bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Peut-on ne pas être constructiviste ?
Authors: Lemieux Cyril
Published: March 2013

Les chercheurs qui se réclament du constructivisme ont souvent du mal à tenir jusqu’au bout l’idée selon laquelle la réalité est une construction sociale. Aussi est-il fréquent de les voir céder à la tentation de renaturaliser clandestinement une partie du monde social, renaturalisation qui leur semble nécessaire pour éviter de sombrer dans le relativisme. Cette stratégie, qui est devenue la norme, est régressive du point de vue des ambitions de la sociologie : non seulement elle conduit à de graves incohérences, que cet article identifie sous les noms de charcutage ontologique, de déréalisation et de critique de l’artificialité, mais encore elle limite considérablement le potentiel critique de la posture constructiviste en en faisant une théorie régionale et non plus universelle. Une position beaucoup plus conséquente peut être trouvée dans les thèses durkheimiennes sur l’origine sociale des catégories, à condition de les lire avec suffisamment d’attention pour y réévaluer un aspect en général négligé : l’importance que Durkheim attribuait à la question du contrôle par l’expérience pour rendre compte des processus de transformation des catégories.
L'habitus du dehors
Authors: Mariot Nicolas
Published: March 2013

Ce court article propose de revenir sur ce que les chercheurs font lorsqu’ils se lancent, via des questionnaires, entretiens, ou archives, dans la collecte des croyances des acteurs à propos d’épreuves fortement encadrées et instituées (examens, cérémonies, entretiens officiels, etc.). Il s’interroge sur trois cas de non-réponse dans des enquêtes par questionnaires en tentant d’interpréter ces silences : de quoi sont-ils l’indice ? Au terme de cet examen, deux points de vue sont avancés. D’une part, la collecte des raisons s’avère souvent vaine parce qu’elle conduit à attester l’infinie diversité des réactions. De l’autre, elle pose problème parce que la quête des croyances conduit le chercheur à oublier que, très souvent, les acteurs s’en passent fort bien tout en agissant « comme il faut » : il s’agit précisément d’activités où les actions individuelles peuvent être portées par les institutions.
Pourquoi les croyances n'intéressent-elles les anthropologues qu'au-delà de deux cents kilomètres ?
Authors: Lagrange Pierre
Published: March 2013

Pourquoi les études anthropologiques privilégient-elles les croyances lointaines (comme les revenants médiévaux ou le chamanisme amérindien) et ignorent-elles souvent les croyances nées au sein de notre culture scientifique (comme l’astrologie ou l’ufologie), sinon pour les dénoncer ? Cet article montre que le refus d’étudier les croyances proches tient dans un autre refus (ou une incapacité), celui d’étudier les pratiques scientifiques, par crainte de tomber dans le relativisme. Il montre aussi que certains travaux qui ont proposé de prendre des croyances au sérieux l’ont fait au prix d’une critique des sciences responsables de la marginalisation de ces croyances, ce qui revenait à adopter à nouveau un ton critique. Il montre aussi que les travaux qui ont proposé une approche capable d’étudier sciences et croyances dans les mêmes termes ont souvent évité de mettre trop en avant les sciences. La pratique scientifique apparaît donc comme une tâche aveugle, particulièrement pour l’anthropologie française.
Publier aujourd'hui une revue de sciences sociales
Authors: Blondiaux Loïc , Hassenteufel Patrick , Lavergne Cécile , Le Galès Patrick , Parisot Thomas
Published: March 2013

Le lecteur pourra prendre connaissance dans ces pages des interventions de la table ronde qui s’est tenue lors des journées d’étude organisées par Politix en vue de ce centième numéro. Ses participants ont, à partir de leur expérience propre, réfléchi aux opportunités et aux contraintes qui définissent actuellement l’édition de revues dans les sciences sociales.
Le nouveau management public, les marchés bureaucratiques et les problèmes de coordination interdépartementale : analyse comparative de la haute fonction publique dans l'administration de l'État
Authors: Hansen Morten Balle , Steen Trui , de Jon Marsha
Published: March 2013

Dans le présent article, nous examinons le lien qui existe entre la fonction de coordination des hauts fonctionnaires et l’idée selon laquelle les différences au niveau des pays dans l’adoption du NMP ont une influence considérable sur les marchés bureaucratiques des hauts fonctionnaires et, dès lors, sur leur capacité à assurer la coordination interdépartementale. Les marchés bureaucratiques managériaux limitent le rôle joué par les hauts fonctionnaires dans la coordination interdépartementale dans la mesure où ils vont davantage s’efforcer d’atteindre les objectifs définis pour leur département que ceux définis pour l’administration publique centrale dans son ensemble. Nous allons comparer notre argument à des observations empiriques issues d’une analyse comparative de cinq pays : la Belgique, le Canada, le Danemark, les Pays-Bas et le Royaume-Uni. Nous verrons que notre argument n’est que partiellement valable et examinerons les implications théoriques et empiriques de l’analyse. Remarques à l’intention des praticiens Parallèlement à l’introduction du nouveau management public, les relations entre les ministres et la haute fonction publique dans l’administration de l’État ont évolué. Parallèlement à cela, les questions sociétales gagnent en complexité et passent par une approche intersectorielle globale. La notion de marché bureaucratique («  public service bargain  », PSB) managérial sert à analyser les évolutions dans le rôle des hauts fonctionnaires et les conséquences des réformes sur la capacité de la haute fonction publique à assurer une coordination interdépartementale. Les praticiens pourront en apprendre davantage sur le lien étroit qui existe entre les problèmes de coordination interdépartementale et l’évolution dans le rôle et le fonctionnement des hauts fonctionnaires.
Expliquer les différences dans les « ménages ministériels à trois » : les marchés multiples en Belgique et au Danemark
Authors: de Visscher Christian , Houlberg Salomonsen Heidi
Published: March 2013

Alors que les conseillers spéciaux jouent un rôle important dans la plupart des gouvernements occidentaux, les recherches sur la question sont peu nombreuses. Le présent article entend expliquer les variations observées dans les relations de « ménage à trois » entre les ministres, les hauts fonctionnaires et les conseillers spéciaux dans deux systèmes politico-administratifs différents. Le point de départ théorique consiste à conceptualiser et à expliquer ces relations trilatérales comme des « marchés bureaucratiques » (Public Service Bargain) multiples. On constate que les différences entre les marchés bureaucratiques donnent lieu à des différences dans ces ménages à trois, ce qui se traduit par différents types de différentiation fonctionnelle ainsi que par des différences dans le degré de coopération ou inversement de conflit. Ces différences sont avant tout le résultat de différences dans les intérêts ainsi que dans les règles formelles et institutionnelles et dans les compétences des acteurs concernés. Les données empiriques comprennent des documents, ainsi que des entretiens avec des hauts fonctionnaires et des questionnaires complétés par ceux-ci. Les pays comparés sont la Belgique et le Danemark. Remarques à l’intention des praticiens Notre étude confirme qu’il est important que les « ménages à trois » (ministres, conseillers spéciaux et haute fonction publique (HFP) « ... définissent les termes du marché qui s’applique aux conseillers politiques (...) » (Hood et Lodge, 2006 : 128) afin de réguler la relation entre les conseillers spéciaux et la HFP et d’éviter les conflits potentiels entre ceux-ci. L’étude fait en outre apparaître que le nombre de bénéficiaires d’une nomination politique influence la relation. Enfin, l’étude révèle que l’existence de différences marquées dans les compétences qu’apportent les deux types d’agents dans le marché permet d’assurer la coopération et le respect mutuel, tandis que des compétences qui se recouvrent partiellement risquent de donner lieu à des rivalités.
Repenser le « marché bureaucratique » : l'évolution de la position (juridique) des fonctionnaires en Europe
Authors: van der Meer Frits M. , van den Berg Caspar F. , Dijkstra Gerrit S.A.
Published: March 2013

On peut soutenir qu’en raison de la montée du nouveau management public et de l’importance grandissante du droit du travail et des pratiques de GRH, la formulation « traditionnelle » de la situation des fonctionnaires issue du droit public est remise en question depuis quelques décennies dans un certain nombre de pays d’Europe occidentale, bouleversant le « marché » conclu entre les responsables politiques et administratifs depuis la Seconde Guerre mondiale. En Europe centrale et orientale, en revanche, de même qu’en Grande-Bretagne, une nouvelle législation, de type wébérien, a été introduite dans la fonction publique. Dans la présente analyse, nous examinons ces deux contraires apparents du point de vue des marchés bureaucratiques et constatons que les pays d’Europe sont à la croisée des chemins dans leurs réflexions sur cette question. Remarques à l’intention des praticiens Deux éléments méritent d’être soulignés pour les praticiens dans ce domaine. Le premier est que si les discussions sur la situation (juridique) des fonctionnaires au sein de leur système politico-administratif peuvent sembler faire partie d’un débat national, elles relèvent en fait d’un débat plus général qui bat son plein partout en Europe. Le second élément est que tant du point de vue théorique que sur le plan empirique, deux dimensions du marché doivent être distinguées, à savoir, d’une part, les conditions de travail matérielles (salaire, protection de l’emploi, etc.) et, d’autre part, les valeurs de la bureaucratie (impartialité, intégrité, loyauté, etc.). Comme le démontre notre analyse empirique, ces deux dimensions sont de plus en plus indépendantes l’une de l’autre dans les discussions et les réformes dans différents pays depuis quelques décennies. En d’autres termes, les réformes managériales axées sur les conditions de travail matérielles s’accompagnent, dans la pratique, d’une réaffirmation des valeurs wébériennes de la bureaucratie. Reste à voir si cette dissociation est viable à long terme du point de vue stratégique (les conditions de travail de type wébérien conditionnent-elles ou non les niveaux élevés de valeurs wébériennes dans la bureaucratie ?).
Se réaliser au mépris du corps : les entrepreneurs de travaux forestiers
Authors: Schepens Florent
Published: March 2013

L’auteur montre qu’il n’y a pas de rapport évident entre santé et travail et qu’une activité définie comme délétère, en termes de maladie et d’accident, peut être source d’équilibre. C’est le cas pour les entrepreneurs de travaux forestiers ( etf ). Cependant pour pouvoir exercer leur activité, ils doivent neutraliser la violence de leur travail, c’est-à-dire donner du sens aux atteintes corporelles et psychiques, aux douleurs et à la peur. Cela nécessite qu’ils croient en une maîtrise possible de leur environnement professionnel et qu’ils passent sous silence les plaintes du corps.
Pêcheurs à la mouche : de l'activité sportive à la maîtrise des risques en rivière
Authors: Guillaume Olivier
Published: March 2013

Issu de recherches empiriques visant à comprendre l’origine d’incidents en rivière avec des pêcheurs, au sein de zones proches de centrales de production hydroélectrique, cet article analyse en premier lieu les activités des pêcheurs à la mouche dits « no-kill » – c’est-à-dire relâchant leurs proies – comme des exercices sportifs. La codification étroite des moyens que déploient ces pêcheurs pour attraper des espèces spécifiques de poissons rend leur quête complexe et incertaine. Ils s’astreignent alors à engranger des connaissances formelles variées et mises en application en rivière afin de devenir compétents et d’acquérir l’agilité corporelle idoine. À cette occasion, ils se confrontent à l’aléa des lâchers d’eau nécessaires à la production hydroélectrique et qui, malgré de nombreuses mesures visant à en maîtriser les effets, ne sont pas sans risques pour les pêcheurs, a fortiori s’ils pénètrent des zones interdites. Afin d’anticiper cet aléa et de se protéger de ses risques inhérents, les pêcheurs acquièrent de nouvelles connaissances, élaborent de nouvelles stratégies et de nouveaux comportements de prévention. Ces connaissances et comportements génèrent chez certains d’entre eux une représentation singulière des risques pouvant les amener à s’y confronter, voire à dévier des règles formelles. La contribution permet ainsi de comprendre la confrontation ou non des pêcheurs sportifs aux risques en rivière et de dresser quelques pistes pour en améliorer la gestion.
Le risque requin, mise en risque de la pratique du surf à la Réunion
Authors: Thiann-Bo Morel Marie , Duret Pascal
Published: March 2013

Cet article se propose de montrer dans quelles mesures la construction puis la gestion du risque requin révèlent les évolutions dans la pratique du surf à la Réunion. L’article s’appuie sur une enquête de terrain à la méthodologie mixte (observation participante et entretiens). Bien que connue de longue date, la permanence de la menace requin en 2011 compromet la pratique du surf à l’échelle de l’île. La désertion forcée des sites de pratique amorce une crise sans précédent dans la communauté surf réunionnaise. Du reste, les méthodes pour réduire le risque requin semblent ne pas coïncider avec la dimension valorisée de la prise de risque en surf. Nous nous proposons d’analyser les arguments exprimés pour les faire accepter en étudiant la polémique de deux manières : d’abord en regardant du côté des jeux d’acteurs puis en analysant les jeux d’arguments. L’étude de la dispute autour des méthodes de prévention du risque permet enfin de comprendre les conditions de reprise des activités nautiques. Nous illustrerons cette reprise à travers un procédé original de sécurisation des sites de pratique reposant sur des surfeurs convertis à l’apnée (appelés « vigies »).
L'intégration dans les associations sportives rurales : un processus incertain
Authors: Prévitali Clément
Published: March 2013

Le sport associatif rural se situe au carrefour de nombreux enjeux sociaux, dont celui de l’intégration. Celle-ci repose sur la socialisation des adhérents : l’individu est intégré lorsqu’il acquiert des normes et des valeurs propres à l’association. Dès lors, celle-ci demeure plus ou moins effective puisque l’intériorisation d’un esprit club peut rester partielle. Le curseur se déplace d’une acceptation totale au rejet des normes, des codes, et des autres. L’intégration peut ne pas être totale et devient alors incertaine. Dans ce cas, le sport peut plus sûrement être perçu comme un outil d’intégration mais aussi comme une source d’exclusion. En ce sens, l’association sportive rurale devient le cadre permettant aux individus de s’agréger les uns aux autres mais aussi de se désagréger les uns des autres. À partir des données qualitatives de notre recherche, nous souhaitons questionner cette zone d’incertitude quant au processus d’intégration au sein des associations sportives rurales, au regard de leur rapport réciproque avec la construction et/ou déconstruction de connectivités. La présentation de différents éléments ayant pour conséquence une non-intégration au sein du club peut nous permettre de mieux évaluer la portée structurante du sport à la campagne.
Asymptotic solution for a scattered field by cylindrical objects buried beneath a slightly rough surface
Authors: Fiaz M.A. , Frezza F. , Pajewski L. , Ponti C. , Schettini G.
Published: March 2013

The problem of scattering of electromagnetic waves from a set of cylindrical objects buried beneath a slightly rough surface is undertaken with the cylindrical wave approach as a method of analysis. The small perturbation method is used to compute the scattered field from a rough surface. Numerical results for a rough surface with a sinusoidal profile are obtained with asymptotic evaluation.
Tomographic GPR imaging using a linear inversion algorithm informed by FDTD modelling: a numerical case study of buried utility pipes monitoring
Authors: Millington T.M. , Cassidy N.J. , Crocco L. , Soldovieri F.
Published: March 2013

In this paper, we present the results of an on‐going study into the development of a practical strategy for the interpretation and analysis of near‐surface GPR data in complex scenarios. In particular, we consider the problem of how the knowledge of the investigated scenario can be exploited to improve the diagnostic results using an approach based on the joint use of FDTD numerical modelling and linear tomographic inversion methods. The performance of the approach is evaluated using a simulated test‐case in which GPR data are collected in a complex utility‐pipe model. Prior knowledge of the investigation scenario is captured for the inversion using a three‐dimensional, full‐field FDTD modelling scheme to calculate the incident field and the Green’s functions, allowing the antenna geometry, the air‐ground interface and known subsurface a priori information to be accounted for. As input data to the inversion algorithm, we assume the raw GPR data preprocessed only by simple time‐gating, after Truncated Singular Value Decomposition (TSVD) resulting from the ‘informed linear’ model, are exploited to achieve a regularized solution of the problem. The results show that with just this basic assumption, the joint use of these two (forward and inverse) modelling techniques enhances tomographic imaging in very complex scenarios.
Optimization of acquisition setup for cross‐hole: GPR full‐waveform inversion using checkerboard analysis
Authors: Oberröhrmann Max , Klotzsche Anja , Vereecken Harry , van der Krak Jan
Published: March 2013

Tomographic inversions of cross‐hole ground‐penetrating radar provide images of electromagnetic properties of the shallow subsurface and are used in a wide range of applications. Whereas the resolutions of ray‐based methods like first‐arrival traveltime and first‐cycle amplitude tomography are limited to the scale of the first Fresnel zone, full‐waveform inversions incorporate precise forward modelling using the full recorded signal for a solution of Maxwell’s equation, which results in sub‐wavelength resolutions. In practice, the method can be time‐consuming in data acquisition and expensive in computational costs. To overcome these expenses, a semi‐reciprocal acquisition setup with a reduced number of transmitters and an interchange of transmitter and receiver boreholes instead of a one‐sided equidistant setup in either borehole yielded promising results. Here, this optimized, semi‐reciprocal acquisition setup is compared to a dense, equidistant, one‐sided acquisition setup measured at the field site Krauthausen, Germany. The full‐waveform inversion results are evaluated using the checkerboard test as a capable resolution analysis tool to determine resolvabili‐ties. We introduced also a new method of time‐zero correction by a cross‐correlation of a zero‐offset profile with corresponding horizontal traces of each multi‐offset gather. The obtained experimental results from Krauthausen combined with the checkerboard analysis indicate the main three‐permittivity layers that correspond with different porosities. Also fine‐layered structures within these main layers were reliably imaged. We conclude that the use of the semi‐reciprocal setup is optimum for acquisition speed, inversion speed and obtained permittivity inversion results. Our results indicate that conductivity results are better for denser transmitter‐receiver setups.
Comparison of GPR and unilateral NMR for water content measurements in a laboratory scale experiment
Authors: Ferrara C. , Di Tullio V. , Barone P.M. , Mattei E. , Lauro S.E. , Proietti N. , Capitani D. , Pettinelli E.
Published: March 2013

Several factors affect antenna‐soil coupling in a Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) survey, like surface roughness, lithology, lateral heterogeneities, vegetation, antenna height from the surface and water content. Among them, lithology and water content have a direct effect on the bulk electromagnetic properties of the material under investigation. It has been recently pointed out that the wavelet of the early‐time portion of a radar signal is correlated to the shallow subsurface dielectric properties of a material. This result indicates that some information on such properties can be directly extracted from the analysis of GPR early‐time traces.

In the present paper, we use the early‐time GPR signal, in terms of average envelope amplitude computed on the first half‐cycle, to map the near‐surface (few centimetres) lateral distribution of dielectric parameters, induced by changing the shallow water content on a concrete slab. This controlled experiment was specifically designed to study the effect of water content variations on antenna‐material coupling, minimizing the influence of both surface roughness and heterogeneity. The quantitative control of the water in the shallow portion of the slab is performed by using a portable unilateral Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) sensor, which is able to determine the water content in the material on the basis of the measured proton density. The results show a matching pattern of the physical parameters measured with the two different techniques and a very high degree of linear correlation ( = 0.97) between the radar early‐time signal average amplitude and the intensity of the NMR signal, which is proportional to the proton density, i.e., to the water content.

This experiment suggests that the early‐time approach could be used as a fast and high‐ spatial resolution tool for qualitatively mapping water content lateral variations in a porous material at shallow depth, using a ground‐coupled single‐offset antenna configuration and that a quantitative evaluation of the moisture content would require a calibration procedure.
Numerical evaluation of a full‐wave antenna model for near‐field applications
Authors: Tran A.P. , Warren C. , André F. , Giannopoulos A. , Lambot S.
Published: March 2013

In this study, we numerically evaluated a full‐wave antenna model for near‐field conditions using a Finite‐Difference Time‐Domain (FDTD) antenna model. The antenna is effectively characterized by a series of source and field points and global reflection/transmission coefficients, which by using analytical solutions of Maxwell’s equations, enable us to significantly reduce computation times compared to numerical approaches. The full‐wave GPR model was calibrated by a series of radar data from numerical measurements performed above an infinite perfect electrical conductor (PEC). The calibration results provided a very good agreement with data from the FDTD antenna model giving a correlation coefficient of 0.9995. The model was subsequently verified by using it to invert responses from the FDTD antenna model to reconstruct the electrical properties of an artificial medium subject to 8 scenarios of layering, thickness and electrical properties. Full‐wave inverse modelling enabled us to very well reproduce the GPR data both in time and frequency domains, resulting in accurate estimations of the dielectric permittivity even with a two‐layered medium with highly contrasting electrical properties. The relative errors of the permittivity estimation were less than 5% for all medium scenarios and antenna heights. Inversion also provided very good estimations of the electrical conductivity when this parameter was relatively high but poor results were obtained for low conductivities. Surface response analysis showed that the model was more sensitive to permittivity than conductivity and more sensitive to high than low conductivities. Our modelling approach shows great potential to apply full‐wave inversion for retrieving the electrical properties of the subsurface from near‐ and far‐field radar measurements.
Time‐lapse monitoring of DNAPL in a controlled cell
Authors: Orlando Luciana , Renzi Beatrice
Published: March 2013

A multi‐component GPR antenna is used to perform time‐lapse measurements in a controlled experiment simulating DNAPL release. The DNAPL monitoring is based on the delay time of a reflection from the back side of a cell and on spectral analysis of traces.

The study shows that co‐polar and cross‐polar antennas detect a similar pull‐up of the reflection from the back of the cell induced by the DNAPL. The amplitude of the reflection from the DNAPL is weaker in the cross‐polar data with respect to the co‐polar data and in actual cases it could not be detected by both antenna configurations. In addition we observe a change in the amplitude spectra of the traces collected at the DNAPL release with respect to those collected in an uncontaminated area. The amplitude spectrum variations occurred mainly in the co‐polar antennas. The spectra of cross‐polar antennas show variations over time that are not easily linked to the DNAPL position. We observed that the data collected 141 hours after the first DNAPL injection and two hours of water flow, show a pull‐up of the reflection from the back of the cell and variations in the amplitude spectra of the traces located at the same position as the DNAPL injection. This suggests that the DNAPL probably remained trapped by sediments and was not totally removed by the water flow. Forward models, simulating the experiment, confirmed that the DNAPL induces a pull‐up of the reflection from the back of cell and showed that in a controlled experiment the DNAPL produces a reflection whose amplitude depends on the DNAPL saturation. In a real case the presence of small amounts of DNAPL can be at best barely visible because of induced small amplitude reflections. This is truer if no GPR data are available from before the DNAPL spill, so there is little chance that GPR responses can be positively attributed to DNAPL presence.
Variation in ultrasonic frequency and time as pre-treatments to air-drying of carrot
Authors: Abano Ernest Ekow , Sam-Amoah Livingston Kobina , Bart-Plange Ato
Published: March 2013

Vegetable drying is an alternative method to curb post harvest decay of vegetables and a process to produce dried vegetables, which can be directly consumed or used as ingredients for the preparation of soups, stews, baby foods, cakes, puddings, and many other foods. In this study, the effect of ultrasound frequency and sonication time as pre-treatment prior to air drying at 70°C at an air velocity of 0.5 m/s, on carrot drying kinetics, flavour, colour, and non-enzymatic browning was investigated using a 3-level factorial response surface method. The result showed that an increase in sonication frequency and time did not significantly increase moisture diffusivity but in comparison with the control, water diffusivity increased after ultrasound application and the overall drying time was reduced. Application of the ultrasound pre-treatment in distilled water resulted in water gain and sugar loss, indicating that the ultrasonic pre-treatment can be an important step to produce low sugar content dried products. The brightness and redness to yellowness values of the ultrasonically pre-treated dried carrots were better than those without ultrasound application. In comparison with the flavour of the control, the ultrasound pre-treated samples recorded higher flavour response signals, indicating that the application of ultrasound improved the flavour of the dried carrot. The variation in sonication frequency and time did not significantly affect the non-enzymatic browning index of the dried products but were better than the control.
Evaluation of solar energy on the roofs of livestock houses
Authors: Liberati Paolo , Zappavigna Paolo
Published: March 2013

There is a great potential for production of thermal and electrical energy by means of solar collectors on farms. To assess in advance the performance of the alternative plant solutions, a computational model for the determination of solar energy absorbed by surfaces with different exposures as a function of latitude, day, orientation and inclination has been created. Its application to roofs of buildings typically used for animal housing is presented; these were mono-pitch, gabled, and shed type roofs. For each building, the annual energy absorption per unit of floor area is calculated by varying orientation and slope of the pitches. For roof surfaces exposed only in one direction (mono-pitch or shed), the orientation is shown to be a dominant factor with respect to the slope in determining the annual energy uptake. The maximum uptake is obtained with exposure to the south and is greater the higher the slope (up to 67.5%). For gabled roofs, the total uptake is negatively affected by the worse exposed pitch and does not vary significantly, for a given slope, with orientation (up to 2.8%). The maximum gain is obtained with the optimal building azimuth (0°) and the highest slope. The shed type, since it is affected by the shade induced by the upper pitch over the lower, cannot reach the level of a mono-pitch roof: -1.5% with a slope of 10% and -21% with a slope of 67.5% with the optimal building azimuth of 90°. However, its performance is slightly higher than the corresponding gabled roof (+2.5%), therefore, it could be a convenient alternative if optimally oriented and, above all, if the collectors are installed on the predominantly sunny part of the roof.
Géomorphologie et géologie du quaternaire du Témiscamingue, Québec et Ontario
Authors: Veillette J J
Published: March 2013

Deglaciation of the Timiskaming region began about 10.5 ka with the formation of a re-entrant in the glacier east of North Bay, Ontario, south of the region. The northeasterly migration of this initial opening in the ice led to the formation of two major lobes,
one retreating northwest and the other, northeast, on either side of the fluvioglacial complex formed by the Lake McConnell moraine to the south and the Harricana moraine to the north, about 9.5 ka.

Indicators of ancient ice flow to the west-southwest and the southeast, intersected by indicators of flow to the southeast, have been found on bedrock at 245 sites in the western part of the region; they reveal a striking consistency in the chronological order and orientation of the families of
striations. The absence of any indication of subaerial weathering on the oldest striated surfaces suggests that these intersections are the result of changes in the direction of flow of a single glacial mass, with no nonglacial interval. The relative duration of these flows has been estimated on the
basis of the length and direction of trains of glacially transported material from Paleozoic source rocks at Lake Timiskaming.

The proposed interpretation of glacier dynamics has been compared to that deduced from the principal glaciological and geological reconstructions of the eastern sector of the Laurentide Ice Sheet at its maximum extent. These data represent the first field evidence from the centre of this sector to
indicate that the western part of the region, while strongly marked by the most recent flow to the southeast, bears traces of major flows to the southwest, which we attribute in part to the Late Wisconsin.
Semi-empirical parameterization of size-dependent atmospheric nanoparticle growth in continental environments
Authors: Häkkinen S. A. K. , Manninen H. E. , Yli-Juuti T. , Merikanto J. , Kajos M. K. , Nieminen T. , D'Andrea S. D. , Asmi A. , Pierce J. R. , Kulmala M. , Riipinen I.
Published: March 2013

Abstract. The capability to accurately yet efficiently represent atmospheric nanoparticle growth by biogenic and anthropogenic secondary organics is a challenge for current atmospheric large-scale models. It is, however, crucial to predict nanoparticle growth accurately in order to reliably estimate the atmospheric cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) concentrations. In this work we introduce a~simple semi-empirical parameterization for sub-20 nm particle growth that distributes secondary organics to the nanoparticles according to their size and is therefore able to reproduce particle growth observed in the atmosphere. The parameterization includes particle growth by sulfuric acid, secondary organics from monoterpene oxidation (SORGMT) and an additional condensable non-monoterpene organics ("background"). The performance of the proposed parameterization was investigated using ambient data on particle growth rates in three size ranges (1.5–3 nm, 3–7 nm and 7–20 nm). The growth rate data was acquired from particle/air ion number size distribution measurements at six continental sites over Europe. The longest time series of 7 yr (2003 to 2009) was obtained from a boreal forest site in Hyytiälä, Finland, while about one year of data (2008–2009) was used for the other stations. The extensive ambient measurements made it possible to test how well the parameterization captures the seasonal cycle observed in sub-20 nm particle growth and to determine the weighing factors for distributing the SORGMT for different sized particles as well as the background mass flux (/concentration). Besides the monoterpene oxidation products, background organics with a concentration comparable to SORGMT, around 6 × 107 cm−3 (consistent with an additional global SOA yield of 100 Tg yr−1) was needed to reproduce the observed nanoparticle growth. Simulations with global models suggest that the "background" could be linked to secondary biogenic organics that are formed in the presence of anthropogenic pollution.
Radium-based estimates of cesium isotope transport and total direct ocean discharges from the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant accident
Authors: Charette M. A. , Breier C. F. , Henderson P. B. , Pike S. M. , Rypina I. I. , Jayne S. R. , Buesseler K. O.
Published: March 2013

Abstract. Radium has four naturally occurring isotopes that have proven useful in constraining water mass source, age, and mixing rates in the coastal and open ocean. In this study, we used radium isotopes to determine the fate and flux of runoff-derived cesium from the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant (FNPP). During a June 2011 cruise, the highest cesium (Cs) concentrations were found along the eastern shelf of northern Japan, from Fukushima south, to the edge of the Kuroshio Current, and in an eddy ~ 130 km from the FNPP site. Locations with the highest cesium also had some of the highest radium activities, suggesting much of the direct ocean discharges of Cs remained in the coastal zone 2–3 months after the accident. We used a short-lived Ra isotope (223Ra, t1/2 = 11.4 d) to derive an average water mass age (Tr) in the coastal zone of 32 days. To ground-truth the Ra age model, we conducted a direct, station-by-station comparison of water mass ages with a numerical oceanographic model and found them to be in excellent agreement (model avg. Tr = 27 days). From these independent Tr values and the inventory of Cs within the water column at the time of our cruise, we were able to calculate an offshore 134Cs flux of 3.9–4.6 × 1013 Bq d−1. Radium-228 (t1/2 = 5.75 yr) was used to derive a vertical eddy diffusivity (Kz) of 0.7 m2 d−1 (0.1 cm2 s−1); from this Kz and 134Cs inventory, we estimated a 134Cs flux across the pycnocline of 1.8 × 104 Bq d−1 for the same time period. On average, our results show that horizontal mixing loss of Cs from the coastal zone was ~ 109 greater than vertical exchange below the surface mixed layer. Finally, a mixing/dilution model that utilized our Ra-based and oceanographic model water mass ages produced a direct ocean discharge of 134Cs from the FNPP of 11–16 PBq at the time of the peak release in early April 2011. Our results can be used to calculate discharge of other water-soluble radionuclides that were released to the ocean directly from the Fukushima NPP.
Effect of VEGF and anti-VEGF Compounds on Retinal Pigment Epithelium Permeability: An in Vitro Study
Authors: Campa Claudio
Published: March 2013

Purpose

To evaluate the effect of 2 vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) isoforms (121 and 165) and 2 anti-VEGF compounds (ranibizumab and pegaptanib sodium) on the permeability of human retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells in vitro.

Methods

The RPE permeability was assessed on ARPE19 cells grown onto inserts of polytetrafluoroethylene previously treated with ammonia gas plasma. Paracellular permeability to ions was measured by mean of transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER). Permeability to non-ionic molecules was gathered by the amount of fluorescein dextran (FD) passing across the monolayer within 2 hours.

Results

Only VEGF165 applied at the apical side of the monolayer induced a statistically significant decrease of TEER (p<0.001). No changes in TEER were observed when pegaptanib sodium or ranibizumab were apically administered together with VEGF165. Both VEGF isoforms significantly increased permeability to 4 kDa dextran (p<0.01). Apical administration of ranibizumab or pegaptanib sodium as well as coadministration of pegaptanib sodium with VEGF121 or VEGF165 induced a statistically significant increase of permeability to 4 kDa FD.

Conclusions

Both VEGF isoforms and anti-VEGF compounds exert an effect on human RPE permeability in vitro.
Outcomes of Using a Sutureless Bovine Pericardial Patch Graft for Ahmed Glaucoma Valve Implantation
Authors: Quaranta Luciano , Riva Ivano , Floriani Irene C.
Published: March 2013

Purpose

To evaluate the long-term outcomes of a surgical technique using a sutureless bovine pericardial patch graft for the implantation of an Ahmed glaucoma valve (AGV).

Methods

This was a pilot study on patients with primary open-angle glaucoma refractory to repeated surgical filtering procedures. All patients underwent AGV implant technique using a sutureless bovine pericardial patch graft. The pericardial membrane was cut using an ordinary corneal trephine with a diameter of 9.0 or 10.0 mm. The anterior part of the tube was covered with the graft and kept in place with fibrin glue. Subsequently, the cap was stitched all around the tube and the dissected conjunctiva was laid over it. Intraocular pressure (IOP) and complications were evaluated 1 week and 1, 3, 6, 12, and 24 months after surgery.

Results

The procedure was used to treat 20 eyes of 20 consecutive patients (12 men and 8 women: mean age [SD] 64.8 [7.8] years). Mean IOP was 28.1 mm Hg (SD 4.9) at baseline and decreased to 14.9 mm Hg (SD 1.5) 24 months after surgery (p<0.001). The overall mean number of topical medications was 3.1 (SD 0.5) at baseline and decreased to 1.4 (SD 0.8) after 24 months (p<0.001). During follow-up, there was no conjunctival erosion, thinning of pericardial patch graft over the tube, or tube exposure; no signs of endophthalmitis were recorded.

Conclusions

The results suggest that the sutureless technique using a bovine pericardial graft patch is a safe and rapid procedure for AGV implantation.
Use of Electron-Beam Sterilized Hemodialysis Membranes is Not Associated with Significant and Persistent Thrombocytopenia
Authors: Filiopoulos Vassilis , Manolios Nikolaos , Vlassopoulos Dimosthenis
Published: March 2013

Significant thrombocytopenia following hemodialysis with electron-beam (e-beam) sterilized membranes has been recently reported in a large-scale Canadian study. However, the underlying mechanism and the clinical significance of this finding remain undetermined as yet. We prospectively evaluated for a 4-month period the thrombocytopenic effect of the e-beam sterilized dialyzers as compared to the steam sterilized ones in two groups of well-controlled hemodialysis patients. There were no significant differences in pre- and post-dialysis platelet counts of patients using e-beam-sterilized dialyzers compared to those using steam-sterilized ones. Furthermore, no statistically significant differences between pre- and post-dialysis platelet counts were found throughout the study in the e-beam-sterilized group. However, 1 out of 9 patients demonstrated significant post-dialysis thrombocytopenia in 2/4 measurements. In conclusion, our study data do not support a continuously occurring thrombocytopenic effect in patients dialyzed with e-beam sterilized membranes. Further studies are needed to determine whether and how the use of e-beam sterilization may impact the interaction between certain membranes and platelets.
Postoperative Complications Following TECA-LBO in the Dog and Cat
Authors: Spivack Rebecca E. , Elkins A. Derrell , Moore George E. , Lantz Gary C.
Published: March 2013

The medical records for 133 total ear canal ablations combined with lateral bulla osteotomies (TECA-LBOs) performed on 82 dogs (121 ears) and 11 cats (12 ears) between 2004 and 2010 were reviewed to determine if the duration of preoperative clinical signs was associated with the incidence of postoperative facial nerve injury and Horner's syndrome. Other perioperative complications, such as a head tilt, nystagmus, incisional drainage, draining tracts, hearing loss, as well as bacterial culture results, were noted. Postoperative facial nerve paresis occurred in 36 of 133 ears (27.1%), and paralysis occurred in 29 of 133 ears (21.8%), with no significant difference between species. Thus, postoperative facial nerve deficits occurred in 48.9% of ears. The median duration of clinically evident temporary facial nerve deficits was 2 wk for dogs and 4 wk for cats. Dogs had a significantly longer duration of preoperative clinical signs and were less likely than cats to have a mass in the ear canal. Dogs were less likely to have residual (> 1 yr) postoperative facial nerve deficits. The incidence of postoperative Horner's syndrome was significantly higher in cats than dogs. The duration of preoperative clinical signs of ear disease was not associated with postoperative facial nerve deficits.
Methocarbamol CRI for Symptomatic Treatment of Pyrethroid Intoxication: A Report of Three Cases
Authors: Draper William E. , Bolfer Luiz , Cottam Emily , McMichael Maureen , Schubert Thomas
Published: March 2013

Pyrethroids are popular for use in companion animals due to their relatively low mammalian toxicity and efficacy against arthropods. Nonetheless, pyrethroid intoxication has been reported in cats and dogs, and cats appear to be more susceptible due to difficulty in biotransformation and excretion of pyrethroids. Pyrethroid intoxications are generally due to either the improper use or accidental ingestion of approved products. Methocarbamol, given as intermittent injections, is a common first-line treatment choice for the tremors associated with pyrethroid intoxication. Two cats and one dog were treated with a methocarbamol continuous rate infusion (CRI) for pyrethroid intoxication. Clinical signs of toxicity resolved within a few hr in all three cases, with no adverse drug effects. A methocarbamol CRI can be considered in animals presenting with pyrethroid intoxication.
Bifocal Femoral Deformity Correction and Lengthening Using a Circular Fixator Construct in a Dog
Authors: Coutin Julia V. , Lewis Daniel D. , Kim Stanley E. , Reese David J.
Published: March 2013

A 7 mo old male rottweiler was evaluated for a right hind limb lameness caused by malunion of a Salter-Harris type II fracture. Radiographs and computed tomography (CT) revealed that the right distal femur had valgus, procurvatum, external rotation, and was 35% (70 mm) shorter than the contralateral femur. Distal femoral wedge ostectomies were performed to acutely correct the angular and rotational deformities. Lengthening of the femur was accomplished by distraction osteogenesis performed over 53 days at a second, proximal diaphyseal osteotomy using a circular fixator construct. This bifocal approach yielded approximately 30 mm of femoral lengthening and a confluent column of regenerate bone that bridged the distraction gap. When evaluated 14 mo after surgery, the dog held the right hip, stifle, and hock in a slightly extended posture when standing and had a subtle asymmetric hind limb gait. The stride of the right hind limb was slightly shortened with compensatory circumduction of the left hind limb during the swing phase of the stride.
The American medical liability system: An alliance between legal and medical professionals can promote patient safety and be cost effective
Authors: Pegalis Steven E.
Published: March 2013

Objective: The aim of this paper is to evaluate a hypothesis premised on the idea that if medical leaders in the United States support an unfettered access for patients injured by medical error to the American civil justice system, that approach would improve patient safety and be cost effective. Method: An analysis of the relevant legal and medical literature. Results: Medical liability in the American civil justice system derived from traditional tort law is based on accountability. Reforms applied to medical liability cases urged by healthcare providers limit and in some cases eliminate legal rights of patients injured by healthcare error which rights exist for all others in non-medical cases. Yet medical liability cases have promoted a culture of safety. Information learned from medical liability cases has been used to make care safer with a reduced incidence of adverse outcomes and lower costs. A just culture of safety can limit provider emotional stress. Using the external pressures to reduce the incidence of law suits and promoting ethical mandates to be safer and disclose the truth can promote provider satisfaction. Conclusions: An alliance between legal and medical professionals on the common ground of respect for the due process legal rights of patients in the American system of justice and the need for accountability can make care safer and can be cost effective.
Effects of the Type and Point of Inclusion of Soy-Melon-Protein Supplement on the Sensory Qualities of “Gari” Semolina
Authors: Oluwamukomi M. O.
Published: March 2013

The effects of the type of enrichment and the stage of application of supplement on the sensory qualities of Soy-melon protein-enriched gari semolina were studied. Three protein supplements (Full fat, Defatted and Milk residue) were added to the gari meal before fermentation, after fermentation and after toasting. After toasting and cooling, the samples were subjected to sensory evaluation at weekly interval over a period of 32 weeks by 20 member sensory panel of the Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria in order to determine its shelf life. The panel members were students and staff members who were used to the consumption and sensory evaluation of gari. They were instructed to evaluate differences in overall sensory quality between the control and other samples packaged in HDPE film and Woven sack and subjected to storage at 20, 30 and 40°C. A nine-point hedonic scoring system was used for the evaluation, where 1 = extremely disliked and 9 = extremely liked. Results obtained from other data on the flavor difference scores for each product were subjected to regression analysis based on the critical minimum panel mean score of 5.0 for shelf stability of the samples. The shelf lives for the samples at different storage conditions were determined from the slopes of the regression equations. Results showed that enrichment with soy-melon flour reduced the shelf life at a high temperature above 40°C from 148 weeks to 17 weeks. The shelf lives of samples packaged in HDPE were significantly higher than those packaged in woven sack. The shelf life was reduced significantly by increase in temperature which exhibited a negative correlation with the flavor scores.