bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Relationship between the Ordinary Maximum Entropy Method and the Method of Maximum Entropy in the Mean
Authors: Gzyl Henryk , Ter Horst Enrique
Published: February 2014

There are two entropy-based methods to deal with linear inverse problems, which we shall call the ordinary method of maximum entropy (OME) and the method of maximum entropy in the mean (MEM). Not only doesMEM use OME as a stepping stone, it also allows for greater generality. First, because it allows to include convex constraints in a natural way, and second, because it allows to incorporate and to estimate (additive) measurement errors from the data. Here we shall see both methods in action in a specific example. We shall solve the discretized version of the problem by two variants of MEM and directly with OME. We shall see that OME is actually a particular instance of MEM, when the reference measure is a Poisson Measure.
Fluctuations, Entropic Quantifiers and Classical-Quantum Transition
Authors: Pennini Flavia , Plastino Angelo
Published: February 2014

We show that a special entropic quantifier, called the statistical complexity, becomes maximal at the transition between super-Poisson and sub-Poisson regimes. This acquires important connotations given the fact that these regimes are usually associated with, respectively, classical and quantum processes.
The Maximum Error Probability Criterion, Random Encoder, and Feedback, in Multiple Input Channels
Authors: Cai Ning
Published: February 2014

For a multiple input channel, one may define different capacity regions, according to the criterions of error, types of codes, and presence of feedback. In this paper, we aim to draw a complete picture of relations among these different capacity regions. To this end, we first prove that the average-error-probability capacity region of a multiple input channel can be achieved by a random code under the criterion of maximum error probability. Moreover, we show that for a non-deterministic multiple input channel with feedback, the capacity regions are the same under two different error criterions. In addition, we discuss two special classes of channels to shed light on the relation of different capacity regions. In particular, to illustrate the roles of feedback, we provide a class of MAC, for which feedback may enlarge maximum-error-probability capacity regions, but not average-error-capacity regions. Besides, we present a class of MAC, as an example for which the maximum-error-probability capacity regions are strictly smaller than the average-error-probability capacity regions (first example showing this was due to G. Dueck). Differently from G. Dueck’s enlightening example in which a deterministic MAC was considered, our example includes and further generalizes G. Dueck’s example by taking both deterministic and non-deterministic MACs into account. Finally, we extend our results for a discrete memoryless two-input channel, to compound, arbitrarily varying MAC, and MAC with more than two inputs.
Morphology, Electrical Performance and Potentiometry of PDIF-CN2 Thin-Film Transistors on HMDS-Treated and Bare Silicon Dioxide
Authors: Chiarella Fabio , Barra Mario , Ricciotti Laura , Aloisio Alberto , Cassinese Antonio
Published: February 2014

In this work, the electrical response of n-type organic field-effect transistors, achieved by evaporating PDIF-CN2 films on both bare and Hexamethyldisilazane (HMDS) treated SiO2 substrates, was investigated by standard electrical characterization and potentiometry. Morphological and charge transport characterizations demonstrated that the hydrophobic degree of the substrate surface has a huge impact on the final response of the devices. The PDIF-CN2 transistors on HMDS-treated substrates show a maximum mobility of 0.7 cm2/Volt·s, three orders of magnitude greater than in the case of the device without surface functionalization. The scanning Kelvin probe microscopy technique was used to perform surface potentiometry to image the local surface potential inside the channel during the transistor operation and has allowed us to identify the film morphological disorder as the primary factor that could compromise the effectiveness of the charge injection process from gold contacts to PDIF-CN2 films. For optimized devices on HMDS-treated substrates, SKPM was also used to analyze, over time, the evolution of the potential profile when negative VGS voltages were applied. The findings of these measurements are discussed taking into account the role of VGS-induced proton migration towards SiO2 bulk, in the operational stability of the device.
Acknowledgement to Reviewers of Energies in 2013
Authors: Energies Editorial Office
Published: February 2014

The editors of Energies would like to express their sincere gratitude to the following reviewers for assessing manuscripts in 2013. [...]
Spatial Analysis of Biomass Resources within a Socio-Ecologically Heterogeneous Region: Identifying Opportunities for a Mixed Feedstock Stream
Authors: Calvert Kirby , Mabee Warren
Published: February 2014

Local bioenergy will play a crucial role in national and regional sustainable energy strategies. Effective siting and feedstock procurement strategies are critical to the development and implementation of bioenergy systems. This paper aims to improve spatial decision-support in this domain by shifting focus from homogenous (forestry or agricultural) regions toward heterogeneous regions—i.e., areas with a presence of both forestry and agricultural activities; in this case, eastern Ontario, Canada. Multiple land-cover and resource map series are integrated in order to produce a spatially distributed GIS-based model of resource availability. These data are soft-linked with spreadsheet-based linear models in order to estimate and compare the quantity and supply-cost of the full range of non-food bioenergy feedstock available to a prospective developer, and to assess the merits of a mixed feedstock stream relative to a homogenous feedstock stream. The method is applied to estimate bioenergy production potentials and biomass supply-cost curves for a number of cities in the study region. Comparisons of biomass catchment areas; supply-cost curves; resource density maps; and resource flow charts demonstrate considerable strategic and operational advantages to locating a facility within the region’s “transition zone” between forestry and agricultural activities. Existing and emerging bioenergy technologies that are feedstock agnostic and therefore capable of accepting a mixed-feedstock stream are reviewed with emphasis on “intermediates” such as wood pellets; biogas; and bio-oils, as well as bio-industrial clusters.
Galectin-9 Induced Myeloid Suppressor Cells Expand Regulatory T Cells in an IL-10-Dependent Manner in CVB3-Induced Acute Myocarditis
Authors: Zhang Yingying , Jiang Li , Zhang Mengying , Lv Kun
Published: February 2014

The objective of the study was to explore the effects of galectin-9 on myeloid suppressor cells in Coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3)-induced myocarditis and the possible mechanisms involved. For this purpose, BALB/c male mice were infected with CVB3 on day 0 and then received intraperitoneal (IP) administration of recombinant galectin-9 or phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) daily from day 3 to day 7. The phenotypes and functions of myeloid suppressor cells were evaluated. The role and mechanism of myeloid suppressor cells and subsets in CVB3-induced myocarditis in vitro were explored. We found that galectin-9 remarkably increased the frequencies of CD11b+Gr-1+ cells in the cardiac tissue and spleen with myocarditis. Ly-6G+ cells were decreased and Ly-6C+ cells were increased in galectin-9-treated mice. In addition, CD11b+Gr-1+ cells were highly effective in suppressing CD4+ T cells. Moreover, our data demonstrate that CD11b+Gr-1+ cells are capable of expanding regulatory T cells (Tregs) from a preexisting population of natural Tregs, which depends on IL-10 but not TGF-β. Our results indicate that galectin-9 therapy may represent a useful approach to ameliorate CVB3-induced myocarditis.
Development of Lipid-Shell and Polymer Core Nanoparticles with Water-Soluble Salidroside for Anti-Cancer Therapy
Authors: Fang Dai-Long , Chen Yan , Xu Bei , Ren Ke , He Zhi-Yao , He Li-Li , Lei Yi , Fan Chun-Mei , Song Xiang-Rong
Published: February 2014

Salidroside (Sal) is a potent antitumor drug with high water-solubility. The clinic application of Sal in cancer therapy has been significantly restricted by poor oral absorption and low tumor cell uptake. To solve this problem, lipid-shell and polymer-core nanoparticles (Sal-LPNPs) loaded with Sal were developed by a double emulsification method. The processing parameters including the polymer types, organic phase, PVA types and amount were systemically investigated. The obtained optimal Sal-LPNPs, composed of PLGA-PEG-PLGA triblock copolymers and lipids, had high entrapment efficiency (65%), submicron size (150 nm) and negatively charged surface (−23 mV). DSC analysis demonstrated the successful encapsulation of Sal into LPNPs. The core-shell structure of Sal-LPNPs was verified by TEM. Sal released slowly from the LPNPs without apparent burst release. MTT assay revealed that 4T1 and PANC-1 cancer cell lines were sensitive to Sal treatment. Sal-LPNPs had significantly higher antitumor activities than free Sal in 4T1 and PANC-1 cells. The data indicate that LPNPs are a promising Sal vehicle for anti-cancer therapy and worthy of further investigation.
Improved Establishment of Embryonic Stem (ES) Cell Lines from the Chinese Kunming Mice by Hybridization with 129 Mice
Authors: Yu Shumin , Yan Xingrong , Liu Huanhuan , Cai Xin , Cao Suizhong , Shen Liuhong , Zuo Zhicai , Deng Junliang , Ma Xiaoping , Wang Ya , Ren Zhihua
Published: February 2014

Chinese Kunming mice (Mus musculus Km), widely used as laboratory animals throughout China, remain very refractory for embryonic stem (ES) cell isolation. The present study was aimed to evaluate the effects of hybridization with 129/Sv mice, and culture media containing fetal bovine serum (FBS) or Knockout serum replacement (KSR) on ES cell isolation from Kunming mice. The results demonstrated that ES cells had been effectively isolated from the hybrid embryos of Kunming and 129/Sv mice using all three media containing 15% FBS, 15% KSR and their mixture of 14% KSR and 1% FBS, individually. These isolated ES cells had maintained in vitro undifferentiated for a long time, exhibiting all features specific for mouse ES cells. In addition, the rates of ES cell isolation in the medium containing 14% KSR and 1% FBS, was 46.67% and significantly higher than those in another two media containing only FBS or KSR (p < 0.05). Contrarily, no ES cell line had been established from Kunming mouse inbred embryos using the same protocols. These results suggested that ES cells with long-term self-renewal ability could be efficiently generated from hybrid embryos of Kunming and 129/Sv mice, and a small volume of FBS was necessary to isolate ES cells in the KSR medium when embryos and early ES cells cultured.
Genistein-Inhibited Cancer Stem Cell-Like Properties and Reduced Chemoresistance of Gastric Cancer
Authors: Huang Weifeng , Wan Chunpeng , Luo Qicong , Huang Zhengjie , Luo Qi
Published: February 2014

Genistein, the predominant isoflavone found in soy products, has exerted its anticarcinogenic effect in many different tumor types in vitro and in vivo. Accumulating evidence in recent years has strongly indicated the existence of cancer stem cells in gastric cancer. Here, we showed that low doses of genistein (15 µM), extracted from Millettia nitida Benth var hirsutissima Z Wei, inhibit tumor cell self-renewal in two types of gastric cancer cells by colony formation assay and tumor sphere formation assay. Treatment of gastric cancer cells with genistein reduced its chemoresistance to 5-Fu (fluorouracil) and ciplatin. Further results indicated that the reduced chemoresistance may be associated with the inhibition of ABCG2 expression and ERK 1/2 activity. Furthermore, genistein reduced tumor mass in the xenograft model. Together, genistein inhibited gastric cancer stem cell-like properties and reduced its chemoresistance. Our results provide a further rationale and experimental basis for using the genistein to improve treatment of patients with gastric cancer.
Towards a Treatment of Stress Urinary Incontinence: Application of Mesenchymal Stromal Cells for Regeneration of the Sphincter Muscle
Authors: Aicher Wilhelm , Hart Melanie , Stallkamp Jan , Klünder Mario , Ederer Michael , Sawodny Oliver , Vaegler Martin , Amend Bastian , Sievert Karl , Stenzl Arnulf
Published: February 2014

Stress urinary incontinence is a significant social, medical, and economic problem. It is caused, at least in part, by degeneration of the sphincter muscle controlling the tightness of the urinary bladder. This muscular degeneration is characterized by a loss of muscle cells and a surplus of a fibrous connective tissue. In Western countries approximately 15% of all females and 10% of males are affected. The incidence is significantly higher among senior citizens, and more than 25% of the elderly suffer from incontinence. When other therapies, such as physical exercise, pharmacological intervention, or electrophysiological stimulation of the sphincter fail to improve the patient’s conditions, a cell-based therapy may improve the function of the sphincter muscle. Here, we briefly summarize current knowledge on stem cells suitable for therapy of urinary incontinence: mesenchymal stromal cells, urine-derived stem cells, and muscle-derived satellite cells. In addition, we report on ways to improve techniques for surgical navigation, injection of cells in the sphincter muscle, sensors for evaluation of post-treatment therapeutic outcome, and perspectives derived from recent pre-clinical studies.
Acknowledgement to Reviewers of the Journal of Marine Science and Engineering in 2013
Authors: JMSE Editorial Office
Published: February 2014

The editors of the Journal of Marine Science and Engineering would like to express their sincere gratitude to the following reviewers for assessing manuscripts in 2013. [...]
Gendered Resource Access and Utilisation in Swedish Family Farming
Authors: Andersson Elias , Lidestav Gun
Published: February 2014

Gendered relations in resource access and farming are two important intersecting themes of gender studies in a northern rural context. However, conventional analysis and perceptions of the economy conceal the contribution of women within families, in businesses and in the labor market. This article demonstrate the significance of capital to farming women’s engagement with agriculture using a Swedish case study, based on descriptive analyses of data from the Federation of Swedish Farmers. To disclose the embodiment of family farming, gendered control of land, business activities and farm incomes is analyzed. On this empirical basis, we argue for reconstitution of farm-related entrepreneurial research, rural development policies and rural gender studies from a new material feminist approach. Access to resources, typically land, together with social forces and embodied experiences constitute the basis of strategic focus and agency. We demonstrate that acknowledgement of access to resources in the research process and in the understanding of social relations, resistance and situated knowledge are essential.
Acknowledgement to Reviewers of Materials in 2013
Authors: Materials Editorial Office
Published: February 2014

The editors of Materials would like to express their sincere gratitude to the following reviewers for assessing manuscripts in 2013 [...]
Influence of Magnetic Microparticles Isolation on Adenine Homonucleotides Structure
Authors: Kremplova Monika , Fialova Dana , Nejdl Lukas , Hynek David , Trnkova Libuse , Hubalek Jaromir , Kizek Rene , Adam Vojtech
Published: February 2014

The electroactivity of purine and pyrimidine bases is the most important property of nucleic acids that is very useful for determining oligonucleotides using square wave voltammetry. This study was focused on the electrochemical behavior of adenine-containing oligonucleotides before and after their isolation using paramagnetic particles. Two peaks were detected—peak A related to the reduction of adenine base and another peak B involved in the interactions between individual adenine strands and contributes to the formation of various spatial structures. The influence of the number of adenine bases in the strand in the isolation process using paramagnetic particles was investigated too.
The Effect of Cobalt-Sublattice Disorder on Spin Polarisation in Co2FexMn1−xSi Heusler Alloys
Authors: Hasnip Philip , Loach Christian , Smith Joseph , Probert Matthew , Gilks Daniel , Sizeland James , Lari Leonardo , Sagar James , Yoshida Kenta , Oogane Mikihiko , Hirohata Atsufumi , Lazarov Vlado
Published: February 2014

In this work we present a theoretical study of the effect of disorder on spin polarisation at the Fermi level, and the disorder formation energies for Co2FexMn1−xSi (CFMS) alloys. The electronic calculations are based on density functional theory with a Hubbard U term. Chemical disorders studied consist of swapping Co with Fe/Mn and Co with Si; in all cases we found these are detrimental for spin polarisation, i.e., the spin polarisation not only decreases in magnitude, but also can change sign depending on the particular disorder. Formation energy calculation shows that Co–Si disorder has higher energies of formation in CFMS compared to Co2MnSi and Co2FeSi, with maximum values occurring for x in the range 0.5–0.75. Cross-sectional structural studies of reference Co2MnSi, Co2Fe0.5Mn0.5Si, and Co2FeSi by Z-contrast scanning transmission electron microscopy are in qualitative agreement with total energy calculations of the disordered structures.
Problems in Assessment of Novel Biopotential Front-End with Dry Electrode: A Brief Review
Authors: Gargiulo Gaetano , Bifulco Paolo , Cesarelli Mario , Fratini Antonio , Romano Maria
Published: February 2014

Developers of novel or improved front-end circuits for biopotential recordings using dry electrodes face the challenge of validating their design. Dry electrodes allow more user-friendly and pervasive patient-monitoring, but proof is required that new devices can perform biopotential recording with a quality at least comparable to existing medical devices. Aside from electrical safety requirement recommended by standards and concise circuit requirement, there is not yet a complete validation procedure able to demonstrate improved or even equivalent performance of the new devices. This short review discusses the validation procedures presented in recent, landmark literature and offers interesting issues and hints for a more complete assessment of novel biopotential front-end.
Synthesis, Spectroscopic and Theoretical Studies of New Quasi-Podands from Bile Acid Derivatives Linked by 1,2,3-Triazole Rings
Authors: Pospieszny Tomasz , Koenig Hanna , Kowalczyk Iwona , Brycki Bogumił
Published: February 2014

A novel method for the synthesis of bile acid derivatives has been developed using “click chemistry”. Intermolecular 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of the propargyl ester of bile acids and azide groups of 1,3,5-tris(azidomethyl)benzene gave a new quasi-podands with 1,2,3-triazole rings. The structures of the products were confirmed by spectral (1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, and FT-IR) analysis, mass spectrometry and PM5 semiempirical methods. Estimation of the pharmacotherapeutic potential has been accomplished for synthesized compounds on the basis of Prediction of Activity Spectra for Substances (PASS).
Synthetic Fosmidomycin Analogues with Altered Chelating Moieties Do Not Inhibit 1-Deoxy-D-xylulose 5-phosphate Reductoisomerase or Plasmodium falciparum Growth In Vitro
Authors: Chofor René , Risseeuw Martijn , Pouyez Jenny , Johny Chinchu , Wouters Johan , Dowd Cynthia , Couch Robin , Van Calenbergh Serge
Published: February 2014

Fourteen new fosmidomycin analogues with altered metal chelating groups were prepared and evaluated for inhibition of E. coli Dxr, M. tuberculosis Dxr and the growth of P. falciparum K1 in human erythrocytes. None of the synthesized compounds showed activity against either enzyme or the Plasmodia. This study further underlines the importance of the hydroxamate functionality and illustrates that identifying effective alternative bidentate ligands for this target enzyme is challenging.
Acknowledgement to Reviewers of Molecules in 2013
Authors: Molecules Editorial Office
Published: February 2014

The editors of Molecules would like to express their sincere gratitude to the following reviewers for assessing manuscripts in 2013. [...]
Design of Prodrugs to Enhance Colonic Absorption by Increasing Lipophilicity and Blocking Ionization
Authors: Nofsinger Rebecca , Clas Sophie-Dorothee , Sanchez Rosa , Walji Abbas , Manser Kimberly , Nissley Becky , Balsells Jaume , Nair Amrithraj , Dang Qun , Bennett David , Hafey Michael , Wang Junying , Higgins John , Templeton Allen , Coleman Paul , Grobler Jay , Smith Ronald , Wu Yunhui
Published: February 2014

Prodrugs are chemistry-enabled drug delivery modifications of active molecules designed to enhance their pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamic and/or biopharmaceutical properties. Ideally, prodrugs are efficiently converted in vivo, through chemical or enzymatic transformations, to the active parent molecule. The goal of this work is to enhance the colonic absorption of a drug molecule with a short half-life via a prodrug approach to deliver sustained plasma exposure and enable once daily (QD) dosing. The compound has poor absorption in the colon and by the addition of a promoiety to block the ionization of the molecule as well as increase lipophilicity, the relative colonic absorption increased from 9% to 40% in the retrograde dog colonic model. A combination of acceptable solubility and stability in the gastrointestinal tract (GI) as well as permeability was used to select suitable prodrugs to optimize colonic absorption.
Analysis of Multi-Loop Control Structures of Dividing-Wall Distillation Columns Using a Fundamental Model
Authors: Tututi-Avila Salvador , Jiménez-Gutiérrez Arturo , Hahn Juergen
Published: February 2014

Dividing-wall columns (DWCs) have significant potential as energy-efficient processes for the separation of multicomponent mixtures. However, in addition to an efficient steady state design, dynamics and control also play a major part for the success of a technology. This is especially so for complex distillation systems. This paper investigates the dynamics of a dividing wall column used for the separation of ternary mixtures. A detailed dynamic first principles-based model of the column I s developed in gPROMS. The model is used to generate data used for control loop pairing via the Relative Gain Array (RGA), and controller parameters are found by using Internal Model Control (IMC) tuning. The best control structures for DWC systems, involving four different ternary mixtures, and two different feed compositions for each mixture, are investigated.
Absorption and Chemisorption of Small Levitated Single Bubbles in Aqueous Solutions
Authors: Tollkötter Alexander , Kockmann Norbert
Published: February 2014

The absorption and chemisorption of small bubbles with N2 or CO2 were investigated experimentally in aqueous and alkaline solutions. Different bubble sizes were studied ranging from 0.1 to 2.5 mm in alkaline concentrations of 0.1 mM to 1 M NaOH. The experiments were conducted in a device consisting of a converging microchannel with a down flowing liquid. Levitation positions of single bubbles were optically characterized. A correlation was developed for the drag force coefficient, CD, including wall effects based on the force equilibrium. A linear decrease of bubble diameters was identified with and without chemical reaction, which is referred to as a rigid bubble surface area. Measured Sherwood numbers agree well with the literature values for the investigated Reynolds number range.
Acknowledgement to Reviewers of Remote Sensing in 2013
Authors: Remote Sensing Editorial Office
Published: February 2014

The publisher and editors of the Remote Sensing would like to express their sincere gratitude to the following reviewers for assessing manuscripts in 2013 for Remote Sensing. [...]
Acknowledgement to Reviewers of Sensors in 2013
Authors: Sensors Editorial Office
Published: February 2014

The editors of Sensors would like to express their sincere gratitude to the following reviewers for assessing manuscripts in 2013. [...]
Magnetic Sensing with Ferrofluid and Fiber Optic Connectors
Authors: Homa Daniel , Pickrell Gary
Published: February 2014

A simple, cost effective and sensitive fiber optic magnetic sensor fabricated with ferrofluid and commercially available fiber optic components is described in this paper. The system uses a ferrofluid infiltrated extrinsic Fabry-Perot interferometer (EFPI) interrogated with an infrared wavelength spectrometer to measure magnetic flux density. The entire sensing system was developed with commercially available components so it can be easily and economically reproduced in large quantities. The device was tested with two different ferrofluid types over a range of magnetic flux densities to verify performance. The sensors readily detected magnetic flux densities in the range of 0.5 mT to 12.0 mT with measurement sensitivities in the range of 0.3 to 2.3 nm/mT depending on ferrofluid type. Assuming a conservative wavelength resolution of 0.1 nm for state of the art EFPI detection abilities, the estimated achievable measurement resolution is on the order 0.04 mT. The inherent small size and basic structure complimented with the fabrication ease make it well-suited for a wide array of research, industrial, educational and military applications.
On Heterogeneous and Homogeneous Networks in a Multilayered Reality: Clashing Interests in the Ethnic Enclave of Lloret de Mar
Authors: Valenzuela-García Hugo , Molina José , Lubbers Miranda , García-Macías Alejandro , Pampalona Judith , Lerner Juergen
Published: February 2014

Over the last decade, the tourist destination of Lloret de Mar (Gerona, Spain) has experienced an increasing concentration of souvenir stores owned by a population of Indian origin. Although Lloret de Mar is already a multicultural spot, Indians represent a small minority in Spain. In order to explain such a remarkable concentration and economic specialization in a low profit sector, we suggest the emergence of an ethnic enclave based on a triple articulation (entrepreneurs, employees and the local community). Our findings provide support for the mixed-embeddedness hypothesis, which contends that ethnic entrepreneurs in Europe need to rely on both the co-ethnic social networks and the linkages with the host society in order to run their business successfully. However, differential degrees of social integration amongst Indians themselves—clearly shown by the composition of their social networks—and between local dwellers and Indians suggest confronting interests amongst social agents in a highly complex and micro-social touristic site undergoing deep economic crisis. Throughout, a mixed-methods approach in the paper reveals the unequal social structure of the enclave, providing a better theoretical understanding of the difficulties and backgrounds in which minority migrant groups develop and expand their social relationships in the “host society”.
DNA Immunization for HIV Vaccine Development
Authors: Chen Yuxin , Wang Shixia , Lu Shan
Published: February 2014

DNA vaccination has been studied in the last 20 years for HIV vaccine research. Significant experience has been accumulated in vector design, antigen optimization, delivery approaches and the use of DNA immunization as part of a prime-boost HIV vaccination strategy. Key historical data and future outlook are presented. With better understanding on the potential of DNA immunization and recent progress in HIV vaccine research, it is anticipated that DNA immunization will play a more significant role in the future of HIV vaccine development.
An oxidative amidation and heterocyclization approach for the synthesis of β-carbolines and dihydroeudistomin Y
Authors: Meruva Suresh Babu , Raghunadh Akula , Kamaraju Raghavendra Rao , Kumar U K Syam , Dubey P K
Published: February 2014

A novel synthetic methodology has been developed for the synthesis of dihydro-β-carboline derivatives employing oxidative amidation–Bischler–Napieralski reaction conditions using tryptamine and 2,2-dibromo-1-phenylethanone as key starting materials. A number of dihydro-β-carboline derivatives have been synthesized in moderate to good yields using this methodology. Attempts were made towards the conversion of these dihydro-β-carbolines to naturally occurring eudistomin alkaloids.
Ichneumonidae (Hymenoptera) species new to the fauna of Norway
Authors: Humala Andrei , Reshchikov Alexey
Published: February 2014

The present paper contains new distributional records for 61 species of ichneumon wasps (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae) previously unknown for Norway, six of them are reported from Scandinavia for the first time.
Où va l'Europe de l'énergie ?
Authors: Cirelli Jean-François
Published: February 2014

L’Europe de l’énergie fait fausse route. Le projet énergétique, imaginé au tournant des années 2000 et mis en place depuis, n’a pas porté les fruits attendus. La bataille de l’environnement n’est pas gagnée. Celle de la compétitivité est perdue. Celle de la sécurité du système menace. Pour sauver l’Europe de l’énergie, un sursaut serait salutaire. Il passerait par des mesures concrètes et la relance d’un projet commun à l’échelle européenne.
Comment freiner la désindustrialisation ?
Authors: Lachmann Henri
Published: February 2014

Avec près de 2 millions d’emplois perdus dans l’industrie manufacturière en presque 30 ans, l’industrie française connaît actuellement l’une de ses phases les plus sombres. Ce phénomène se conjugue aujourd’hui avec la perte de la compétitivité de l’économie française et donc la perte de parts de marché tant dans la zone Euro que dans le reste du monde. Repenser l’industrie française pour freiner la désindustrialisation est donc vital à la relance globale de l’économie. De nombreux acteurs doivent dès maintenant agir dans ce sens si nous ne voulons pas voir notre rang, notre compétitivité, notre économie et notre tissu socio-économique éclater. Pour l’auteur, l’un des plus grands représentants et acteurs de l’industrie française, neuf facteurs principaux à ce phénomène peuvent être avancés, qu’il s’agirait donc de repenser rapidement sur le modèle, par exemple, de l’Allemagne.
Chine-Taïwan : ennemis un peu, partenaires beaucoup
Authors: Courmont Barthélemy
Published: February 2014

L’amélioration spectaculaire de la relation Chine-Taïwan depuis l’élection du président Ma Ying-jeou en 2008 redéfinit non seulement les liens économiques entre Taipei et Pékin, mais potentiellement le dialogue sécuritaire dans le détroit. Un nouvel accord-cadre (ECFA), des échanges multiples et des rencontres caractérisent le réengagement entre ces deux ennemis traditionnels. En parallèle, on observe le développement d’un nationalisme « taïwanais », qui a lentement remplacé le nationalisme « chinois » et changé la nature de cette relation, ainsi que sa finalité.
BCE, le nouvel empereur de l'Europe
Authors: Bouchard Jean-François
Published: February 2014

Avec la mise en place dans l’Union européenne du Mécanisme de supervision unique des banques, et la création très récente du Mécanisme de résolution unique, cette construction technocratique hyper-complexe et sous-financée, le centre de gravité du pouvoir économique européen s’est déplacé vers Francfort et vers la Banque centrale européenne, nouvel empereur de l’Europe. Sa domination ne va pas sans heurts : l’Allemagne, ancienne puissance dominante, est le dernier bastion de résistance du pouvoir national. Mais c’est peine perdue, la BCE a déjà conquis le trône de l’Europe. Il lui reste à justifier cette position, en réussissant à prendre le contrôle effectif de la finance européenne et en apportant une réponse à la problématique des dettes souveraines, qui compromet le redressement de l’économie européenne du fait du désordre dans lequel les gouvernements s’attaquent à la question.
Violence d'État et ordre criminel. Les coûts de la guerre perdue du Michoacán, Mexique
Authors: Maldonado Aranda Salvador
Published: February 2014

Cet article décrit les manières dont la violence d’État contre le crime organisé contribue à l’émergence d’un ordre informel et contingent. Ce phénomène peut être analysé à l’aide de la notion centrale de « liaison dangereuse », c’est-à-dire en saisissant les modalités d’articulation entre un État policier et le crime organisé afin de produire des violences quotidiennes et des formes de victimisation. Pour ce faire, nous avons centré notre analyse sur une des organisations délinquantes les plus caractéristiques, Les Chevaliers Templiers. Nous questionnerons leur formation, leurs relations avec l’État ou la population. Enfin nous interrogerons les raisons de leur enracinement social malgré la mise en place de politiques gouvernementales visant à les éliminer. Aussi nous rendrons-nous compte, leçons historiques et exemples ethnographiques à l’appui, que la violence mexicaine est d’une nature plus complexe que ne le prétendent les rapports officiels et certains quotidiens.
Integrating structure, conduct and performance into value chain analysis
Authors: de Figueirêdo Junior H.S. , Meuwissen M.P.M. , Oude Lansink A.G.J.M.
Published: February 2014

Value chain analysis has been adopted by several research and funding institutions for analysing local development opportunities. Development practitioners, however, are still looking for more solid grounds for value chain strategy development, especially since the expected outcomes of interventions, such as poverty reduction, have been unclear. This paper aims to extend the Structure-Conduct-Performance (SCP) framework to connect value chain strategies, such as product, market, technology and governance choices, to outcomes with respect to local development. The extended SCP framework is developed through a literature review and an analysis of structure, conduct and performance aspects and their interactions. In this extended value chain SCP framework, the unit of analysis is not a firm, but a portion of a value chain in a territory, a local netchain, competing against another netchain elsewhere. The proposed value chain SCP framework highlights categories of structure, conduct and performance for value chains and provides an integrated approach to explore possible interactions among those categories. The use of the value chain SCP framework will help practitioners to evaluate different policy interventions. The application of this framework to devise strategies for several value chains is expected in future research, as well as the inclusion of social and environmental conduct and performance categories.
Asymmetry in farm-to-retail dry bean price transmission in Sāo Paulo, Brazil
Authors: da Cunha C.A. , Wander A.E.
Published: February 2014

The objective of this paper is to verify the existence of asymmetric price transmission in the farm, wholesale and retail dry bean market in Sāo Paulo, Brazil. The dry bean market is characterised by high price volatility, mainly due to harmful interference from informal actors. Consequently, the prices being practiced at different chain levels have asymmetric transmission, which can be explained by failures in coordination, opportunistic behaviour of farmers and intermediaries, and the asymmetry of information amongst actors within the chain. Our findings confirm those of the existing literature - in situations of asymmetric price transmission, price increases at farm level are more intensely transmitted to wholesalers and retailers than price decreases. Consequently, the common bean market shows inefficiencies in price transmission along the chain, as price increases at farm level generate higher impacts on retail prices, violating the absolute form of purchasing power parity.
Comparing private label and manufacturer brand innovation projects in a Dutch Food processing company
Authors: Omta S.W.F. , Fortuin F.T.J.M.
Published: February 2014

The time when private labels consisted only of low-priced, low-quality products has long gone. A new type of cooperative innovation project has emerged in which food processors and retailers work closely together to target consumers with new and innovative products. These so-called high-end private label innovation projects can be typified as Early Customer Integration (ECI) projects. ECI projects may show a higher level of market orientation than manufacturer brand innovation projects, which companies carry out entirely in-house. However, ECI might lead to more incremental innovation because of the path dependency of the customer input. The present paper aims to fill this gap by investigating these assumptions by analysing the innovation portfolio of a leading Dutch producer and exporter of processed food products that produces manufacturer brand, high-end private label as well as traditional low-end tendered private label products. Twenty innovation projects, 10 manufacturer brand, 7 high-end private label and 3 traditional low-end private label innovation projects, including 76 respondents, were investigated using the Wageningen Innovation Assessment Toolkit. All respondents were employees of the company and members of the cross-functional project team of the innovation project that they assessed. In total 17 R&D staff members, 10 marketing and sales managers and 8 managers from the business units filled out the questionnaires. Based on the finding that the high-end private label projects showed the highest scores on product superiority it may be concluded that ECI indeed helps to better understand and fulfil consumer demands. It must also be concluded that the lower scores of high-end private label projects on product novelty are an indication that, ECI may have led to more incremental innovation.
Monitoring of Patients with Neurological Diseases
Authors: Rodrigues Tiago Rafael dos Santos Martins Pereira , Carvalho Vítor , Soares Filomena
Published: February 2014

The number of people with severe physical disabilities is considerable and, therefore, it is essential to provide a correct physical therapy program to enhance their life quality. Some studies suggest serious games can play an important role when used in physical therapy, since they create an agreeable environment that motivates patients to perform the necessary exercises with pleasure and relaxation and in consequence to continue with their physical therapy programs while necessary. At present several serious games are being used in many situations. Thus, different uses of serious games in physical therapy of patients with mobility problems will be presented. Also, the first steps on the development of serious game application will be presented. The application runs for physical therapy and monitoring of patients with neurological diseases, and it is based on image processing techniques for validation of movements (non-invasive equipment).
OpenMobileNetwork
Authors: Uzun Abdulbaki , Neidhardt Eric , Küpper Axel
Published: February 2014

Mobile network operators maintain data about their mobile network topology, which is mainly used for network provisioning and planning purposes restricting its full business potential. Utilizing this data in combination with the extensive pool of semantically modeled data in the Linking Open Data Cloud, innovative applications can be realized that would establish network operators as service providers and enablers in the highly competitive services market. In this article, the authors introduce the OpenMobileNetwork (available at http://www.openmobilenetwork.org/) as an open solution for providing approximated network topology data based on the principles of Linked Data along with a business concept for network operators to exploit their valuable asset. Since the quality of the estimated network topology is crucial when providing services on top of it, the authors further analyze and evaluate state-of-the-art approaches for estimating base station positions out of crowdsourced data and discuss the results in comparison to real base station locations.
Multi-Hop Broadcasting in VANET for Safety Applications
Authors: Berradj Adel , Mammeri Zoubir
Published: February 2014

Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS), which rely on vehicular ad hoc communication networks (VANETs), have the potential to alleviate road accidents and to save lives. Several use cases to VANETs safety applications have been proposed. Most of these applications use multi-hop broadcasting communications to disseminate safety information as far as needed in zones of relevance. A wide variety of multi-hop broadcasting approaches have been proposed in recent years. In this paper the authors review, characterize and categorize multi-hop broadcast protocols. A set of classification criteria is proposed to highlight the design principles and performance of broadcasting protocols.
Improvement of the Organizational Performance through Compliance with Best Practices in Abu-Dhabi
Authors: Ezziane Zoheir , Al Shamisi Abdulla
Published: February 2014

Information Technology (IT) governance is considered an integral part of corporate governance that is the accountability of the organization's Board of Executive to ascertain that organization’s information technology assists to achieve the established goals and objectives of the organization, by applying different of well- defined methods, processes and procedures for communication and relationship. This study intends to analyse IT governance practices employed in Abu Dhabi public sector and its contexts. The study used a quantitative research approach which helps to reach the objectives of the study, primary data obtained by formulating a set of questionnaires and secondary data obtained by using the reviewed literature. The research found that most known and recommended international standards and IT frameworks and non IT frameworks are applied by Abu Dhabi public sector. These known frameworks and standards that being used are ISO 9001, ITILv3, ISO 27001, ISO 20000, PMBOK, BSC, and COBIT respectively. These non IT frameworks and IT frameworks are used based on public entities need and to increase the efficiency and the performance of public sector organizations as well to comply with governmental regulations and statute. The study proposes many arrangements and best practices that can be applied by both IT governance Board and IT practitioners to have better IT governance and more control on IT assets. These best practices and recommendations if are enforced in the organizations daily activities will help to improve the quality of delivered services, increase effectiveness of IT governance, lower operational cost, increase interoperability between government bodies and brought knowledge and best practices to organization.
Networked Business Process Management
Authors: Grefen Paul
Published: February 2014

In the current economy, a shift can be seen from stand-alone business organizations to networks of tightly collaborating business organizations. To allow this tight collaboration, business process management in these collaborative networks is becoming increasingly important. This paper discusses automated support for this networked business process management: automated means to manage business processes that span multiple autonomous organizations. The author starts this paper with a treatment of intra- and inter-organizational business processes to provide a conceptual background for business process management in business networks. The author describes a number of research approaches in this area, including the context of these approaches and the architectures of the automated systems proposed by them. The approaches are described from early developments in the field relying on dedicated technology to current designs based on standardized technology in a service-oriented context. The paper thereby provides an overview of developments in the area of inter-organizational business process management in the spectrum from simple, static business networks to complex, dynamic networks. The author observes that the described BPM research efforts move from pushing new BPM technology into application domains to using BPM to realize business-IT alignment in complex application contexts.
An Improved Stimuli System for Brain-Computer Interface Applications
Authors: Nicolae Irina-Emilia
Published: February 2014

When developing a motion synchronous Brain-Computer Interface, it is very important to have effective stimuli. This research tests and proposes an improved brain computer interface stimulus system, based on event related spectral perturbation. In order to investigate the reaction of the motor cortex to stimuli, the influence of the human senses has to be investigated. Considering the limitations of human senses, the article proposes effective visual and auditory stimuli in two similar tasks, to gain accuracy and better reaction time (RT) for real movements in Brain-Computer Interface synchronous systems.
Optimal Voting Strategy against Random and Targeted Attacks
Authors: Wang Li , Li Zheng , Ren Shangping , Kwiat Kevin
Published: February 2014

Replication and value selection through voting are commonly used approaches to tolerating naturally caused failures. Without considering intentionally introduced failures, such as failures caused by attacks, having more replication or residency often makes the system more reliable. However, when both the reliability of individual replicas and the existence of attackers are taken into consideration, the number of replicas that participate in a voting process has significant impact on system reliability. In this paper, the authors study the problem of deciding the optimal number of participating voters that maximizes the reliability of voting results under two different types of attacks, i.e., random attack and targeted attack, and develop algorithms to find the optimal voting strategy. A set of experiments are performed to illustrate how the optimal voting strategy varies under different system settings and how the number of voting participants affects the system's reliability.