bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
DETERMINATION OF EFFICIENCY OF INVESTMENTS IN CONSTRUCTION
Authors: Ustinovichius Leonas
Published: December 2018

Decision making is associated with ranking problems aimed to obtain a set of preference order of solutions. People can make mistakes choosing the best object for investments. Due to high cost of such mistakes, such a choice should be well founded. A major goal of paper is to develop a theoretical basis for creating a decision support system aimed to increase building construction and reconstruction investment efficiency by applying multiattribute decision making approaches and mathematical modelling. To achieve the goal, the following problems have to be solved: to analyse new models currently used in developing investment strategies in building construction and reconstruction, to make a classification of construction investment projects and to describe the stages of determining the efficiency of construction investments, to create a family of multiattribute decision methods to be used in the analysis of investment projects in building construction and reconstruction, to create multiple attribute decision support system based on the multiattribute methods developed for determining the efficiency of construction and reconstruction investment projects.
BRE INDEX FOR THE HONG KONG RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY MARKET
Authors: Hui Eddie Chi Man , Wong Joe Tak Yun
Published: December 2018

This paper examines housing price trends and prediction, of homeowners and potential home buyers, and establishes an independent index (the BRE Index) based on longitudinal telephone surveys collected. The Index, first of this kind in Hong Kong, measures price expectations and benchmarks the level of housing actors’ confidence in the residential market. This is the first paper delivered as part of a government‐funded research project. It synthesizes the key findings of the first survey mounted from 17th to 20th December, 2003. The results show that confidence among housing actors has begun to grow since the property crash in late 1997 with the “overall” BRE Index standing at 564 (0–1000 range). In general, homeowners, people with higher educational level and higher income are optimistic about the market outlook. Residential property prices are expected to rise marginally in the short term. Statistically, there is no significant difference in housing price expectations between homeowners and non‐owners. In their minds, economic condition is the most important factor affecting housing decisions. Apparently, the rising trends in the immediate past have been used to form expectations. The strength of the association between actual capital gains and forecast capital gains is moderately strong, and there appears co‐movement between them. This leads us to believe that hope‐led expectations increase the likelihood of sustaining price increases. The current market is largely driven by expectations. If households formed their expectations in a similar manner in other periods, there would be similar “positive hit” results, which might render the Index more powerful.
SMA Line Observations of the CH3OH-maser Outflow in DR21(OH)
Authors: Orozco-Aguilera M. T. , Hernández-Gómez A. , Zapata Luis A.
Published: December 2018

We present a (sub)millimeter line survey of the methanol maser outflow located in the massive star-forming region DR21(OH) carried out with the Submillimeter Array (SMA) at 217/227 GHz and 337/347 GHz. We find transitions from several molecules toward the maser outflow such as CH3OH, H2CS, C17O, H13CO+, and C34S. However, with the present observations, we cannot discard the possibility that some of the observed species such as C17O, C34S, and H2CS, might be instead associated with the compact and dusty continuum sources located in the MM2 region. Given that most of transitions correspond to methanol lines, we have computed a rotational diagram with CASSIS and an LTE synthetic spectra with XCLASS for the detected methanol lines in order to estimate the rotational temperature and column density in the small solid angle of the outflow where enough lines are present. We obtain a rotational temperature of 28 ± 2.5 K and a column density of 6.0 ± 0.9 × 1015 cm−2. These values are comparable to those column densities/rotational temperatures reported in outflows emanating from low-mass stars. Extreme and moderate physical conditions to excite the maser and thermal emission coexist within the CH3OH flow. Finally, we do not detect any complex molecules associated with the flow, e.g., CH3OCHO, (CH3)2CO, and CH3CH2CN.
Probabilistic Random Forest: A Machine Learning Algorithm for Noisy Data Sets
Authors: Reis Itamar , Baron Dalya , Shahaf Sahar
Published: December 2018

Machine learning (ML) algorithms have become increasingly important in the analysis of astronomical data. However, because most ML algorithms are not designed to take data uncertainties into account, ML-based studies are mostly restricted to data with high signal-to-noise ratios. Astronomical data sets of such high quality are uncommon. In this work, we modify the long-established Random Forest (RF) algorithm to take into account uncertainties in measurements (i.e., features) as well as in assigned classes (i.e., labels). To do so, the Probabilistic Random Forest (PRF) algorithm treats the features and labels as probability distribution functions, rather than deterministic quantities. We perform a variety of experiments where we inject different types of noise into a data set and compare the accuracy of the PRF to that of RF. The PRF outperforms RF in all cases, with a moderate increase in running time. We find an improvement in classification accuracy of up to 10% in the case of noisy features, and up to 30% in the case of noisy labels. The PRF accuracy decreased by less then 5% for a data set with as many as 45% misclassified objects, compared to a clean data set. Apart from improving the prediction accuracy in noisy data sets, the PRF naturally copes with missing values in the data, and outperforms RF when applied to a data set with different noise characteristics in the training and test sets, suggesting that it can be used for transfer learning.
Transport Modeling of Interplanetary Electrons in the 2002 October 20 Solar Particle Event
Authors: Dröge W. , Kartavykh Y. Y. , Wang L. , Telloni D. , Bruno R.
Published: December 2018

We analyze electrons in the energy range 1–180 keV, observed by the Wind spacecraft following an impulsive solar flare on 2002 October 20. The event is characterized by weak, but measurable pitch-angle scattering, which allows a characterization of the pitch-angle scattering coefficient

, as well as by particle reflection at an outer boundary. Based on numerical solutions of the focused transport equation we present fits to the observed electron fluxes, with emphasis on a detailed modeling of the particles’ angular distributions. By means of the wavelet transform method we estimate the slab component of the fluctuation, which is frequently assumed to dominate the particle scattering. We find that the values of

obtained from the modeling for several energy ranges disagree strongly with the ones calculated from the estimated slab component for this event and standard quasi-linear theory, in the pitch-angle dependence of the scattering coefficient and also in its magnitude. These results indicate that in this event the scattering of electrons at low energies is much weaker than predicted by the above models, and that at large wavenumbers the slab component makes up only a few per cent of the fluctuations. We discuss whether in weak-scattering events the concept of pitch-angle diffusion due to a resonant interaction of the particles with the turbulence would have to be reconsidered, and whether additional effects such magnetic mirroring of the electrons and intermittency of the fluctuations would have to be taken into account.
Galaxy Inclination and the IRX–β Relation: Effects on UV Star Formation Rate Measurements at Intermediate to High Redshifts
Authors: Wang Weichen , Kassin Susan A. , Pacifici Camilla , Barro Guillermo , Vega Alexander de la , Simons Raymond C. , Faber S. M. , Salmon Brett , Ferguson Henry C. , Pérez-González Pablo G. , Snyder Gregory F. , Gordon Karl D. , Chen Zhu , Kodra Dritan
Published: December 2018

At intermediate and high redshifts, measurements of galaxy star formation rates are usually based on rest-frame ultraviolet (UV) data. A correction for dust attenuation, A
UV, is needed for these measurements. This correction is typically inferred from UV spectral slopes (β) using an equation known as “Meurer’s Relation.” In this paper, we study this relation at a redshift of 1.5 using images and photometric measurements in the rest-frame UV (HST) through mid-infrared (Spitzer). It is shown that massive star-forming galaxies (above

) have dust corrections that are dependent on their inclination to the line of sight. Edge-on galaxies have higher A
UV and infrared excess (IRX = L(IR)/L(UV)) than face-on galaxies at a given β. Interestingly, dust corrections for low-mass star-forming galaxies do not depend on inclination. This is likely because more massive galaxies have more disk-like shapes/kinematics, while low-mass galaxies are more prolate and have more disturbed kinematics. To account for an inclination-dependent dust correction, a modified Meurer’s Relation is derived:

, where b/a is the galaxy axis ratio. This inclination dependence of A
UV can be explained by a two-component model of the dust distribution inside galaxies. In such a model, the dust attenuation of edge-on galaxies has a higher contribution from a mixture component (dust uniformly mixed with stars in the diffuse interstellar medium), and a lower contribution from a birth cloud component (near-spherical dust shells surrounding young stars in H ii regions) than that of face-on galaxies. The difference is caused by the larger path lengths through disks at higher inclinations.
The Advanced Spectral Library (ASTRAL): Reference Spectra for Evolved M Stars∗
Authors: Carpenter Kenneth G. , Nielsen Krister E. , Kober Gladys V. , Ayres Thomas R. , Wahlgren Glenn M. , Rau Gioia
Published: December 2018

The HST Treasury Program Advanced Spectral Library Project: Cool Stars was designed to collect representative, high-quality UV spectra of eight evolved F−M type cool stars. The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (STIS) echelle spectra of these objects enable investigations of a broad range of topics, including stellar and interstellar astrophysics. This paper provides a guide to the spectra of the two evolved M stars, the M2 Iab supergiant α Ori and the M3.4 giant γ Cru, with comparisons to the prototypical K1.5 giant α Boo. It includes identifications of the significant atomic and molecular emission and absorption features and discusses the character of the photospheric and chromospheric continua and line spectra. The fluorescent processes responsible for a large portion of the emission-line spectrum, the characteristics of the stellar winds, and the available diagnostics for hot and cool plasmas are also summarized. This analysis will facilitate the future study of the spectra, outer atmospheres, and winds, not only of these objects but of numerous other cool, low-gravity stars, for years to come.
Variation in phenology and overall performance traits can help to explain the plant invasion process amongst Mediterranean ecosystems
Authors: Martín-Forés Irene , Casado Miguel A. , Castro Isabel , del Pozo Alejandro , Molina-Montenegro Marco , De Miguel José M , Acosta-Gallo Belén
Published: December 2018

Plant traits such as phenological development, growth rate, stress tolerance and seeds production may play an important role in the process of acclimatisation to new environments for introduced plants. Experiments that distinguish phenotypic plasticity from ecotypic differentiation would allow an understanding of the role of plant traits in the invasion process. We quantified the variation in phenological and overall performance traits associated with the invasion process for three herbaceous species native to Spain and invasive to Chile (Trifoliumglomeratum, Hypochaerisglabra and Leontodonsaxatilis). We grew plants from native and exotic populations along rainfall gradients in outdoor common gardens, located in the native and the introduced ranges and measured plant survival, phenology (days to flowering), biomass and seed output. Days to flowering was positively correlated with precipitation of the origin population for T.glomeratum and the native populations of H.glabra, but this pattern was not adaptive, as it was not associated with an increase in performance traits of these species. Phenology may instead reflect ecotypic differentiation to the environmental conditions of the original populations. Comparison between ranges (i.e. performance in both common gardens) was only possible for L.saxatilis. This species showed little variation in phenology and both native and exotic populations had higher fitness in the introduced range. This suggests that plasticity enhances invasiveness through increased propagule pressure in the novel environment. Our findings highlight the utility of common garden experiments in examining patterns of phenological and performance traits that relate to species invasiveness.
L’ancrage social des rébellions congolaises
Authors: Stearns Jason , Mercier Christine , Donner Nicolas
Published: December 2018

Le conflit en République démocratique du Congo a radicalement changé au cours des cent cinquante dernières années. Cet article retrace ces transformations, en les mettant en relation avec les changements dans les structures sociales et politiques, ainsi que dans les normes et les idéologies. Contrairement à la répression de la période coloniale et du début de la période Mobutu, l’État a plus récemment évolué en symbiose avec les groupes armés, les élites politiques et les officiers militaires ayant acquis des intérêts dans les conflits. Par rapport aux épisodes précédents de violence à grande échelle, dont aucun n’a duré plus de quelques années, le conflit actuel dure depuis plus de deux décennies et a profondément remodelé la société. Plus récemment, la mobilisation armée est devenue politiquement opportune pour certains, et un moindre mal pour d’autres, transformant la mobilisation armée en une fin en soi.
Normes sociales de genre et inégalité professionnelle : quelle influence du sentiment de culpabilité des femmes ?
Authors: Poilpot-Rocaboy Gwénaëlle , Berthe Bénédicte , Chan Christopher
Published: December 2018

Notre étude analyse l’influence des normes sociales de genre et notamment l’attente sociale d’être une « bonne mère » et une « bonne ménagère » sur l’inégalité professionnelle entre les femmes et les hommes. Nous appuyant sur la littérature, nous présentons un modèle qui teste les liens entre les normes sociales de genre associées aux domaines familial et domestique, le sentiment de culpabilité des femmes et la régulation de leurs comportements au travail (baisse du temps de travail, refus d’une promotion, refus d’une mobilité géographique favorable pour la carrière, limitation des ambitions professionnelles). Une méthodologie quantitative et l’analyse de 326 questionnaires de femmes actives révèlent que si les normes sociales de « bonne mère » et de « bonne ménagère » n’ont pas d’effets directs sur les comportements des femmes au travail, elles les impactent indirectement via le sentiment de culpabilité qu’elles génèrent. Ainsi, le rôle médiateur du sentiment de culpabilité dans la relation entre les normes sociales féminines liées aux domaines familial et domestique et la régulation de leurs comportements relatifs à leurs choix de carrière est ici révélé.
L’engagement durable des parties prenantes dans une démarche de GRH territoriale : le cas de la GTEC de Sophia Antipolis
Authors: Loufrani-Fedida Sabrina , Saint-Germes Ève
Published: December 2018

L’objectif de cet article est de mieux comprendre comment se construit l’engagement durable des parties prenantes dans une démarche de GRH territoriale. Notre étude empirique porte sur la démarche de GTEC mise en œuvre par le cluster technologique de Sophia Antipolis. Grâce à la théorie de l’acteur-réseau, notre recherche révèle les mécanismes d’engagement qui font que les acteurs deviennent des parties prenantes engagées durablement dans une telle démarche : la capacité des parties prenantes à (re)problématiser rapidement et dans plusieurs directions le projet initial ; des dispositifs d’intéressement solides et réguliers, véhiculés par une plateforme numérique et une communication multicanal active ; un enrôlement de type intensif, maintenant les rôles préexistants pour une meilleure résistance aux processus de contre-enrôlement et pour une acceptabilité sociale des conséquences relationnelles des dispositifs ; un management polyphonique porté par un duo de traducteurs, transformés en « boundary spanners » (le chef de projet et la plateforme numérique). Ces mécanismes peuvent être considérés comme autant de facteurs clés de réussite à l’engagement durable des parties prenantes dans une démarche de GRH territoriale.
Une logique de l’écart dans les choix narratifs des conteurs de L’Heptaméron de Marguerite de Navarre
Authors: Piana Lou-Andréa
Published: December 2018

Les dix conteurs de L’Heptaméron de Marguerite de Navarre disposent tous de caractéristiques distinctes et de sujets de prédilection : leurs nouvelles présentent ainsi une unité de thème ou de registre. Pourtant, presque chaque conteur propose, une fois dans le recueil, une nouvelle qui ne correspond pas à ses habitudes. Cet article étudie ces écarts comme s’inscrivant dans une logique des personnages, soit en laissant entrevoir leur évolution évangélique (ce qui transparaît dans la Nouvelle 67, contée par Simontault, l’exemple le plus remarquable de ces écarts), soit en révélant d’autres aspects de leur caractère ou de leur passé. Mais Saffredent, le plus ironique d’entre eux, souligne d’autant plus cette logique de l’écart qu’il en joue pour duper ses auditeurs par sa maîtrise de l’art de conter. L’apparente disjonction entre un récit et les autres d’un même conteur est alors révélatrice de la complexité des personnages, mais aussi de l’œuvre elle-même.
Arnalte et Lucenda , ou l’amant bien traité (des traducteurs)
Authors: Duché-Gavet Véronique
Published: December 2018

Cet article retrace le fabuleux destin du  Tractado de amores de Arnalte y Lucenda  de Diego de San Pedro. Ce petit roman, qui narre les mésaventures sentimentales du chevalier Arnalte, éconduit par la belle Lucenda, s’est forgé une belle carrière hors d’Espagne, circulant d’abord en France, puis en Angleterre, en Italie, en Flandre et en Allemagne. L’examen de l’appareil titulaire, du paratexte et de la fable permet de prendre la mesure du dialogue entre les cultures castillane et française d’abord, française et européenne ensuite, et de s’interroger sur l’existence d’une littérature européenne à la Renaissance.
Impact of probiotics on development and behaviour in Drosophila melanogaster – a potential in vivo model to assess probiotics
Authors: Gómez E. , Martín F. , Nogacka A.M. , Salazar N. , Aláez L. , Alcorta E. , Gueimonde M. , De los Reyes-Gavilán C.G.
Published: December 2018

In vitro models are frequently used in probiotic research. However, such models often fail to predict in vivo functionality and efficacy. This fact complicates the screening process for selecting the most suitable strains, prior to accomplish expensive animal studies and clinical intervention trials. Therefore, additional sensitive, discriminating and cost-effective models are needed to conduct preliminary assays before undertaking human intervention studies definitely proving efficacy. With this purpose in mind, we explored the potential of axenic Drosophila melanogaster populations as well as of these axenic flies treated with probiotic microbial strains as a model to test the effects of probiotics on a subset of developmental and behavioural traits. An axenic D. melanogaster progeny from the wild-type Canton S strain was obtained and its eggs were further developed until pupae eclosion occurred in growth medium containing either of two probiotic strains: Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis Bb12 or Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG. Whereas B. animalis Bb12 colonised the flies, the capacity of L. rhamnosus LGG to colonise was considerably lower in our experimental conditions. Regarding the influence of microbial load on the flies’ development, the axenic condition caused a decrease in egg survival, and lowered adults’ average weight with respect to wild-type flies. Both probiotics were able to counteract these effects. An earlier emergence of adults was observed from eggs treated with L. rhamnosus GG in comparison to the other fly populations. The axenic condition did not influence negative geotaxis behaviour in Drosophila; however, flies mono-associated with B. animalis Bb12 moved faster than wild-type. Our results suggest that the use of axenic/probiotic-treated D. melanogaster populations may be an affordable model for preliminary testing of the effects of probiotics on developmental or behavioural aspects.
Total productive maintenance for the sewing process in footwear
Authors: Reyes John , Alvarez Kevin , Martínez Amanda , Guamán Juan
Published: December 2018

Purpose: This research proposes an implementation model of Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) based on the analysis of criticality of machines in the sewing process in the Ecuadorian footwear industry and the identification of unproductive times caused by labor failures.Design/methodology/approach: The project uses field research, presents a quantitative approach, the data collection is done in a horizon of 8 months in which the information is condensed in data tables and takes as a case study one of the most successful companies in the Ecuadorian footwear industry for its initiative to innovate their processes and research new technologies that help increase their efficiency.Findings: The results allow to demonstrate the successful application of the proposed model in the industrial sector of footwear with an increase of average production standards of 5% and a reduction in the number of human errors of 72.2%.Practical implications: The model allows to execute several activities in four phases: preparatory, introduction, implementation and consolidation in order to develop TPM in sewing process.Originality/value: The paper describes a case study in a major shoe company with the aim of reducing the times for unscheduled stoppages and the number of failures.
Corneal Light Backscatter Measured by Optical Coherence Tomography After LASIK
Authors: Wang Jianhua , Thomas Joseph , Cox Ian
Published: December 2018

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To objectively quantify corneal light backscatter after LASIK using optical coherence tomography (OCT).

METHODS: Twenty-eight eyes of 14 patients (mean age: 39.9±8.6 years) underwent LASIK surgery. Corneal images were taken with a custom built anterior segment OCT at 1310 nm before and 1 day, 1 week, and 1 month after surgery. Backscattered light from the epithelium and 10 equally divided corneal stromal layers of the central cornea were analyzed using custom software. Light scattering of the interface area (defined as seven image pixels [46.2 µm] in depth centered by the peak corresponding to the interface between the corneal flap and bed) was also calculated and compared to the light backscatter at an equivalent depth of the respective preoperative cornea.

RESULTS: There were significant differences of light backscatter in different layers (analysis of variance [ANOVA]: F^sub (10, 130)^ =44.89, P=.0001), but no significant differences between right and left eyes preoperative^ (ANOVA: F^sub (10, 130)^=1.16, P=.32). After surgery, there were significant differences in light backscatter profiles of the central cornea (repeated measures ANOVA: F^sub (30, 810)^=7.70, P=.0001) with significant increases at approximately 140 to 190 µm in depth from the corneal front surface at 1 day (post hoc test: P=.004) and 1 week (post hoc test: P=.001) postoperatively, compared to the baseline. One month after surgery, light backscatter increased significantly in the epithelium (post hoc test: P=.0001) and decreased significantly (post hoc test: P=.0001) at approximately 100 to 140 µm in depth. Light backscatter results of these interface areas (repeated measures ANOVA: F^sub (3, 81)^=21.29, P=.0001) showed significant increases at 1 day and 1 week postoperatively (post hoc tests: P=.0001) compared to baseline results and 1-month postoperative results.

CONCLUSIONS: Objective and quantitative analysis of corneal light backscatter from OCT demonstrated increasing corneal light scattering at the interface and subsequent recovery. [J Refract Surg. 2006;22:604-610.]
Ultrasound and Partial Coherence Interferometry With Measurement of Central Corneal Thickness
Authors: Much Martin Michael , Haigis Wolfgang
Published: December 2018

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To compare noncontact pachymeter measurements with ultrasound pachymeter measurements and assess their reproducibility.

METHODS: Central corneal thickness was measured in 104 eyes of 56 patients with three laser interference pachymeters (OLCR [Haag Streit, Könitz, Switzerland], OCP [4optics AG, Lübeck, Germany], and ACMaster [Carl Zeiss Méditée, Jena, Germany]) and an ultrasound pachymeter (Tomey AL2000 [Tomey Corp, Nagoya, Japan]).

RESULTS: Compared to the ultrasound measurements, the mean difference for the laser interference pachymeter measurements were +8.8 µm (standard deviation [SD] 5.68) for the OLCR, -8.0 µm (SD 5.39) for the OCR and -0.12 µm (SD 5.88) for the ACMaster. Reproducibility could only be estimated as not all of the devices allowed access to individual measurements. For all laser interference devices, reproducibility was estimated to be approximately 2 µm. Ultrasound measurements yielded a reproducibility of approximately 3.4 µm.

CONCLUSIONS: Although ultrasound pachymeter measurements differed significantly from OLCR and OCP measurements, agreement was considered good because the mean differences were <10 µm, and the results can be regarded as clinically interchangeable. [J Refract Surg. 2006;22:665-670.]
Comparison of Corneal Thickness Measured With Optical Coherence Tomography, Ultrasonic Pachymetry, and a Scanning Slit Method
Authors: Thomas Joseph , Wang Jianhua , Rollins Andrew M , Sturm Julie
Published: December 2018

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To investigate the relationship between 1310-nm optical coherence tomography (OCT), an ultrasound pachymeter, and the Orbscan Il (Bausch & Lomb, Rochester, NY) in corneal thickness measurements before and after LASIK.

METHODS: Twenty-eight eyes of 14 patients with a mean age of 39.9 ±8.6 years underwent LASIK for correction of myopia with or without astigmatism. Central corneal thickness was measured with real-time 1310-nm OCT and Orbscan preoperatively and 1 day, 1 week, and 1 month postoperatively, and with an ultrasound pachymeter preoperatively and 1 month postoperatively.

RESULTS: Measurements of corneal thickness by all instruments correlated well with one another pre- and postoperatively r value range: 0.87 to 0.94, P<.05); however, there were significant differences among these methods (ANOVA: P<.005). Baseline readings for ultrasound and Orbscan were similar, as were readings 1 month postoperatively for OCT and Orbscan (P>.05). Thickness measured by OCT was thinner than for other instruments preoperatively (P<.005) and thicker than Orbscan postoperatively (P<.005). Significant corneal thinning (P<.001) was found with all study devices 1 day after laser ablation. Significant corneal thinning (P<.005) was found with OCT and Orbscan 1 week compared to 1 day postoperatively, and thickening (post hoc: P<.001) was evident at 1 month compared to 1 week postoperatively.

CONCLUSIONS: Although the instruments correlated well in measuring corneal thickness after LASIK, there were significant differences. All instruments indicated corneal swelling and recovery during the first postoperative week and thickening at 1 month. [J Refract Surg. 2006;22:671-678.]
Customized LASIK Treatment for Myopia: Relationship Between Preoperative Higher Order Aberrations and Refractive Outcome
Authors: Subbaram Manoj V , MacRae Scott M , Slade Stephen G , Durrie Daniel S
Published: December 2018

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To analyze the effect of preoperative higher order aberrations on postoperative sphere and cylinder outcome.

METHODS: Three hundred thirty myopic eyes (mean: -3.32+1.54 diopters [D], range: -1.0 to -7.0 D) treated with customized ablation using the Technolas 217z laser (Bausch & tomb) were followed through 6 months after LASIK. Pre- and postoperative visual acuity, higher order root mean square (RMS), third order RMS, and spherical aberration were compared to study the safety and efficacy of the treatment. The relationship between preoperative higher order aberrations and manifest refraction after LASIK was analyzed.

RESULTS: Following LASIK, 91.5% of eyes obtained an uncorrected visual acuity of 2=20/20 and 70.3% of eyes obtained 20/16 without retreatment; 99% had a best spectacle-corrected visual acuity of s* 20/20 (75.9% of eyes were within ±0.50 D). Mean value of significant increase in postoperative higher order aberrations was 0.12+0.18 µm (P<.0001). Increased spherical aberration was associated with increased myopia treatment (P<.0001). Greater positive spherical aberration after LASIK was significantly correlated to postoperative hyperopia (overcorrection). Change in third order RMS was significantly correlated to change in spherical equivalent refraction among eyes with postoperative astigmatism (P<.0001).

CONCLUSIONS: With the Bausch & tomb Technolas 217z Zyoptix software, treatment of higher order aberrations, especially third order (coma and trefoil) and spherical aberration, significantly improved postoperative refractive status. [J Refract Surg. 2006;22:746-753.]
Topographic- and Wavefront-guided Customized Ablations With the NIDEK-EC5000CXII in LASIK for Myopia
Authors: Kermani Omid , Schmiedt Karl , Oberheide Uwe , Gerten Georg
Published: December 2018

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To assess refractive outcomes, changes in the total higher order root mean square (RMS) aberration, and changes in higher order wavefront aberrations after LASIK for myopia and myopic astigmatism with the NIDEK Advanced Vision Excimer Laser platform (NAVEX) using either an aspheric or topography-based or whole eye wavefront ablation algorithm.

METHODS: This was a retrospective study of 1459 eyes that underwent LASIK for myopia and myopic astigmatism. The mean preoperative spherical equivalent refraction was -4.68 diopters (D) (range: -0.50 to -9.63 D) with astigmatism up to -4.50 D. Treatments were classified into three categories depending on the type of ablation algorithm used - optimized aspheric transition zone (OATz) denoted eyes that underwent aspheric treatment zones; customized aspheric treatment zone (CATz) denoted eyes that underwent customized ablations based on corneal topography; and OPDCAT denoted eyes that underwent customized ablation based on the whole eye wavefront profile. Follow-up data are reported at 3 months (69%) and 12 months (17%) postoperatively.

RESULTS: Three months after LASIK, the predictability (±0.5 D from target refraction) was 80% for OATz, 91% for CATz, and 76% for OPDCAT. Of all eyes, 96% were within ±1.0 D of intended refraction 3 months postoperatively and 100% after 12 months (87% ±0.5 D). In the aspheric and custom groups, a notable improvement of uncorrected visual acuity was noted between 3 and 12 months after LASIK. No eye lost >1 line of best spectacle-corrected visual acuity. Mean higher order RMS increased in all groups.

CONCLUSIONS: The data support that the treatment of myopia and myopic astigmatism is safe and effective with NAVEX. Customized ablation based on corneal topography rather than on total wavefront error was more predictable. [J Refract Surg. 2006;22:754-763.]
INTACS Inserts Using the Femtosecond Laser Compared to the Mechanical Spreader in the Treatment of Keratoconus
Authors: Rabinowitz Yaron S , Li Xiaohui , Ignacio Teresa S , Maguen Ezra
Published: December 2018

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To determine the efficacy of INTACS insertion using a femtosecond laser in the treatment of keratoconus and to compare it to the technique using a mechanical spreader.

METHODS: INTACS were inserted in 10 eyes using the mechanical spreader to create the channels and subsequently on another 20 eyes using the femtosecond laser. Uncorrected (UCVA) and best spectacle-corrected visual acuity (BSCVA), manifest refraction, and corneal topography were measured prior to surgery, at 6 months (femtosecond group), and 1 year (mechanical group). Pre- and postoperative data were analyzed to determine changes in the above parameters.

RESULTS: Both groups showed significant reduction in average keratometry (K), spherical equivalent refraction, BSCVA, UCVA, surface regularity index (SRI), and surface asymmetry index (SAI). The laser group performed better in all parameters except change in SRI. Results of the laser versus the mechanical spreader were as follows: reduction in spherical equivalent refraction (3.98 vs 2.96), change in average K (2.91 vs 2.52), improvement in UCVA (4.13 vs 3.63), improvement in BSCVA (3.92 vs 1.63), change in SRI (0.37 vs 0.64), and change in SAI (1.00 vs 0.70). Statistical analysis, however, did not reveal any statistically significant differences between the two groups for any single parameter studied. The biggest improvement in the laser group versus the mechanical group was BSCVA (P=. 09). Overall success, defined as contact lens or spectacles tolerance, was 85% in the laser group and 70% in the mechanical group.

CONCLUSIONS: Inserting INTACS using the femtosecond laser to create the channels is as effective as using the mechanical spreader. [J Refract Surg. 2006;22:764-771.]
Artisan Phakic Intraocular Lens Implantation After Retinal Detachment Surgery
Authors: Chung J K , Lee Jae Bum , Lee Sung Jin
Published: December 2018

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To report three cases of Artisan phakic intraocular lens (PIOL) implantation to correct myopic refractive error after previous retinal detachment surgery treated with scleral encircling.

METHODS: Artisan PIOLs were implanted in a 29-year-old man with -21.0 -2.0 × 180 manifest refraction and best spectaclecorrected visual acuity (BSCVA) of 20/40 (case 1), a 28-year-old woman with BSCVA of 20/20 and -8.5 -1.0 × 180 manifest refraction (case 2), and a 44-year-old man with BSCVA of 20/32 and -11.75 -1.75 × 10 manifest refraction (case 3).

RESULTS: In case 1, 24 months after implantation of the Artisan PIOL, uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA) was 20/40. In case 2, 24 months after surgery, UCVA was 20/32. In case 3, 3 months after surgery, UCVA was 20/32. There was no formation of new breaks, progressive vitreoretinal traction, or complications.

CONCLUSIONS: The Artisan PIOL may provide an alternative method to correct high myopia after retinal detachment surgery. [J Refract Surg. 2006;22:820-823.]
Sobre el lectótipo de Limonium aragonense (Plumbaginaceae)
Authors: Ferrer-Gallego P. P. , Roselló R. , Laguna E. , Peris J. B.
Published: December 2018

Se discute y clarifica la tipificación realizada por Erben en 1978 del nombre Statice aragonensis [≡ Limonium aragonense]
Vienne dans les textes grecs et latins
Authors: Lucas Gérard
Published: December 2018

L'ouvrage est un florilège commenté des sources textuelles traitant de la ville de Vienne (Isère) depuis sa fondation jusqu'à l'occupation burgonde et la prise de la ville par Gondebaud en 500. Présentés dans leur langue originelle, à partir d'éditions les plus récentes et les mieux établies possible, tous ces textes, classés par ordre chronologique, sont traduits, souvent pour la première fois, commentés et pourvus d'une bibliographie. Ce large choix de 150 textes, dont les auteurs s'étagent entre le ier siècle avant notre ère et le xiiie siècle, permet de voir comment les principaux événements qui ont marqué l'histoire de cette cité sont rapportés au gré des époques. Ces variations sont précieuses pour mettre en valeur comment s'écrit l'histoire, et dans le cas de Vienne, au terme de quel processus la légende s'est substituée à l'histoire.
Ce que la mondialisation fait au terrain
Authors: Despres Altaïr
Published: December 2018

Les travaux méthodologiques consacrés à l’étude de la mondialisation se sont souvent focalisés sur les problèmes soulevés par l’articulation du « local » et du « global », laissant de côté les enjeux concrets qui pèsent sur l’ethnographe engagé-e sur des terrains mondialisés. À partir d’un travail portant sur les artistes africains du spectacle vivant (danse contemporaine et théâtre), cet article revient sur la redéfinition des sites et modalités d’enquête qu’implique la circulation des enquêtés dans un espace transnational. Il resitue également la pratique ethnographique au sein des rapports de pouvoir qui structurent pour partie l’économie artistique internationale. La manière dont sont mises en jeu dans la relation d’enquête l’identité de genre, l’appartenance ethnique et de classe de l’ethnographe actualise les rapports de domination Nord-Sud qui traversent la pratique artistique mondialisée.
L’espace scénique du théâtrophone (1881-1930) et la figure nouvelle du spectateur-auditeur
Authors: Van Drie Melissa
Published: December 2018

Cet article examine l’histoire du théâtrophone, premier média téléphonique à diffuser en direct une représentation musicale ou théâtrale parisienne. En explorant des archives variées, il contribue à l’étude des impacts des technologies sonores sur la création et sur la réception artistiques à la fin du xixe siècle. Plus précisément, cet article aborde les façons dont le théâtrophone a articulé un nouvel espace scénique, où la représentation est perçue uniquement par l’oreille de l’auditeur-spectateur. L’histoire du développement du média est élaborée dans diverses perspectives. Les expériences de l’écoute inédites construites par le théâtrophone (de sa première apparition dans l’espace public sur les boulevards parisiens à sa situation dans les salons des domiciles de particuliers) sont analysées en relation avec celles d’autres technologies de transduction, telles que la radio ou le phonographe.
Masques passeports et antiquaires migrants
Authors: Bondaz Julien
Published: December 2018

Les antiquaires africains sont des acteurs incontournables — mais souvent occultés — du marché de l’art africain. Étudier leurs pratiques et leurs discours permet de mieux comprendre comment ils transforment des objets proches, sinon familiers, en œuvres d’art présentées comme authentiques et exotiques, en mobilisant conjointement des valeurs culturelles et marchandes, des récits de soi et des discours esthétiques universellement appropriables. Une telle démarche invite en outre à décentrer les analyses consacrées à la construction historique et culturelle du primitivisme, considéré comme spécificité de la modernité occidentale. Basé sur les résultats d’enquêtes ethnographiques conduites au Mali, au Sénégal et au Burkina Faso, cet article interroge ainsi l’imbrication des processus de marchandisation et d’artification à l’œuvre dans le travail des antiquaires ouest-africains et la manière dont ils se retrouvent contraints, sur place, de composer avec l’ambivalence du statut des objets et les regards que porte la population locale sur leur travail.
Les années « Hoy »
Authors: Guindeuil Thomas
Published: December 2018

Cet article interroge la fabrique du musée ethnographique universitaire (le musée de l’Institute of Ethiopian Studies) d’Addis-Abeba, en Éthiopie, en insistant notamment sur l’articulation des actions d’un homme, un étranger, Stanislaw Chojnacki, le conservateur du musée, dont le parcours éthiopien des années 1950 aux années 1970 est indissociable de l’histoire de la notion de patrimoine culturel dans ce pays. En transformant la culture matérielle éthiopienne rurale et les objets liturgiques chrétiens en pièces de musée, en définissant ces artefacts comme des biens menacés de disparition, à conserver pour l’étude et à exposer de façon rationnelle et pédagogique pour les prochaines générations, le conservateur a participé, sous le regard attentif des autorités impériales de l’époque, à mettre à distance la « tradition » dans une période marquée par une volonté affichée de modernisation politique et institutionnelle.
Enjeux cognitifs des métaphores physiques dans le processus créatif d’Hèctor Parra
Authors: Besada José Luis
Published: December 2018

Peut-on parler d’une pensée musicale autonome par rapport à d’autres domaines mentaux chez l’être humain ? Nombreuses évidences ont déjà pointé vers une réponse négative, et les résultats de notre étude visent à renforcer cette hypothèse. En particulier, nous avons scruté la manière dont certaines idées empruntées à la physique ont eu un rôle décisif dans les pratiques musicales du compositeur catalan Hèctor Parra. À cet égard, nous avons analysé deux types de traces pré-compositionnelles : d’une part, les esquisses du compositeur surgies pendant l’écriture de ses pièces String Trio et Caressant l’horizon ; d’autre part, nous avons suivi les rencontres de Parra avec l’astrophysicien Jean-Pierre Luminet et avec Thomas Goepfer, réalisateur en informatique musicale, afin de composer une nouvelle œuvre. Pour cela, nous avons eu recours à plusieurs théories de la psychologie et de la linguistique cognitives proposant des modèles qui décrivent les fondements mentaux d’une pensée métaphorique.
Fenêtres ethnographiques sur les scènes et les coulisses d’une fête politique au Mexique
Authors: Métais Julie
Published: December 2018

Objet déjà largement investi par les sciences sociales, notamment l’histoire et l’anthropologie, les festivités annuelles de la Guelaguetza de Oaxaca ont été appréhendées – en partie à raison – en termes de manifestation rituelle (ou ritualisée) d’une part, d’invention des traditions d’autre part. Dans cet article, je propose de réinvestir l’analyse de ces festivités au regard d’un contexte politique renouvelé, conflictuel, m’intéressant aux enjeux de pouvoir qui traversent cet épisode festif local. Pour ce faire, je montre qu’une ethnographie attentive non seulement aux scènes, mais encore aux « coulisses », à la diversité des temps et espaces sociaux en jeu, est nécessaire et heuristique. Elle permet, par exemple, de s’attacher aux liens et circulations entre espaces politiques locaux, également de repenser les chronologies habituellement mobilisées pour rendre compte de la Guelaguetza.
Le paradoxe Iwanami, ou l’invention des auteurs
Authors: Capel Mathieu
Published: December 2018

Les films d’utilité – éducatif, scientifique ou d’entreprise – semblent pour la plupart éconduire la notion d’auteur, à quelques célèbres exceptions près (Jean-Luc Godard, Alain Resnais, Carl Theodor Dreyer). Toutefois, l’histoire du cinéma japonais invite à tempérer ce jugement, comme le suggère l’exemple des studios Iwanami Films où, au cours des années 1950, se sont formés certains des cinéastes les plus importants de la décennie « nouvelle vague » (Hani Susumu, Kuroki Kazuo, Tsuchimoto Noriaki et d’autres). Ce texte entend saisir ainsi les raisons d’un tel paradoxe. Sans doute les circonstances de la naissance des studios Iwanami fournissent-elles quelques éléments d’explication. Mais leur spécificité ne se comprend vraiment qu’à s’envisager dans un contexte plus large : il faut en effet saisir leurs liens avec les films culturels des temps de guerre, comme avec la politique de l’occupant américain de 1945 à 1952, puis, à partir de 1955, avec l’action des grands groupes industriels qui président à la reconstruction du Japon.
Tiger rituals and beliefs in shamanic Tungus-Manchu cultures
Authors: Bulgakova Tatiana
Published: December 2018

Cet article propose une analyse comparative synchronique et diachronique des rituels et des croyances liés au tigre chez les peuples toungouso-mandchous. Ces peuples chamanistes traitent les tigres comme des humains et croient en leur extraordinaire capacité à agir comme tel. Selon les conceptions chamaniques, de tels comportements chez les tigres peuvent s’expliquer par le fait que, en tant que dangereux prédateurs, les tigres peuvent aisément devenir «  spirituellement chargés  ». Les esprits possédant les tigres sont censés obtenir certaines caractéristiques de leur apparence. Longtemps après avoir quitté le corps des animaux, ces esprits ont la capacité de se rendre visibles sous l’apparence de tigres. Avec la migration contemporaine vers les villes, les nouveaux chamanes urbains toungouso-mandchous commencent à considérer qu’en plus des éléments naturels, certaines composantes de la «  culture urbaine  » sont aussi possédées par des esprits. Il semble que ce ne soit pas tant la forme extérieure des éléments spirituellement chargés qui soit importante pour les néo-chamanes, mais plutôt les esprits eux-mêmes.
Research on Reliability and Validity of Mobile Networks-Based Automated Writing Evaluation
Authors: Lang Fei , Li Siyan , Zhang Siwen
Published: December 2018

Pigaiwang, an automated writing evaluation (AWE) online platform, has been increasingly applied into English writing scoring in China. This article conducted research to empirically assess the reliability and validity of Pigaiwang under mobile networks. It introduces the background and previous works for AWE. Then, an experiment was implemented to evaluate the reliability and validity of Pigaiwang automated evaluation by comparing with the results of human raters and corpus-based assessment. The results show that Pigaiwang alone is not an adequate aid for English writing evaluation. It suggests that combining Pigaiwang, human raters, and corpus might be a beneficial trial for improving English writing mobile education.
Recovery of Heavy Metals from the Spent Catalyst of the Hydrotreating Unit (HDT) for the Use of the Impregnation of Supported Catalysts
Authors: Germania Toapanta , Donoso Caterine , Cárdenas María José , Bolívar Amón , Ortiz Vladimir
Published: December 2018

Spent catalysts contain metals that have a high added value. From all metals, lanthanum has attracted a lot of attention due to the growing demand in the high-tech. The spent catalyst of the hydrotreatment unit is a material composed of lanthanum-enriched matrix of amorphous aluminosilicates. The experiment was carried out with a spent catalyst with a constant particle size of 90 μm. The treatments were obtained applying of two level factorial design to investigate the effect of following factors: temperature (20 - 60 °C), nitric acid concentration (3 - 6 M), leaching time (1 - 4 h) and percent solids (10 - 20 %). The research is carried out in two steps process: pretreatment of the catalyst and leaching with nitric acid. The leaching results show a yield of lanthanum of 99.44% using the following conditions: temperature (20 °C), nitric acid concentration (3M), leaching time (1 h), percent solids (20%) and 300 rpm. The principal analysis of the spent catalyst was carried out using the X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) technique, 3.08%, while the percentage of lanthanum recovery in the extract, washing and refining was carried out using the Inductive Coupling Plasma (ICP) technique.
Adapting ANNs in SONREB Test to Estimate Concrete Compressive Strength
Authors: Wang Yu Ren , Ngo Loan T.Q. , Shih Yi Fan , Lu Yen Ling , Chen Yi Ming
Published: December 2018

SONREB method is a non-destructive testing (NDT) method for estimating the concrete compressive strength. It is conducted by combining two popular NDT methods: ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV) test and rebound hammer (RH) test. Several researches have been attempted to find the correlation of the different testing method data with actual compressive strength. This research proposes a new Artificial Intelligence based approach, Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs), to estimate the concrete compressive strength using the UPV and RH test data. Data from a total of 315 cylinder concrete samples are collected to develop and validate the ANFIS prediction model. The model prediction results are compared with actual compressive strength using mean absolute percentage error (MAPE). With the adaption of ANFIS, the estimation error of SONREB test can be reduced to 5.98% (measured by MAPE).