bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Borders of Inter-Firm Mobility for ICT Employees in Italy
Authors: Sgobbi Francesca
Published: April 2013

Workers with low skill transferability risk longer unemployment spells between jobs and face higher probability of poorer working conditions. Those risks are particularly strong for professionals in the area of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs), due to fast changing technologies and processes. The empirical analysis provided in this paper tests the borders of skill transferability for ICT employees by assessing the return to employer mobility for firm changers in the same industry and firm changers moving outside the ICT industry compared to firm stayers. The 1990-2004 empirical analysis is based on WHIP, a longitudinal dataset including a representative sample of employment relationships in Italy. The results show that firm changers benefit from a wage premium, provided that they remain in the ICT industry.
Information and Communication Technology in Education
Authors: Li Xiaobin
Published: April 2013

This article provides an overview of the current development of information and communication technology (ICT) utilized in Chinese education. Specifically, the article describes and discusses the impact contemporary ICT has on Chinese elementary and secondary education, as well as the existing challenges in ICT application. The article also examines ICT’s application in higher education, particularly in distance education, and the issues that have to be dealt with. The article discusses the potential for further developing education with ICT. In addition, it makes recommendations with regard to providing better education with ICT in China.
Transformative Learning and Technology in Adult and Vocational Education
Authors: Wang Viktor , Cranton Patricia
Published: April 2013

Adult learners often fear that they will be unable to find work if they are lacking in technological skills. The media, including newspapers, magazines, and advertisements for positions often emphasize the importance of the use of technology in the workplace. It is the case that without adequate skills in the use of appropriate technologies, adult workers may face challenges in finding employment. But what technologies can do is to provide powerful teaching and learning strategies. This article addresses technological applications in vocational and adult education advancement from different perspectives. Technology has the potential to support transformative learning. Technology, along with the vital role of adult educators, helps learners grow, change, and develop. Through the discussion of these, and related issues, a model titled Learners’ Seeking Transformation via Web 2.0 Technologies, has emerged.
Technology Evaluation Tools and Teacher Performance in Public Schools
Authors: Stonehouse Pauline , Keengwe Jared
Published: April 2013

The purpose of this study was, (a) to describe the introduction of MVAL software and Charlotte Danielson Rubrics (CDR) as teacher evaluation tools; (b) to compare the process and outcomes of the new initiative with traditional systems, and (c) to evaluate the software from the perspective of participants in the system. This study highlights the need for public school district to improve the process of teacher evaluation using technlogy evaluation tools such as the mVal software. Addtionally, educational policy makers ought to examine effective standards-based criteria and the impact of technology tools on teacher evaluation and reflective practices.
Computer-Assisted Instruction
Authors: Keengwe Jared , Hussein Farhan
Published: April 2013

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship in achievement gap between English language learners (ELLs) utilizing computer-assisted instruction (CAI) in the classroom, and ELLs relying solely on traditional classroom instruction. The study findings showed that students using CAI to supplement traditional lectures performed better than the students relying solely on traditional classroom instruction. In addition, using CAI to supplement traditional lectures helped the charter schools to close the educational achievement gap of their students. Based on the findings, there is need for teachers to move past traditional learning, and learn new technology skills in order to incorporate sound technology-enhanced instructional strategies to support student learning.
Voice Priority Queue Scheduling System Models for VoIP over WLANs
Authors: Nisar Kashif
Published: April 2013

The Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) is a delay sensitive traffic due to real-time applications on networks. The assessment of voice flow quality in the VoIP is an essential requirement for technical and commercial motivation. The packets of VoIP streaming may experience drops because of the competition among the different kinds of traffic flow over the network. A VoIP application is also sensitive to delay and requires the voice packets to arrive on time from the sender to the receiver side without any delay over WLAN. The scheduling system model for VoIP traffic is an unresolved problem. In this research paper, the author proposes a new Voice Priority Queue (VPQ) scheduling system models and algorithms for the VoIP over WLANs to solve scheduling issues over IP-based networks. They present new contributions, through the three stages of the VPQ. The VPQ scheduling algorithm is provided as an essential technique in the VoIP communication networks to guarantee the QoS requirements. The design of the VPQ is managed by the limited bandwidth utilization and has been proven to have an efficient performance over WLANs.
Classification Method for Learning Morpheme Analysis
Authors: Kovács László
Published: April 2013

The morpheme analysis module is an important component in natural language processing engines. The parser modules are usually based on rule systems created by human experts. In the paper, a novel approach is tested for implementation of the morpheme analyzer module. The proposed structure is based on the theory of formal concept analysis. The word inflection can be considered as a classification problem, where the class label denotes the corresponding transformation rule. The main benefit of the proposed method is the efficient generalization feature. The proposed morpheme analyzer module was implemented in a prototype question generation application.
Selecting Chance Curation Strategies
Authors: Magnani Lorenzo , Bertolotti Tommaso
Published: April 2013

The aim of this paper is to tackle the following issue: as it is renown that chances can be faked, it seems intuitive to think that the inhibition of chance-faking contexts is a good activity of chance curation. Yet, could this activity sometimes be counterproductive? The question will be answered positively considering the case of bullshit as a case of fake chances, but also as a fertile ground for learning and developing intuitions. Ultimately, this paper will argue that the peculiar context, that is the cognitive niche supporting the (potentially) fake chances, is the discriminating factor: indeed, a rich cognitive niche may benefit from certain kind of fake chances – which should therefore not be inhibited – whereas a poorer niche might not benefit from this situation, and therefore the preclusion of fake chances is an act of chance curation in those contexts.
SpeakRite
Authors: Imran Ahmed , Pandharipande Meghna , Kopparapu Sunil Kumar
Published: April 2013

There has been an increase in spoken interaction between people from different geographies or different cultural background prominently in the call center scenario. Noticeably, ineffectiveness of conversations is prominent when two people, from different cultures, converse in a language common to them. One of the main reason for conversation ineffectiveness is driven by the way conversation is spoken and not so much by what is being spoken. Speaking rate is a critical factor affecting intelligibility and comprehension of speech. In this paper, we present SpeakRite - a real-time mobile application that assists and guides a person to converse at the right speed by analyzing his spoken speech. As its main function, SpeakRite analyzes the speaking rate during a telephone conversation and provides a real time feedback to assist the speaker modify his speaking rate. Additionally, it also provides an offline analysis of the speaking rate variations in a recorded call. The authors discuss a real time implementation for monitoring speaking rate on a mobile phone device.
Combining Forecasts
Authors: Koshiyama Adriano S. , Escovedo Tatiana , Dias Douglas M. , Vellasco Marley M. B. R. , Pacheco Marco A. C.
Published: April 2013

Combining forecasts is a common practice in time series analysis. This technique involves weighing each estimate of different models in order to minimize the error between the resulting output and the target. This work presents a novel methodology, aiming to combine forecasts using genetic programming, a metaheuristic that searches for a nonlinear combination and selection of forecasters simultaneously. To present the method, the authors made three different tests comparing with the linear forecasting combination, evaluating both in terms of RMSE and MAPE. The statistical analysis shows that the genetic programming combination outperforms the linear combination in two of the three tests evaluated.
A Collaborative Pointing Experiment for Analyzing Bodily Communication in a Virtual Immersive Environment
Authors: Lala Divesh , Nishida Toyoaki
Published: April 2013

Virtual environments are a medium in which humans can effectively interact; however, until recently, research on body expression in these worlds has been sparse. This has changed with the recent development of markerless motion capture. This paper is a first step toward using this technology as part of an investigation into a collaborative task in the virtual world. In this task, participants used a pointing gesture as a means to both complete the task and communicate with their partner. The results gained from the experiment were inconclusive, but did show that the effectiveness of the experiment depends largely on the algorithm used to detect gesture and thereby influence the virtual world. Additionally, the benefits of the experimental system are shown. This research shows the potential of examining body expression in collaborative virtual environments.
Principles and Measurement Models for Software Assurance
Authors: Mead Nancy R. , Shoemaker Dan , Woody Carol
Published: April 2013

Ensuring and sustaining software product integrity requires that all project stakeholders share a common understanding of the status of the product throughout the development and sustainment processes. Accurately measuring the product’s status helps achieve this shared understanding. This paper presents an effective measurement model organized by seven principles that capture the fundamental managerial and technical concerns of development and sustainment. These principles guided the development of the measures presented in the paper. Data from the quantitative measures help organizational stakeholders make decisions about the performance of their overall software assurance processes. Complementary risk-based data help them make decisions relative to the assessment of risk. The quantitative and risk-based measures form a comprehensive model to assess program and organizational performance. An organization using this model will be able to assess its performance to ensure secure and trustworthy products.
A New Method for Writing Assurance Cases
Authors: Matsuno Yutaka , Yamamoto Shuichiro
Published: April 2013

In this paper, the authors present a new method for writing assurance cases. Assurance cases are documented bodies of evidence that provide a convincing and valid argument that a system is adequately dependable for a given application in a given environment. Assurance cases have been used mostly in the safety field, but are now beginning to be widely applied in other areas. Cyber security is one such area, and recently, assuring security of cyber systems has become crucial. Several methods and various guidelines for writing assurance cases have been used. Unfortunately, only experts are currently able to write assurance cases, and it is still difficult for ordinary engineers to write them. This paper presents a new method for writing assurance cases. The main ideas are that (1) documents generated and used during the system lifecycle must be either used by the assurance cases or must be referred to in the assurance cases, and (2) typical patterns exist for assurance cases, and these patterns have not yet been well discussed. This paper presents the preliminary steps in developing a method for writing assurance cases. The authors also report on a preliminary experiment carried out on a web server demo system.
Usability Study of Fingerprint and Palmvein Biometric Technologies at the ATM
Authors: Peevers Gareth , Williams Richard , Douglas Gary , Jack Mervyn A.
Published: April 2013

The usability of four biometric ATM designs were assessed in comparison to an existing ATM. Participants (N=46) were observed using two biometric technologies (palmvein and fingerprint) at two positions (horizontal and vertical) on the ATM in a repeated measures design. Measures included a usability attitude questionnaire, a quality metric and data from interviews and observation. Usability scores for the ATMs with biometric sensors were comparable to scores for the existing ATM even though they added an extra step to the typical ATM process. No differences were found in usability scores between palmvein and fingerprint sensors on the ATMs, or for the different positions. The quality results were more emphatic with a definite preference for horizontal positioning of sensors on the ATM, which corresponded with observations and participant comments. The horizontally-mounted fingerprint sensor was rated significantly higher in comparison to the existing ATM. Participant preference also favoured the fingerprint sensor over the palmvein sensor. It is argued that the quality metric results picked up on issues of security, whereas the usability results did not. There was a clear divide in the rankings of the existing ATM with equal scores ranking it first and last. Nearly 20% of the participants said they would not register to use biometric technologies. It is not clear how much of this is due to usability issues or underlying negative attitudes towards biometrics. Observations and comments from the participants point to the importance of improving user feedback in future designs.
Cutting Edge: Macrophages Are Required for Localization of Antigen-Activated B Cells to the Follicular Perimeter and the Subsequent Germinal Center Response
Authors: Nikbakht Neda , Shen Shixue , Manser Tim
Published: April 2013

We demonstrated recently that, after accumulation of Ag-engaged B cells at the T cell zone boundaries in the spleen, these B cells migrate to the perimeter of follicles adjacent to the marginal zone. They undergo rapid proliferation at this site prior to coalescence into germinal centers (GCs). In this article, we report that this phase of migration and expansion of activated Ag-specific B cells, as well as subsequent formation of GCs, does not take place in the absence of splenic macrophages. Our data suggest a previously unappreciated function for macrophages in orchestrating the early phases of T cell–dependent B cell responses and formation of GCs distinct from their potential role in Ag presentation to T cells.
Ecology of the plant-dwelling spiders (Arachnida: Araneae) of the Erfenis Dam Nature Reserve, South Africa
Authors: Fourie René , Haddad Charles R. , Dippenaar-Schoeman Anna S. , Grobler Anel
Published: April 2013

As part of the South African National Survey of Arachnida in the Grassland Biome, foliage-dwelling and grass-dwelling spiders (Arachnida: Araneae) were collected in the Erfenis Dam Nature Reserve in the central Free State Province from November 2005 to August 2007. Foliage-dwelling spiders were collected from three common tree or shrub species (Acacia karroo, Searsia ciliata and Searsia lancea) and grass-dwellers from four contrasting grasslands (uniform Themeda triandra, mixed, weedy and woodland grasslands). From the grass layer, 1649 spiders were collected, representing 15 families and 82 species, whilst 496 tree-dwelling spiders were collected that represented 17 families and 52 species. There was some overlap in the fauna of the two strata, resulting in a total of 108 species from 18 families being collected. The Araneidae, Philodromidae, Salticidae and Thomisidae were consistently the most abundant in all grassland types and tree species, although Salticidae were scarce on A. karroo. Assemblage analysis indicates high similarity and overlap in the fauna of the four grassland types, suggesting that the structural complexity of grasslands has a limited effect on species composition. In contrast, the foliage-dwelling assemblages were more distinct, with only some overlap between the faunas of S. ciliata and A. karroo, suggesting a stronger vegetation structural effect in shaping arboreal spider assemblages. The isolation of trees and shrubs within the extensive grassy habitat may contribute to the more unique fauna and lower species richness of the woody vegetation. Conservation implications: This study uncovered a rich diversity of plant-dwelling spiders from central South Africa. Grassland faunas show considerable temporal variation and some variability in microhabitat preferences, and sampling protocols should take this into account when spiders are considered in management plans and biodiversity surveys in reserves and private land.
Emerging Therapeutic Options for the Management of COPD
Authors: Reid Debra J. , Pham Nga T.
Published: April 2013

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the fourth leading cause of death worldwide and is projected to be the third by 2020. COPD is characterized by chronic airflow limitation caused by airway inflammation and parenchymal destruction that is usually progressive. Inhaled bronchodilators continue to be the mainstay of the current management of COPD. Safety and efficacy data of the recently approved medications including aclidinium, glycopyrronium, roflumilast, and indacaterol are reviewed here.
Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction for Detection of Strongyloides stercoralis in Stool
Authors: Sultana Yasmin , Jeoffreys Neisha , Watts Matthew R. , Gilbert Gwendolyn L. , Lee Rogan
Published: April 2013

The use of real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for detection of Strongyloides stercoralis in stool has recently been described. We compared five DNA extraction methods by using normal human stool spiked with Strongyloides ratti and tested by using a real-time PCR. The PowerSoil kit was found to be the best technique in terms of sensitivity and ease of use. The PCR detected DNA extracted from one spiked S. ratti larva diluted 10−2. The PowerSoil kit was then used to extract DNA from 160 human survey samples. All culture positive specimens with a high and moderate larval load were identified by real-time PCR, but only 15% of specimens with low larval load were positive. Specificity was greater than 99%. The combination of the PowerSoil kit and real-time PCR reliably detected high to moderate larval numbers of S. stercoralis in stools but was less sensitive when the larval load was low.
Effective aerosol optical depth from pyranometer measurements of surface solar radiation (global radiation) at Thessaloniki, Greece
Authors: Lindfors A. V. , Kouremeti N. , Arola A. , Kazadzis S. , Bais A. F. , Laaksonen A.
Published: April 2013

Abstract. Pyranometer measurements of the solar surface radiation (SSR) are available at many locations worldwide, often as long time series covering several decades into the past. These data constitute a potential source of information on the atmospheric aerosol load. Here, we present a method for estimating the aerosol optical depth (AOD) using pyranometer measurements of the SSR together with total water vapor column information. The method, which is based on radiative transfer simulations, was developed and tested using recent data from Thessaloniki, Greece. The effective AOD calculated using this method was found to agree well with co-located AERONET measurements, exhibiting a correlation coefficient of 0.9 with 2/3 of the data found within ±20% or ±0.05 of the AERONET AOD. This is similar to the performance of current satellite aerosol methods. Differences in the AOD as compared to AERONET can be explained by variations in the aerosol properties of the atmosphere that are not accounted for in the idealized settings used in the radiative transfer simulations, such as variations in the single scattering albedo and Ångström exponent. Furthermore, the method is sensitive to calibration offsets between the radiative transfer simulations and the pyranometer SSR. The method provides an opportunity of extending our knowledge of the atmospheric aerosol load to locations and times not covered by dedicated aerosol measurements.
CCN activity of organic aerosols observed downwind of urban emissions during CARES
Authors: Mei F. , Setyan A. , Zhang Q. , Wang J.
Published: April 2013

Abstract. During the Carbonaceous Aerosols and Radiative Effects Study (CARES), activation fraction of size-resolved aerosol particles and aerosol chemical composition were characterized at the T1 site (~60 km downwind of Sacramento, California) from 10 June to 28 June 2010. The hygroscopicity of CCN-active particles (κCCN) with diameter from 100 to 171 nm, derived from the size-resolved activated fraction, varied from 0.10 to 0.21, with an average of 0.15, which was substantially lower than that proposed for continental sites in earlier studies. The low κCCN value was due to the high organic volume fraction, averaged over 80% at the T1 site. The derived κCCN exhibited little diurnal variation, consistent with the relatively constant organic volume fraction observed. At any time, over 90% of the size selected particles with diameter between 100 and 171 nm were CCN active, suggesting most particles within this size range were aged background particles. Due to the large organic volume fraction, organic hygroscopicity (κorg) strongly impacted particle hygroscopicity and therefore calculated CCN concentration. For vast majority of the cases, an increase of κorg from 0.03 to 0.18, which are within the typical range, doubled the calculated CCN concentration. Organic hygroscopicity was derived from κCCN and aerosol chemical composition, and its variations with the fraction of total organic mass spectral signal at m/z 44 (f44) and O : C were compared to results from previous studies. Overall, the relationships between κorg and f44 are quite consistent for organic aerosol (OA) observed during field studies and those formed in smog chamber. Compared to the relationship between κorg and f44, the relationship between κorg and O : C exhibits more significant differences among different studies, suggesting κorg may be better parameterized using f44. A least squares fit yielded κorg = 2.04 (± 0.07) × f44 − 0.11 (± 0.01) with the Pearson R2 value of 0.71. One possible explanation for the stronger correlation between κorg and f44 is that the m/z 44 signal (mostly contributed by the CO2+ ion) is more closely related to organic acids, which may dominate the overall κorg due to their relatively high water solubility and hygroscopicity.
Analysis of particle size distribution changes between three measurement sites in Northern Scandinavia
Authors: Väänänen R. , Kyrö E.-M. , Nieminen T. , Kivekäs N. , Junninen H. , Virkkula A. , Dal Maso M. , Lihavainen H. , Viisanen Y. , Svenningsson B. , Holst T. , Arneth A. , Aalto P. P. , Kulmala M. , Kerminen V.-M.
Published: April 2013

Abstract. We investigated atmospheric aerosol particle dynamics in a boreal forest zone in Northern Scandinavia. We used aerosol size distribution data measured with either a Differential Mobility Particle Sizer (DMPS) or Scanning Mobility Particle Sizer (SMPS) at three stations (Värriö, Pallas and Abisko), and combined these data with the HYSPLIT air mass trajectory analysis. We compared three approaches: analysis of new particle formation events, investigation of air masses transport from the ocean to individual stations with different over-land transport times, and analysis of changes in aerosol particle size distributions during the air masses transport from one measurement station to another. Aitken mode particles were found to have an apparent average growth rate of 0.6–0.7 nm h−1 when the air masses travelled over land. Particle growth rates during the NPF events were 3–6 times higher than the apparent particle growth. When comparing aerosol dynamics between the different stations for different over-land transport times, no major differences were found except that in Abisko the new particle formation events were observed to take place in air masses having shorter over-land times than at the other stations. We speculate that this is related to the meteorological differences along the paths of air masses caused by the land surface topology. When comparing between air masses travelling the east-to-west direction to those traveling the west-to-east directions, clear differences in the aerosol dynamics were seen. Our results suggest that the condensation growth has an important role in aerosol dynamics also when new particle formation is not evident.
Global tropospheric ozone column retrievals from OMI data by means of neural networks
Authors: Di Noia A. , Sellitto P. , Del Frate F. , de Laat J.
Published: April 2013

Abstract. In this paper, a new neural network (NN) algorithm to retrieve the tropospheric ozone column from Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) Level 1b data is presented. Such an algorithm further develops previous studies in order to improve the following: (i) the geographical coverage of the NN, by extending its training set to ozonesonde data from midlatitudes, tropics and poles; (ii) the definition of the output product, by using tropopause pressure information from reanalysis data; and (iii) the retrieval accuracy, by using ancillary data (NCEP tropopause pressure and temperature profile, monthly mean tropospheric ozone column from a satellite climatology) to better constrain the tropospheric ozone retrievals from OMI radiances. The results indicate that the algorithm is able to retrieve the tropospheric ozone column with a root mean square error (RMSE) of about 5–6 DU in all the latitude bands. The design of the new NN algorithm is extensively discussed, validation results against independent ozone soundings and chemistry/transport model (CTM) simulations are shown, and other characteristics of the algorithm – i.e., its capability to detect non-climatological tropospheric ozone situations and its sensitivity to the tropopause pressure – are discussed.
High frequency boundary layer profiling with reusable radiosondes
Authors: Legain D. , Bousquet O. , Douffet T. , Tzanos D. , Moulin E. , Barrie J. , Renard J.-B.
Published: April 2013

Abstract. A new system for high frequency boundary layer profiling based upon radiosondes and free balloons was tested during the field phases of the Boundary Layer Late Afternoon and Sunset Turbulence (BLLAST 2011, Lannemezan, France) and of the Hydrological cycle in the Mediterranean Experiment (HyMeX, 2012). The system consists of a conventional Vaisala receiver and a GPS radiosonde (pressure, wind, humidity and temperature) that is tied to a couple of inflated balloons. The principle of the sounding system is to permit the first balloon to detach from the rawinsonde at a predetermined altitude, allowing the rawinsonde to slowly descend with the second balloon to perform a second, new sounding. The instrumentation is then eventually recovered. The expecting landing area is anticipated before the flight by estimating the trajectory of the probe from a forecasted wind profile and by specifying both the balloon release altitude and the mean ascent and descent rates of the system. The real landing point is determined by the last transmission of the radiosonde GPS and the visual landmark provided by the second balloon. About 70 soundings were performed with a recovery rate of more than 80%. Recovered radiosondes were generally reused several times, often immediately after recovery, which definitely demonstrates the high potential of this system.
Climatic impacts of fresh water hosing under Last Glacial Maximum conditions: a multi-model study
Authors: Kageyama M. , Merkel U. , Otto-Bliesner B. , Prange M. , Abe-Ouchi A. , Lohmann G. , Ohgaito R. , Roche D. M. , Singarayer J. , Swingedouw D. ,   X Zhang
Published: April 2013

Abstract. Fresh water hosing simulations, in which a fresh water flux is imposed in the North Atlantic to force fluctuations of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation, have been routinely performed, first to study the climatic signature of different states of this circulation, then, under present or future conditions, to investigate the potential impact of a partial melting of the Greenland ice sheet. The most compelling examples of climatic changes potentially related to AMOC abrupt variations, however, are found in high resolution palaeo-records from around the globe for the last glacial period. To study those more specifically, more and more fresh water hosing experiments have been performed under glacial conditions in the recent years. Here we compare an ensemble constituted by 11 such simulations run with 6 different climate models. All simulations follow a slightly different design, but are sufficiently close in their design to be compared. They all study the impact of a fresh water hosing imposed in the extra-tropical North Atlantic. Common features in the model responses to hosing are the cooling over the North Atlantic, extending along the sub-tropical gyre in the tropical North Atlantic, the southward shift of the Atlantic ITCZ and the weakening of the African and Indian monsoons. On the other hand, the expression of the bipolar see-saw, i.e., warming in the Southern Hemisphere, differs from model to model, with some restricting it to the South Atlantic and specific regions of the southern ocean while others simulate a widespread southern ocean warming. The relationships between the features common to most models, i.e., climate changes over the north and tropical Atlantic, African and Asian monsoon regions, are further quantified. These suggest a tight correlation between the temperature and precipitation changes over the extra-tropical North Atlantic, but different pathways for the teleconnections between the AMOC/North Atlantic region and the African and Indian monsoon regions.
Flow-R, a model for susceptibility mapping of debris flows and other gravitational hazards at a regional scale
Authors: Horton P. , Jaboyedoff M. , Rudaz B. , Zimmermann M.
Published: April 2013

Abstract. The development of susceptibility maps for debris flows is of primary importance due to population pressure in hazardous zones. However, hazard assessment by process-based modelling at a regional scale is difficult due to the complex nature of the phenomenon, the variability of local controlling factors, and the uncertainty in modelling parameters. A regional assessment must consider a simplified approach that is not highly parameter dependant and that can provide zonation with minimum data requirements. A distributed empirical model has thus been developed for regional susceptibility assessments using essentially a digital elevation model (DEM). The model is called Flow-R for Flow path assessment of gravitational hazards at a Regional scale (available free of charge under http://www.flow-r.org) and has been successfully applied to different case studies in various countries with variable data quality. It provides a substantial basis for a preliminary susceptibility assessment at a regional scale. The model was also found relevant to assess other natural hazards such as rockfall, snow avalanches and floods. The model allows for automatic source area delineation, given user criteria, and for the assessment of the propagation extent based on various spreading algorithms and simple frictional laws. We developed a new spreading algorithm, an improved version of Holmgren's direction algorithm, that is less sensitive to small variations of the DEM and that is avoiding over-channelization, and so produces more realistic extents. The choices of the datasets and the algorithms are open to the user, which makes it compliant for various applications and dataset availability. Amongst the possible datasets, the DEM is the only one that is really needed for both the source area delineation and the propagation assessment; its quality is of major importance for the results accuracy. We consider a 10 m DEM resolution as a good compromise between processing time and quality of results. However, valuable results have still been obtained on the basis of lower quality DEMs with 25 m resolution.
Which data for quantitative landslide susceptibility mapping at operational scale? Case study of the Pays d'Auge plateau hillslopes (Normandy, France)
Authors: Fressard M. , Thiery Y. , Maquaire O.
Published: April 2013

Abstract. The objective of this paper is to assess the impact of the datasets quality for the landslide susceptibility mapping using multivariate statistical modelling methods at detailed scale. This research is conducted in the Pays d'Auge plateau (Normandy, France) with a scale objective of 1/10000, in order to fit the French guidelines on risk assessment. Five sets of data of increasing quality (considering accuracy, scale fitting, geomophological significance) and cost of acquisition are used to map the landslide susceptibility using logistic regression. The best maps obtained with each set of data are compared on the basis of different statistical accuracy indicators (ROC curves and relative error calculation), linear cross correlation and expert opinion. The results highlights that only high quality sets of data supplied with detailed geomorphological variables (i.e. field inventory and surficial formations maps) can predict a satisfying proportion of landslides on the study area.
Literatura y activismo intelectual en la Argentina de los 80. Notas a partir de Lecturas críticas. Revista de Investigación y Teorías Literarias
Authors: Gerbaudo Analía Isabel
Published: April 2013

A partir de Lecturas críticas. Revista de Investigación y Teorías Literarias, este trabajo describe diferentes formas del activismo intelectual desarrollado en Argentina en torno a la literatura, la teoría y la crítica literarias durante la última dictadura militar. Los “grupos de estudio” (o la llamada “universidad de las catacumbas”), además de hacer circular y discutir literatura y teorías prohibidas, producen conferencias, revistas así como un colectivo crítico que, con el retorno democrático, renovará la enseñanza y la investigación universitarias en una zona importante del país. Pero por otro lado, durante la dictadura, estas formaciones y las derivas que generan en el campo actúan como núcleos de resistencia desajustados de la moral y de la ideología oficiales. Palabras claveliteratura * universidad de las catacumbas  *  Argentina  *  dictadura  * teoría y crítica literarias
De violencia, De normalización y "De Fronteras".
Authors: Rincon-Chavarro Maria Catalina
Published: April 2013

En este análisis del libro de cuentos De fronteras, de la salvadoreña Claudia Hernández, me encargo de rastrear las formas en que la escritora establece una crítica a la normalización de la violencia en un estado neoliberal a través de la estética de lo grotesco. Con el estudio de la puesta en escena de la normalización de lo grotesco en el libro, compruebo cómo la escritora delinea la noción de lo contemporáneo como un espacio discursivo construido por la historia y a construir por el lector.
“La visión del “otro”: racismo y ostracismo en “El matadero” y Facundo
Authors: Monti Jennifer Linda
Published: April 2013

Dos obras clásicas de la literatura argentina desarrollan ampliamente la muy trabajada dicotomía civilización/barbarie. Sin embargo, el cuento “El matadero” de Esteban Echeverría y Facundo: civilización y barbarie de Domingo Faustino Sarmiento presentan este tema de manera contradictoria. Usando como marco la separación entre ‘civilización’ y ‘barbarie’ y analizando la manera en que estos autores unitarios describen al ‘otro’, este ensayo revela el profundo racismo presente en dicha dicotomía. Ambas obras maestras pintan a los afro-argentinos, a los gauchos y a los mestizos como animalizados, como puro instinto y ‘bárbaros’, excluyéndolos completamente de los proyectos de modernización del país.
Hemodialysis Catheter Thrombi: Visualization and Quantification of Microstructures and Cellular Composition
Authors: Lucas Thabata C. , Tessarolo Francesco , Veniero Patrizia , Caola Iole , Piccoli Federico , Haase Albrecht , Nollo Giandomenico , Huebner Rudolf , Brunori Giuliano
Published: April 2013

Purpose

Despite the increasing use of central venous catheters (CVC) for hemodialysis in clinical practice, the role of CVC in thrombus development is poorly understood. This work aims at defining new methods and protocols for assessing the micromorphology and composition of thrombi formed into tunneled and non-tunneled hemodialysis CVC removed from patients.

Methods

Twenty-nine CVCs were collected and the microscopic features of intra-luminal thrombi were quantified by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and visualized by two photon laser scanning microscopy (TPLSM).

Results

SEM quantification showed that fibrin was the most abundant structure in CVC thrombi. Specifically, the median micromorphologic composition of the surface layer resulted in: 42.6% of fibrin plaque, 16.3% of fibrin network, 0.4% of fibrin fibers, 9.3% of platelets, 10.3% of erythrocytes and 1.7% of white blood cells. TPLSM showed that sub-surface layers were instead composed by smaller amounts of fibrin and platelets and higher amounts of blood cells.

Conclusions

Integration of SEM and TPLSM was found to be an excellent tool for characterizing thrombi in hemodialysis CVC removed from patients. Protocols and techniques presented here may be useful in the development and testing of new strategies for limiting thrombus formation on vascular access because of CVC.
Saúde para toda a população rural: Declaração de Durban
Authors: WONCA Working Party on Rural Practice
Published: April 2013

Nós, os profissionais de saúde rural do mundo, reunidos em Durban no 2º Congresso Mundial de Saúde Rural, propomos uma iniciativa global para o avanço da saúde da população rural mundial. Nós desejamos trabalhar em parceria para superar as desigualdades enfrentadas em áreas rurais.
Política de Qualidade e Eficácia dos Cuidados de Saúde Rural
Authors: WONCA Working Party on Rural Practice
Published: April 2013

A Política de Qualidade e Eficácia dos Cuidados de Saúde Rural foi desenvolvida pelo Grupo de Trabalho de Medicina Rural. O objetivo é fornecer uma estrutura que estimule o desenvolvimento de metas diretas e indiretas e de avaliações da qualidade e efetividade da prática da medicina rural. Em nome do Grupo de Trabalho de Medicina Rural da Wonca, esperamos que este documento estimule as ideias e ajude no esforço para o sucesso da proposta da Organização Mundial de Saúde de “Saúde para todos os povos” e da Declaração de Durban “Saúde para todas as populações rurais em 2020”.
Política sobre o uso da tecnologia da informação para melhoria dos cuidados da saúde rural
Authors: WRITE Rural Information Technology Exchange
Published: April 2013

Política sobre o Uso da Tecnologia da Informação para Melhoria dos Cuidados da Saúde Rural
HIV/AIDS: o documento de Santiago de Compostela
Authors: WONCA Working Party on Rural Practice
Published: April 2013

Adotado na 6ª Conferência Mundial de Saúde Rural da WONCA Santiago de Compostela, Espanha, 26 de setembro de 2003
Interobserver Agreement and Assay Reproducibility of Folate Receptor α Expression in Lung Adenocarcinoma: A Prognostic Marker and Potential Therapeutic Target
Authors: Bremer Ryan E. , Scoggin Tatiana S. , Somers Elizabeth B. , O'Shannessy Daniel J. , Tacha David E.
Published: April 2013

Context.—Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States and globally. Folate-targeted drugs are among the promising new targeted therapies for lung cancer, provided predictive biomarkers can be identified for optimal patient selection.

Objective.—To evaluate the interobserver agreement and reproducibility of an immunohistochemistry assay for folate receptor α as a potential predictive marker for folate-targeted therapies.

Design.—Immunohistochemistry using anti–folate receptor α antibody 26B3 was performed on formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues. The M-score, a semiquantitative measure of staining intensity and proportion of tumor cells staining, was determined for each specimen. Interobserver agreement was assessed using lung adenocarcinoma specimens stained at a single site and evaluated by 3 independent pathologists. Interinstrument reproducibility assessed 20 specimens stained by 3 different automated stainers. Interlaboratory agreement was determined on 5 specimens, repeatedly stained on each of 5 days, at 3 different study sites.

Results.—Folate receptor α expression was identified in 39 of 54 cases of lung adenocarcinoma (72%) and 4 of 37 cases of lung squamous cell carcinoma (11%). Agreement among 3 pathologists was found in 24 of 26 cases (92%). Interinstrument reproducibility was observed in 19 of 20 cases (95%). Agreement among 3 laboratories was found for 49 of 50 specimens (98%).

Conclusions.—Immunostaining of folate receptor α in lung adenocarcinomas is reproducible across staining platforms and among laboratories. Agreement among pathologists is achieved using a semiquantitative scoring method. An accurate and convenient method for determining folate receptor α expression offers a potentially invaluable tool for selecting patients for folate-targeted therapies.
A joint water diversion plan for China
Authors: Liang Shumin
Published: April 2013

To achieve domestic food security and help alleviate poverty, China is undertaking ambitious water transfer projects as a means of optimizing management of its water resources. This article proposes a three‐part approach to south‐to‐north water diversion in China. The plan consists of an extension to the current middle route, an alternative (and expanded) western route, and a trunk canal system to transfer water to the northwest. The proposed project would be undertaken in four stages; costs and benefits of each stage are included here. With the completion of the plan, the total annual capacity of south‐to‐north water diversion in China would be 238 × 109 m3. Total project investment is estimated at 3,147 billion yuan ($498 billion). Major benefits generated by the project include annual income of 287 billion yuan ($45 billion) through sales of water and hydropower, addition of 44.3 × 106 ha (109 × 106 acres) of irrigated arable land, relocation of 66.5 × 106 inhabitants to newly irrigated regions, and conversion of 470,000 km2 (181,468 sq mi) of desert to irrigated land and forest to provide wind shelter and preserve topsoil.
Simulated distribution nitrification: Nitrification Index evaluation and viable AOB
Authors: Schrantz Karen A. , Pressman Jonathan G. , Wahman David G.
Published: April 2013

Lab‐scale reactors were used to evaluate the impact of simultaneously increasing temporal influent monochloramine (NH2Cl) concentrations (0.0 to 3.2 mg/L Cl2) and chlorine‐to‐nitrogen mass ratios (0:1 to 3.2:1) on nitrification, allowing evaluation of the recently proposed Nitrification Index (NI) for chloraminated drinking water distribution system operation control. Nitrification was severely affected with a 1.5 mg/L as Cl2 NH2Cl residual, becoming undetectable when the NH2Cl residual reached 3 mg/L Cl2. The calibrated NI was successful in simulating nitrification occurrence. In addition, temporal biofilm sample results demonstrated that viable ammonia‐oxidizing bacteria were (1) dominated by Nitrosomonas europaea‐related species for an NH2Cl residual less than approximately 0.4 mg/L Cl2, (2) dominated by N. oligotropha‐related species for an NH2Cl residual between 0.4 and 1.5 mg/L Cl2, and (3) not detected once the NH2Cl residual was maintained at approximately 3 mg/L Cl2.
Les commentaires modernes de la Poétique d’Aristote
Authors: Zanin Enrica
Published: April 2013

L’analyse des premiers commentaires modernes de la Poétique, publiées entre 1500 et 1640, révèle l’évolution du genre qui prend progressivement la forme d’un traité de poétique. Cette évolution manifeste l’avènement d’une approche systématique de la matière poétique, qui risque pourtant de méconnaître la nature particulière et déterminée de l’objet qu’elle traite. La démarche philologique des premiers commentateurs est alors mise entre parenthèses par un souci de valoriser la poésie en l’actualisant et en la moralisant. Si les commentaires n’étaient, en définitive, qu’une mise en scène de la lecture, conçue comme une recherche infinie du sens, l’essor du discours scientifique marque le déclin provisoire de l’herméneutique et du pouvoir du lecteur de contribuer à la compréhension de la poésie et de son art.
Les Anotaciones a la poesía de Garcilaso de Fernando de Herrera
Authors: Coadou Bénédicte
Published: April 2013

Publiées à Séville en 1580, les Anotaciones a la poesía de Garcilaso de Fernando de Herrera marquent un jalon dans le mouvement théorique qui se dessine alors dans l’Espagne des Siècles d’Or. Oeuvre d’un poète reconnu pour sa création lyrique, elles sont aussi l’expression d’un intérêt évident pour le castillan et cherchent à fournir aux créateurs à venir des outils linguistiques et de nouveaux référents afin d’illustrer et d’enrichir la langue et la poésie castillanes, prolongeant de la sorte l’entreprise de Garcilaso. Si le contexte de publication de ces commentaires peut laisser croire que l’ouvrage est, avant tout, une attaque ou une réponse à la précédente parution du travail du Brocense, également connu sous le nom de Sanctius, il est impossible de limiter la portée des Anotaciones à la simple rivalité entre deux centres culturels — Salamanque et Séville — et entre deux figures — un grammairien et un poète. Fernando de Herrera intègre un mouvement plus vaste — l’humanisme tel que Philippe Lajarte le définit — et, tout au long de ses annotations, il cherchera à démontrer la valeur et les potentialités de la création poétique en langue vulgaire révélant, dans le même temps, les richesses de la langue vernaculaire employée par Garcilaso.
Contribution sur Pierre-Daniel Huet, Commentarius de rebus ad eum pertinentibus (1718)
Authors: Trivisani-Moreau Isabelle
Published: April 2013

Écrit en latin par Pierre-Daniel Huet (1630-1721), le Commentarius de rebus ad eum pertinentibus (1718) relève du genre des mémoires. Son titre, volontairement daté, le relie à la double tradition du commentaire : il relève en effet du genre qu’illustra César, désigné au XVIe siècle sous l’appellation de commentarius simplex, qui se rapporte à l’expérience d’un individu. Mais l’oeuvre de ce polymathe, qui fut sous-précepteur du Dauphin et tardif homme d’Église, par ses contenus, entretient aussi des liens avec le commentarius in aliud, qui porte sur les ouvrages d’un autre écrivain : fervent connaisseur des textes antiques, Huet publia en particulier une traduction accompagnée de nombreuses observations des commentaires d’Origène sur saint Matthieu. Le Commentarius a pour objet essentiel Huet lui-même. En forgeant pour lui la figure d’un savant, l’auteur montre la transformation des pratiques culturelles de son époque et l’écart qui se creuse dans la connaissance des textes anciens entre les savants et le public cultivé des mondains : son rôle dans l’élaboration de la collection Ad usum Delphini traduit cette nécessité de prendre en compte ce changement. Pour justifier son entreprise autobiographique, l’auteur lui donne in fine une assise théorique par une enquête historique et comparative sur le genre des mémoires qui le légitime. Témoin face à la postérité, Huet met un point final aux différends qu’il a pu connaître avec d’autres et rend compte d’une évolution personnelle où le contact tardif avec le religieux lui a permis, dans ce monde transformé, de retrouver une véritable cohérence en légitimant son appétit des savoirs.