Maiseli Baraka J.
Published: November 2018

WeChat wallet incorporates compelling features facilitating users to conduct financial transactions more conveniently. The authors' survey discovered that most users appreciate WeChat wallet services. Previous studies, however, inadequately address critical factors that motivate consumers' stickiness to this promising technology. Scholars concentrate only on the technological features and considers societal traditional practices. This work establishes a psychometric theoretical model that integrates novel constructs, which balances technological features and traditional values, predicting WeChat wallet customers' stickiness. To this end, a questionnaire, with Likert scale items, was administered to 450 Chinese and foreigners in China. The authors measured their model's reliability and validity using composite reliability, convergent validity, and discriminant validity. The study applied the common latent factor approach to test the common method bias. Structural equation modeling and SPSS were used for data analysis. The study reveals that perceived availability of merchant support, convenience, social influence, and red envelope (traditional Chinese culture for sharing monetary values during festivals and special events) preference promote consumers' stickiness behaviors to WeChat wallet. In addition, perceived security insignificantly moderates the relationships between convenience/social influence and consumers' stickiness. This study gives scholars an important research avenue to explore further the relationships between traditions and diffusion of technology.