bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Aichi Virus 1: Environmental Occurrence and Behavior
Authors: Kitajima Masaaki , Gerba Charles
Published: May 2015

Aichi virus 1 (AiV-1), belonging to the genus Kobuvirus in the family Picornaviridae, has been proposed as a causative agent of human gastroenteritis potentially transmitted by fecal-oral routes through contaminated food or water. AiV-1 is globally distributed and has been detected in various types of environmental samples, such as sewage, river water, groundwater, and shellfish. Recent environmental studies revealed that this virus could be detected in higher frequency and greater abundance than other human enteric viruses. These findings suggest that AiV-1 could potentially be an appropriate indicator of viral contamination in the environment because of its high prevalence in water environments as well as structural and genetic similarity with some of the other important enteric viruses. Further studies on the occurrence and fate of AiV-1 in environments, even in combination with clinical studies of many regions, are needed for a better understanding of their epidemiology, temporal and geographical distribution, environmental stability, and potential health risks to humans.
Music and Spirituality—Introduction
Authors: Foley Edward
Published: May 2015

Across time and geography people have known the power of music for evoking the gods and acquiring spiritual insight. [...]
DOF Decoupling Task Graph Model: Reducing the Complexity of Touch-Based Active Sensing
Authors: Tosi Niccoló , David Olivier , Bruyninckx Herman
Published: May 2015

This article presents: (i) a formal, generic model for active sensing tasks; (ii) the insight that active sensing actions can very often be searched on less than six-dimensional configuration spaces (bringing an exponential reduction in the computational costs involved in the search); (iii) an algorithm for selecting actions explicitly trading off information gain, execution time and computational cost; and (iv) experimental results of touch-based localization in an industrial setting. Generalizing from prior work, the formal model represents an active sensing task by six primitives: configuration space, information space, object model, action space, inference scheme and action-selection scheme; prior work applications conform to the model as illustrated by four concrete examples. On top of the mentioned primitives, the task graph is then introduced as the relationship to represent an active sensing task as a sequence of low-complexity actions defined over different configuration spaces of the object. The presented act-reason algorithm is an action selection scheme to maximize the expected information gain of each action, explicitly constraining the time allocated to compute and execute the actions. The experimental contributions include localization of objects with: (1) a force-controlled robot equipped with a spherical touch probe; (2) a geometric complexity of the to-be-localized objects up to industrial relevance; (3) an initial uncertainty of (0.4 m, 0.4 m, 2Π); and (4) a configuration of act-reason to constrain the allocated time to compute and execute the next action as a function of the current uncertainty. Localization is accomplished when the probability mass within a 5-mm tolerance reaches a specified threshold of 80%. Four objects are localized with final {mean; standard-deviation} error spanning from {0.0043 m; 0.0034 m} to {0.0073 m; 0.0048 m}.
Topo-Bathymetric LiDAR for Monitoring River Morphodynamics and Instream Habitats—A Case Study at the Pielach River
Authors: Mandlburger Gottfried , Hauer Christoph , Wieser Martin , Pfeifer Norbert
Published: May 2015

Airborne LiDAR Bathymetry (ALB) has been rapidly evolving in recent years and now allows fluvial topography to be mapped in high resolution (>20 points/m2) and height accuracy (<10 cm) for both the aquatic and the riparian area. This article presents methods for enhanced modeling and monitoring of instream meso- and microhabitats based on multitemporal data acquisition. This is demonstrated for a near natural reach of the Pielach River, with data acquired from April 2013 to October 2014, covering two flood events. In comparison with topographic laser scanning, ALB requires a number of specific processing steps. We present, firstly, a novel approach for modeling the water surface in the case of sparse water surface echoes and, secondly, a strategy for improved filtering and modeling of the Digital Terrain Model of the Watercourse (DTM-W). Based on the multitemporal DTM-W we discuss the massive changes of the fluvial topography exhibiting deposition/erosion of 103 m3 caused by the 30-years flood event in May 2014. Furthermore, for the first time, such a high-resolution data source is used for monitoring of hydro-morphological units (mesohabitat scale) including the consequences for the target fish species nase (Chondrostoma nasus, microhabitat scale). The flood events caused a spatial displacement of the hydro-morphological units but did not effect their overall frequency distribution, which is considered an important habitat feature as it documents resilience against disturbances.
Surface Shortwave Net Radiation Estimation from FengYun-3 MERSI Data
Authors: Wang Dongdong , Liang Shunlin , He Tao , Cao Yunfeng , Jiang Bo
Published: May 2015

The Medium-Resolution Spectral Imager (MERSI) is one of the major payloads of China’s second-generation polar-orbiting meteorological satellite, FengYun-3 (FY-3), and it is similar to the Moderate-Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS). The MERSI data are suitable for mapping terrestrial, atmospheric and oceanographic variables at continental to global scales. This study presents a direct-estimation method to retrieve surface shortwave net radiation (SSNR) data from MERSI top-of-atmosphere (TOA) reflectance and cloud mask products. This study is the first attempt to use the MERSI to retrieve SSNR data. Several critical issues concerning remote sensing of SSNR were investigated, including scale effects in validating SSNR data, impacts of the MERSI calibration update on the estimation of SSNR and the dependency of the retrieval accuracy of SSNR data on view geometry. We also incorporated data from twin MODIS sensors to assess how time and the number of satellite overpasses affect the retrieval of SSNR data. Validation against one-year data over seven Surface Radiation Budget Network (SURFRAD) stations showed that the presented algorithm estimated daily SSNR at the original resolution of the MERSI with a root mean square error (RMSE) of 41.9 W/m2 and a bias of −1.6 W/m2. Aggregated to a spatial resolution of 161 km, the RMSE of MERSI retrievals can be reduced by approximately 10 W/m2. Combined with MODIS data, the RMSE of daily SSNR estimation can be further reduced to 22.2 W/m2. Compared with that of daily SSNR, estimation of monthly SSNR is less affected by the number of satellite overpasses per day. The RMSE of monthly SSNR from a single MERSI sensor is as small as 13.5 W/m2.
Design of a Novel Telerehabilitation System with a Force-Sensing Mechanism
Authors: Zhang Songyuan , Guo Shuxiang , Gao Baofeng , Hirata Hideyuki , Ishihara Hidenori
Published: May 2015

Many stroke patients are expected to rehabilitate at home, which limits their access to proper rehabilitation equipment, treatment, or assessment by therapists. We have developed a novel telerehabilitation system that incorporates a human-upper-limb-like device and an exoskeleton device. The system is designed to provide the feeling of real therapist–patient contact via telerehabilitation. We applied the principle of a series elastic actuator to both the master and slave devices. On the master side, the therapist can operate the device in a rehabilitation center. When performing passive training, the master device can detect the therapist’s motion while controlling the deflection of elastic elements to near-zero, and the patient can receive the motion via the exoskeleton device. When performing active training, the design of the force-sensing mechanism in the master device can detect the assisting force added by the therapist. The force-sensing mechanism also allows force detection with an angle sensor. Patients’ safety is guaranteed by monitoring the motor’s current from the exoskeleton device. To compensate for any possible time delay or data loss, a torque-limiter mechanism was also designed in the exoskeleton device for patients’ safety. Finally, we successfully performed a system performance test for passive training with transmission control protocol/internet protocol communication.
Semi-Supervised Bayesian Classification of Materials with Impact-Echo Signals
Authors: Igual Jorge , Salazar Addisson , Safont Gonzalo , Vergara Luis
Published: May 2015

The detection and identification of internal defects in a material require the use of some technology that translates the hidden interior damages into observable signals with different signature-defect correspondences. We apply impact-echo techniques for this purpose. The materials are classified according to their defective status (homogeneous, one defect or multiple defects) and kind of defect (hole or crack, passing through or not). Every specimen is impacted by a hammer, and the spectrum of the propagated wave is recorded. This spectrum is the input data to a Bayesian classifier that is based on the modeling of the conditional probabilities with a mixture of Gaussians. The parameters of the Gaussian mixtures and the class probabilities are estimated using an extended expectation-maximization algorithm. The advantage of our proposal is that it is flexible, since it obtains good results for a wide range of models even under little supervision; e.g., it obtains a harmonic average of precision and recall value of 92.38% given only a 10% supervision ratio. We test the method with real specimens made of aluminum alloy. The results show that the algorithm works very well. This technique could be applied in many industrial problems, such as the optimization of the marble cutting process.
Microwave Absorption of Barium Borosilicate, Zinc Borate, Fe-Doped Alumino-Phosphate Glasses and Its Raw Materials
Authors: Mandal Ashis , Sen Ranjan
Published: May 2015

This study presents microwave absorption of raw materials used in barium borosilicate, Fe-doped alumina phosphate and zinc borate glass. Microwave absorption was investigated for the raw materials SiO2, Na2CO3, BaCO3, BPO4, Al(PO3)3, Mg(PO3)2, Al(OH)3, TiO2. The study shows that SiO2 could be heated directly above 1000 °C within 30 min at 1.5 kW microwave output (MW) power and 0.8 kW MW power is necessary to initiate heating (from 260 °C). Microwave heating of material with low dielectric loss has been investigated by increasing MW power. Microwave absorption of above glass systems has also been investigated. Dielectric properties such as loss tangent of glass as a function of temperature are presented. Glass melting under direct microwave heating was demonstrated for the studied glass systems. Temperature-Microwave power-Time (T-P-t) profiles for the three glasses indicate maximum MW output power ~1 kW, 0.65 kW and ~1 kW for barium borosilicate, zinc borate glass and alumino-phosphate glass for 60 g glass melting.
Separation of Binding Protein of Celangulin V from the Midgut of Mythimna separata Walker by Affinity Chromatography
Authors: Lu Lina , Qi Zhijun , Zhang Jiwen , Wu Wenjun
Published: May 2015

Celangulin V, an insecticidal compound isolated from the root bark of Chinese bittersweet, can affect the digestive system of insects. However, the mechanism of how Celangulin V induces a series of symptoms is still unknown. In this study, affinity chromatography was conducted through coupling of Celangulin V-6-aminoacetic acid ester to the CNBr-activated Sepharose 4B. SDS-PAGE was used to analyze the collected fraction eluted by Celangulin V. Eight binding proteins (Zinc finger protein, Thioredoxin peroxidase (TPx), Glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), SUMO E3 ligase RanBP2, Transmembrane protein 1, Actin, APN and V-ATPase) were obtained and identified by LC/Q-TOF-MS from the midgut of Mythimna separata larvae. The potential of these proteins to serve as target proteins involved in the insecticidal activity of Celangulin V is discussed.
Toxins Targeting the KV1.3 Channel: Potential Immunomodulators for Autoimmune Diseases
Authors: Zhao Yipeng , Huang Jie , Yuan Xiaolu , Peng Biwen , Liu Wanhong , Han Song , He Xiaohua
Published: May 2015

Autoimmune diseases are usually accompanied by tissue injury caused by autoantigen-specific T-cells. KV1.3 channels participate in modulating calcium signaling to induce T-cell proliferation, immune activation and cytokine production. Effector memory T (TEM)-cells, which play major roles in many autoimmune diseases, are controlled by blocking KV1.3 channels on the membrane. Toxins derived from animal venoms have been found to selectively target a variety of ion channels, including KV1.3. By blocking the KV1.3 channel, these toxins are able to suppress the activation and proliferation of TEM cells and may improve TEM cell-mediated autoimmune diseases, such as multiple sclerosis and type I diabetes mellitus.
Recommended Mass Spectrometry-Based Strategies to Identify Botulinum Neurotoxin-Containing Samples
Authors: Kalb Suzanne , Baudys Jakub , Wang Dongxia , Barr John
Published: May 2015

Botulinum neurotoxins (BoNTs) cause the disease called botulism, which can be lethal. BoNTs are proteins secreted by some species of clostridia and are known to cause paralysis by interfering with nerve impulse transmission. Although the human lethal dose of BoNT is not accurately known, it is estimated to be between 0.1 μg to 70 μg, so it is important to enable detection of small amounts of these toxins. Our laboratory previously reported on the development of Endopep-MS, a mass-spectrometric‑based endopeptidase method to detect, differentiate, and quantify BoNT immunoaffinity purified from complex matrices. In this work, we describe the application of Endopep-MS for the analysis of thirteen blinded samples supplied as part of the EQuATox proficiency test. This method successfully identified the presence or absence of BoNT in all thirteen samples and was able to successfully differentiate the serotype of BoNT present in the samples, which included matrices such as buffer, milk, meat extract, and serum. Furthermore, the method yielded quantitative results which had z-scores in the range of −3 to +3 for quantification of BoNT/A containing samples. These results indicate that Endopep-MS is an excellent technique for detection, differentiation, and quantification of BoNT in complex matrices.
China’s Policy on Dams at the Crossroads: Removal or Further Construction?
Authors: Miao Chiyuan , Borthwick Alistair , Liu Honghu , Liu Jigen
Published: May 2015

During the past century, the number and scale of reservoirs worldwide has grown substantially to meet the demand for water and hydropower arising from increased population, industrialization, and urbanization. This is particularly the case in China, where reservoir construction increased rapidly after the Chinese economic reform and the introduction of open-door policies. On average, 4.4 large reservoirs with a capacity greater than 0.1 km3 were constructed per annum during the 1970s–1990s. This average reached 11.8 such reservoirs per annum in the 2000s. Considering the adverse impact of dams on rivers and riparian communities, various environmentalists and non-governmental organizations in China have begun to protest against the construction of dams. Now China’s policy on dams is at a crossroads: Removal or further construction? In this paper, we systematically assess the construction of reservoirs in China and discuss the benefits and drawbacks of large-scale reservoir projects on several major rivers in China: The Yangtze River, the Yellow River and the Mekong River. Lastly, we provide a perspective on the future of reservoir development in China, taking into account natural conditions, renewable hydropower resources, and greenhouse gas emissions.
Indirect effects of herbivory on plant–pollinator interactions in invasive Lythrum salicaria
Authors: Russell‐Mercier Jake L. , Sargent Risa D.
Published: May 2015

• Premise of the study: Herbivory can affect a plant's fitness in a variety of ways, including modifying the biotic interactions of the plant. In particular, when herbivory influences floral display, we hypothesize that pollinator visitation will be altered accordingly. Here we studied the indirect effects of feeding by two beetles, Neogalerucella calmariensis and N. pusilla, released as a biological control, on plant–pollinator interactions and fitness in the invasive plant, purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria).

• Methods: Two herbivory treatments (ambient and simulated) were applied to plants in a naturally occurring population of purple loosestrife. During flowering, traits of plants in the treatment and control groups were recorded. Data on pollinator visitation behavior was then collected after intense larval herbivory had ended.

• Key results: Plants exposed to herbivory treatments produced more flowers and inflorescences but flowered significantly later than those in the control group. Moreover, we found a significant, positive association of herbivory with the number of flowers probed by bumblebees and with the number of times a foraging pollinator moved among inflorescences on a single plant. No differences in female fitness (fruit or seed production) were detected.

• Conclusions: We conclude that herbivore‐mediated differences in floral display traits impacted pollinator visitation behavior. However, as we discuss, differences in pollinator visitation did not translate into detectable differences in female reproductive success. We postulate that herbivory could influence other unmeasured aspects of fitness, such as seed quality or the number of seeds sired.
Des liens et des biens
Authors: Bessière Céline , Gollac Sibylle
Published: May 2015

Quand on parle de famille, on pense souvent à des liens – d’amour, de filiation, d’entraide ou de conflit... Or la famille est aussi une affaire de biens, comme nous le rappellent Céline Bessière et Sibylle Gollac : on y échange et transmet des choses. Cette dimension patrimoniale de la famille est un lieu majeur de la production des rapports sociaux de classe et de sexe. À partir de leurs enquêtes, les auteures montrent comment la loi et les pratiques des professionnels du droit fabriquent et prolongent les inégalités entre familles et définissent très précisément les contours de la famille, fondée sur une « lignée ». Il vaut bien sûr mieux être riche que pauvre (car les avantages se cumulent), mais aussi un frère qu’une sœur, un descendant qu’une épouse.
Produire et normaliser les familles par le logement
Authors: François Camille
Published: May 2015

Il n’est de famille qu’à partager le même toit : ce mantra est l’un des piliers indépassables de l’intervention publique sur les familles. À travers le logement, l’État a en effet institué la famille nucléaire et hétérosexuelle comme sujet de droit et modèle d’accès aux droits civils, sociaux, fiscaux. Les dispositifs de la politique du logement, comme les projets de « rénovation urbaine » ici analysés, ne se contentent pas de disqualifier et d’exclure les familles « atypiques » qui leur préexisteraient. Ils produisent et normalisent les familles en les dispersant ou en les regroupant afin qu’elles s’adaptent aux attentes morales et comptables de leurs agents : avec certaines démolitions, c’est jusqu’à 40 % des familles qui se voient recomposées.
Le nom des femmes et sa transmission
Authors: Descoutures Virginie
Published: May 2015

En France et ailleurs, on pense souvent que les femmes « perdent » leur nom de naissance lorsqu’elles se marient ou encore qu’elles ne peuvent pas transmettre leur nom à leur enfant. En revanche on sait moins que les hommes mariés peuvent aussi porter le nom de leur épouse ou que les deux membres du couple, mariés ou non, peuvent transmettre chacun.e leur nom à leur(s) enfant(s). Le « nom des femmes » (et sa transmission) est une bonne illustration des décalages qui existent entre ce que permet le droit et les usages sociaux qu’en font les individus. Ceci s’explique par la longue histoire patriarcale des sociétés – littéralement dirigées par les pères –, gouvernement remis en cause par une série de politiques publiques qui visent à établir concrètement une plus grande égalité entre les femmes et les hommes depuis la fin des années 1960. En matière de nom, ces « politiques du genre », impulsées par les recommandations de l’Union européenne, sont plus récentes.
L’utérus et la patrie
Authors: Roux Sébastien
Published: May 2015

L’adoption internationale a longtemps été saluée comme une démarche d’amour et d’humanité. Mais, depuis une vingtaine d’années, des doutes se font jour et troublent le regard porté sur ces formes de filiation. Les compétences parentales requises sont aujourd’hui encadrées, spécifiées et sujettes à des discours experts de plus en plus raffinés. L’origine et l’identité des adopté.e.s posent également question, témoignant d’inquiétudes révélatrices d’enjeux politiques plus profonds. Or, qui sont véritablement ces enfants immigrés ? Sont-ils totalement intégrés, « adoptés », ou demeurent-ils au contraire dans un entre-deux aussi labile que dangereux ? Toujours déjà renvoyé.e.s à leur passé biologique et biographique, les adopté.e.s apparaissent de plus en plus comme des sujets problématiques qui nécessiteraient une prise en charge psychologique et administrative, révélant ainsi des inquiétudes politiques et morales quant aux frontières de la nation et de la communauté.
L’institution familiale et l’inceste : théorie et pratique
Authors: Dussy Dorothée
Published: May 2015

Le contrat tacite qui lie entre eux les membres d’une famille limite en principe les rapports sexuels intrafamiliaux aux relations conjugales. Pourtant, les pratiques incestueuses sont tout autant constitutives de la réalité de l’institution familiale. La lumière crue que jettent ces pratiques sur les rapports de pouvoir qui structurent l’ordre familial explique sans doute le silence qui les entoure. Selon Dorothée Dussy, l’idée que l’interdit de l’inceste serait au fondement de l’humanité même contribuerait à rendre ce silence plus lourd encore.
De la famille à l’entourage, questionner les contours d’une institution
Authors: Bonvalet Catherine , Lelièvre Éva
Published: May 2015

Largement utilisées par les médias, les pouvoirs publics et les chercheur.e.s, les statistiques nationales produites sur la famille contribuent à instituer les normes et les catégories de référence. En dénombrant « les types » de famille, elles donnent à voir certaines formes familiales et en cachent d’autres. Aussi, certain.e.s chercheur.e.s réfléchissent à des outils et catégories d’analyse afin d’appréhender la « nouvelle morphologie sociale » qui découle des transformations sociales de ces dernières décennies. C’est ce que proposent Catherine Bonvalet et Éva Lelièvre : elles invitent à une redéfinition des outils et des concepts de la démographie pour décrire l’évolution actuelle des modes de vie des individus et de leurs enfants. Leurs recherches visent à dépasser le cadre du logement pour redéfinir un groupe familial, à proposer une entité opérationnelle pour les collectes quantitatives permettant d’étudier son rôle dans les stratégies sociales des individus, et d’en saisir la dynamique. Elles permettent en outre de rompre avec les thèses sur la « crise » de la famille pour donner à voir la complexité et la diversité des liens sociaux qui se nouent autour des individus qui « font famille ». La famille ne peut plus se définir par le logement, mais bien davantage par l’existence de liens forts, au-delà de la cohabitation.
Au-delà des normes ?
Authors: Varela Cécilia
Published: May 2015

Au tournant du XX e  siècle, une partie des anarchistes, dont une proportion notable de femmes, développe l’idée d’une « utopie amoureuse » et familiale allant à l’encontre des normes sociales et sexuelles dominantes. Critiquant les normes pour en imposer de nouvelles, cette utopie frappe par son caractère imaginatif et émancipateur. L’utopie a toutefois des limites et se heurte à l’inégalité entre les sexes dans la circulation amoureuse et la prise en charge des enfants.
« Familles, je vous hais ! »
Authors: Pagis Julie
Published: May 2015

Les « soixante-huitards » entendaient mettre en question toutes les hiérarchies établies et les institutions qui les soutiennent. Les plus jeunes de ces militant.e.s ont ainsi souvent imaginé de nouveaux dispositifs de liens amoureux, sexuels et parentaux au sein de communautés. « L’air du temps » consiste alors à mettre en œuvre dans sa propre vie des pratiques déjouant la reproduction des dominations sociale et masculine. À partir d’une vaste enquête menée auprès de 170 familles, Julie Pagis décrit cette expérimentation de structures familiales subversives visant à politiser ce qui se joue dans la sphère privée. Le faible écho de ces expériences communautaires aujourd’hui conduit à s’interroger sur leur emprise sociale marginale et sur la difficulté de la transmission intergénérationnelle à partir d’attentes contrastées.
Filiation : quelle place pour la volonté ?
Authors: Pichard Marc
Published: May 2015

Les débats actuels relatifs au droit français de la filiation se concentrent sur deux hypothèses : d’une part, l’homoparenté c’est-à-dire le rattachement d’un enfant à deux parents de même sexe ; d’autre part, la gestation pour autrui qui, si elle est sollicitée par des hommes ou des couples d’hommes homosexuels, l’est aussi par des couples de personnes de sexe différent. Les deux ont en commun d’interroger très directement sur la place à accorder à la volonté en matière de filiation. Suffit-il de vouloir être parent pour l’être ou la volonté est-elle nécessairement bridée par des faits – et en particulier des données biologiques ? Construire la filiation sur la volonté et elle seule, ce serait détacher la filiation des corps, et par conséquent s’autoriser à s’abstraire du rôle des uns ou des autres dans la procréation de l’enfant. La volonté s’avère le fondement idéal pour construire un droit de la filiation neutre en termes de genre, « les volontés étant asexuées 1  ». S’interroger sur ce qui serait souhaitable, ou ce qui serait possible, exige toutefois d’identifier avant toute chose ce qui est, c’est-à-dire l’état du droit.
Pour une approche intergénérationnelle de la transmission des compétences et du métier dans le secteur social
Authors: Dreyfuss Laurence , Pijoan Natacha
Published: May 2015

La transformation des organisations et des métiers du secteur social et le rôle déterminant qu’y joue l’introduction de nouvelles pratiques managériales permettent de saisir de façon saillante les défis d’un décalage intergénérationnel au travail. Une analyse qualitative transversale aux secteurs des prisons, des maisons de retraite et de l’animation met en lumière deux résultats principaux : une construction des identités professionnelles et une pratique des métiers différenciée, contribuent, selon une analyse générationnelle, à creuser le fossé intergénérationnel et accroit le risque d’inefficacité organisationnelle. La prospective des métiers propose de nouvelles pistes pour retrouver le sens du travail et réduire la fracture générationnelle par les leviers de la formation et de la transmission du métier. En ce sens, la prospective des métiers (en tant que méthode) constitue une piste pour remédier aux décalages constatés.
La théorie des incitations en question : politiques de rémunération et design organisationnel des SCOP
Authors: Juban Jean-Yves , Boissin Olivier , Charmettant Hervé , Renou Yvan
Published: May 2015

Dans cet article, nous étudions l’architecture organisationnelle des SCOP, les sociétés coopératives et participatives, et, en particulier, le rôle des politiques salariales dans l’alignement des comportements des salariés avec la stratégie de leur entreprise. Mobilisant les résultats d’une étude de terrain portant sur un échantillon régional de SCOP, nous avançons que les rémunérations sont faiblement incitatives au sein des SCOP, alors même que celles-ci sont performantes et résistent particulièrement bien en période de crise. La mobilisation de la théorie de l’architecture organisationnelle (Jensen et Meckling, 1992) permet de conclure que le pilier des incitations est défaillant, alors que celui de la délégation est solide et que celui du contrôle semble diversement mobilisé et souvent mal assumé par les dirigeants. Des approches complémentaires sont alors mobilisées afin d’identifier des voies d’approfondissement permettant de saisir la complexité organisationnelle des SCOP, en particulier, et des firmes modernes, en général.
Ultra‐wide band antenna designs and numerical system modelling for forward‐looking GPR
Authors: Turk Ahmet Serdar , Aksoy Serkan , Keskin Ahmet Kenan , Senturk Mustafa Dagcan , Caliskan Alper , Ozakin Mehmet Burak
Published: May 2015

This paper presents ultra‐wide band (UWB) horn feeder and parabolic reflector antenna designs, which are considered highly suitable for forward‐looking vehicle‐mounted ground‐penetrating radar (GPR) systems and time‐domain numerical modelling of impulse GPR signal radiation, wave propagation and target scattering. In this context, the partial dielectric‐loaded Vivaldi shaped TEM horn (PDVA), TEM horn fed double‐ridged horn (PDTEM‐RHA) and their compact versions are investigated, designed simulated and measured. An offset parabolic reflector antenna prototype with a compact PDTEM‐RHA feeder is proposed to reach hyper‐wide band impulse radiation performances from 500 MHz up to 15 GHz for a multi‐band forward‐looking GPR operation that can provide deep subsurface detection with high‐resolution imaging, due to a big advantage of narrowed beam widths. The antenna gain and radiation pattern performances are demonstrated with measurement results.
Use of electromagnetic non‐destructive techniques for monitoring water and chloride ingress into concrete
Authors: Villain G. , Ihamouten A. , du Plooy R. , Lopes S. Palma , Dérobert X.
Published: May 2015

This paper deals with the use of three electromagnetic non‐destructive in situ techniques to assess concrete conditions: electrical resistivity, capacimetry, and ground‐penetrating radar. It shows the potential of these methods to monitor the ingress of water and chlorides into concrete. The electromagnetic properties that are studied here are dielectric permittivity and electrical resistivity, both sensitive to volumetric water content and chloride content. Results are presented from an experimental study conducted on concrete slabs (and corresponding core cylinders) in a controlled laboratory environment. Then, the discussion is focused on the ability of three electromagnetic techniques to assess the depth of the ingress front of different salt solutions and to discern between the 3 NaCl concentrations (0, 15 and 30 g/L).
Spectral‐domain solution to the electromagnetic scattering of a two‐dimensional beam by cylinders buried below a flat interface
Authors: Arshad Fiaz Muhammad , Frezza Fabrizio , Pajewski Lara , Ponti Cristina , Schettini Giuseppe
Published: May 2015

An analytical‐numerical approach in the spectral domain is developed for the scattering problem by buried objects excited by a two‐dimensional illumination field. The scatterers are perfectly conducting cylinders, which are placed in a semi‐infinite medium below a flat interface. The source field is described by an arbitrary illumination function, and it is represented by means of its plane‐wave spectrum. The cylindrical‐wave approach is applied to represent the fields scattered by the cylinders. All the field contributions are expressed through spectral integrals, which allow to evaluate their interaction with the interface in terms of a superposition of monochromatic plane waves.

Such integrals are evaluated in an accurate way, which can lead to results both in near‐field and far‐field regions. In this paper, the general theoretical approach is described, and numerical results are given for the case of an incident Gaussian beam. Two‐dimensional field maps in both the air and lower regions are reported in the case of one and two scatterers. An application of the technique to the diagnostic of reinforced concrete is reported, showing the use of the radar scattering cross‐section ratio to determine the size of rebar diameters. Modelling results validate the assumption proposed by other authors that the radar scattering cross‐section ratio can be used to determine rebar diameters using the monotonic behaviour observed at lower frequencies.
Revisiting Local Governments and Social Networking
Authors: Merwin Jr. Gerald A. , McDonald J. Scott , Merwin Keith A. , McDonald Maureen , Bennett Jr. John R.
Published: May 2015

This chapter argues that Web 2.0, a valuable tool used to expand government-citizen communication opportunities and bring citizens as a group closer to government, widens a communication opportunity divide between local government and its citizens. Web 2.0 access is almost exclusively English-language based, benefiting that segment of the population and leaving behind others, especially the fastest growing language minority of Spanish speakers. While local governments are increasingly taking advantage of the trend toward interacting with citizens through social networking (Aikins, 2009; Vogel, 2009), McDonald, Merwin, Merwin, Morris, & Brannen (2010) found a majority of counties with significant populations of citizens with Limited English Proficiency (LEP) do not provide for the translation needs of these citizens on their Websites. The chapter finds that Web 2.0-based communication is almost exclusively in English and that cities are missing opportunities to communicate. It concludes with recommendations based on observations of communities employing Web 2.0 to engage non-English speaking populations.
Social Media Use in the Public Sector
Authors: Ayanso Anteneh , Moyers Darryl
Published: May 2015

With advances in the Internet and its associated technologies, more and more governments and their public service agencies are embracing social media as a key channel of communication and service provision. These easy-to-use applications encourage the public to actively participate and share constructive ideas in various government initiatives. At the same time, social media helps governments to actively engage with the public and monitor their existing services for continuous improvements. In this chapter, the authors explore the application of social media in the public sector and review how it has evolved over time and what lies ahead for the future. To this end, the authors explore existing and emerging platforms and tools that can be used in various public sector settings. The chapter also reviews social media best practices and initiatives in similar settings. Finally, it examines the critical challenges the public sector faces in integrating social media in its processes and services.
Knowledge Management and Electronic Records Management in the Realm of E-Government
Authors: Bwalya Kelvin Joseph , Zulu Saul F. C. , Mothataesi Sebina Peter Mazebe II
Published: May 2015

The recent past has seen many interventions aimed at merging traditional records management approaches with emerging trends such as electronic records (e-Records), electronic government (e-Government) and Knowledge Management (KM). This has largely cascaded from the belief that appropriate records management practices may positively contribute to transparency, accountability, efficiency and increased productivity both in the public and private sector business value chains. However, realization of the full potential of records management in the realm of e-Government cannot be achieved if multi-disciplinary factors impacting on records management are ignored when drawing implementation strategies and roadmaps. This chapter utilizes extensive literature reviews to probe the best ways of implementing records management with KM in the public sector in the context of e-Government. The chapter posits that the application of KM is still in its infancy as the concept had yet to take root in the public sector.
E-Government Transparency and Citizen Engagement Increasing Accountability
Authors: Carstens Deborah S. , Kies Stephen , Stockman Randy
Published: May 2015

The chapter focus is on accountability and transparency through E-Government. With the increasing trend of users getting online and the opportunity for ubiquitous reach, state governments have begun to utilize social media to engage, communicate and inform their citizens. Therefore, this chapter also discusses ways to better engage citizens in government accountability and transparency discussions. With the transition from government to E-Government, greater transparency in government accountability has occurred. There is a need for government Websites to promote public trust while providing understandable, meaningful and usable government accountability information securely. The recommendations and solutions discussed are centered on enhancing E-Government transparency and citizen engagement resulting in enhanced government accountability.
A Local Statistical Information Active Contour Model for Image Segmentation
Authors: Liu Shigang , Peng Yali , Qiu Guoyong , Hao Xuanwen
Published: May 2015

This paper presents a local statistical information (LSI) active contour model. Assuming that the distribution of intensity belonging to each region is a Gaussian distribution with spatially varying statistical information, and defining an energy function, the authors integrate the entire image domain. Then, this energy is incorporated into a variational level set formulation. Finally, by minimizing the energy functional, a curve evolution equation can be obtained. Because the image local information is considered, the proposed model can effectively deal with the image with intensity inhomogeneity. Experimental results on synthetic and real images demonstrate that the proposed model can effectively segment the image with intensity inhomogeneity.
Negative Effects of Home Foreclosures on Mental and Physical Health Risks
Authors: Kizito Owusu
Published: May 2015

The rising rate of home foreclosures which stands at approximately 1 in 92 households in the United States has raised a national alarm. Medical issues account for approximately half of all home foreclosure filings and it appears that approximately 1.5 million American homeowners could lose their homes to foreclosure every year. The phenomenological method was applied to explore the problems through the participant's lived experience. Four core themes were revealed: foreclosure process resulting in hospitalization of family and foreclosure associated with the lack of family's health insurance, family health and the foreclosure process, and foreclosure and the negligence of doctor's prescription, foreclosure as perceived loss of money and finally homeownership, displacement and housing instability as a reason for depression. The study provides a framework for local practitioners and decision makers in identifying the consequences on the physical and mental health of the participants and their families and providing a workable foreclosure response system.
Bend Testing of Parts Made by Rapid Prototyping with Respect to Possible Use in Robotics
Authors: Lipina Jan , Krys Václav , Marek Jiří
Published: May 2015

Recently, the Rapid Prototyping technology (RP hereafter) has been increasingly used for a final product, which requires detailed knowledge of designing parts made by the RP technology. In order to apply parts made by the RP technology in robotics, and design in general, in a wider range, one of the most important material parameters is their bend strength. The paper describes an experimental determination of bend strength in parts printed on a 3D printer. The parts were made of polycarbonate. The tests were carried out in parts with various types of internal structure. The achieved results can be implemented when designing parts made by 3D printing provided that professional printers are used.
Experimental Approaches Regarding the Elastic Properties Bending of Roving
Authors: Cotoros Diana , Stanciu Anca Elena , Baritz Mihaela , Cristea Luciana
Published: May 2015

Within a composite material the materials shaped as fibres will take the most part of the tensions acting upon the matrix, which obviously presents less stiffness than the fibres. In order to accomplish the assessment of the behaviour for a polymeric composite part we deal with a lot more complicated issues than for the assessment of a simple metal part subjected to the same loads. The idea is to accomplish the balance of the individual layer stresses with the applied traction forces and bending moments and study the laminate as a whole.
TiO2/PCL Hybrid Layers Prepared via Sol-Gel Dip Coating for the Surface Modification of Titanium Implants: Characterization and Bioactivity Evaluation
Authors: Catauro Michelina , Bollino Flavia , Papale Ferdinando , Lamanna Giuseppe
Published: May 2015

When bioactive coatings are applied to medical implants by means of sol-gel dip coating technique, the biological proprieties of the implant surface can be modified to match the properties of the surrounding tissues. In this study, sol-gel method is used to synthesized organic-inorganic nanocomposites materials consisting of an inorganic titania matrix in which 10 wt% of a biodegradable polymer, the poly-ε-caprolactone (PCL), was incorporated. The synthesized materials, in sol phase, were used to dip-coat a commercially pure titanium grade 4 substrate in order to improve its surface biological properties. Materials were characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and a morphological analysis of the obtained films was performed via scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Coating bioactivity was investigated by soaking coated substrates in a fluid simulating the human blood plasma (SBF) and successively evaluating the formation of a hydroxyapatite layer on their surface by means of SEM/EDX (energy dispersive X-ray).
Researches on Milling Machining of Planar Thin Wall Parts
Authors: Ghionea Ionuţ Gabriel , Tănase Ioan , Ghionea Adrian
Published: May 2015

In the paper are presented some experimental and by simulation results obtained in the machining by milling of plane surfaces of thin walls parts. Two case studies are considered: when the thin wall is vertical and then the thin wall is horizontal positioned. Some values of the cutting force components are established using a modern dynamometer and a data acquisition system. The elastic deformation values of the machined part are also determined by experimental tests and simulated in a FEM analysis. Depending on the data that geometrically define the part and the cutting tools, their materials and the cutting parameters, are set values of the cutting forces and powers. There are presented the results of values comparison obtained by measuring during the processes with those established by applying FEM. Both case studies results lead to some remarks and useful recommendations for determining the machining parameters and the needed conditions for the technological system in the processing of parts with thin walls and minimum deformations.
The Dynamic Behavior and Stability Analysis of an Electro-Hydro-Mechanical Adaptive Transmission
Authors: Ion-Guta Ion
Published: May 2015

In the present paper is presented a numerical simulation of an electro-hydro-mechanical system of adaptive transmission of mechanical power. This system is based on a hydraulic circuit consists of a hydraulic pump with constant flow and a hydraulic motor with variable flow ordered so that the pressure in the circuit to remain constant. For a variation of the ramp and step signal sources of loads, are presented the main features of operation of adaptive transmission. Analysis of dynamic stability of mechanical transmission is made through the linear analysis with Bode diagrams. Simulation of transmission operation is performed with AMESim.
Modelling and Simulation of Hollow Profile Aluminum Extruded Product
Authors: Magid Hani Mizhir , Sulaiman Sreenivasan , Mohd Ariffin Mohd Khairol Anuar , bin Baharudin B.T. Hang Tuah
Published: May 2015

The main objectives of this paper is to find the way for solving the problems of aluminum extrusion process, and improve the mechanical properties of the products through a smart design, modelling and simulation of this process by using finite element method (FEM). For the purpose to model a (2D) two dimensions warm aluminum extrusion process, ABAQUS software was used to set up the finite element simulation. The main parameters which have major effects on this process like extrusion stresses, temperature, and die geometry, i.e. extrusion radius, were taken into consideration. Aluminum alloy (Al-2014) was used as the billet material, with 40 mm diameter and 75 mm length. It is important to preheat the billet from the beginning to a specific temperature, and then pressurizes it into the die. This process is an isothermal process with an extrusion ratio of 3.3. Subsequently, the optimized algorithm for these extrusion parameters was suggested based on the simulation results. The results suggest that the large die angle needs a less extrusion load than the small die angle. In all die geometry used, the deformation of aluminum billet, which caused by shearing and compression stresses, happened in a small sectional area, i.e., bearing area. The results also showed that the values of these stresses can increase or decrease depends on the die entrance angle and the die bearing length. To avoid the effects of these stresses on die dimensions; the hardness, material selection, and geometry should be well calculated.
Detection of Nut Welding Using Poka-Yoke Roller Coaster Jig
Authors: Wan Saidin Wan Ahmad Najmuddin , Mohd Idris Azrul Zamir , Ravi S. , Ahmad Zaidi Ahmad Mujahid , Kasim Nazrul Idzham
Published: May 2015

This paper describes the proposal of Poka Yoke Roller Coaster (PKYC) jig as a device to detect nut weld missing of door patch base line model (BLM) at assembly line station. The PKYC was proposed in order to detect nut weld missing problem and to reduce cycle time and manpower that lead to higher cost by applying quality management concept as a problem-solving tool. This special purpose tool was capable to meet specific job based on industrial need by providing repeatability, interchangeability and accuracy in the manufacturing of products. A Quality Control (QC) approachcalled the Zero Quality Control (ZQC) was used to achieve zero defects at production line. In order to reach zero defects, poka yoke method was applied in this research. Outcomes indicate that PKYC can be utilised as a custom-tailored jig for detecting nut weld missing as well as fulfilling other objectives.
Verifying Innovative Solutions of TRIZ Engineering Contradiction Matrix Using Substance-Field Analysis in Manufacturing
Authors: Ang M.C. , Ng Kok Weng , Cher Dong Theng
Published: May 2015

TRIZ has been well-established and is widely applied in multi-national enterprises to enhance design innovation and problem solving for design and manufacturing problems. Most applications of TRIZ utilise the engineering contradiction tools to solve design and manufacturing problems. This paper initially applied the engineering contradiction matrix to solve a semi-processed material transfer misalignment problem while passing through a furnace via a long mesh metal conveyor belt in the productions of automotive parts. Then, using another TRIZ tool, substance-field analysis to verify the solutions obtained earlier. This verification is to reduce the possible of errors in solving problems using the engineering contradiction matrix.