bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Global Land Cover Heterogeneity Characteristics at Moderate Resolution for Mixed Pixel Modeling and Inversion
Authors: Yu Wentao , Li Jing , Liu Qinhuo , Zeng Yelu , Zhao Jing , Xu Baodong , Yin Gaofei
Published: June 2018

Spatial heterogeneity is present in the land surface at every scale and is one of the key factors that introduces inherent uncertainty into simulations of land surface processes and parameter retrieval based on remotely sensed data. Because of a lack of understanding of the heterogeneous characteristics of global mixed pixels, few studies have focused on modeling and inversion algorithms in heterogeneous areas. This paper presents a parameterization scheme to describe land cover heterogeneity quantitatively by composition and boundary information based on high-resolution land cover products. Global heterogeneity features at the 1-km scale are extracted from the ‘GlobeLand30’ land cover dataset with a spatial resolution of 30 m. The composition analysis of global mixed pixels shows that only 35% of pixels over the land surface of Earth are covered by a single land cover type, namely, pure pixels, and only 25.8% are located in vegetated areas. Pixels mixed with water are more common than pixels mixed with any other non-vegetation type. The fragmentation analysis of typical biomes based on the boundary length shows that the savanna is the most heterogeneous biome, while the evergreen broadleaf forest is the least heterogeneous. Deciduous needleleaf forests are significantly affected by canopy height differences, while crop and grass biomes are less affected. Lastly, the strengths and limitations of the method and the application of the land cover heterogeneity characteristics extracted in this study are discussed.
Retrieving Three-Dimensional Co-Seismic Deformation of the 2017 Mw7.3 Iraq Earthquake by Multi-Sensor SAR Images
Authors: Wang Zhiheng , Zhang Rui , Wang Xiaowen , Liu Guoxiang
Published: June 2018

The Mw7.3 Iraq earthquake on 12 November 2017 was the largest recorded earthquake in the Zagros Mountains since 1900. In order to quantitatively analyze the co-seismic deformation caused by this earthquake, both the ascending and descending SAR images from the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency’s ALOS-2 and the European Space Agency’s Sentinel-1A satellites were collected to implement the conventional differential interferometric synthetic aperture radar (DInSAR), multiple aperture InSAR (MAI), and azimuth pixel offset (AZO) methods. Subsequently, the three-dimensional (3D) deformation field was reconstructed over an area of about 60 × 70 km2 by a combined use of the line-of-sight (LOS) motion (detected by the DInSAR method) and the along-track (AT) motion (detected by the MAI method) through the weighted least square method. The experiment indicates that the ALOS-2 satellite performs better than the Sentinel-1A sensor in larger-magnitude earthquake deformation monitoring. Furthermore, the MAI method based on phase differencing has a better performance than the AZO method based on SAR amplitude correlation, as long as the coherence of the interferograms is sufficient. The maximum co-seismic displacements in the up–down, north–south, and east–west directions are approximately 100 cm, 100 cm, and −50 cm, respectively. After comparative analysis between the obtained 3D deformation field and the simulated deformation field with the fault parameters published by the USGS (United States Geological Survey), both co-seismic deformation fields are highly coincident, and the residuals between both (in different directions/dimensional) are in the magnitude of centimeters. Considering the geological structure in the earthquake region and factors of the LOS and 3D co-seismic deformation—such as the trend and location of the deformation bound, the different sign of displacements in hanging wall and footwall, and the locations of mainshock and aftershock—the preliminary conclusion is that the Zagros Mountain Front fault is responsible for the earthquake.
An Enhanced Hidden Markov Map Matching Model for Floating Car Data
Authors: Che Mingliang , Wang Yingli , Zhang Chi , Cao Xinliang
Published: June 2018

The map matching (MM) model plays an important role in revising the locations of floating car data (FCD) on a digital map. However, most existing MM models have multiple shortcomings, such as a low matching accuracy for complex roads, long running times, an inability to take full advantage of historical FCD information, and challenges in maintaining the topological adjacency and obeying traffic rules. To address these issues, an enhanced hidden Markov map matching (EHMM) model is proposed by adopting explicit topological expressions, using historical FCD information and introducing traffic rules. The EHMM model was validated against areal ground dataset at various sampling intervals and compared with the spatial and temporal matching model and the ordinary hidden Markov matching model. The empirical results reveal that the matching accuracy of the EHMM model is significantly higher than that of the reference models regarding real FCD trajectories at medium and high sampling rates. The running time of the EHMM model was notably shorter than those of the reference models. The matching results of the EHMM model retained topological adjacency and complied with traffic regulations better than the reference models.
Progress of Inertial Microfluidics in Principle and Application
Authors: Gou Yixing , Jia Yixuan , Wang Peng , Sun Changku
Published: June 2018

Inertial microfluidics has become a popular topic in microfluidics research for its good performance in particle manipulation and its advantages of simple structure, high throughput, and freedom from an external field. Compared with traditional microfluidic devices, the flow field in inertial microfluidics is between Stokes state and turbulence, whereas the flow is still regarded as laminar. However, many mechanical effects induced by the inertial effect are difficult to observe in traditional microfluidics, making particle motion analysis in inertial microfluidics more complicated. In recent years, the inertial migration effect in straight and curved channels has been explored theoretically and experimentally to realize on-chip manipulation with extensive applications from the ordinary manipulation of particles to biochemical analysis. In this review, the latest theoretical achievements and force analyses of inertial microfluidics and its development process are introduced, and its applications in circulating tumor cells, exosomes, DNA, and other biological particles are summarized. Finally, the future development of inertial microfluidics is discussed. Owing to its special advantages in particle manipulation, inertial microfluidics will play a more important role in integrated biochips and biomolecule analysis.
Magnetically-Actuated Mixing and Merging of Acid-Base Micro-Droplets on Open Surfaces: Preliminary Study
Authors: Khaw Mei-Kum , Mohd-Yasin Faisal , Nguyen Nam-Trung
Published: June 2018

We present the mixing and merging of two reactive droplets on top of an open surface. A mobile droplet (1.0 M HCl solution + iron oxide particles) is magnetically-actuated to merge with a sessile droplet (1.0 M NaOH + phenolphthalein). The heat from the exothermic reaction is detected by a thermocouple. We vary the droplet volume (1, 5 and 10 μL), the magnet speed (1.86, 2.79, 3.72 and 4.65 mm/s) and the iron oxide concentration (0.010, 0.020 and 0.040 g/mL) to study their influences on the mixing time, peak temperature and cooling time. The sampled recording of these processes are provided as supplementary files. We observe the following trends. First, the lower volume of droplet and higher speed of magnet lead to shorter mixing time. Second, the peak temperature increases and cooling time decreases at the increasing speed of magnet. Third, the peak temperature is similar for bigger droplets, and they take longer to cool down. Finally, we also discuss the limitations of this preliminary study and propose improvements. These observations could be used to improve the sensitivity of the open chamber system in measuring the exothermic reaction of biological samples.
Parameter Estimation of SAR Signal Based on SVD for the Nyquist Folding Receiver
Authors: Li Tao , Zhu Qian , Chen Zengping
Published: June 2018

The Nyquist Folding Receiver (NYFR) is a novel ultra-wideband (UWB) receiver structure that can realize wideband signal monitoring with fewer components. The NYFR induces a Nyquist zone (NZ)-dependent sinusoidal frequency modulation (SFM) by a modulated local oscillator (LOS), and the intercepted linear frequency modulated (LFM) synthetic aperture radar (SAR) signal will be converted into an LFM/SFM hybrid modulated signal. In this paper, a parameter estimation algorithm is proposed for the complicated NYFR output signal. According to the NYFR prior information, a chirp singular value ratio (CSVR) spectrum method based on singular value decomposition (SVD) is proposed to estimate the chirp rate directly before estimating the NZ index. Then, a fast search algorithm based on golden section method for the CSVR spectrum is analyzed, which can obviously reduce the computational complexity. The simulation shows that the presented algorithm can accurately estimate the parameters of the LFM/SFM hybrid modulated output signal by the NYFR.
Complications of Short-Course Oral Corticosteroids for Eosinophilic Chronic Rhinosinusitis during Long-Term Follow-Up
Authors: Motegi Remi , Ito Shin , Homma Hirotomo , Ono Noritsugu , Okada Hiroko , Kidokoro Yoshinobu , Shiozawa Akihito , Ikeda Katsuhisa
Published: June 2018

The literature strongly recommends the use of oral corticosteroids in the management of patients with eosinophilic chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) with nasal polyps. Although potential complications associated with the long-term use of oral corticosteroids for the treatment of CRS have been suggested, no studies have described these effects in detail. Forty-three patients with a mean age of 51 years with eosinophilic CRS were retrospectively evaluated after surgery. Short-course oral prednisolone (PSL, 0.5 mg/kg of body weight) was provided for one week when anosmia and eosinophilic mucin and/or nasal polyps were present. The postoperative follow-up period ranged from 12 to 108 months (average: 62 months). HbA1C showed normal ranges in all except one patient, who had a diabetic pattern of HbA1C of 6.5%. Five patients had serum cortisol levels below the cutoff value. However, re-examination of the serum cortisol and adrenocorticotropic hormone stimulation test showed normal ranges in all five patients who had initially shown abnormal values of serum cortisol. Thus, adrenal insufficiency in all the patients was negligible. Five (3 women and 2 men) out of the 15 patients (6 women and 9 men) who participated in bone mineral density measurement showed significant reductions, suggesting the presence of osteoporosis. Patients taking long-term and repeated short-course use of oral corticosteroids for refractory nasal polyps of eosinophilic CRS are likely to have a potentially increased risk for osteoporosis.
Small and Medium Enterprises and the Relation between Social Performance and Financial Performance: Empirical Evidence from Korea
Authors: Choi Jun H. , Kim Saerona , Yang Dong-Hoon
Published: June 2018

Most studies on the relationship between corporate social performance (CSP) and corporate financial performance (CFP) have focused on large enterprises and archival tests for SMEs have been relatively few. There is a need for SME studies that are comparable to the research on large enterprises. In this study, we tested the CSP-CFP relationship of SMEs in Korea using a massive archival database. Although common theories on corporate social responsibility (CSR) in SMEs describe SMEs as non-strategic performers, we found a strong positive relationship between CSP-CFP for the larger or hi-tech SMEs. Therefore, some SMEs are similar to multinational companies in that they approach CSR effectively. This study makes a contribution to the literature on both CSR and SMEs because it empirically demonstrates the heterogeneity of SMEs and it presents a CSR-SME study that is methodologically comparable to the research on big corporations.
Integrating a Procurement Management Process into Critical Chain Project Management (CCPM): A Case-Study on Oil and Gas Projects, the Piping Process
Authors: Jo Sung-Hwan , Lee Eul-Bum , Pyo Kyoung-Youl
Published: June 2018

Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) of oil and gas megaprojects often experience cost overruns due to substantial schedule delays. One of the greatest causes of these overruns is the mismanagement of the project schedule, with the piping works (prefabrication and installation) occupying a majority of that schedule. As such, an effective methodology for scheduling, planning, and controlling of piping activities is essential for project success. To meet this need, this study used the Critical Chain Project Management (CCPM) to develop a piping construction delay prevention methodology, incorporating material procurement processes for EPC megaprojects. Recent studies indicate that the traditional scheduling method used on oil and gas mega projects has critical limitations regarding resource scarcity, calculation of activity duration, and dealing with uncertainties. To overcome these limitations, the Theory of Constraints-based CCPM was proposed and implemented to provide schedule buffers management. Nonexistent in literature, and of critical importance, is this paper’s focus on the resource buffer, representing material uncertainty and management. Furthermore, this paper presents a step-by-step process and flow chart for project, construction, and material managers to effectively manage a resource buffer through the CCPM process. This study extends the knowledge of traditional resource buffers in CCPM to improve material and procurement management, thus avoiding the shortage of piping materials and minimizing delays. The resultant process was validated by both deterministic and probabilistic schedule analysis through two case studies of a crude pump unit and propylene compressor installation at a Middle Eastern Refinery Plant Installation. The results show that the CCPM method effectively handles uncertainty, reducing the duration of piping works construction by about a 35% when compared to the traditional method. Furthermore, the results show that, in not considering material uncertainty (resource buffers), projects schedules have the potential for approximately a 5% schedule growth with the accompanying delay charges. The findings have far-reaching applications for both oil and gas and other sectors. This CCPM case-study exemplifies that the material management method represents an opportunity for industry to administrate pipeline installation projects more effectively, eliminate project duration extension, develop schedule-based risk mitigation measures pre-construction, and enable project teams to efficiently manage limited human and material resources.
Assessing the Influence of Prior on Subsequent Street Robbery Location Choices: A Case Study in ZG City, China
Authors: Long Dongping , Liu Lin , Feng Jiaxin , Zhou Suhong , Jing Fengrui
Published: June 2018

The literature shows that offenders’ subsequent crime location choices are affected by their prior crime location choices. However, the published studies have focused on the influence of time and place of a previous crime, without testing the impact of whether the offender was arrested during the act of the prior crime. On the basis of the literature, this study further examines the influence of the prior robbery experiences on the subsequent street robbery location choices, by testing explicit hypotheses on how the time, place, and being arrested in the act of previous robberies affect a robber’s subsequent decisions of where to commit robberies. The data set used in this study includes 1262 detected robberies committed by 527 street robbers from the ZG City Public Security Bureau in China. Results of a mixed logit model demonstrate that prior street robbery experiences have a strong effect on subsequent street robbery location choices. A shorter time interval and less possibility of being arrested in the act of a prior street robbery significantly increase the likelihood of a robber returning to the previous location. However, the impact of distance of journey to prior crime location is not statistically significant.
Opportunities and Challenges of Solar and Wind Energy in South Korea: A Review
Authors: Alsharif Mohammed H. , Kim Jeong , Kim Jin Hong
Published: June 2018

South Korea is the ninth biggest energy consumer and the seventh biggest carbon dioxide emitter in global energy consumption since 2016. Accordingly, the Korean government currently faces a two-fold significant challenge to improve energy security and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. One of the most promising solutions to achieve the goals of sustainable development, energy security, and environmental protection is intensifying the role of renewable energy in electricity production. To this end, the Korean government plans to increase investments in the green energy field, where solar and wind energy will soon play a decisive role toward meeting energy demands and achieving a climate-friendly environment. In this context, this study discusses the future of solar and wind energy in South Korea in four key aspects: (i) opportunities and potential achievement of the vision of government; (ii) potential daily energy output across different geographical areas; (iii) current status and prospects; and (iv) challenges and potential solutions.
University Social Responsibility towards Engineering Undergraduates: The Effect of Methodology on a Service-Learning Experience
Authors: Cabedo Luis , Royo Marta , Moliner Lidón , Guraya Teresa
Published: June 2018

Service-Learning (SL) experiences enable University Social Responsibility (USR) to be worked on in engineering studies as a core of education for Sustainability. The combined use of such experiences with active student-centered teaching methodologies fosters the acquisition of general and specific competences. On the basis of students’ perception, this study investigated and sought evidence of empirical foundations to understand whether and how Project Based Learning (PBL) affects the acquisition of USR-related competences when SL experience was implemented as the regular exercise in core courses in engineering studies. This research studied 100 second year undergraduate students in Industrial Design Engineering and Product Development. The students were divided into two groups, one of which experienced Service-Learning only in one class activity while the other group carried out a PBL activity. A survey consisting of 28 items was delivered to all these students and their answers were analyzed from a descriptive statistics viewpoint to understand how the students perceived their degree of attainment of USR competences. The findings suggest a clear difference between the methodologies used, which shows that PBL methodology may lead to a greater acquisition of USR competences than SL activity.
Stability of the Non-Hyperbolic Zero Equilibrium of Two Close-to-Symmetric Systems of Difference Equations with Exponential Terms
Authors: Mylona Chrysoula , Psarros Nikolaos , Papaschinopoulos Garyfalos , Schinas Christos
Published: June 2018

In this paper, we study the stability of the zero equilibria of two close-to-symmetric systems of difference equations with exponential terms in the special case in which one of their eigenvalues is equal to − 1 and the other eigenvalue has an absolute value of less than 1. In the present study, we use the approach of center manifold theory.
Some Results on the Graph Theory for Complex Neutrosophic Sets
Authors: Quek Shio Gai , Broumi Said , Selvachandran Ganeshsree , Bakali Assia , Talea Mohamed , Smarandache Florentin
Published: June 2018

Fuzzy graph theory plays an important role in the study of the symmetry and asymmetry properties of fuzzy graphs. With this in mind, in this paper, we introduce new neutrosophic graphs called complex neutrosophic graphs of type 1 (abbr. CNG1). We then present a matrix representation for it and study some properties of this new concept. The concept of CNG1 is an extension of the generalized fuzzy graphs of type 1 (GFG1) and generalized single-valued neutrosophic graphs of type 1 (GSVNG1). The utility of the CNG1 introduced here are applied to a multi-attribute decision making problem related to Internet server selection.
Vortex Creation without Stirring in Coupled Ring Resonators with Gain and Loss
Authors: Ramaniuk Aleksandr , Hung Nguyen Viet , Giersig Michael , Kempa Krzysztof , Konotop Vladimir V. , Trippenbach Marek
Published: June 2018

We present the study of the dynamics of a two-ring waveguide structure with space-dependent coupling, linear gain and nonlinear absorption; the system that can be implemented in polariton condensates, optical waveguides and nanocavities. We show that by turning on and off local coupling between rings, one can selectively generate a permanent vortex in one of the rings. We find that due to the modulation instability, it is also possible to observe several complex nonlinear phenomena, including spontaneous symmetry breaking, stable inhomogeneous states with an interesting structure of currents flowing between rings, the generation of stable symmetric and asymmetric circular flows with various vorticities, etc. The latter can be created in pairs (for relatively narrow coupling length) or as a single vortex in one of the channels, which later alternates between channels.
Synthesis, Structure and Biological Activity of CIA and CIB, Two α-Conotoxins from the Predation-Evoked Venom of Conus catus
Authors: Giribaldi Julien , Wilson David , Nicke Annette , El Hamdaoui Yamina , Laconde Guillaume , Faucherre Adèle , Moha Ou Maati Hamid , Daly Norelle L. , Enjalbal Christine , Dutertre Sébastien
Published: June 2018

Cone snails produce a fast-acting and often paralyzing venom that is usually injected into their prey or predator through a hypodermic needle-like modified radula tooth. Many diverse compounds are found in their venom including small molecules, peptides and enzymes. However, peptidic toxins called conotoxins (10–40 residues and 2–4 disulfide bonds) largely dominate these cocktails. These disulfide rich toxins are very valuable pharmacological tools for investigating the function of ions channels, G-protein coupled receptors, transporters and enzymes. Here, we report on the synthesis, structure determination and biological activities of two α-conotoxins, CIA and CIB, found in the predatory venom of the piscivorous species Conus catus. CIA is a typical 3/5 α-conotoxin that blocks the rat muscle type nAChR with an IC50 of 5.7 nM. Interestingly, CIA also inhibits the neuronal rat nAChR subtype α3β2 with an IC50 of 2.06 μM. CIB is a 4/7 α-conotoxin that blocks rat neuronal nAChR subtypes, including α3β2 (IC50 = 128.9 nM) and α7 (IC50 = 1.51 μM). High resolution NMR structures revealed typical α-conotoxin folds for both peptides. We also investigated the in vivo effects of these toxins on fish, since both peptides were identified in the predatory venom of C. catus. Consistent with their pharmacology, CIA was highly paralytic to zebrafish (ED50 = 110 μg/kg), whereas CIB did not affect the mobility of the fish. In conclusion, CIA likely participates in prey capture through muscle paralysis, while the putative ecological role of CIB remains to be elucidated.
Fructo-Oligosaccharide (DFA III) Feed Supplementation for Mitigation of Mycotoxin Exposure in Cattle—Clinical Evaluation by a Urinary Zearalenone Monitoring System
Authors: Toda Katsuki , Uno Seiichi , Kokushi Emiko , Shiiba Ayaka , Hasunuma Hiroshi , Matsumoto Daisaku , Ohtani Masayuki , Yamato Osamu , Shinya Urara , Wijayagunawardane Missaka , Fink-Gremmels Johanna , Taniguchi Masayasu , Takagi Mitsuhiro
Published: June 2018

The potential effect of difructose anhydride III (DFA III) supplementation in cattle feed was evaluated using a previously developed urinary-zearalenone (ZEN) monitoring system. Japanese Black cattle from two beef herds aged 9–10 months were used. DFA III was supplemented for two weeks. ZEN concentrations in feed were similar in both herds (0.27 and 0.22 mg/kg in roughage and concentrates, respectively), and below the maximum allowance in Japan. ZEN, α-zearalenol (α-ZOL), and β-ZOL concentrations in urine were measured using LC/MS/MS the day before DFA III administration, 9 and 14 days thereafter, and 9 days after supplementation ceased. Significant differences in ZEN, α-ZOL, β-ZOL, and total ZEN were recorded on different sampling dates. The concentration of inorganic phosphate in DFA III-supplemented animals was significantly higher than in controls on day 23 (8.4 vs. 7.7 mg/dL), suggesting a possible role of DFA III in tight junction of intestinal epithelial cells. This is the first evidence that DFA III reduces mycotoxin levels reaching the systemic circulation and excreted in urine. This preventive effect may involve an improved tight-junction-dependent intestinal barrier function. Additionally, our practical approach confirmed that monitoring of urinary mycotoxin is useful for evaluating the effects of dietary supplements to prevent mycotoxin adsorption.
Analysis of 19 Highly Conserved Vibrio cholerae Bacteriophages Isolated from Environmental and Patient Sources Over a Twelve-Year Period
Authors: Angermeyer Angus , Das Moon Moon , Singh Durg Vijai , Seed Kimberley D.
Published: June 2018

The Vibrio cholerae biotype “El Tor” is responsible for all of the current epidemic and endemic cholera outbreaks worldwide. These outbreaks are clonal, and it is hypothesized that they originate from the coastal areas near the Bay of Bengal, where the lytic bacteriophage ICP1 (International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh cholera phage 1) specifically preys upon these pathogenic outbreak strains. ICP1 has also been the dominant bacteriophage found in cholera patient stools since 2001. However, little is known about the genomic differences between the ICP1 strains that have been collected over time. Here, we elucidate the pan-genome and the phylogeny of the ICP1 strains by aligning, annotating, and analyzing the genomes of 19 distinct isolates that were collected between 2001 and 2012. Our results reveal that the ICP1 isolates are highly conserved and possess a large core-genome as well as a smaller, somewhat flexible accessory-genome. Despite its overall conservation, ICP1 strains have managed to acquire a number of unknown genes, as well as a CRISPR-Cas system which is known to be critical for its ongoing struggle for co-evolutionary dominance over its host. This study describes a foundation on which to construct future molecular and bioinformatic studies of these V. cholerae-associated bacteriophages.
Water Event Categorization Using Sub-Metered Water and Coincident Electricity Data
Authors: Vitter J. Scott , Webber Michael
Published: June 2018

This study evaluated the potential for data from dedicated water sub-meters and circuit-level electricity gauges to support accurate water end-use disaggregation tools. A supervised learning algorithm was trained to categorize end-use events from an existing database consisting of features related to whole-home and hot water use. Additional features were defined based on dedicated irrigation metering and circuit-level electricity gauges on major water appliances. Support vector machine classifiers were trained and tested on portions of the database using multiple feature combinations, and then externally validated on water event data collected under dissimilar conditions from a demonstration house in Austin, Texas, USA. On the testing data, a trained classifier achieved true positive rates for occurrences and volume exceeding 95% for most categories and 93% for toilet events. Performance for faucet events was less than 90%. Initial results suggest that dedicated sub-meters and circuit-level electricity gauges can facilitate highly accurate categorization with simple features that do not rely on flow rate gradients.
Developing a Benchmarking Methodology for Marina Business
Authors: Jankovic Sandra , Vlasic Dubravka
Published: June 2018

Measuring and monitoring the accomplished carrying capacity and business results of marinas provide managers with the information that gives them better understanding of their business decision effects. Today's managers are regularly confronted with new business problems and opportunities
in marinas. Running a marina requires the ability to look outside the business for solutions, ideas, and best practices. Benchmarking is the search for the industry's best practice that will lead to superior performance. It is a systematic process for identifying and implementing best or better
practices, which are used by highly successful organizations. It enables marina managers to choose the competitive enterprises to examine their operations, offering them the possibility of reacting in real time in order to improve their revenues and business results. This article aims to define
the benchmarking methodology for marina business. For this purpose, the scientific literature and the possibilities of implementing benchmarking into marina business have been investigated. The research results show that there is no evidence in theoretical articles that benchmarking and revenue
management have been developed and applied in marina business. Marina managers should understand that sharing information is a valuable business tool for them and not the enemy, and therefore the model of implementing benchmarking as an instrument of revenue management for marina business
is presented. The article contributes to the development of theoretical framework of benchmarking methodology in marina business.
Novel unit B cryptophycin analogues as payloads for targeted therapy
Authors: Figueras Eduard , Borbély Adina , Ismail Mohamed , Frese Marcel , Sewald Norbert
Published: June 2018

Cryptophycins are naturally occurring cytotoxins with great potential for chemotherapy. Since targeted therapy provides new perspectives for treatment of cancer, new potent analogues of cytotoxic agents containing functional groups for conjugation to homing devices are required. We describe the design, synthesis and biological evaluation of three new unit B cryptophycin analogues. TheO-methyl group of the unit B D-tyrosine analogue was replaced by anO-(allyloxyethyl) moiety, anO-(hydroxyethyl) group, or anO-(((azidoethoxy)ethoxy)ethoyxethyl) substituent. While the former two maintain cytotoxicity in the subnanomolar range, the attachment of the triethylene glycol spacer with a terminal azide results in a complete loss of activity. Docking studies of the novel cryptophycin analogues to β-tubulin provided a rationale for the observed cytotoxicities.
The Indirect cost of illness in Africa
Authors: Kirigia Joses Muthuri , Mwabu Germano Mwiga
Published: June 2018

Background: The current study estimated (a) the indirect costs associated with non-fatal disability and premature death across a wide range of diseases and health conditions in Africa in 2015 and (b) the potential savings that could be accrued if countries were to meet the 3 health targets of the substainable development goal (SDG) compared to the costs under the status quo.

Methods: This study used the lost output or human capital approach to quantify the gross domestic product (GDP) losses associated with the disability-adjusted-life-years (DALYs) lost due to all causes by age group as well as by country economic classification (Group 1: 10 high/upper-middle income countries; Group 2: 17 lower-middle income countries; and Group 3: 27 low income countries).

Results: The expected indirect cost of the 704,765,879 DALYs lost in Africa in 2015 was Int$ 2,983,187,560,197. Of this amount, 25.17%, 57.84% and 16.99% were incurred by the economies of the countries comprising Group 1, Group 2 and Group 3, respectively. Of the total continental indirect cost, 36.9%, 10.5%, 13.7%, 17.0%, 7.6%, 6.8% and 7.5% were associated with people aged 0-4, 5-14, 15-29, 30-49, 50-59, 60-69 and 70 years or older, respectively. Most of the total indirect cost (56.61%) was attributable to maternal conditions, AIDS, tuberculosis (TB), malaria, neglected tropicald diseases (NTDs), non-communicable diseases and traffic injuries. Approximately half (47%) of this cost could be avoided (or saved) every year if the 3 (health) targets of the SDG were fully met.

Conclusion: The study estimated the total indirect cost of illness due to all causes by age group and country economic classification. The annual indirect cost is substantial. The findings contained in this paper suggest that health system strengthening should focus on both rich and poor countries, people of all ages and specific disease categories.
Dos nuevos monumenta de la necrópolis norte de Torreparedones (Baena, Córdoba)
Authors: Beltrán Fortes José , Morena López José Antonio
Published: June 2018

Una excavación de urgencia realizada en 2014 descubrió en la identificada como colonia romana de Ituci (Torreparedones, Baena, Córdoba) los restos de la cámara de una tumba monumental, datada en los inicios del Imperio romano, así como elementos de su ajuar funerario. La cámara era similar a la denominada tumba de los Pompeyos, de la misma Torreparedones. Se reutilizaron en su construcción bloques pétreos procedentes de —al menos— otra tumba monumental más antigua, en forma de edícula abierta, con decoración en relieve al exterior, de época tardorrepublicana.
Aes collectaneus: fragmentos de bronces jurídicos procedentes del foro de Baelo Claudia
Authors: Caballos Rufino Antonio F. , Rodríguez Gutiérrez Oliva , Brassous Laurent
Published: June 2018

En este trabajo presentamos un amplio conjunto de fragmentos de placas de bronce encontrado en las recientes excavaciones llevadas a cabo en el ámbito del foro de la ciudad de Baelo Claudia (Tarifa, Cádiz) durante las campañas de 2014, 2015, 2016 y 2017. De pequeño tamaño, algunos son anepígrafos, otros conservan sólo un reducido número de letras; no obstante, por sus características formales debe suponerse que, muy probablemente, la mayoría de ellos debieron corresponder a textos jurídicos, formando parte con verosimilitud al menos uno de ellos de su estatuto municipal. Su morfología, aspectos técnicos y el contexto arqueológico del hallazgo permiten documentar la amortización, si no el reciclado de este tipo de materiales metálicos para su posterior reutilización, bien en un momento ya avanzado de la cuarta centuria, bien ya en el siglo V d. C.
Estela con iconografía e inscripción celtibéricas procedente de Clunia
Authors: Simón Cornago Ignacio , Gorrochategui Joaquín
Published: June 2018

El objetivo del trabajo es publicar una nueva estela celtibérica recuperada en Clunia. Es una pieza que contiene una inscripción celtibérica y la representación de un guerrero, combinación característica de los monumentos procedentes de esta ciudad. El texto está inscrito en signario celtibérico occidental, presenta redundancia vocálica y, en principio, es compatible con el denominado sistema dual. Se dispone en una única línea de texto delimitada por dos líneas incisas, quizá parte de una cartela. La lectura propuesta es mukuuroskiimine+ y, aunque no hay interpunciones, lo más plausible es identificar en primero término un nombre personal (Muguros) y un segundo elemento que carece de buenos paralelos. Sobre el epígrafe aparece un infante calzado con botas, pertrechado con grebas y que parece vestir un sagum, con su diestra agarra un astil que porta sobre el hombro y cuyo extremo superior se ha perdido.
Los ceretanos y la iberización del Pirineo oriental (s. IV-III a. n. e.). Una nueva aproximación histórica y arqueológica
Authors: Oller Guzmán Joan , Morera Camprubí Jordi , Olesti Vila Oriol , Mercadal Fernàndez Oriol
Published: June 2018

Los trabajos arqueológicos desarrollados en la Cerdanya (Pirineo Oriental) en los últimos 15 años han permitido por primera vez definir la entidad del pueblo de los Cerretani, comunidad brevemente mencionada por los autores greco-romanos. Características como su origen, su filiación cultural, y sus peculiares pautas territoriales y económicas, han sido identificadas a partir del estudio de algunos de sus principales yacimientos. Se trata de una etnia con un claro componente montañés y ganadero, pero que llegó a desarrollar un interesante sistema de oppida y un sorprendente corpus epigráfico rupestre.
Cultura material y cultura escrita en la sociedad rural de Hispania en los siglos I-II d. C.: el conjunto cerámico y los grafitos del asentamiento de Cal Montblanc (Albesa, Lleida)
Authors: Marí i Sala Lluís , Revilla Calvo Víctor
Published: June 2018

La excavación de un asentamiento rural cercano a Lleida permitió recuperar un importante contexto cerámico datado en los siglos I-II d. C. El repertorio cerámico recuperado incluye una amplia representación de vajillas de mesa romana; en especial, sigillata hispánica. Un gran número de vasos presenta grafitos con significados muy diferentes. La riqueza y diversidad del conjunto permite hacer algunas consideraciones sobre las condiciones de su formación y la función del lugar, así como sobre la difusión de la cultura escrita entre la población rural del periodo.
Conclusions du rapporteur public
Authors: Armand Gilles
Published: June 2018

Les époux B. demandent au tribunal de condamner le conseil général de l’Eure à réparer le préjudice moral subi par eux-mêmes et par leur fille aînée à l’occasion du suicide de leur fille cadette. Cette dernière, confiée à l’aide sociale à l’enfance du département à la suite de fugues répétées, s’était enfuie de l’hôpital où elle était soignée après une tentative de suicide. Violée lors de cette fugue par des pensionnaires d’un autre foyer départemental de l’enfance, elle se suicide après avoir été auditionnée dans le cadre de cette affaire. Le rapporteur public, après avoir rejeté la prescription quadriennale invoquée par le défendeur, conclut à la responsabilité du conseil général de l’Eure et demande au tribunal de le condamner.
La reconnaissance administrative du handicap mental : entre respect de l’égalité et prise en compte de l’individu
Authors: Bourdelet Adèle
Published: June 2018

La reconnaissance administrative du handicap a été institutionnalisée par la loi de 1975 sur l’orientation en faveur des personnes handicapées. À la faveur de la loi du 11 février 2005, ce système de reconnaissance a été profondément bouleversé. En effet, les anciennes Commissions départementales de l’éducation spéciale et Commissions techniques d’orientation et de reclassement professionnel ont aujourd’hui disparu au profit d’une institution unique : la Maison départementale des personnes handicapées (MDPH). Or la loi de 2005 ne procède pas à une simple fusion de ces deux institutions antérieures, mais à une réorganisation de la procédure décisionnelle. Cependant, cette réorganisation n’est pas sans risque pour la cohérence nationale des modalités de reconnaissance administrative du handicap et donc en définitive pour le respect de l’égalité de traitement des usagers devant ces institutions.
Les Observations sur la Coutume de Normandie : vers une unification aux inspirations normandes
Authors: Pigeon Jérôme
Published: June 2018

En 1771, le chancelier Maupeou affirmait vouloir réunir la France « sous l’empire des mêmes lois, comme elle est réunie sous l’autorité du même prince ». Les Observations sur la coutume de Normandie, rédigées autour de l’année 1770, attestent que le chancelier, dans un contexte politique tendu, avait amorcé un véritable travail de fond afin de parvenir à l’unification des coutumes du royaume. Loin de vouloir y parvenir de manière brutale, Maupeou désirait au contraire procéder par étapes. L’analyse des Observations sur la coutume de Normandie témoigne de cette méthode. En effet, tout en tendant vers l’unification, la réforme proposée, largement inspirée des aspirations et réflexions normandes, laissait subsister les caractéristiques essentielles de la Coutume de Normandie. Travail empreint d’un réalisme certain dans un contexte politique pour le moins hostile, ces Observations doivent être appréhendées davantage comme un premier travail, une étape, vers la voie de l’unification plutôt que comme un projet de réforme définitivement abouti de la Coutume de Normandie.
Des premières amours aux secondes
Authors: Pahnke Jens
Published: June 2018

Bien qu’Ernst Haeckel soit surtout connu comme zoologiste, il fit ses débuts scientifiques en botanique. Cet aspect de sa biographie scientifique est très méconnu. À la lumière du projet « Ernst Haeckel (1843-1919) : édition de la correspondance », les débuts de Haeckel en botanique ont suscité une attention croissante. Des lettres et journaux personnels inédits, ainsi que son herbier méconnu et deux articles de jeunesse, démontrent que la botanique joua un rôle déterminant dans sa formation de 1840 à 1854. Sous l’influence de Johannes Müller, il prit ensuite la décision de faire carrière dans la zoologie. Mais son amour des plantes ne disparut jamais complètement. On examine ici en profondeur le déroulement des études botaniques de Haeckel, on montre que les plantes tinrent une grande place dans les études naturalistes du jeune Haeckel et on pose la question des raisons de sa réorientation zoologique. Haeckel continua à collecter des plantes lors de ses divers voyages, sans même que cela fût dans un but scientifique. Sa botanique devint pour une bonne part une activité esthétique, donnant lieu à de nombreux dessins et à de vives descriptions de plantes, notamment tropicales. Ajoutés à son important herbier, ils donnent une image impressionnante des activités botaniques de Haeckel.
Le carrelage peint : imitation ou adaptation des carreaux de faïence ?
Authors: Bentz Bruno
Published: June 2018

La découverte d’un carrelage peint dans un ancien pavillon bâti en 1711 pour la princesse de Conti, à Bougival, est mise en relation avec deux carrelages en faïence du château de Marly : celui des bains, aménagé en 1688, et celui des bassins, aménagé en 1712. Ainsi, le carrelage mural reproduit l’assemblage des carreaux de faïence de Saint-Cloud, posés sur les parois des bassins de Marly, tandis que le choix de ce motif permet d’évoquer la présence d’une salle de bains dans le pavillon de Bougival. Ces liens sont établis à partir du croisement des sources d’archives, des vestiges retrouvés lors de fouilles archéologiques et du décor conservé. La substitution du décor peint au décor en faïence est analysée comme une adaptation des moyens techniques qui n’altère pas la finalité décorative spécifique d’un carrelage.
Faire revenir à la vie
Authors: Wanecq Charles-Antoine
Published: June 2018

Autour de 1960, le bouche-à-bouche et le massage cardiaque externe, dont la pertinence est d’abord mise en évidence aux États-Unis, sont reconnus par le corps médical français comme les deux méthodes les plus efficaces en situation de détresse vitale et adoptés pour standardiser l’enseignement des premiers secours. À partir de l’étude de la légitimation de ces procédés, cet article propose d’explorer le processus de construction scientifique et institutionnelle de la notion d’urgence médicale dans la France de l’après-guerre, à partir des dimensions techniques qui contribuent à sa définition.
La collection éclatée
Authors: Bru Thérèse
Published: June 2018

Les biologistes du xviiie siècle n’ont pas seulement fait face à un accroissement exponentiel du nombre des espèces découvertes à travers le globe, notamment à partir des circumnavigations des années 1760. Ils ont été aussi confrontés au problème de la dispersion et de la recomposition incessante des collections de spécimens et de matériaux de travail. L’éclatement des collections, aux mains d’une multitude d’acteurs privés comme d’institutions nationales et de sociétés scientifiques, représente un défi pour l’établissement de classifications et de taxonomies fiables sur lesquels est construite toute l’architecture technique d’analyse du vivant. Une part importante des correspondances en sciences naturelles confronte ainsi des données venant de collections personnelles éclatées et vise à éviter l’émergence de doublons dans la littérature scientifique. La collection suit la forme du graphe et en a l’étendue : c’est la notion même de collection qui est recomposée au prisme de la circulation des données, tandis que les réseaux d’échange scientifiques deviennent un dispositif technique essentiel à l’exploitation des stocks de matériaux et d’échantillons disponibles.
À la recherche du conservatoire industriel genevois (1834-1888)
Authors: Wenger Sylvain
Published: June 2018

Des diverses institutions à vocation éducative établies par la Société des arts de Genève (1776), le conservatoire industriel, actif entre 1836 et 1888, demeure encore presque méconnu. Cette contribution propose des éclairages sur les principaux jalons historiques de ce dispositif et suggère que l’enrichissement de sa collection répond au besoin éprouvé par ses responsables de faciliter l’acquisition et la mise à disposition de savoirs industriels développés à l’échelle locale et à l’étranger.
La mort est mon métier de Robert Merle l’œuvre à contre-courant
Authors: Wattel Anne
Published: June 2018

Dans sa préface à l’édition de 1972, Robert Merle qualifie son second roman, La mort est mon métier, de roman « à contre‑courant ». L’œuvre est certes décalée et ce à plus d’un titre : temporellement, face à une doxa dominante, et par le choix de donner voix au bourreau. Publiée en 1952, elle n’est en effet plus conforme aux attentes de la période : en pleine ère de l’amnésie, l’œuvre, qui entend témoigner d’un passé que l’on veut mettre entre parenthèses, est politiquement incorrecte. Elle se heurte par ailleurs à des « interdits » majeurs : l’interdit de la poésie après Auschwitz ; le rejet d’une fictionnalisation des camps ; le refus de tout discours qui n’émanerait pas d’un témoin survivant. Elle relève également d’une logique de scandale en offrant une voix au bourreau : inédit, inouï.
La Déclaration Balfour
Authors: Charbit Denis
Published: June 2018

La Déclaration Balfour est un des textes clés de l'histoire diplomatique du Moyen- Orient : même si son adoption par le gouvernement britannique relève de la conjoncture propre à la Première Guerre mondiale, ses implications ont eu un impact décisif sur cette partie du Moyen‑Orient. Elle s'inscrit dans la continuité des grandes manœuvres diplomatiques destinées à peser sur l'avenir du Moyen‑Orient dans la perspective du démantèlement de l'Empire ottoman après la Première Guerre mondiale. La Déclaration entérinée par la SDN fournit au mouvement sioniste la légitimité internationale indispensable pour poursuivre son action en Palestine, tandis qu'il fut rejeté pour cette raison-là même par le nationalisme arabe palestinien.
Un engagement international inachevé
Authors: Persyn Emmanuel
Published: June 2018

Dans cet article, l’auteur envisage les conséquences de la Déclaration Balfour. D’abord, elle a déterminé le cours des événements survenus en Palestine durant le Mandat britannique et lors de la création de l’État d’Israël. Elle apparaît en quelque sorte comme une victoire posthume de Theodor Herzl, qui a œuvré toute sa vie pour une reconnaissance diplomatique d’un État juif. L’auteur s’interroge ensuite sur l’évolution de deux précisions majeures de la Déclaration Balfour : la protection des communautés juives dans les autres pays que la Palestine et le respect des droits des autres communautés. Si la première ne pose plus de problème, le second apparaît au contraire bien imparfait.