bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Modernism's Moving Bodies
Authors: Clayton Michelle
Published: May 2014

This article explores the movements of modernist bodies across Europe and the Americas in the early twentieth century. Arguing that scholarship is still insufficiently attuned to the diversity and porousness of art-forms and languages that actually characterized the period, the essay tracks the movement of dancers through an expansive Western circuit, showcasing their involvement in unsuspected forms of circulation, collaboration, and cultural exchange. Focusing in particular on Tórtola Valencia, Vaslav Nijinsky, and Charlie Chaplin, the article demonstrates the cross-cultural movements implied in their own performances and tours; but it balances this interest in the modernist traveler with a focus on the figure designated by Mary Louise Pratt as the ‘travelee’, the one who is visited. Collecting responses in multiple languages and art-forms from ‘travelees’ in the spaces through which these performers passed, it is argued, allows scholars to configure new maps of cultural modernity.
Un-fixing Baker: Against a Criticism of Stasis
Authors: Townsend Julie
Published: May 2014

Much of the biographical and critical work on Josephine Baker seeks to recuperate Baker from discursive and visual layers of racialized colonial vestments and proposes to repair her story by putting Baker in the role of agent. This locks Baker into a counter-narrative that minimizes the complexity and context of her performances; arguably, these methods lose sight of the aesthetic and political implications of a dancing body that incorporated and put into motion wildly disparate elements and influences. The methodological problems posed by the nature of Baker's work present an opportunity to develop a critical approach that resists fixity in favor of mobility. Methodologies that sustain discursive mobility will equip our critical work to engage with the aesthetic production of the dancing body. In the case of Baker and perhaps more widely, we might draw upon emerging methods that shift critical foci from solid arguments to mobile analyses.
Ballet, Folk Dance, and the Cultural History of Interwar Modernism: The Ballet Job
Authors: Zimring Rishona
Published: May 2014

This essay singles out the Camargo Society's 1931 production of Job as an ‘emblematic’ modernist ballet. Whereas Sacre is emblematic of the pre-war crucible of the modernist avant-garde, Job is emblematic of the culturally reparative interwar years. To approach Job as an emblematic and innovative artwork of interwar modernism, we should locate its genealogy both in the radical, liberatory, experimentalist, and primitivist energies of Sacre, and in the accessibility and identificatory experiences of galvanizing forms of popular dance. Additionally, Job was influenced by the revival of traditionalist forms of participatory dance, which answered a newfound need for reassurance, restoration, and coherence. Job is the product of multiple dance influences in an interwar context, some, but not all, conventionally ‘modernist’. Our understanding of their importance to the cultural history of both the avant-garde and interwar modernism is enhanced if we trace them and appreciate Job's innovative and reparative meanings anew.
Cultural Adaptations of Prolonged Exposure Therapy for Treatment and Prevention of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in African Americans
Authors: Williams Monnica , Malcoun Emily , Sawyer Broderick , Davis Darlene , Nouri Leyla , Bruce Simone
Published: May 2014

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a highly disabling disorder, afflicting African Americans at disproportionately higher rates than the general population. When receiving treatment, African Americans may feel differently towards a European American clinician due to cultural mistrust. Furthermore, racism and discrimination experienced before or during the traumatic event may compound posttrauma reactions, impacting the severity of symptoms. Failure to adapt treatment approaches to encompass cultural differences and racism-related traumas may decrease treatment success for African American clients. Cognitive behavioral treatment approaches are highly effective, and Prolonged Exposure (PE) in particular has the most empirical support for the treatment of PTSD. This article discusses culturally-informed adaptations of PE that incorporates race-related trauma themes specific to the Black experience. These include adding more sessions at the front end to better establish rapport, asking directly about race-related themes during the assessment process, and deliberately bringing to the forefront race-related experiences and discrimination during treatment when indicated. Guidelines for assessment and the development of appropriate exposures are provided. Case examples are presented demonstrating adaptation of PE for a survivor of race-related trauma and for a woman who developed internalized racism following a sexual assault. Both individuals experienced improvement in their posttrauma reactions using culturally-informed adaptations to PE.
Model Selection Criteria Using Divergences
Authors: Toma Aida
Published: May 2014

In this note we introduce some divergence-based model selection criteria. These criteria are defined by estimators of the expected overall discrepancy between the true unknown model and the candidate model, using dual representations of divergences and associated minimum divergence estimators. It is shown that the proposed criteria are asymptotically unbiased. The influence functions of these criteria are also derived and some comments on robustness are provided.
Action-Amplitude Approach to Controlled Entropic Self-Organization
Authors: Ivancevic Vladimir , Reid Darryn , Scholz Jason
Published: May 2014

Motivated by the notion of perceptual error, as a core concept of the perceptual control theory, we propose an action-amplitude model for controlled entropic self-organization (CESO). We present several aspects of this development that illustrate its explanatory power: (i) a physical view of partition functions and path integrals, as well as entropy and phase transitions; (ii) a global view of functional compositions and commutative diagrams; (iii) a local geometric view of the Kähler–Ricci flow and time-evolution of entropic action; and (iv) a computational view using various path-integral approximations.
Scientific Basis for Sustainable Management of Eucalyptus and Populus as Short-Rotation Woody Crops in the U.S.
Authors: Vance Eric , Loehle Craig , Wigley T. , Weatherford Philip
Published: May 2014

Short rotation woody crops (SRWC), fast growing tree species that are harvested on short, repeated intervals, can augment traditional fiber sources. These crops have economic and environmental benefits stemming from their capability of supplying fiber on a reduced land base in close proximity to users and when sensitive sites cannot be accessed. Eucalyptus and Populus appear to be genera with the greatest potential to provide supplemental fiber in the U.S. Optimal productivity can be achieved through practices that overcome site limitations and by choosing the most appropriate sites, species, and clones. Some Eucalyptus species are potentially invasive, yet field studies across multiple continents suggest they are slower to disperse than predicted by risk assessments. Some studies have found lower plant and animal diversity in SRWC systems compared to mature, native forests, but greater than some alterative land uses and strongly influenced by stand management, land use history, and landscape context. Eucalyptus established in place of grasslands, arable lands, and, in some cases, native forests can reduce streamflow and lower water tables due to higher interception and transpiration rates but results vary widely, are scale dependent, and are most evident in drier regions.
Sharing Followers in e-Government Twitter Accounts: The Case of Greece
Authors: Zafiropoulos Kostas , Antoniadis Konstantinos , Vrana Vasiliki
Published: May 2014

The recent emergence of e-government and online social media offers opportunities for governments to meet the demands and expectations of citizens, to provide value-added services and overcome barriers of reduced public budgets. Twitter is the most popular microblogging platform that can facilitate interaction and engagement. It is widely used by government agencies, public affairs practitioners, non-government organizations, members of Parliament and politicians. The paper aims to explore the use of Twitter by government agencies in Greece and record Twitter followers’ preferences regarding which accounts they follow. The paper records 27 Greek e-government Twitter accounts and their 107,107 followers. It uses a data mining technique, association rules and two multivariate statistical methods, multidimensional scaling and cluster analysis and proposes the use of a similarity measure, suitable for describing Twitter account proximity. In this way, the paper locates accounts that share followers. Groups of Twitter accounts are located, and their common orientation is described. The analysis not only describes Twitter account similarities and group formation, but to some extent, the followers’ preferences and habits of obtaining information through Twitter, as well.
Specific Association of Teratogen and Toxicant Metals in Hair of Newborns with Congenital Birth Defects or Developmentally Premature Birth in a Cohort of Couples with Documented Parental Exposure to Military Attacks: Observational Study at Al Shifa Hospital, Gaza, Palestine
Authors: Manduca Paola , Naim Awny , Signoriello Simona
Published: May 2014

This study was undertaken in Gaza, Palestine, in a cohort of babies born in 2011. Hair samples of newborns were analyzed for metal load by DRC-ICP-MS. We report specific level of contamination by teratogen/toxicants metals of newborn babies, environmentally unexposed, according to their phenotypes at birth: normal full term babies, birth defects or developmentally premature. The occurrence of birth defects was previously shown to be correlated in this cohort to documented exposure of parents to weapons containing metal contaminants, during attacks in 2009. We detect, in significantly higher amounts than in normal babies, different specific teratogen or toxicant elements, known weapons’ components, characteristic for each of birth defect or premature babies. This is the first attempt to our knowledge to directly link a phenotype at birth with the in utero presence of specific teratogen and/or toxicant metals in a cohort with known episodes of acute exposure of parents to environmental contamination by these same metals, in this case delivered by weaponry The babies were conceived 20–25 months after the major known parental exposure; the specific link of newborn phenotypes to war-remnant metal contaminants, suggests that mothers’ contamination persists in time, and that the exposure may have a long term effect.
Particulate Matter Pollution and Population Exposure Assessment over Mainland China in 2010 with Remote Sensing
Authors: Yao Ling , Lu Ning
Published: May 2014

The public is increasingly concerned about particulate matter pollution caused by respirable suspended particles (PM10) and fine particles (PM2.5). In this paper, PM10 and PM2.5 concentration are estimated with remote sensing and individual air quality indexes of PM10 and PM2.5 (IPM10 and IPM2.5) over mainland China in 2010 are calculated. We find that China suffered more serious PM2.5 than PM10 pollution in 2010, and they presented a spatial differentiation. Consequently, a particulate-based air quality index (PAQI) based on a weighting method is proposed to provide a more objective assessment of the particulate pollution. The study demonstrates that, in 2010, most of mainland China faced a lightly polluted situation in PAQI case; there were three areas obviously under moderate pollution (Hubei, Sichuan-Chongqing border region and Ningxia-Inner Mongolia border region). Simultaneously, two indicators are calculated with the combination of population density gridded data to reveal Chinese population exposure to PM2.5. Comparing per capita PM2.5 concentration with population-weighted PM2.5 concentration, the former shows that the high-level regions are distributed in Guangdong, Shanghai, and Tianjin, while the latter are in Hebei, Chongqing, and Shandong. By comparison, the results demonstrate that population-weighted PM2.5 concentration is more in line with the actual situation.
The G Protein-Coupled Receptor Heterodimer Network (GPCR-HetNet) and Its Hub Components
Authors: Borroto-Escuela Dasiel , Brito Ismel , Romero-Fernandez Wilber , Di Palma Michael , Oflijan Julia , Skieterska Kamila , Duchou Jolien , Van Craenenbroeck Kathleen , Suárez-Boomgaard Diana , Rivera Alicia , Guidolin Diego , Agnati Luigi , Fuxe Kjell
Published: May 2014

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) oligomerization has emerged as a vital characteristic of receptor structure. Substantial experimental evidence supports the existence of GPCR-GPCR interactions in a coordinated and cooperative manner. However, despite the current development of experimental techniques for large-scale detection of GPCR heteromers, in order to understand their connectivity it is necessary to develop novel tools to study the global heteroreceptor networks. To provide insight into the overall topology of the GPCR heteromers and identify key players, a collective interaction network was constructed. Experimental interaction data for each of the individual human GPCR protomers was obtained manually from the STRING and SCOPUS databases. The interaction data were used to build and analyze the network using Cytoscape software. The network was treated as undirected throughout the study. It is comprised of 156 nodes, 260 edges and has a scale-free topology. Connectivity analysis reveals a significant dominance of intrafamily versus interfamily connections. Most of the receptors within the network are linked to each other by a small number of edges. DRD2, OPRM, ADRB2, AA2AR, AA1R, OPRK, OPRD and GHSR are identified as hubs. In a network representation 10 modules/clusters also appear as a highly interconnected group of nodes. Information on this GPCR network can improve our understanding of molecular integration. GPCR-HetNet has been implemented in Java and is freely available at http://www.iiia.csic.es/~ismel/GPCR-Nets/index.html.
Model Behavior and Sensitivity in an Application of the Cohesive Bed Component of the Community Sediment Transport Modeling System for the York River Estuary, VA, USA
Authors: Fall Kelsey , Harris Courtney , Friedrichs Carl , Rinehimer J. , Sherwood Christopher
Published: May 2014

The Community Sediment Transport Modeling System (CSTMS) cohesive bed sub-model that accounts for erosion, deposition, consolidation, and swelling was implemented in a three-dimensional domain to represent the York River estuary, Virginia. The objectives of this paper are to (1) describe the application of the three-dimensional hydrodynamic York Cohesive Bed Model, (2) compare calculations to observations, and (3) investigate sensitivities of the cohesive bed sub-model to user-defined parameters. Model results for summer 2007 showed good agreement with tidal-phase averaged estimates of sediment concentration, bed stress, and current velocity derived from Acoustic Doppler Velocimeter (ADV) field measurements. An important step in implementing the cohesive bed model was specification of both the initial and equilibrium critical shear stress profiles, in addition to choosing other parameters like the consolidation and swelling timescales. This model promises to be a useful tool for investigating the fundamental controls on bed erodibility and settling velocity in the York River, a classical muddy estuary, provided that appropriate data exists to inform the choice of model parameters.
Drilling Damage in Composite Material
Authors: Durão Luís , Tavares João , De Albuquerque Victor , Marques Jorge , Andrade Oscar
Published: May 2014

The characteristics of carbon fibre reinforced laminates have widened their use from aerospace to domestic appliances, and new possibilities for their usage emerge almost daily. In many of the possible applications, the laminates need to be drilled for assembly purposes. It is known that a drilling process that reduces the drill thrust force can decrease the risk of delamination. In this work, damage assessment methods based on data extracted from radiographic images are compared and correlated with mechanical test results—bearing test and delamination onset test—and analytical models. The results demonstrate the importance of an adequate selection of drilling tools and machining parameters to extend the life cycle of these laminates as a consequence of enhanced reliability.
Distribution of Nucleosides in Populations of Cordyceps cicadae
Authors: Zeng Wen-Bo , Yu Hong , Ge Feng , Yang Jun-Yuan , Chen Zi-Hong , Wang Yuan-Bing , Dai Yong-Dong , Adams Alison
Published: May 2014

A rapid HPLC method had been developed and used for the simultaneous determination of 10 nucleosides (uracil, uridine, 2'-deoxyuridine, inosine, guanosine, thymidine, adenine, adenosine, 2'-deoxyadenosine and cordycepin) in 10 populations of Cordyceps cicadae, in order to compare four populations of Ophicordyceps sinensis and one population of Cordyceps militaris. Statistical analysis system (SAS) 8.1 was used to analyze the nucleoside data. The pattern of nucleoside distribution was analyzed in the sampled populations of C. cicadae, O. sinensis and C. militaris, using descriptive statistical analysis, nested analysis and Q cluster analysis. The total amount of the 10 nucleosides in coremium was 1,463.89–5,678.21 µg/g in 10 populations of C. cicadae, 1,369.80–3,941.64 µg/g in sclerotium. The average contents of the 10 analytes were 4,392.37 µg/g and 3,016.06 µg/g in coremium and sclerotium, respectively. The coefficient of variation (CV) of nucleosides ranged from 8.36% to 112.36% in coremium of C. cicadae, and from 10.77% to 155.87% in sclerotium of C. cicadae. The CV of the nucleosides was wide within C. cicadae populations. The nested variation analysis by the nine nucleosides’ distribution indicated that about 42.29% of the nucleoside variability in coremium was attributable to the differentiation among populations, and the remaining 57.71% resided in the populations. It was also shown that about 28.94% of the variation in sclerotium was expressed between populations, while most of the variation (71.06%) corresponded to the populations.
Anticancer Activities of Polyynes from the Root Bark of Oplopanax horridus and Their Acetylated Derivatives
Authors: Meng Lan-Zhen , Huang Wei-Hua , Wang Chong-Zhi , Yuan Chun-Su , Li Shao-Ping
Published: May 2014

Six polyynes OH-1~6, some of which are occur naturally in acetylated form, had been isolated and identified from the root bark of Oplopanax horridus (Devil’s Club), a natural dietary supplement and medicinal plant in North America. During the evaluation of the polyynes’ potential anticancer activities, sixteen more acetylated derivatives OHR-1~16 have synthesized and their anti-proliferation activity on MCF-7, MDA-MB-231, A549, HepG2 and LO2 cells assayed to elucidate their structure-activity relationships. The results showed that OH-1 ((3S, 8S)-falcarindiol) had the most potent anticancer activity, with IC50 values of 15.3, 23.5, 7.7 and 4.7 μM on MCF-7, A549, HepG2 and MDA-MB-231 cells, respectively. For the primary structure-activity relationship, the anticancer activities of polyynes become weaker if their hydroxyl groups are acetylated, the terminal double bonds transformed into single bonds or they contain one more methylene group in the main skeleton chain.
Development and Successful Validation of Simple and Fast TLC Spot Tests for Determination of Kryptofix® 2.2.2 and Tetrabutylammonium in 18F-Labeled Radiopharmaceuticals
Authors: Kuntzsch Matthias , Lamparter Denis , Brüggener Nils , Müller Marco , Kienzle Gabriele , Reischl Gerald
Published: May 2014

Kryptofix® 2.2.2 (Kry) or tetrabutylammonium (TBA) are commonly used as phase transfer catalysts in 18F-radiopharmaceutical productions for positron emission tomography (PET). Due to their toxicity, quality control has to be performed before administration of the tracer to assure that limit concentration of residual reagent is not reached. Here, we describe the successful development and pharmaceutical validation (for specificity, accuracy and detection limit) of a simplified color spot test on TLC plates. We were able to prove its applicability as a general, time and resources saving, easy to handle and reliable method in daily routine analyzing 18F-tracer formulations for Kry (in [18F]FDG or [18F]FECh) or TBA contaminations (in [18F]FLT) with special regard to complex matrix compositions.
Fabrication of CO2 Facilitated Transport Channels in Block Copolymer through Supramolecular Assembly
Authors: Wang Yao , Shang Ying , Li Xianwu , Tian Tong , Gao Longcheng , Jiang Lei
Published: May 2014

In this paper, the molecule 12-amidine dodecanoic acid (M) with ending groups of carboxyl and amidine groups respectively was designed and synthesized as CO2-responsive guest molecules. The block copolymer polystyrene-b-polyethylene oxide (PS-b-PEO) was chosen as the host polymer to fabricate a composite membrane through H-bonding assembly with guest molecule M. We attempted to tune the phase separation structure of the annealed film by varying the amount of M added, and investigated the nanostructures via transmission electron microscope (TEM), fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) etc. As a result, a reverse worm-like morphology in TEM image of bright PS phase in dark PEO/M matrix was observed for PS-b-PEO/M1 membrane in which the molar ratio of EO unit to M was 1:1. The following gas permeation measurement indicated that the gas flux of the annealed membranes dramatically increased due to the forming of ordered phase separation structure. As we expected, the obtained composite membrane PS-b-PEO/M1 with EO:M mole ratio of 1:1 presented an evident selectivity for moist CO2 permeance, which is identical with our initial proposal that the guest molecule M in the membranes will play the key role for CO2 facilitated transportation since the amidine groups of M could react reversibly with CO2 molecules in membranes. This work provides a supramolecular approach to fabricating CO2 facilitated transport membranes.
Time Series Analysis of Land Cover Change: Developing Statistical Tools to Determine Significance of Land Cover Changes in Persistence Analyses
Authors: Waylen Peter , Southworth Jane , Gibbes Cerian , Tsai Huiping
Published: May 2014

Despite the existence of long term remotely sensed datasets, change detection methods are limited and often remain an obstacle to the effective use of time series approaches in remote sensing applications to Land Change Science. This paper establishes some simple statistical tests to be applied to NDVI-derived time series of remotely sensed data products. Specifically, the methods determine the statistical significance of three separate metrics of the persistence of vegetation cover or changes within a landscape by comparison to various forms of “benchmarks”; directional persistence (changes in sign relative to some fixed reference value), relative directional persistence (changes in sign relative to the preceding value), and massive persistence (changes in magnitude relative to the preceding value). Null hypotheses are developed on the basis of serially independent, normally distributed random variables. Critical values are established theoretically through consideration of the numeric properties of those variables, application of extensive Monte Carlo simulations, and parallels to random walk processes. Monthly pixel-level NDVI values for the state of Florida are analyzed over 25 years, illustrating the techniques’ abilities to identify areas and/or times of significant change, and facilitate a more detailed understanding of this landscape. The potential power and utility of such techniques is diverse within the area of remote sensing studies and Land Change Science, especially in the context of global change.
Local Sustainability and Cooperation Actions in the Mediterranean Region
Authors: Daddi Tiberio , Vaglio Stefano , Battaglia Massimo
Published: May 2014

The populations of the Middle East and Africa are increasing rapidly, contributing to rapid urban growth. This paper describes a two-year action research process involving diverse public, private, and community stakeholders. The actions aimed to develop and strengthen the capabilities of three Mediterranean cities (Marrakech, Morocco; Sin el Fil, Lebanon; and Bodrum, Turkey) in managing and promoting local sustainable development. The needs and priorities of each Mediterranean partner were identified and pilot actions were elaborated to promote urban sustainability, the exploitation of local resources, and the enhancement of local tangible and intangible assets. The paper describes the outputs of pilot actions carried out in these cities, highlighting how these experiences contribute to the current debate on urban sustainability. Broad implications for policy and practice are discussed.
Estimation of Hedonic Single-Family House Price Function Considering Neighborhood Effect Variables
Authors: Shimizu Chihiro
Published: May 2014

In the formulation of hedonic models, in addition to locational factors and building structures which affect the house prices, the generation of the omitted variable bias is thought to occur in cases when local environmental variables and the individual characteristics of house buyers are not taken into consideration. However, since it is difficult to obtain local environmental information in a small neighborhood unit and to observe individual characteristics of house buyers, these variables have not been sufficiently considered in previous studies. We demonstrated that non-negligible levels of omitted variable bias are generated if these variables are not considered.
On the Isomorphism between Dissipative Systems, Fractal Self-Similarity and Electrodynamics. Toward an Integrated Vision of Nature
Authors: Vitiello Giuseppe
Published: May 2014

In electrodynamics there is a mutual exchange of energy and momentum between the matter field and the electromagnetic field and the total energy and momentum are conserved. For a constant magnetic field and harmonic scalar potential, electrodynamics is shown to be isomorph to a system of damped/amplified harmonic oscillators. These can be described by squeezed coherent states which in turn are isomorph to self-similar fractal structures. Under the said conditions of constant magnetic field and harmonic scalar potential, electrodynamics is thus isomorph to fractal self-similar structures and squeezed coherent states. At a quantum level, dissipation induces noncommutative geometry with the squeezing parameter playing a relevant role. Ubiquity of fractals in Nature and relevance of coherent states and electromagnetic interaction point to a unified, integrated vision of Nature.
Benthic Communities of Low-Order Streams Affected by Acid Mine Drainages: A Case Study from Central Europe
Authors: Svitok Marek , Novikmec Milan , Bitušík Peter , Máša Branislav , Oboňa Jozef , Očadlík Miroslav , Michalková Eva
Published: May 2014

Only little attention has been paid to the impact of acid mine drainages (AMD) on aquatic ecosystems in Central Europe. In this study, we investigate the physico-chemical properties of low-order streams and the response of benthic invertebrates to AMD pollution in the Banská Štiavnica mining region (Slovakia). The studied streams showed typical signs of mine drainage pollution: higher conductivity, elevated iron, aluminum, zinc and copper loads and accumulations of ferric precipitates. Electric conductivity correlated strongly with most of the investigated elements (weighted mean absolute correlation = 0.95) and, therefore, can be recommended as a good proxy indicator for rapid AMD pollution assessments. The diversity and composition of invertebrate assemblages was related to water chemistry. Taxa richness decreased significantly along an AMD-intensity gradient. While moderately affected sites supported relatively rich assemblages, the harshest environmental conditions (pH < 2.5) were typical for the presence of a limited number of very tolerant taxa, such as Oligochaeta and some Diptera (Limnophyes, Forcipomyiinae). The trophic guild structure correlated significantly with AMD chemistry, whereby predators completely disappeared under the most severe AMD conditions. We also provide a brief review of the AMD literature and outline the needs for future detailed studies involving functional descriptors of the impact of AMD on aquatic ecosystems.
The role of cognitive group therapy and happiness training on cerebral blood flow using 99mTc-ECD brain perfusion SPECT
Authors: Azizi M. , Bahrieniain S. A. , Baghdasarians A. , Emamipur S. , Azizmohammadi Z. , Qutbi S. M. , Javadi H. , Asli I. N. , Assadi M.
Published: May 2014

Objective: The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of cognitive group therapy and happiness training objectively in the local cerebral blood flow of patients with major depression (MD). Patients, material, methods: The present research is semi-experimental to pre- and post-test with a control group. Three groups were formed, and this number was incorporated in each group: 12 patients were chosen randomly; the first group of depressed patients benefited from the combination of pharmacotherapy and sessions of cognitive group therapy; the second group used a combination of pharmaco- therapy and sessions of happiness training; and a third group used only pharmacother- apy. We compared cognitive-behavioural therapy and happiness training efficacy with only pharmacotherapy in MD patients. We performed brain perfusion SPECT in each group, before and after each trial. Results: The study was conducted on 36 patients with MD (32 women and 4 men; mean age: 41.22 ± 9.08; range: 27-65 years). There were significant differences regarding the two trial effects into two experimental groups (p < 0/001) before and after trials, while such differences were not significant in the control group (p > 0.05). In addition, there was significant difference among the regional cerebral blood flow in the frontal and prefrontal regions into two experimental groups before and after trials (p < 0/001), while such differences were not significant in the control group (p > 0.05). Conclusion: This study demonstrated decreased cerebral perfusion in the frontal regions in MD patients, which increased following cognitive group therapy and happiness training. Because of its availability, low costs, easy performance, and the objective semi-quantitative information supplied, brain perfusion SPECT
Rat Mesenchymal Stem Cell Secretome Promotes Elastogenesis and Facilitates Recovery from Simulated Childbirth Injury
Authors: Dissaranan Charuspong , Cruz Michelle A. , Kiedrowski Matthew J. , Balog Brian M. , Gill Bradley C. , Penn Marc S. , Goldman Howard B. , Damaser Margot S.
Published: May 2014

Vaginal delivery is a risk factor for stress urinary incontinence (SUI). Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) home to injured organs and can facilitate repair. The goal of this study was to determine if MSCs home to pelvic organs after simulated childbirth injury and facilitate recovery from SUI via paracrine factors. Three experiments were performed. Eighteen female rats received vaginal distension (VD) or sham VD and labeled intravenous (IV) MSCs to investigate if MSCs home to the pelvic organs. Whole-organ imaging and immunofluorescence were performed 1 week later. Thirty-four female rats received VD and IV MSCs, VD and IV saline, or sham VD and IV saline to investigate if MSCs accelerate recovery of continence. Twenty-nine female rats received VD and periurethral concentrated conditioned media (CCM), VD and periurethral control media, or sham VD and periurethral control media to investigate if factors secreted by MSCs accelerate recovery from VD. Urethral histology and function were assessed 1 week later. Significantly more MSCs were observed in the urethra, vagina, and spleen after VD compared to sham VD. Continence as measured by leak point pressure (LPP) was significantly reduced after VD in rats treated with saline or control media compared to sham VD but not in those given MSCs or CCM. External urethral sphincter (EUS) function as measured by electromyography (EMG) was not improved with MSCs or CCM. Rats treated with MSCs or CCM demonstrated an increase in elastin fibers near the EUS and urethral smooth muscle more similar to that of sham-injured animals than rats treated with saline or control media. MSCs homed to the urethra and vagina and facilitated recovery of continence most likely via secretion of paracrine factors. Both MSCs and CCM have promise as novel noninvasive therapies for SUI.
The optimal shape of elastomer mushroom-like fibers for high and robust adhesion
Authors: Aksak Burak , Sahin Korhan , Sitti Metin
Published: May 2014

Over the last decade, significant effort has been put into mimicking the ability of the gecko lizard to strongly and reversibly cling to surfaces, by using synthetic structures. Among these structures, mushroom-like elastomer fiber arrays have demonstrated promising performance on smooth surfaces matching the adhesive strengths obtained with the natural gecko foot-pads. It is possible to improve the already impressive adhesive performance of mushroom-like fibers provided that the underlying adhesion mechanism is understood. Here, the adhesion mechanism of bio-inspired mushroom-like fibers is investigated by implementing the Dugdale–Barenblatt cohesive zone model into finite elements simulations. It is found that the magnitude of pull-off stress depends on the edge angle θ and the ratio of the tip radius to the stalk radius β of the mushroom-like fiber. Pull-off stress is also found to depend on a dimensionless parameter χ, the ratio of the fiber radius to a length-scale related to the dominance of adhesive stress. As an estimate, the optimal parameters are found to be β = 1.1 and θ = 45°. Further, the location of crack initiation is found to depend on χ for given β and θ. An analytical model for pull-off stress, which depends on the location of crack initiation as well as on θ and β, is proposed and found to agree with the simulation results. Results obtained in this work provide a geometrical guideline for designing robust bio-inspired dry fibrillar adhesives.
« Handicaps simulés » : un outil de formation
Authors: Assude Teresa , Calmet Michel
Published: May 2014

Comment faire en sorte que le regard porté aux personnes en situation de handicap change d’une manière substantielle et durable ? Quels sont la place et le rôle de la formation (universitaire et/ou professionnelle) dans ce changement ? C’est à cette question que cet article veut apporter une contribution, en décrivant un dispositif de formation fondé sur la notion de « handicap simulé » et en analysant les discours des étudiants y participant.
Vers une meilleure compréhension des actionnaires individuels minoritaires : une étude exploratoire
Authors: Darras-Barquissau Nathalie
Published: May 2014

L’originalité de cette recherche est justifiée par la rareté des études ayant traité des actionnaires individuels minoritaires. Ces acteurs sont également mal connus par les entreprises qui tendent pourtant à segmenter leur actionnariat. Grâce à des entretiens semi-directifs réalisés auprès de personnes appartenant à l’entourage des actionnaires individuels et d’actionnaires individuels, l’idée de cette étude exploratoire est précisément de mieux connaître les spécificités de ce type d’actionnaires.
La ville, le SI et l'entreprise : du fonctionnel au multipolaire
Authors: Bertin Emmanuel , Tran Sébastien
Published: May 2014

A travers une étude comparée de trois objets (la ville, le SI et l’entreprise), cet article conceptuel propose d’identifier et de caractériser un nouveau modèle de représentation et de pilotage de la complexité dans les organisations : le modèle multipolaire. Après une synthèse des principes du modèle fonctionnaliste, nous soulignons la rupture que marque le modèle multipolaire, ainsi que les nouvelles questions de management et de transformation des organisations qui se posent. L’outillage SI, encore largement en phase d’élaboration, sera un élément clé pour la gestion des entreprises multipolaires.
La traduction des attentes des Parties Prenantes en RSE en indicateurs de la Global Reporting Initiative : vers un mode consultatif de la gestion des parties prenantes
Authors: Sahed-Granger Yasmina , Boncori Anne-Laure
Published: May 2014

Cet article soulève la question de l’identification des indicateurs traduisant les attentes des parties prenantes en matière d’engagement des entreprises en Responsabilité Sociale. Nous tentons d’y répondre à travers une démarche consultative qui s’appuie sur le référentiel de la Global Reporting Initiative (GRI). Les résultats de cette étude montrent la convergence des attentes des différentes parties prenantes et permettent de proposer une méthodologie applicable par toute entreprise pour intégrer et hiérarchiser, à travers un mode consultatif, les attentes des parties prenantes.
Regards de responsables sur les notions d'égalité, non-discrimination et diversité
Authors: Montargot Nathalie , Peretti Jean-Marie
Published: May 2014

Trois termes : égalité, non-discrimination et diversité traitent du rapport à la différence et sont étudiés. Les principaux résultats d’une enquête conduite auprès de 15 responsables de la diversité au sein de groupes internationaux sont restitués. Si la diversité est perçue comme souple et liée à la performance, la non-discrimination semble un préalable nécessaire mais largement insuffisant. La notion d’égalité laisse au final perplexe les managers de la diversité.
Ant Colony Algorithm for Two Stage Supply Chain
Authors: Sridharan R. , Panicker Vinay V.
Published: May 2014

This chapter focuses on the distribution-allocation problem with fixed cost for transportation routes in a two-stage supply chain. The supply chain considered in this research consists of suppliers, distributors and customers. Each transportation route is associated with a fixed charge (or a fixed cost) and a transportation cost per unit transported. The presence of this fixed cost makes the problem difficult to solve. This motivates the researchers to develop heuristics based on non-traditional optimization techniques that can provide near-optimal solutions in reasonable time. In this research, an ant colony optimization based heuristic is proposed to solve a distribution-allocation problem with fixed cost for transportation routes in a two-stage supply chain. The comparative analysis carried out in this study reveals that the solutions obtained using proposed heuristic are better than those obtained using an existing heuristic in terms of total cost and computational time. In addition, special emphasis is placed in developing heuristics based on ant colony optimization for solving supply chain related problems and identifying opportunities for further research in this area.
Benchmarking of Indian Rail Freight by DEA
Authors: Bhanot Neeraj , Singh Harwinder , Bhatti Rajbir Singh
Published: May 2014

The overall development of business operations logistics activities becomes more important for firms with the globalization of economy and therefore performance measurement being equally important. In order to break monopolistic control of Container Corporation of India (CONCOR), Indian Railways entered for competition in the container segment in January 2006 through private-public participation for customer centric competitiveness. The purpose of this book chapter is to benchmark the performance indicators in CONCOR. A case study has been conducted employing basic and super-efficiency models of Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) on secondary data of CONCOR, Adani and Gateway container terminals from 1995-96 till 2010-11 for performance evaluation within CONCOR and comparative analysis for three organizations from 2005-06 till 2010-11. The exercise identified efficiency trends fluctuating between 87.5% to 1000% within CONCOR owing to haphazard infrastructure developed while comparison with private players showed 38.31% to 77.59% efficiency fluctuation concurrent to licensing policy norms.
Bio-Inspired Modelling to Generate Alternatives
Authors: Imanirad Raha , Yeomans Julian Scott
Published: May 2014

“Real world” decision-making often involves complex problems that are riddled with incompatible and inconsistent performance objectives. These problems typically possess competing design requirements which are very difficult – if not impossible – to capture and quantify at the time that any supporting decision models are constructed. There are invariably unmodelled design issues, not apparent during the time of model construction, which can greatly impact the acceptability of the model's solutions. Consequently, when solving many practical mathematical programming applications, it is generally preferable to formulate numerous quantifiably good alternatives that provide very different perspectives to the problem. These alternatives should possess near-optimal objective measures with respect to all known modelled objectives, but be fundamentally different from each other in terms of the system structures characterized by their decision variables. This solution approach is referred to as modelling-to-generate-alternatives (MGA). This study demonstrates how the nature-inspired, Firefly Algorithm can be used to efficiently create multiple solution alternatives that both satisfy required system performance criteria and yet are maximally different in their decision spaces.
Business Processes, Dynamic Contexts, Learning
Authors: Richter Michael M.
Published: May 2014

In this article we present relations between complex business processes and machine learning techniques. The processes considered here are mostly related to planning. Planning takes place in preparing many decisions and often it is encountered with a rapidly changing context that constitutes an open world. The underlying structure and preconditions of the processes is quite often not known and hence the processes are regarded as stochastic. One can only observe the processes. Such observations deliver data and these data contain some knowledge about the processes in a hidden form. As a consequence, machine learning methods are involved here. The idea is to give the business persons an overview of quite different machine learning techniques so that they can select suitable ones. We provide a number of examples for business processes that we use for illustrations.
Chaos in Economics
Authors: Zhang Wei-Bin
Published: May 2014

The paper introduces applications of chaos theory in economics. By studying some economic models which exhibit chaotic behavior both in discrete and continuous times and in different dimensions, this paper demonstrates wide applications of chaos theory in different schools of economics. In particular, the paper argues that chaos theory is a basic tool for integrating various economic theories within a new dynamic theory. The paper first introduces the topic and gives a basic survey of the early literature. Then it examines chaotic behavior of some economic models. Application 1 introduces the logistic map and examines the one-dimensional discrete growth model with population by Haavelmo and Stutzer. Application 2 identifies economic chaos in the disequilibrium inventory model by Hommes. Application 3 studies a long-run competitive two-periodic OLG model with money and capital. Application 4 discusses the Lorenz equations and its application to urban dynamics. Application 5 introduces the traditional optimal growth model with multiple capital goods, demonstrating the existence of periodic and aperiodic solutions. Finally we conclude the study and discuss some implications of chaos theory for creating a general economic theory.
Constrained Nonlinear Optimization in Business
Authors: Fox William P.
Published: May 2014

We present both classical analytical, numerical, and heuristic techniques to solve constrained optimization problems relating to business, industry, and government. We briefly discuss other methods such as genetic algorithm. Today's business environment has many resource challenges to their attempts to maximize profits or minimize costs for which constrained optimization might be used. Facility location and transportation networks techniques are often used as well as the traveling salesman problem.
Designing Supply Chains Using Optimization
Authors: Montoya-Torres Jairo R.
Published: May 2014

Part of the planning process in supply chain management consists of finding the best possible configuration, including the definition of product flow from plants to clients (markets) via a set of warehouses. Defining the location of such warehouses is also part of the decision-making problem. This problem is known in the literature as the two-echelon uncapacitated facility location problem (TUFLP) and is known to be NP-hard. This chapter aims at solving this problem using optimization methods baesd on approximate algorithms. Their performance is analyzed using well-known date sets from the academic literature.
Fuzzy MCDM Approach for Make or Buy Decision Problem
Authors: Çebi Ferhan , Otay İrem , Çelebi Dilay
Published: May 2014

Make or buy decision answers a fundamental question in the development of a manufacturing strategy. It requires consideration of both quantitative and qualitative factors diverging in a broad range. This study presents a two-stage decision model which incorporates fuzzy multi-criteria decision making methods to support make or buy decision of a company operating in the wood building products sector. The first stage comprises fuzzy SAW (Simple Additive Weighting) method to evaluate the decision on market entry, then the second stage integrates fuzzy SAW and fuzzy VIKOR (Multi-criteria optimization and compromise solution) methods to evaluate sourcing options. Proposed approach is demonstrated on an example invoked from a real-life problem. Then, sensitivity analysis is conducted to test the robustness of the models.
Improving the Forecasting Process in Project Control
Authors: Caron Franco
Published: May 2014

In the project control process, the role of the ETC (Estimate to Complete) is critical, since, given a feed forward control loop, the only way to influence the overall project performance is to take actions affecting the work remaining. The forecasting accuracy related to ETC is linked to the ability of the project team to exploit all the knowledge available in order to anticipate the future development of the project. According to the classification of the knowledge sources it is possible to identify three different approaches to determining the ETC: (1) using data records related to the work completed by highlighting possible trends (2) adjusting the trend stemming from data records using experts' judgment and (3) integrating the internal view of the project, i.e. data records related to the work completed and experts' judgment related to work remaining, with data records deriving from similar projects completed in the past. A Bayesian approach may represent a possible way of integrating the different knowledge sources.