bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Impact of Fusarium Mycotoxins on Human and Animal Host Susceptibility to Infectious Diseases
Authors: Antonissen Gunther , Martel An , Pasmans Frank , Ducatelle Richard , Verbrugghe Elin , Vandenbroucke Virginie , Li Shaoji , Haesebrouck Freddy , Van Immerseel Filip , Croubels Siska
Published: January 2014

Contamination of food and feed with mycotoxins is a worldwide problem. At present, acute mycotoxicosis caused by high doses is rare in humans and animals. Ingestion of low to moderate amounts of Fusarium mycotoxins is common and generally does not result in obvious intoxication. However, these low amounts may impair intestinal health, immune function and/or pathogen fitness, resulting in altered host pathogen interactions and thus a different outcome of infection. This review summarizes the current state of knowledge about the impact of Fusarium mycotoxin exposure on human and animal host susceptibility to infectious diseases. On the one hand, exposure to deoxynivalenol and other Fusarium mycotoxins generally exacerbates infections with parasites, bacteria and viruses across a wide range of animal host species. Well-known examples include coccidiosis in poultry, salmonellosis in pigs and mice, colibacillosis in pigs, necrotic enteritis in poultry, enteric septicemia of catfish, swine respiratory disease, aspergillosis in poultry and rabbits, reovirus infection in mice and Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus infection in pigs. However, on the other hand, T-2 toxin has been shown to markedly decrease the colonization capacity of Salmonella in the pig intestine. Although the impact of the exposure of humans to Fusarium toxins on infectious diseases is less well known, extrapolation from animal models suggests possible exacerbation of, for instance, colibacillosis and salmonellosis in humans, as well.
Phytotoxicity Evaluation of Type B Trichothecenes Using a Chlamydomonas reinhardtii Model System
Authors: Suzuki Tadahiro , Iwahashi Yumiko
Published: January 2014

Type B trichothecenes, which consist of deoxynivalenol (DON) and nivalenol (NIV) as the major end products, are produced by phytotoxic fungi, such as the Fusarium species, and pollute arable fields across the world. The DON toxicity has been investigated using various types of cell systems or animal bioassays. The evaluation of NIV toxicity, however, has been relatively restricted because of its lower level compared with DON. In this study, the Chlamydomonas reinhardtii testing system, which has been reported to have adequate NIV sensitivity, was reinvestigated under different mycotoxin concentrations and light conditions. The best concentration of DON and NIV, and their derivatives, for test conditions was found to be 25 ppm (2.5 × 10−2 mg/mL). In all light test conditions, DON, NIV, and fusarenon-X (FusX) indicated significant growth inhibition regardless of whether a light source existed, or under differential wavelength conditions. FusX growth was also influenced by changes in photon flux density. These results suggest that C. reinhardtii is an appropriate evaluation system for type B trichothecenes.
Geographical Patterns in Cyanobacteria Distribution: Climate Influence at Regional Scale
Authors: Pitois Frédéric , Thoraval Isabelle , Baurès Estelle , Thomas Olivier
Published: January 2014

Cyanobacteria are a component of public health hazards in freshwater environments because of their potential as toxin producers. Eutrophication has long been considered the main cause of cyanobacteria outbreak and proliferation, whereas many studies emphasized the effect of abiotic parameters (mainly temperature and light) on cell growth rate or toxin production. In view of the growing concerns of global change consequences on public health parameters, this study attempts to enlighten climate influence on cyanobacteria at regional scale in Brittany (NW France). The results show that homogeneous cyanobacteria groups are associated with climatic domains related to temperature, global radiation and pluviometry, whereas microcystins (MCs) occurrences are only correlated to local cyanobacteria species composition. As the regional climatic gradient amplitude is similar to the projected climate evolution on a 30-year timespan, a comparison between the present NW and SE situations was used to extrapolate the evolution of geographical cyanobacteria distribution in Brittany. Cyanobacteria composition should shift toward species associated with more frequent Microcystins occurrences along a NW/SE axis whereas lakes situated along a SW/NE axis should transition to species (mainly Nostocales) associated with lower MCs detection frequencies.
Flood Risk Impact Factor for Comparatively Evaluating the Main Causes that Contribute to Flood Risk in Urban Drainage Areas
Authors: Morita Masaru
Published: January 2014

Among the various factors that contribute to flood risk, heavy storms, inadequate storm drainage systems, and the concentration of population and assets have usually been considered to be fundamental factors affecting flood damage. Climate change is also a real threat, bringing heavier and more frequent storms. This study presents a methodology for comparatively evaluating the impact of the flood risk factors using a GIS-based flood damage prediction model (FDPM). The FDPM calculates flood inundation depths using the XP-SWMM routine and monetary flood damages using a flood damage estimation model for various storms and catchment conditions. The concept of flood risk in this context is defined as the product of flood damage and the probability of its occurrence. This study produces a flood risk structure in a risk assessment framework. The method is applied to the Kiba drainage area in Tokyo, Japan. The study gives a quantitative evaluation of the changes in flood risk due to risk factors such as increase in asset values, flood control, and climate change using a flood risk impact factor (FRIF). The FRIF is introduced as an index to evaluate the impact of various sources of increased or reduced flood risk to society.
Isotopes as Tracers of Water Origin in and Near a Regional Carbonate Aquifer: The Southern Sacramento Mountains, New Mexico
Authors: Eastoe Christopher , Rodney Ryan
Published: January 2014

High-elevation groundwater sampled in 2003 in the Sacramento Mountains defines a line resembling an evaporation trend in δD-δ18O space. The trend results from recharge of winter precipitation into fractured limestone, with evaporation prior to recharge in broad mountain valleys. The same trend occurs in basin groundwater east and west of the range, indicating the high Sacramento Mountains as the principal regional water source, either direct from the limestone aquifers or from mountain-derived surface water. Tritium and carbon-14 indicate bulk residence times of a few decades in the high Sacramento Mountains and at Alamogordo, and of thousands of years south of Alamogordo and in the artesian aquifer near Artesia. Stable O, H isotope data fail to demonstrate the presence of Sacramento Mountains water in a saline aquifer of the Hueco Bolson (Texas).
Assessing the Impacts of Sea Level Rise on Salinity Intrusion and Transport Time Scales in a Tidal Estuary, Taiwan
Authors: Liu Wen-Cheng , Liu Hong-Ming
Published: January 2014

Global climate change has resulted in a gradual sea level rise. Sea level rise can cause saline water to migrate upstream in estuaries and rivers, thereby threatening freshwater habitat and drinking-water supplies. In the present study, a three-dimensional hydrodynamic model was established to simulate salinity distributions and transport time scales in the Wu River estuary of central Taiwan. The model was calibrated and verified using tidal amplitudes and phases, time-series water surface elevation and salinity distributions in 2011. The results show that the model simulation and measured data are in good agreement. The validated model was then applied to calculate the salinity distribution, flushing time and residence time in response to a sea level rise of 38.27 cm. We found that the flushing time for high flow under the present condition was lower compared to the sea level rise scenario and that the flushing time for low flow under the present condition was higher compared to the sea level rise scenario. The residence time for the present condition and the sea level rise scenario was between 10.51 and 34.23 h and between 17.11 and 38.92 h, respectively. The simulated results reveal that the residence time of the Wu River estuary will increase when the sea level rises. The distance of salinity intrusion in the Wu River estuary will increase and move further upstream when the sea level rises, resulting in the limited availability of water of suitable quality for municipal and industrial uses.
Les statuts juridiques de l'étranger à la campagne
Authors: Lorvellec Louis
Published: January 2014

La norme juridique définit d'abord l'étranger ; elle lui donne ensuite un statut, et exprime ainsi les discours officiels d'accueil ou de rejet, d'intégration ou d'assimilation. La dimension rurale renforce l'exemplarité du discours juridique car le pouvoir y règle la relation à la terre. En premier lieu, le droit français semble moins favorable à l'étranger rural qu'à l'étranger urbain. Le premier accapare une portion du territoire ; le second enrichit le pays. Cette tendance se vérifie même après la Seconde Guerre mondiale. En second lieu, le droit français a toujours sélectionné "ses" étrangers et offert un statut privilégié à certains d'entre eux, recourant depuis longtemps aux techniques d'assimilation sélectives qui culminent aujourd'hui par l'effet des traités européens.
Dynamique d'intégration dans l'agriculture provençale
Authors: Berlan Jean-Pierre
Published: January 2014

L'agriculture méditerranéenne de la France l'est à deux titres : géographiquement et humainement, par le recours systématique à une main-d'œuvre étrangère, italienne, espagnole, portugaise, marocaine, turque, voire égyptienne. Dans la zone étudiée, la région viticole des Côtes du Rhône au sud de la Drôme, au début des années 1970, les viticulteurs ont remplacé leurs Espagnols vieillissants par des Marocains. Dans nombre de communes, ces familles maghrébines représentent près de 10% de la population. Des enquêtes approfondies en 1988-1989, puis en 1991, permettent de suivre la dynamique de l'intégration de ces familles (logement, emploi, santé, éducation) et le renouvellement des formes de l'immigration. Elles montrent que ces dernières s'urbanisent, que le problème de l'emploi des jeunes devient crucial à partir de 1994, et que la difficulté principale n'est pas l'intégration des enfants, mais celle des parents.
Sériciculture au Karnataka. Entre artisanat rural et agro-industrie
Authors: Guetat-Bernard Hélène
Published: January 2014

Sericulture in Karnataka. Between a Rural Craft and Agribusiness

Sericulture in southern India is a flourishing, cash-earning craft production that employs many people in rural areas. It occupies from 30 to 70 % of the labor force in villages where, on the average, nonagricultural employment does not represent more than 10 %. The reasons for this dynamism lies in : the government's active, long-term support ; the economic attraction exerted by the town of Kollegal, a pole of growth ; and, especially, the ability of private actors to adjust to a fluctuating market.
Transitions agraires en Europe centrale
Authors: Lamarche Hugues , Maurel Marie-Claude
Published: January 2014

La transition vers l'économie de marché exige que les acteurs sociaux s'adaptent au nouveau mode de régulation économique et social. Partant de l'hypothèse que les capacités d'apprentissage ne sont pas identiques selon les individus et que des déterminants socio-culturels et des effets de lieu peuvent intervenir dans le processus de différenciation, les auteurs ont réalisé des enquêtes auprès d'un échantillon de 367 personnes travaillant dans des coopératives de production agricole et des fermes d'État, en Pologne, en Hongrie et en République tchèque. Ce travail de terrain leur a permis, d'une part, d'appréhender les modèles idéels dont ces travailleurs étaient porteurs, d'autre part, de caractériser les nouvelles formes sociales de production et leurs modes de fonctionnement.
L'agri-environnement, une production d'avenir ?
Authors: Alphandéry Pierre , Bourliaud Jean
Published: January 2014

Is the agri-environment a future production ?

Has French farm policy taken a turn in environmental matters ? The growing importance of arrangements for implementing regulations and directives coming from Brussels has, over the past decade or so, permanently linked environmental questions and production practices. However, planned financial incentives amount to but a small part of aid for agriculture. For this reason, the modifications ensuing from these measures primarily serve to shed light on the institutional adjustments characteristic of agricultural policy, which range from broadening objectives to redefining various actors' concepts and practices.
Négociations autour d'une nature muette. Dispositifs environnementaux dans les marais de l'Ouest
Authors: Billaud Jean-Paul
Published: January 2014

Depuis 1989, différents protocoles de gestion de l'environnement, centrés sur des procédures de négociations, ont été expérimentés dans les marais de l'Ouest. Au lendemain d'une décennie très conflictuelle, ces dispositifs marquent une rupture dans les formes de l'action collective. L'objet de l'article est de s'interroger sur les problèmes que posent la représentation et la traduction des « êtres naturels », à partir du moment où ils sont conviés à prendre place dans des réseaux sociotechniques servant de base à l'établissement de compromis entre groupes sociaux concurrents. On essaie de comprendre pourquoi, malgré une participation significative de porte-parole de la nature, celle-ci a du mal à se constituer en réfèrent légitime dans le rapport entre les hommes et le milieu.
La petite sauvagine dans la prairie. Une approche de l'agri-environnement en Amérique du Nord
Authors: Jean Bruno
Published: January 2014

Small wildfowl on the prairies. An approach to the agri-environment in North America

Measures for protecting the environment in the United States and certain Canadian provinces are grounded in the principles of « cross compliance » and of « private stewardship ». Till quite recently, strong government interventions tended to «judicialize» farming practices. But for a while now, a trend can be observed toward making farmers responsible. In North America as in Europe, the question of environmental responsibility is now on the agenda.
Lieu, ancêtre et céréale : le dieu du sol au Japon
Authors: Caillet Laurence
Published: January 2014

Les dieux du sol japonais sont communément décrits comme les divinités du territoire, les ancêtres défricheurs, les formes purifiées des défunts, les esprits sauvages des malemorts, les dieux de l'agriculture ou les forces chtoniennes. Tutélaires ou colériques, ils sont aussi bien souverains que rebelles. La diversité de leurs qualités exprime l'attribution d'une certaine communauté d'essence aux hommes et à la terre, source d'une imbrication courante entre liens du sol et liens du sang. Dans un contexte marqué par le bouddhisme, cette imprécision apparente des noms et des fonctions sous-tend la conviction de l'unicité ultime des êtres et des choses.
Le Christ est-il mort pour les bêtes ?
Authors: Baratay Eric
Published: January 2014

Pour le clergé, et pour l'immense majorité des fidèles, la mort de l'animal, créature au mieux pourvue d'une âme matérielle, est un phénomène banal, qui retient peu l'attention et ne suscite guère de questions. Les recommandations éparses sur une nécessaire modération de la violence, afin qu'elle ne rejaillisse pas un jour sur l'homme, ne modifient pas cette représentation dominante. Elle est toutefois de plus en plus contestée par un courant minoritaire, composé essentiellement de laïcs, qui existait depuis longtemps à l'état latent mais qui n'émerge sur la scène publique qu'au XIXe siècle. Dans son optique, le bon plaisir de l'homme n'est pas acceptable, la souffrance et la mort de l'animal sont le plus souvent injustes, et une forme de survie, une place au paradis, doit compenser une vie de tourments.
Le poisson : une denrée périssable
Authors: Bérard Laurence
Published: January 2014

Le milieu aquatique - si éloigné du nôtre - héberge des êtres à part, dont la chair a longtemps été jugée peu reconstituante et propice à la pénitence. La présence de l'eau, les différentes phases de l'élevage - notamment l'alevinage et la pêche -, les techniques de mises en œuvre pour maintenir impérativement le poisson en vie après sa sortie de l'eau, en particulier dans le cadre de son transport, la façon de penser sa mort sont autant d'entrées qui mettent en évidence les pratiques et les représentations qui existent autour de cet animal. Masse indifférenciée ou individu bien identifié, le poisson oscille entre le végétal et l'animal au fil des étapes de son élevage, et sa mort s'apparente à une perte de fraîcheur. L'exemple de la carpe en Dombes illustre notre propos.
Marcher la nuit sans lanterne, c'est cueillir chardons pour luzerne.
Authors: Ambrosoli Mauro
Published: January 2014

Botany and agriculture in Western Europe (1350-1850) -

After recalling the hypotheses developed in The Wild and the Sown and criticisms of them, the underlying research options are shown to be coherent. Two specific examples - the diffusion of clover in the Netherlands during the 17th and 18th centuries, and the policy for stimulating the exchange of botanical information in the Napoleonic empire - illustrate the possibility of extending this research. The growth of the international seed market along with the development of a global knowledge of plants and soils shared by botanists and agronomists all over Europe formed the essential conditions for the birth of a new agriculture before the 19th century agrochemical revolution. By shedding light on the flow of information and knowledge underlying the "agricultural revolution", a comprehensive approach to the history of the environment is shown to be worth considering.
La faucille et la faux.
Authors: Grantham George W.
Published: January 2014

Les céréales cultivées ont tiré certaines de leurs caractéristiques de la façon dont elles étaient récoltées lors de leur domestication - à la faucille pour le blé, à la faux pour l'avoine. Comme le choix de la faucille allait de pair avec celui de grains dont l'attache à la tige était plus fragile, les cultivateurs n'ont ensuite pu moissonner le blé qu'à la faucille. La faux, plus rapide, aurait provoqué trop de pertes et n'était donc utilisée que pour l'avoine. La coexistence de ces deux instruments est un exemple frappant de dépendance temporelle dans la mesure où les conditions initiales - ici le fait que la domestication du blé est antérieure de plusieurs millénaires à celle de l'avoine - ont eu des conséquences très durables sur le choix des techniques et sur l'organisation sociale en Europe du néolithique au XIXe siècle.
Les centres de diffusion du riz cultivé.
Authors: Levy-Ward Annick
Published: January 2014

Centers of the diffusion of domesticated rice from southeastern Asia to China - Debate still rages about where rice was first domesticated. On the basis of archeological findings from about thirty years ago, these centers were located in southeastern Asia, specifically Thailand. At the time, historical studies laid emphasis on southeastern Asia, where botanical research drew attention to the bountifulness of food plants. More recent archeological diggings at older sites in China have rekindled this debate. They have led to new hypotheses about the centers from which major Austroasiatic (Austronesian and Thai-Kadai) language families spread. Rice raises questions about the history of the settlement of both China and southeastern Asia.
Fuero nobiliaire et droit de justice.
Authors: Langue Frédérique
Published: January 2014

Noble fuero and the right to dispense justice. The 18th century « lords and masters » of Zacatecas (Mexico) -

Quite real captains of industry before their time, the big landowners who dominated the mining region ofZacatecas, Mexico, reproduced a system of highly traditional values. This Hispanic heritage was based on a set of privileges that granted them absolute power far beyond their estates. This de facto power was shaped by these aristocrats' clans and patronage system. It was both the symbolic and real expression of a special right recognized by the Crown of Spain itself.
Alcaldes de la Hermandad et juges de paix à Buenos Aires (XVIIIe-XIXe siècle)
Authors: Garavaglia Juan Carlos
Published: January 2014

Alcaldes de la Hermandad and justices of the peace in Buenos Aires (17th- 1 8th centuries) - Various aspects of the operation of rural justice in the Buenos Aires countryside from 1750 to 1850 shed light on the fundamental role of civil servants, whether alcaldes de la Hermandad during the colonial period or justices of the peace following Independence. These officials mainly worked toward conciliation and mediation. However, with regard to young, unmarried migrants, who were the « salt of the earth » in the countryside, they were called upon to adopt coercive measures for reinforcing social discipline.
Représentations de la justice dans la campagne de Buenos Aires (1800-1830)
Authors: Fradkin Raùl
Published: January 2014

À partir des sources fournies par les archives des tribunaux civils, il est possible d'étudier les représentations sociales que les habitants de la campagne de Buenos Aires avaient de la justice durant les trente premières années du XIXe siècle. La diversité de ces conceptions et des valeurs qui leur sont attachées résulte des contradictions entre les traditions et pratiques ibériques et les changements apportés par la Révolution de 1810. Les conflits qui opposent les propriétaires fonciers aux métayers et aux fermiers reflètent ces tensions.
Justice and Non-Violent Jihâd
Authors: Banerjee Mukulika
Published: January 2014

Justice et jihâd non violente : la lutte anti-coloniale à la frontière nord-ouest de l'Inde britannique -

Cet article traite d'un des mouvements de protestation qui ont vu le jour dans la Province de la frontière du Nord-Ouest de l'Inde britannique, près de la zone sensible séparant les empires britannique et russe, soumettant ainsi sa population à de dures lois et mesures punitives. Dans les années trente, les Pathans formèrent le mouvement Khudai Khidmatgar qui s'éleva contre la sévère res-

triction des libertés. Jusqu'au XIXe siècle, sous d'autres régimes non européens, l'exercice de la justice était resté une affaire pashtoune. Par la suite, l'administration coloniale modifia les procédures traditionnelles. J'examine ici comment cette lutte pour la justice fut menée.
Honneur et tradition dans les plantations sucrières du Nordeste (Brésil)
Authors: Sigaud Lygia
Published: January 2014

À partir d'une enquête de terrain menée en 1995 dans une plantation de canne à sucre du Nord- Est du Brésil, l'auteur reconstitue l'itinéraire politique d'Amaro Pedro, paysan salarié devenu délégué syndical après le coup d'État militaire de 1964. Les témoignages recueillis illustrent le conflit entre les enjeux politiques du mouvement paysan qui préconise le recours aux institutions juridiques et les liens de dépendance qui unissent les paysans aux propriétaires fonciers, fondés sur l'honneur, la protection et la gratitude.
OWNERSHIP, TECHNOLOGICAL CAPABILITIES AND EXPORTS OF GARMENT FIRMS IN MYANMAR
Authors: Rasiah Rajah , Myint Myo Myo
Published: January 2014

This paper uses the evolutionary framework to examine the relationship between ownership, technological capabilities and export intensities using garment manufacturing in the Least Developed Country of Myanmar as an empirical case. The results show that foreign firms with production connected to global value chains enjoy higher export intensity than national firms even when controlled for age. Also, foreign firms with access to superior support from parent plants enjoy higher technology capability than national firms even after controlling for age. The Levene's two-tail ‘t’ tests show that foreign firms also enjoyed higher human resource, process technology and adaptive capabilities than national firms. Foreign firms are also larger and pay higher wages than national firms. The results show that foreign firms’ superior market access and technological capabilities can offer the potential for knowledge spillover to national firms provided the government stabilizes the political situation and strengthens the basic and high technology infrastructure in Myanmar. Unlike the Maquiladoras of Latin America, not only that a quarter of the inputs are sourced by garment firms from Myanmar, a handful of national firms have already acquired the export and technological capabilities to compete with foreign firms.
CHOICE OF LOCATION, GROWTH AND WELFARE WITH UNEQUAL POLLUTION EXPOSURES
Authors: Lich Hoang Khac , Tournemaine Frédéric
Published: January 2014

We develop an endogenous growth model with human capital accumulation in which firms are polluting and heterogeneous individuals must decide, among other things, where to live. The main idea is that pollution is unequally spread across geographical locations, inducing a trade-off for individuals between environmental quality and leisure. In such economy, we show that a better environmental quality and/or a greater degree of inequality lead individuals to favour cleaner locations which, in turn, boosts long-term growth. Welfare-wise, we find that, in general, individuals prefer a greater level of consumption and leisure but lower growth and environmental quality than those which are possible to achieve. Moreover, we show that the sign of the impact of inequality on environmental quality is likely to be negative.
INVESTMENT DETERMINANTS OF FITNESS SMES IN PORTUGAL
Authors: Nunes Paulo Maçãs , Serrasqueiro Zélia , Guedes de Carvalho Pedro
Published: January 2014

Based on a sample of 182 Portuguese fitness SMEs we study the investment determinants of fitness SMEs in Portugal. The multiple empirical evidence obtained in this study lets us conclude that the main explanatory theories of firm investment cannot be considered mutually exclusive in explaining the investment of Portuguese fitness SMEs, since: 1) they adjust investment as a function of sales, corroborating the assumptions of Neoclassical theory; 2) cash flow is an important financial resource for investment, corroborating the assumptions of Free Cash Flow theory; and 3) external finance, namely debt, is a restrictive determinant of investment, which corroborates the assumptions of Agency theory. Besides these results, we find that growth opportunities and government subsidies are positive determinants of investment in Portuguese fitness SMEs, and the financial crisis of 2008 has a negative influence on investment in Portuguese fitness SMEs. The financial crisis of 2008 also means greater relative importance of cash flow and government subsidies for increased investment, and debt for diminished investment, in fitness SMEs.
APPLYING THE SUPERIOR IDENTIFICATION GROUP LINGUISTIC VARIABLE TO CONSTRUCT KANO MODEL ORIENTED QUALITY FUNCTION DEPLOYMENT
Authors: Wang Shih-Yuan
Published: January 2014

This study attempts to manipulate 2-tuple linguistic variables rather than pure linguistic variables in quality function deployment (QFD) in order to significantly improve the identification of the QFD model. The Kano model, a two-dimensional quality technique, is also integrated to recognize the degree of urgency in terms of enhancing and prioritizing quality-related requirements of customers via a fuzzy linguistic quantifier with a soft majority concept to fit the optimal aggregation weights. This study also retains the goodness on the usage of multi-granularity linguistic approach to facilitate the implementation of a group decision. Simultaneously, two-dimensional analysis is performed to explain the results synthetically between relationship matrix and correlation matrix from a management perspective, capable of providing comprehensive information for the decision process. Owing to the integration of several quality and management methods, results of this study demonstrate the capability of TRIZ.
AN EXTENSION OF THE MOORA METHOD FOR SOLVING FUZZY DECISION MAKING PROBLEMS
Authors: Stanujkic Dragisa
Published: January 2014

The aim of this paper is to propose an extension of the MOORA method to use the triangular fuzzy numbers. In this paper, several methods for defuzzification and calculation of the distance between two fuzzy numbers, are discussed. By applying these methods, the Ratio system and the Reference point approach of the MOORA method can be used in fuzzy environment. Thanks to the proposed modification, the MOORA method can be used to solve a greater number of real world problems. To demonstrate the applicability and effectiveness of the proposed approach, an example of grinding circuits design selection is considered.
COMPARING THE APPLE IPAD AND NON-APPLE CAMP TABLET PCS: A MULTICRITERIA DECISION ANALYSIS
Authors: Tsai Pei-Hsuan , Chang Shun-Chiao
Published: January 2014

This study mainly evaluates the performances of Tablet PCs such as the Apple iPad based on a benefits, opportunity, costs, and risks (BOCR) conceptual framework with qualitative and quantitative criteria. We apply four methods, namely, the multiple-criteria decision-making (MCDM) tools (grey relational analysis (GRA), the technique for order performance by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS), the VlseKriterijumska Optimizacija I Kompromisno (VIKOR) method, and fuzzy approach) to evaluate and select the tablet PCs’ rankings and then construct a tablet PCs evaluation performance model under an analytic hierarchy process (AHP). The empirical results reveal that a firm's revenue growth, capacity for profitability, product design and product function are highly important evaluation indexes. This indicates that Tablet PC companies should channel more efforts into their product innovation for creating revenue growth and maintaining customer loyalty. Finally, fuzzy AHP also leads to the same findings.
APPLICATION OF DEA METHOD IN EFFICIENCY EVALUATION OF PUBLIC HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS
Authors: Nazarko Joanicjusz , Šaparauskas Jonas
Published: January 2014

Public higher education sector is under a growing pressure worldwide to increase efficiency and improve the quality of its activities. Limited financial resources as well as detailed regulations and supervision of their spending are the important features of the public higher education sector. Another important and debated issue is the division of public money among higher education institutions (HEI). It is therefore crucial to create stimuli for the rational management of public funds by HEI and for the quality improvement of HEI services. One of the proposed ways to achieve the desired result is the comparative efficiency assessment of HEI activities. Setting clear reference points for HEI, such assessment may be treated as a substitute for market competition. This paper describes a comparative efficiency study of 19 Polish universities of technology. Detailed analysis of potential input, output and environmental variables describing the HEI efficiency model was carried out. The study used the CCR-CRS output-oriented DEA model. It was assumed that HEI had more influence on achieved results than on the amount of their resources. The economies of scale were also studied in relation to the efficiency achieved. Sensitivity of the model to data errors was tested.
Doit-on tout dire aux parents ? Le bilan psychologique au service de la guidance parentale
Authors: Goldman Caroline
Published: January 2014

Nous constatons dans notre pratique clinique combien les parents sont demandeurs d’explications concernant la souffrance de leur enfant, mais aussi, surtout, de clefs pouvant les aider à amener eux-mêmes leur enfant vers la levée de ses symptômes. Or, l’accès à l’information et aux conseils de guidance parentale semble souvent refusé aux parents. Le bilan psychologique, si l’on sait en exploiter toutes les richesses, peut constituer cet outil informatif et didactique pour les parents. Pour cela, un certain nombre de facteurs doivent être mis en place par le psychologue : un interlocuteur unique pour tout le bilan, un entretien préliminaire suffisamment long avec les deux parents et l’enfant, plusieurs heures de travail à la rédaction du compte-rendu, une démonstration de pensée illustrée par des citations projectives de l’enfant, un abord transparent des figures parentales telles qu’elles apparaissent dans les protocoles, des hypothèses étiologiques à la lueur des apports de réalité offerts par l’entretien préliminaire, puis des conseils parfois très pragmatiques de guidance parentale découlant de ces données.
Gestion des biens collectifs, capital social et auto-organisation : l'apport d'Elinor OSTROM à l'Economie sociale et solidaire
Authors: Pérez Roland , Silva François
Published: January 2014

Cette note introductive a pour objet de rappeler en quoi le projet intellectuel d’Elinor Ostrom (1933-2012, Prix Nobel d’Economie 2009) intéresse à plusieurs titres le champ de l’Economie Sociale et Solidaire (ESS). Après avoir rappelé quelques étapes significatives dans l’itinéraire intellectuel d’Elinor Ostrom. (I), nous présenterons l’idée centrale qu’elle a défendue autour de la gestion des biens collectifs, via l’auto-organisation des collectivités humaines concernées (II) ; nous mettrons ensuite l’accent sur l’utilisation du concept de « capital social », particulièrement important dans un contexte ESS (III) ; enfin, nous présenterons brièvement les différentes contributions composant ce cahier (IV).
Cohésion sociale et richesse économique : compléter l'apport d'Elinor Ostrom par une étude empirique de l'ESS
Authors: Dacheux Éric , Goujon Daniel
Published: January 2014

Nous vivons actuellement une crise économique profonde qui remet en cause le paradigme libéral ainsi que son pendant, les arbitrages de marché, et qui rappelle l’intérêt des approches hétérodoxes. L’attribution du prix Nobel d’économie à Elinor Ostrom en 2009, en est l’illustration. Si E. Ostrom a permis de montrer que la cohésion d’une communauté permettait de gérer de façon optimale une ressource naturelle, l’étude des initiatives se réclamant de l’Economie sociale et solidaire révèle que la cohésion sociale est source de richesse économique. La cohésion sociale favorise une intelligence collective qui s’avère une source de création de richesses plus efficiente et plus durable que l’allocation des ressources par le jeu du marché.
Economie des res derelictae et gestion solidaire des déchets. Les écocycleries, des entreprises d'appropriateurs solidaires
Authors: Glémain Pascal
Published: January 2014

La gouvernance des biens communs théorisée par Elinor Ostrom propose une approche institutionnelle de l’étude de l’auto-organisation et de l’auto-gouvernance dans les situations de ressources communes. Dans la lignée de ses travaux et de ceux qui concernent l’approche institutionnaliste de l’économie des déchets, nous proposons dans le cadre de cet article de comprendre les fondements et les modalités du modèle économique des appropriateurs solidaires, en tant que gestionnaires des res derelictae dans un objectif solidaire de consolidation non seulement d’une activité d’insertion par l’activité économique portée par certaines écocycleries solidaires, mais aussi d’intégration des publics moins favorisés par l’accès à des biens communs d’occasion revalorisés. A leur étude, nous aboutissons à deux enseignements. D’une part, nous disposons d’une innovation socioéconomique territorialisée dans la gestion des déchets. D’autre part, cette innovation participe à la dynamique du dialogue social territorial élargi à la source d’un nouveau modèle de développement local, socialement soutenable, respectueux de l’environnement, mais de plus en plus contraint dans sa dimension économique.
Joint interpretation of geoelectrical and soil‐gas measurements for monitoring CO2 releases at a natural analogue
Authors: Sauer U. , Watanabe N. , Singh A. , Dietrich P. , Kolditz O. , Schütze C.
Published: January 2014

The development and validation of hierarchic monitoring concepts is essential for detecting and assessing possible leakages from storage formations, especially for carbon capture and storage (CCS) applications. Joint interpretation of various techniques (such as carbon dioxide (CO2) concentration and flux measurements, self‐potential (SP) and geoelectrical surveys) showed that the combination of geophysical methods with soil‐gas analysis for mesoscale monitoring of the shallow subsurface above geologic CO2 storages can be a valuable tool for mapping and monitoring potential CO2 spread in the subsurface. Three measurement campaigns were undertaken – May 2011, July 2011 and April 2012 – at an analogue site in the Cheb Basin, Czech Republic, with the aim of studying CO2 leakages and their temporal and spatial behaviour. Results of geoelectrical investigations give an insight into the structural features of the subsurface. CO2 discharge into the atmosphere is mostly impeded by shallow, clay‐rich, partly water‐saturated zones, which can be seen in the electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) results. Several transport processes can be identified based on SP measurements. The SP results highlight the complex behaviour of temporal variations for the flow patterns. In particular, coupled migration of gas and water plays an important influencing role in this process. Site‐specific, near surface geological features and meteorological conditions seem to exert great influence on the degassing pattern and measured CO2 values. Therefore, soil‐gas measurements represent a snapshot which illustrates both a distinct typical pattern of the soil‐gas distribution in the near subsurface and certain differences caused by soil and meteorological conditions. Observed CO2 soil‐gas anomalies and modelled results suggest that the occurrence of gas discharge is much more localized around restricted areas, often controlled by local permeability contrasts. Hence, our results show that a proposed monitoring concept should integrate SP, time‐lapse ERT, meteorological parameters and soil‐gas measurements to provide a comprehensive insight into the subsurface structures and processes.
3D effects on 2D resistivity monitoring in earth‐fill dams
Authors: Cho In‐Ky , Ha Ik‐Soo , Kim Ki‐Seog , Ahn Hee‐Yoon , Lee Seunghee , Kang Hye‐Jin
Published: January 2014

Measuring resistivity is a potentially powerful method of monitoring leakage zones that have developed in a dam, and their expansion over time. Generally, for embankment dams, two‐dimensional (2D) resistivity data have been measured along the dam crest for the detection of leakage zones. However, the three‐dimensional (3D) effects created by specific dam geometry and fluctuations in reservoir water levels significantly distort the 2D resistivity data measured at the dam crest. This study evaluates the 3D effects through 3D resistivity modelling software, which was developed to calculate apparent resistivity data for geometries and material distributions for embankment dams. These modelling results demonstrated that the 3D effect from the dam geometry and variations in water level is significant. Especially, in the case of monitoring, changes in 3D effects from water level fluctuations cause a spurious near‐surface layer when time‐lapse inversion is applied with a cross‐model constraint. To overcome this problem, we introduced a combined reference model constructed from the independent inversion of both time‐lapse data and original reference data. The combined reference model was able to effectively suppress the spurious near‐surface layer and to clearly image the damaged zone when the change in water level was small. However, a time‐lapse inversion using the combined reference model also failed to identify the damaged zone when the change in water level was large. Finally, by using the resistivity monitoring system devised for dam surveillance to a test dam site, resistivity monitoring data were acquired. From the time‐lapse inversion of two data sets showing a large change in water level between two measurements, it was confirmed that the variation of water levels produces the occurrence of a spurious near‐surface layer due to a strong 3D effect.
Evaluating the Influence of E-SCM on Business Integrity in SMEs
Authors: Abdelghaffar Hany , Hassan Nada
Published: January 2014

Due to the extensive competition in today’s markets and the rapid development of new products and services, many companies started to invest on implementing supply chain management system. The rapid development of the internet had helped companies to establish their electronic supply chain system with suppliers in order to enhance the business functions. This paper investigates how e-supply chain management system enhances the business integrity at SMEs. To achieve this, a conceptual model was introduced and tested via a case study. Findings showed that implementing e-SCM helps SMEs to increase business integrity which leads to enhancing the efficiency and flexibility of the procurement process.
MDA-Based Transformation of LMS Business Components
Authors: Dehbi Rachid , Talea Mohamed , Tragha Abderrahim
Published: January 2014

The model driven engineering and generative programming are revolutionizing software development just as automation and computerization revolutionized the manufacturing process. The key technologies of these approaches are the model transformations, and development in the XML technologies. In this paper the authors show the contribution of these two techniques in the implementation of LMSGENERATOR, a Multi-target Learning management system generator with a model-driven methodology based on MDA approach coupled with component approach. Based on generative programming, from user specifications (abstract models) and the desired technologies, software bricks will be generated and assembled to produce a complete solution adapted to the area and the users’ needs. This paper focuses on the transformation rules implemented in the LMSGENERATOR cores, in particular the transformation of a detailed UML class diagram, representing a business model, into the LMS Business component. Thus, the authors show the role of programming in model transformations through the use of API manipulating UML diagrams and XML files. Also this work presents a case study to illustrate this proposed plan.
Building a Knowledge Experience Base for Facilitating Innovation
Authors: Ardimento Pasquale , Convertini Vito Nicola , Visaggio Giuseppe
Published: January 2014

This paper presents a framework aimed at supporting knowledge transferring inside and outside an organization for innovation purposes. For this goal, the authors propose a Knowledge Experience Base (KEB), which collects Knowledge Experience Packages (KEP), to support the formalization and packaging of knowledge and experience of innovation stakeholders, encouraging gradual explanation of tacit information of bearers of knowledge to facilitate the transfer, minimizing costs and risks.
Day-Definite Full Container Load Service for Time-Sensitive Shippers
Authors: Kouvelis Panos , Li Jian
Published: January 2014

The authors quantify the benefits of a newly introduced logistics product, day-definite Full Container-load (FCL), in terms of its cost reduction relative to other existing products – regular FCL and airfreight, from the perspective of a logistic manager in an intercontinental supply chain facing lead-time uncertainties. Numerical examples and sensitivity analysis are provided to illustrate the comparison across the above-mentioned three logistics products and the impact of other factors on the performance of these logistics products.
Applicability of ARIMA Models in Wholesale Vegetable Market
Authors: Shukla Manish , Jharkharia Sanjay
Published: January 2014

To investigate the applicability of ARIMA models in wholesale vegetable market models are built taking sales data of one perishable vegetable from Ahmedabad wholesales market in India. It is found that these models can be applied to forecast the demand with Mean Absolute Percentage Error (MAPE) in the range of 20%. This error is acceptable in fresh produce market where the demand and prices are highly unstable. The model is successfully validated using sales data of another vegetable from the same market. This model can facilitate the farmers and wholesalers in effective decision making.
Supporting Asynchronous Collaborative Learning
Authors: Or-Bach Rachel , van Amelsvoort Marije
Published: January 2014

The presented study was conducted during a graduate course on Digital Collaboration involving theory and practice. The findings presented here deal with one aspect of students’ collaboration; the asynchronous threaded forum with instructional design to support collaborative learning within three communities. Students' inputs consisted of several steps towards a final paper, and of feedback to other students' inputs. The instructional intervention scheme varied for the three communities in adaptation and presentation. The authors report on students' perceptions regarding our design of the threaded forums to support learning. Data from a post-course questionnaire is backed by additional data sources within the course to support interpretations. Findings revealed tradeoffs in design decisions for collaborative learning, and give directions for further research. The authors discuss the implications of the findings for using peer feedback for collaborative learning, for designing different schemes of instructional interventions and for other design decisions and tradeoffs.
The Impact of Conflict Judgments between Developers and Testers in Software Development
Authors: Zhang Xihui , Dhaliwal Jasbir S. , Gillenson Mark L. , Stafford Thomas F.
Published: January 2014

The primary role of testers is to verify and validate the software produced by developers to ensure its quality. Testing is designed to catch problems in the software and report them for correction, so it is a conflict-laden, confrontational, and judgmental process. This “audit” role of testing is inherently adversarial, ensuring the development of components of interpersonal conflict judgments between developers and testers. Prior research indicates that such conflict is likely to be negatively associated with software quality and job satisfaction, producing negative judgments about the artifact production process and about the job itself. This study addresses the question: How do judgments of conflict between developers and testers impact the software development process? The authors develop and empirically test a research model which proposes that the conflict judgment targets of both the tasks and the persons who perform them will have direct impact on both software quality and job satisfaction judgments. Results of testing this model indicate that interpersonal judgments arising from conflict, as well as judgments made by testers and developers about the conflict targets of tasks and persons negatively influence subsequent software quality and job satisfaction judgments. Implications for theory and practice are discussed.
Analysis of HEV Engine Start Process Based on μC/Os-II
Authors: Li Jie Hui , Huang Tie Nan , Zhang Lu Yun , Yu Qing
Published: January 2014

This article took ISG Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV) as the target, studied its different engine starts under traditional control and μC/OS-II multitask real time operating system. Through the experimental comparisons in engine start strategy and control method, this study reached the conclusion that, the engine start process under μC/OS-II multitask real time operating system is more precise and smooth than that under the traditional control. In this way, multitask real time operating system can help reduce the fuel consumption and emission in engine start.