bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Should Non-Euro Area Countries Join the Single Supervisory Mechanism?
Authors: Darvas Zsolt , Wolff Guntram B.
Published: July 2013

Irrespective of the euro crisis, a European banking union makes sense, including for non-euro area countries, because of the extent of European Union financial integration. The Single Supervisory Mechanism (SSM) is the first element of the banking union. From the point of view of non-euro countries, the draft SSM regulation as amended by the EU Council includes strong safeguards relating to decision-making, accountability, attention to financial stability in small countries and the applicability of national macroprudential measures. Non-euro countries will also have the right to leave the SSM and thereby exempt themselves from a supervisory decision. The SSM by itself cannot bring the full benefits of the banking union, but would foster financial integration, improve the supervision of cross-border banks, ensure greater consistency of supervisory practices, increase the quality of supervision, avoid competitive distortions and provide ample supervisory information. While the decision to join the SSM is made difficult by uncertainty surrounding other elements of the banking union, including possible burden sharing, we conclude that non-euro EU members should stand ready to join the SSM and be prepared for negotiations on the other elements of the banking union.
World Tax Index: New Methodology for OECD Countries, 2000–2012
Authors: Machová Zuzana , Kotlán Igor
Published: July 2013

This paper follows our previous article, Kotlán and Machová (2012a), which presented an indicator of the tax burden that can be used as an alternative to the tax quota, or for implicit tax rates in macroeconomic analyses. This alternative is an overall multi-criteria index called the WTI - the World Tax Index. The aim of this paper is to present the new World Tax Index 2013 and its methodology, which allowed us to compute it for all 34 OECD countries for the 2000-2012 period, with special references to methodology changes from the previous version. We show that, using the WTI, the highest tax burden is measured for Denmark, Belgium and Turkey, while the lowest tax burden is in Switzerland, Ireland, Chile or Japan. The total ranking of the countries is from 66% correlated with the ranking according to the tax quota, mainly due to a strong correlation in the case of property taxes, personal income taxes and VAT-type taxes. In these cases, the tax quota seems to be a good approximator of the tax burden. However, there is no correlation between corresponding tax quotas and WTI sub-indices for corporate taxes or selective consumption taxes. In those cases, the tax quota apparently fails and is not suitable for use in further analyses.
WHO's Global Strategy to Reduce the Harmful use of Alcohol: An Assessment of Recent Policies and Interventions in Finland and Ontario, Canada
Authors: Giesbrecht Norman , österberg Esa
Published: July 2013

Aim

This paper assesses alcohol policies and interventions in Finland and the Canadian province of Ontario, using the policy options and interventions recommended in WHO's Global strategy to reduce the harmful use of alcohol (2010).

Data & Methods

The information and data are based on archival sources, surveys, legislative and government documents, and published papers. The paper assesses both jurisdictions on 10 areas in the WHO document and their sub-topics: 1. leadership, 2. health services response, 3. community action, 4. drinking and driving policies and countermeasures, 5. availability of alcohol, 6. marketing of alcoholic beverages, 7. pricing policies, 8. reducing the negative consequences of drinking and alcohol intoxication, 9. reducing the public health impact of illicit alcohol and informally produced alcohol, and 10. monitoring and surveillance.

Results

Ontario had several recent noteworthy developments in line with WHO recommendations: health services response, controls of drinking and driving, pricing policies, reducing the negative consequences of drinking and intoxication, and monitoring and surveillance. Finland has emphasised pricing policies in recent years, and there have also been significant developments in community action, controls of drinking and driving, alcohol advertising, and monitoring and surveillance.

Conclusions

Challenges and opportunities for strengthening the policy responses are noted, as well as topics for future research.
Changes in youth gambling after the removal of slot machines in Norway
Authors: Rossow Ingeborg , Hansen Marianne Bang , Storvoll Elisabet Esbjerg
Published: July 2013

Aims

To examine whether the ban and complete removal of slot machines in Norway in 2007 may have led to: a) changes in gambling behaviour and changes in prevalence of problem gambling among adolescents, and b) changes in gambling behaviour among adolescent problem gamblers.

Data & Methods

Two school surveys were conducted, one before (in 2006) and one after the intervention (in 2008), comprising students aged 13 to 18 years (net samples = 4,912 in 2006 and 3,855 in 2008). Identical measures of gambling behaviour and problem gambling were obtained in both surveys.

Results

After the intervention, a small proportion reported that they had changed their gambling behaviour, mainly in terms of having stopped gambling. Comparisons of self-reports of gambling behaviour showed that slot machine gambling had decreased significantly, while gambling on other games had increased, yet frequent gambling on any game had decreased after the intervention. However, the change in prevalence of at-risk and problem gambling differed across instruments. The prevalence of self-perceived gambling problems had decreased whereas the prevalence of at-risk and problem gambling as assessed by SOGS-RA had increased. Among at-risk and problem gamblers frequent gambling and perceived gambling problems were reported less frequently in 2008 compared to 2006.

Conclusion

The ban and removal of slot machines in Norway was succeeded by a decrease in frequent gambling among adolescents in general as well as among at-risk and problem gamblers.
Water softening using caustic soda: privileges and restrictions
Authors: Zadghaffari Ramin , Asr Saeid Saati
Published: July 2013

The aims of the current study is to investigate the constraint of using caustic soda in water treatment and evaluating
its performance in water softening, compared to the other chemical group, including lime and sodium carbonate.
Based on mass balance of reactants in the caustic softening process, a mathematical relation for expressing the
constraint of using caustic soda in water softening was derived. To evaluate caustic soda performance in water
softening and prove the derived relation as well, some experimental works on some water sources including well
water and clarifi er’s inlet water in two oil refi neries were performed. The results showed that compared to limesodium
carbonate, the caustic soda is the best choice for water softening; however, using caustic soda in water
softening, while restrictive mathematical relation does not verify the chemical characteristics of water, could lead
to an extreme increase in alkalinity.
Pismo i głos jako kategorie poetyki historycznej (liryka XVI wieku) / Writing and Orality as Categories of Historical Poetics (16th Century Verse )
Authors: Śnieżko Dariusz
Published: July 2013

In an attempt to validate the role of orality and writing as categories of historical poetics, the article takes a close look at five aspects or criteria of this key distinction. They are the intended use of the text, genre, sensory perception, the morphological criterion, and the criterion of reception and performance. It is hoped that the use of those markers will help us to establish the connections between the macrocosm of the 16th-century communication strategies (and the dynamic inter-relationships between them) and the microcosm of genres, conventions and individual literary works
CZY PAN COGITO ROZMYŚLA O SEKSIE? CIELESNOŚĆ, PŁCIOWOŚĆ I EROTYZM W TWÓRCZOŚCI ZBIGNIEWA HERBERTA (PRELIMINARIA) / Is Mr Cogito Thinking About Sex ? Corporeality , Sexuality and Eroticism in Zbigniew Herbert’s Writings (Preliminaries)
Authors: Tomasik Tomasz
Published: July 2013

We will not find many erotic poems in Zbigniew Herbert’s literary output, but that does not mean that the poet ignores such anthropological themes as corporeality, sexuality and eroticism. The body in the Herbert’s poetry is used as the vehicle for the senses and mediates between the spiritual and the material. The most important senses are the sense of touch and sight, so the motif of hands and eyes often occurs in this poetry. Herbert’s male protagonist distances himself from the hard hegemonic masculinity. Taking the concept of Jung into account we can say that the animus is balanced by the anima. Zbigniew Herbert’s eroticism is expressed primarily by the language of sensitivity. The attitude, in which the mind is in agreement with the feelings, eros with logos, cogito with caritas, seems to be the most compatible with the personal philosophy of the poet.
Boys in Education in Europe
Authors: Scambor Elli , Seidler Victor
Published: July 2013

The paper discusses the phenomenon of the “boy crisis” in education by following trajectories which seek to describe the situation of boys at school in different countries across Europe in its complexity. The current study of the Role of Men in Gender Equality (Scambor, Wojnicka & Bergmann, eds., 2012) offers an international comparison of the situation of boys and outlines major trends related to gender disparities in education across Europe. An in-depth analysis of male early school leavers leads to a deeper understanding of boys and men as heterogeneous social groups. Relations between so called “costs” and “privileges” in education show considerable varieties due to differences between boys, with educational careers being strongly influenced by social class, “race,” and ethnicities as well as migration backgrounds.
Differences in temporal reasoning
Authors: Ringel Felix
Published: July 2013

Hoyerswerda, Germany's fastest-shrinking city, faces problems with the future that seem initially unrelated to the past and yet excite manifold conflicting accounts of it. The multiple and conflicting temporal references employed by Hoyerswerdians indicate that the temporal regime of postsocialism is accompanied, if not overcome, by the temporal framework of shrinkage. By reintroducing the analytical domain of the future, I show that local temporal knowledge practices are not historically predetermined by a homogenous postsocialist culture or by particular generational experiences. Rather, they exhibit what I call temporal complexity and temporal flexibility-creative uses of a variety of coexisting temporal references. My ethnographic material illustrates how such expressions of different forms of temporal reasoning structure social relations within and between different generations. Corresponding social groups are not simply divided by age, but are united through shared and heavily disputed negotiations of the post-Cold War era's contemporary crisis.
Generations of memory in the "model socialist town" of Nowa Huta, Poland
Authors: Pozniak Kinga
Published: July 2013

This article examines memories of socialism among different generations in Nowa Huta, Poland. Initially built as an industrial “model socialist town“, since 1989 Nowa Huta experienced economic decline and marginalization. Its socialist legacy is now being reinterpreted in ways that reflect changed political, economic, and social conditions. This article describes contemporary public representations of the town's history and considers how they resonate with the experiences and understandings of different generations of residents, from the town's builders to the youngest generation, who have no firsthand memories of the socialist period. It demonstrates how generational categories are both reflected and constructed through different accounts of the past, while also revealing overlaps between them. Throughout, specific attention is paid to the relationship between narratives of the past, present, and future, and present-day political and economic realities.
Editorial
Authors: Welch Penny , Wright Susan
Published: July 2013

Welcome to this issue of Learning and Teaching: The International Journal of Higher Education in the Social Sciences. Our thanks go to the authors of articles, the essay and the reviews, the anonymous referees who read the articles and the essay, the publishers who provided review copies of the books, our own publisher Berghahn and the Editorial Board.
Enhancing and supporting the role of academic tutors in developing undergraduate writing skills: Reflections on the experiences of a social work education programme
Authors: Hughes Nathan , Wainwright Sue , Cresswell Caroline
Published: July 2013

Whilst approaches to the development of undergraduate academic writing skills vary between disciplines and institutions, academic tutors are consistently presented as playing an important role. One aspect of this role is supporting students to engage effectively with feedback in order to develop consciousness and competence regarding academic writing. This article reports on the use of a form, which was designed to encourage students to use feedback in a structured and consistent manner and to support subsequent tutor-tutee dialogue. Students and tutors who used the form suggest it encouraged students to reflect on their learning needs and identify priority issues for discussion with the tutor. However, barriers to its effective use remain. In particular, there was resistance amongst students to accessing academic support, due to anxieties that staff would look negatively upon those who seek help. Students expressed concern that tutors would perceive those seeking support as failing to cope with the demands of independent study, a set of skills they perceive that they were required to have on arrival at university, rather than to acquire during the course of their studies with the help and guidance of their academic tutor.
A Long Gravity-Piston Corer Developed for Seafloor Gas Hydrate Coring Utilizing an In Situ Pressure-Retained Method
Authors: Chen Jia-Wang , Fan Wei , Bingham Brian , Chen Ying , Gu Lin-Yi , Li Shi-Lun
Published: July 2013

A corer, which can obtain long in situ pressure-retained sediments of up to 30 m core containing gas hydrates, has been applied in the South China Sea (SCS) dozens of times. The corer presented in this paper is a convenient, efficient and economical long in situ pressure-retained coring and research tool for submarine sediments, that can applied to completely cope with all sediments close to the seafloor ranging from shallow waters to the deep sea depths of 6000 m. This article mainly presents the overall structure, working principles, key pressure-retained components, coring mechanism, sea trials and outlook of the corer. The analyses found that the coring ability was affected by formation characteristics, the outer diameter of the core barrels and inner diameter of the core liners, the shapes of the cutter and the dead weight of the corer. This study can provide the practical basis for the structural optimization of this type of corer and designs for corers with greater penetrability. Sea trials showed that the developed corer presented in this paper can support the in situ pressure of the seafloor sediment core, which is an improvement over the conventional piston corer.
Dietary PUFA Intervention Affects Fatty Acid- and Micronutrient Profiles of Beef and Related Beef Products
Authors: Dannenberger Dirk , Nuernberg Karin , Herdmann Andrea , Nuernberg Gerd , Hagemann Elke , Kienast Walter
Published: July 2013

The study investigated the dietary impact of 18:3n-3 vs. 18:2n-6 on fatty acid- and micronutrient concentration of beef muscle and the extent of diet- and processing-induced changes of lipid- and micronutrient concentrations of beef products made thereof (German Corned beef (GCB), tea sausage spread (TSS), scalded sausage (SS)). Beef and beef products were obtained from German Holstein bulls which either received a control diet consisting of maize silage and concentrate with soybean meal (41%), or an experimental diet of grass silage and concentrate plus rapeseed cake (12%) and linseed oil (3%). The study revealed that upon an 18:3n-3 vs. 18:2n-6 intervention the amounts of 18:3n-3, EPA and Σn-3 LC-PUFA were significantly increased by 2.6, 2.3 and 1.7 fold, respectively. Experimental diet significantly increased β-carotene contents, and the γ-tocopherol contents were decreased. During beef processing, n-3 PUFA from beef were found to be product-specifically transferred into the corresponding beef products. 18:3n-3 and Σn-3 LC-PUFA contents were found to be 1.4 and 1.5 times higher in GCB from grass silage- than maize silage-fed bulls. The trace element contents in GCB (iron, copper, zinc, selenium) were not affected by the diet; however γ-tocopherol contents were decreased by experimental diet. In conclusion, dietary n-3 PUFA were completely transferred into beef products unaffected by beef processing conditions.
Extending the Avenues for Geosciences Research
Authors: Alves Carlos
Published: July 2013

The special issue “Geoscience of the Built Environment” [1] has received diverse contributions that can be considered to be on something like the outer limits of geosciences, extending their methods and studies to what can be designated the extended anthroposphere, considering not only the human modified environment, but also the natural space that man enjoys and assumes the burden to manage. Perhaps because of the orientation of the work of the editor, most of the contributions concerned building materials in diverse perspectives: the characterization of building materials used either directly as built elements [2,3] or as elements of the preparation of manufactured building materials [4]; the implications of geologic materials to the performance of buildings—namely, regarding thermal stability [5], and the alteration [6] and preservation [7] of existing applications of natural stone. These papers reflect diverse epistemological concerns both at the level of basic conceptual research—namely, taxonomy; and applied research—durability of materials used in built works and the impacts of these natural materials on the comfort of built elements. [...]
Evaluation of Models Describing the Growth of Nalidixic Acid-Resistant E. coli O157:H7 in Blanched Spinach and Iceberg Lettuce as a Function of Temperature
Authors: Kim Juhui , Chung Hyunjung , Cho Joonil , Yoon Kisun
Published: July 2013

The aim of this study was to model the growth of nalidixic acid-resistant E. coli O157:H7 (E. coli O157:H7NR) in blanched spinach and to evaluate model performance with an independent set of data for interpolation (8.5, 13, 15 and 27 °C) and for extrapolation (broth and fresh-cut iceberg lettuce) using the ratio method and the acceptable prediction zone method. The lag time (LT), specific growth rate (SGR) and maximum population density (MPD) obtained from each primary model were modeled as a function of temperature (7, 10, 17, 24, 30, and 36 °C) using Davey, square root, and polynomial models, respectively. At 7 °C, the populations of E. coli O157:H7NR increased in tryptic soy broth with nalidixic acid (TSBN), blanched spinach and fresh-cut iceberg lettuce, while the populations of E. coli O157:H7 decreased in TSB after 118 h of LT, indicating the risk of nalidixic acid-resistant strain of E. coli O157:H7 contaminated in ready-to-eat produce at refrigerated temperature. When the LT and SGR models of blanched spinach was extended to iceberg lettuce, all relative errors (percentage of RE = 100%) were inside the acceptable prediction zone and had an acceptable Bf and Af values. Thus, it was concluded that developed secondary models for E. coli O157:H7NR in blanched spinach were suitable for use in making predictions for fresh cut iceberg lettuce, but not for static TSBN in this work.
Intercellular Communication by Exosome-Derived microRNAs in Cancer
Authors: Hannafon Bethany , Ding Wei-Qun
Published: July 2013

The development of human cancers is a multistep process in which normal cells acquire characteristics that ultimately lead to their conversion into cancer cells. Many obstacles must be overcome for this process to occur; of these obstacles, is the ability to survive an inhospitable microenvironment. It is recognized that the intercommunication between tumor cells and their surrounding microenvironment is essential to overcoming this obstacle and for the tumor to progress, metastasize and establish itself at distant sites. Exosomes are membrane-derived vesicles that have recently been recognized as important mediators of intercellular communication, as they carry lipids, proteins, mRNAs and microRNAs that can be transferred to a recipient cell via fusion of the exosome with the target cell membrane. In the context of cancer cells, this process entails the transfer of cancer-promoting cellular contents to surrounding cells within the tumor microenvironment or into the circulation to act at distant sites, thereby enabling cancer progression. In this process, the transfer of exosomal microRNAs to a recipient cell where they can regulate target gene expression is of particular interest, both in understanding the basic biology of cancer progression and for the development of therapeutic approaches. This review discusses the exosome-mediated intercellular communication via microRNAs within the tumor microenvironment in human cancers, with a particular focus on breast cancer exosomes.
Luteolin Inhibits Inflammatory Responses via p38/MK2/TTP-mediated mRNA Stability
Authors: Wu Wanling , Li Dongye , Zong Yu , Zhu Hong , Pan Defeng , Xu Tongda , Wang Tao , Wang Tingting
Published: July 2013

Luteolin (Lut) is a common dietary flavonoid present in Chinese herbal medicines that has been reported to have important anti-inflammatory properties. The purposes of this study were to observe the inhibition of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammatory responses in bone marrow macrophages (BMM) by Lut, and to examine whether this inhibition involves p38/MK2/TTP-mediated mRNA stability. Lut suppressed the production of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in a dose-dependent manner according to enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) analysis. Lut also shortened the half-lives of the TNF-α and IL-6 mRNAs according to real-time PCR analysis. Western blots were performed to assess the activation of p38 and MK2 as well as the expression of TTP. The results indicated that Lut inhibited p38 and MK2 phosphorylation while promoting TTP expression. These results suggest that the anti-inflammatory effects of Lut are partially mediated through p38/MK2/TTP-regulated mRNA stability.
Communication Regarding Sustainability: Conceptual Perspectives and Exploration of Societal Subsystems
Authors: Newig Jens , Schulz Daniel , Fischer Daniel , Hetze Katharina , Laws Norman , Lüdecke Gesa , Rieckmann Marco
Published: July 2013

Sustainability issues are typically characterized by high complexity and uncertainty. In light of this, communication plays a crucial role in coping with these challenges. The previous debate on sustainability communication has largely focused on how to communicate sustainability issues to others. Sustainability communication, however, involves more than sender oriented communication to persuade others (“communication of sustainability”); it also embraces processes of dialogue and discourse (“communication about sustainability”). Based on this distinction, we develop a typology of communication modes, including communication for sustainability. Inspired by the notion of functional communication systems, we explore sustainability communication in six societal subsystems, applying the typology of communication modes. Drawing mostly on examples from Germany, we find a shift from “communication of” towards “communication about” sustainability in most subsystems. While communication subsystems have a tendency towards operational closure, a variety of interlinkages exist. We discuss three key areas of “opening up” communication subsystems, leading to transdisciplinarity, societal deliberation and governance, each meeting one of sustainability’s core challenges.
Synthesis of the calcilytic ligand NPS 2143
Authors: Johansson Henrik , Cailly Thomas , Rojas Bie Thomsen Alex , Bräuner-Osborne Hans , Sejer Pedersen Daniel
Published: July 2013

(R)-3 (NPS 2143) is a negative allosteric modulator of the human calcium-sensing receptor (CaSR) and as such represents an important pharmacological tool compound for studying the CaSR. Herein, we disclose for the first time a complete experimental description, detailed characterisation and assessment of enantiomeric purity for (R)-3. An efficient, reproducible and scalable synthesis of (R)-3 that requires a minimum of chromatographic purification steps is presented. (R)-3 was obtained in excellent optical purity (er > 99:1) as demonstrated by chiral HPLC and the pharmacological profile for (R)-3 is in full accordance with that reported in the literature.
L'intégration d'une pratique sexuelle dans l'économie informelle
Authors: Cavagnoud Robin
Published: July 2013

Cet article repose sur une enquête de terrain réalisée dans plusieurs quartiers populaires de Lima, la capitale du Pérou, et composée d’observations et d’entretiens biographiques auprès d’adolescentes en situation de prostitution de rue. L’article étudie les facteurs qui expliquent l’entrée des jeunes filles dans la prostitution et leur maintien dans cette activité intégrée dans l’économie informelle. Une analyse des données empiriques permet de mettre en lumière des logiques distinctes quant aux temporalités de cette pratique sexuelle et de discuter la place de la déviance produite par les entrepreneurs de morale au regard de l’âge des jeunes filles.
Drogues : comment changer de politique ?
Authors: Demangel Dominique
Published: July 2013

Au niveau mondial, la lutte contre la drogue est un échec : la stratégie répressive a montré ses limites. Il est donc nécessaire de réorienter les politiques nationales en faveur de la prévention des risques, d’un accompagnement des usagers sur le plan sanitaire et social, afin de combattre non seulement le trafic de drogue mais également ses conséquences sur les personnes.
Éloge du non-savoir
Authors: Duruz Nicolas
Published: July 2013

Lorsque François Roustang écrit sur Socrate, il transforme l’image du philosophe, de maître à penser en shaman qui cherche à transformer l’existence plutôt qu’à rechercher la vérité. C’est aussi ce que pratique Roustang en tant que thérapeute, allant à l’encontre des présupposés de la psychanalyse, et traçant un chemin original sans jamais céder aux postures de savoir.
Euthanasie et modernité
Authors: Moyse Danielle
Published: July 2013

Danielle Moyse démêle les liens volontiers établis entre modernité et maîtrise de la mort, progrès et euthanasie, par les partisans de cette dernière. Être moderne, au regard de la philosophe, ce n’est pas livrer l’homme à l’abandon d’une subjectivité autoadministrée, mais bien faire vivre toutes les dimensions relationnelles de son être-au-monde et de son être-avec-autrui, de sa naissance à sa mort.
Quels enseignements tirer de la série tv Dr House pour l'ethnomarketing ? Vers un « ethnomarketing aménagé »
Authors: Badot Olivier , Lemoine Jean-François
Published: July 2013

A partir de l’analyse qualitative de la démarche de collecte des données et d’élaboration de diagnostics telle qu’élaborée par le Dr House dans la série télé américaine du même nom, cet article est l’occasion de proposer des aménagements possibles à la mise en œuvre de la démarche ethnomarketing par des chercheurs ou des professionnels. Ces aménagements au paradigme de Spiggle (1994) mettent en évidence des rapprochements avec l’approche abductive.
Le comportement des indices boursiers socialement responsables en période de crise
Authors: El Khamlichi Abdelbari
Published: July 2013

Après leurs premiers débuts dans les années 1980, les indices boursiers éthiques se sont développés à partir des années 1990. Constituant un univers d’investissement à part entière, ces indices proposent aux investisseurs des opportunités d’investissement conformes à leurs orientations en matière sociale, environnementale et de gouvernance. Même si tous les indices éthiques passent par un processus de filtrage, les critères utilisés varient d’un pays à l’autre voire d’une agence de notation sociale à l’autre. Se pose ainsi la question de la légitimité de ces indices et aussi celle de savoir s’ils traduisent tous l’esprit du développement durable. Dans cet article, nous nous proposons d’abord de passer en revue ces indices éthiques, leur contexte et leurs critères de filtrage. Puis, nous nous focalisons sur 3 indices issus de 3 différentes régions (États-Unis, Europe et Canada). Nos résultats montrent l’existence d’une forte corrélation entre les indices éthiques et leurs indices de référence, et l’absence d’une différence de rendement en période de crise financière.
Qualité de la publication financière et mécanismes de gouvernance en France
Authors: Ben Ali Chiraz
Published: July 2013

Ce papier étudie plusieurs mécanismes de gouvernement d’entreprise qui influencent la qualité de la publication financière dans un contexte d’expropriation des actionnaires minoritaires. Le contexte français permet d’étudier un nouveau conflit d’agence (dit de type II) entre actionnaires de contrôle et actionnaires minoritaires alors que la majorité des études antérieures se sont intéressées au conflit d’agence (dit de type I) opposant les actionnaires et les managers. Nous analysons un échantillon de 86 entreprises françaises du SBF120 en 2004 à travers une analyse des correspondances multiples. Sur un marché caractérisé par une concentration de la propriété et un faible niveau de protection des investisseurs, nous trouvons que les entreprises souffrant de déficiences de leurs mécanismes de gouvernance internes présentent une qualité de publication faible. Nos résultats contredisent l’hypothèse de substitution entre la publication financière et les autres mécanismes de gouvernement d’entreprise.
La communication sociale, un levier de performance organisationnelle ? Le cas des politiques de santé publique en matière de nutrition
Authors: Messaoudène Leila , Hernandez Solange
Published: July 2013

Afin de pallier l’augmentation des taux de surpoids et d’obésité en France, les pouvoirs publics mettent en œuvre, depuis 2001, une politique alimentaire à partir du Programme Nationale Nutrition Santé (PNNS). Sur les bases de la communication institutionnelle, les actions de ce programme, définies au niveau central, sont relayées par les acteurs territoriaux. Ces mesures ont essentiellement pour but d’informer, d’éduquer et de sensibiliser la population dans le domaine alimentaire. Cette recherche se concentre sur l’appréhension par les managers territoriaux de la communication institutionnelle comme levier de la performance organisationnelle dans ce secteur.
Multi-dimensional Constrained Cloud Computing Task Scheduling Mechanism Based on Genetic Algorithm
Authors: Liu Peng , Zhu Youchan
Published: July 2013

A new Cloud Computing task scheduling mechanism with multi-dimensional constrained based on Genetic Algorithm (GA) was proposed to reduce time to complete tasks and to improve usersâ?? satisfaction by reducing expenses. The algorithm improves fitness function with comprehensive efficiency constituted of shortest completion time and minimum cost. Finally, simulation results showed that this algorithm is highly efficient and meet not only performance needs but also economic needs of users.
A Replica Selection Strategy On Ant-algorithm in Data-intensive Applications
Authors: Lin Jinxian , Yang Ling , Zheng Yuying
Published: July 2013

In data-intensive applications, multiple copies of the same data were created to improve reliability and reduce the bandwidth consumption. Replica selection is the crucial factor in accessing data quickly and effectively. It affects task scheduling, thereby affecting the efficiency and service quality of the application. Within this paper, a modified replica selection strategy based on ant-algorithm in data-intensive grid is proposed. The strategy is implemented and compared with other file replica selection algorithms on simulator OptorSim. The experiments results show that the strategy discussed in this thesis has certain advantages in balancing the load of sites and reducing the mean job time.
Quorum Generation Algorithm Based on the Longest-shortest Distance
Authors: Li Meian , Wang Buyu , Gao Jing
Published: July 2013

Many algorithms on quorum generation have been proposed but those algorithms with cyclic quorum usually had a common defect that the nodes would congregate in a special area of the quorum at the end of the algorithm(Called this problem as CE). For resolving this problem, a new algorithm on quorum generation based on the longest-shortest distance has been proposed in this paper. This algorithm has the same quorum length and time complexity as Liâ??s algorithm[8],but the space complexity is O( ), lower than Liâ??s algorithm[8]. And this algorithm has not the problem of CE. So based on the longest-shortest distance to chose a node to insert the quorum is an executive method on resolving the problem CE.
Observaciones sobre la relación entre la “cosmo-lógica” y la construcción de la persona en el espiritismo cubano
Authors: Espirito Santo Diana
Published: July 2013

Hablar de síntesis o mezclas de tradiciones religiosas sin tomar en cuenta las ontologías que en ellas operan conlleva a equivocaciones. En este texto, propongo la idea según la cual el espiritismo popular cubano ofrece una verdadera “antropología”, o teoría indígena de la persona, que actúa como un motor dinámico hacia las demás prácticas religiosas: diversifica las prácticas a través de los requerimientos de los muertos con quienes se comunican los médiums manteniendo, a la vez, la integridad de las mismas. Desde este punto de vista, la mediumnidad (capacidad de ser médium) en esta práctica se puede describir como un motor ontogenético, creando, en cada persona, la posibilidad de un auto-reconocimiento existencial, a través de su auto-producción. Argumentaré que estas prácticas constituyen una ventana iluminadora sobre la relación dinámica entre los aspectos internos y externos del sincretismo religioso cubano en general. Uno de los objetivos de este artículo será demostrar que además de la necesidad de entender el sincretismo como algo mutable, en constante metamorfosis, es también necesario articular los conceptos principales con los cuales los matices de estos flujos se muestran. La noción de “cosmo-lógica” será propuesta para elucidar estos matices.
Masculinité et relations de genre dans la société secrète abakuá
Authors: Morel Géraldine
Published: July 2013

La société secrète abakuá fait partie intégrante de l’univers religieux afro-cubain. Toutefois, son mode de fonctionnement ainsi que son système de recrutement « au mérite » s’inscrivent aux antipodes de la logique religieuse commune aux autres modalités de culte présentes sur l’île et reposant sur un échange de bons procédés entre hommes et dieux (transe, sacrifice, divination). En effet, être abakuá implique avant tout une construction de genre spécifique fondée sur une masculinité de type « machiste ». Cet article propose une analyse de l’engagement abakuá sous l’angle du genre en s’intéressant aux modalités d’affirmation de cette identité masculine centrale dans le culte, ainsi qu’aux représentations et aux interactions qui la sous-tendent. Le machisme en tant que système de pouvoir est légitimé au niveau mythologique, rituel et social, et la construction de la masculinité qui en découle repose sur une comparaison tant avec les femmes, exclues rituellement mais omniprésentes socialement, qu’avec les hommes homosexuels, véritable miroir antagonique des caïds du milieu populaire havanais.
Muerte, muertos y “llanto” palero
Authors: Almeida Cunha Ana Stela de
Published: July 2013

Este artículo describe las ceremonias del ciclo ritual que rodea la muerte de sacerdotes de palo monte y que es conocido bajo el nombre “llanto”. Al presentar datos detallados de dos funerales específicos —el de una sacerdotisa palera, también santera y espiritista (2007) y el de un sacerdote palero quien tenía distintas afiliaciones religiosas (2009)—, esta etnografía aporta por una parte datos nuevos pues las ceremonias fúnebres de palo monte nunca han sido evocadas en la literatura especializada, en gran parte por la falta de estudios dedicados a esta práctica en general. Por otra, se propone al mismo tiempo resaltar, a través de la descripción misma, la multiplicidad y la creatividad religiosa cubana. En efecto, esta última se percibe tanto en la biografía personal de los religiosos así como también en estos rituales fúnebres, que movilizan jerarquías religiosas delicadas y evidencian los tránsitos de una práctica (afro‑)cubana a otra así como las dinámicas de creatividad que implican.
Copresentation of Antigen and Ligands of Siglec-G Induces B Cell Tolerance Independent of CD22
Authors: Pfrengle Fabian , Macauley Matthew S. , Kawasaki Norihito , Paulson James C.
Published: July 2013

Differentiation of self from nonself is indispensable for maintaining B cell tolerance in peripheral tissues. CD22 and Siglec-G (sialic acid–binding Ig-like lectin G) are two inhibitory coreceptors of the BCR that are implicated in maintenance of tolerance to self Ags. Enforced ligation of CD22 and the BCR by a nanoparticle displaying both Ag and CD22 ligands induces a tolerogenic circuit resulting in apoptosis of the Ag-reactive B cell. Whether Siglec-G also has this property has not been investigated in large part owing to the lack of a selective Siglec-G ligand. In this article, we report the development of a selective high-affinity ligand for Siglec-G and its application as a chemical tool to investigate the tolerogenic potential of Siglec-G. We find that liposomal nanoparticles decorated with Ag and Siglec-G ligand inhibit BCR signaling in both B1 and B2 B cells compared with liposomes displaying Ag alone. Not only is inhibition of B cell activation observed by ligating the BCR with Siglec-G, but robust tolerance toward T-independent and T-dependent Ags is also induced in mice. The ability of Siglec-G to inhibit B cell activation equally in both B1 and B2 subsets is consistent with our observation that Siglec-G is expressed at a relatively constant level throughout numerous B cell subsets. These results suggest that Siglec-G may contribute to maintenance of B cell tolerance toward self Ags in various B cell compartments.
Molecular Detection and Identification of Bartonella Species in Rat Fleas from Northeastern Thailand
Authors: Billeter Sarah A. , Colton Leah , Sangmaneedet Somboon , Suksawat Fanan , Evans Brian P. , Kosoy Michael Y.
Published: July 2013

The presence of Bartonella species in Xenopsylla cheopis fleas collected from Rattus spp. (R. exulans, R. norvegicus, and R. rattus) in Khon Kaen Province, Thailand was investigated. One hundred ninety-three fleas obtained from 62 rats, were screened by polymerase chain reaction using primers specific for the 16S–23S intergenic spacer region, and the presence of Bartonella DNA was confirmed by using the citrate synthase gene. Bartonella DNA was detected in 59.1% (114 of 193) of fleas examined. Sequencing demonstrated the presence of Bartonella spp. similar to B. elizabethae, B. rattimassiliensis, B. rochalimae, and B. tribocorum in the samples tested with a cutoff for sequence similarity ≥ 96% and 4 clustered together with the closest match with B. grahamii (95.5% identity). If X. cheopis proves to be a competent vector of these species, our results suggest that humans and animals residing in this area may be at risk for infection by several zoonotic Bartonella species.
Hookworm Infection among School Age Children in Kintampo North Municipality, Ghana: Nutritional Risk Factors and Response to Albendazole Treatment
Authors: Humphries Debbie , Simms Benjamin T. , Davey Dylan , Otchere Joseph , Quagraine Josephine , Terryah Shawn , Newton Samuel , Berg Elyssa , Harrison Lisa M. , Boakye Daniel , Wilson Michael , Cappello Michael
Published: July 2013

Children (n = 812) 6–11 years of age attending 16 schools in the Kintampo North Municipality of Ghana were screened for participation in a study on hookworm infection, nutrition, and response to albendazole. The prevalence of Necator americanus hookworm infection (n = 286) was 39.1%, and significant predictors of infection included age, malaria parasitemia, lack of health care, school area, levels of antibodies against hookworm, and low consumption of animal foods. The cure rate after a single dose (400 mg) albendazole was 43%, and the mean fecal egg count reduction rate was 87.3%. Data for an in vitro egg hatch assay showed a trend toward reduced albendazole susceptibility in post-treatment hookworm isolates (P = 0.06). In summary, hookworm infection is prevalent among school age children in the Kintampo North Municipality and animal food intake inversely correlates with infection status. Modest cure rates and fecal egg count reduction rates reinforce the need for further investigation of potential benzimidazole resistance in Ghana.
The Effects of Integration on Financing and Coverage of Neglected Tropical Disease Programs
Authors: Hooper Pamela J. , Zoerhoff Kathryn L. , Kyelem Dominique , Chu Brian , Flueckiger Rebecca Mann , Bamani Sanoussi , Bougma Windtaré Roland , Fleming Fiona , Onapa Ambrose , Paré Alain Brice , Torres Scott , Traore Mamadou Oumar , Tuinsma Marjon , Linehan Mary , Baker Margaret
Published: July 2013

When the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) began to support national programs integrating their neglected tropical disease (NTD) program activities, the expected impact on individual disease-specific programs was unclear, particularly with respect to program financing and coverage. To assess this impact, data were collected by NTD program managers and their non-governmental organization (NGO) partners in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Uganda from 2 years prior and 2 years after their individual programs received funding for an integrated NTD program. Findings show that these countries experienced some increases in overall funding available for integrated NTD programs, an expansion of geographical coverage and of the number of persons treated, and the addition of treatments targeted at new diseases. What is not clear is whether these achievements can be sustained if there are decreases in external support in the future. Seeking increased government commitment or sustained external donor support should be a top priority.
Microgeographical Differences of Plasmodium vivax Relapse and Re-Infection in the Peruvian Amazon
Authors: Chuquiyauri Raul , Peñataro Pablo , Brouwer Kimberly C. , Fasabi Manuel , Calderon Maritza , Torres Sonia , Gilman Robert H. , Kosek Margaret , Vinetz Joseph M.
Published: July 2013

To determine the magnitude of Plasmodium vivax relapsing malaria in rural Amazonia, we carried out a study in four sites in northeastern Peru. Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism of PvMSP-3α and tandem repeat (TR) markers were compared for their ability to distinguish relapse versus reinfection. Of 1,507 subjects with P. vivax malaria, 354 developed > 1 episode during the study; 97 of 354 (27.5%) were defined as relapse using Pvmsp-3α alone. The addition of TR polymorphism analysis significantly reduced the number of definitively defined relapses to 26 of 354 (7.4%) (P < 0.05). Multivariate logistic regression modeling showed that the probability of having > 1 infection was associated with the following: subjects in Mazan (odds ratio [OR] = 2.56; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.87, 3.51), 15–44 years of age (OR = 1.49; 95% CI 1.03, 2.15), traveling for job purposes (OR = 1.45; 95%CI 1.03, 2.06), and travel within past month (OR = 1.46; 95% CI 1.0, 2.14). The high discriminatory capacity of the molecular tools shown here is useful for understanding the micro-geography of malaria transmission.
Comparison of Parasitological, Serological, and Molecular Tests for Visceral Leishmaniasis in HIV-Infected Patients: A Cross-Sectional Delayed-Type Study
Authors: Cota Gláucia Fernandes , de Sousa Marcos Roberto , de Freitas Nogueira Betânia Mara , Gomes Luciana Inácia , Oliveira Edward , Assis Tália Santana Machado , de Mendonça Andréa Laender Pessoa , Pinto Bruna Fernandes , Saliba Juliana Wilke , Rabello Ana
Published: July 2013

The aim of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of invasive and non-invasive tests for diagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) in a large series of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients. In this delayed-type cross-sectional study, 113 HIV-infected symptomatic patients were evaluated by an adjudication committee after clinical follow-up to establish the presence or absence of VL as the target condition (reference test). The index tests were recombinant K39 antigen-based immunochromatographic test (rK39), indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT), prototype kit of direct agglutination test (DAT-LPC), and real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) in peripheral blood. Compared with parasitological test and adjudication committee diagnosis or latent class model analyses, IFAT and rk39 dipstick test presented the lowest sensitivity. DAT-LPC exhibited good overall performance, and there was no statistical difference between DAT-LPC and qPCR diagnosis accuracy. Real-time PCR emerges as a less invasive alternative to parasitological examination for confirmation of cases not identified by DAT.