bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Selection of the Optimal Herbal Compositions of Red Clover and Pomegranate According to Their Protective Effect against Climacteric Symptoms in Ovariectomized Mice
Authors: Kang Su , Choi Beom , Kim Seung , Yi Hae , Park Hye , Song Chang , Ku Sae , Lee Young
Published: July 2016

This study aimed to ascertain the optimal range of red clover dry extracts (RC) and dried pomegranate concentrate powder (PCP) to induce anti-climacteric effects. Thus, the dose ranges showing protective effect of mixed formulae consisting of RC and PCP were examined in ovariectomized mice. At 28 days after bilateral ovariectomy (OVX), mixed herbal compositions (RC:PCP = 1:1, 1:2, 1:4, 1:8, 2:1, 4:1, and 8:1) were administered orally, at 120 mg/kg once daily for 84 days. We evaluated that RC and PCP mixture attenuate OVX-caused obesity, hyperlipidemia, hepatic steatosis, and osteoporosis. Compared to OVX-induced control mice, body weight and abdominal fat weight in OVX-induced mice were significantly decreased, concomitantly with increase of uterus weight by RC:PCP mixture. Additionally, significant increases in serum estradiol levels were observed in all RC:PCP-treated mice. RC:PCP mixture also showed protective effect against OVX-induced hyperlipidemia, hepatic steatosis. Total body and femur mean bone mineral density (BMD), osteocalcin, bALP contents were effectively increased by RC:PCP mixture. Taken together, RC:PCP mixture (2:1, 1:1, and 4:1) has remarkable protective effects against the changes induced by OVX. In particular, RC:PCP mixture (2:1) shows the strongest effect and may be considered as a potential protective agent against climacteric symptoms.
Gender Difference on the Association between Dietary Patterns and Obesity in Chinese Middle-Aged and Elderly Populations
Authors: Yuan Ya-Qun , Li Fan , Meng Pai , You Jie , Wu Min , Li Shu-Guang , Chen Bo
Published: July 2016

Dietary patterns are linked to obesity, but the gender difference in the association between dietary patterns and obesity remains unclear. We explored this gender difference in a middle-aged and elderly populations in Shanghai. Residents (n = 2046; aged ≥45 years; 968 men and 1078 women) who participated in the Shanghai Food Consumption Survey were studied. Factor analysis of data from four periods of 24-h dietary recalls (across 2012–2014) identified dietary patterns. Height, body weight, and waist circumference were measured to calculate the body mass index. A log binominal model examined the association between dietary patterns and obesity, stratified by gender. Four dietary patterns were identified for both genders: rice staple, wheat staple, snacks, and prudent patterns. The rice staple pattern was associated positively with abdominal obesity in men (prevalence ratio (PR) = 1.358; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.132–1.639; p = 0.001), but was associated negatively with general obesity in women (PR = 0.745; 95% CI: 0.673–0.807; p = 0.031). Men in the highest quartile of the wheat staple pattern had significantly greater risk of central obesity (PR = 1.331; 95% CI: 1.094–1.627; p = 0.005). There may be gender differences in the association between dietary patterns and obesity in middle-aged and elderly populations in Shanghai, China.
Applying Quantum Cascade Laser Spectroscopy in Plasma Diagnostics
Authors: Röpcke Jürgen , Davies Paul , Hamann Stephan , Hannemann Mario , Lang Norbert , Van Helden Jean-Pierre
Published: July 2016

The considerably higher power and wider frequency coverage available from quantum cascade lasers (QCLs) in comparison to lead salt diode lasers has led to substantial advances when QCLs are used in pure and applied infrared spectroscopy. Furthermore, they can be used in both pulsed and continuous wave (cw) operation, opening up new possibilities in quantitative time resolved applications in plasmas both in the laboratory and in industry as shown in this article. However, in order to determine absolute concentrations accurately using pulsed QCLs, careful attention has to be paid to features like power saturation phenomena. Hence, we begin with a discussion of the non-linear effects which must be considered when using short or long pulse mode operation. More recently, cw QCLs have been introduced which have the advantage of higher power, better spectral resolution and lower fluctuations in light intensity compared to pulsed devices. They have proved particularly useful in sensing applications in plasmas when very low concentrations have to be monitored. Finally, the use of cw external cavity QCLs (EC-QCLs) for multi species detection is described, using a diagnostics study of a methane/nitrogen plasma as an example. The wide frequency coverage of this type of QCL laser, which is significantly broader than from a distributed feedback QCL (DFB-QCL), is a substantial advantage for multi species detection. Therefore, cw EC-QCLs are state of the art devices and have enormous potential for future plasma diagnostic studies.
Children’s Spiritual Lives: The Development of a Children’s Spirituality Measure
Authors: Moore Kelsey , Gomez-Garibello Carlos , Bosacki Sandra , Talwar Victoria
Published: July 2016

Previous researchers who have studied children’s spirituality have often used narrow measures that do not account for the rich spiritual experiences of children within a multi-faith context. In the current study, we describe the initial stages of development of a children’s spirituality measure, in which items were derived from children’s spiritual narratives. An exploratory factor analysis of the items revealed three main factors, including Comfort (Factor 1), Omnipresence (Factor 2), and Duality (Factor 3). As rated by their parents, children from families that were more spiritual and religious had higher scores on the newly-developed measure. Limitations and future directions are discussed.
State Estimation for a Class of Non-Uniform Sampling Systems with Missing Measurements
Authors: Lin Honglei , Sun Shuli
Published: July 2016

This paper is concerned with the state estimation problem for a class of non-uniform sampling systems with missing measurements where the state is updated uniformly and the measurements are sampled randomly. A new state model is developed to depict the dynamics at the measurement sampling points within a state update period. A non-augmented state estimator dependent on the missing rate is presented by applying an innovation analysis approach. It can provide the state estimates at the state update points and at the measurement sampling points within a state update period. Compared with the augmented method, the proposed algorithm can reduce the computational burden with the increase of the number of measurement samples within a state update period. It can deal with the optimal estimation problem for single and multi-sensor systems in a unified way. To improve the reliability, a distributed suboptimal fusion estimator at the state update points is also given for multi-sensor systems by using the covariance intersection fusion algorithm. The simulation research verifies the effectiveness of the proposed algorithms.
A Sensor Array for the Detection and Discrimination of Methane and Other Environmental Pollutant Gases
Authors: Hannon Ami , Lu Yijiang , Li Jing , Meyyappan M.
Published: July 2016

We address the sensitive detection and discrimination of gases impacting the environment, such as CH4, NH3, SO2, and CO, using a sensor array and aided by principal component analysis (PCA). A 32-element chemiresistive sensor array consisting of nine different sensor materials including seven types of modified single-walled carbon nanotubes and two types of polymers has been constructed. PCA results demonstrate excellent discriminating ability of the chemiresistor sensor chip in the 1–30 ppm concentration range. The accuracy of the sensor was verified against data collected using cavity ring down spectroscopy. The sensor chip has also been integrated with a smartphone and has been shown to reproduce the sensing performance obtained with the laboratory measurement system.
Computation and Communication Evaluation of an Authentication Mechanism for Time-Triggered Networked Control Systems
Authors: Martins Goncalo , Moondra Arul , Dubey Abhishek , Bhattacharjee Anirban , Koutsoukos Xenofon
Published: July 2016

In modern networked control applications, confidentiality and integrity are important features to address in order to prevent against attacks. Moreover, network control systems are a fundamental part of the communication components of current cyber-physical systems (e.g., automotive communications). Many networked control systems employ Time-Triggered (TT) architectures that provide mechanisms enabling the exchange of precise and synchronous messages. TT systems have computation and communication constraints, and with the aim to enable secure communications in the network, it is important to evaluate the computational and communication overhead of implementing secure communication mechanisms. This paper presents a comprehensive analysis and evaluation of the effects of adding a Hash-based Message Authentication (HMAC) to TT networked control systems. The contributions of the paper include (1) the analysis and experimental validation of the communication overhead, as well as a scalability analysis that utilizes the experimental result for both wired and wireless platforms and (2) an experimental evaluation of the computational overhead of HMAC based on a kernel-level Linux implementation. An automotive application is used as an example, and the results show that it is feasible to implement a secure communication mechanism without interfering with the existing automotive controller execution times. The methods and results of the paper can be used for evaluating the performance impact of security mechanisms and, thus, for the design of secure wired and wireless TT networked control systems.
Sustainable Cultural Tourism in Urban Destinations: Does Space Matter?
Authors: Aranburu Ibon , Plaza Beatriz , Esteban Marisol
Published: July 2016

Policy makers and tourism developers must understand visitors’ mobility behavior and how they consume space and tourism resources in order to set up sustainable cultural tourism destinations. With this in mind, it should also be pointed out that the mobility patterns of tourists in urban destinations are mainly located in the city center (spatial centrality), the analysis of which enables us to define “how central” the resources (museums, monuments, etc.) are and what the interactions between them are. Comprehending which factors influence visitors’ urban mobility behavior is key to understanding tourists’ consumption of space and their connections with the tourism assets of the city. Furthermore, when tourists visit a destination, they make a mental representation of the destination, constructing a mental map of it. Thus, tourists consume not only spaces but also the image of a city/destination. Moreover, the latter influences the former. The quality of surrounding architecture and urbanism plays a crucial role in enhancing the experiential value of a destination and influencing space consumption preferences. Clearly, visitors are more likely to use/consume environments that are easily navigated and mentally legible. In order to explore these patterns, a real experiment was performed based on visitor behavior in the city of Bilbao. In addition, the central places of Bilbao were determined and an analysis of the spatial interaction between cultural sites was performed, making use of a new methodology based on GPS technologies, network analysis, and surveys. This methodology is the main contribution of this work. The results suggest that (1) easy mobility (walkability, accessibility, different transport modes) of the visited space facilitates the tourist experience; (2) simple and eligible mental maps of the city that are easily perceived by visitors facilitate the rapid consumption of the tourist destination; and (3) the centrality of the tourism resources affects the mobility of visitors and the consumption of the destination. Thus, by understanding how tourist mobility works in a destination and analyzing tourism resources’ centrality, policy makers may better tailor sustainable strategies for cultural tourism destinations.
New Product Development and Innovation in the Maquiladora Industry: A Causal Model
Authors: García-Alcaraz Jorge , Maldonado-Macías Aidé , Hernández-Hernández Sandra , Hernández-Arellano Juan , Blanco-Fernández Julio , Sáenz Díez-Muro Juan
Published: July 2016

Companies seek to stand out from their competitors and react to other competitive threats. Making a difference means doing things differently in order to create a product that other companies cannot provide. This can be achieved through an innovation process. This article analyses, by means of a structural equation model, the current situation of Mexican maquiladora companies, which face the constant challenge of product innovation. The model associates three success factors for new product development (product, organization, and production process characteristics as independent latent variables) with benefits gained by customers and companies (dependent latent variables). Results show that, in the Mexican maquiladora sector, organizational characteristics and production processes characteristics explain only 31% of the variability (R2 = 0.31), and it seems necessary to integrate other aspects. The relationship between customer benefits and company benefits explains 58% of the variability, the largest proportion in the model (R2 = 0.58).
Protection of the Furin Cleavage Site in Low-Toxicity Immunotoxins Based on Pseudomonas Exotoxin A
Authors: Kaplan Gilad , Lee Fred , Onda Masanori , Kolyvas Emily , Bhardwaj Gaurav , Baker David , Pastan Ira
Published: July 2016

Recombinant immunotoxins (RITs) are fusions of an Fv-based targeting moiety and a toxin. Pseudomonas exotoxin A (PE) has been used to make several immunotoxins that have been evaluated in clinical trials. Immunogenicity of the bacterial toxin and off-target toxicity have limited the efficacy of these immunotoxins. To address these issues, we have previously made RITs in which the Fv is connected to domain III (PE24) by a furin cleavage site (FCS), thereby removing unneeded sequences of domain II. However, the PE24 containing RITs do not contain the naturally occurring disulfide bond around the furin cleavage sequence, because it was removed when domain II was deleted. This could potentially allow PE24 containing immunotoxins to be cleaved and inactivated before internalization by cell surface furin or other proteases in the blood stream or tumor microenvironment. Here, we describe five new RITs in which a disulfide bond is engineered to protect the FCS. The most active of these, SS1-Fab-DS3-PE24, shows a longer serum half-life than an RIT without the disulfide bond and has the same anti-tumor activity, despite being less cytotoxic in vitro. These results have significance for the production of de-immunized, low toxicity, PE24-based immunotoxins with a longer serum half-life.
Purification and Characterization of a Novel Kazal-Type Trypsin Inhibitor from the Leech of Hirudinaria manillensis
Authors: Lai Yanmei , Li Bowen , Liu Weihui , Wang Gan , Du Canwei , Ombati Rose , Lai Ren , Long Chengbo , Li Hongyuan
Published: July 2016

Kazal-type serine proteinase inhibitors are found in a large number of living organisms and play crucial roles in various biological and physiological processes. Although some Kazal-type serine protease inhibitors have been identified in leeches, none has been reported from Hirudinaria manillensis, which is a medically important leech. In this study, a novel Kazal-type trypsin inhibitor was isolated from leech H. manillensis, purified and named as bdellin-HM based on the sequence similarity with bdellin-KL and bdellin B-3. Structural analysis revealed that bdellin-HM was a 17,432.8 Da protein and comprised of 149 amino acid residues with six cysteines forming three intra-molecular disulfide bonds. Bdellin-HM showed similarity with the Kazal-type domain and may belong to the group of “non-classical” Kazal inhibitors according to its CysI-CysII disulfide bridge position. Bdellin-HM had no inhibitory effect on elastase, chymotrypsin, kallikrein, Factor (F) XIIa, FXIa, FXa, thrombin and plasmin, but it showed a potent ability to inhibit trypsin with an inhibition constant (Ki) of (8.12 ± 0.18) × 10−9 M. These results suggest that bdellin-HM from the leech of H. manillensis plays a potent and specific inhibitory role towards trypsin.
Colubrid Venom Composition: An -Omics Perspective
Authors: Junqueira-de-Azevedo Inácio , Campos Pollyanna , Ching Ana , Mackessy Stephen
Published: July 2016

Snake venoms have been subjected to increasingly sensitive analyses for well over 100 years, but most research has been restricted to front-fanged snakes, which actually represent a relatively small proportion of extant species of advanced snakes. Because rear-fanged snakes are a diverse and distinct radiation of the advanced snakes, understanding venom composition among “colubrids” is critical to understanding the evolution of venom among snakes. Here we review the state of knowledge concerning rear-fanged snake venom composition, emphasizing those toxins for which protein or transcript sequences are available. We have also added new transcriptome-based data on venoms of three species of rear-fanged snakes. Based on this compilation, it is apparent that several components, including cysteine-rich secretory proteins (CRiSPs), C-type lectins (CTLs), CTLs-like proteins and snake venom metalloproteinases (SVMPs), are broadly distributed among “colubrid” venoms, while others, notably three-finger toxins (3FTxs), appear nearly restricted to the Colubridae (sensu stricto). Some putative new toxins, such as snake venom matrix metalloproteinases, are in fact present in several colubrid venoms, while others are only transcribed, at lower levels. This work provides insights into the evolution of these toxin classes, but because only a small number of species have been explored, generalizations are still rather limited. It is likely that new venom protein families await discovery, particularly among those species with highly specialized diets.
Future of Water Supply and Demand in the Middle Drâa Valley, Morocco, under Climate and Land Use Change
Authors: Johannsen Irene , Hengst Jennifer , Goll Alexander , Höllermann Britta , Diekkrüger Bernd
Published: July 2016

Regions of scarce fresh water resources, such as the Middle East and North Africa, are facing great challenges already today, and even more in the future, due to climatic and socioeconomic changes. The Middle Drâa valley in Morocco is one of many semi-arid to arid mountainous areas struggling with increasing water scarcity threatening self-sufficient husbandry. In order to maintain people’s livelihoods water management needs to be adapted. The Water Evaluation And Planning System (WEAP) software has been widely used to examine complex water systems in the water resource planning sector all around the world and proved to be a helpful asset to show the various interactions of water supply and demand. This paper presents the application of WEAP on the Middle Draâ valley’s water demand and supply, including several socioeconomic and land use scenarios under one basic climate change scenario. The climate scenario shows a significant decrease in available water resources up to 2029 while all socioeconomic scenarios show an increase in water demand. In years of droughts groundwater is used for irrigation, leading to increasingly depleted aquifers. The aquifers are recharged by percolation losses from irrigation and by river bed infiltration the latter of which is stronger in the northern oases than in the southern oases due to water withdrawal rules. A drastic reduction of irrigated agricultural area is the only solution to guarantee sustainable water use.
Changing Characteristics of the Water Consumption Structure in Nanjing City, Southern China
Authors: Wu Hao , Wang Xiaojun , Shahid Shamsuddin , Ye Mao
Published: July 2016

Understanding the changes in water consumption structure in order to take measures for demand control is very important for sustainable water resources management. In this study, using the Southern China area of Nanjing as an example, we employed the information entropy method to analyze the water consumption structure, as well as the grey incidence analysis to analyze synthetic incidence degree of the factors associated with agricultural, industrial, domestic, and ecological water consumption. The results show that the degree of balance among water consumption sectors has increased from 0.755 to 0.825 between 1993 and 2014. Gradual decrease of the relative proportion of a single water user structure in a water consumption system has made the utilization of water resources in Nanjing rational and diversified. The study identifies three stages of transformation of water structure in Nanjing, namely, a growth period from 1993 to 2002, an adjustment period from 2003 to 2010, and another growth period from 2011 to 2014. The synthetic incidence degree analysis indicates that adjustments of the agricultural and industrial water consumption as well as water saving measures are the main factors that affected water consumption structure in Nanjing. It is expected that the results obtained from this study will provide references to optimize the utilization of urban water resources.
ACCRETION DISK SIGNATURES IN TYPE I X-RAY BURSTS: PROSPECTS FOR FUTURE MISSIONS
Authors: Keek L. , Wolf Z. , Ballantyne D. R.
Published: July 2016

Type I X-ray bursts and superbursts from accreting neutron stars illuminate the accretion disk and produce a reflection signal that evolves as the burst fades. Examining the evolution of reflection features in the spectra will provide insight into the burst–disk interaction, a potentially powerful probe of accretion disk physics. At present, reflection has been observed during only two bursts of exceptional duration. We investigate the detectability of reflection signatures with four of the latest well-studied X-ray observatory concepts: Hitomi, Neutron Star Interior Composition Explorer (NICER), Athena, and Large Observatory For X-ray Timing (LOFT). Burst spectra are modeled for different values for the flux, temperature, and the disk ionization parameter, which are representative for most known bursts and sources. The effective area and throughput of a Hitomi-like telescope are insufficient for characterizing burst reflection features. NICER and Athena will detect reflection signatures in Type I bursts with peak fluxes ≳10−7.5 erg cm−2 s−1 and also effectively constrain the reflection parameters for bright bursts with fluxes of ∼10−7 erg cm−2 s−1 in exposures of several seconds. Thus, these observatories will provide crucial new insight into the interaction of accretion flows and X-ray bursts. For sources with low line-of-sight absorption, the wide bandpass of these instruments allows for the detection of soft X-ray reflection features, which are sensitive to the disk metallicity and density. The large collecting area that is part of the LOFT design would revolutionize the field by tracing the evolution of the accretion geometry in detail throughout short bursts.
CHANDRA AND XMM-NEWTON X-RAY OBSERVATIONS OF THE HYPERACTIVE T TAURI STAR RY TAU
Authors: Skinner Stephen L. , Audard Marc , Güdel Manuel
Published: July 2016

We present results of pointed X-ray observations of the accreting jet-driving T Tauri star RY Tau using Chandra and XMM-Newton. We obtained high-resolution grating spectra and excellent-quality CCD spectra and light curves with the objective of identifying the physical mechanisms underlying RY Tau’s bright X-ray emission. Grating spectra reveal numerous emission lines spanning a broad range of temperature superimposed on a hot continuum. The X-ray emission measure distribution is dominated by very hot plasma at T
hot ∼ 50 MK, but higher temperatures were present during flares. A weaker cool plasma component is also present as revealed by low-temperature lines such as O viii. X-ray light curves show complex variability consisting of short-duration (∼hours) superhot flares accompanied by fluorescent Fe emission at 6.4 keV superimposed on a slowly varying (∼one day) component that may be tied to stellar rotation. The hot flaring component is undoubtedly of magnetic (e.g., coronal) origin. Soft- and hard-band light curves undergo similar slow variability implying that at least some of the cool plasma shares a common magnetic origin with the hot plasma. Any contribution to the X-ray emission from cool shocked plasma is small compared to the dominant hot component but production of individual low-temperature lines such as O viii in an accretion shock is not ruled out.
THREE-DIMENSIONAL GEOMETRY OF A CURRENT SHEET IN THE HIGH SOLAR CORONA: EVIDENCE FOR RECONNECTION IN THE LATE STAGE OF THE CORONAL MASS EJECTIONS
Authors: Kwon Ryun-Young , Vourlidas Angelos , Webb David
Published: July 2016

Motivated by the standard flare model, ray-like structures in the wake of coronal mass ejections (CMEs) have been often interpreted as proxies of the reconnecting current sheet connecting the CME with the postflare arcade. We present the three-dimensional properties of a post-CME ray derived from white light images taken from three different viewing perspectives on 2013 September 21. By using a forward modeling method, the direction, cross section, and electron density are determined within the heliocentric distance range of 5–9 R
⊙. The width and depth of the ray are 0.42 ± 0.08 R
⊙  and 1.24 ± 0.35 R
⊙, respectively, and the electron density is (2.0 ± 0.5) × 104 cm−3, which seems to be constant with height. Successive blobs moving outward along the ray are observed around 13 hr after the parent CME onset. We model the three-dimensional geometry of the parent CME with the Gradual Cylindrical Shell model and find that the CME and ray are coaxial. We suggest that coaxial post-CME rays, seen in coronagraph images, with successive formation of blobs could be associated with current sheets undergoing magnetic reconnection in the late stage of CMEs.
Digital Skills in the Z Generation: Key Questions for a Curricular Introduction in Primary School
Authors: Pérez-Escoda Ana , Castro-Zubizarreta Ana , Fandos-Igado Manuel
Published: July 2016

Media convergence and massive usage of Internet-connected devices, distinguishing features of our current society, cause changes in the way that new generations learn and access knowledge. In addition, emerging new digital skills are necessary for the Z generation to face the challenges of a digital society. This quantitative study, with a sample of 678 Primary School students, aims to provide empirical evidence about the level of digital skills of students belonging to this generation. The results show that the acquisition of digital competences is not inherent to use, but require specific instruction. Otherwise, there is a danger of creating a digital divide, not due to frequency of use or access to connected devices but to lack of instruction on how to use them. The absence of significant variance in the overall level of digital competence among Primary School students of different grades reflects, to some extent, that this level is largely acquired by informal activities with ICTs in an informal context, rather than by developing competences in a school context that affords gradual and progressive skills acquisition. The results show the need to address digital competence in schools, focusing on the systematic development and enhancement of its component areas to move beyond the informal level and reach the academic level, thus facilitating digital natives’ access to future employment.

La convergencia mediática y el uso masivo de dispositivos conectados a Internet, rasgos distintivos de la sociedad actual, provocan cambios en el modo en el que las nuevas generaciones aprenden y acceden al conocimiento. Además, emergen nuevas competencias, las digitales, que la Generación Z necesita para afrontar los retos de una sociedad digitalizada. El estudio presentado, de corte cuantitativo, con una muestra de 678 alumnos de Educación Primaria, pretende aportar evidencias empíricas sobre el nivel de competencia digital del alumnado perteneciente a dicha generación. Los resultados revelan que no adquieren habilidades digitales de forma inherente sino que precisan de educación al respecto, atisbándose el peligro de una brecha digital, no por uso o acceso a ellas, sino por falta de competencia. La ausencia de diferencia significativa en el nivel general de competencia digital entre el alumnado de diferentes cursos de la etapa de Educación Primaria refleja que, en cierta medida, ese nivel se adquiere más por convivencia con las TIC en contextos informales que por un adecuado desarrollo en el contexto escolar que potencie gradual y progresivamente su adquisición. De los resultados se desprende, por tanto, la necesidad de abordar la competencia digital en la escuela, incidiendo en el desarrollo de las áreas que la componen y potenciándola para superar el nivel de uso en la vida cotidiana y acercarla al nivel académico que facilitará su inclusión al mundo laboral.
Teachers' Perceptions of the Digital Transformation of the Classroom through the Use of Tablets: A Study in Spain
Authors: Suárez-Guerrero Cristóbal , Lloret-Catalá Carmen , Mengual-Andrés Santiago
Published: July 2016

This study examines the transformation of classroom dynamics brought about by the use of tablets for educational purposes. The empirical bases of this study were defined by the “Samsung Smart School” project, which was developed by Samsung and Spain’s Ministry of Education during academic year 2014-15, in which teachers and 5th and 6th year students attending 15 primary schools across several Autonomous Communities in Spain were provided with tablets. The research sample comprised 166 teachers. A qualitative analysis strategy was applied by means of: a) non-participant observation, b) focus groups, c) semi-structured interviews with teachers, and d) content analysis of teaching units. These techniques enabled us to extract and examine six dimensions of teaching (educational objective, teaching approach, organization of content and activities, teaching resources, space and time, and learning assessment). Our findings show that teachers tend to apply a transversal approach when using tablets to work on different competencies, focusing more on activities than on content through the use of apps. They reclaim the act of play as part of the learning process, and tablet use encourages project-based learning. To sum up, this study shows that teachers view tablets not only as a technological challenge, but also as an opportunity to rethink their traditional teaching models.

El presente estudio examina la trasformación de la dinámica del aula a través del uso educativo de las tabletas. La base empírica de este estudio se enmarca en el proyecto «Samsung Smart School», desarrollado entre Samsung y el Ministerio de Educación de España en el curso 2014-15. Se dotó de tabletas a profesores y alumnos de aulas de 5º y 6º de primaria de 15 centros de Educación Primaria de distintas comunidades autónomas del territorio Español. En suma el estudio se llevó a cabo con una muestra comprendida por 166 docentes. Se empleó una estrategia analítica cualitativa mediante: a) observación no participante, b) grupos focales, c) entrevistas semiestructuradas al profesorado y d) análisis de contenido de unidades didácticas. Dichas técnicas permitieron abordar el estudio de seis dimensiones pedagógicas (finalidad educativa, enfoque pedagógico, organización de contenidos y actividades, recursos didácticos, espacio y tiempo y evaluación del aprendizaje). Los hallazgos evidencian la tendencia del profesorado a trabajar con tabletas de forma transversal distintas competencias, centrarse en las actividades más que el contenido a través de las apps, asumir el reto de recuperar el juego como parte del aprendizaje y poner en práctica el aprendizaje basado en proyectos. En suma, la principal evidencia es que los docentes entienden la tableta no solo como un reto tecnológico, sino como la oportunidad para repensar sus modelos pedagógicos tradicionales.
Adults and Elders and their use of ICTs. Media Competence of Digital Immigrants
Authors: Román-García Sara , Almansa-Martínez Ana , Cruz-Díaz María-del-Rocío
Published: July 2016

The undisputed presence of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in our lives has led to the development of new forms of social, interactive and critical relationships. This study aims to compare the level of media competencies, in relation to six established categories, of two population groups: adults (aged 18-55) and elders (aged over 55). The sample was composed of 714 people from the eight provinces making up the Spanish region of Andalusia. The study conducted was based on the selection and comparison of results of specific items drawn from two separate questionnaires, directed to both population groups. The data were statistically processed in accordance with the distribution of the sample proportions. The objective was to identify and contrast the degree of digital literacy of these two groups, in terms of their use, productivity and interaction with technological tools. The results highlight the needs and demands of both groups in terms of technology, critical reading and audio-visual production. It is notable that adults aged 18 to 30 have a higher level of expertise in the interaction and language dimensions, while those aged 30 and above perform better in critical and participative dimensions offered by such media, such as reflection, analysis and creation. In the over-55 group, there is a direct correlation between income bracket and level of media skills, the latter significantly diminishing with age.

La presencia indiscutible de las tecnologías de la información y la comunicación en nuestras vidas supone el desarrollo de nuevas formas de relaciones sociales, participativas y críticas. Este estudio tiene como objetivo comparar el nivel de competencia mediática, respecto a seis dimensiones establecidas, para dos grupos poblacionales, adultos (18-55 años) y mayores (+55 años). La muestra total asciende a 714 individuos de las ocho provincias de la Comunidad Autónoma de Andalucía (España). Se basa en la selección y comparación de resultados de determinados ítems de dos cuestionarios independientes, dirigidos a ambas poblaciones. Los datos han sido sometidos a tratamiento estadístico, según la distribución de proporciones muestrales, para identificar y contrastar el uso, producción e interacción de las herramientas tecnológicas en ambos colectivos. Los resultados destacan las necesidades y demandas de ambos grupos en tecnología, lectura crítica y producción audiovisual. Se advierte además que los adultos con rango de edad entre 18-30 años presentan mejor nivel de competencia mediática en habilidades técnicas relacionadas con el uso instrumental, interacción y lenguaje, mientras que a partir de los 30 aumentan las destrezas en dimensiones críticas y participativas, como reflexión, análisis y creación. En los mayores de 55, existe una relación directa entre el nivel de ingresos y de competencia mediática; esta última disminuye significativamente con la edad.
Vie et mort des cités du Jawf
Authors: Schiettecatte Jérémie
Published: July 2016

Cette communication est une approche archéogéographique des dynamiques de peuplement d’une large vallée du Yémen, le wâdî al‑Jawf. Par l’étude des sources épigraphiques et des données archéologiques, plusieurs sites archéologiques ont été renseignés au sein d’une base de données ; leur poids hiérarchique a été déterminé sur la base de considérations fonctionnelles et ils ont été analysés par le biais d’un système d’information géographique. Cartographier ces sites par période nous permet de mettre en évidence les dynamiques qui affectent le réseau urbain de cette région, prenant en considération le poids hiérarchique de chaque site, leur évolution au sein de l’armature urbaine et leur évolution à long terme.Au regard de ces cartes, d’anciennes considérations sur les causes du déclin de ces villes doivent être relativisées. Jusqu’à présent, des facteurs socio‑historiques étaient utilisés pour expliquer le déclin de ces villes sudarabiques. Mais si ces facteurs doivent être pris en considération, ce n’est que comme la cause directe ayant précipité ce déclin. La cause profonde semble liée à un recul du front de crue qui permettait la mise en culture des périmètres irrigués. En effet, la cartographie nous permet de montrer, dans une perspective dynamique, le déclin et la disparition des villes de l’aval vers l’amont. Ce retrait progressif se justifie d’une part par l’engorgement des systèmes hydrauliques de la vallée, mais également et surtout par le développement des systèmes de retenue d’eau et des terrasses agricoles sur les Hautes‑Terres, bassin versant de la vallée.
Le wâdî/Durâ’ : un modèle d’irrigation antique ?
Authors: Breton Jean-François , Roux Jean-Claude
Published: July 2016

Dans le gouvernorat de Shabwa, au sud de Ni/sâb, le wâdî /Durâ’ a fait l’objet d’études pluridisciplinaires de 1992 à 1996. Ouvrages hydrauliques très variés, inscriptions nombreuses et datations par thermoluminescence des limons montrent que toute la vallée a été mise en valeur intensive pendant près de deux millénaires. Ces résultats permettent-ils d’élaborer un modèle, au moins qualitatif, d’une irrigation antique en relief semi-montagneux ? Compte tenu des données disponibles,  un modèle définitif ne peut être validé, toutefois les résultats obtenus permettent d'ébaucher une modélisation originale du wâdî /Durâ’ et de ses affluents.
La chronologie du royaume de Qatabân du Ier siècle avant J.-C. au Ier siècle après J.-C.
Authors: Arbach Mounir
Published: July 2016

Les nouvelles découvertes archéologiques et épigraphiques de ces dernières années, effectuées au cours des fouilles franco-italiennes à Tamna`, l'ancienne capitale du royaume de Qatabân, permettent d'établir une nouvelle chronologie des souverains de Qatabân entre le Ier siècle avant J.-C. et le Ier siècle après J.- C.
Zaydisme et modernisation : émergence d’un nouvel universel politique ?
Authors: Dorlian Samy
Published: July 2016

En dépit de l’avènement de la République au Yémen au début des années 1960, qui a mis fin au règne d’un long imamat caractérisé par le primat politique de la catégorie des Sâda, la revendication politique zaydite s’est affirmée dans le contexte de l’Unité de 1990. Les partis  zaydites représentés essentiellement par al Haqq et l’UFP, vont tenter de concilier leur appartenance primaire avec le processus de modernisation républicaine.
Bāb al‑Yaman : persistance des représentations et force symbolique de la porte Sud de Sanaa
Authors: Stadnicki Roman
Published: July 2016

Bāb al‑Yaman, porte méridionale de la ville de Sanaa, est devenue, un siècle après sa reconstruction, à la fois le symbole d’une identité urbaine héritée et l’emblème de la vitalité politique et culturelle du Yémen. C’est l’analyse de la persistance et de la symbolisation d’une forme urbaine archétypale qui est ici proposée à travers une triple lecture : celle des perceptions des citadins qui recentrent la porte dans les pratiques spatiales, celle, interprétative, des représentations iconographiques de Bāb al‑Yaman qui s’inscrivent dans un processus de valorisation des richesses patrimoniales et culturelles du pays, et, enfin, celle des discours de quelques acteurs institutionnels qui font de la porte un objet de revendications.
Un sanctuaire ouvert du 4e millénaire avant l’ère chrétienne
Authors: Steimer-Herbet Tara
Published: July 2016

Dans le cadre d’une fouille de sauvetage, la mission française « Jawf-Hadramawt », a découvert un sanctuaire ouvert du 4e millénaire avant l’ère chrétienne. Ce monument isolé se situe dans le village moderne de Rawk (Wādī ‘Idīm, Hadramawt). L’étude du matériel découvert en surface ou issu de la fouille consistant en des statuettes anthropomorphes, apporte des données inédites sur les coutumes funéraires.
The Ismailis’ “War” against Qat in Ḥarāz
Authors: Gatter Peer
Published: July 2016

In 1999, the Ismaili Bohra Community in Yemen’s Ḥarāz mountains launched a drug substitution programme in order to replace the cultivation of qat with other economic and social activities. Motivated by religious concern, this campaign aimed at suppressing the consumption of qat. Over 200,000 qat trees were uprooted and coffee and mango trees planted instead. Alternative means of income generation included animal husbandry, beekeeping and handicraft schemes, complemented by irrigation projects, educational programmes and interest free loans for investments in other economic sectors. Even though the programme was hampered from its start by a severe drought, and in spite of the absence of governmental support, it resulted in a sharp reduction in the cultivation and consumption of qat and a significant diversification of the farmers’ economy. However, the project led also to rural-urban migration and abandoning agricultural lands. But despite its shortcomings, this project, unique in Yemen by its capacity of social mobilization, provides precious lessons on the political and economical constraints which bear on any attempt to develop in Yemen mountains an agriculture which would be free of qat.
Les ports de la mer Rouge, de l’Antiquité à l’époque islamique (ive siècle av. – xve siècle apr. J.-C.)
Authors: Vallet Éric
Published: July 2016

La mer Rouge a longtemps été considérée comme un territoire sans histoire, dont les ports n’ont retenu que peu l’attention des historiens. La multiplication des fouilles et prospections archéologiques et l’exploration de nouvelles sources écrites permettent d’envisager désormais le « fait portuaire » en mer Rouge, de l’Antiquité à l’époque islamique, sous un jour nouveau. Les trois études qui suivent mettent particulièrement en lumière l’importance les réseaux de navigation locale dans le développement de la mer Rouge comme bassin d’échange.
Ports et commerce maritime dans l’Arabie du Sud préislamique
Authors: Schiettecatte Jérémie
Published: July 2016

L’Arabie du Sud, au début de l’ère chrétienne, connaît des changements significatifs. Parmi ceux-ci, le développement du commerce maritime au détriment de l’ancienne voie caravanière. Ce changement est souvent décrit comme brusque et débouchant sur une situation pérenne durant les siècles suivants.Nous avons choisi de reprendre ce dossier en réunissant, dans un premier temps, l’ensemble des données épigraphiques et historiques relatives aux ports préislamiques de la mer Rouge et du golfe d’Aden depuis leur fondation jusqu’au viie siècle. Ces synthèses nous permettent de décrire, dans un second temps, l’évolution de l’économie maritime au cours des premiers siècles de l’ère chrétienne, la nature des espaces d’échanges et le rôle du pouvoir politique dans le contrôle de cette nouvelle économie.Ceci nous amène à conclure que le commerce maritime ne se développe pas aussi brusquement qu’il n’y paraît : la mise en place des réseaux et des ports majeurs s’étale sur plusieurs siècles. Ce commerce ne fut le moteur économique des royaumes sudarabiques qu’au cours d’une période limitée, du milieu du ier siècle au début du iiie siècle. Les ports connurent ensuite une activité irrégulière, conditionnée par l’évolution politique et économique des royaumes sudarabiques, des pays voisins et du bassin méditerranéen.
The changing positions of Zabîd's Red Sea port sites
Authors: Keall Edward J.
Published: July 2016

Les chroniqueurs médiévaux mentionnent de manière confuse les noms des différentes colonies qui, avec le temps, servirent de port d'entrée à la ville de Zabîd qui n'était pas situé en bordure de la Mer Rouge. Des indices peuvent être déchiffrés quant à ces changements en se basant sur l'époque à laquelle ces chroniques ont été établies. Mais les témoignages sont bien plus précieux que la mention à une époque antérieure.La prospection archéologique de la côte révèle les réels motifs en observant que les colonies portuaires ont été forcées de se déplacer dû à un rivage changeant qui rendait inutilisable la précédente colonie portuaire. Quand celle-ci allait à un nouvel emplacement, on lui assignait un nouveau nom. Ce genre d'observations a été constaté dans la baie portuaire de Ghulayfiqah ainsi que de al-Fâzzah. Le site de ces colonies n'était, en général, utilisé que pour une durée ne dépassant pas les deux ou trois siècles.
The Origin and Development of the Sudanese Ports (‘Aydhâb, Bâ/di‘, Sawâkin)in the early Islamic Period
Authors: Power Tim
Published: July 2016

Avant que la mobilité et les échanges liés au /hajj et au commerce avec l’Inde ne s’imposent de manière prédominante dans la mer Rouge médiévale à partir du xie siècle, les ports soudanais connurent une première phase d’activité (632-969), largement ignorée des historiens. Etablis dès les premiers temps de l’Islam, les ports de ‘Aydhâb et de Bâ/di‘ eurent pour première fonction d’appuyer la conquête islamique et de contenir la puissance d’Aksûm en Ethiopie. Les échanges marchands ne se développèrent que lentement. Dans la seconde moitié du viiie siècle se mit en place la traite des esclaves africains, avant que la « ruée vers l’or » du ixe siècle n’accélère la croissance des ports soudanais, entraînant notamment l’établissement du port de Sawâkin.
« Yémen nouveau, futur meilleur » ?
Authors: Poirier Marine
Published: July 2016

Si l’élection présidentielle du 20 septembre 2006 reconduit ‘Alî ‘Abd Allâh /Sâli/h au sommet de l’ état avec 77% des voix, elle ne marque pas moins une transformation majeure de la scène politique yéménite. Pour la première fois, le président est mis en situation de compétition électorale par une opposition qui, en se réunissant autour d’un candidat unique, parvient à transcender le clivage opposant traditionnellement les partisans de la gauche aux formations islamistes. Cependant, la rénovation de l’enjeu électoral n’éloigne pas significativement le Yémen de la « norme institutionnelle arabe », le régime s’assurant du verrouillage autoritaire du scrutin. Quel est donc l’effet « élection 2006 » ? Dans quelle mesure le jeu politique a-t-il été durablement remodelé par l’introduction de la concurrence ? En offrant des horizons pluralistes sans toutefois contrarier les dynamiques de personnalisation du pouvoir, l’élection n’a-t-elle pas favorisé l’essor de nouvelles formes de contestation politique ?
Contentious dynamics for sociopolitical change?
Authors: Alviso-Marino Anahi
Published: July 2016

Des observateurs ainsi que des membres du Parti Islah ont tendance à présenter et expliquer les différents courants qui forment cette formation politique comme un « dialogue pluraliste » entre divers groupes, idéologies et personnalités. Dans ce sens, le Parti Islah est décrit principalement comme un amalgame d’idéologies, de discours, de répertoires d’action et de projets de réforme qui coexistent en son sein sans le diviser. Cette pratique dite « pluraliste » du dialogue, qui a jusqu’à présent maintenu le parti unifié à l’extérieur sans pour autant garantir de cohésion à l’intérieur, n’a jamais été épargnée par ce que Tilly, Tarrow et McAdam ont appelé des « répertoires de protestation ». Cet article propose d’analyser ce que, avec le temps, ces répertoires de protestation ont généré comme dynamiques à l’intérieur du parti. La première dynamique est celle d’un rapprochement vis-à-vis du régime au pouvoir, tandis que la deuxième mène le parti vers une opposition à ce régime. Si le dialogue pluraliste, élément donné comme constitutif du parti, permet de justifier l’existence de ces dynamiques contradictoires, où se trouvent les limites de l’unité de cette formation politique, et quelle peut être sa viabilité sur le long terme ?