bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A study on the surface deterioration of home made halide sensors
Authors: Rajbandari A , Manandhar K , Pradhananga RR
Published: December 2012

Home made halide sensors based on silver sulphide-silver halide have been prepared and successfully employed for the determination of iodide, bromide and chlorides ions in solutions. These ion sensors showed a Nernstian response in the concentration range of 10-1 to 10-7 M for iodide ions, 10-6 M for bromide ions, and 10-5 M for chloride ions. The response time of these sensors was < 1 min. We have found that the iodide ion sensor can selectively detect iodide ions in presence of chloride and bromide ions. However, sensing performance of the bromide and chloride sensors are largely interfered by the presence of iodide ions. Surface study showed that surface deterioration of membrane was caused by the solutions containing interfering ions and its regular use, particularly in dilute solutions. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/bibechana.v9i0.7143 BIBECHANA 9 (2013) 1-6
Temperature dependence of Knight shift for the metals Zn and Al
Authors: Kumar BC , Rafique SM , Singh BP
Published: December 2012

We have studied the variation of Knight Shift with temperature using pseudopotential technique for Zn and Al metals. Knight Shift occurs due to the hyperfine contact interaction between the nucleus and surrounding conduction electrons. The computed values of zinc is obtained using H-eigen values with ? = ?vt and ? = 1 gives K= 0.374 against Kexp = 0.337 at 419 °C and 0.391 against Kexp = 0.399 at 500 °C. For Aluminium with H-eigen values and ? = 1 gives K= 0.199 whereas Kexp = 0.164 at 360 °C and K= 0.209 at 400 °C for Kexp = 0.184 have been found. The computed values and experimental values are in good agreement for both metals. It reveals that the Knight Shift increases with increasing temperatures for Zn and Al. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/bibechana.v9i0.7150 BIBECHANA 9 (2013) 33-37
Structure, MESP and HOMO-LUMO study of 10-Acetyl- 10H-phenothiazine 5-oxide using vibrational spectroscopy and quantum chemical methods
Authors: Joshi Bhawani Datt , Tandon Poonam , Jain Sudha
Published: December 2012

In this communication, we have presented the geometry optimization, complete vibrational study with potential energy distribution (PED) and frontier orbital energy gap for the 10-Acetyl-10H-phenothiazine 5-oxide (APTZ) molecule using ab initio Hartree-Fock (HF) and density functional theory (DFT/B3LYP) method employing 6-311++G(d,p) basis set. The calculated IR and Raman spectra with their intensities, molecular electrostatic potential (MESP) surface and highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) - lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) plot have been given. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/bibechana.v9i0.7151 BIBECHANA 9 (2013) 38-49
Synthesis and design of laboratory device from proton conducting block copolymer membrane
Authors: Khatiwada Shankar P , Yadav Amar P , Lebek Werner , Saiter Jean Marc , Adhikari Rameshwar
Published: December 2012

The butadiene units of polystyrene-block-polybutadiene-block-polystyrene (SBS) triblock copolymer were subjected to epoxidation and subsequent sulphonation in order to prepare proton conducting ionomer membrane. The products were characterized by different techniques such as atomic force microscopy, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and electron microscopy. A simple laboratory device was developed to carry out the tests on proton conductance ability of the prepared ionomer membrane. The experiments demonstrated that the prepared membrane excellently performed as proton conducting membrane. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/bibechana.v9i0.7174 BIBECHANA 9 (2013) 50-58
Recent seismic status of Shillong Plateau, Northeast India
Authors: Panthi Ananta , Singh HN
Published: December 2012

Seismic status of Shillong Plateau of Northeast India has been studied, considering spatial and temporal pattern of the region and using seismicity data for the period 1808-2008. Cutoff magnitude and b-value has been estimated using earthquake data for the period 1963-2008. Seismic activity is observed to be very feeble along the major faults of Shillong Plateau and strong activity is found to occur slightly away from these faults and confined within middle portion at two locations of the region. The temporal pattern shows that the region is due for great earthquake. Focal depth distribution of the events shows that all the events are intermediate depth (less than 70 km). DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/bibechana.v9i0.7175 BIBECHANA 9 (2013) 59-62
Synthesis and medicinal use of Metal complexes of Schiff Bases
Authors: Chaudhary Nrendra Kumar
Published: December 2012

Different Schemes for the synthesis of Schiff bases have been discussed. Solvent free synthesis by microwave irradiation technique is observed to be rapid, more efficient and more economical and at the same time may play a pivotal role in the progress of Schiff base synthesis. Mechanism for the synthesis of Schiff bases at controlled pH range has been studied. Biological functions of metal complexes of Schiff bases have found to be increased potentiality in presence of transition metal ions. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/bibechana.v9i0.7178 BIBECHANA 9 (2013) 75-80
Almost boundedness and matrix transformation
Authors: Ganie Ab Hamid
Published: December 2012

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/bibechana.v9i0.7182 BIBECHANA 9 (2013) 97-102
Approximation of a generalized Lipschitz class function by Euler - Cesàro means of Fourier series
Authors: Dhakal Binod Prasad
Published: December 2012

In this paper, I have taken product of two summability methods, Euler and Cesaro; and establish a new theorem on the degree of approximation of the function f belonging to W(Lp, ?(t)) classes by Euler - Cesaro method. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/bibechana.v9i0.7190 BIBECHANA 9 (2013) 151-158
Bioaccumulation of Some Heavy Metals in Ayre Fish (Sperata Aor Hamilton, 1822), Sediment and Water of Dhaleshwari River in Dry Season
Authors: Ahmed Abu Tweb Abu , Mandal Suman , Chowdhury Didarul Alam , Tareq Abu Rayhan M , Rahman M Mizanur
Published: December 2012

The present study was carried out to determine the level of bioaccumulation of some heavy metals in a freshwater fish Ayre (Sperata aor Hamilton, 1822) collected from Rajfulbaria (23°48?56.36? N and 90°14?54.04? E) of  Dhaleshwari river. Four heavy metals, namely chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), lead (Pb), and cadmium (Cd) were selected for this study. Metal concentrations were   determined by Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer after nitric acid  digestion of samples. The concentrations of accumulated heavy metals in fish were  also compared with the concentrations of metals in the sediments and waters of  that river. The level of bioaccumulations in different organs of S. aor were determined separately and compared among them. Average bioaccumulation levels  in S. aor were Cr: 1.458 mg/kg, Cu: 31.500 mg/kg, Pb: 18.776 mg/kg and Cd:  0.487 mg/kg of dry weight. The levels of heavy metals in sediments were Cr: 27.393 mg/kg, Cu: 37.450 mg/kg, Pb: 15.797 mg/kg and Cd: 2.083 mg/kg, and in water were Cr: 0.130 ppm, Cu: 0.000 ppm, Pb: 0.201 ppm and Cd: 0.001 ppm.The bioaccumulation of these four heavy metals in fish organs, sediment and  water samples were also compared with FAO approved standard levels and other  related studies, and found that the levels of bioaccumulation in the Dhaleshwari river exceeded all the standard levels. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjz.v40i1.12904 Bangladesh J. Zool. 40(1):147-153, 2012
In vitro antioxidant potential study of some synthetic quinoxalines
Authors: Hossain MM , Hossain MM , Muhib MH , Mia MR , Kumar S , Wadud SA
Published: December 2012

In continuation of our study the in vitro antioxidant activity of some novel quinoxaline derivatives was investigated by 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) method with respect to ascorbic acid. To determine the antioxidant activity, a number of substituted indoxyls (3A-G), cyclic ketones (2A-G), and quinoxalines (1A-G) were synthesized by both microwave and conventional heating methods. The present findings revealed that some quinoxalines and their precursors (1D, 1F, 1G and 2E) exhibited a marked scavenging effect on DPPH radical. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bmrcb.v38i2.12880 Bangladesh Med Res Counc Bull 2012; 38: 47-50
Development of community based curriculum on ophthalmology for under graduate medical course in Bangladesh
Authors: Khan AK , Hussain AZMI
Published: December 2012

The curriculum represents the expression of educational ideas in practice. Ophthalmic education is the corner stone to improve eye care globally. Curriculum needs continuous modification varying in different geographic locations. Though 90% of common conditions are either preventable or curable but emphasis on the common conditions is inadequate. This is a stepwise descriptive study aiming to develop a community based ophthalmology curriculum for undergraduate medical course in Bangladesh conducted during March 2007 to February 2008 at UniSA School of Public Health and Life Sciences, University of South Asia, Banani, Dhaka. Delphi technique, a modified qualitative method was used to accumulate data and reaching a consensus opinion for developing the curriculum. Study approach includes two iterative rounds and finally a workshop. Iteration of round-I was "What are the eye diseases with overall knowledge of their management one MBBS physician should acquire"; followed by a list of eye diseases and topics for expert opinion. The response was collated. Iteration round-II was "How much a MBBS student should have percentage of knowledge, attitude and skills on each topic while being taught". The response was collated and presented to panel of expert ophthalmologists for discussion and validation. In the round-I Delphi, 400 (62%) out to total 641 ophthalmologist were randomly selected dividing in categories (62% in each) of Professor-22, Associate Professor-12, Assistant Professor-26, Consultant-27, ophthalmologists working in NGO-56 and ophthalmologists in private sector-257. Sixty (15%) responded with opinion. In the round-II, 200 (31%) including 60 of round-I, selected randomly but proportionately as before. Forty five (22.5%) responded with opinion. Result collated. The results and opinion of respondents were presented at a workshop attended by 24(80%), out of 30 invited expert ophthalmic specialists for discussion, criticism, opinion, addition, modification and finally for validation. On the basis of the opinion of the respondents, reviewing literature, analyzing the ocular disease pattern in Bangladesh and also analyzing the present ophthalmology curriculum, a community and need based ophthalmology curriculum for undergraduate medical course in Bangladesh was developed. This research would help developing community and need based ophthalmology curriculum for undergraduate medical course in Bangladesh. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bmrcb.v38i2.12881 Bangladesh Med Res Counc Bull 2012; 38: 51-58
Effect of tonsillectomy on humoral immunity
Authors: Nasrin M , Miah MRA , Datta PG , Saleh AA , Anwar S , Saha KL
Published: December 2012

Tonsils are one of the important secondary lymphoid organ in immune system. It remains controversial whether tonsillectomy results in decreased serum immunoglobulin level. The purpose of this study was to observe the effect of tonsillectomy on humoral immunity parameters among the patients with tonsillar disease. Total group A 70 patients up to the age of 18 years, who were enrolled for tonsillectomy and 30 age matched children group B were included for comparative study. Serum IgG, IgM and IgA levels were measured in all 70 patients before tonsillectomy and in 56 patients who came for 1st follow-up after one month and 30 patients who came for 2nd follow up after three months of tonsillectomy. Serum IgG, IgM and IgA levels were also measured in group B children. Serum IgG, IgM and IgA levels in patients of group A did not show any significant difference in comparison to group B. One month after tonsillectomy the level of IgG was slightly decreased and IgM and IgA were increased compared to preoperative value but not statistically significant. All IgG, IgM and IgA were also not significantly altered in comparison to group B. Three months after tonsillectomy serum IgG, IgM and IgA level were found decreased in comparison to pre operative value and group B, among which difference of only IgG was significant. After tonsillectomy humoral parameters were found reduced but overall impact on humoral immune status was not significantly altered. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bmrcb.v38i2.12882 Bangladesh Med Res Counc Bull 2012; 38: 59-61
Anterior Cervical Discectomy, Fusion and stabilization by plate and screwearly experience
Authors: Islam MA , Islam MA , Habib MA , Sakeb N
Published: December 2012

Anterior cervical plating is commonly performed to stabilize anterior cervical fusion. The aim of the study was to evaluate the clinical and functional outcome, radiological fusion and operative complications in cases of cervical spondylotic myelopathy and radiculopathy who underwent Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion (ACDF) by autograft and stabilized with plate and screw. We evaluated 16 consecutive patients (M: F=10:6) from January 2008 to December 2010 in Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) and different private hospitals in Dhaka, in cases where adequate conservative treatment failed. Single level ACDF by autograft and stabilization by plate and screw was done in 10 patients and 06 patients had two levels fusion. The mean follow up period was 18 months. The patients improved significantly (p<0.05) and the recovery rate was 87.50%. All patients showed radiological fusion (p<0.001). There was no hardware failure, graft extrusion or plate breakage. ACDF with plate and screw is fairly safe and effective therapy for cervical disc degeneration leading to myelo-radiculopathy where major post operative complications are uncommon. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bmrcb.v38i2.12884 Bangladesh Med Res Counc Bull 2012; 38: 62-66
Adaptive and Pathogenic Responses to Stress by Stem Cells during Development
Authors: Mansouri Ladan , Xie Yufen , Rappolee Daniel
Published: December 2012

Cellular stress is the basis of a dose-dependent continuum of responses leading to adaptive health or pathogenesis. For all cells, stress leads to reduction in macromolecular synthesis by shared pathways and tissue and stress-specific homeostatic mechanisms. For stem cells during embryonic, fetal, and placental development, higher exposures of stress lead to decreased anabolism, macromolecular synthesis and cell proliferation. Coupled with diminished stem cell proliferation is a stress-induced differentiation which generates minimal necessary function by producing more differentiated product/cell. This compensatory differentiation is accompanied by a second strategy to insure organismal survival as multipotent and pluripotent stem cells differentiate into the lineages in their repertoire. During stressed differentiation, the first lineage in the repertoire is increased and later lineages are suppressed, thus prioritized differentiation occurs. Compensatory and prioritized differentiation is regulated by at least two types of stress enzymes. AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) which mediates loss of nuclear potency factors and stress-activated protein kinase (SAPK) that does not. SAPK mediates an increase in the first essential lineage and decreases in later lineages in placental stem cells. The clinical significance of compensatory and prioritized differentiation is that stem cell pools are depleted and imbalanced differentiation leads to gestational diseases and long term postnatal pathologies.
Harmonizing Two of History Teaching’s Main Social Functions: Franco-Québécois History Teachers and Their Predispositions to Catering to Narrative Diversity
Authors: Zanazanian Paul , Moisan Sabrina
Published: December 2012

This article presents the Quebec ministry of education’s (MELS) strategy for diversifying the national historical narrative that is transmitted in the province’s History and Citizenship Education program as well as the manner in which Francophone national history teachers put this strategy into practice. In bringing research on their social representations and historical consciousness together, this paper looks at some of the main challenges that these teachers face when specifically harmonizing two of history teaching’s central social functions for catering to narrative diversity. When seeking to adequately balance the transmission of a national identity reference framework with the development of autonomous critical thinking skills, it becomes clear that these teachers’ general quest for positivist-type, true and objective visions of the past as well as their overall attachment to the main markers of their group’s collective memory for knowing and acting Québécois impede them from fully embracing the diversification of the province’s historical narrative. The article ends by raising some important questions regarding the relevance of assisting teachers to authentically develop their own voice and vision for harmonizing the two aforementioned functions of history teaching and for being answerable to the decisions they make when articulating and acting upon such beliefs in class.
North American Wetlands and Mosquito Control
Authors: Rey Jorge , Walton William , Wolfe Roger , Connelly C. , O'Connell Sheila , Berg Joe , Sakolsky-Hoopes Gabrielle , Laderman Aimlee
Published: December 2012

Wetlands are valuable habitats that provide important social, economic, and ecological services such as flood control, water quality improvement, carbon sequestration, pollutant removal, and primary/secondary production export to terrestrial and aquatic food chains. There is disagreement about the need for mosquito control in wetlands and about the techniques utilized for mosquito abatement and their impacts upon wetlands ecosystems. Mosquito control in wetlands is a complex issue influenced by numerous factors, including many hard to quantify elements such as human perceptions, cultural predispositions, and political climate. In spite of considerable progress during the last decades, habitat protection and environmentally sound habitat management still remain inextricably tied to politics and economics. Furthermore, the connections are often complex, and occur at several levels, ranging from local businesses and politicians, to national governments and multinational institutions. Education is the key to lasting wetlands conservation. Integrated mosquito abatement strategies incorporate many approaches and practicable options, as described herein, and need to be well-defined, effective, and ecologically and economically sound for the wetland type and for the mosquito species of concern. The approach will certainly differ in response to disease outbreaks caused by mosquito-vectored pathogens versus quality of life issues caused by nuisance-biting mosquitoes. In this contribution, we provide an overview of the ecological setting and context for mosquito control in wetlands, present pertinent information on wetlands mosquitoes, review the mosquito abatement options available for current wetlands managers and mosquito control professionals, and outline some necessary considerations when devising mosquito control strategies. Although the emphasis is on North American wetlands, most of the material is applicable to wetlands everywhere.
Changes in Molecular Characteristics of Cereal Carbohydrates after Processing and Digestion
Authors: Kasprzak Mirosław , Lærke Helle , Knudsen Knud
Published: December 2012

Different extraction, purification and digestion methods were used to investigate the molecular properties of carbohydrates in arabinoxylan and β-glucan concentrates, dietary fiber (DF) rich breads and ileum content of bread fed pigs. The breads studied were: a low DF wheat bread (WF), whole meal rye bread (GR), rye bread with kernels (RK), wheat bread supplemented with wheat arabinoxylan concentrate (AX) and wheat bread supplemented with oat β-glucan concentrate (BG). The weight average molecular weight (Mw) of extractable carbohydrates in β-glucan concentrate decreased eight-fold after inclusion in the BG bread when exposed to in vitro digestion, while the Mw of purified extractable carbohydrates in AX bread was reduced two-fold, and remained almost unaffected until reaching the terminal ileum of pigs. Similarly, the Mw of purified extractable carbohydrates in GR and RK bread was not significantly changed in the ileum. The AX bread resulted in the highest concentration of dissolved arabinoxylan in the ileum among all the breads that caused a substantial increased in ileal AX viscosity. Nevertheless, for none of the breads, the Mw of extractable carbohydrates was related neither to the bread extract nor ileal viscosity.
UBE4B: A Promising Regulatory Molecule in Neuronal Death and Survival
Authors: Zeinab Rami , Wu Hong , Sergi Consolato , Leng Roger
Published: December 2012

Neuronal survival and death of neurons are considered a fundamental mechanism in the regulation of the nervous system during early development of the system and in adulthood. Defects in this mechanism are highly problematic and are associated with many neurodegenerative diseases. Because neuronal programmed death is apoptotic in nature, indicating that apoptosis is a key regulatory process, the p53 family members (p53, p73, p63) act as checkpoints in neurons due to their role in apoptosis. The complexity of this system is due to the existence of different naturally occurring isoforms that have different functions from the wild types (WT), varying from apoptotic to anti-apoptotic effects. In this review, we focus on the role of UBE4B (known as Ube4b or Ufd2a in mouse), an E3/E4 ligase that triggers substrate polyubiquitination, as a master regulatory ligase associated with the p53 family WT proteins and isoforms in regulating neuronal survival. UBE4B is also associated with other pathways independent of the p53 family, such as polyglutamine aggregation and Wallerian degeneration, both of which are critical in neurodegenerative diseases. Many of the hypotheses presented here are gateways to understanding the programmed death/survival of neurons regulated by UBE4B in normal physiology, and a means of introducing potential therapeutic approaches with implications in treating several neurodegenerative diseases.
Quantum Biological Channel Modeling and Capacity Calculation
Authors: Djordjevic Ivan
Published: December 2012

Quantum mechanics has an important role in photosynthesis, magnetoreception, and evolution. There were many attempts in an effort to explain the structure of genetic code and transfer of information from DNA to protein by using the concepts of quantum mechanics. The existing biological quantum channel models are not sufficiently general to incorporate all relevant contributions responsible for imperfect protein synthesis. Moreover, the problem of determination of quantum biological channel capacity is still an open problem. To solve these problems, we construct the operator-sum representation of biological channel based on codon basekets (basis vectors), and determine the quantum channel model suitable for study of the quantum biological channel capacity and beyond. The transcription process, DNA point mutations, insertions, deletions, and translation are interpreted as the quantum noise processes. The various types of quantum errors are classified into several broad categories: (i) storage errors that occur in DNA itself as it represents an imperfect storage of genetic information, (ii) replication errors introduced during DNA replication process, (iii) transcription errors introduced during DNA to mRNA transcription, and (iv) translation errors introduced during the translation process. By using this model, we determine the biological quantum channel capacity and compare it against corresponding classical biological channel capacity. We demonstrate that the quantum biological channel capacity is higher than the classical one, for a coherent quantum channel model, suggesting that quantum effects have an important role in biological systems. The proposed model is of crucial importance towards future study of quantum DNA error correction, developing quantum mechanical model of aging, developing the quantum mechanical models for tumors/cancer, and study of intracellular dynamics in general.
2-Bromophenyl Salicylate
Authors: Thompson Donovan , Mitchell Sierra , Clarke Kevin , Sarden Kerry , Aiken Karelle
Published: December 2012

2-Bromophenyl salicylate is synthesized from 2-benzyloxybenzoic acid in two steps. The final compound has been characterized by IR, 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR and HRMS. The melting point for 2-bromophenyl salicylate is provided.
Synthesis and Antimicrobial Activity of Some New 1,3,4-Thiadiazole Derivatives
Authors: Farghaly Thoraya , Abdallah Magda , Aziz Mohamed
Published: December 2012

New series of 1,3,4-thiadiazoles have been prepared via reaction of 1,3,4-thiadiazolenaminones 1 with N-phenyl 2-oxopropanehydrazonoyl chloride (2) in dioxane in the presence of triethylamine. Also, some new heterocycles incorporating 1,3,4-thiadiazole ring were obtained by reaction of 1,3,4-thiadiazolenaminones 1 with nitrogen-nucleophiles like hydrazine hydrate, 3-amino-1,2,4-triazole and 2-aminobenzimidazole. The structure of the new products was established based on elemental and spectral analysis. The relation between the structure of the products and their activity towards some microorganisms was studied and promising results were obtained.
The Liver as a Target Organ for Gene Therapy: State of the Art, Challenges, and Future Perspectives
Authors: Jacobs Frank , Gordts Stephanie , Muthuramu Ilayaraja , De Geest Bart
Published: December 2012

The liver is a target for gene therapy of inborn errors of metabolism, of hemophilia, and of acquired diseases such as liver cancer and hepatitis. The ideal gene transfer strategy should deliver the transgene DNA to parenchymal liver cells with accuracy and precision in the absence of side effects. Liver sinusoids are highly specialized capillaries with a particular endothelial lining: the endothelium contains open fenestrae, whereas a basal lamina is lacking. Fenestrae provide a direct access of gene transfer vectors to the space of Disse, in which numerous microvilli from parenchymal liver cells protrude. The small diameter of fenestrae in humans constitutes an anatomical barrier for most gene transfer vectors with the exception of adeno-associated viral (AAV) vectors. Recent studies have demonstrated the superiority of novel AAV serotypes for hepatocyte-directed gene transfer applications based on enhanced transduction, reduced prevalence of neutralizing antibodies, and diminished capsid immune responses. In a landmark clinical trial, hemophilia B was successfully treated with an AAV8 human factor IX expressing vector. Notwithstanding significant progress, clinical experience with these technologies remains very limited and many unanswered questions warrant further study. Therefore, the field should continue to progress as it has over the past decade, cautiously and diligently.
Utilizing a Multi-Source Forest Inventory Technique, MODIS Data and Landsat TM Images in the Production of Forest Cover and Volume Maps for the Terai Physiographic Zone in Nepal
Authors: Muinonen Eero , Parikka Heikki , Pokharel Yam , Shrestha Sahas , Eerikäinen Kalle
Published: December 2012

An approach based on the nearest neighbors techniques is presented for producing thematic maps of forest cover (forest/non-forest) and total stand volume for the Terai region in southern Nepal. To create the forest cover map, we used a combination of Landsat TM satellite data and visual interpretation data, i.e., a sample grid of visual interpretation plots for which we obtained the land use classification according to the FAO standard. These visual interpretation plots together with the field plots for volume mapping originate from an operative forest inventory project, i.e., the Forest Resource Assessment of Nepal (FRA Nepal) project. The field plots were also used in checking the classification accuracy. MODIS satellite data were used as a reference in a local correction approach conducted for the relative calibration of Landsat TM images. This study applied a non-parametric k-nearest neighbor technique (k-NN) to the forest cover and volume mapping. A tree height prediction approach based on a nonlinear, mixed-effects (NLME) modeling procedure is presented in the Appendix. The MODIS image data performed well as reference data for the calibration approach applied to make the Landsat image mosaic. The agreement between the forest cover map and the field observed values of forest cover was substantial in Western Terai (KHAT 0.745) and strong in Eastern Terai (KHAT 0.825). The forest cover and volume maps that were estimated using the k-NN method and the inventory data from the FRA Nepal project are already appropriate and valuable data for research purposes and for the planning of forthcoming forest inventories. Adaptation of the methods and techniques was carried out using Open Source software tools.
Autour d'une revue et de signifiants flottants (un certain témoignage)
Authors: Maisonneuve Jean , Fablet Dominique
Published: December 2012

Résumé On y évoque les débuts de la revue Connexions étroitement liée au centre de l’ARIP, lieu de formation et de recherches. Souci d’interdisciplinarité, d’expériences créatives en matière de relations de groupe et d’analyse au sens large des processus, des vécus et des agirs collectifs et personnels. Ressources, avatars, tensions, scissions même inhérentes à tout groupe, fut-il à vocation socio-thérapeutique.
De l'expérience de l'apprentissage à l'apprentissage par l'expérience
Authors: Révah Jean-François
Published: December 2012

Résumé L’apprentissage par l’expérience implique effort, douleur, contact avec la réalité. Seule l’acceptation de la frustration liée à cette situation rend possible un travail de transformation et de croissance, aussi bien pour les personnes que pour les groupes et les organisations. Les bases conceptuelles et méthodologiques posées par l’ARIP et Connexions permettent de penser les conditions de réussite et d’échec de l’apprentissage par l’expérience dans les organisations. Ces mêmes bases psychosociologiques sont utiles pour analyser la crise que l’ARIP a elle-même traversé dans les années 1980. Dans le prolongement de ces réflexions, l’article s’interroge sur les conséquences de l’institutionnalisation de la psychosociologie en France et pose la question du prix à payer pour la respectabilité que lui a procurée sa reconnaissance universitaire. Enfin, la psychologisation des rapports sociaux, la valorisation sociale de la souffrance individuelle et la sociologisation de la compassion sont analysées en tant que symptômes de la difficulté à maintenir une vraie capacité de penser et d’apprendre par son expérience.
L'énigme de l'événement
Authors: Lévy André
Published: December 2012

Résumé Comment de la continuité peut naître la discontinuité ? À cette question, l’analyse de la notion d’événement apporte un certain éclairage. Trois exemples d’ampleur et de nature différentes – l’affaire dite DSK, une intervention auprès d’une équipe de soins psychiatriques, une recherche conduite dans le contexte du conflit israélo-palestinien – montrent comment un événement prend sens et peut devenir source de changement, lorsque ses implications, aux plans psychologique et social, font l’objet d’un travail d’élaboration et d’analyse collectives.
Une culture de la cruauté. Sur le concept nietzschéen de Culture
Authors: Filloux Janine
Published: December 2012

Résumé L’œuvre de Nietzsche est tout entière une interrogation sur l’histoire de la culture, ses fondements et ses impasses. Et ce qu’il trouve au centre de cette histoire est le désir d’emprise et de cruauté. Anticipant les catastrophes culturelles du XX e siècle, il met la question du mal au coeur de sa réflexion. Un demi-siècle plus tard, avec l’introduction de la pulsion de mort et le conflit Éros-Thanatos, Freud va, dans ses écrits anthropologiques, interroger à son tour les fondements de la culture dont dépendent les progrès et le devenir de l’humanité. Si un même projet les réunit, si l’on peut tous deux les qualifier de « grands désillusionnistes », leur pensée bifurque sur bien des points : celui de la primauté du sensoriel sur le rationnel défendue par Nietzsche, celui de la fonction civilisatrice du refoulement pulsionnel soutenue par Freud, ou encore la dimension du conflit essentielle à la pensée freudienne, là où Nietzsche pense nécessaire coexistence des contraires. Reprenant ces questions, Nathalie Zaltzman nous lègue, à partir de son écoute analytique et d’une lecture approfondie de la littérature concentrationnaire, une importante et originale contribution à la définition du travail de culture et à la question du mal.
Psychosociologie et psychologie sociale appliquée : deux positions de « psychologue » dans la cité
Authors: Beauvois Jean-Léon
Published: December 2012

Résumé L’auteur réfléchit sur les enseignements de sa double pratique, celle d’un enseignant de psychologie sociale expérimentale à l’université et celle d’un intervenant psychosociologue, notamment dans le cadre de l’ARIP. Cette réflexion le conduit à distinguer de façon assez radicale une discipline scientifique comme la psychologie sociale (à laquelle est associée ici la psychologie sociale appliquée) et une pratique sociale comme la psychosociologie. Elles ont peu de rapports en dépit de contingences historiques qui incitèrent à les associer. Si elles produisent du savoir, elles diffèrent quant aux valeurs qu’elles mobilisent et à la place de ces valeurs tant dans le savoir que dans les interventions. Valeurs épistémiques et valeurs liées aux objectifs d’action dans le premier cas, valeurs sociales dans le second. Ces distinctions permettent de comprendre certains aspects de l’évolution d’une pratique sociale comme la psychosociologie depuis son arrivée en France dans les années 1950.
Dynamique des groupes : Connexions ou divergences ? Avatars historiques et défrichements taxinomiques
Authors: De Visscher Pierre
Published: December 2012

Résumé La discipline dénommée par Kurt Lewin « dynamique des groupes » est méconnue : le caractère décisif des trois dernières années de vie de Lewin et des trois années subséquentes est ignoré ; beaucoup ne se réfèrent qu’aux écrits antérieurs à sa focalisation sur le groupe et l’animation ; les incongruités taxinomiques sont nombreuses, les constructs « dynamique » et « restreint » mal compris. De 1945 à 1947 Lewin induisit : l’utilisation du néologisme « dynamique des groupes » ; la création d’un 3e cycle au MIT ; le souci d’y former à l’animation les psychologues sociaux ; l’émergence du « sensitivity training » , expérienciation par chacun de son action lors de l’élucidation des processus collectifs ; la préparation du premier « laboratoire de formation » en pratiques de groupe, conçu comme rééducation sociétale via des expériences structurées. Lewin décédé, on assista à un processus de « mort du père » : scission entre « académiques » chercheurs au Research Center for Group Dynamics et « praticiens » prestant aux National Training Laboratories tenus annuellement à Bethel ; substitution d’identité des « basic skills training groups » en groupes de diagnostic ; confusion ultérieure entre « T-group » et « sensitivity training »  ; non-intégration du projet rééducatif lewinien en milieu universitaire. Depuis, l’animatique et le paradigme dynamicogroupal postlewinien se développent dans le cadre de la scienceaction, en dehors de la sociopsychologie et de la psychanalyse groupales. Le resserrement des connexions entre recherche, analyse et dynamique des groupes postlewinienne se justifierait.
Épistémologie et politique des science and transnational studies
Authors: Pestre Dominique
Published: December 2012

Lorsque l’on considère les travaux produits en histoire des sciences et dans l’historiographie transnationale, on est frappé par l’ampleur des questions posées, la profusion des idées et analyses, la richesse et la variété de ce qui est proposé. D’un autre côté, on est aussi frappé par la présence régulière de professions de foi méthodologiques et de déclarations d’intentions quant aux catégories et règles à mettre en œuvre. Cet article considère successivement ces deux questions. D’abord ce que nous avons appris en termes substantiels, ce que ces historiographies nous apportent sur les sciences et les relations transnationales, ce qui a été déplacé et ce qui est ré-ouvert. Dans une seconde partie, l’article regarde ces déclarations de principe. L’article défend l’idée que nous sommes face à deux grands corpus d’interprétation qui comptent et sont heuristiquement productifs, qu’en pratique les historiens les mêlent constamment – mais qu’il est intellectuellement et politiquement essentiel de considérer avec attention les épistémologies, ontologies et postures qui les fondent.
Usages et développement d’instruments budgétaires par des femmes du Sud du Brésil
Authors: Laurendon-Marques Candy , Merri Maryvonne
Published: December 2012

Le Brésil a connu une migration massive de la campagne vers la ville. Les migrants, le plus souvent non scolarisés, font face en ville à des défis quotidiens, tels la gestion du budget et les achats, domaine d’expérience considéré dans cet article. Six femmes « migrantes de l’intérieur » nous ont relaté leur parcours de vie. Leurs récits révèlent non seulement les instruments mis en œuvre mais aussi les structures de participation telles la collaboration avec leurs proches ou encore les dispositifs mis en place par leur employeur.
Transmissions de la moxibustion et de l’acupuncture en Europe
Authors: Guilloux Ronald
Published: December 2012

À la fin du XVIIe siècle, trois agents de la Compagnie néerlandaise des Indes orientales travaillant à Batavia (Busschof) et à Deshima (Ten Rhijne et Kaempfer) décrivaient pour la première fois la moxibustion et l’acupuncture. C’était le point de départ des transmissions de ces deux remèdes en Europe. Une analyse comparative fera apparaître des différences de lieux, de périodes, d’acteurs et de pratiques. Mais elle fera aussi et surtout ressortir des similitudes de transmission. Car au-delà des différences, moxibustion et acupuncture furent décrites en territoires autochtones, en zones de contact ; or leurs mises en texte opéraient déjà une première rupture avec les objets et les expériences d’origine. Cette rupture s’élargira avec l’éloignement en Europe. Moxibustion et acupuncture subiront inévitablement les contraintes de filtres théoriques, pratiques, politiques et institutionnels. Nous verrons au final que ces transmissions étaient conditionnées par des processus textuels et matériels de transformation, de réappropriation et de réduction.
Social Drivers for ICT Diffusion among Agrarian Business Enterprises in Nigeria
Authors: Aleke Bartholomew , Ojiako Udechukwu , Wainwright David
Published: December 2012

In this paper, the authors examine the process of diffusion of innovation ICT within agrarian business enterprises operating in developing countries. There is substantial research in the area of Diffusion of Innovation Theory (DoI) and its application to Information Systems (IS) research within organisations. However, in recognition of the conceptual limitations of DoI, researchers have called for the incorporation of aspects of Social Network Theory (SNT) into DoI frameworks. The findings of this research suggest that an understanding of the conceptual basis of innovation is a major driver of successful innovation adoption.
Barriers Hindering Ecommerce Adoption
Authors: Lawrence Japhet E.
Published: December 2012

Electronic commerce (EC) has the potential to improve efficiency and productivity in many areas and has received significant attention in many countries. However, there has been some doubt about the relevance of ecommerce for developing countries. The absence of adequate basic infrastructural, socio-economic, socio-cultural, and government ICT strategies have created a significant barrier in the adoption and growth of ecommerce in the Kurdistan region of Iraq. In this paper, the author shows that to understand the adoption and diffusion of ecommerce in Kurdistan, socio-cultural issues like transactional trust and social effect of shopping must be considered. The paper presents and discusses these issues hindering ecommerce adoption in Kurdistan.
Global Trends in Digital Governance
Authors: Manoharan Aroon , Fudge Marc , Holzer Marc
Published: December 2012

This paper highlights the research findings of a digital governance survey conducted in the fall of 2009. The study replicates previous surveys of large municipalities worldwide in 2007, 2005, and 2003. This longitudinal assessment, focused on the assessment of current practices in municipal e-governance by evaluating their official websites. Specifically, the survey analyzed security, usability, content, the type of online services currently being offered, citizen response, and participation through websites established by city governments worldwide. There were significant changes in the top ranking cities when compared to previous studies. Based on the 2009 evaluation of 87 cities, Seoul, Prague, Hong Kong, New York, and Singapore represent the highest performing cities in digital governance. Moreover, there continues to be a divide in terms of digital governance throughout the world; however, this divide, which increased in 2005, decreased in 2009.
Technology Acceptance
Authors: Greenfield Geoffrey , Rohde Fiona H.
Published: December 2012

During the past decade there has been an increasing interest in research within Not-for-Profit (NFP) organisations. Research has indicated that there are a number of characteristics that make NFPs different from other organisations. This paper considers whether workers within the NFP sector have different attitudes to technology and whether such differences affect the measures used within technology acceptance models. An exploratory study of workers within two NFPs indicated that workers within the service delivery functions of NFPs have different attitudes to technology than workers within the standard business functions of a NFP organisation e.g., marketing. These attitudes affected their perceptions of the use of and ease of technology.
Technology Acceptance Model and Determinants of Technology Rejection
Authors: Kirlidog Melih , Kaynak Aygul
Published: December 2012

Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) is an important tool to understand the dynamics of acceptance of Information Systems in an organization. The model posits that perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness are key factors in the adoption. This study extends TAM for investigating the user rejection of technology by reversing the two key factors into perceived difficulty of use and perceived uselessness. The study was conducted by surveying the customers of an e-banking application in Turkey who disuse the system. The results reveal important hints for the organization that wants to get an insight into the causes of the system disuse.
Biometrics
Authors: Sayoud Halim
Published: December 2012

The term biometrics is derived from the Greek words: bio (life) and metrics (to measure). “Biometric technologies” are defined as automated methods of verifying or recognizing the identity of a living person based on a physiological or behavioral characteristic. Several techniques and features were used over time to recognize human beings several years before the birth of Christ. Today, this research field has become very employed in many applications such as security applications, multimedia applications and banking applications. Also, many methods have been developed to strengthen the biometric accuracy and reduce the imposture errors by using several features such as face, speech, iris, finger vein, etc. From a security purpose and economic point of view, biometrics has brought a great benefit and has become an important tool for governments and institutions. However, citizens are expressing their thorough worry, which is due to the freedom limitations and loss of privacy. This paper briefly presents some new technologies that have recently been proposed in biometrics with their levels of reliability, and discusses the different social and ethic problems that may result from the abusive use of these technologies.
Structural and Technology-Mediated Violence
Authors: Magnani Lorenzo
Published: December 2012

A kind of common prejudice is the one that tends to assign the attribute “violent” only to physical and possibly bloody acts – homicides, for example – or physical injuries; but linguistic, structural, and other various aspects of violence – also embedded in artifacts – have to be taken into account. The paper will deal with the so-called “technology-mediated violence” taking advantage of the illustration of the case of profiling. If production of knowledge is important and central, this is not always welcome and so people have to acknowledge that the motto introduced in the book Morality in a Technological World (Magnani, 2007) knowledge as a duty has various limitations. Indeed, a warning has to be formulated regarding the problem of identity and cyberprivacy. The author contends that when too much knowledge about people is incorporated in external artificial things, human beings’ “visibility” can become excessive and dangerous. Two aims are in front of people to counteract this kind of technological violence, which also jeopardizes Rechtsstaat and constitutional democracies: preserving people against the various forms of circulation of knowledge about them and building new suitable “technoknowledge” (also to originate new “embodied” legal institutions) to reach this protective result.
The Re-Materialisation of the Art Object
Authors: Harrison Dew
Published: December 2012

The phenomena of the re-materialisation of the art object is presented through the shift in art-thinking since mid-last century, derived from the impact of earlier art. This shift is marked by Lippard’s seminal book on the disappearance of the art object, as reflected in the title above, with reference to the Duchampian Readymade and Greenbergian Modernism. The chapter then reviews the current situation via contemporary understandings and the writings of Beech who challenges Lippard’s view of immateriality within Conceptual art. This is followed by examples of recent practice where new technologies have allowed for a re-materialisation of the art object to include artists such as Intersculpt, Michael Eden, and those in the Second Life Kriti Island exhibition, where virtual objects solidified into physical forms. This re-positioning of the art object allows a return to the initial formative conceptual framework, and offers a way through to a cutting-edge form of postconceptual art practice.
Data-Objects
Authors: Gwilt Ian
Published: December 2012

This chapter discusses a current shift away from thinking about ideas of virtual reality, towards a conversation around hybrid digital/physical constructs and the notions of mixed or augmented reality. In particular the chapter explores how physical artifacts that are based on data extracted from computer generated virtual spaces are being created as a way of challenging how we read, interpret, and respond to digital information. This emerging trend for the realization of data sets into three-dimensional (3D) physical objects is discussed from the perspective of creative practice and digital information visualization. In these new constructs, digital data sets are concretized into a physical form, remediated from information sources, such as mobile phone coverage records, crime statistics, and temperature patterns. Through a series of examples, the chapter will investigate how these tangible translations can change our relationship to screen-based digital content, in particular statistical data, and seeks to reveal how by encoding digital information into a physical object we can establish a way of reading this data through spatial, temporal, and material variations that sit outside of the computer-monitor and the digital environment. Rapid prototyping making techniques are discussed as a trigger for a conversation around the ontological and epistemological readings of these liminal physical/data objects.